Meet the team that helps create your peaceful experience at Lotus Pond!
Below you'll meet Lotus Pond Studio Co-Owners as well as our current Staff, Teachers, and Teacher Trainers.

Certification/Title Key:
RYT = Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance
RYT 200 = has at least 200 Hours of yoga training
E-RYT 200 = has at least 200 Hours of yoga training with over 1,000 hours of teaching experience
RYT 500 = has at least 500 Hours of yoga training
E-RYT 500= has at least 500 Hours of yoga training with over 2,000 hours of teaching experience
YACEP = Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider for Yoga Teachers
​

Alyssa Liadis • Co-Owner • RYT 200​​

Co-Owner of Lotus Pond, Yoga Teacher and Assistant Teacher in the 200hr Yoga Teacher Training Program

​Alyssa was drawn to yoga as a way to find movement outside of her corporate job.  As her physical practice began to deepen, she realized there was a bigger connection to her mind and spirit.  With this, and her passion to teach, she knew she found the right path - teaching yoga.  Alyssa has completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Lotus Pond and looks forward to meeting with her students.

Katie Beene • Co-Owner • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

Co-Owner of Lotus Pond, Yoga Teacher, and Yoga Teacher Training Director
​
Katie Beene brings a deep love for yoga to every class she teaches. She guides students of all levels through a variety of yoga styles, from group sessions to personalized 1:1 practices designed to meet individual needs. Katie’s teaching is rooted in the belief that yoga is for everyone, whether you're seeking physical strength, mental clarity, or emotional balance.
A lover of nature and mindfulness, Katie finds inspiration in the world around her, bringing a grounded, holistic approach to her yoga practice both on and off the mat. She enjoys cross-training in dance and sports, always infusing her movement with the wisdom of yoga. Her classes are a space for growth, self-discovery, and connection, where students are encouraged to explore their own path with curiosity and compassion. Katie believes in the power of yoga to transform lives, and her teaching reflects her commitment to sharing these practices in an accessible, warm, and supportive way.

Val Spies • E-RYT 500 • Chopra Health Teacher • Founder of Lotus Pond

Founder of the Lotus Pond Studio and Program Creator of the Lotus Pond Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Val Spies is an E-RYT500 certified Kripalu yoga teacher and Chopra Health & Meditation teacher and Chopra Wellness Coach. She specializes in the inner quest for joy through the practice of yoga, meditation and breathwork. She has been leading workshops, travel tours, and training sessions for yoga groups and corporate enterprises for over 20 years, and offers expertise in tailoring programs to fit the needs of her students.  Today, Val is best known for her ability to deliver the complex studies of yoga in a comprehensive and intriguing style that appeals to students of all levels.  As a Chopra Health Teacher she also leads workshops on Ayurveda Health and Nutrition.  She is the founder of the Lotus Pond Center and "yogi mama" to 700+ graduating yoga teachers across the country. 

Book a 1:1 coaching session or a set of sessions with Val on zoom through her website: www.ValSpies.com

Katie Stephens • RYT 200

YTT Coordinator

Katie was born and raised in Tampa. She took her first yoga class in 2008 and immediately fell in love with it. With her background in teaching, she felt like it was meant to be that those two worlds would collide. Katie is certified in Reiki level II and graduated from the 200 hour yoga teacher training program here at The Lotus Pond in December 2022. She believes that yoga is not only an incredible workout, but is a way of living life full of compassion, openness, and pouring love into others. Yoga has always helped her to feel relaxed, centered, and like she has a safe space to explore her practice.
 

Kimberly Hughes • RYT 200

Studio Operations Assistant Manager
​
​​Kim has been practicing yoga for almost 15 years and completed her 200hr YTT here at the Lotus Pond in 2014.  Since then she has taught in a variety of settings including Yoga for Crossfit, Beach Yoga, and KAY Yoga for Kids.  She is a proud mama of two and is excited to introduce and continue to expose her littles to the teachings of yoga. Kim received her Holistic Health Coaching certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition where she was introduced to the concept of bio-individuality: the idea that every BODY requires its own personalized approach to health.  Holistic health and wellness is Kim’s passion and her goal is to create a ripple effect by spreading her knowledge and enthusiasm to her community, focusing on the younger generations.  In her spare time, Kim loves thrifting, arts and crafts, being in nature, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.  She feels extremely blessed to be a part of the Lotus Pond community as it has been a dream of hers to work here since she first stepped through the front door of this magical log cabin oasis.

