>

Brittney Burgess

brittney-burgess-boston-yoga

With a Masters Degree in Sport & Performance Psychology and Mental Health & Behavioral Medicine, Brittney brings an unparalleled understanding of the mind body connection to all of her teachings. She artfully integrates a lens of healing and mental well-being into all of her classes, seasonal workshops and retreats. Her flows challenge as her words soothe and students are left with an experience that is both incredibly renewing and empowering.

During her years as a therapist, Brittney worked with individuals with significant trauma histories, anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles. It was during this time that she discovered the safe, healing, grounding gift of yoga. From this belief that yoga heals, Brittney completed 200 and 300 hour yoga trainings from Baron Baptiste and Jacqui Bonwell, along with extensive training in both Trauma-Sensitive Yoga with David Emerson of the Trauma Center and Yoga for Emotional Health & Healing with Kate Graham.

In her sport psychology work with professional, collegiate and high school athletes, Brittney trained athletes to harness the power of the mind, and now guides students toward this same powerful presence through the physicality of their yoga practice.

Brittney is passionate about sharing the gifts of yoga in a way that feels accessible to every person. She invites students to show up to class exactly as they are and to trust that they have tremendous purpose, courage and support within. Her classes will both challenge you and hold a space for you to breathe, explore, empower and ultimately walk out of class with mind, body and heart in alignment.

Outside of the studio, Brittney has two young daughters, writes, loves time in nature and is on a journey to heal from autoimmune diseases. She seeks to create a community of joy and love, and is filled with gratitude for the opportunity to do this as both teacher and student through this transformative practice.

Emily Griffin

emily-griffin-yoga-boston

Right after trying a few different yoga classes I became hooked! it just hit home with me. I love the heat, sweat and flow of vinyasa yoga; it is truly a practice that builds a strong and healthy body while calming the mind and encouraging awareness. Yoga has challenged me both physically and mentally. After beginning my practice i began to notice differences not only in my physical body but also in my life off of my yoga mat. I felt stronger and calmer – I became more present, gained the ability to let go and became extremely aware of my body. I knew I wanted to share this incredible practice with others.

I am a graduate of prana power yoga’s teacher training program and am also certified in assisting/adjusting. i continue the study of yoga through a variety of teachers, workshops and trainings. my classes focus on breath and flow while maintaining proper alignment.

Rhonda Skloff

Tracy_Rodriguez_Photography_Blog-7325.jpg

About Rhonda: Rhonda is a RYT 500 through the training of two master teachers; Jacqui Bonwell of Sacred Seeds Yoga School (200 hours) and Natasha Rizopoulos of Down Under School of Yoga (300 hours). The influence of these two brilliant teachers has shaped her teaching and allowed her to find her own voice.

Rhonda was a fitness professional, cycling teacher, runner, skier, Power Pilates instructor and personal trainer who once dreamed of being a body builder. Rhonda enjoys teaching public classes and private sessions and does so with intelligence and compassion. She teaches with attention to proper alignment and emphasizes staying present with breath and focus. Finding balance between Sthirha and Sukha (steadiness and ease) is what she strives for in herself and in her teaching. She learns something new from not only every class and workshop she takes, but from every student she meets.

Rhonda owned, managed and taught at her own studio for 3 ½ years and while doing so developed The Beginners Yoga Series. She plans to continue to bring the series to the public. “My goal is to bring the joy and lasting effects of yoga to as many people as possible; hoping to bring positive change to the world, one yogi at a time”.

Rhonda enjoys biking, skiing, paddle boarding, walking her 2 chocolate labs and spending time with her husband and two sons.

 

Laura Grundstrom

laura-grundstrom-lexington-boston-yoga-teacher

Laura Grundstrom has taught children in many different capacities for the past fifteen years. Her love for movement developed early in life as she danced her way through her school years. Laura has degree from Franklin Pierce College in social work and a minor in dance. Laura recognizes that children are natural movers and she has taught kids dance and creative movement at a variety of places throughout the years.

