Yoga first touched the heart, mind and body of Diane in 2001. At this time she relocated from NYC to spend time with her niece battling a terminal illness. Searching for a way to bring peace into her life and those around her, she quickly discovered the healing benefits of yoga. Her personal well being was fueled by over 20 years practicing on her mat, but the realization that “yoga can heal” body, mind and spirit, emerged during her trainings, at the time of great loss in her life. She found her practice deepened her connection to compassion, allowing space to give more to family and others.

Diane has been influenced by a wide range of yoga styles including Ashtanga, Forrest, Baptiste and Yin. She has studied with many national teachers including Seane Corn, Sarah Powers, Cyndi Lee, Kevin Courtney and Ana Forrest. She is a certified RYT 200 in WHY Power Yoga and Ana Forrest Advanced Teacher Training, as well as CPR certified.

Diane’s classes focus on utilizing the breath, as a tool, to go deeper into the body and mind. She emphasizes safe alignment and accessibility to all from Gentle to vigorous Power. Diane’s hands-on approach utilizes both her intuition and her open heart.

Diane’s other loves of life include her family and friends, her tiny Maltese, Layla, paddle boarding with her husband and spending as much time in nature as possible!

“When I’m on my mat, there is a complete balance of mind, body and spirit, for which I would love to share with others.”

Brittany was first introduced to yoga in 2004, and after practicing for the next seventeen years, she felt inspired to take her practice to the next level by becoming an instructor. She is a recent 200 hour YTT graduate, and completed her training at Sanctuary Power Yoga in Canton/Torrington.

Brittany is a graduate of Springfield College with a major in dance. She went on to teach modern dance courses for the young women of Ethel Walker School for the next decade. With a passion for movement and a strong, versatile background in dance; she creates classes designed to focus on alignment and strength building. Brittany brings her enthusiasm for yoga and her love for moving meditation awareness to her classes; particularly in vinyasa flows. Her hands-on assists and use of aromatherapy will heighten your experience.

photo by Phyllis Meredith Photography

Cara is a Certified Yoga teacher under the tutelage of West Hartford Yoga’s Barbara Ruzansky and Nykki Poole. She graduated from WHY’s 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training in 2015 and has been teaching ever since. Her yoga journey began over 10 years ago… “I started yoga as another form of exercise after training in the martial arts for many years. I found it to be a good fit with my dance background and attention to proper form, but mostly, I found peace of mind on my mat, a sense of inner peace I haven’t found anywhere else.” Cara has used her yoga practice to heal injury, to strengthen and tone her body, and to develop a deeper sense of body awareness. As a teacher, she knows that bodies come in all different sizes, fitness levels, and degrees of flexibility. Her teaching style allows students to modify the poses based on their individual needs, always focusing on breath and self-awareness. In addition to the physical benefits of a regular practice, yoga has offered Cara a sense of community that she intends to share with her students. “Those who practice yoga regularly understand yoga, we are a tribe. It makes me so happy to see the same people coming back to my class so we can grow and learn together!” In her class you will experience a powerful Vinyasa flow. Warming up with slow mindful movements connected with breath, and flowing into powerful, strengthening standing asanas. The goal of Cara’s class if for her students to leave feeling strong, open hearted and clear-minded. When she’s not practicing or teaching yoga, Cara is raising her two active kids, working two part-time jobs, going to school to get certified as a medical assistant and generally trying to enjoy life. She’s a self-proclaimed “work-in-progress” who is always looking for new opportunities, ways to improve her life and develop her spirituality!

Initially Dana was drawn to yoga as a form of exercise. For many years her physical practice helped her stay in shape, including during and after her two pregnancies. Over time Dana has come to appreciate not only what breath and movement do for her body but more importantly what they do for the mind and spirit. Being on the mat allows her to be free from all the noise in her life. It helps her create space to better love herself and those around her.

“Yoga has truly opened my heart and mind and I am excited to keep growing and learning on this amazing journey. My goal as a yoga teacher is to lead a strong yet accessible class while providing each student a safe space for self-exploration and growth.”