Grace Zimmerman ​• Front Desk Staff

Bio coming soon!

Lauren Gordon ​• RYT 200 • Front Desk Staff

Laurens’ love for yoga started 16 years ago after taking her first Vinyasa Flow class. What began as a physical practice used solely for the purpose of “working out”matured and evolved into a deep rooted and spiritual passion for all things Yoga.
After moving from the hustle and bustle of New York to the Tampa area, Lauren found The Lotus Pond and was finally able to take the next step in her life and become a certified yoga instructor. She graduated from The Lotus Pond YTT program as an RYT200 and is currently enrolled in the 300 hour with aspirations to continue on her learning journey. Laurens’ approach to yoga and life is to find integrity, comfort and ease in all that she does - on and off the mat! Her class style focuses on alignment, strength, flexibility and having fun so expect to sweat, stretch and smile!

Anne Marie Kearney • RYT 200 • Front Desk Staff

Bio coming soon!

Carla Jimenez Rosas • E-RYT 500 •​ YACEP

Carla Jimenez Rosas is a native to Tampa, Florida where she started teaching yoga and dance in 2002. Carla is a Reiki Master and Yoga Alliance 500 E-RYT and YACEP Certified. Carla’s Other Certifications include State of Florida Dance Teaching Certification, Prenatal Yoga Certification, and American Ballet Theater Teacher Certification. Carla has taught yoga and dance to people of all ages and abilities, including the football team at the University of South Florida, The Florida Dance Education Organization Conference, Various Performing Arts Elementary, Middle, and High Schools and The Patel Conservatory in Tampa. In 2011, she became a Yoga Teacher Trainer at the Lotus Pond Yoga Center in Tampa and continues to serve as an adjunct master teacher for the yoga school. She is currently a Dance Director at Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts. Carla’s yoga classes are creatively fluid and always include her singing the healing sounds of Mantra in the final meditation. She has delivered numerous workshops over the past 20 years on chanting, reiki and teaching methodologies. Carla’s passion is teaching her students to achieve bliss by integrating yoga into every part of life.

Charles Burgess • RYT 200

Charles has been coming to the Lotus Pond for over 5 years after discovering how yoga brought joy and relief to his life that was otherwise filled with bouts of corporate burnout, running-related injuries, and the stress of everyday life. Now, through the teachings of yoga, he helps students find more balance, confidence, and compassion on and off the mat.

With a background in comedy, acrobatics, and mentorship, he takes a light-hearted approach to class that focuses on proper alignment and finding some fun in each posture.

Cristina Yelvington ​• RYT 200

Cristina began practicing yoga regularly in high school while working her first job at a local gym. In her young adulthood, yoga's presence in Cristina's life ebbed and flowed, as she would abandon her practice for stretches at a time and then find herself back on her mat during times of trouble. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cristina was looking for a way to destress, connect to her body, and dive deeper into exploring the mysteries of human existence - in essence, to come home to herself. This search led her back to her mat - this time for good. Cristina graduated from the Lotus Pond 200hr Program in December 2022 and is currently pursuing her 300hr certification at the Lotus Pond as well. Cristina is passionate about helping people feel strong and confident in their own bodies. She teaches with props and modifications because she believes wholeheartedly that yoga is for every body.

Debbie Palombo • RYT 500

Debbie is a 200Hr & 300Hr YTT graduate from Lotus Pond. Debbie has been practicing yoga for 8 years and within the last year started teaching. She is thrilled to be offering Chair Yoga at Lotus Pond because she is passionate about her yoga practice and her goal is to make yoga possible for everyone. She has certifications in Chair Yoga, Restorative, Yin Levels 1 & 2, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, Headstand, Vinyasa and True Core. When not doing yoga, Debbie is a hiker and loves trekking and climbing mountains. She also loves cooking and entertaining with her husband, Larry. They have two sons and are thrilled to be first-time grandparents to their new grandson, Lucas.

