Meet Our Incredible Teachers & Practitioners
Ellen Bennett (she/her)
Saturdays at 9:00am - Vinyasa Flow Levels 1 & 2, Online Only
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Current Schedule
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Ellen first discovered yoga as an antidote to physical discomfort and emotional stress that had been sneaking up on her over a period of years. Though she had always looked to physical activity to relieve anxiety, yoga proved to be the perfect balm for body and soul. Her journey from avid student to instructor was a profound life shift for which she is immensely grateful. Ellen completed her yoga teacher training in 2016 and began teaching soon after, and has since completed an immersive anatomy training with Doug Keller and studied yoga philosophy with Tara Lemerise. She earned an MS in Public Horticulture from the University of Delaware. When not teaching yoga, Ellen oversees fundraising efforts and development of wellness programming (like Strolls for Well-Being) among other initiatives at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD.
FUN FACT!
Ellen recently discovered the joys of stand-up paddle boarding and hopes to master paddle board yoga at some point in the future! -
With a focus on alignment and self-compassion, Ellen seeks to lead her students through a safe yet challenging practice. She incorporates meditation, pranayama, and asana into her classes, emphasizing the importance of breath while weaving in the beautiful lessons of yoga philosophy as well as the healing qualities of nature. Ellen will often reference the natural world in her classes and sync class themes with the seasons, which so often affect our lives in tangible and sometimes unexpected ways.
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RYT 200
200-Hour YTT: Embodiment YTT at Simon Says Yoga
Other Training
Yoga for Healthy Aging (Baxter Bell)
“Yoga allows distance from the daily pressures and anxieties of life, providing opportunities for the joy of movement, the release of tension, and the gift of self-awareness.”
Dave Cohen (he/him)
Mondays at 6:30pm - Vinyasa Flow Level 2, Hybrid
Wednesdays at 6pm - Vinyasa Flow Level 2, Hybrid
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Current Schedule
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Dave started his public service career as both a volunteer and career Firefighter and EMT in Montgomery County, MD at the age of 16. After earning a BS in Fire Science from the University of Maryland, he eventually accepted a position in Federal Law Enforcement and has remained an active volunteer in the Fire and Rescue Service. Along the way, Dave recognized the stresses associated with a high-risk emergency response career and the need to manage their effects on the mind and body. This led him to begin his own yoga practice in 2003, and to realize that the mind-body connection is often overlooked in his profession, something he actively seeks to remedy – through leading yoga classes and fundraisers for first responders and veterans, among others. Dave completed his yoga teacher training in 2016 and began teaching at The Happy Yogi soon after. His wife, Monya, is also an HYC teacher!
FUN FACT!
Dave has a small blacksmith and metal shop and enjoys making a variety of crafts. Dave also holds a Montgomery County Food Service license; when he’s not working, teaching yoga or blacksmithing, Dave is active in the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad and often cooks in their commercial kitchen. -
Dave infuses functional movement asana sequences with humor and heart, with the intention of strengthening and stabilizing the body while creating a sense of calm and balance. Dave’s classes offer numerous vinyasas and typically include a challenging arm balance option for students who would like the opportunity to practice and master such poses. He has also been known to include some High Intensity Interval Training, while reminding his students to prioritize enjoying the journey.
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E-RYT 200
Certified Maryland EMT
AHA CPR Instructor200-Hour YTT: Embodiment YTT at Simon Says Yoga
Other Training
FireFlex Functional Movement Yoga
Level 1 Yin
”It's okay to laugh and have fun in yoga class,
so be prepared to smile.”
Monya Cohen (she/her)
Tuesdays at 9:30am - Hatha Levels 1 &2, Hybrid
Thursdays at 9:30am - Hatha Levels 1 & 2, Hybrid
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Current Schedule
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Monya began her yoga journey in the late 1990’s, having been born with alignment and structural issues as well as scoliosis. Once she began a consistent yoga practice, her back pain gradually resolved and the feelings of low level depression she had experienced throughout her life became nearly non-existent. Monya began teaching yoga in 2015 and has been a certified yoga therapist since 2020. As a licensed psychologist in private practice, Monya’s specialty is empowering adolescents and adults who experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD and complex trauma. She believes that a regular yoga practice builds emotional and physical balance, and the resilience to bounce back from life’s challenges.
Monya is proud to be one of Happy Yogi’s Certified Yoga Therapists! Get more information on our Yoga Therapy offerings by clicking here.
FUN FACT!
Monya loves spending time with friends, family, and with her husband Dave (also a Happy Yogi teacher!) who makes her laugh every day. She also enjoys bicycling, swimming, reading and learning, and has a passion for traveling. -
Monya believes in the healing power of breath and movement, and her classes offer a rich, diverse yoga experience that a student once described as “a large, green leafy salad, full of color and texture.” She often talks about the energy centers and Koshas (layers) of the body, and incorporates a variety of postures and breathing techniques to cultivate awareness of physiological sensations in the body, and encourage her students to make the practice their own.
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E-RYT 200; C-IAYT; YACEP
BS in Psychology; MS in Social Work; Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology200-Hour YTT: Inner Axis Yoga, Max Strom
200-Hour YTT: Radiant Child & Family Yoga
900-Hour Yoga Therapy: Phoenix Rising YogaOther Training
Reiki Certification Levels 1 & 2
iRest Level 1
“In yoga, the breath is just as important as the movement.”
