OUR INSTRUCTORS

WHY MMA?

 I’ve been into martial arts and Western boxing since I was a kid. Even after starting my career and a family, I kept training and got my kids into martial arts too.

I discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over 25 years ago and never looked back. I earned my BJJ black belt under Tim Burrill and my no-gi black belt from Doug Calenda of Team Elite.

For over 20 years, I’ve trained with Kru Mark DellaGrotte at the Sityodtong camp and earned the title of Kru. It’s an honor to help preserve the art of Muay Thai as part of the Sityodtong tradition.

I’m also a USA Boxing coach and have had the pleasure of training Golden Gloves champions.

Putting all this knowledge together naturally led me to mixed martial arts (MMA).

WHAT TRAININGS HAVE MADE YOU THE INSTRUCTOR YOU ARE TODAY?

I’ve spent years training and cornering elite fighters, giving me the chance to be part of top events like the UFC, WEC, K1, and more.

This journey has given me the experience to be a well-respected instructor and coach.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

In my class, you’ll get a great workout, learn a ton, and have fun in a safe environment.

OFF THE MAT…

When I’m not training, I love cooking, playing guitar, and spending time with my family and friends. My wife, Danielle, who is also my business partner, and I enjoy these moments together.

WHY YOGA?

I began my yoga journey in 2004 at the urging of my husband Tom. At the time, he had a three times a week Hot Yoga addiction at a Baptiste studio in Boston. Those days, there were no studios in this area, so my practice was infrequent because of the commute. However, this 90 min sweat bath definitely had my attention. The teacher presented curious ideas which really wouldn't grow in me till later, but as i practiced more frequently my body rewarded me and also let me know that not doing yoga wasn't an option. Fortunately for me, we founded USMMA in 2007 so i had easier access to this sweet practice that brought me physical ease and an ever growing presence. My belief is that yoga brings vitality and longevity which I intend to enjoy till the day I no longer walk the earth.

What inspires me daily, as the co-owner of USMMA, is the true difference yoga makes in peoples lives and I thank them for sharing their stories with me daily! It fills our hearts and gives Tommy and I purpose.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

In my heart i would say that Jessie, Courtney and Stephanie (My USMMA OG's) have had the most impact on who i have evolved into as a teacher. I have spent the most hours on my mat with them guiding me. They are my roots.

My first 200 hr Teacher Training certification with Victoria Haffer was initially a business decision. Surprise, I loved it! It gave me the body knowledge i wanted and an ability to teach. I found that teaching gave me the benefits of a deeper connection to my own practice and a thirst for more knowledge so I jumped in with Jessie in her Wild Wisdom Yoga Teacher Training. That was the icing on my cake. Her's and Victoria's encouragement to be myself as i guide a class has allowed me to blend my two trainings to meet my personality. Most recently i had the sweet and unexpected opportunity to share some training with Jacqui Bonwell and David Vendetti and complete an apprenticeship with Jacqui. Talk about fun and inspired! In fact I was so inspired, that I finished her 300hr Sacred Seed Certification the next year.

I continue to study on my own and learn every time I step on a yoga mat. Every teacher, everywhere, has something special to teach us.

As owner of USMMA, I have had the precious gift of having INCREDIBLE teachers on our staff for almost two decades and to each of them, past and present, I have to say; Thank you for TEACHING us your uniquely valuable and special gifts. I rarely leave a class without an "ah ha" moment.

WHAT CAN STUDENTS EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

For me, yoga is for vitality and longevity for the body and soul. So, my goal is to help you gain more mobility in the body and flexibility in the mind. Guided by intention and breath, I build the practice from the ground up and ease you into a powerful practice. This practice will challenge you both physically and mentally. Long holding does that but don't worry, we mix it up to keep it fun and we laugh too!

My hope is that you to walk away with a balanced and connected feeling that carries through your day, which you can call upon when you need it.

OFF THE MAT...

My three grown babies have flown the coop so when I'm not flying after them, I can mostly be found with my pal Tom ;)

QUOTE OR PHRASE YOU LIVE BY:

Teamwork makes the dream work!

GO TEAM USMMA!

WHY YOGA?