Eva Serna ​• RYT 200

Eva’s yoga journey began in 2015 during a ballet summer intensive. She began taking yoga
classes online with Yoga With Adrienne, and took her first yoga class at a studio in 2020. Her
history with ballet and search for self-love brought her to yoga. Expect to blend strength and
mindfulness in her classes, emphasizing alignment and cultivating a compassionate connection
with the body. In 2022, she was introduced to pranic healing by her teacher, Tara Drucker, and in 2024 completed her pranic healing certification at Pranic Healing Tampa. She is passionate about
sharing energy healing and helping others remove the blockages that prevent them from living
peacefully and happily. She started her own yoga Youtube channel at Eva Flowers in 2023. She has a rollerblading community called Bay Blades and a dessert business called Eva Flours Pastry Shop. She graduated from the University of South Florida in August of 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in
Communication and minor in Entrepreneurship. Eva graduated with her 200hr teacher training in
June 2022 and is actively pursuing her 300hr training at The Lotus Pond.

Joyce Mattioli • RYT 200

Joyce has been practicing yoga in one way or another for as long as she can remember-- from stretching before, during, and after sports events, to watching TV and Tai Bo workouts, to sharing foundational yogic principles and methods with fellow teachers at school; and as far as sitting for breath and stretching before exams in English class. Her first, “Studio” class came in 2011 at USF where Joyce found an early morning class with an instructor who taught a combination of yoga and floor pilates. This class supported Joyce in a smooth transition from high school to college, as she was used to using movement  and music as outlets through activities such as marching band and sports. She quickly realized that she found a movement style she could commit to and enjoy. Moving on from the fast pace of high school sports and activities, to the calm and mindful practices of yoga, Joyce has found a home in yoga and has committed to life-long learning. Joyce completed and earned her Yoga Teacher certification in October 2023. And has taught more than 350 hours of yoga and meditation. Joyce’s hope for the future is to not only gain her 300 hr RYT certification and to train to become a Yoga Therapist, but to return to University in order to combine her training in yoga with a profession as a Mental Health Counselor.

Karen Frost • 200hr Certified Teacher

Karen was drawn to yoga in 2000 because of work and personal stress, and she felt right at home once she began practicing regularly. A runner for years, yoga provided the chance to really stretch in a unique way. More than that, it pushed her toward regular meditation. Karen became a YTT 200-hour certified teacher through the Lotus Pond in 2012, and she has been a teacher of gentle practice at the Pond since 2013. She invites her students to learn their bodies, to have fun and relax, and to explore the amazing flexibility that the human mind and body can have when you give them permission.

Liliana Brun ​• 200hr Certified Techer

​Lili came to a yoga class to release tension from a high stressful job. She fell in love with the mind, body, breath connection and in July 2015 she completed her 200 E-RYT with Ally Ford Yoga. Lili began the privilege of teaching in August 2015 and continued her education learning different styles of yoga (Vinyasa flow, gentle, yin, hot yoga, pranayama and meditation). Lili is currently taking her 300RYT training at the lotus pond in Tampa. She is grateful to have found her own yoga practice that has kept her strong during many difficulties. Lili believes it’s a reminder to stay humble on and off the mat and to be kind to the body as she ages.

Lisa Osorio • 500hr Certified Teacher

​Lisa is a 500-hour certified yoga instructor whose journey began a decade ago when she discovered yoga as a practice and watched it evolve into a complete way of life. A passionate travel enthusiast, Lisa has been fortunate to teach and study yoga across the globe, absorbing diverse cultural experiences and teachings that enrich her approach. With a passion for yoga in its entirety, she embraces not only the physical postures but also the often-overlooked aspects of meditation, pranayama, history, and philosophy. Lisa guides with knowledge and compassion, inviting students to develop deeper connections with themselves and yoga's ancient wisdom.

Lori Rogovin • RYT 200

Lori has practiced yoga at the Lotus Pond for over a decade and, amid the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, was inspired to deepen her practice and expand her understanding of the philosophy and history of yoga. She enrolled in the Lotus Pond’s 200-hour yoga teacher training program and graduated in August 2021. It was not until her immersion in the teacher training curriculum that Lori realized a calling to teach yoga, recognizing it as a natural complement to her social work background and the work she does teaching and mentoring social work students. She is more than halfway through the Lotus Pond’s 300-hour teacher training program and credits the training and teachers with cementing the connection for her between her yoga journey and her personal and professional commitment to public service, diversity, inclusivity, and social and economic justice. Her yoga classes foster a warm and welcoming environment, add a touch of humor and play, and are encouraging for practitioners at all levels of practice. When off the yoga mat, Lori enjoys time at the beach and in nature (can never see enough water and beautiful sunsets), playing golf, kayaking, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends near and far.​