Jess Crawford (she/her)
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About Jessica: Jessica discovered yoga as a college student at George Washington University, initially signing up for a class to stretch after cross country practice. It helped with that and quickly became something much more. What began as a physical complement to running grew into a practice that supports every part of her life, offering clarity, resilience, and a deeper connection to herself. Jess completed her 200- and 300-hour Teacher Trainings in 2019 and went on to teach Vinyasa Flow and Stability classes at Hot House Yoga in Virginia Beach. She recently completed her prenatal yoga teacher training and is excited to share that work with the Happy Yogi community.
When not on the mat or running cross country, Jess is a strategic consultant with 20+ years of experience in federal policy, advocacy, and communications. She assisted committees and congress members in the US House of Representatives for almost 8 years before spending over 12 years in the non-profit sector with America Forward at New Profit. She advises education and social impact organizations on strategic planning, communications, project execution, and capacity building, and is dedicated to expanding access to critical programs through coalition-building and stakeholder engagement.Fun Fact! Jessica has run 35 marathons and is almost halfway to her goal of completing one in all 50 states. When she’s not on the mat or logging miles, she’s coaching Girls on the Run in Montgomery County, cheering on her two daughters, and finding joy in connection, community, and meaningful conversation.
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Jessica’s vinyasa classes emphasize stability, alignment, and accessibility, with clear cues and room for students to move in a way that feels right for them. Expect thoughtful, well-sequenced classes that focus on connecting movement with breath, and a supportive environment with modifications offered so the practice works for a range of bodies and experience levels. Jess sees yoga as not just exercise, but as a way for everyone to slow down, reset, and feel more present in their bodies. Her goal is for students to leave class feeling both stronger and more relaxed; whatever you bring to your mat that day, she’ll meet you there.
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BA in Psychology, GWU;
MA in Communications, Johns Hopkins University200-Hr YTT: Yax Yoga Concepts, VA
300-Hr YTT: Yax Yoga Concepts, VA
Prenatal YTT: Pear Maternal Mind & Body (85 hrs)
Baby Yoga & Developmental Movement: Karma Kids Yoga, NY
Tuesdays at 11am - Baby & Me Yoga, In-Studio Only
Tuesdays at 12pm - Vinyasa Flow & Yoga Core, Hybrid
Wednesdays at 6pm - Prenatal Yoga Session
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Current Schedule
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Viktor Frankl
Linda Di Desidero (she/her)
Tuesdays at 7:45pm - Intro to Vinyasa Flow, Hybrid
Wednesdays at 11am - Gentle Yoga & Mediation, Hybrid
Fridays at 11am - Gentle Yoga & Meditation, Hybrid
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Current Schedule
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Linda Di Desidero has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years at studios that include The Happy Yogi and Uplift Yoga in Montgomery County, and the Himalayan Institute in Buffalo, NY. She has been teaching yoga to both novices and more experienced practitioners since 2020, when she earned her YTT-200 just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. She created a small yoga studio in her living room where she taught to neighbors and friends. In 2022, she began teaching yoga on the beach in Lewes, DE, and then in a Lewes studio where her classes included Hatha, Yin, Restorative and Vinyasa.
For most of her professional life, Linda taught communication at the university level, her most recent position at Marine Corps University (Quantico), where she was Director of the Leadership Communication Skills Center. She currently teaches part-time at the University of Maryland and at the World Bank.
Fun Fact: Linda loves line dancing, riding her bike, walking in nature, and cheering for the Buffalo Bills.
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Linda’s classes center on themes of healing, strength, insight, balance, and transformation. Themes are frequently established with a short reading, then explored throughout the sequence, focusing on the intentions of individual poses and how they might bring meaning and alignment to different aspects of our lives. Class sequences are designed to be accessible and flexible, adapting poses to different bodies with different needs.
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RYT 200
PhD, Linguistics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL200-Hour YTT: The Spring School of Philosophy and Movement, Sandy Spring, MD
300-Hour YTT: Dimitra Yoga, Lewes, DE [In Progress]Other Training
Yoga for Osteoporosis with Dr. Loren Fishman
Additional training in the chakras, and yoga and spirituality
“Aligning your body, heart, and mind through the practice of yoga helps you heal yourself and can transform your life.”
Lisa Danahy (she/her)
Saturdays at 11am - Mellow Hatha Medley, Online Only
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Current Schedule
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Lisa began her yoga journey in the early 1990’s, recognizing the physical benefits of yoga early on and gradually uncovering its profound spiritual dimensions. She completed her first 200-hour certification in 2011 and became part of the Happy Yogi community soon after, as a student and teacher. Lisa is a yoga therapist, having completed her MS in Yoga Therapy (RYT-800 training) in July, and offers group classes, private therapeutic yoga sessions, and trainings nationwide, providing accessible therapeutic movement and meditation programs that help students recover from injury, illness, and trauma. Her main focus is on strengthening children and adults through mindfulness-based behavioral health education, and much of her work is with neurodiverse and disabled children and adults. Lisa’s personal yoga practice is the source of great strength, inspiration, and joy as she strives to be, in the words of Swami Kripalu, a “Pilgrim of Love,” by improving access to health, enhancing resilience, and building community so that every student can realize their potential for happiness and well-being. Lisa is the founder of the non-profit, Create Calm, and recently became the owner of Radiant Child Yoga.
Lisa is proud to be one of Happy Yogi’s Certified Yoga Therapists! Get more information on our Yoga Therapy offerings by clicking here.
