Risa Aronson (Pilates Instructor) Bio to come
Pilar Caso (Yoga Instructor) A graduate of the University of Delaware in public relations and advertising, Pilar has been involved in fitness training and teaching for many years. Originally an aerobics instructor in the Philadelphia area, she began long distance running and cycle training 15 years ago and has competed in half marathons, 10ks and cycle races. Recovering from a running injury a few years ago, she began yoga training and has never looked back. Pilar has practiced many hours of yoga through Baron Baptiste Power Yoga and has attended Baron's Power Yoga boot camp in Costa Rica. She has also completed Level 1 Teacher Training in Mexico and Level 2 Teacher Training in Montana. Pilar loves to share her yoga knowledge and passion with her students, and is devoted to them. "She invites her students to take a journey inward, everytime they come to the mat!"
Stephanie Cooper (Pilates Instructor) Stephanie owned and operated her own business for 13 years after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in education. After many successful and rewarding years, she decided to sell her business in order to allow her more time to focus on her family. However, the years of her demanding schedule had taken its’ toll on Stephanie’s back, and she was determined to rehabilitate herself. After researching the many alternatives, Stephanie decided to pursue Pilates, and was one of the first clients to enroll at H.Y.P. She fell in love with the practice of Pilates, and the atmosphere of the Studio. Once she started to see and feel the benefits of Pilates, Stephanie decided to take her interest in it to the next level and she enrolled in the Stott Pilates training program. While pursuing her training, Stephanie was presented with the opportunity to become part of the H.Y.P. family; she is now teaching both mat and apparatus classes.
Jennifer D'Annunzio (Yoga Instructor) Jennifer obtained her 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga Certification from teacher and author Rolf Gates. She also completed an in-house teacher training with her friend and mentor Shawn Shaw, owner of Metrowest Yoga. Jennifer has taken master classes, intensives and trainings with David Swenson, Bryan Kest, Heather Tiddens, Todd Norian, Rajashree Choudhury and Tom Myers. She continues to learn and grow as a teacher and student from her friends and comrades including, but not limited to, Shawn Shaw, Jacqui Bonwell, Tom Slattery and Gary Stucchi. Jennifer is also a Massage Therapist in private practice with 1500+ hours of training and over 7 years of experience. In addition to the training received at the reputable Muscular Therapy Institute, Jennifer has continued her studies of bodywork with Anatomy Trains founder Tom Myers.
Phoebe Finch-Schreiner (Pilates Instructor) Phoebe Finch is a senior Power Pilates teacher and is an apprentice in Gyrotonic. Phoebe received her mat certification through the PhysicalMind Institute in April 2001 and her Power Pilates mat and comprehensive certifications in 2003. Phoebe is an energetic, enthusiastic and patient instructor who enjoys working with clients of all levels and capabilities. Phoebe gave birth to daughter Lilla Grace in June, a new sister to Phoebe’s other daughter, Isabelle Rose, who is now 2 ½ years old.
Debra Goodman (Pilates Instructor/Studio Caretaker) Bio to come
Susan Graage (Pilates Instructor) Susan is a certified Stott Pilates Instructor and teaches mat classes as well as private and small group training on all apparatus. A lifelong exerciser, Susan has also taught a variety of other exercise modalities, including Spinning, Muscle Conditioning, Water Exercise, and Urban Rebounding. She appreciates the symmetry and balance that Pilates has brought to her life and enjoys working out to work within. She has an undergraduate degree in English and Art History from Tufts University and an MA in Art History from the University of Maryland. An avid reader, Susan writes for the Boston area website Misstropolis. In her intermittent amount of free time, (she also has three young children), Susan also enjoys knitting, kayaking, snowshoeing, and walking her Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Jessica Gutstein (Yoga Instructor) Bio to come
Jenna Hussey Bio to come
Jordan Lashley (Yoga Instructor/BeatMaster) Jordan is a native of Massachusetts, and has spent much of his life traveling the world in pursuit of music and art. After many years of developing his mind and neglecting his body, he became very disconnected. Urged by his wife Angela, he reluctantly found his way to a yoga mat, and everything changed. Jordan has a deep love for the vinyasa practice, and the way in which it brings all aspects of our being - mind, body and spirit - into harmony with one another, creating a much truer and more natural state of existence. Jordan tries to bring this to every class he teaches in a supportive way that allows for students to find the love for themselves. Jordan has studied extensively with longtime friend and H.Y.P. teacher Masaaki Okamura, as well as completing an In-house Teacher Training with the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Cambridge, MA. When Jordan is not teaching yoga, he is a master metalworker making hand crafted trombones for the SE Shires Company. He spends his leisure time at home by the lake with his wife Angela, two dogs Maxximus and Kali, Yoshi the cat, and her Highness Shai'hulud, the ball python.
