teachers

Jonathan FitzGordon – Jonathan, the studio’s director was forced, against his will, to take yoga by his mother when he was six years old. That lasted a year or two. Walking back into a yoga room at thirty – two he knew he was home.                                                                                                          Marissa Neilson Pincus – Marissa is dedicated to movement, believing in its power to balance, heal, and energize. Her classes are focused and exploratory. Marissa did her teacher training at the Yoga Center of Brooklyn. She has continued to study with Anusara and Iyengar teachers and is currently inspired by the work of Irene Dowd and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. Born in Portland, Oregon, Marissa began dancing at the age of 4. She studied contemporary dance at London studio center and lived for 4 years in London, studying and performing around England. Here in New York she dances with Third Rail Dance and does low flying trapeze with Fly By Night Dance Theater. She would like to thank all her teachers and students for their constant inspiration.

Kathleen Hahn – Kathleen was first inspired to learn and teach yoga through Jonathan’s teacher training. Jonathan’s influence along with the styles of Iyengar, Anusara, and Vinyasa have helped shape Kathleen’s class in to "something for everyone". She also uses her background in dance and personal training to help people expand their understanding of their bodies. Kathleen hopes to bring a lightness and enjoyment to her class that would encourage even her father to practice yoga. Kathleen is always on the lookout for new jokes.

Amanda Harding – teaches a vigorous and dynamic Vinyasa style class incorporating the fluidity of dance and music with heavy emphasis on alignment, breath, patience and light – heartedness. She hopes to impart to her students the many gifts she has received through her practice and studies – a greater sense of awareness, peace, strength, compassion and much joy. She received her yoga certification from NYC’s OM Yoga Center and has trained in Vinyasa, Iyengar & Jivamukti yoga with highly respected teachers around the country. Currently, she is practicing Ashtanga yoga in the Mysore tradition under the guidance of the Yoga Shala in NY. She also is Prenatal Yoga certified through Janice Clarfield, one of the world’s leading prenatal yoga teachers/advocates.

Aditi Dhruv – first came to yoga through her study of classical Indian dance forms, and has been practicing for over ten years. She is Yoga Alliance certified at the 200 – hr level, and completed her yoga teacher training in 2006 with Alison West (Yoga Union) in New York City. Aditi’s classes are informed by her extensive ongoing dance training and practice in the Vinyasa, Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions; and focus on teaching students a series of poses while integrating the physical, subtle, and spiritual bodies, through precise alignment and breath – focused movement.

Alicia Marrin – began studying yoga at Integral six years ago and has had a dedicated practice ever since. The power to self heal through the practice of yoga has changed her life and is what she is most inspired to extend to her students. Breath, awareness and alignment are at the core of her practice and her classes. She studied with Jeff Migdow and Priti Robyn Ross and completed their Prana Yoga teacher training. She is inspired by the teachings of Iyengar, T.K. Desikachar, and Sri Swamini Mayatitananda and melds her studies of Vinyasa, Anusara and Prana Yoga in her classes. She is thrilled to be a part of the community Jonathon and Caitlin have created and is excited by the anatomy and alignment being taught at the center.

April Cantor – April has been a certified yoga teacher for the past 8 years teaching both adults and children how breathe and move with awareness. She also has an extensive 10 – year background as theatre – arts educator serving NY, Maryland and DC. April was certified through Integral Yoga, and has a background in Anusara Yoga and YogaKids through Marsha Wenig and Jodi Komitor (Next Generation Yoga). Her experience is further enhanced by her life – long love of movement & fitness and has studied and performed various dance techniques including Hawaiian Hula, African dance, traditional Filipino folk dance, modern dance and tap. Currently she is the mother of a very active 2 year old boy who has benefited greatly from a similar movement class he has taken since 10 wks old.

Christine Holt – Christine loves yoga. She is fascinated with anatomy, and particularly amazed at the body’s natural ability to come into a balanced, healthful state through embodied awareness. She believes that yoga is the perfect venue for empowering individuals with practical knowledge that encourages finding ones own path to balance and mindfulness, both on and off the yoga mat. Christine is a lifelong dancer, and completed her yoga teacher training through OM Yoga Center. She continues to find inspiration from her studies with teachers Susan “Lippy” Orem and Dana Strong, and is happy to be back at the Yoga Center of Brooklyn, studying with Jonathan and teaching in this warm yoga community.

Kate Lynch – Kate Lynch is a certified Kundalini Yoga, Radiant Child, Vinyasa Flow & Conscious Pregnancy Yoga teacher. Kate began Healthy Happy Yoga in 2002 to encourage awareness and inner peace. She was first introduced to yoga in her teens, and has been a disciplined practitioner since 1996. Committed to a lifetime of growth and service, Kate approaches teaching children with deep respect for the big souls in their little bodies. Her classes are nurturing, creative, challenging, friendly and fun.

Beth Donnelly Caban – Beth has been teaching yoga and meditation for 10 years. She is a certified yoga instructor (Integral Yoga Institute), a certified Midwife Assistant (The Farm), and a labor support doula (DONA). She has trained with Janet Balaskas and Michel Odent at the Active Birth Centre in London and is currently completing certification as a childbirth educator (CEA/MNY).

Lara Kohn Thompson – Lara is an Integral Yoga certified Hatha, Prenatal and Postpartum yoga instructor. Her work with women through the childbearing years integrates a profound understanding of anatomy through movement learned during 20 years as a dancer and teacher with leading companies in France. Drawing on the work Blandine Calais Germain, with whom she has trained, she uses imagery, breath and postural work to address specific muscle groups such as the pelvic floor and abdominals. She incorporates this specific work into a holistic awareness and awakening of the body enabling her students to regain confidence and strength.

Cynthia St. Claire – completed her Hatha Yoga teaching certification from the Integral Yoga Institute. She has been studying yoga and dance for most of her life and has been teaching both children and adults for 3 years. Cynthia studies different styles of yoga as well as movement modalities such as The Alexander Technique, Contact Improvisation and Pilates, all of which influence her teaching. Also a trained labor – support doula, Cynthia most recently completed her prenatal yoga certification in MA Yoga with Mia Borgatta. She finds that her yoga practice enhances and deepens her work with new mothers.