As a daughter, wife, mother and friend, I have spent years caring for others. However, it was a focus on my own wellbeing after a personal loss that led me to embrace the powerful benefits of yoga. With the love and support of my family and my faith, I found an inner strength and peace on the mat. Through my healing came a true appreciation for self care and a desire to help others along their own journeys.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I received my 200-hour Certificate through USMMA’s Wild Wisdom Yoga Teacher Training in 2018. I also completed my second 200hr certificate through THE USMMA METHOD with Jacqui Bonwell and Jessie Dwiggins in 2024.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

I hope to emphasize the Power of the breath and offer a student the opportunity to develop a feeling of inner strength the way it was offered to me. Being early in my teaching career I hope to ever evolve and translate my passion for Yoga into a very positive and grounding experience for all levels of yogis.

OFF THE MAT…

I am a very busy mom of four sweet and active children. I am also an active member of our community, schools, and Church. One of my favorite things is spending time in my kitchen baking for friend and family.

FAVORITE YOGA MOTTO:

"Yoga gives you the opportunity to press pause on your life." 

WHY YOGA?

Yoga helps me to understand my body and mind, challenge what i originally though I was capable of, and helps me connect and be present with myself and others

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I hold an undergrad degrees in nutrition and exercise physiology and a graduate degree in nutrition. I am a 500 HR E-RYT and began teaching yoga in 2007. I am also a Forrest Yoga Foundational and Advanced teacher training alum and certified in Yoga Tune Up® and Functional Range Conditioning® (FRC) methods. I have completed my 500 HR Teacher Training Certificate with Heidi Sormaz.

I am also a licensed Am I Hungry® MIndful Eating facilitator.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

My hope is to guide anatomy-curious practitioners to feel better in their bodies on and off the mat. I do this through a functional movement based Vinyasa class.  I strive to shape an environment where people can cut through the noise of self-judgement, expand physical and mental boundaries, understand body structures and patterns of movement to create balance, and thrive.

OFF THE MAT:

I am co-owner of Borealis Coffee Company in Riverside, RI . I teach mindful eating courses and l love long walks with my pup

WORDS I LIVE BY:

We are not separate from nature and yoga does not happen in isolation.

WHY YOGA?

To allow me the freedom of feeling my feet on the ground, to help me hear my heart, and to let me relax my mind...all while stretching my body, burning calories and building lean muscle!! It’s the jumping point to enlightening your spirit and fine tune your world

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I have been involved in fitness it seems my whole life. I trained classically and have been a competitive dancer from a very early age. My love for dance resulted in a BA in Dance and Performance Art from Roger Williams University. This major consisted of a concentration in anatomy and kinesiology along with the study of the body’s most efficient way of moving with ease and pain free. After college I pursued my love of all movement and received certifications from AFFA in personal training and group exercise. Later I combined that knowledge with Yoga Fit Certifications for Level 1&2 along with two Pilates Mat Certifications from Synergy Systems and a Pilates Equipment Certification from Power Pilates in Pennsylvania. My love of teaching was cultivated from over 12 of teaching dance. I have been teaching Yoga, Pilates, adult dance and fitness for over 17 years. I am a proud member of the USMMA Family, almost since day one, as a teacher of Yoga and kids, and also a student of Muay Thai and Strength and Conditioning!

WHAT CAN STUDENTS EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

My classes are breath and anatomy focused combined with fun flows and solid core and strength conditioning.

OFF THE MAT:

I’m a busy mom of a 5 and 6 yr old and loving wife!

MY FAVORITE QUOTE: 

“Change the way you look at things and things change” - Wayne Dyer!

MY LIFE PHILOSOPHY IS:

We are love and creators of our destiny! The world is truly yours!

WHY YOGA?

With 15 years of study and practice in kickboxing, and 35 years of weight training experience, I built mental and physical strength.In 2009, inspired by my innate curiosity of physical fitness, I pursued my first yoga class at USMMA. I discovered a stronger more full presence of being and a greater ability to manage disappointment, stress, and frustrations. I cultivated healthier perspectives and actions through gratitude, through practice of mind more than body. Through yoga I built emotional strength. I was hooked and I wanted to share and inspire others to feel a shift, the same way I did.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

For me, the study of yoga began with my personal practice. I was deeply influenced by the Forrest Method of Yoga as taught by Jessie Dwiggins at USMMA. That is when I began to develop a deeper understanding for the purpose of the poses and the depth of the “practice”. My formal training was in 2012 through Raffa Yoga where I received my 200hr Teacher Training certification in the Power Vinyasa style.

WHAT CAN STUDENTS EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

In my class you can expect to be guided with full awareness of the entire body. You will fully experience and get intimate with each pose, transition, and more importantly, each breath, . You will be encouraged to seek patience and presence, allowing for the discovery of, and a deep connection to your center.

