VALERIE ANTONETTE Valerie was first introduced to yoga in 2001 when she took a class while attending college in Colorado. In 2004, due to the stress of her day job as a lawyer, she once again sought refuge in yoga at BYS Yoga Studio. Since then she has been hooked and has never looked back! In 2008, Valerie completed her 200 hour teacher certification at Yoga H'om. Valerie currently focuses her teaching on Yin Yoga, a practice that opens the body’s deep connective tissues and joints through relaxation and meditation. In her few moments of spare time, she enjoys attending yoga classes at BYS, watching live music, going to the movies, and spending quality time with her cat, Justice. ILONA AUTH Ilona has been studying yoga since 2001 and has spent much of her practice time in the studio at BYS Yoga. She received her Teacher Training Certificate from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerala, India in 2006. In addition to yoga, she loves cooking, photography, books, and travel. CARA BESSKO, RYT Cara is a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, trained to teach children and adults. She recently returned to Pittsburgh after 5 years living and teaching Yoga in Colorado. Cara started her training in Pittsburgh, PA in 2005 with Yoga H'om owner and instructor Donna Dyer. She has had the pleasure of learning Yin Yoga from Paul Grilley and received her kid's yoga training from Shakta Kaur Khlasa and the Radiant Yoga Child program. She believes the students are where the real study of Yoga is. Cara enjoys seeing her students walk out of class feeling and looking better than when they walked in. Remembering that Yoga makes us all better human beings first and foremost, Cara encourages students to take their practice off the mat and into real life in any way, big or small. Her classes are always meant to be attainable for any student on any level of their practice. Fun is essential with a focus on stress management, strengthening, learning how to breathe deep, and LETTING IT GO! She is currently studying with Mark C. Taylor and his "embodying the skeletal system" course, happily weaving this fascinating addition into her practice and classes. In her spare time Cara likes to soak up as much sun, books, and outdoor activity as she can. She is also an artist and a Mother of three. MAGGIE BORZA-PETRIE, E-RYT 200, RYT 500 Maggie has been practicing yoga since 2003. She removed herself from the stress of the corporate world, used yoga to transform her own life and has been devoted to pursuing the life journey into Yoga full-time. Maggie completed her 200 hour training in 2006 and her 500 hour certification in November 2010 with Donna Dyer at Yoga H'om. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of yoga and guiding others on their journey. Her vinyasa flow style encourages her students to find peace by linking breath with body and mind on and off the mat. Maggie continues to find inspiration through study with senior teachers such as Rodney Yee and Desiree Rumbaugh. She also enjoys art, music, family, friends and spending time with Phil and their dog Utah in the great the outdoors. ALANA DELOGE Alana has found balance and peace on her mat following an introduction to yoga in 2003. Having developed a love for teaching in an academic setting, she recently discovered a new avenue through the completion of a 200-hour yoga teacher-training program and is thrilled to be able to share yoga with others. Although her practice is inspired by vinyasa flow, she enjoys exploring other yoga styles and tries to share all that she learns with her students. She hopes that her students will gain strength, peace, compassion, and confidence from their practice and she always looks forward to welcoming those who are new to yoga. When not practicing on her mat, Alana directs her energy towards public health, traveling, cooking, reading, and gardening, as well as towards her family, friends, and cats. ELSIE ESCOBAR Elsie, a native of El Salvador, began her love affair with yoga in 1997. She completed her formal training at the Center for Yoga in Larchmont (now Yogaworks) and also completed the Integrative Yoga Therapy Program created by Joseph Le Page, focusing on the therapeutic aspects of yoga, mainly geared toward introducing yoga as a healing modality to those encountering either physical or emotional health challenges. In 2000 she found the wild joy in her heart through Anusara Yoga developed by John Friend, ‘a uniquely integrated style of hatha yoga in which the artistic glory of the human heart blends magically with the scientific principles of biomechanics.’ She continues to study fervently with John Friend and many amazing certified Anusara teachers; Naime Jezzeny, Sue Elkind, Noah Maze, Desiree Rumbaugh, and many others. Elsie’s classes are full of playfulness, smiles (and/or laughter), and strong commitment deeply grounded in self-honoring, acceptance and building community. Since July 2006, her love affair of yoga has been met by an equal passion for podcasting. She has a successful and inspiring FREE weekly podcast simply named "Elsie's Yoga Class: Live and Unplugged," which is just that, her live yoga classes sent out to those who subscribe and available through her website: www.elsiesyogakula.com. JENNIFER FERRIS-GLICK, RYT Jenn has been practicing Hatha Yoga since 2001. After 9 years of practice, she enrolled in a RYT-200 course in the Kriplau lineage. Although the goal was to gain more knowledge about the practice of yoga, she discovered a passion for teaching. Jenn works as an academic psychological researcher and frequently works with recovering addicts and alcoholics - She fancies herself a 'professional interloper' often immersing herself in many lines of inquiry. Jenn is engrossed with behavior, specifically how individuals heal. Her diverse experiences and enthusiasm for learning allow her classes to integrate multiple lineages of yoga with the ultimate goal of removing ego mind and integrating with the divine. ANNA GILBERT, RYT 500 Anna was introduced to yoga in 2005 by Chrissy Carter, who continues to be her primary teacher. She completed her 500 hour training through YogaWorks and spent several years teaching in New York and Los Angeles before life brought her to Pittsburgh. She is grateful to have studied with Natasha Rizopoulos, Lisa Walford, Julie Kleinman, and Annie Carpenter, among others, and finds constant inspiration seeing the strength, steadiness, and compassion we learn on the mat become tools that we can access off the mat as well. Her classes are influenced by the precision and alignment of Iyengar, the dynamic flow of Ashtanga, and a personal commitment to infuse playfulness and joy into the practice. LORI GRABLE, E-RYT 200, RYT 500 Lori has been practicing yoga since 2001, where she learned from a wonderful group of teachers at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center. Shortly after she moved to Pittsburgh in 2003, Lori found BYS Yoga. Her passion for yoga became stronger and she was inspired to learn to teach. Lori completed her RYT-200 in early 2006 and after over 1,000 hours of teaching experience she became registered as an E-RYT in 2008. She earned her RYT-500 in late 2010 and plans to continue along the path of gathering yoga knowledge for the foreseeable future. Lori brings creativity and joy to her teachings. As a true believer in the healing effects of yoga, she creates a safe and compassionate environment for students. Her teaching style draws upon her intention to help students join their breath with their movement; building a moving meditation that stills the mind and brings students closer to connecting with their inner wisdom. KRISTEN KOLENDA, RYT Kristen first turned to yoga in 2006 as a horseback rider and college student looking for a way to improve her flexibility and body awareness. Finding that and even more, she honored her new passion and in 2009, completed her 200 hour training at Yoga H’om. She began to combining her love of yoga and teaching to share with others. Also in 2009, Kristen received her Relax and Renew certification under Judith Hanson Lasater adding a new element to her teaching. Giving her students an opportunity to slow down and be in the moment is her favorite thing about teaching yoga. Kristen also loves to travel, read, spend time outside with her horses Bittersweet and Mighty Maverick, and her dog Noodles. APRIL LECHWAR, RYT 500 April is so excited to be joining the BYS family as an instructor. The very first class she ever took was at BYS and her life has never been the same. April began her own yoga journey to heal body and soul, and feels extreme gratitude to be able to help others on their journey. She brings to her teaching a gentle and understanding awareness of the body’s ability to recover from injury and illness through yoga. Her approach emphasizes Ahimsa, or non-violence, and honoring your body and its limits in this moment. She believes in the therapeutic value of yoga for mind and body. April is a 500 hour RYT in Hatha Yoga with additional certifications in Restorative Yoga and Reiki. She has also studied Sanskrit, Ayurveda and Ayurvedic body treatments, Yin Yoga, Yoga for Children, Yoga for Pregnancy and Yoga for Athletes. When not on her mat, she enjoys the vegan life with her husband and dog. KATE OLSON, RYT Kate began practicing yoga in 1998. As a college student, working professional, and now a mother of two, yoga continues to be a guiding source of support for Kate throughout these life transitions. Inspired by the effects that yoga has had on her own body, mind, and spirit she began sharing her love of yoga with others. In 2009, Kate completed the 200 hour teacher training with Donna Dyer at Yoga H’om. Studying under Judith Hanson Lasater, Kate received her Relax and Renew® Yoga Teacher certification in 2009. SUSIE POPOVICH Susie was introduced to yoga with the Ashtanga Primary Series in 2000. Since then, she has received the 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Teaching Certification through "It's Yoga" in Columbus, OH and is registered with The Yoga Alliance. When not sharing her love of yoga with others, Susie works as a make-up artist. She loves bird watching, traveling to sunny places, hiking, and spending time with her husband Carmon, their daughters and dog Ivy. LYNN RESCIGNO Lynn is currently the owner of LynnRescignoYoga, LLC and has worked under the guidance of Sharon Gannon and David Life since 1999. She has studied the works of the Krishnamacharya Lineage with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, TKV Desikachar, Tim Miller, David