Laura’s personal love for yoga began with restorative practice, as a way to reduce stress and anxiety. She then began to explore vinyasa yoga which invoked feelings that reminded her of dance. Moving with breath and flowing from one pose into the next Laura was instantly hooked.

Laura taught Autistic children for years and her personal yoga practiced helped her stay grounded and conscious of her breath during stressful times both in and out of work. Eventually Laura moved on to teaching in a preschool setting; and she started to bring yoga into the classroom to help some of the kids who struggled with attention and listening. Laura began her yearlong 300 hour training to become a certified YogaKids teacher and trainer as a way to better support her students in the classroom. It was the perfect way to merge her love for yoga and her passion for teaching kids.

Laura has had the privilege to train with Marsha Wenig the founder of the YogaKids program. The YogaKids philosophy is to educate the “whole” child by blending yoga with reading, music, body awareness and academic skills in a non-competitive environment. Laura strives to incorporate all of these things into each of her classes. Students these days are under a lot of pressure and stress, Laura has worked hard to help bring yoga into classrooms to help children learn stress management techniques. She has also facilitated trainings to educate teachers on how to include yoga directly into their curriculum.

Children have so much to teach us if we just take the time to stop and listen. As a mother of two young girls, Laura works both on and of her mat to find balance, playfulness and of course the bravery to try new things. Laura is looking forward to connecting kids with their natural passion for yoga and fun!

Linda Spolidoro

linda-spolidoro-lexington-yoga

Having spent much of my early years feeling inadequate privately, acting out publicly, and generally doing the exact opposite of anything that would have made my life easier, I came to the logical conclusion that I had been born on the wrong planet. I just couldn’t figure out where it was I fit and what it was I had to offer (talk about existential angst).

I had no idea that when I walked into my first yoga class a few years back, I was hot on the heels of discovering my home planet. Yoga has allowed me the ability, the confidence, and the nonjudgmental freedom to embrace my uniqueness (unique being code for weird) with compassion, gratitude, and most importantly, unadulterated joy. It has given me the physical outlet that I crave (it’s a great work-out), the spiritual connection to something beyond my intellect (think String Theory), and it has introduced me to the most loving, creative, and compassionate community anywhere on this or any planet. Simply put, Yoga for me has softened the voices of self doubt that were once constant companions and amplified the beautiful Song of the Universe that had been there all along.

Mandy Schwartz

mandy-schwartz-yoga-boston

What I love about yoga is that it works – no exceptions. All you have to do is show up and breathe, then sit back and watch your life transform. I fell in love with yoga right away, and looking back I can see how fast my life began to shift – big shifts for the world to see and internal shifts that really have been much bigger.

I completed teacher training through Prana Power Yoga and began teaching just four days later. In the years that followed I attended many further trainings and workshops and feel blessed to learn from so many amazing teachers. I have trained in assisting with Sue Jones & Ray Mucci, anatomy with Ellen Heed, Yin Yoga with Josh Summers, and kids yoga with Lisa Flynn. I am also a level 1 Reiki practitioner under Jene’ Rossi. I continue to stay committed to learning and growing as a yoga teacher and student.

I aspire to teach the kind of class that I love to take: balanced, challenging, fun, and fluid, with a whole lot of space to find your own way. Creating a strong flow is one of my absolute favorite parts of teaching yoga. I also love teaching to music and thoroughly enjoy creating playlists that I hope enhance the students’ experience without distracting from breath.

Mostly, I strive to take this journey one step a time, soaking up as much as I can. Bob Dylan said,“we have never arrived, we are in a constant state of becoming.” Yoga teaches me to live slow and never stop becoming.

Michael Mann

michael-mann-yoga-boston-teacher

My yoga practice has allowed me to find more fun and freedom on and off my mat, reminding me that I always have options and that I can always shift my perspective to focus on what feels good. I enjoy teaching playful, energetic classes that challenge students to try new things and move beyond the limitations of the mind to tap deeper into the amazing potential and wisdom of the body. I offer lots of space for freedom and many options and modifications in my classes. I welcome you to come as you are, listen to your body, rest when you need to rest, and choose what feels right for you, moment by moment, breath by breath. Through yoga, I've learned to take myself way less seriously, and to be more spontaneous and creative. I love sharing this perspective with all my students, and I especially love it when we can laugh at ourselves and lighten up a little in the process!

