Our Team

Meredith has always had a love of movement and started dance classes at an early age. She continued her dance training and attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she graduated with a Bachelor’s in dance in 1993 and she went on to earn a Masters’ in Movement Therapy in 1996. She dedicated her career to serving others and has worked in psychiatric centers with children and their families for the past thirteen years. She received informal training in 2000-2001 and started teaching yoga and Pilates at the local YMCA and a health club. She completed her 200 hour training in 2005 through Om Yoga Center based in NYC and has attended various workshops with Rolf Gates, Beryl Bender-Birch and Doug Keller, among others. Her energy and enthusiasm for teaching yoga to students of all levels is evident in her teaching style and she approaches students with a warm, encouraging attitude. Expect an emphasis on connecting breath and movement and listening to your body while working to your “edge”, without pushing yourself beyond your body’s limits.

Jessica began practicing yoga regularly in 2000 and completed her 200 hour RYT training with now:yoga in 2013. Her approach to teaching and practicing yoga is captured in the quote from Lao Tzu, “The skillful traveler has no fixed destination and is not intent on arriving.” The practice of yoga for Jessica is not in accomplishing an end goal and but focusing on staying open to each moment as it unfolds. She infuses her teaching with principals of Tai Chi and chi gung. She draws from many different teaching styles and her classes vary from a gentle restorative class to a vigorous flow. She feels especially inspired to introduce yoga to new audiences including individuals who benefit from a gentle, modified, or restorative practice. She has also taught in schools and offices and is dedicated to a consistent home practice which sometimes includes her husband and three daughters. Besides yoga, Jessica is an avid bread baker who loves to share her organic homemade loaves.

Chelsea began practicing yoga to supplement her physical therapy regimen after sustaining an ankle injury. Her practice became an important part of her daily life, as she realized the transformative effects yoga had, providing her with greater physical and mental balance. In 2012, Chelsea completed the OM Teacher Training Program under the guidance of Cyndi Lee, Frank Mauro, Edward Jones and Joe Miller. Chelsea is also appreciative of her teacher, Meredith McFadden, whose influence helped propel her to achieve her dream of becoming a yoga teacher. Chelsea’s classes incorporate yoga philosophy, breath, energizing asana and music. She strives to lead a class in which practitioners of all levels feel comfortable and are able to find their own physical and mental balance.

Hunter Clake-Fields has been practicing yoga for over thirteen years, ever since her mother took her to her first Ashtanga class. She has been involved in yoga ever since, experimenting with the diverse styles of yoga, and becoming more and more deeply immersed over the years. Hunter earned her 200 hour certification at a month-long intensive at Frog Lotus Studio, studying with Jaqueline Heisel. Now, yoga has gone from being a passion to a way of life. When you enter Hunter’s class, you will be struck by her unwavering optimism. She teaches with energy and enthusiasm, infusing imagery into her lighthearted teaching style as she leads you through a dynamic, vigorous and flowing sequence of poses, leaving every cell in your body feeling energized, yet leaving your mind feeling at peace.

Edie is a former dancer and Army nurse who gratefully found yoga and Pilates while recovering from an injury more than 10 years ago. She immediately fell in love with the calming mind-body connection and flowing styles of movement, and has been practicing ever since.
She is a graduate of OM yoga’s 200 hour teacher training, studied meditation with David Nichtern in New York, and taught Pilates at Columbus State University.

Expect to find a slow-flow vinyasa-based class with thoughtful attention to breath, balance, strength, and flexibility, that emphasizes proper body mechanics and alignment.

After working in Corporate America, training and coaching in personal development, Rita returned to yoga and Pilates in search of strength and flexibility. She is a registered yoga teacher, having completed her 200 hour RYT training with now:yoga in early 2016. She recently completed her Pilates mat training. Expect her classes to be thoughtful yet lighthearted with an emphasis on form and technique.

Patti trained in the Classical Method of Pilates with Romana’s Pilates in New York with Romana Kryzanowska, a direct disciple of Joseph H. Pilates, and her trainers. She is also certified through Stott Pilates, one of the most widely recognized names in Pilates. In addition to these credentials, Patti is also a RYT 200, certified through OM Yoga.

