Our Instructors
AJ McIntyre, Anusara Certified, RYT, brings a sense of energy and inspiration to all of her classes, encouraging her students to find their inner child and invite a sense of play into their practice. A former high school teacher, AJ found teaching yoga as her true calling, and enjoys learning from her students everyday. She is a graduate of the Willow Street Yoga Center Anusara Teacher Training, and continues to be inspired by her primary teachers Suzie Hurley, Kate Miller, Jenny Otto, Desiree Rumbaugh and John Friend. When not on the mat, you can find AJ knitting in a corner, or kayaking down a whitewater river.
See all of AJ's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Batya Metalitz combines playfulness and sensitivity in teaching the art of yoga. Originally from the DC area, yoga has been a guiding force in her life since her early teens. Batya found her home and place in Anusara yoga relatively early in her studies. Through Anusara yoga she has grown and blossomed in her practice, her teaching and her life. With the close guidance and wisdom of her teacher, John Friend, she continues to transform herself and those who come into contact with her powerful and dynamic teaching.
See all of Batya's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Bita's approach to yoga is intelligent, playful, and heart-based. She emphasizes awareness, the breath, core principles, alignment, and integrating both movement and stillness to access our true nature. Cultivating a sacred space to open the body, free the mind, and connect with spirit, she aspires to ignite the magic of our existence and the bliss of living this presence. Bita can appreciate all of the stress we accumulate in our fast-paced lifestyles. Her intention is to offer down to earth techniques and ways to incorporate them into our daily lives to help minimize stress, heal our bodies, and focus our minds. Self-transformation and awakening within has guided Bita to teach from a place of love, respect and integrity.
See all of Bita's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Carrie Ganz loves to share her delight in Anusara yoga with her students. She is a recent graduate of the Willow Street Yoga Teacher Training Program and continues to study and learn with her teachers. Her classes emphasize empowerment and joy and are imbued with a sense of creativity, play and freedom.
See all of Carrie's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Cheryl Catranbone, RYT and Certified Anusara Teacher, began her practice in 1993. Teaching since 1996, Cheryl combines loving sincerity, warm humor, Enthusiasm and a step by step approach to guide her students into a practice of authenticity. Each class empowers and encourages her students to deepen their awareness and open to their own unique beauty, joy and strengths.
See all of Cheryl's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Elizabeth is an E-RYT 500 as well as a certified Anusara yoga instructor. Her study of yoga is informed by her work as a government lawyer and her commitment to citizen advocacy and volunteerism. Her classes express her belief that the practice of yoga helps to bring us in alignment with our true nature, enabling us to be more compassionate and generous to our living planet, all other beings and ourselves. She was raised in a meditative tradition and took her first yoga class over 25 years ago. She is also a Reiki master. See more about Elizabeth at her website: rosegardenyoga.com
See all of Elizabeth's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Isis fell in love with Anusara Yoga years ago and is a recent graduate of Willow Street's YTT. She is so grateful to both her Spiritual Master Jivanjili and her yoga teacher Suzie Hurley for filling her life with incredibly bright days. Her foremost intentions are to playfully and respectfully guide students to awaken to their own luminosity and to live from the heart. To that end, her teachings are infused with sweetness, awareness, laughter, and fun.
See all of Isis's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Jenny Otto, E-RYT500, RYT500 is co-founder/director of Golden Heart Yoga and founder of Body Balance Yoga. A student of John Friend since 1994, she is a Senior Certified Anusara Teacher who is well-known as a master teacher and yoga therapist, offering workshops nationally and internationally. Jenny brings detailed expertise of anatomy and physical alignment as well as lots of creativity to her teaching, and uses sound, breath, mudra and meditation to enhance her classes.
See all of Jenny's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Jessica's many years of training, performing and teaching ballet and modern dance led her to Pilates and Willow Street. She is certified in Classical Pilates technique and continues to study the method with teachers trained in Authentic Pilates. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for Pilates with her students and seeing their joy in what the method brings.
See all of Jessica's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Joe Miller draws upon his 20 years of yogic exploration and study of anatomy to recognize and celebrate our endless potential to align with the rhythms of nature and truth flowing within and around us. Joe uses his deep understanding of Anusara Yoga, Tantric Philosophy, and Ayurveda to support every student in connecting to their innate wisdom and discovering their own greatness. Joe has been teaching for over 10 years, is an integral part of the WSYC Teacher Training program, and continues to deepen his own practice by studying with his principal teachers, John Friend, and his amazing family.