FUN FACT!
Lisa loves to drive fast cars! She is a big fan of Formula 1 racing and had the opportunity to drive a NASCAR Sprint Cup car on the Richmond Speedway – the ultimate practice of present moment awareness! She also loves walks on the beach, hikes in the mountains and tending her gardens, spending time with friends and family, and being curled up with her cats, Tuey and Tori. -
Lisa’s intention for every class is one of education and inspiration. She truly believes in her students' power to heal and experience joy and well-being by cultivating opportunities to learn the why and how behind yoga. With simple, accessible movements and cuing, as well as ample time in poses to develop the skills of reflection and awareness, she demystifies alignment and the brain-body connection.
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E-RYT 200; E-RYT 500; CIAYT; RCYT; YACEP
BA in Psychology; MS in Yoga Therapy200-Hour YTT: Pranakriya Yoga (Santa Fe, NM)
200-Hour YTT: Radiant Child & Family Yoga
800-Hour YTT: Maryland University of Integrative HealthOther Training
Foundation of Kundalini Yoga Therapy
Adhaya Therapeutic Yoga
Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra
Gentle Somatic Yoga
Pranakriya Prenatal Yoga
Kripalu Yoga in Schools
Radiant Child Trainer
“Yoga is a personalized experience of connecting with the body, mind, and breath in such a way as to bring greater harmony and well being.”
Sarah Fishman (she/her)
Sundays at 9am - Vinyasa Flow All Levels, Hybrid
Tuesdays at 6pm - Vinyasa Flow All Levels, Hybrid
Thursdays at 4pm - Yoga for Longevity, Hybrid
Thursdays at 6pm - Vinyasa Flow Levels 1 & 2, Hybrid
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
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Sarah Fishman has been with the Happy Yogi community since its inception, when she helped open its original iteration (Olney Yoga & Wellness) in June of 2007. She has taught with the community ever since and became its 5th owner in September of 2022. Sarah is a Maryland native who received her BFA from Syracuse University. After several years as a professional modern dancer, she was referred to a yoga class to help recover from a knee injury. What she found on the mat was not just a physically healing routine, but also tools to live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Sarah has been blessed to study with master teacher Max Strom since 2007, and has assisted him in workshops and teacher trainings in DC and PA. She has over 10,000 hours of teaching experience, and has co-led two 200-hour YTTs. Sarah has also studied Thai Massage and Thai Medical theory (similar to Ayurveda), and drawn inspiration from the teachings of Doug Keller, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, and Judith Hanson Lasater.
Fun Fact!Sarah still sings whenever the opportunity allows, and during the pandemic, she and her family created a couple of musical parody birthday tributes which are just waiting to go viral (so go ahead and watch David's 80th and Betty's 75th). She loves to travel and has a long bucket list... When not on the mat, you'll find her on her bike, in the pool, reading, or snuggling with her kids.
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Sarah’s gentle yet rousing teaching style results in an accessible and invigorating "slow-flow" Vinyasa practice, with an emphasis on breath, alignment, healing and transformation. She believes that "motion is lotion," strength and flexibility are best developed in tandem, and that stability allows us to open, soften, and find balance. While her classes have opportunities to move, you'll also have plenty of time to align in stillness and breathe. Her ultimate intention is to deliver a safe, challenging and rewarding practice, where all levels of students are encouraged to first find and connect with their breath, and never to sacrifice the breath to “achieve” a yoga posture.
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E-RYT 200
BFA Musical Theater200-Hour YTT: Max Strom
Baby Yoga & Developmental Movement: Karma Kids Yoga, NYOther Trainings
Prana Flow with Shiva Rea
Detox and Vinyasa Intensive with Seane Corn
The Spine, Anatomy, Asana & Relax and Renew Restorative YTTs with Judith Lasater
Anatomic Yoga with Dr. Ray Long
Tantra Yoga Immersion with Rod Stryker
Thai Massage (40 hrs) and Thai Medical Theory (40 hrs) at the Naga Center
“Through our practice we can open the body, quiet the mind, and finally hear the wisdom of our hearts.”
Lika Elwood (she/her)
Sundays at 1pm - Gentle Yoga, Online Only
Wednesdays at 9:30am - Sculpt Yoga All Levels, Online Only
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
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A native of Syktyvkar, Russia, Lika moved to Washington DC when she was 24 to find new opportunities, learn a new language and culture and get away from cold weather. Her lifelong love of movement and dance eventually led her to find yoga, which she was initially drawn to as a way to stay flexible and strong and find relief for her lower back pain, but she found the practice to be life-changing as well. Lika has been teaching yoga full time since 2010, and currently teaches in countless settings in her community, including studios, schools, corporate settings, health facilities, and festivals. She also leads yoga retreats several times a year, and completed her 300-Hour advanced yoga teacher training in 2022.
Fun Fact!
Lika enjoys many types of physical activities and is determined to learn kite surfing. She lives outside of Charleston, SC with her husband and two young “vibrant “ boys, as well as her two dogs, Bonny and Morgan, and is the co-author of a children’s book called Om Om on the Farm. -
Lika frequently reminds her students to practice in a way that will allow them to practice tomorrow. She strives to teach with equality, diversity, and inclusivity in mind and offers students of all ages and experience levels the opportunity to become stronger, more flexible and more relaxed and at ease in their bodies, minds, and breath. Lika encourages her students to try new, unconventional poses and transitions, and to modify or amplify their practice to meet their own needs and desires. During class, yoga props (including a spiky half-shaped ball called a hedgehog) are Lika’s best friends, and she encourages her students to use props as well, to get the most out of their practice.
