Instructors
Ajit Joshi (RYT-500) is a ParaYoga Certified teacher whose years of dedicated study and practice in the Himalayan tradition has given him a framework for life. He brings this joy and gratitude for these life changing, rich aspects of yoga to his teaching. He continues to study with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, who initiated him into the Himalayan lineage, and Panditji’s senior teacher Yogarupa Rod Stryker, who founded ParaYoga. Learn more about Ajit here.
Alex was introduced to Yoga by Shri Yogi Hari at his Ashram in Florida. Combining his passion for Hatha Yoga with a lighthearted slant, Alex's class is a stimulating and challenging experience for all levels of students that will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and relaxed. A perfect way to calm your mind for the day.
Bonnie trained at the Sivananda Ashram, Val Morin, Quebec with Swami Vishnudevananda in 1982. She has taught in Lorton Prison, sports clubs, nursing homes and privately. Her students are people of all ages and conditions, from healthy individuals to those with clinical depression, stroke or overweight. Bonnie says, "Feel Light, Healing and Love bathing your heart, mind and spirit. Rest in the Light. OM Peace." She has been teaching her graceful, gentle Yoga at St. Mark's since 1985. Feel free to call Bonnie with any questions at 703-208-1479.
Caitlin’s fascination with the connection between what happens on the mat versus off compels her to share Yoga with others. Creating a moving meditative flow, Caitlin guides a class filled with intention, sun salutations, sitting and standing sequences, and conscious breathing. She is Yoga Alliance® RYT200 registered and certified through Asheville Yoga Center in NC.
Christine R. welcomes all levels to her class, which emphasizes finding Peace within through asana and pranayama, helping students distinguish between effort and tension and bring ease to their poses. Christine loves to infuse her class with playfulness and anatomy of Yoga. Her practice began at St. Mark's in 1993, and she is currently Director of the Yoga Center. She holds Integral Yoga Advanced Hatha, Raja Yoga and Laughter Yoga certification and is Yoga Alliance® E-RYT500 registered.
Christine S. is certified in the Sivananda tradition and has been practicing Yoga since 2001. She is currently exploring Ashtanga and Iyengar Yoga. Christine enjoys melding these different styles of Hatha Yoga to create a joyful, focused and healthy practice.
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Holly has practiced Hatha, Vinyasa and Kundalini yoga since 1993 and is certified as an Integral Yoga Hatha teacher. She blends these styles for a creative and deeply intentional Asana class. Her uplifting and motivational style encourages self-inquiry and transformation, while also focusing on physical strength and power.
Jen brings Family Yoga and Prenatal Yoga to SMYC. Jen brings a sense of joy, playfulness and freedom to both her adult and kids classes. She completed adult yoga teacher training at Willow Street Yoga in Takoma Park.Her prenatal yoga training was with Janice Clarfield and is certified to teach Itsy Bitsy Yoga classes for newborns to 4 year old children. She trained with Budding Yogis and YoKid for classes with families and children of all ages. Jen is a Yoga Alliance® Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (RCYT).
Lynne learned Yoga asanas and pranyama at age 7 from her grandmother who practiced Yoga daily and lived until 97. Lynne is a certified Integral Yoga instructor and Laughter Yoga Leader. A classically trained singer and music therapist, she is the founder of SingYo®, which integrates breath and movement via Yoga and song. Her classes are gentle, yet powerful.
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Narayani received Sivananda Yoga teacher certification in 2006. She enjoys working with seniors, children and everyone in-between. Her classes focus on relaxation and renewal. She is also a trained meditation leader, Thai Yoga Massage practitioner, certified in Energy Medicine and Touch for Health, and trained in Non-Violent Communication.
Pamela trained at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Val Morin, Quebec, in 1987 with Swami Vishnudevananda. Since then, she has taught Yoga in churches, group homes, health clubs, yoga centers, ashrams, schools, spas, and in her home studio. Increasingly focused on the therapeutic aspects of Yoga, Pamela completed Yoga of the Heart: Cancer and Cardiac Certification Training; Life Force Yoga Certification: Yoga for Anxiety and Depression; Yoga of Recovery Counselors Certification: Helping to Heal Addictions; and trainings in Structural Yoga Therapy and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy. She has been guiding groups and conducting workshops in Meditation and in Yoga Nidra since 1995.
Paul infuses his class with deep knowledge gained through personal practice and a sense of humor and play. His Hatha classes mix background in Iyengar alignment principles with Vinyasa flow sequencing. The result is a class which is challenging yet accessible. Paul directed the Yoga Center for ten years and currently serves as Administrator and Board Chair. He has been teaching at St. Mark's since 1993.
Shermaine has a background in martial arts, distance running, and aerobics. After an operation and recovery for a serious spinal cord injury, she came to Yoga to help heal her body… what she received was much more! Her passion for the practice fueled her desire to continue learning and share her knowledge and joy by teaching. Shermaine is primarily trained in Power Vinyasa Yoga and has experience in Bikram and Ashtanga. Her class is challenging and energetic, lighting a fire within. Students should bring a towel and a bottle of water.
Vera received teacher certification in Integral Yoga and Laughter Yoga in 2006. Her practice is basic, gentle and meditative. She teaches and conducts workshops in a variety of settings and has been a long-time artist-in-residence at Smith Farm Center for Healing and the Arts. Through storytelling and dance, she engages cancer patients, patients with chronic illness and their caregivers at Washington Hospital Center, Howard University Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital.
Teachers subject to change & substitutes.