Teachers & Staff - Yoga Nanda

Laura Ahrens

Laura Ahrens reluctantly tried yoga in 2009 and is now a dedicated practitioner and teacher. She received her 200 hour certification in vinyasa in 2011 and shortly after fell in love with Forrest Yoga. She completed the Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training in 2012, the Forrest Yoga Advanced Teacher Training in April 2013 and is currently enrolled in a year-long mentorship program with Forrest Yoga guardian Dr. Heidi Sormaz. She is a level I and II Reiki practitioner under master Pamela Miles and holds a BFA in Musical Theater from The University of the Arts.

Laura teaches Forrest Yoga and studied directly under Ana Forrest, creatrix of Forrest Yoga. The style was created to address current day stresses and challenges both physical and emotional, creating a sense of freedom, a connection to spirit, and the courage to walk as spirit dictates. It is fueled by deep breathing, a strong connection to core and one’s authentic self, incorporation of ancient wisdom and ceremony, and a commitment to living fully in one’s body.

With attention to each individual’s particular physical and emotional circumstances, Laura emphasizes alignment, development of muscular strength, physical and mental flexibility, and buoyancy of the heart. She is passionate about connection to body, spirit, the earth, and each other. She is honored to be an ambassador to Manduka and Lululemon Athletica, and a devoted student of Leslie Pearlman and Ana Forrest.

www.ahrensyoga.com

Steve Booke

Steve Booke is an accomplished musician with over 10 CDs to his credit as well as several television and film credits. Several of his CDs are geared towards meditation and yoga.

Aside from being a musician, Steve is also an energy healer and meditation teacher.

Jules Boutelle

My name is Jules and I am the owner and founder of Yoga Nanda. My practice began 12 years ago as a 16- year old high school student. My best friend introduced me to a series of sun salutations to practice upon waking in the morning, and so every morning I did just this.

After high school I aspired to be a famous chef and wanted to attend Le Cordon Bleu of Paris France with hopes to one day open my own restaurant. However, due to my family’s financial difficulties that had to be overcome, I decided to take a stepping-stone towards my goal and joined the US Navy at the age of 17. I became a culinary specialist and after ranking number one in my Culinary Technical School, I landed special orders in the Kingdom of Bahrain located in the Middle East. I lived there for two years and was a personal chef to the 5th Fleet Admiral Keating. While in Bahrain, I began to take my first led yoga classes.

Once my time was up in the Navy, I was honorably discharged and with my G.I bill in hand, off went my application to Le Cordon Bleu, Paris! I was beyond excited to receive an acceptance letter to my dream school, only to be let down soon after. Turns out that when the recruiters said I could use my G.I. Bill to go to Le Cordon Bleu, Paris before I signed up was not the case. I soon learned the Navy would not pay for the tuition to a private school in France as they had led me to believe.

Heartbroken and not knowing what to do, I decided to travel around for a month, and think about what I wanted to do. During my travels I visited South Beach Miami, and fell in love with the rich culture. I thought if I can’t live abroad, this is the next best thing! So not knowing anyone and with no plan, I just packed up and moved to Miami. Soon after arriving I became a personal chef, cooking all organic health foods on Yachts, and for many successful Miami residents. I also soon learned of a Le Cordon Bleu U.S branch that had just opened, and transferred my Paris acceptance to this location.

It was during this time that yoga became a way of life. While attending school full time I found it hard to keep most of my personal chefs jobs, as they required traveling and sporadic hours. I decided to focus 100% on school and take a job that had set days and hours that fit around my school schedule. I couldn’t have been more blessed to find such a great job! I took a manager position at Brownes and Company on Lincoln Road in South Beach, Miami, where I had nearly 40 employees under my direction. Brownes and Company is an upscale apothecary, spa, salon, and clothing boutique that also houses “The Yoga Room”. As a part of the job incentives, free unlimited yoga was an added perk. Needless to say I took full advantage of it and this is when I really would say my yoga practice really began.

The Yoga Room is a well-known studio offering numerous styles of yoga that are led by some of the best teachers available. As I took the various classes I began to understand each styles philosophy, and found the style for me… Ashtanga.