200hr LivFree Power Yoga Certified, Chair Yoga Certified, and Warrior Kids Yoga Certified

Jenna kicked off her yoga journey over three years ago, after making a few major lifestyle changes. By developing a regular practice, yoga has offered her the space to connect internally, tap into her intuition and focus more on personal happiness. With this new perspective, Jenna aspires to share it with others. She completed her 200 hour WHY Teacher Training at West Hartford Yoga and her Yin Teacher Training with Liza Dousson.

Jenna is always deepening her own practice by experiencing other yoga styles and techniques. Jenna’s classes focus on being mindful with every movement connected to the breath, as you flow through class at your own pace. She strives to provide yoga to students of all levels and encourages students to test their edges. Jenna is a new proud Mom of Nella and in her spare time, also enjoys painting, baking “healthy” treats and participating in as many outdoor events as possible!

Seeking calm in a season of life challenges, grief and burnout, Jessica stepped onto a yoga mat for the first time in 2008. The yoga practice became a safe nurturing space which helped quiet her mind, build self-compassion and tap into her strength both physically and mentally. A student at heart, she continues to learn and relies on yoga and mindfulness practices to stay centered through all the things this crazy beautiful life brings.

With a calm presence and playful creative sequencing, she offers a class that is empowering and grounding. She guides students to experience the practice one pose, one breath at a time and provides modifications and adjustments to make the practice accessible for all students.

Through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, her hope for every student is to encourage peace in their thoughts, kindness in their words, and joy in their hearts. When not on her mat, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, knitting and sewing.

Trainings & Certifications

300 hour Advanced Teacher Training, Jason Crandell Yoga Method 2021

200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, West Hartford Yoga 2018

Yoga & Mindfulness for Children, Advanced Concepts, Childlight Yoga 2019

Yoga & Mindfulness for Tweens and Teens, Childlight Yoga 2019

Yoga & Mindfulness for Children, Childlight Yoga 2018

JoAnn attended her first yoga class in 2002 and hasn’t looked back. As she began to feel and understand the benefits of a yoga practice she was curious to explore further. In 2015 JoAnn graduated from Journey of Yoga’s 200 Yoga Teacher Training under the guidance of Maggie Durbas. After teaching for 6 years JoAnn was eager to dive deeper into the practice. Having participated in several workshops with international teacher Amy Ippoliti, JoAnn studied and completed a 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Amy and the Vesselify School of Yoga to become a 500 RYT, registered with the Yoga Alliance.

JoAnn brings to her classes a blend of yoga styles with a focus on alignment, movement with breath and mindfulness as a path to whole body health. She is eager to share her practice and share the lifelong benefits of yoga. See you on the mat!

Wendy has been teaching yoga for the past 5 years. She specializes in Restorative and Vinyasa styles. Her classes are known for their calming and supportive atmospheres. Wendy is a 500-hr. RYT, Reiki Master, Thai Yoga Massage Therapist, and an EFT/Tapping Practitioner. Her passion is to guide others, in their yogic journey, to better spiritual, physical, and mental health.

Julie was first introduced to yoga around 2016. She found that yoga helped ease tension from her work as a sign language interpreter, and the mat to be a refuge, which provided a quiet space to find peace and healing. She understood deeply that mindful movement is the change agent which fosters overall physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. After some time, she knew her love of the practice would eventually lead her to  teaching. She began studying under the instruction of Kristin Cork at Be.Yoga, where she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2022. Julie loves sharing her passion for yoga with a breath and heart centered focus, and is a person who cares deeply about the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of every individual who participates in her classes.

Check your ego at the door. This is Marni’s mantra. Yoga isn’t about how fast, how strong, or how flexible you are. It’s about the practice. Your practice. Known for her kind and gentle demeanor, Marni strives to make her students, regardless of experience level, comfortable and confident on their mats.

Marni found yoga when she was searching for a way to manage her own stress and anxiety. She was amazed by yoga’s ability to invoke transformation and balance to her life. Yoga’s effect on her life was so profound that she wanted to give others what she had received from her yoga experience – healing, peace of mind, and strength. This led her on the teacher’s path in 2011. She is a graduate of West Hartford Yoga’s 200 hour Power Yoga Teacher Training and completed her YinYoga teacher certification under Liza Dousson in 2020.