See all of Joe's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
John Acton, Anusara-Inspired, RYT, brings an eclectic background to the yoga mat. John is a practicing RN specializing in Arthritis and Rheumatism, a musician, a pilot, and a motorcycle safety instructor. He brings a great love of life to yoga and to his students. John has had extensive training in yoga therapeutics with John Friend and Jenny Otto, and was recently certified through the Duke Medical School's Department of Integrative Medicine as a Yoga for Seniors instructor. Johns primary teachers are Moses Brown and Suzie Hurley.
See all of John's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Jordan Bloom is a Certified Anusara yoga teacher committed to "seriously" playful transformation and the celebration of life through the powerful practice of yoga. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Jordan has been living in the United States for the past decade, teaching and studying yoga with many great and inspirational teachers. Using his diverse life experiences and his playful sense of humor, Jordan brings fun, laughter, and intensity to his classes. Jordan has been blessed to study with many great teachers, in particular, John Friend, the founder of Anusara Yoga has been a mentor and major source of inspiration and growth for Jordan in his practice and his teaching.
See all of Jordan's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Kate Miller has been teaching yoga since 1996 and received her Anusara certification in 2001. With a gift for teaching to all levels and physical conditions, Kate loves to weave words of inspiration into her clear, direct instruction. As a professional doula Kate brings a wealth of knowledge and experience into her prenatal yoga classes. With a love of movement and an expanding interest in psychology, Kate holds a BFA in Modern Dance and a Masters in Spiritual Psychology. Learn more about Kate at www.redmoonyoga.com.
See all of Kate's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Kath Meadows brings a sense of enthusiasm and engagement to her yoga classes both as student and teacher. Her love for anatomy drew her to the alignment-based principles of Anusara yoga and it was here that she found a balance between her deep connection to yoga and her love of teaching. Her graduate studies at Gallaudet University and on-going friendships have served to reinforce her sense of commitment to equal access for all. She enjoys sharing her love of yoga with Deaf and hearing students alike. Kath likens the study of yoga to reading a wonderful book that does not have an end. In that spirit she continues to deepen her studies with her Anusara teachers Cheryl Catranbone, Lucy Lomax, Naomi Gottlieb-Miller and A.J. McIntyre.
See all of Kath's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Kathy Carroll, an Anusara Affiliated teacher, has been Suzie Hurley's student for almost 20 years. She is a professor in a MEd program, a writer of educational books and musical CDs, and a Vibrational Kinesiologist. A teacher and healer, Kathy helps students experience the joy that comes from integrating yoga into daily life.
See all of Kathy's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Katie Myer, RYT-200, is an Anusara-Inspired yoga teacher committed to helping you create the life you love. Katie approaches yoga from both an intellectual and creative perspective, infusing her classes with mindfulness, a playful spirit, and a connection to the heart. Anusara yoga has helped Katie uncover her most joyful, most authentic version of herself; her classes inspire others to consciously reveal their most authentic selves, while having a blast on the mat. Katie's teaching is informed by her recovery from a back injury using the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment, and she delights in empowering students to free themselves from pain. Katie's thirst for knowledge drives her to advance her understanding of yoga through regular studies with senior Anusara teachers. She is thankful for their unbounded generosity in sharing the gift of yoga. Learn more about Katie at www.yogakatie.com
See all of Katie's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Kelly Fisher is a Certified Anusara Yoga instructor, and her teaching is rooted in 17 years of yoga and meditation practice. This practice is the foundation of everything she does -- from her ongoing yoga studies to her musical exploits, from getting the groceries to hiking in the woods. Her goal is to help each of her students develop a similar foundation so that they might flow with Grace in every moment.
See all of Kelly's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Laura Grace McMillan believes that yoga can draw in, nurture and deeply impact the energy that children create and offer to their own world. After over 20 years of dance training and performing, as well as a continually deepening yoga practice, Laura Grace brings to her kids classes enthusiasm for movement and play and a sense of nurturing for their own creative spirit. She has had experience teaching yoga and dance to children of all ages and recently completed the Budding Yogis Training at Circle Yoga as well as the Anusara Immersion at Willow Street Yoga.
See all of Laura Grace's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
In 2004, Lauren Sims accidentally walked into a yoga class instead of a martial arts class and never walked out. Lauren is passionate about helping her students awaken to the wonder of their own bodies and minds, and believes that the most profound teaching yoga has to offer is the great adventure of becoming an active, joyful participant in your own life. A graduate of Willow Street Yoga's teacher training program, Janice Clarfield's Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training and Certification for Conscious Birthing program, and a black belt in Kokikai Aikido, Lauren's teaching is infused with enthusiasm, warmth and humor. She continues to actively explore the teachings of Anusara with an unquenchably curious spirit.