After taking my first Ashtanga class I knew I had found my path. From 2005- 2007 I practiced the Ashtanga full primary series every day, and began to venture into the second series. At the time a very well known teacher Kino Macgregor, who is one of the select few people to have received the certification to teach Ashtanga Yoga by its founder Sri K. Pattabi Jois in Mysore, India, was teaching classes at The Yoga Room. Kino is one of the few people to have completed the challenging third series of Ashtanga and who is currently working the fourth. I began to take her classes and workshops, learning in depth about the Eight Limbs of yoga and yogic philosophy and I couldn’t have been happier to find something that felt so right to me! This actually led me on a month long pilgrimage to India.

In 2007 I graduated from culinary school with my associates degree, and ended up leaving Brownes and Company to begin my career as a chef. I began my career as the pastry chef at the Hotel Victor in Miami Beach, but ending up meeting someone and moving to Lexington Kentucky.

Once in Lexington, I decided to take a risk and open a restaurant. I opened a cute little bistro/deli called “Alumni on Rye” (the deli was on Alumni Dr.) in 2007. Everyday I made homemade soups and gourmet healthy treats! As one can imagine the days were long and worked a lot!

Needing yoga more than ever, I searched the area for a yoga studio, only to find that yoga was not as well established in the community as it was in Miami. I tried to practice at home and take a few classes at a studio in town, but having been spoiled by amazing teachers in Miami, I wasn’t really into the classes and felt they didn’t promote growth for the students, physically and mentally. My practice became more and more sporadic.

A couple of years went by and I began to feel burnt out from working so much. Cooking began to feel more like a lot of work with little reward. So I closed the restaurant and decided to make a career change. I have always had a passion for nurturing and helping others and while I thought I could nourish the souls of many with my nourishing health food this proved to be a difficult task.

So I decided to go back to school and received my Bachelors of Science in Psychology. Having ended my relationship in Kentucky, I then decided to move to New York to attend graduate school. I started at NYU, but ended up in the Masters program at New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. Settled in Manhattan, I couldn’t wait to get back to my regular yoga practice! I began practicing Ashtanga as much as I could at Yoga Sutra and found a volunteer job working at Universal Force Healing Center.

Little did I know that this job would be so life changing! This is where I was introduced to Naam yoga and Gurunam… Wahe Guru!

Naam is a complete science and yogic practice that works with sound, movement, and breath to restore the flow of vital energy throughout the entire body. It is an invaluable self-healing technology that balances the brain, the glandular, digestive and nervous systems, allowing people to experience vibrant health and well-being. Naam will reveal the mysteries of your life, as well as the duties and destinies you carried with you into this incarnation. In turn, you will be able to reach out and receive love, light and healing, as you embrace the true destiny of your spiritual path and begin the work that you have been prepared to do! While I still adore Ashtanga and make it my choice for physical practice, Naam yoga is where my spiritual path lies.

Still in school I ended up moving to Garden City, Long Island. Again in searching for a local studio to practice yoga, I was shocked to find a lack of yoga studios in the area; it was out of this discovery that Yoga Nanda was created!

I am still working on my graduate studies, and am currently working on my 200 hour Yoga Alliance Ashtanga certification. I plan to take the Naam teacher training next. After obtaining my Ph. D. in Psychology, I plan to one day open all-inclusive wellness centers incorporating all of my experiences, and passions in order to bring a real sense of needing healing to the world.. and so the journey continues! Love and Light! Sat Nam!

Laura Brandel

Laura Brandel – 2oo RYT certified from Pure Yoga and teaches in the styles of Vinyasa, Hot Power, Jivamukti, Yin/Yang, Yin, Restorative, and kid and teen yoga. in addition she has a background in Hatha, lyengar, and Ashtanga. Laura has a strong understanding of the principles of yoga and how to share these teachings from her heart. She is a kind and intuitive teacher with a calm yet dynamic voice. Laura has a deep focus in the importance of alignment and breath. Laura holds a BA in Dance and Dance Education from Hunter College, has studied Anatomy and Kinesiology, and teaches yoga and dance in New York. One of her most outstanding qualities is how attentive she is watching each student and seeing what they need as individuals.