WORDS YOU LIVE BY:

Flow with the Go. (thats not a type-o)

WHY YOGA?

When I was 13, I babysat for a yoga instructor who let me join in her practice. Being a gymnast at the time, I found yoga offered me a new physical experience that immediately became part of my routine. As my practice progressed i found yoga to be a direct connection to a lessened social anxiety. I developed a groundedness that softened my busy mind. I also loved that yoga was inclusive to all spiritual paths.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

With a degree in Physical Therapy and Personal Training, I have always had a passion for the human body and the benefits of movement. As my personal practice evolved so did my passion for all forms of yoga. I completed my yoga certification in Vinyasa, Hot Power, and Hot Power Fusion as well as Yoga Sculpt while living in Colorado Springs in 2011.  I also completed a certification in Hip Hop yoga which solidified the importance of music to me in my classes.  I am continually seeking to expand my knowledge through personal study. 

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

In my Class you can expect to dig deep and connect to the best within yourself, the most capable and strong version of yourself. I will challenge and empower you to reach beyond what you thought was possible and find success in the most simple or most dynamic pose. I fuse humility, humor, and motivation to move you beyond your doubts and leave you wanting more.  Jazz hands are not out of the question!

PHRASE YOU LIVE BY:

One world, one god, one love.

OFF THE MAT:

I have two amazing sons, a flock of birds and one very fluffy hamster.  I work as a medical aesthetician In Wellesley.

WHY YOGA?

13 years ago, my family and I were living in Charlotte, NC. Once my baby turned one, I started a workout program with my husband that required yoga every Wednesday evening (per schedule). I hesitantly walked into my first yoga class, loved it, and every week thereafter I looked forward to my yoga sessions! Not only did it quench my unknown need for “me” time, but it also made me feel strong, disciplined, and motivated; some things I lost during motherhood. Ever since then, I have practiced yoga at least once a week in studio.

Yoga is not a thing I do; It’s a lifestyle. I love the way it makes me feel and act outside of the studio. The warmth, wisdom, peace, and gratitude that being on my mat brings into each day has aided in how I react to daily stress.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I received my 200 HR training with Universal Power Yoga in 2020 and have expanded my learning through my own practice and the mentors around me.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

My passion for engaging, empowering, and holding space for students to discover their own strength leads to a joyful and grateful spirit. 

These classes will engage body and mind while empowering students to discover their own strength and joy. I love teaching diverse yoga flows that both nurture and energize, leaving students feeling refreshed and inspired.

OFF THE MAT:

I spend time with my family, reading, and listening to podcasts. Game night is never off the table! 

QUOTE I LIVE BY:

Be where your feet are.

WHY MMA?

I started training Muay Thai at USMMA in October of 2008 at 14 years old. High school sports were no longer captivating me and I was looking for a sport that is different than what the school provided.

WHAT TRAININGS AMD EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE COMPETITOR AND TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

After training Muay Thai for many years with Tom Hafers, I decided to also add Jiu Jitsu and Yoga practice to my training. With a more well rounded fight game, I decided I wanted to begin competing, and have now made martial arts my career and lifestyle. I have eight amateur MMA fights, capping off my amateur career as the 115lb. Champion. I continue to compete as a professional fighter with a winning record. I am a nogi JiuJitsu purple belt and teach classes in JiuJitsu, Muay Thai, and Strength and Conditioning. I have completed 200 hours of teacher training with Jessie Dwiggins in her Wild Wisdom training at USMMA. I am also the kids martial arts program director at USMMA. I am excited to help in the growth of USMMA kids program, expanding the competition team, and furthering my professional fighting career.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

In my class you can expect a higher energy class with detailed instruction.

OFF THE MAT…

When I’m off the mat I am thinking about being on the mat and studying the game. I am an avid Netflix watcher and a fantastic baker.

WHY YOGA?

I dabbled with yoga for many years, starting while I was in college. I would practice on and off, when I could find the time or space to do so. I finally found my way to a regular practice about ten years ago, as means to destress, clear my mind, and connect to myself and my breath. My mat gives me the space to explore myself in a safe and loving way. The more I practice, the more grounded I feel.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I completed my 200-hour training with Jessie Dwiggins’ ‘Wild Wisdom Yoga’ program in 2018.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

A vinyasa flow that links breath to movement with poses that build on one another; arriving at a challenging apex. I strive to offer my students the space to choose the movements that feel most nourishing to them, to encourage them to always do their best, and most importantly to be kind to themselves.