Sheryl Light (Yoga Instuctor) With deep gratitude, I respectfully acknowledge my amazing teachers and mentors from all over the world. I like to think of my own yoga practice as an eclectic journey which leads my teaching to a more intuitive place that honors the individual form. I extend an open invitation to all to join me in discovering the spirited and transformational path within; being present for each moment no matter what arises, honoring the individual body and its very own unique needs. My exploration into yoga began shortly after the birth of my twins as I looked for a form of movement and meditation to fit into the busy life of a mom to 3 wonderful boys and working artist.
Shawna Nehiley (Kundalini Yoga Instructor) Shawna has been teaching Pilates since 1997. She holds certifications from both the Physical/Mind Institute and Power Pilates. Her love of mind/body movement led her to try her first yoga class 8 years ago. Since then, she has studied many different forms of yoga including Bikram, vinyasa flow, Forrest, Iyengar and Viniyoga. She attended her first Kundalini Yoga class in 2005, and knew immediately that this was the yoga she had been searching for - the rhythmic movement, pranayama, and meditation left her feeling cleansed and renewed. Eight months later, she was enrolled in the Kundalini Yoga teacher trainer program, and is now a 200 hour RYT. In November 2007, she began the Level 2 teacher trainer program, a process that takes 2.5 years to complete. Along with her passion for yoga and Pilates, Shawna is an avid runner who ran competitively for many years. She teaches from her caring and compassionate nature, while challenging her students to move beyond their perceived limits. She is the mother of two beautiful boys, who are the light of her life.
Masaaki Okamura (Yoga Instructor) Born in Japan, Masaaki spent most of his childhood in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He picked up his first Rugby ball at age 6 and went on to play in the prestigious International Seven's competition several times. Masaaki also challenged himself mentally as well as physically by practicing martial arts. He studied Judo and Kyokushin Karate earning his Black Belt in both disciplines. Masaaki also trained within the ranks of the Hong Kong Royal Police to study Aikido and with the Hong Kong Asian Olympic team in Judo. Masaaki taught martial arts for over 5 years training professional fighters, adults and children at the Yamada Dojo in Japan. In 1993, he moved to Boston, where he attended Boston University and graduated with a degree in Psychology. Masaaki took his first yoga class in 2002. This experience had a profound influence and effect and he became committed to regular practice after his first time on the mat. Masaaki eventually began a deeper study of yoga and then later the craft of teaching. Masaaki entered the rigorous in-house assistant training and then later a specialized teacher training at the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute. For 3 years, he worked as a hands-on assistant in the classroom, and eventually began to teach as an instructor at the Cambridge and Brookline studios. He is honored to have the opportunity to study and teach at the Baptiste Institute and to have been mentored directly by Master Teachers Coeli Marsh, Gregor Singleton, and Elizabeth Huntsman. Currently Masaaki continues his studies with Coeli Marsh. Drawing on his training experience and knowledge from both yoga and Martial Arts, he now works alongside Coeli in the Teachers Study Project, which is a professional mentoring and training program for yoga teachers. Through his teaching Masaaki remains committed to bringing courage, strength, and healing to others.