Kathleen Byrne

Front Desk Staff

Kathleen worked in video game publishing as a product tracking manager for over 10 years and had the privilege of working with creative and artistic people in a dynamic business. Six years ago, she came across a book by Rhonda Byrne called “The Secret” where she discovered that the law of attraction is merely to ask and you shall receive. Not long after, Kathleen started her own personal organizing business and was fortunate enough to meet many beautiful people along the way including spiritual teachers. It was while she worked with one such professional that she discovered there was so much more to learn about the beauty of life and began on the path to learn more.

About 3 years ago, Kathleen decided to change her physical life too. She lost 40 lbs by walking daily and with mindful eating. Playing on the Nintendo Wii, she discovered yoga and then went on a search for a yoga studio and found them scarce until the June of 2011, when Yoga-Nanda opened and changed her life forever. Kathleen started as a beginner and with the love and encouragement of highly trained teachers, has developed a daily practice that has blossomed into an advanced level and gained a devotion to yoga and all it has to offer.

It was the law of attraction that Kathleen came to work at Yoga-Nanda. Her daily practice and friendships with the students, staff and teachers was a natural progression for her and she is so grateful to be a part of this beautiful studio and be surrounded by all who enter the doors to share in the same beautiful experience.

Kathleen plans on taking advantage of the Yoga-Nanda’s upcoming 200-hour Yoga Alliance registered teacher training program which will help deepen her practice and educate her further in body, mind and spirit.

Joe Cilmi

Joe has been teaching since 1989 and certified by BKS Iyengar in 2004. He has studied with BKS Iyengar and his daughter Geeta, and more extensively with Manouso Manos, Mary Dunn, and Kevin Gardiner, all senior Iyengar teachers. He finds Iyengar yoga to be therapeutic, invigorating, and compassionate. He takes workshops with Ariel and Shya Kane on living in the moment with ease and humor! What he loves most about teaching Iyengar Yoga is that people feel better, look better, and learn how to take care of themselves. He is excited to explore yoga poses to expand awareness and get the best results for overall health. Different combinations of standing, sitting, inverted, back bending, and restorative poses bring awareness and enjoyment to the fullness of living! He is also very interested in Instantaneous Transformation and how yoga offers the possibility of living in the moment with ease under all circumstances!

Sylvia Ehrhart

After practicing for seven years at various NYC Yoga studios such as Sivananda, Integral, Be Yoga and Yoga Zone on Long Island, Sylvia found herself wanting to deepen her practice and understanding of Yoga. In 2002 she enrolled in a 200 hour ISHTA (Integrated Sciences of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurveda) Teacher Training at Be Yoga (now known as ISHTA) under the guidance of Yogiraj Alan Finger. Taking some time to settle into her practice and new-found knowledge, the desire to go deeper grew even more. After completing a Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training with Shiva Rea in 2005, her passion for the flow was sparked. As her inner fire to gain more knowledge in all aspects of her yoga practice grew, She began attending workshops and conferences with amazing teachers from different styles of yoga; Lotus Flow, Iyengar, Anusara, Jivamukti ISHTA and more. Her thirst for knowledge turned to the study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra’s and his Eight Limbs of Yoga and lectures covering the Bhagavad Gita, Tantra and other spiritual texts and practices.

Sylvia’s continued desire to live a more yogic lifestyle and share her knowledge and devotion to the practice brought her to Laughing Lotus Yoga Grad School in NYC for their 300 hour Advanced Teacher Training. The signature Lotus Flow created by Dana Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi resonated with her heart and soul in a powerful way and was transformational on so many levels. She truly found that inner creative energy She was seeking as well as her own personal teaching voice at the “300 hour Love Skool” with the guidance of Master Teacher Dana Flynn and the other masterful and dynamic teachers. Yoga is creating space within your mind and body and finding your true essence which allows you to be the creator of the creation that is your wonderful life. SWAHA (with all your devotion, discipline, knowledge, karma and dharma, let it flow!)