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200-Hour YTT: Flow Yoga Center (Washington, DC)
300-Hour YTT: Yoga RenewOther Training
Kids Yoga (75-hour)
Yin Yoga (50-hour)
Rocket Yoga (50-hour)
Aerial Yoga (75-hour)
Zumba
Meditation Training with Pema Chödrön
“I am still a work in progress but I strive to offer all my teachings from a deeply nurturing and warm place.”
Tamar Greengarden (she/her)
Family Yoga Programming (Prenatal, Baby & Me)
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
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A former Special Education teacher for 7 years, Tamar received her BS in Special Education from the College of Charleston, where she taught kids of all ages with autism and emotional behavioral disabilities in local schools, and coached tennis practices for the Charleston Special Olympics team. She completed her 200-hour YTT in 2015, studied Chair Yoga at the Yoga Vista Academy, and did her prenatal yoga training with the Dolphin Method. She currently teaches students from pre-crawlers to octogenarians privately, in yoga studios, and at Groove Today, where she created their adaptive yoga program and sees private clients of all ages with diverse needs. Tamar is passionate about Civil and Human Rights and Social Action.
Fun Fact!
Tamar enjoys exploring other lands and cultures. She studied abroad in London and traveled to 15 countries; after graduating college, she lived and taught in Israel for a year. -
Tamar believes yoga should be inclusive for all people, and is passionate about creating a fun and engaging environment to help everyone have positive body awareness, mindful connections with themselves and others, and tools to use outside of the classroom or yoga studio. She incorporates flowing sequences to help link breath with movement, while offering a variety of modifications so that all students can participate and benefit from the practice, and longer “holds” to bring attention to the muscles and connections being targeted in each pose. In Prenatal classes, Tamar offers safe and accessible poses and sequences to help pregnant people build strength and endurance, find comfort in their changing bodies, and relax with movement and breathing techniques.
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RYT 200, RPYT
BS in Special Education200-Hour YTT: Zen Den
Other Training
Budding Yogis (20 hrs)
Yoga for Kids with Special Needs (20 hrs)
Chair Yoga (60 hrs)
Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga (85 hrs)
“Yoga is a personal journey allowing you to connect deeper with yourself. Take what you need, leave what you don't.”
Nancy Goldberg (she/her)
Mondays at 10:30am - QiGong for All Levels, Hybrid
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Current Schedule
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Nancy began her Qigong practice in 2011, after 6 years of practicing T'ai Chi, which is one type of Qigong-based martial arts. She was immediately drawn to its grounding and therapeutic nature, as well as its poetic nature, and credits it with helping her reduce stress and maintain her balance. In 2022, she retired from a 36+ year career as a Systems and Software Engineer, where she worked for several major US government contractors supporting (among others) the FAA, the Air Force, NOAA, and NASA. Since then, she has completed multiple teacher trainings with the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC), and has taught Qigong mostly to seniors through Montgomery County Recreation, as well as privately and at fitness clubs to adults of all ages. In joining the staff of the Happy Yogi Co-op, she is following in the footsteps of one of her teachers, former Happy Yogi teacher Jessica Koch.
Fun Fact!
Nancy lives with her husband, son, and pet cockatiel. Besides T’ai Chi and Qigong, she enjoys many types of physical activity including NIA dancing, Pilates, yoga, and outdoor walking. -
Interested in getting health benefits of Tai Chi but without having to memorize long and complicated series of movements? Try Qigong with Nancy. Her classes incorporate gentle movement, breathwork, self-massage, and meditation. Adaptable to various abilities, her classes are for adults of all ages, including seniors. The movements are done either seated or standing. There is no floor work so you will not need a yoga mat. Chairs are provided for those who prefer seated versions, for extra support to balance, or for the ending meditation, which usually contains guided imagery.
Nancy uses of imagery from nature throughout the class to support the three elements that enhance the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous system: (1) A relaxed but upright posture (2) long, slow, deep breaths, and (3) mental focus on the present moment. Some students are surprised to discover that, with what appears to be very little effort, their body, particularly their hands and feet, become warm as the energy circulates inside them.
For more information about qigong, please visit www.thehappyyogi.com/faqs#qigong.
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HWPL, IQT-1, ITCT-2
BA and MA in MathematicsTraining
Level 1 Integral Qigong Teacher (65 hrs)
Level 2 Integral Tai Chi Teacher (80 hrs)
Medical Qigong Practice Leader (12 hrs)
“Practice Qigong in your own way and have fun!”
Pamela Kaufman (she/her)
Mondays at 4:30pm - Vinyasa Flow Levels 1 & 2, Hybrid
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Current Schedule
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Pam was first exposed to yoga in high school, when her mom brought her to a Restorative class — and she immediately wrote it off as too slow and not for her! It was not until she was pursuing her doctorate in Sociology while living in NYC that Pam truly discovered yoga. Her time on the mat helped her find her voice, and physically and mentally connect with her sense of self. When her husband's career brought them to DC, she enrolled in a teacher training program. In 2011, she opened a small studio, Allay Yoga in Kensington, MD (which has since closed). Pam is also trained in Yoga For Fertility, Prenatal Yoga and Conscious Birthing, Postnatal Yoga, Mindful Schools, and is a graduate of the Institute For Integrative Nutrition.