Marni strives to lead a class that encourages students of all levels and yoga backgrounds to feel supported while developing their own personal practice. Her classes are designed to awaken the power of breath and the inner stillness that follows mind–body connection. Marni holds a special place for new students, older adults, and individuals living with injuries. Often, these individuals are discouraged by yoga and feel it’s not for them. Marni has a way of helping these individuals find the way with modified poses that work for their bodies and stages of life.

Off the mat, Marni is a well-known jewelry designer in central Connecticut, enjoys music, hiking, beach days, and just about anything nature has to offer.

As a dancer and athlete, during her young life, movement had always played a key role in Katie’s life. Feeling a bit lost after college graduation, Katie discovered yoga. While her yoga practice has changed and developed over the years, stepping onto her mat continues to keep her connected to herself and her intuition.

Katie believes yoga is a practice through which you can foster a better relationship with yourself and your body. Katie’s All Levels classes connect mindful movement with breath to ground you in the here and now. No previous yoga experience is necessary, just a curious mind, an open heart, and willingness to laugh at yourself! Pose modifications and alternate options are provided.

When not on her mat, Katie can be found hanging out with her dog — Gus — or with your dogs around central Connecticut. As field manager for DaleyPawz, Katie cares for pets in the community and oversees the small business’s team of walkers and petsitters.

Katie completed her yoga teacher training at West Hartford Yoga.

MPH, PTA, ERYT-200, C-IAYT

Yoga has been a central part of Robin’s life for four decades, as a student, and a teacher for over thirty years. She began her journey with a motivation to heal, and find greater ease in body, mind and heart. Over the years, Robin has had the good fortune to train with outstanding teachers of yoga, mindfulness and meditation from many traditions.

With clinical experience in outpatient physical therapy she brings her depth of knowledge of the body to all that she does as a yoga teacher and anatomy instructor. A self-proclaimed science nerd, Robin is always looking to learn more about how to use yoga to promote well-being and healthy aging.

Robin has advanced training in Yoga for Osteoporosis, Arthritis, and Back Pain and has been offering this to the community since 2018. She is forever grateful for the all of the places that this profound practice has taken her, and for the opportunity to share it with others.

Kyle's a multi-faceted holistic wellness enthusiast, with a diverse background and a deep passion for well-being. His foundation in yoga has led him toward humbly guiding others through their personal journeys of self-discovery, inspired by the teachers who have made such a rich impact along his own path.

You can expect Kyle's classes, to create a nurturing and inclusive space for self-discovery through yoga, meditation, breathwork, and Reiki. The values of safety, self-trust, and compassion inform his teaching style, and he draws on his background in leadership to hold a strong space for others to experience their personal unfolding.

Kyle's path towards holistic wellness began with a quest for healing and meaning. Seeking relief from the crushing challenges of PTSD and depression, he discovered the transformative power of yoga and an Ayurvedic lifestyle. These ancient practices became a lifeline, offering him tools to break free from the confines of his past and the ability to envision a future grounded in new perspectives and self-concept.

In addition to Kyle's yoga journey, he dedicated 20 years of his life to military service and has been a social studies teacher for the past 16 years. His military service gifted him with discipline, commitment, and resilience, while teaching high schoolers has impressed on him the value of patience, empathy, and nurturance, all qualities that meld into his yoga practice. In addition, Kyle's a parent to five children, understanding the daily challenges and weighty responsibilities that many of us face.

Kyle believes that yoga can empower each of us to navigate life's intricacies, while finding moments of peace and self-care in our own unique flow.

Lauren is a health enthusiast at heart using both exercise and whole foods eating to fuel her energy for teaching and for life. A dancer and musician since the age of 5, Lauren has realized the importance of music and movement in many capacities including Ballet, Tap Dancing, Jazz, Belly Dance, Pole Dance Fitness and Yoga. She is a 200-RYT from West Hartford Yoga, a certified Hot Hatha Sculpt Teacher (by Meredith Evangelisti) and is also certified through both Balanced Body Barre and Exhale as a Barre Instructor. Lauren teaches a challenging class with humor, motivation and inspiration.