Jennifer Errante

Jen was first introduced to yoga through her dance professor and mentor while working towards her degree in Visual and Performing Arts at Stonehill College. She began studying dance when she was just a child and was drawn to yoga as a new outlet to express her body and emotions. Jen has been teaching dance and yoga to kids and adults since the age of 16. She received her 200 hour training from Sonic Yoga (NYC) and is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a RYT. She also received her Child, Teen and ‘Mommy and Me’ Yoga certification from Open Doors Yoga Studio in 2009. She is currently enrolled in Sonic Yoga’s 300 hour Advanced Prana Flow Teacher Training working toward her 500 hour certification. She is blessed to study with Shiva Rea’s senior staff. Jen is certified in leading Yoga Trance Dance workshops, also developed and created by Shiva Rea. Jen’s classes are strongly influenced by her dancing background and enjoys having fun during class. She emphasizes core strength and the fluidity of the breath throughout the physical asana practice.

Laura Fornaro

Laura is a Hofstra University graduate and holds degrees in Music Education and Wind Conducting. She is a pianist and music teacher that combines dedication for the arts with her love of yoga. Becoming completely intrigued by Bikram and Ashtanga yoga in January 2009, she then received her teacher certification from Yoga Oasis in Woodbury in October of that same year. Laura went on to train at Dharma Yoga Center, studying under Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City as part of the Life of a Yogi 200 hour teacher training program. Laura enjoys guiding her students towards body awareness and strength, as well as mental clarity. She runs an individualized and peaceful, yet powerful class while pushing students to their full potential.

Kat Fowler

Kat Fowler is an experienced registered vinyasa yoga teacher with over 500+ hours of training, known for her light hearted and inspirational style of teaching that encourages personal expression, playfulness, and courage through movement. Kat has over 15 years of experience in various yoga and dance styles ranging from Power Vinyasa to Modern Dance and Ballet. Heavily inspired by the beautiful teachings of Ashtanga yoga and master teacher Sri Dharma Mittra, her classes are creative, athletic and challenging while remaining accessible to students of all levels. Kat is honored to be chosen as an ambassador for Lululemon in New York, where she joyfully leads group classes, workshops, teacher trainings and international retreats. www.katfowleryoga.com

Though teaching is her passion, Kat remains a student at heart and is grateful to all her teachers past and present who have guided her along the way, including her inspiring mentors Tiffany Cruikshank and Sam Chase, for their loving guidance on her path. Kat is honored to be chosen as an ambassador for Lululemon and currently resides in New York, where she joyfully leads classes, workshops and retreats. Kat is a truly inspirational teacher whose love and application of yogic principles shines through in all aspects of her being. www.katfowleryoga.com

Jane Froman

Jane studied Hath Yoga in the 70′s; a period during which she also traveled to India and studied Indian music and dance. In 2003 while living in Manhattan, Jane discovered Iyengar Yoga and was drawn to its emphasis on precise alignment. Her experience of the physical and psychological rewards of practicing yoga fanned a desire to share that experience with others. In addition to being a yogi, Jane is a ceramic artist, master gardener, and has a BA. in Art History. She believes the practice and philosophy of yoga can benefit all of one’s life experiences and endeavors and it’s her passion to share this with her students.

Cynthia Gamarra

At the young age of 19, Cynthia Lorena Gamarra was fortunate to launch her career as a graphic designer in the fashion industry working for prestigious fashion publications and then later for high end handbag lines, doing everything from photo editing, editorial design, marketing/advertising design, and brand development. In 2010, Cynthia graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City with a BFA in graphic design. She continued her career as a creative designer after graduating.

Although she was grateful for the wonderful opportunities given and the valuable lessons learned, she was quickly growing tired of the long hours spent at a desk and the lack of self connection. She knew it was time for a major change in her life; it was time to make her happiness and personal growth a priority. So, she quit. Just like that. With no job lined up next, and a desire to find answers to questions she had been searching for, she took off to travel and immerse herself in studying yoga.

In July 2011 she graduated from Kripalu’s School of Yoga in the Berkshires of Massachusetts with a 200 hour yoga teaching certificate.