Dr. Manasa Kanithi - Neurology Resident Physician - E-RYT 500 YACEP

Manasa is a teacher in our 200 and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs. Having been a student of yoga from the age of five, Manasa brings authentic teachings of Philosophy, Sanskrit, Mantra, and Ayurveda to the YTT programs at Lotus Pond. Manasa offers classes drawn from multiple lineages that take students to the heart of yoga.  Manasa attended medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and works as a resident physician at MedStar/Georgetown, specializing in Neurology.  She strives to weave together the traditions of yoga with the scientific principles to promote health and wellness for her students. Her travels to 25 countries and extensive work with nonprofits, local and abroad, inspire her teachings to encourage diversity, inclusivity, and the importance of service and social action.

Margie Sagafi • E-RYT 500

Maryelin has been practicing and studying yoga for more than 15 years, traveling the world and attending numerous workshops and conferences with Rodney Yee, Cindy Lee, Laurence Biscontini, David Regelin, Karin Stephan and others. She traveled to India seeking deeper knowledge; after a month of submerging into the practice of the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga, she received her yoga teacher certification from The Himalaya Yoga Institute. She is trained in Raja Dhiraja Yoga, a more extensive and comprehensive form of Ashtanga Yoga. Her teaching methods emphasize strong practice, precise alignment, meditation, visualization, and intention; flowing in coordination with breathing techniques. She is certified in Prenatal and Restorative Yoga. She teaches private lessons as well as group classes.

Marie Shively • E-RYT 500

Marie discovered her love of Yoga 35 years ago in college and has practiced it ever since. She went on to teach yoga after becoming a personal trainer and group wellness Instructor at the YMCA more than 20 years ago. Marie obtained her 300 hours at the Lotus Pond in 2021 and dedicated herself to spreading yoga’s wisdom and teachings to all. She is passionate about helping people bring healthy practices to all aspects of their life and works with people at all levels, including those who are recovering from an injury or people who have physical impairments. She strives to bring love, kindness, peace, and ease to all who attend her classes, saying “From my heart to your heart, with grace and love, Namaste.”

Meagan Lynn Pilawski • RYT 500

Meagan practices Quantum Healing and facilitated immense healing of an aggressive autoimmune disease through tapping into subtle energy work, brain health, and mindfulness practices. She began practicing yoga in 2016, and completed her 200 hr yoga teacher training in July of 2022. She is currently enrolled in the 300hr teacher training program at The Lotus Pond. She is an attuned Chokopa Shamanic Reiki Master and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Science in Medical Cannabis Science & Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Meagan believes everything to be energy, that our thoughts begin it, emotions amplify it, and actions increase it.

Molly Haneke ​• RYT 200

Molly found yoga during a time of transformation, and it quickly became a cornerstone of her recovery journey. After earning her RYT-200 at The Lotus Pond in December 2024, she began teaching Power Flow classes, where she emphasizes strength, balance, and connection. Molly is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive environment where students can challenge themselves, find more mind-body connection, and leave class feeling empowered and centered. She believes yoga has the power to transform, and she’s excited to share that with everyone who steps onto the mat.

Pam Velez • E-RYT 500 •​ YACEP

Pam has been teaching yoga for the past 9 years.  She began taking yoga classes at a gym with the intention of getting a good workout.  What began as part of an exercise routine has become so much more.  Pam credits yoga for helping her to become a better person:  more patient, compassionate and less judgmental.  She has over 700 hours of yoga training and earned her E-RYT 500.  Pam loves to laugh and brings this element of lightheartedness to each class.  Her classes incorporate alignment, flow, humor and a bit of yoga philosophy.

Roger Mallory • E-RYT 200 / RYT 500 • YACEP

As a teenager Roger read Yogananda’s book “Autobiography of a Yogi” about the same time he was studying Zen Buddhism and the spiritual teachings of a variety of masters. Roger, coincidentally, researched the practice of yoga, established a home asana practice, was trained in Transcendental Meditation and began intense karate training. Roger discovered, early, the bliss of blending the nourishment of spirituality and meditation with an intensely focused physical practice of yoga and karate. After obtaining his undergraduate degree in Experimental Psych., his juris doctorate (law) degree at Univ. of Fla., working in the part-drama, part-straight-jacket life of a trial lawyer, and, circa 2005, suffering a rapid series of traumatic personal losses, Roger “stopped the clock” and consciously assessed his life to determine whether there was a “way out” of intense and persistent suffering.  Roger brings his years of teaching experience, yoga and meditation practice, gifted speaking and writing abilities, and his bright energy and humor to teaching yoga and meditation, and increasing the awake awareness of his students on and off the mat.

