Michelle Barge

Michelle has been practicing yoga since 1996 following a life dedicated to classical ballet. Her style fuses her training in traditional Hatha yoga schools – Iyengar and Ashtanga – with her studies in dance and Pilates. She has trained in some of the top yoga studios in New York City and continues to train under some of the leaders in the field:  Dharma Mittra, Paula Tursi, Schuyler Grant, Sadie Nardini, Alison West and Tao Porchon-Lynch.  She is a graduate of Sadie Nardini's Core Strength Vinyasa Flow program and a 200-hour level RYT through the Yoga Alliance of America. Michelle’s commitment to wellness also extends off the mat to her charity work as an advisory board member for the Urban Yoga Foundation - a Harlem-based, non-profit organization that brings yoga to the city's underserved, as well as her teaching through Bent on Learning which brings yoga into the New York City public school system.  Michelle currently teaches at some of the top studios in New York including Golden Bridge in Soho and Reflections Yoga in the heart of Times Square.

Rona Berg

Rona Berg is a beauty and wellness expert, journalist, and author of the best-selling books Beauty:The New Basics and Fast Beauty:1000 Quick Fixes. The former Beauty Editor and Deputy Lifestyle Editor of The New York Times Magazine, Editorial Director of ELLE, and Contributing Editor to SELF, she is currently an AOL Wellness Coach, a Columnist/Contributing Editor to SPA magazine and Beauty Expert/Columnist for Lifescript.com. Rona is also the Green Beauty Expert for beautypress.com, a global resource for beauty and fashion editors worldwide. In addition, she is Advisory Chair to the Green Spa Network, a nonprofit that educates spas and personal-care companies on greening and sustainability practices. Rona has appeared on radio and TV on shows including Martha Stewart Living and The Today Show. A sought-after speak, Ms. Berg has been featured at the Health & Beauty Expo, The Global Green Expo, Lake Austin Spa and more.

Nikki Costello

Nikki Costello is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. She has been teaching yoga for 19 years and was previously certified in Jivamukti Yoga and Anusara Yoga. She currently teaches at Kula Yoga and Virayoga in New York City. Nikki is passionate about conveying the wisdom of yoga and shares her experience as a writer and contributor for Yoga Journal, mentoring teachers, collaborating and teaching alongside her peers and leading retreats and workshops for students all over the world.

Kevin Courtney

Kevin started practicing yoga 12 years ago in Santa Monica, CA. Reluctant, doubtful and skeptical, but the night after his first class, he slept better than he had in years. Slowly Kevin started doing more yoga and partying less, read more books and watched less T.V., became more aware of his reactions to external events, and experienced more patience and less anger. Kevin's logged over 500 hours of study of the art of Thai Massage in Thailand with master teacher Pichest Boonthume. He considers each session an opportunity to go deeper into the ever evolving art. Yoga and bodywork has created an opportunity for Kevin to tap into a tremendous source of creative energy whether expressed through surfing, music, yoga or photography.

Julie Dohrman

One of the most sought after certified Anusara yoga teachers in New York for her spirited and positive teaching style, Julie is a native New Yorker who teaches classes with clear instruction of Anusara's Universal Principles of Alignment and the therapeutic aspects of the practice. Known for her ability to make everyone feel welcome and encouraged, she creates a space for students to use yoga as a pathway to personal growth. Julie weaves ancient texts, mythology, storytelling and personal tales into the physical practice, creating classes with a practical and real approach to living a yogic life. Julie's study and practice continue with Anusara founder John Friend and Amy Ippoliti, from  who she took her first teacher training in 2002. She has been deeply immersed in the South Indian Sri Vidya and Shaivaite traditions of Tantric philosophy with world renowned scholars Paul Muller-Ortega, Douglas Brooks, and Bill Mahony. Julie has previously has taught yoga for NYU and Lululemon and is currently teaching at studios in both Manhattan and Brooklyn and traveling nationwide to teach Anusara workshops and Immersions.