Cynthia is known for her light-hearted attitude while teaching, making jokes during class, while encouraging her students to dive deep into self inquiry as they explore their edge. She currently teaches yoga full time across Long Island, Manhattam, and Brooklyn, and volunteers teaching yoga and art to children at a domestic violence shelter. She is a registered yoga teacher (RYT) through the Yoga Alliance, and is apart of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher’s Association (KYTA). With an interest in studying positive psychology and eastern philosophies, and being heavily influenced by Bhakti traditions and teachings, healthy and positive living is not only a priority in her personal life, but in her teachings as well.

When she’s not teaching you can find her at a kirtan, doing a handstand in her converse high tops, or spending time with her family and friends.
Although she is a teacher, she considers herself forever a student.

Hare Krishna!

www.cynthialorena.com

Sharon Hartman

Sharon is a 200hr certified Yoga Instructor and, a certified Yoga Nidra Guide who is passionate about helping others to connect body and mind allowing their true self to emerge. She has been involved with health, nutrition and exercise for over 20 years. She is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and received her yoga certification at Long Island Yoga School (RYS) in Great Neck, under the guidance of Laurie Ahlemann and received her Yoga Nidra certification under the guidance of senior Kripalu teacher, Jennifer Reis.

Her desire for continued self growth paired with the need to find inner peace, lead her down the path to practice yoga. Becoming passionate in helping others experience the inner peace she has found on and off the mat, led her to becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor. Her style of teaching is Vinyasa flow. Sharon’s focus is on mind and body awareness thru proper alignment and the connection of breath with movement. Her classes also combine strength and cardio conditioning with spiritual enlightenment. You will leave class with a feeling of complete relaxation and invigoration at the same time.

“It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed”. Namaste

Yoshio Hama

Yoshio began practicing yoga in Caracas, Venezuela in 1999. Between 1999 and 2008 he had the opportunity to study Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Partner Yoga and Iyengar Yoga Method under the guidance of many different yoga instructors. However it wasn’t until 2008, when came to New York that he began a new life: He found a guru (Sri Dharma Mittra) and found a new spiritual family. He believes the teachings of Sri Dharma bring the light of the real practice of yoga, guiding us to the path of righteousness. By following the yamas and niyamas as the foundation of daily practice, we learn to surrender our ego and purify the mind so as to understand that Divinity dwells in everyone. Beyond the body and mind stuff, we are all the same portion of the Supreme. Yoshio has completed the 800 and 500 Hour. Dharma Yoga Life of a Yogi Teacher Training Program DYRT Level I, II,III,IV, and the 200Hr Dharma Yoga Life of a Yogi Teacher Training Program. DYRT Level Gentle, I & II… As well as many other continuing educational programs. He also enjoys being a percussionist musician for contemporary dance & yoga classes.

Dana Healy

Dana has always wanted a clothing boutique since she was a little girl. After a career in the fashion industry wasn’t fulfilling anymore and she decided to find a career that better served her. She didn’t know at the time but she was searching for a way to not only help and heal herself but others as well. She wanted to find something that truly spoke to her. Dana also danced as a child into her teens and always felt something was missing when the program ended and she didn’t pursue it any further. Yoga was a way to release tension and move in a way that enabled her to express herself through body movements. She found vinyasa flow and decided to become a yoga instructor when she realized how she felt after the gym classes she was taking twice a week. Gym classes were no longer enough and she searched for a certification program on Long Island where she found the Long Island Yoga School. She completed a 200 hour certification through the Long Island Yoga School in June 2010. She is now 500 hour certified through the Long Island Yoga School as a Prana Shakti Flow Instructor. Dana primarily teaches beginner, level one classes because she likes to focus on safety and alignment remembering what it was like to be a beginner herself. She teaches with compassion and understanding giving her students a sense of comfort, allowing students to develop their own practice teaching foundations that can be taken into any class of any style.

