OUR INSTRUCTORS

Bio coming soon…

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 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!!

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 15 years 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?

When I was 19 I suffered from vertigo. A friend told me to try yoga and I actually started my yoga practice with teacher training. It relieved the tension in my neck that was causing my vertigo episodes. The training was a healing based practice that I loved but I always knew there was more. I needed to explor the spiritual side of yoga in order to truly understand myself. This is what lead me to my guru, my path and who I am today.

WHAT TEACHINGS HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

Since I was 19, I have acquired over two thousand hours of yoga philosophy and teacher training education. I have been teaching since 1997. I am certified to teach the Amrit method of Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation technique that allows you to drop into oneness and experience your true Self, where healing, manifesting and releasing karma takes place. I have been an energy healer for over 20 years.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR YOGA CLASS?

My yoga teaching style is a traditional tantric practice based off of Patanjalis 8 limbed yoga. I inherently teaches yoga in its original form. In my class you will explore yoga as it is intended, to transform and experience your true Self.We begin with breath focused meditation to center yourself, release your day and drop the mental dialogue that embeds itself into your physical body. The mind creates tension, imbalances and disease in the body. Focusing on breath and cultivating the space of awareness that lies behind the mind releases these blocks. In class we Flow through postures to move prana into areas where you have been unconsciously storing trapped energy. Long holding of the postures invites you to go even deeper into your practice of letting go. Shavasana is the most important pose. It is in stillness when the subtle shifts occur. All of practice leads you to this place of stillness where you abide in awareness itself.

OFF THE MAT…

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, from State University of New York at Potsdam, and a Masters degree in Acupuncture, from The New England School of Acupuncture in Watertown, Ma. I am licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine and is recognized as a Diplomate in Acupuncture by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). In addition, I completed over 245 hours of post-graduate studies in sports medicine.I have always been an athlete. When I’m not working in my practice or spending time with my adorable nieces and nephews, I can be found doing Muay Thai boxing, Jiu Jitsu, running or in my personal meditation practice.

MY FAVORITE QUOTE:

"Never are you more near the light than when in the dark" - Swami Vivekananda 

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 HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I received my 200-hour Certificate through USMMA’s Wild Wisdom Yoga Teacher Training in 2018

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?

I practice Yoga to slow the momentum of life, breathe and feel.

WHAT TRAINING HAS MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I have a M.S. in Clinical Exercise Physiology and completed a 200 hour Wild Wisdom yoga certification with Jessie Dwiggins and Courtney Dutch.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

Sunrise Salutations will awaken your breath, ignite your core and cultivate healthy energy to start your day with. We begin with breath work and gradual warm up, then build to Sun Salutations and stay in that flow, feeling the connection of breath and body. We close with a gentle cool down and sweet savasana.

OFF THE MAT:

You can find me on the "other" mats at USMMA as i am passionate about jiu jitsu and muay thai

QUOTE I LIVE BY:

Treat others the way you wish to be treated, because they are you, living a different life.

WHY YOGA?

Yoga has transformed my life. I fell in love with yoga Immediately after taking my first yoga class over 13 years ago. I became a kindergarten teacher shortly after and as I got to know my students, I noticed they needed an outlet to release their energy and gain self confidence. I thought yoga was exactly what they needed and that began my thirst for teaching yoga. I know that I wouldn’t be who I am today if yoga hadn’t been introduced into my life. My mission is to share it and have people feel empowered, the same way I have.

WHAT TRAININGS HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

I began my yoga certifications with children’s yoga. I developed an after school program for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade and implemented yoga techniques throughout my kindergarteners daily activities. As my life evolved, I craved more and decided I wanted to share more so I took my first 200hr Iyengar and Hatha based training. I began teaching but wanted more, so I enrolled in a 200hr Vinyasa Training. On a vacation in Hawaii, I took a Baptist yoga class and wanted to learn more, which brought me to the USMMA, and soon after, a Baptist mentorship program. As I grow and learn more about myself and yoga, I have this insatiable urge to keep learning. This fall I will begin an apprenticeship program with Jacqui Bonwell with the goal of joining her 300hr certification program.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

In my class you can expect to lengthen and strengthen your muscles, all while feeling the calming and nurturing effects of the asanas. I incorporate lots of core and muscle awareness in all poses as well as transitions. Expect to be challenged, get sweaty and leave the room feeling stronger, calmer and happier!

OFF THE MAT:

I am kept wildly active and busy chasing two very energetic young boys!

A QUOTE OR PHRASE YOU LIVE BY:

You only live once, so what do you have to lose?

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 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 200 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 am currently pursuing 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?

I have practiced yoga on and off for the past 20 years. For many of those years I struggled to commit the time to deepening my practice. Until 2011 when my life changed forever. A diagnosis of kidney cancer was the awakening that prompted me to develop a consistent practice. Yoga helped me to heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I felt so moved by the experience that i decided to share this gift with as many as possible!

WHAT TRAININGS HAVE MADE YOU THE TEACHER YOU ARE TODAY?

Life has been my greatest teacher in guiding people through their journey of yoga. I received my 200-hour yoga alliance teacher certification from Inner Strength Yoga in Watertown, MA in 2012

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

My hope is to guide you on your personal journey, in the space you hold on your mat. In my class you will learn to connect with your body and your breath. Feeling each breath, within each moment. This is the place where shifts occur.

OFF THE MAT:

I am the proud mother of two strong and kind sons and am married to my best friend. In addition to teaching yoga, I am a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certified personal trainer / Corrective Exercise specialist. I truly believe that fitness is not just about appearance; it’s about how you feel. My goal as a coach is to offer my clients encouragement, confidence, motivation and support to assist them in living a healthy life.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"Be careful what you say to yourself, you're listening" - Donna Godino

WHY MUAY THAI?

I was looking for a way to lose weight, but regular weight lifting gyms bored me. Always having an interest in martial arts, specifically kickboxing so I decided to give Muay Thai a try. Although I was intimidated at first, I knew I needed a change in my lifestyle. In 2008 I walked through the doors of USMMA and never looked back. It is easy to say that I have achieved and surpassed my original goals.

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

Martial arts and Yoga quickly became the focus of my life. I have found a true love for Muay Thai, weekly yoga practice, and JiuJitsu, even receiving my no-gi blue belt. In the summer of 2017 I competed in a Muay Thai fight, winning by a vicious second round knockout. This wasn’t enough for me; I wanted to take my love for Muay Thai to the next level. In the fall of 2017 I took a 10-week trip to Pattaya, Thailand to train Muay Thai at the famed Sityodtong international boxing camp under Kru Toy Sityodtong Sriwaralak. There I trained every day, twice a day, not only improving my skills in the art of the eight limbs, but also absorbing the culture of the Thais’.  I thank my head coach and owner of USMMA, Tom Hafers, for leading me in my martial arts journey and all the opportunities martial arts has given me. My future goals include traveling, continuing to coach young up and coming fighters, and to continue living the life of a martial artist.

WHAT CAN A STUDENT EXPECT IN YOUR CLASS?

Since my return to the United States I have made it my mission to pass on all that I have learned to others by picking up the roll of a teacher to many students inside the walls of USMMA.  I teach with a positive and encouraging approach and meet every student where they are at!

OFF THE MAT...

Outside of the gym I enjoy wrenching on cars, drag racing, rally racing, nature, listening to music and grilling

FAVORITE QUOTE YOU LIVE BY:

“No one will spend as much time with you as you, so be good to yourself”- Donna Godino

“Always against the odds, one with the underdogs”- Terror

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 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.