Pam holds a BA in Social Anthropology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an MA in Sociology from NYU. She spent many years working on a dissertation investigating how gender impacts career opportunities and decisions in business. Through interviewing over 70 men and women about their careers, she was overwhelmed by the stress they expressed in both their work and family lives, and realized how much she wanted to focus on directly supporting individuals through yoga. So, she gave her data to a colleague, completed her Yoga Therapy certification, and brought yoga and mindfulness to schools, to support kids and early childhood teachers and directors alike. Most recently she added fiber arts, especially crochet and knitting to her practice, finding them a natural pairing for supporting the nervous system. Restorative yoga is now one of her favorite practices! 😅
Fun Facts: Pam has completed 5 marathons. Her favorite place to run is Disney World because you can actually hop on a ride during the back half of the race. So far, she's ridden Expedition Everest (mile 18) and the Tower of Terror (mile 22) mid-race (but not in the same year!). -
Pam’s goal is to provide a nurturing and inspiring place for students of all ages to come, practice, and simply be as they are. She believes yoga + meditation should be accessible and a supportive, safe space for students to explore their own mind-body connection throughout life's many transitions. Pam offers tools for dealing with life's big and small stresses and managing both mental and physical discomfort. Her teaching style is gentle and fun, but her sequences are intense and designed to bring students to their edge. She hopes finding this balance between gentleness and threshold on the mat can be helpful in finding this balance at home, school, and at work.
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C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, RCYT
BA in Social Anthropology (Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor,)
MA in Sociology (NYU)200-Hr YTT: Tranquil Space, Washington DC
300-Hr YTT: Tranquil Space, Washington DC
IAYT Certification: The Soul of Yoga, Encinitas, CAOther Training
Yoga For Fertility, Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga
Children’s Yoga: Little Flower Yoga & Mindfulness
“Yoga is a personal journey allowing you to connect deeper with yourself. Take what you need, leave what you don't.”
Sue Klein (she/her)
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Sue discovered yoga in 2015 during physical therapy for back pain. What began as a path to physical healing quickly revealed itself as a practice for the mind and heart as much as the body. Her favorite part of being a yoga teacher is helping students find their own yoga journey and guiding them toward those “aha” moments when they begin to love yoga for inner peace as much as for strength and flexibility. Sue first taught with The Happy Yogi in the Big Red Barn in 2021-2022 and is delighted to be returning to the Co-op’s community again. When not teaching yoga, Sue is an entrepreneur in the education field and the mother of two adult sons.
Fun Fact
Sue loves salsa and can be found out in the DMV dancing almost every week. -
Sue teaches classes for all abilities, including chair yoga, with the philosophy that yoga is accessible to everyone. Expect a welcoming environment with modification options for all levels, giving students the freedom to take care of their own bodies. Classes include clear alignment and breathing cues, as well as a sprinkling of themes to help extend the practice of yoga beyond the mat.
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200-Hour YTT: Thrive Yoga (Rockville, MD)
Other Training
Thai Yoga Massage
Reiki Level 1
Reiki Level 2
Tuesdays at 4:30pm - Align & Unwind, Hybrid
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
“Not simply a fitness activity, yoga is mindful movement that allows us to slow down, turn inward, and learn more about ourselves.”
Chris Kohout (she/her)
Fridays at 9am - Hatha Flow, Levels 1 & 2, Online Only
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
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Chris initially discovered the practice of yoga as part of her recovery from a back injury and later decided to deepen her practice to manage the stresses of work and motherhood. After experiencing the truly transformative power of yoga in her own life, she decided she wanted to share these gifts with others through teaching. Chris was able to share the treasures of yoga more widely through the Olney and Fulton, MD communities as the owner of The Happy Yogi from 2014-2019. When not on the mat, Chris homeschools her eldest son, and is also the Director of HR & Recruiting for a local software company, of which she is a founder.
FUN FACT!
Chris loves dancing to live music, especially at outdoor concerts or music festivals! She also enjoys kayaking, biking, and camping with her husband and two teenage boys. In her other free time, you’ll find her curled up with her kindle and two dogs, Sheriff and Finn. -
Chris infuses the alignment principles of Iyengar Yoga with the sequencing methods of Ashtanga Yoga, offering her students an invigorating physical practice with a meditative quality to help them find more steadiness, clarity and joy both on and off the mat. Her classes will frequently provide new insights into common poses, and her attention to detail elevates her students’ physical practice without taking them out of their comfort zone, facilitating the connection of body and mind and helping them inhabit the present moment.
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RYT-300
200-Hour YTT: Yoga Works
300-Hour YTT: Columbia Yoga CenterOther Training
Willow Street Immersion Program focusing on yoga philosophy, therapeutics, and meditation
“Only through aligning, strengthening and
healing the physical body, can we be grounded and fully present to experience life to its fullest.”
Erin Langley, LAc (she/her)
Fridays afternoons - Acupuncture Happy Hour, In-Studio
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
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Erin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) in the state of Maryland and holds a Doctorate of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM) from the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH). She has worked for more than a decade in maternal and women’s health and is deeply committed to providing outstanding holistic care, especially for women and girls, from puberty through menopause. Erin found her way to acupuncture as a patient at the age of 40 when, after working in a high pressure marketing role for many years, she developed an injury she was told would have to be corrected through significant surgery. Instead, she decided to try everything else first, and was amazed by how quickly acupuncture helped her get back to normal. Before long, Erin’s curiosity to understand how and why it worked led her to enroll in MUIH’s graduate program. She moved her private practice, Soapstone Valley Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, to Rockville in 2024.