Renata Langner

Renata Langner is originally from Brazil where a “holistic life-style” is still prevalent but it wasn’t until she had her 2 sons that Renata decided to embark on a life long journey into health, self-realization and purpose. She had completed her 200H Yoga Teacher training at Om Sweet Om in Port Washington and is currently working on her 300H certification. She has graduated from various Programs in Meditation Science and Art of Personal transformation at Omega Institute and Open Center NYC (with Sierra Bender, Gurmukh kaur, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Gloria Steinam and manyothers). She is Reiki certified and has also graduated from the Institute for Integrated Nutrition in 2009 (with teachers like; Andrew Weil, David wolfe, Deepak Chopra, John Douilard, Joel Fuhrman and many others). Renata’s yoga class is dynamic with challenging asanas but mindful and restorative enough for a beginner practice. She also welcomes creativity and individuality with a dash of self-exploration and reflection. Renata hopes to share the gift of transcending the small self and finding the alignment with the higher consciousness-the Higher Self.

Gina Licul

Gina Licul is a certified and registered yoga instructor at the 200 level. It was through a medical crisis that Gina discovered her passion for yoga. In 2008 she was diagnosed with severe retinal detachment in both eyes. Life-saving surgery was done to preserve her eyesight. After being sightless from complications for 4 and a half weeks, she realized that there had to be more to life – something greater. She needed a spiritual crutch. She found yoga. Or, more correctly, yoga found her. She fell in love. And so she practiced religiously. At the year mark she embarked on a teacher training, determined to give back. To give the gift of yoga. The gift that had helped restore her eyesight and her peace of mind. Gina graduated from Always-At-Aum yoga school of West Babylon in 2009, founded by Robin Appel. She has been teaching in some capacity ever since, creating time around her very demanding career. She had humble beginnings teaching at Always-At-Aum, the donation-based yoga school. And then she taught Yogalates – a fusion of yoga and pilates – at Breathe N Flow Yoga in Freeport since its doors opened, for a year.

Gina embraces the physical aspect of yoga, enabling exploration of the self through movement and reflection. Her classes have been described as: creative, engaging, fun, athletic, challenging, vigorous, and powerful. People have expressed a love for her narratives, inventive cues, and the gentle manipulations of her students through both touch and the spoken word. Om shrim maha lakshmi swaha.

Nicole Marzigliano

Nicole grew up in New York and has traveled extensively around the world, bringing her a wealth of knowledge and understanding. She has taught yoga throughout the United States in New York and South Florida, In South America in Colombia and Peru. And, In Peru, she lived amongst Shaman in the jungle and mountains where she tapped into the ways of Mysticism, Shamanism, and earth healing.

She believes the body is capable of healing itself by healing the mind and taking care of the body, eating right, eating holistically, practicing yoga, and meditation. She received her certifications through ISHTA Yoga, New York under the direction of Alan Finger, It’s Yoga Kids, California under the direction of Michelle Wing, Pre-Natal Plus Yoga, Miami, Florida under the direction of Debra Geymeyer, Fertility Yoga with Sue Dumais in Canada, Meditation and Pranayama with Swami Dharmanda, and heart-fully tries to live with the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism.
She is a passionate student and follower of Mark Whitwell, Yoga of Heart, who is a direct student of T. Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar. Her classes follow in their teaching traditions, giving relevance to the ancient wisdom of yoga in contemporary life.

Along her path of yoga, Nicole became acquainted with Ayurveda. Ayurveda originated over 5000 year ago in ancient India is a holistic science of healing emphasizing and re-establishing balance in the body through diet, lifestyle, exercise, body cleansing, and health of the mind, body, and spirit. She was immediately drawn to this powerful science and became an Ayurvedic nutritionist and Holistic Counselor studying with, Ayurvedacharya, Dr. Naina Marballi in Manhattan. She currently is on the faculty at Ayurveda World, teaching with Dr. Naina the study of Ayurveda Yoga. Nicole has also studied with Ms. Peeka Trinkle, where she became recognized as a Western Certified Herbalist.

She combines Ayurveda, yoga, and herbalism knowledge into a comprehensive class that reveals a deep understanding and love of these ancient traditions and helps one to acknowledge the power of their own strength when in full relationship with their mind, body, nutrition, and spirit.