Patti was introduced to Pilates and Yoga over 12 years ago. She was so impressed with the way Pilates and Yoga involved the whole body, focusing on core strength and balance while creating longer, leaner, more flexible muscles, that she pursued her own certifications. One of her favorite things about Pilates is, with proper instruction, anyone can do it and get results. One of the great things about Yoga is that the more you practice it, the more you realize that “Yoga is life, and life is Yoga.”

She has completed over 1,000 hours of classroom instruction and practical training, Patti has an enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge about how the body works that will show up in her teaching, whether teaching Pilates or yoga. You will leave her class feeling positive, strong, balanced and challenged, and will be able to bring what you learned into your daily life.

Tara has practiced yoga for over 10 years and has always felt most connected to the vinyasa style. Having a strong sports background, including playing lacrosse at the Division I level, Tara has enjoyed the challenge of the yoga practice. In increasing strength while improving flexibility, yoga has been the place where she can maintain her fitness while healing her body after years of taxing training. Furthermore, while completing her 200hr training with Now: Yoga in 2013, she began to revel in the meditative aspects of the practice, helping with stress relief and focus. In coming to Tara’s class, expect a light hearted atmosphere where all are welcome. Classes have a vinyasa foundation focusing on building strength in the body.

Rocio first found yoga as part of her healing routine for chronic headaches. After more than 13 years of practice, she enrolled in teacher training and completed her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Now Yoga in May 2013.

A social worker by trade, Rocio’s caring demeanor and attitude comes through in her teaching style. Rocio fully embraces the mind-body connection in her daily practice as well as in her classes. She also places emphasis on the breath. Rocios classes combine synchronized movements and breathing to help students connect with their true self and inner beauty.

Rocio specializes in corporate and educational yoga classes for
schools and companies dedicated to employees wellness.
rociomargarita15@gmail.com

Leanne teaches meditative and challenging vinyasa style classes with enough structure to ensure that each student enjoys a well-rounded class, and offers modifications and options so students can make their practice their own. She also teaches gentle, restorative, and yin yoga classes.

While Leanne loved her first yoga class and how it made her feel, she did not get serious about yoga until stress began affecting her health and she realized that her coping strategies of wine and whining were not effective. She sought more than just improved physical health, and embarked on the path of yoga in earnest. Yoga offers a way to connect with self and community that is profoundly positive and affirming. Teaching allows Leanne to share the power of mindfulness, the clarity and self-awareness, and the physical benefits she continues to discover through yoga, and gives her a wonderful excuse to pursue her own education. She says she does still drink wine and whine, but not nearly as often!

Leanne completed her 200 hour teacher training through OM Yoga NYC and has since completed a yin yoga certification and yoga for cancer training, among others. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. In her free time, if she is not outdoors or reading a book, she is probably at a yoga class, training, or workshop.

Teaches Yoga All Levels – Wednesday 9 AM

Monique has a way of making you feel comfortable and have fun while giving you a challenging workout.

As an ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist since 2004, Monique has always been fascinated by the brains ability to influence and be influenced by the body. She has training in traditional Russian style kettlebells, kickboxing, strength and endurance coaching, nutrient timing and other forms of mainstream fitness/wellness. A desire to work with the more grounded forms of movement led her to earning a 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification in 2012 and to becoming an Advanced MELT Method Instructor beginning in 2013. Monique has an increased understanding of anatomy, fascia, and the connections of our bodily systems.

“I share this with others so we may rise up within ourselves and together to brighten our collective light and truly shine!” – Monique

Jessica first came to yoga class to help her deal with stress and anxiety. She felt the effects right away. She found it was an effective way to help her deal with the roller coaster of life. Inspired by the practice, she enrolled in teacher training in September 2015 with the intent to heal and share with others. She has been practicing yoga for about five years. She has no athletic background but she also found yoga allowed her to get in shape gradually without competition. Jessica started taking Barre classes over a year ago and loved it. She got certified to teach in October 2016. Outside of yoga, Jessica loves to run and she is also on the radio and produces the mornings show week days on 1450 WILM.