Fun Fact!
As a child, Erin’s father was in the military, so she and her family moved every few years. She’s moved more than 25 times and has lived in all the time zones in the continental US. She spent some of her high school years in Baltimore County, and has lived in either DC or MoCo since 2012. -
Erin is a careful and thoughtful listener who is passionate about taking the mystery out of acupuncture, and enjoys treating people who are new to the practice. She combines a gentle needling style with simple breathing practices to support people who may be feeling nervous or apprehensive, because she knows the idea of needles can be quite scary for some people. She works with her clients and moves at their pace, ensuring they feel safe and comfortable throughout the process. In her private practice, Erin also incorporates additional treatment elements such as herbal medicine, Gua Sha and cupping.
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LAc
DAcCHM from MUIH
AB Psychology & Management Boston College;
MBA Duke UniversityOther Training:
Oncology Externship, Kaufmann Cancer Center
“I strive to listen carefully and thoughtfully. I am passionate about taking the mystery out of acupuncture and translating its core concepts into those that are more easily understood and appreciated.”
Brock Martin (he/him)
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Brock discovered yoga during a time of deep personal searching and found the mat to be a portal to self-connection and reflection. What began as a physical practice soon evolved into tools for grounding, clarity, and inner peace. His teaching journey began in Virginia Beach shortly before the COVID pandemic and then shifted online for a while like everything else. For the past five years, Brock’s work has centered on teaching yoga and mindfulness to preschoolers and elementary-aged students, as well as the faculty, staff, and parents at the National Child Research Center. Most recently, he has taught several family yoga sessions at the National Gallery of Art. Outside the studio, Brock enjoys swimming, spending time with family and friends, and relaxing at home with his partner and their cat, Gary.
Fun Fact!
Brock has an identical twin brother who also teaches at the NCRC preschool, which makes for some very entertaining moments. -
Brock emphasizes slower, mindful movement, and incorporates simple breathing practices and gentle meditation. His classes are accessible and welcoming to all students, inviting them to connect with their bodies and use their breath as a guide and support, offering students space to ground themselves and find peace in the present.
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RYT 200
200-Hour YTT: National Yoga Academy, VA Beach
Other Training
Radiant Child Family Yoga (95hr)
Mindfulness in Schools Project: School Mindfulness Lead and DOTS Teacher Certifications
Sundays at 3:30pm - Monthly Family Yoga
(ON SUMMER BREAK)
Current Schedule
“Yoga is a path toward understanding.
With practice, you begin to understand your true self — your body, your breath, your mind, and your connection to it all.”
Nancy Neves (she/her)
Sundays at 5pm - Yin Yoga & Reiki Session, Hybrid
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
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After leading aerobics and fitness classes for many years, Nancy’s desire to find a lifelong, more sustainable practice led her to yoga. Recognizing the healing and transformational power of yoga inspired her to become a devoted yoga practitioner and instructor in 2008, and she previously taught at Olney Yoga Loft/The Happy Yogi between 2010-2019. Nancy’s background as a geriatric social worker informs her mission to promote healthy aging through gentle, mindful movement.
Fun Fact!
Nancy lives with her husband, daughter, a sweet dog, and an irascible cat. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, nature, cooking, and television shows about “true” ghost stories. -
Emotional and physical wellbeing are emphasized in Nancy’s classes. She encourages students to explore their strengths and vulnerabilities with self-compassion through slow, mindful movement connected to breath. She also offers modifications to promote safe practice.
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KYT 200
BS in Psychology; MS in Social Work200-Hour YTT: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Other Training
Reiki Certification Levels 1 & 2
“If you change your breath, you change your body.
If you change your body, you change your mind.
If you change your mind, you change your world.”
Julia Otten (she/her)
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After losing her father to cancer and getting diagnosed with some health issues, Julia struggled to make sense of her new normal. It wasn't until she started practicing Yoga that she was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yoga became her outlet and helped her realize the strength within herself to get through the highs and lows of life. Helping others see this is what made her want to become a teacher.
FUN FACT!
Julia is a twin mama!
She is also deaf in her right ear, and half deaf in her left ear, so she can read lips! -
Every BODY is welcome in my classes! I combine pranayama and asana to encourage students to work through mental and physical sensations in order to stay present and receive the many blessings yoga offers.
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CYT 200
200-Hour YTT: ISHTA Yoga
Prenatal: Thrive YogaOther Training
YogaFit Level 1-3
YogaFit Prenatal/Post-Partum
YogaLean
(ON SUMMER BREAK)
Current Schedule
“We are stronger than we give ourselves credit for and if we can take a few minutes on our mat each day transformation will happen.”
Carrie Vieira (she/her)
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Carrie first discovered meditation and yoga in 2003 when she was teaching middle school in New York City and looking for a way to manage a high-stress work environment. Her practice initiated an ever-unfolding journey of transformational healing, growth and abundance. Carrie has been teaching meditation since 2010 and began teaching yoga in schools, churches, yoga studios, senior centers and workplaces in 2018. She is also an Instructional Specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools, where she creates restorative classroom communities to help both students and educators practice mindfulness and self care. Carrie has traveled to India several times, most recently in 2020, where she studied ancient yogic meditation and pranayama practices.