Agustin McCarthy

Agustin is passionately committed to yoga as a tool for empowerment. A filmmaker and former dancer, he is a 300 Hour Advanced Certified Yoga Teacher who has taught at New York Yoga, East Village Access and Laughing Lotus. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Media Studies at Mercy College and leads the Yoga program at The New York Center for Living, a coordinated treatment program for adolescents in recovery from chemical dependency. Agustin has been doing yoga for over ten years and has seen first hand the transformative effects of this practice. His soulful Vinyasa flow classes are designed to build core strength in the body and foster a sense of calmness in the mind.

Kim Montgomery

Kim Montgomery Founder of Montgomery Method Yoga, has been teaching Yoga and applying Yoga Therapy for 15 years. Kim spent two years in India studying under Swami Devanandaya of Sivananda School of Yoga in Trivandrum, Ashtanga Yoga with Pattbi Jois in Mysore, and completed the Masters Program in Yoga Therapy at Vivekenanda Kendra Arogadhama in Bangalore, India. In 1996 she founded Yoga Prescriptions in Long Island New York, where she applied wellness programs for pregnant teenagers, Methadone addicts and troubled teenage boys. Kim went on to open Beyond Yoga in Great Neck New York, which lends itself as a Master teacher to organizations seeking Master teacher expertise. Kim’s method of teaching holds true to traditional Yoga practices in India, while evolving to captivate the modern Yogi. Her articulation and intonation of her words are inspirational. A must experience class indeed. These days Kim delves deeply into Plant Medicine and is a bonafide Medicine Woman, bringing yet another element of personal wellness to her students.

Abhik Mukherjee

Abhik Mukherjee has been playing sitar since the age of six. He began his studies under his father, Tarit Mukherjee, and later took instruction from Pandit Kashinath Mukherjee and Pandit Arvind Parikh. Abhik is a member of the Etawah gharana, a school of music which has produced such leading lights as Ustad Vilayat Khan and Ustad Shujaat Khan. To date, Abhik has performed across India and the U.S. as well as toured on four continents.

Andrea Russo

With an eye for merchandising and a flare for design, Andrea has held a variety of creative positions from Account Director to Interior Designer at prestigious companies including F.Schumacher & Co, Ethan Allen, AGA Creative, Warner Lambert, and Unilever. Twenty years of marketing experience has enabled her to cull a unique blend of capabilities; on projects big or small, she is always eager to apply her creativity, enthusiasm, and attention to detail.

But her passion for travel and a desire to experience different cultures is what inspired her to leave corporate America and explore the greater world. Andrea has spent much of her adult life traveling through Europe, Australia, Morocco, Peru, and the Southwestern United States seeking unique adventures by foot, bike, rollerblade or camelback.

She has always enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities and loved being a part of nature, until she was sidelined with an injury. Feeling frustrated and wanting to be physical again she turned to yoga as a means of rehabilitation.

“As I began my yoga journey, I loved the flexibility it brought to my body and the healing it brought to my mind and spirit. I immediately felt a connection on my mat to something greater. The more I learn about the eight limbs of yoga the more I learn about myself and my connection to the world. I now practice regularly with my husband and it has enhanced our relationship greatly”

“I am forever grateful to my studio, Yoga Nanda, not only for providing a space that nurtures healing and spiritual transcendence, but for creating a community that is filled with the most loving, passionate, and compassionate spirits. I am blessed to be a part of this beautiful community.”

Laila Selim

Laila Selim began practicing yoga as a teenager, hoping to reap its physical benefits as a varsity athlete. After practicing for several years, she realized that yoga was more than a kinesthetic routine and began to grasp its deeper mental and spiritual experience. Bearing intense academic and social burdens at college, Laila turned to yoga as a sanctuary, finding that inner peace could be achieved even in a crowded university library 5oo miles away from home.

It was this transformation that bonded Laila to the practice of yoga, enhancing her existence and cultivating satisfaction. With deep gratitude for this dramatic life change, Laila hopes to share this experience and yoga’s boundless benefits with her students.