Prior to teaching yoga, I worked with elementary school- aged children in classrooms, afterschool programs and camps, and I still enjoy teaching kids yoga and even bringing out that inner child in adult classes. I especially love teaching to fun music from various genres and my love of music is reflected in the classes I teach, helping students to tap into their own inner rhythm and vibe. In addition to my 200 hour teacher training with Prana Power Yoga in 2008, I have taken trainings with Claire Este-McDonald, Gregor Singleton, and Lynne Begier, as well as an advanced training in alignment and sequencing with Ame Wren and David Regelin, and I continue to study with Jane Cargill, of Baptiste Power Yoga. I'm inspired every day by so many wonderful teachers and by my own students, and I feel lucky to be part of the amazing yoga community we have here in Boston.

Michelle Brenes

michelle-brenes-yoga-teacher-lexington

Michelle began practicing yoga in early 2005, on a whim – or so she thought. yoga truly awakened her inner spirit and over time it began to weave together, piece by piece, mind, and body, strengthening her awareness and her connection to herself and the world around her. She found tremendous guidance and support from amazing teachers such as Jacqui Bonwell, Alex Amorosi, and jene rossi, and ultimately studied with all three in addition to taylor and philippe wells for her 200-hour yoga alliance certification in 2008. She is also a level ii reiki practitioner and continues to study traditional usui reiki. Michelle’s devotion and love for yoga has had a remarkable impact on her life. She credits her practice for rescuing her from 18 years of battling severe migraines and anxiety. She believes whole heartedly in this healing practice and its ability to empower and transform lives. She honors the courage and strength it takes for every individual to step onto their mat and teaches with complete compassion and sincerity. “I believe we can all transform our lives and create perfect harmony. I believe it begins with the smallest shift in perspective. It happens every day, one class, one breath, one smile at a time.”

Molly Powers

molly-powers-yoga-instructor

By popular demand, Molly is back teaching her vibrant brand of power Vinyasa yoga. Molly has been an instructor for nine years - training with Rolf Gates, Todd Norian, and Anne Greene - and her work at Lexington Power Yoga marks her return to teaching after a year spent focusing on her other healing arts. With her wit and warmth, Molly has built up devoted followings around Boston and in New York City.

Molly welcomes students of all levels to her class. She offers a lot of personal attention to make sure that her challenging and powerful flow will energize and uplift - bringing healing to your body and your spirit.

Molly is also the sole owner of Powers of Healing (www.powersofhealing.com), where she works with individuals and groups as a psychic medium and a Reiki Master.

Tina Adoniou

Tina first stepped into a yoga studio in 1999 on the urging of a friend. She soon found that the union of body and mind, movement and breath is what keeps her grounded. Yoga has done more for her than she could have ever anticipated. It's helped her manage the stress of managing large teams in corporate jobs for the past 10+ years, navigate through the grief of the sudden death of her father and also through her kidney donation to her cousin in 2010 - both in mentally and physically preparing her for major surgery and in recovering from it. The yoga practice plays a key role in her life in keeping her smiling and strong and supportive to those around her.

She went back to her very first teacher, Rolf Gates, for her 200 hour Vinyasa Teacher Training, and now has the honor of being his teaching assistant for his Boston area 500 hour Advanced Teacher Training. She also completed apprenticeships with Jacqui Bonwell, Chanel Luck and Lorraine Shedoudi and is also greatly influenced by Johnny Gillespie, founder of Empowered Yoga.

In addition to teaching yoga, Tina is also a level 2 reiki practitioner. Everyday life and habits create a lot of stuck energy – mental and physical – and these two healing modalities allow for a great deal of freedom and endless possibilities.

She’s incredibly grateful to be doing this work and relishes everything about it. She’s also thankful to be surrounded by such supportive people who encourage her and keep her going on this path.