Jennifer Daly

Co-owner and director of Kinespirit in Manhattan, Jennifer is a Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis, Gyrotonic Level 2, Gyrotonic Archway, & Gyrotonic Jumping-Stretching Board Master Trainer. In addition to Gyrotonic, Jennifer is also an accomplished teacher in the dance community, having authored and implemented one of the only New York State Board of Education approved middle and high school Dance programs. Jennifer's movement heritage includes being a professional modern dancer, Ashtanga Yoga teacher (trained by David Swenson), competitive gymnast, and recreational runner. She has received both her BS and MA in Dance and Dance Education from New York University. She has been active as a performer, a choreographer, an administrator, and a producer in the New York City dance community. When not spending time with her newborn, you can find Jennifer training private clients, leading group classes or conducting Gyrotonic & Gyrokinesis teacher training at Kinespirt. 

Chantal Deeble

One of the few Master Trainers worldwide for Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis, Gyrotonic Level 2, Gyrotonic Archway, & Gyrotonic Jumping-Stretching Board, Chantal is also an accomplished Pilates Master Trainer. Fully certified through PMA and Stott Pilates, as well as an ACE-certified Personal Trainer (American Council of Exercise), Chantal co-owns and directs Kinespirit, a Gyrotonic and Pilates studio in Manhattan. As a foundation to her Gyrotonic and Pilates career, Chantal was a well-established dance artist. She studied dance at Simon Fraser University, the Merce Cunningham School, and the Limon Studio. Chantal performed and taught in South America, Asia, Canada, the United States and Europe with numerous choreographers and companies including The Holy Body Tattoo (Vancouver, Canada), and Elizabeth Streb's NY based extreme action-invention dance company STREB. When she's not conducting Gyrotonic or Pilates teacher training, you can find Chantal at Kinespirit working with people with a wide range of needs: from professional dancers and athletes, the elderly, to those rehabbing from injury.

Laura Erdman-Luntz

Experienced Yoga Educator, inspiring Life Coach and Business Entrepreneur, Laura Erdman-Luntz has over 20 years experience in the fitness and wellness industries. She uniquely blends her Life Coaching knowledge and vast experience with yoga to create programs, classes and workshops that truly do bring mind and body together for positive change, inspiring people to live their most authentic life. She incorporates New Thought ideas into classes and programs on positive living, manifesting and changing subconscious beliefs. Laura's yoga training began in 1988 and she began teaching in 1992. To date, she has taught over 500 workshops, over 10,000 hours of yoga classes, coached hundreds of clients and has trained 100 yoga teachers at the beginner and advanced level. She has studied with Judith Hansen Lasater, Jo Zucovitch, Ramanand Patel, Rodney Yee, Patricia Walden, Barbara Benaugh, Donna Farhi, John Friend and many others.

Amy Galper

Amy Galper is a New York City based shiatsu practitioner and founder Buddha Nose. She recognizes the connection between the energetic dynamics of shiatsu, a Japanese form of bodywork based in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and with the essential oils of aromatic plants creates handmade beauty products in her kitchen to inspire the mind body beauty connection. After graduating from The Ohashi Institute and studying aromatic plant medicine at The Ojai School of Massage, Amy maintains a private practice in New York City. She is a member of the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia, (AOBTA), and OASIS, (Organic and Sustainable Industry Standards) a pioneering organization whose purpose is to support organic and sustainable Health and Beauty consumer goods by establishing workable industry standards for organic and sustainable manufacturing. Several years ago, Amy experienced a 'healing crisis' and was compelled to consider her illness as an opportunity to shift her perspective and make changes in her life. Now she focuses on the business of Buddha Nose in New York City, and spends time with her husband building their eco-conscious and self-sustaining 'off-the-grid' home on their 30 acres in the Catskills.