Swenson, Richard Freeman and many senior teachers under BKS Iyengar. A graduate of Point Park College, Lynn was a professional modern dancer with many companies in both NYC and Pittsburgh, PA. She enjoys teaching yoga to people of all walks of life. PAUL RICHARDS, RYT With a classic Mon Valley upbringing Paul could never have imagined that yoga would become such a huge influence in his life. But in 1999, the first step onto a yoga mat was the beginning of an unexpected journey. Eventually in 2008, being guided and influenced by some of Pittsburghs finest instructors, Paul completed the 200 hour teachers training program at Yoga H’om. While very serious about yoga, you will typically find Paul sharing a smile with his students, teachers and fellow yogis. When not on a mat, Paul can be found working a local engineering firm, anticipating his next yogic adventure. KRISTI ROGERS, RYT Kristi didn’t know that stepping onto a borrowed sticky mat at the downtown YMCA in early 2002 would change her life forever. Led to yoga by her younger sister and a desire for a healthier lifestyle, she soon realized that a yoga practice was exactly what had been missing to provide much needed awareness and balance to her life. Later that year, she left the corporate architecture world behind and a renewed lifestyle influenced by her yoga practice began to lead the way. In the spring of 2004, Kristi and her husband (& fellow yogi), Jody Schurman, opened Breathe Yoga Studio (now BYS Yoga) in their South Side Pittsburgh neighborhood. In June 2005, she completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification through Yoga H'om in Oakdale, PA. Kristi brings the creativity of her design background into the studio through her classes and enjoys sharing the practice of yoga with all levels students. Finding that she feels most alive when teaching, she hopes to inspire her students to discover their true passions and to appreciate yoga's many benefits both on and off the mat. Her classes are a fun and flowing style with a healthy dose of alignment principles and philosophy mixed in. In addition to classes at the studio, Kristi can be found June-September leading outdoor yoga classes with beautiful views of her adopted city in the background. She balances her teaching schedule with the management of BYS Yoga, taking yoga classes and workshops (always learning something new!), and volunteering within her South Side community. Kristi loves to travel, spend time with her husband, friends and extended family, and not completely leaving architecture behind, she is currently working on home renovations with her favorite architect – her husband Jody! KENDELL ROMANELLI Kendell began her practice of yoga in 1993 during her graduate studies in Cinncinati. She found that the practice gave her peace of mind and focus during the stress of her MFA program. Kendell discovered Kundalini yoga while living in Los Angeles and fell in love with the invigorating and meditative healing aspects of the practice. She practiced Kundalini yoga for the four years she lived in LA and established a personal practice when she moved back home to Pittsburgh in 2001. At the request of a dear friend, Kendell began to teach Kundalini yoga in 2005 and has been teaching both Kundalini yoga and Chakra yoga classes in several Pittsburgh yoga studios. Kendell's approach is light-hearted and healing as she follows the energy of the chakras to become open and balanced. Kendell completed her 200 hour RYT with Joanne VandenHengel. LISA TANNENBAUM, RYT Yoga found Lisa in 2004. Not only does she enjoy the physical challenges and benefits of her yoga practice, but she also embraces the spiritual and philosophical aspects that continually prove to be life changing. Inspired to learn more and take her practice to a new level, Lisa completed the 200-hour RYT teacher training program in 2010 with Donna Dyer. When not practicing or teaching yoga, Lisa focuses on managing her human resource consulting business. She loves to hike, travel and spend time with her husband and two beautiful children. NICOLE ZELLIE LANN, RYT and Certified YogaRhythmics® instructor Nicole began her study of yoga over 10 years ago with Senior Iyengar teacher Marian Garfinkel. She found that yoga transformed not only her body, but her mind, spirit and her entire life in such a positive way that her teaching career began to unfold from there. She received her 200 hour certification at Lourdes Wholistic Institute in Collingswood, NJ - a Kripalu based school - where she also began to teach. In addition to teaching at several yoga studios across Southern NJ and Philadelphia, she opened her own small studio, the White Horse Wellness Center. Nicole received her certification in YogaRhythmics® with founder Connie Miller and has taught its fun and invigorating classes in juvenile detention centers, corporate workplaces, and to special education teachers. She has studied with Debra Ann Robinson, Kali Ray, Manju Jois and Duncan Wong (her favorite teacher for his dynamic Yogicarts classes!). Nicole now brings her eclectic background of knowledge, warmth, & love of yoga to Pittsburgh - her hometown area and her dynamic personality comes through in her YogaRhythmics® classes. She is forever grateful to all of her teachers and students over the years!