See all of Lauren's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Lizzie has experienced firsthand the transformative healing power of Anusara yoga, both physically and psychologically. With warmth, humor, and lightheartedness, she invites her students to discover the delight of making their practice an offering of beauty. A graduate of WSYC's Teacher Training, Lizzie continues to be blessed with the wisdom and inspiration of her primary teachers Maria Hamburger and Suzie Hurley.
See all of Lizzie's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Lucy Lomax, E-RYT 500 and a Certified Anusara teacher, credits yoga with keeping her balanced in a frenetic world. She retired early as a financial policy analyst to be a yoga teacher. Believing that yoga is a metaphor for life, she teaches the importance of moving from a position of strength and inner wisdom of the body/mind. Lucy infuses her teaching with a sense of lightheartedness and enthusiasm.
See all of Lucy's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Maria, RYT 500 and Certified Anusara Yoga teacher, is inspired and delighted by her first yoga teacher, Suzie Hurley, as well as John Friend and other wonderful senior teachers. Prior to teaching yoga and becoming a mom, Maria danced and performed professionally for many years. She considers teaching yoga to be one of her greatest blessings. With kindness, enthusiasm and clarity, Maria helps her students find a place of love, acceptance and courage within each class.
See all of Maria's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
A graduate of Willow Street Yoga's teacher training program, Mary Barnes' Yoga for Two Pre and Postnatal teacher training, and Kripalu Yoga teacher training, Marianna has taught prenatal, postnatal, yoga for labor and delivery, and regular yoga since 2000 (E-RYT 200, RPNYT). She has studied with many senior Anusara teachers, including John Friend, Moses Brown, Betsey Downing, Suzie Hurley, and Maria Hamburger. Her classes invite students to playfully connect to their innate strength and goodness. For expectant mothers, she focuses on harnessing that strength to sweetly guide the mother along the journey to childbirth. Marianna is the mother of two daughters and, during their infancy, was a La Leche League leader, counseling mothers in the art of breastfeeding. She has two granddaughters and, in 2007, had the honor of being present for the birth of her first granddaughter.
See all of Marianna's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Marion Griffin is both an Anusara and Kripalu certified teacher. Her first yoga teachers were Rikki Middleton and John Schumaker. She taught High School for 30 years, and is a water colorist and an oil painter. With love, a smile and inspirational words Marion invites her students to look at and enjoy the deeper aspects of their yoga practice.
See all of Marion's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Moses Brown believes that yoga should be a heart-opening experience that is supportive as well as empowering to the student. His teachings create an approach that is physically dynamic, mentally stimulating and therapeutic. Moses brings focus, concentration, and mindfulness to his classes, weaving them together with playfulness, joy and FUN!!
See all of Moses's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Naomi Gottlieb-Miller is a Certified Anusara Yoga teacher. She began her practice of yoga to take the edge off of living in New York City, upon moving there in 1999. It was yoga that chose her path, taking her from NYC back to Washington, D.C., her hometown, to study how to teach yoga to others. She continues her yoga study with John Friend, the founder of Anusara Yoga, Amy Ippoliti and Ross Rayburn, focusing specifically on the Therapeutic benefits of yoga, as well using yoga to help an already healthy body become even more fit. Naomi infuses her classes with lightness, spirit and a great sense of play, encouraging her students to invite a healthy dose of laughter into their practice. Every class invites her students to play their personal edge and empower themselves to do things they never thought possible. She is inspired by the courage and humor her students bring to their mats and considers teaching yoga the best gig ever.
See all of Naomi's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Natalie Miller is an Anusara-Inspired teacher who offers her students what Anusara yoga gives to her: a loving and supportive community, reverence for the inherent wisdom of body, and revelations of the beauty within and around us. Natalie's classes eloquently inspire students to love who they are and to be in awe of who they're becoming.
See all of Natalie's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Olga Rasmussen (RYT 500 E-RYT 200) is a certified Anusara Yoga teacher.Her instruction is enriched by her extensive training in this practice and her deep love of spirituality - a life long passion. Through the simple elegance of Anusara Yoga, she encourages her students to embody greater alignment, and to connect more deeply with their hearts and the spiritual essence of the practice - a path inviting transformation, joy, celebration, and compassionate living. Olga holds a doctorate in spirituality and education and taught for 25 years.
See all of Olga's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Pat Blum, RYT 500, is a graduate of the WSYC YTT, AYTT, an Anusara Inspired teacher and a certified Para yoga teacher. She continues her yoga studies with Rod Stryker and John Friend. She is a life long teacher and a lover of adventure and travel. Pat brings enthusiasm and compassion to her early morning class. With sri vidya and the teacher in her heart, she leads her life as she has been led in love and balance.
