Peace—Body, Mind, Spirit

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Visit our new website for easy class registration:

https://www.stmarksyogadc.org/

Payment Options

Online Zoom Class

To receive monthly class passcode click the Donate link to support the yoga center. No minimum is required. Please consider your donation by balancing how many classes you expect (both live and/or online) to attend during the month by what your circumstances allow. Following  donation you will be directed to a page with passcode. The redirect takes a few seconds! Please be patient, and save page information.

Live In-Person Class

For live only in-person classes, there is a $10 drop-in charge. Payment may be made via cash, check, or the link below.

Full Schedule of Classes

Instructors

Laura Narayani

(Sunday) Narayani began teaching in 2006, and holds advanced Sivananda Yoga certification. She enjoys working with seniors, children and everyone in-between. Her classes focus on relaxation and renewal. Narayani is also a trained meditation leader, Thai Yoga Massage practitioner, certified in Energy Medicine and Touch for Health, and trained in Non-Violent Communication.

Bonnie Vani

(Monday noon) 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.

Pamela

(Monday + Yoga Nidra) trained at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Val Morin, Quebec, in 1987 with Swami Vishnudevananda. 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 training in Structural Yoga Therapy and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy.  She has been guiding groups and conducting workshops in Meditation and in Yoga Nidra since 1995. View her website here

Simone

(Thursday) teaches Vinyasa yoga in the spirit of Dharma Mitra. Simone is the Director of SMYC, loves working with beginners who are just finding their way, as well as those there for a powerful class. Either will experience a yoga class with a light-hearted approach in a welcoming and non-judgmental space. She is working on her MSW with the goal of offering mental health and yogic services to underserved populations in DC.

Aviva Lalitambika

(Wednesday) Aviva is certified in the Sivananda tradition and has been practicing yoga for 10 years. She trained at the Sivananda Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, California. Her classes emphasize classical hatha yoga postures, breathing techniques, and body-mind-spirit relaxation. She is Yoga Alliance RYT200 registered.

Christine Brahmi

(Tuesday) welcomes all levels and abilities to her class, which emphasizes finding Peace through asana, pranayama and meditation, helping students distinguish between effort and tension, and bringing ease to their poses. Her practice began at St. Mark’s in 1993, and she served as the Center’s Director from 2008-2021. She is a C-IAYT Yoga Therapist and holds Integral Yoga Advanced Hatha, Raja Yoga, Laughter Yoga, Stress Management, Meditation, Yoga of the Heart: Cancer & Cardiac certifications. Rev. Brahmi is ordained with Integral Yoga Ministry and is an Accessible Yoga Ambassador.

Paul

(Saturday) 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 was the Yoga Center Director for ten years, and currently serves as Administrator and Board Chair. He has been teaching at St. Mark’s since 1993.

Substitute Teachers

Ajit

(Tuesday pm) Ajit is a ParaYoga® certified RYT500 teacher whose years of dedicated study and practice in the Himalayan tradition give him a framework for life. He brings joy and gratitude for these life changing, rich aspects of yoga to his teaching. He continues to study with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait and Yogarupa Rod Stryker.

Angela Shanti

Angela Shanti (RYT200) is a certified Integral Yoga instructor. She completed her basic teacher training at the Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, in 2015. Additional certifications include: Adaptive Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Arthritis, Teaching Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis, Yoga for Recovery, and Yin Yoga. She is a certified SilverSneakers instructor and provides yoga classes to seniors on Medicare in the DMV. Her teaching style is gentle and encouraging, and she is inspired to convey a sense of inner peace and self-acceptance in her teachings.

Dexter

Dexter leads a class of strength/body balance, blending Iyengar, Ashtanga and Thai Chi into a program designed to enhance health and fitness.

Ernesto

Ernesto began teaching in 2007, blending studies in Iyengar Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Taoist philosophy and sacred geometry. He is greatly influenced by his teachers Aadil Palkhivala, Jengahir Palkhivala & Nevine Michaan. His classes reflect an alchemy of precise physical instruction, intelligence, intention, and space. While the practice of asana (postural) and pranayama (breath work) can instigate a profound and often therapeutic shift, Ernesto emphasizes the importance of daily meditation, proper nutrition, and a conscious lifestyle as essential for a healthy life.

Jen Yaneshwari

Yaneshwari has practiced Yoga since the age of 8, receiving teacher certification from the Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Val Morin, Quebec, in 1991 with Swami Vishnudevananda. Jen taught at SMYC during the 90s. She has since received her Masters in Acupuncture and is a certified Health Coach.

Jessica

Jessica Woodburn, RYT 200, is passionate about sharing yoga’s Mind, Body, Spirit benefits, helping to cultivate outer and inner strength, flexibility and balance. Jessica’s classes are light-hearted, tailored to students’ needs and infused with Mindfulness. Her dynamic teaching style, sense of humor and deep sense of caring keep students coming back to the mat. Jessica passionately shares yoga, mindfulness, self-compassion and non-violent communication practices across the DC area.

Laura Vaani

Laura Vaani came to asana practice after years of focus on breath, mudra, and meditation. She completed 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Integral Yoga in 2016, followed by 500-hour YTT with Phoenix Rising. She is also certified as a Phoenix Rising Therapeutic Yoga Practitioner. Her teaching is grounded in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and being in touch with students. Classes range from active to gentle as well as Yin with room for individual expression, experience and connection to the True Self.

Lynne

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.

Vera

Vera is a certified Integral Yoga  Instructor and Laughter Yoga facilitator since 2006. Her practice is gentle Yoga incorporating 40 years of Transcendental Meditation. She conducts workshops around the country, built on holistic integration of children, parents and teachers working together sharing Culinary Storytelling/Nutrition Education and preparing healthful meals.