Carrie is proud to be one of Happy Yogi’s Certified Yoga Therapists! Get more information on our Yoga Therapy offerings by clicking here.
Fun Fact!
Carrie enjoys traveling. She especially loves visiting Greece, her parents’ homeland. She also enjoys hiking, long walks through new cities, and trying new cuisines. -
Carrie’s classes encourage journeying inward and promote physical, emotional, mental and energetic health and well-being through an integration of asana, pranayama/breathwork and meditation practices that help her students access inner balance, peace, connection and joy. Her classes often culminate with restorative poses to fully integrate the transformative benefits of the practice, and to experience the profound peace that is always available within us – right here, right now.
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RYT 500, C-IAYT
MA in Humanities and Social Thought200-Hour YTT: Thrive Yoga
300-Hour YTT: Yoga Renew
800-hour Yoga Therapy: Purusha Yoga SchoolOther Training
Meditation Techer Training at The Mindfulness Center (160 hr)
Mondays at 6:15pm - (ON SUMMER BREAK)
Monthly Sound Bath Meditations
Click Here to Sign Up
Current Schedule
“Yoga increases my sense of connectedness to my higher self and to all living beings.”
Meet Our Guest Presenters & Substitute Teachers
Natalie Dodson, RMP (she/her)
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Natalie was born and grew up in Ontario, Canada. She began practicing yoga to reduce the effects of everyday job-related stress on her body and discovered it gave her so much more: a sense of well-being that wove itself like a golden thread into every aspect of her life. Her gratitude for the practice has flowed into decades of teaching it to others. Natalie obtained her 200-hour YTT from Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in 2003, and in 2022, she became a Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP) with the state of Maryland.
Fun Fact!
Natalie is also a vocalist/recording artist, and an artisan of sumptuous natural body care products and candles under the umbrella of her small business, Blissful by Natalie. -
Natalie’s teaching style is infused with joy, and fosters a safe and deep experience for every student. Whether gentle or more vigorous, her classes are paced to allow time to fully experience each pose and cultivate fine awareness, so that the teacher within becomes the most important guide. More than any outward measure of a pose, Natalie believes the intelligence of the inner process should be trusted, and she will remind you of this while you memorize how safe alignment feels and deepen your practice from there.
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E-RYT 200
RMP - Registered Massage Practitioner, State of MD200-Hour YTT: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Prenatal YTT: Janice ClarfieldOther Training
Tools for Transformational Teaching (Kripalu)
“I started practicing yoga because I noticed that my mental, emotional, and even physical state were too dependent upon external circumstances. Yoga equips a person with the knowledge of how to be defiantly joyful and irrationally peaceful in this world.”
Linda Baron, LMT
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Linda is a Licensed Massage Therapist in DC and Maryland and has studied and practiced bodywork for many years, with additional and extensive training and experience in Thai massage. She is also a yoga teacher, certified yoga therapist, group facilitator and therapeutic life mentor. In her previous career, she was a mediator, group facilitator, coach, mentor and trainer in a variety of court, community, and workplace conflict resolution programs, including fourteen years during which she deployed to Federal disasters to provide conflict resolution services to employees in disaster field offices.
Fun Facts: When not practicing body work or teaching yoga, Linda enjoys biking, gardening, and vegan cooking. She recently did a 462 mile bike ride through the Midwest!
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Massage Therapy Licenses: DC - #MT 2651; MD #M06262
C-IAYT (Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapists) since 2017
Massage Training
- Potomac Massage Training Institute, Silver Spring, MD, February 2020 (622 hours)
- Integrative Reflexology (24 hours)Thai Massage Training
- Lotus Palm, Montreal, Canada - Basic and Intermediate (72 hours)
- Thai Institute of Healing Arts, Arlington, VA – Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Medical Internship, and Foot Massage (~162 hours)
– Pichest Boonthumme, Chiang Mai, Thailand (~36 hours)Yoga Training
Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy
- Levels 1, 2, and 3 (~725 hours)
- Group Facilitator Training (370 hours)
- Therapeutic Teacher Training (200 hours)
- Therapeutic Life Mentoring (90 hours)
Next Generation Teacher Training for ages 2–7 & 8–13 (~48 hours)Three and A Half Acres - Trauma Yoga and Service Teacher Training (~10 hours)
Coming Soon!
Ofosu Jones-Quartey (he/him)
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Ofosu Jones-Quartey, known artistically as Born I, is a mindfulness teacher, author, and hip-hop artist whose work lives at the intersection of music and meditation. He has been practicing meditation since 1999 in Burmese style of Vipassana as taught to him by his teacher Bhante Buddharakkhita, from the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw.
Since 2004, Ofosu has been teaching with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington's (IMCW), and has been working as an instructor with Minds, Incorporated to bring mindfulness practice directly to students in the classroom since 2014.
An accomplished musician, Ofosu also performs both domestically and internationally as a Hip Hop and Electronic Music artist. He is the author of Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness and the creator of the album Komorebi, a deeply reflective musical offering exploring presence, healing, and spiritual insight. He currently lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife and their four children.
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Ofosu’s work blends contemplative practice with lyrical expression. His Hip-Hop Sound Bath experience weaves guided reflection, crystal singing bowls, and live performance into a powerful offering of presence, healing, and connection.