Laila is yoga-alliance certified, teaching a vinyasa-flow style of yoga. Laila emphasizes the mental and spiritual connections that are tied to breath and movement. Her goal is to guide her students on a yogic journey, communicating bliss and gratitude.

Diana Singh

Diana Vargas-Singh, 200-RYT, C-YRKT is a 2010 Certified graduate of the Yoga Works Teacher training program and a 2008 graduate (100 Hour) of the Yoga Rocks! Kids Training, both well renowned and accredited with Yoga Alliance. Diana has been a serious student of yoga for over ten years. She first tried yoga when her career as a young NYC attorney brought on stress associated with work. Studying different yoga styles through many NYC studios, Diana fell in love with the physical, spiritual, and philosophical practice of yoga. Later, expecting her first baby, pre-natal yoga and then post-natal yoga, helped seal her love of how yoga made her feel inside and out. In 2007 Diana took her love of yoga and children and became a children’s yoga teacher – just for fun. The experience was so amazing, that a complete career change came about during 2009-2010. Diana teaches yoga to children and teens of all ages and abilities; and is a Master Teacher Trainer of the Yoga Rocks! Kids Method, with specific training for kids with Special Needs. Her classes for youth focus on the FUNdamentals of yoga: breathing exercises, yoga stretches that induce a love of wellness and exercise, as well as stress and life coping tools, that children need. For adults, Diana teaches: Family Yoga, Gentle Flow, Hiking Yoga, Vinyasa, Strength Flow, Partner, Pre and Post Natal, as well as Restorative Yoga. Her adult classes run the gamut from relaxing, zen-inspiring sessions to sweat-inducing yoga workouts that build on strength and flexibility, while infusing a natural awakening to the mind/body/soul connection. Diana is happily married for 14+ years, with three wonderful little yogis who love to practice yoga with mommy!

Cara Stone

Front Desk Staff

Cara Stone – Concentrated on Studio Art and Theatrical Lighting design to obtain a B Arts, and then went onto receive a Masters in Architecture. As she wanted to truly understand the design and business practices of the building industry, she decided to set out to work in as many arms of the field as possible. She gained experience in architectural design, construction document preparation, interior design, construction/property/asset management, and small-scale residential development.

In August of 2006, Cara was asked to create a retail entity in TriBeCa. A new building was constructed on the old El Teddy’s site, and it is the raw space of its ground floor for which they signed a lease in September of 2006. Cara designed the interior, managed the construction, purchased the inventory, assembled the staff, and set up shop to open for the holidays in December 2006. At the time, she had no retail background whatsoever. The opening of Tribbles Home and Garden was a huge success and picked up by several publications as a new fab destination shopping experience.

As part of the brand identity, Cara incorporated her appreciation for the use of natural elements in design with the establishment of a unique floral department within the space, a “shop within a Shop”, if you will. The combination became a natural progression into the event design and coordination industry.

Throughout her career she has always found time to maintain her love of outdoor activity and exercise. Due to a recent injury, she now limits her activity to how impact sports and has become an avid cyclist as well as yoga enthusiast. Having closed her TriBeCa Studio, she is now looking forward to learning more about a variety of yoga styles and how to incorporate the practice into a lifestyle.

Maddy Stone

Front Desk Staff

Maddy is 15 years old going into her sophomore year of high school. She loves playing sports and found yoga to be really beneficial for preventing injuries. Her mother Cara Stone first introduced her to yoga last year. She has enjoyed taking classes over the past year, but it wasn’t until she recently started to fill in at the front desk for mother and really observing all the classes, that her practice began to flourish. She now has her own shift and enjoys taking classes to help herself personally, as well as an athlete!

Carla Waldron

Carla discovered ashtanga yoga while living in Paris, France in 2004. After only a few months, she travelled to Mysore India to study and has consistently returned for extended durations. She is dedicated to the traditional method as taught in Mysore and sharing it with students of all abilities. In 2011, she was honored to assist Sharath and Saraswaiti. She has been authorized by Sharath Jois and offers deep respect and gratitude to Guruji, Saraswati and Sharath for their teachings and dedication to this deeply profound practice.