Ryan Devin • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

Lead Teacher in the 200 & 300 Hour Lotus Pond Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Ryan Devin has extensive training in intuitive alignment-based yoga, acrobatic yoga, pranayama (yogic breathing) and meditation. With over 2500 hours of experience in teaching, he is a passionate and enthusiastic leader with a patient and loving approach.  His co-teachers and students say he exudes wisdom and intuition beyond his years. With a Bachelor’s in Alternative Medicine, he merges an understanding of the human body and holistic practices into his teachings.

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing is so gentle as real strength.”

Sahara Rodriguez ​• Meditation Teacher

Sahara Rodriguez has been practicing bodywork, teaching classes and workshops for over 30 years. She has studied and trained with spiritual teachers from around the world and brings together many paths in the spirit of Oneness. Sahara is a licensed massage therapist, Reiki Master, meditation teacher, minister, author of the inspirational, "Beyond the Reflection" and is dedicated to heart centered service. Her classes provide a safe, nurturing space which assist people on their healing path and connection to the Source.

Sarah Sclafani • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

Sarah Sclafani is an E-RYT500 experienced yoga teacher with a wide range of class styles for all levels. A certified Chair and Yin Yoga teacher , a Reiki Master and a Silver Sneakers certified in fitness and yoga instructor.  She loves to she share her passion through yoga through her teachings.  Sarah is a mother of 4, grandmother of 7. Sarah's motto: You are one yoga class away from a good mood!

Tara Drucker • RYT 200

Tara began practicing yoga in 2019 to deepen her meditation practice. She quickly found that yoga gave her the mind, body, and spirit connection she had been longing for her entire life. Through yoga, she was able to begin healing the grief associated with losing both parents and balance her physical, mental, and energetic body. Following her intuition, Tara completed her 200 hour Teacher Training at the Lotus Pond, where she is currently working on her advanced training to become a 500 hour teacher. She is also a Pranic healer (energy healer) and incorporates it into her yoga practice. Yoga and Pranic healing are a perfect match as both focus on moving energy through the body to avoid congestion as well as connecting on a deeper level to the divinity with us. Tara is passionate about helping students feel ease and confidence in yoga postures so they can find balance and bliss in their lives. She focuses on alignment while incorporating breath work, mindfulness, and joy into her classes. 

Teri Martin • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

​Teri Martin is an E-RYT500 Experienced Yoga Instructor from Boston and has been a yoga practitioner for over 20 years. In her yoga teaching she encourages, leads, and empowers students to tune in to and connect with themselves, creating increased physical and personal awareness.
Teri is an Artist, Art Consultant, Business Advisor and founder of TheArtNetwork. Her left brain has a Harvard MBA and is a former executive at HBO, Cinemax and Citicorp.
Teri’s vinyasa flow classes are enjoyable, thoughtfully choreographed and appropriately paced flows of ashtanga - based postures and movement with strong emphasis on proper alignment, breath, personal awareness and individual attention.

Tuan Tran Le • RYT 200 

Tuan is a 200 hr certified Teacher from the Lotus Pond and is currently continuing education in the 300 hr course leaning more about the mind and body. He loves the idea of yoga being accessible and able for everyone - meeting yourself and your body wherever you are at , at this moment. Through knowing our bodies and cultivating awareness of our inner self he believes we can develop into greater possibilities for ourselves and those around us. Tuan hopes to bring this idea into classes through his own experiences and continued education.

Anne Curtis • PH.D • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

Anne Curtis is a teacher in our 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. She is devoted to teaching in a student-centered way, in which each student's unique characteristics are taken into account. Her goal is for each individual to find their way toward greater understanding of their own body and how to work with the yoga poses to bring about a finely tuned mindful balance. In 1996, Anne started studying Yoga and began to devote herself to Yoga as a way of life after using it to heal from an upper back injury. She had studied classical ballet and modern dance for 14 years in Berkeley, California. After her undergraduate studies, she earned a Ph.D. in biology at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2003, Anne did her Iyengar-based teacher training studies in Palo Alto, California with Larry Hatlett. She then completed the Yoga Alliance 200 hour certification with Val Spies, founder/director of The Lotus Pond in Tampa, Florida. She founded Yoga Within in 2010. In 2014, Anne completed the 500 hour certification with Val Spies. Anne is currently a member of The Lotus Pond Advanced Teacher Training staff.
Visit www.yogawithin.studio for more information