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Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
Tania Lanning, LMT (she/her)
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Tania Lanning is the owner and founder of Integrative Wellness Management, a nature and trauma informed wellness collective. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor, a board certified and licensed massage therapist & bodyworker, and a yoga teacher. She has over 17 years experience practicing in the wellness community, with a focus on oncology care and women’s wellness. Her integrative approach combines numerous holistic therapies including mind-body education, mindfulness, meditation, yoga and breathwork, movement and wellness consultation. Tania assists individuals and groups in developing customized wellness plans and spaces that support reinforcing heart centered, intentional living and mindfulness.
Fun Fact: Tania is a first generation Argentinean American, and was raised in both Argentina and the US.
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Tania's extensive and diverse background informs her energetic and creative approach to bodywork and the mindful ways she supports her clients. She uses a strength-centered empowerment model, and her mix of intuition, knowledge, and presence is a true gift to her clients and a must for their stress and pain management and relief. In the words of a client, "I am always grateful to have a moment to drop out of my head and into my body with Tania and her massages. She has an incredibly intuitive touch, maintaining a firm yet comfortable pressure throughout, and constantly finds spaces that require special attention that I haven't mentioned ahead of the session. I have recommended her to many of my colleagues and friends and each has left with the same impression of warmth and relief on the other side."
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LMT (licensed massage therapist)
LCPC (licensed clinical professional counselor)RYT 200, Yoga Mount Mandara
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins UniversityOther Training
Nature-Informed Therapy Certification from CNIT
“Nature is spontaneous, resilient, ever-changing, ever powerful. A divine role model.”
Jayshree Surage
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Jayshree is a Certified Yoga Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher with a passion for research, education, and supporting individuals using integrative practices. She values both Eastern and Western paths of healing, and finds peace in bridging the gap in understanding between the two traditions for both patients/clients and health care providers. In June of 2020, she co-founded GroundRoots Healing, a collective that seeks to empower the voices of women, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), and underserved populations by offering tools for inner resilience to confront the deep wounds of injustice and remember our shared humanity. She also collaborates and provides services with Babies Born Healthy of Montgomery County, an organization that strives to reduce the disparities in infant mortality, specifically addressing the gap of excess infant mortality between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white populations.
Jayshree is a graduate of Maryland University Integrative Health and holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences specializing in Neurobiology and Physiology. She currently works with the University of Arizona as a research interventionist, supporting those diagnosed with Dementia.
Fun Facts!
Jayshree plays guitar, piano, and has a pet rabbit. She also has three beautiful kids that run her world in the best ways, and loves taking barefoot hikes. -
Jayshree teaches a wide range of yoga classes, including Vinyasa, Hatha, Meditation, Therapeutics, Seniors, Gentle, Yin and Prenatal Yoga. A Trauma-Informed teacher, her mission is to create safe and inclusive spaces for ALL individuals to explore the deeper layers of their being through the practice of yoga, to support mental, physical, and spiritual health and well-being. Her integrative approach aims to guide students towards a more balanced and sustainable state of being while complimenting their preexisting modalities or health care regimens. Ultimately, her goal is to support and guide individuals towards their truth, wisdom, and knowledge from within.
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Credentials & Training: C-IAYT, RYT 500
BS Biological Sciences Univ. of Maryland,
MS Yoga Therapy200-Hr & 300-Hr YTTs: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Healing, Stockbridge, MA
500-Hr YTT: MD Univ. of Integrative Health
Other: Yin Yoga Training, Fulton, MD
Thai Yoga Bodywork Training, Asheville, NC
“Yoga is a body-mind-spiritual practice that utilizes various tools to guide you back to an internal awareness and discernment, so you can recognize your True Self.”
Charlene Muhammad (she/her)
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Charlene Marie Muhammad is a traditional healing practitioner who has been embracing the spirit of natural living for over 25 years. Charlene’s practice is predicated on formal Master’s level training as well as her own personal use of plants, food as medicine, and movement therapy, giving her hands-on relationship and knowledge of these traditional healing modalities.
Charlene is a Certified Yoga Therapist (International Association of Yoga Therapists) with over 500 hours of yoga teacher training. In addition, Charlene is also an early childhood educator, childbirth Doula and certified Yoga instructor. A graduate of Cornell University, Charlene holds a Master of Science Degree in Herbal Medicine from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, and is also a licensed dietitian.
Currently, Charlene facilitates wellness lectures and workshops and conducts private sessions with groups and individual clients. Charlene also teaches a variety of yoga classes around the metropolitan DC area and is the principal yoga instructor for a clinical study of yoga for the National Institutes of Health.
Charlene is proud to be one of Happy Yogi’s Certified Yoga Therapists! Get more information on our Yoga Therapy offerings by clicking here.
FUN FACT!
Charlene’s wellness practice, Urbanherbalist, focuses on supporting clients with a practical application to optimal health by using the healing tools that she has grown to embrace in her own personal life: herbal medicine, nutrition and yoga. Her new book, Yoga in the Black Community, is now available to order. Charlene also serves as secretary for the Black Yoga Teachers’ Alliance (BYTA). -
Charlene is an alignment based teacher who strives to cultivate a mindfulness practice through the understanding of living fully within our bodies. She strives to assure that the asana practice is accessible to all by offering modifications and props tailored to each student's ability and comfort level.
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E-RYT 500; CIAYT
MS in Herbal Medicine200-Hour YTT: Yoga Center of Columbia
500-Hour YTT: Yoga Center of ColumbiaOther Training
Certified Yoga for Arthritis Teacher
“Do what you can, where you are at, with what you have!”