PHRASE YOU LIVE BY:

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable; that is where the magic happens.

OFF THE MAT…

I have my bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, so if I’m not at work in my clients’ gardens, you’ll probably find me in my own. I’m a plant geek through-and-through! When not spending time with my many ‘plant babies’, my husband and I can be found hiking, visiting local breweries, or seeing live music.

WHY JIU JITSU?

My dad brought me to USMMA in 2010, when I was only 11 years old. He was worried about me being bullied in school, and wanted me to learn some form of self defense, and if I could get a workout in while doing it, even better. As a kid, Jiu Jitsu was just another hobby or sport for me to do alongside the seasonal baseball I'd play. As I grew older, however, it became less of a sport and more of a martial art. I started taking it much more seriously, and even competed several times. The more I trained and learned, and the more I was challenged, the more enraptured I became. I’ve always been detail oriented, and Jiu Jitsu checked all the boxes for me. The deeper down the rabbit hole of Jiu Jitsu I go, the more I fall in love with it. Now both an instructor and student at USMMA, I can’t imagine my life without it.

WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE MARTIAL ARTIST AND COACH YOU ARE TODAY?

I started my Jiu Jitsu journey in the kids class offered at USMMA. Even after aging out into the teens class, I helped out in the kids class. That was my first taste of what being a teacher was like. I wasn’t able to experience that as much once I grew old enough to join the adult class, but it was still an invaluable experience. I didn’t even notice myself doing it, but as I progressed I found myself falling back on that experience, helping out and teaching my teammates. The more I learned, the more my passion for the martial art and for passing on my knowledge grew. In a true return to form, I now assist with the kids program again, and teach the Jiu Jitsu Fundamentals class.

More than just my own experiences, I have been guided and taught by the best. Tom Hafers, Hilarie Rose, and Matt Martin have all been huge influences on both my grappling and teaching ability. I definitely would not be who or where I am today without them.

You never stop learning when it comes to Jiu Jitsu, and the same goes for teaching. There’s always an opportunity to improve and refine, and I try to take advantage of that every chance I get.develop the USMMA fight team.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

I have long been a believer that to truly understand and improve at Jiu Jitsu, you can’t just follow the steps. While they are important, and the fine details can make or break a successful technique, the whys are just as important as the hows. I incorporate that idea into all my classes. Whether this involves the basic drills and simple techniques you’d find in my Jiu Jitsu Fundamentals class, or the higher level techniques where I can get into the nitty gritty details, I want people to walk away understanding the purpose of what they’re doing.

OFF THE MAT...

Outside the gym, I am frequently wishing I was on the mats. I’m always looking to improve my game and find the next thing for me to work on. When I’m not doing that, I enjoy going disc golfing and getting together with friends to play any manner of games, be they board games, card games, or video games. Of course, all of that has to be accompanied by good food. Getting wrapped up in a good story or lost in music is a frequent occurrence for me.

WHY YOGA?

I firmly believe that yoga is a way of life, and I stand behind its purpose of balancing the mind, body, and spirit through humility, grace, clarity, and kindness. I especially connect with Vinyasa Flow Yoga because of the way it matches breathing with movement and combines creative sequencing with calm, uplifting methods for an inclusive experience for all fitness levels and body types.

WHAT TRAININGS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

Over the past 15 years, various teachers at USMMA have inspired me to embark on a spiritual and physical awakening.  Also, my mother’s battle with health issues, including cancer and diabetes, has motivated me to help others to improve their health. In 2021, I was certified as an oncology yoga instructor, bringing a strong focus on healing the mind and body through yoga practice. I also became a Reiki Master Energy Healer along the way. 

I became a 200 RYT Certified Vinyasa Yoga Teacher trained at the Soul Culture Yoga School.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

I bring my training as an educator, my playful and positive personality, and my love for spirituality to my approach as a Yoga teacher and I strive to make all my students feel empowered by our yoga sessions. My students will experience a gentle but powerful yoga practice geared toward all skill levels. They will get help with stress relief, guided mindfulness, and find their inner peace and power. They will feel part of a tribe.

PHRASE YOU LIVE BY:

“You may say that I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.” -John Lennon

OFF THE MAT…

I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am a wife and a mother of three kind souls. I also have a background in dance and martial arts. I am determined to help others nourish their soul to feel peaceful, powerful, and refreshed.

Bio Coming Soon.