Judi Reed (Pilates Mat & Yogalates Instructor) Bio to come
Jill Sauro (Yoga Instructor) Jill attended her first yoga class at the Baron Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in fall 2002 and began teaching a year later. She realized yoga found her and the calling drew her in. The past 3 years have been life changing, a roller coaster ride through emotions and self-discovery, grounded in a sense of stillness, thanks to yoga. The discovery of her breath has been a healing transformation, a continuous journey. Jill teaches to inspire students to awaken their spirit through breath flow. She emphasizes hearing the breath, feeling the breath, connecting to the breath. She resonates with the Baptiste style because of its particular emphasis on the breath & alignment. Before discovering yoga, Jill competed for Northeastern University in cross-country and middle-distance running. She continued for 2 years after college running for FILA. Through all the running, she rarely stretched, so when a chiropractor suggested yoga for a hip injury, she was skeptical. A year into yoga, she gave up running and now enjoys the slower pace of walking. Along with teaching yoga, Jill is a licensed massage therapist and polarity therapist. She believes in a holistic approach to healing and brings compassion, joy & peace to her work. Jill graduated from Northeastern with a Bachelor's degree in physical therapy. She grew up on Cape Cod, loves the beach, and now lives in Framingham with her sister.
Tom Slattery (Yoga Instructor) Tom Slattery’s
study of yoga was a natural extension of his career as a dancer. He has
had the opportunity of studying with many great teachers who have both
educated and inspired him to share the wonderful benefits of yoga with
others. Tom is a master yoga practitioner, artist, and dedicated
fitness advocate. He has incorporated influences from several different
yoga systems along with his passion for dance and movement of the human
form to develop his unique approach. He has been a professional dancer
for many years including seven spent in Paris performing with a leading
cabaret. While in Europe he studied art and design. His work as an
artist has evolved with his passion for yoga and the balance it brings
to his life. Tom strives to lead students in a practice that is
revitalizing, restorative, and motivating. His supportive style of
teaching and enthusiastic sense of humor consistently leave his
students refreshed, thoughtful, and smiling.
He currently lives in
Newton and maintains a studio in Boston’s South end. To learn more
about Tom's art and see some of his beautiful work, visit www.crossyourtoes.com
Deborah Spielman (Yoga Instructor) Deborah's yoga journey began 13 years ago in NYC while training in a classical acting conservatory. It was her first breathes in pranayama that got her hooked. Her practice continues to strengthen her body and humanity everyday, both on and off the mat - and that is her teaching message. She is a Level 1 and Level 2 trained Baron Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga teacher, with a strong background in Anusara and Iyengar. Like many artist/yoginis, Deborah's lifetime work in the theatre and consequently her time spent in Los Angeles was taxing, at times downright dangerous and, ultimately, totally depleting - both physically and spiritually. Moving back to Boston has been the opportuntity she needed to devote her life fully to teaching, sharing and living healthy. Deborah honors all of her teachers in all yoga systems. She has always returned to the engaging, dynamic sweat that a Baptiste power flow practice gives her, and that is why she teaches, trains and practices with him and his community of teachers. "Everyday, no matter whether I'm having a good day or a bad one, I know that when I come to my mat and focus all my attention on breathing, I will detox the cobwebs of my mind and body, and step off my mat a completely new human being. I just have to show up".
Lauren Star (Yoga Instructor) Lauren Star has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. She was formally trained to teach yoga at the Ananda Kutir Ashram in CapeTown, South Africa in the Sivananda tradition. Her training included Raja yoga, the study of Pranayama and the yogic scriptures, which continue to inform her teaching today. She has also studied with teachers in the Iyengar, Ashtanga and Vinyasa traditions. Lauren is a certified teacher of the Shake Your Soul/Danskinetics Movement technique and uses this as a foundation for understanding and teaching transitions or flows between postures in her classes. Lauren is currently studying Body Centered Expressive Movement Therapy in order to deepen her understanding of mind-body health. On and off the mat, Lauren's biggest commitment is to BEING PRESENT NOW, and her classes nurture this ability in her students. She encourages students to practice staying alert and relaxed within the physically rigorous flow that she leads, and most of all to enjoy themselves through out! Lauren has personally experienced the energizing, balancing effects of a consistent yoga practice in all aspects of her life. She is committed to her students experiencing this for themselves, and spreading the benefits of this ancient wisdom throughout our society. As well as the classes she teaches on the schedule, Lauren offers private yoga sessions.