See all of Pat's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Rebecca Gitter, RYT, is delighted to share the wonders of yoga with the littlest yogis and their caregivers. After training with Itsy Bitsy Yoga founder Helen Garabedian, Rebecca became a certified instructor for Babies, Tots and Tykes. She completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2006, and recently received additional certifications in pre- and post natal yoga. She continues her study of yoga with many teachers in the area. Her classes create an environment where kids can safely discover yoga through age appropriate poses, songs and play. As the mother of 2 school aged children, her first yoga students, Rebecca understands the challenges of parenting and knows yoga can bring balance and support in raising healthy and joyful kids.
See all of Rebecca's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Regina believes that through deliberate movement, we collect knowledge about ourselves and the universe. With consistent practice, we intelligently become aware of the choices that we have in life, while individually expressing our unique interaction with the world around us. After receiving a BA in Physical Therapy, Regina began studying the healing art of Movement, and has completed 200-hour trainings in both Vinyasa Flow and in Anusara Yoga. She is currently an Anusara Inspired teacher in Baltimore and has been studying the art of Hooping as a form of healing in the body and the mind. Regina uses knowledge from all of her studies to create a safe, fun and healing environment for students. Learn more about Regina at www.yogaonwheels.org.
See all of Regina's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
After years of struggling with back pain, Rick found Willow Street; since beginning his studies of Anusara Yoga, he remains pain free. This new-found freedom inspires Rick to help people find their own freedom, no matter what form it takes. Rick is a graduate of Willow Street's YTT program and continues to be inspired and seriously impressed by his fellow students and teachers.
See all of Rick's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Roberta Stiehm is a dancer, singer, teacher, and student of Yoga living in Takoma Park. She has danced and taught modern, ballet, and movement for Actors professionally, for over 25 yrs. She has had an extensive performance career in the US and abroad including Broadway. She is certified in True Pilates since 2000, with Romana Kryzanowska, and as well as teaching group mat classes, teaches privately in her own studio, fully equipped with all Pilates apparatus.
See all of Roberta's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Sara Shelley specializes in Yoga and Meditation for the childbearing years. She empowers her students to cultivate greater trust, confidence and ease during this transforming time of life. Sara holds a Masters degree in Dance Movement Therapy, is a Certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, and the mother of 2 boys.
See all of Sara's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Sheree believes strongly in the power of yoga to transform the mind, the body and the spirit. Her fun, enthusiastic and playful teaching style is balanced by her knowledge of alignment, meditation, breathwork and the therapeutic benefits of the practice; all offered with clarity and inspiration. She is a Certified Anusara teacher, RYT, and continues her studies with John Friend, Rod Stryker, and others. She has a Masters in health education, is the mother of three daughters, a dog and cat, and has trouble matching her socks.
See all of Sheree's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Susana Crespo is a graduate of WSYC's Teacher Training program and has a Masters' from Clark University in International Development and Social Change. Off the mat, she explores the geography of global problems through the use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems). On the mat, she explores the inner landscape of the body-mind with a sense of discovery, joy, and freedom. Brimming with enthusiasm for Yoga's power of transformation, she is half-Ecuadorian and speaks Spanish.
See all of Susana's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Suzie Hurley is the Founder of Willow Street Yoga Center in Takoma Park, MD, which serves nearly 2000 students and is now owned and directed by her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Natalie Miller. Suzie is a Senior Certified Anusara Teacher and gives Anusara workshops and trainings nationally. She is one of only twelve individuals serving on the Anusara Yoga Curriculum Committee. Along with her extensive Anusara training she is an Advanced 500-hour Kripalu teacher. Her 34 years of yoga practice include 16 years of Iyengar study, principally with John Schumacher. She is a certified Phoenix Rising practitioner.
See all of Suzie's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Tara Lemerise, Anusara-Inspired E-RYT-200, took her first yoga class in college and loved it so much that she rushed home to find out how to become a yoga teacher. Several years and many different styles of yoga later, Tara found her heart and her yoga home in Anusara and went on to complete teacher training at Willow Street Yoga Center in 2005. Tara is known for offering clear, light-hearted, and encouraging instruction to students of all levels. From restorative postures to arm balances and everything in between, Tara helps her students to open to Grace and delight in each moment, leaving everyone more joyful and more at ease after each class. To learn more about Tara, visit her website: www.yogataraonline.com.
See all of Tara's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
Tyagan Scott Attaway is a Certified Anusara teacher and loves the spiritual teachings of Swami Satchidananda. He believes that a good yoga class leaves students feeling better about themselves. Tyagan, his spiritual name, means unconditional love and is a helpful reminder that the key to happiness is to serve and love all life.
See all of Tyagan's classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
The Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW) is a spiritual community teaching and practicing Vipassana meditation. Contact Rose Monsell for more information.
See all of imcw.'s classes for Winter '12 (1/09-4/01).