Dr. Jennifer Swarigen • Orthopedic Surgeon • RYT 500

Jennifer Swaringen is a teacher in our 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. She began practicing yoga over 20 years ago and completed her 500 RYT yoga teacher training through the Lotus Pond. She also is an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine and has taken care of patients in the Tampa Bay region since 2008. The principles of yoga have greatly influenced and improved her life and she feels grateful for the opportunity to share the practice with others. In 2018, she began teaching the Perspectives in Anatomy Course at the Lotus Pond with Anne Curtis. Jennifer is able to bring examples from her medical and surgical background into the workshop to assist students in understanding the anatomy of the human body, especially as it relates to doing, modifying, and teaching yoga postures.
Learn more at www.alexaderorthopaedics.com 

Karin Stephan • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

​Karin Stephan is an Alignment Teacher in our 200 & 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs. She is a leading Iyengar yoga teacher in the United States with a career that has spanned more than 45 years. She credits her understanding and appreciation of the human body to the teachings of BKS Iyengar, the world's foremost yoga master. As a student of Mr. Iyengar's since 1972 and a certified Iyengar teacher, Karin incorporates his insights and acute sense of observation into her yoga practice and teaching on a daily basis. Karin first met Mr. Iyengar on a visit to Pune, India in 1969. Mr. Iyengar's focus on yoga as 'precision in action' complemented her interest in structure and aesthetics, a theme which runs throughout her teaching. In 1985, she co-founded The B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Center of Cambridge with Patricia Walden.
Learn more at http://www.yogamacro.com 

Larissa Carlson • M.A. • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

Larissa Hall Carlson is a teacher in our 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and the Pranayama Teacher for our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. Larissa Carlson is an M.A., E-RYT 500 and Kripalu 1000-hr teacher, co-creator of Yoga Journal's online course Ayurveda 101, and former Dean of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda, guides retreats, directs advanced yoga teacher trainings, and provides consultations across the country. Specializing in pranayama, yoga for performers, Mindfulness and Ayurveda, she supports students and clients in deepening their practice, finding radiant health and making the most of this life.
​Learn more at www.larissacarlson.com ​

Melissa Caroll • E-RYT 500 • YACEP • MFA

Melissa Carroll is a teacher in the 300hr Yoga Teacher Training Program, a college creative writing professor, and the author of four books, including Going OM: Real-Life Stories on and off the Yoga Mat. In 2006 Melissa discovered yoga and Reiki as paths toward inner peace, and she has dedicated her life to sharing these practices with others. Melissa has taught yoga for the past 11 years and specializes in philosophy, alignment, Yin Yoga, meditation, and the subtle body. Learn more at www.TheYogaWriter.com.
​Creator of the online course SHADOW+LIGHT: A Journey Toward Self-Mastery

Pam Kaplan • E-RYT 200/ RYT 500 • YACEP​

​Pam Kaplan is a teacher in our 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. She has been studying the craft of yoga since the 80's in NYC where she also studied acting, voice, and dance. Pam is a former actress and vocal coach and currently practices as a speech-language pathologist. She has worked with both television, radio and stage actors to assist them reach their vocal potential. Some of Pam's clients have been ESPN2, NewsChannel 8, WMNF and American Stage. She has worked for Eckerd College, USF, Ruth Eckerd Hall, HSN and performed a one-woman show in Tampa.

Willow Marcotte • E-RYT 500 • YACEP

Willow Marcotte is a teacher in our 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. She is experienced in Yoga Nidra, Chair Yoga, Yoga for Seniors, Restorative Yoga, pranayama and alignment. Her background in nursing, compliments these practices allowing for a deep understanding of anatomy and body function. Her journey began in 1996 while studying Tibetan Buddhism and Meditation. A long-standing appreciation for philosophy, she found the path of yoga a natural progression. Willow’s continued studies in adaptive yoga and trauma training have allowed her to develop a teaching practice that is all inclusive. In addition, she has developed trainings to provide access to the tools needed to safely and effectively teach adaptable yoga with supportive language and insight. Willow invites students to dive into themselves, embracing balance not only on the mat, but in the yoga of life as well.