Tracey Gardner

An ex- smoker, ex-partier, who never worked out for the first 20 years of her life; Tracey started to change all that with a 1/4 mile run that was so painful she couldn't breathe. Gradually, through sheer will, she turned walking into running into going to the gym. Craving a lean, long and defined look that she wasn’t getting from the machines, Tracey turned to yoga to build her core and learned to enjoy her workout. After 10 years of practice, she created the Tracey Gardner Method™ that is loosely based on a combination of power yoga and Pilates. Building endurance gradually and slowly is key. TGM is nowhere near relaxing, yet it is so invigorating and detoxifying you leave class experiencing a "runners high". Tracey loves to challenge her students minds and bodies  in her own studio located in New Albany, Ohio. 


Jen Guarnieri

Jen G. teaches creative and dynamic vinyasa flow yoga classes that invite people to explore their yoga practice by invigorating both their physical and subtle bodies.  She graduated from Laughing Lotus's College of Yoga and has also completed Prenatal and Kids Yoga trainings. Practicing and studying vinyasa yoga for the past five years at Kula Yoga Project, Jen puts her emphasis on mindful and intelligent  sequencing. She is a Lululemon ambassador for their SoHo location, and teaches group and private classes throughout New York City. Jen G. is extremely grateful that she works with so many amazing people and gets to share this practice that she loves so much. For more information, please visit her website.

Katie Jehenson

Katie found Yoga while sitting behind a desk. Over time, she realized her practice made her job a little easier in curious ways. Eventually, Katie decided to take a leap into the unknown and deepen her spiritual practice through a Yoga Teacher training program. In 2005, she was certified through Alison West’s Yoga Union. She has attended workshops with Shiva Rea, Karin Stephan, Judith Hanson Lasater, Annie Carpenter, Nevine Michaan, and Sharon Salzberg. Katie continues her studies with Alison West and the crew at Kula Yoga Project. She strives to marry her need for alignment with her love of vinyasa through her classes.

Liza Laird

Finding ways to quiet and calm the mind in a fast-paced city like New York is no small task. Liza’s teaching grew out of her own desire to balance many competing demands on her attention while still feeling a sense of purpose and direction. She quickly found that she was not alone and that many men and women are struggling with the very same challenges. Liza turned to yoga for guidance over a decade ago. She specializes in helping students translate physical movements into new perspectives that help provide clarity and purpose. She loves to cook, knit, read, dance and travel. She also has a particular fondness for lizards. For her, lizards’ constant pursuit of sunlight symbolizes the soul’s unending quest for awareness. Liza is a 500HR certified Yoga Instructor and certified Yoga Therapist. She has studied with Jodie Rufty, Ann Mosca, Ashley Turner, Tzahi Moskovitz, Karen Kaumudi Hasskarl, and many more. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Lafayette College, where she specialized in the intersection of Eastern and Western thought.

Jessica Mae

From her first Pilates session, Jessica was hooked! The strong mind/body component of the practice, challenged her both physically and mentally and the longer, leaner look she was achieving, didn't hurt either. Feeling unfulfilled in the high-end luxury business of Fashion Merchandising and Sales, Jessica began a time of personal exploration, which led to holistic approaches toward nutrition and mind/body approaches toward exercise. It was during this time, she decided to begin helping others experience the benefits of Pilates. After receiving her 400 hour certification at Core Pilates NYC in New York City and in and effort to help others achieve physical, mental and social well-being, Jessica is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Stanford in addition to teaching private and group Pilates sessions.

April Martucci

With over a decade of experience in the fitness industry, April was named 'most in demand' for vinyasa yoga classes by New York Magazine's, Best of New York. She has taught a wide range of students from A-list celebrities to toddlers, artists, and high-profile professionals. A seasoned instructor and bodyworker, April has a global presence - she has been teaching retreats all over the world for almost a decade and has guest taught at yoga conferences and international events. April draws from her movement and life experience, creating classes that are fun, dynamic, and challenging, both physically and mentally. She has a strong media presence, is a former Lululemon ambassador, and has been featured on Regis and Kelly. She is the former Director of Yoga at the prestigious Reebok Sports Club/NY, MindBody studios. Some of April's favorite students include: Harvey Keitel, Jessica Seinfeld, Mariel Hemingway, Lourdes Leon, Elizabeth Vargas, and Bethenny Frankel. She is the founder of the renowned FireDragonYoga method and Teacher Training program. www.yogawithapril.com

Erica Mather

Erica Mather, M.A., E-RYT, has been teaching yoga in New York City since 2006, and coaching clients since 2007. A certified Forrest Yoga instructor, Forrest Yoga Guardian and Mentor Teacher, Erica studies with Ana Forrest. She teaches at PURE Yoga in NYC (voted by Fitness Magazine to have the best Yoga Instructors in the U.S.), and her classes are fun and challenging, with special attention paid to intelligent sequencing and deeper feeling of the postures though coached breathing, detailed alignment, and innovative assists. 

Sarra Morton

Sarra first fell in love with movement as a dancer in Calgary, Canada. She continued her dance and theatre studies in Southern California where she discovered yoga, and the concept of moving with intention. This idea of physical movement grounded in awareness and its holistic benefits inspired her to take her own yoga practice to a different level. She completed her teacher training at YogaWorks in Santa Monica , CA with Maty Ezraty and Lisa Walford and became a Pilates instructor two years later. Currently a Group Fitness Director for Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York, Sarra also teaches classes and workshops. She also works with the Morgans Hotel Group, the Fresh Air Fund, Unicef, Wonder-Women.org, and is a spokesperson for Zobha. Sarra is inspired by her students and teachers daily, and is thrilled to have a job that awakens purpose and passion in others.

Gilda Mulero

An enthusiastic yogi, natural foods chef, cooking instructor and owner of Naturally-Tasty, Gilda is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health Chef Training Program. As a baking enthusiast, Gilda’s specialty is converting traditional baked treats into healthier and whole grain alternatives. She focuses on adapting adult recipes into fun and nourishing fare for children. Versed in Diabetic and Ayurvedic cooking, she has efficiently organized many kitchens in New York City with her revered Kitchen Detox and Pantry Makeover service. Gilda also created Cooking 101 for Newlyweds a charming cooking class for brides and grooms, which has been featured in Manhattan Bride Magazine. A lover of all things wellness, Gilda is a Yoga Instructor (trained at Laughing Lotus Yoga School) and is currently studying the ancient art of Thai Yoga Massage at the Integral Yoga Institute.

Paramatma Siri Sadhana

A certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, Paramatma has taught and studied in India, Europe and the Americas. She was personally taught and trained by Yogi Bhajan, the Master who brought Kundalini Yoga to the West. Her name, given by Yogi Bhajan, means “The Lioness who Ever-Merges with the Supreme Soul through the Wealth of her Great and Victorious Discipline.”  Paramatma Siri Sadhana is known for her deeply devoted personal sadhana, her profound experience-knowledge base, and her modern approach to a timeless practice.  Her classes and her presence are transformative and healing and she is proud that many of her students have already gone on to become great teachers. Paramatma served on Staff and Faculty at Miri Piri Aquarian Academy and is an honors graduate of Georgetown University.  She is currently based in Manhattan where she teaches privately and at Golden Bridge NYC.

Melissa Petitto

Raised in Birmingham, Alabama by a Jewish mother and an Italian father, Melissa gained an early appreciation for food and its impact on a person’s life. While still in high school, she apprenticed with world-renowned chef Frank Stitt and was smitten with a passion for cooking. While attending Johnson & Wales University, Melissa had the opportunity to work for The Governor’s House Inn and at Cooking Light magazine in the test kitchen. In 2004, graduating with a degree in Culinary Nutrition, Melissa received the top honor of Apprenti Cuisinier. Then came Emory University Hospitals dietetic internship. In 2007 she made the move to New York City to pursue her career goal of becoming a personal chef. Now Petitto custom designs menus to fit her celebrity client’s lifestyles, health needs, and desires. She shops for the freshest ingredients at local groceries and cooks the meals in each client’s home. Recently she has traveled to South Carolina to work at the Hilton Head Health Institute, where she lectures, presents food demonstrations and consults with individual clients. Whether cooking dinner for an individual client or a dinner party for 25, Chef Melissa Petitto, R.D. exudes the passion she feels for nutritious food and its role in a family’s life.