Our Managerial Team
Studio Director Katja Brandis
Studio Manager Ryan Arnoldy
Studio Weekend Manager Cameron Rosenthal
Andrew Gerber, Studio Assistant
 Andrew finds that yoga enables him to think more clearly, and most importantly, it urges him to be mindful in all that he does. Consequently, Andrew does it even more for the mental clarity than for the physical aspects. Andrew also runs and bikes for much of his cardiovascular, physical exercise. He initially began yoga about five years in a studio when his girlfriend at the time asked him to go with her. That sparked Andrew’s interest in it and prompted him to take a yoga class while in college.
Other interests include spending time with family who live in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Andrew is going to be an uncle for the very first time, and the thought of spending time with a niece or nephew and watching the kid grow makes him smile. Road trips via motorcycle, travels abroad and NPR are some of his favorite things.
Erjona Fatusha, Studio Assistant
Erjona was born and raised in Shkoder, Albania. After finishing up her undergrad degree in Wooster, Ohio, she moved to Washington, DC in 2004 to seek the many opportunities the city has to offer. She took her her first yoga class about two years ago, but did not start to fully understand its meaning until she started her practice at Studio Serenity. She now has to come to rely on the practice to reach a higher level of tranquility and togetherness. She enjoys the benefits of the practice that reach much further outside of the classroom. She very much so enjoys the diverse life of her beloved Adams Morgan neighborhood and is on a continues chase for good food around the city.
Jeffrey Clark, Studio Assistant
 Jeffrey lives in Adams Morgan and works as an environmental consultant to EPA. He has been focusing upon his yoga practice for about a year and a half and enjoys the friendly atmosphere of Studio Serenity. Jeffrey enjoys cooking, volleyball, and surfing (when back in CA).
Lizandra Vidal, Studio Assistant
Lizandra recently arrived in Washington DC via Pittsburgh, PA and knew she had found her home away from home the moment she walked into Studio Serenity. She is thankful for the wonderful community that the studio provides her, and that it is so close to where she lives. Thrilled to be a member of a vibrant and glowing yoga community, Lizandra has been practicing yoga for 13 years and is certified at the 200hr level in the hatha style Sivananda tradition of yoga. Currently she is focusing on enhancing and deepening her personal practice and is deeply appreciating everything she is learning about the Vinyasa style of yoga that Serenity’s teachers have to offer.
Mike Matlock, Studio Assistant
 Mike has been a yogi for just over a year and is so happy to be part of the community at Serenity. A native of upstate New York, Mike graduated from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, with a Bachelor’s degree and New York State Certification in K-12 music education and saxophone performance. While at Eastman, Mike actively performed and competed internationally with his saxophone quartet. In his senior year, Mike decided to move to Washington, DC to continue to perform and teach.
Mike graduated last May with his Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from George Mason University. Mike is an active street biker, musician, tea enthusiast, and social butterfly. He loves the outdoors and is sustained by the presence of trees and blue skies.
Natasha Shulinina, Studio Assistant
Natasha came to yoga in December 2006 in Austin TX , at the suggestion of her Argentine Tango instructor. She was hoping to practice proper alignment and how to keep her core engaged and the rest of the body relaxed while dancing. Ashtanga yoga turned out to be the most demanding physical activity she had ever done, even though she had always been an athlete and had done gymnastics, judo and thai boxing. Very soon she came to appreciate yoga the most for its ability to quiet one's mind, which is especially useful for someone in the stressful world of banking.
In the spring of '07 she moved to Washington DC with her husband, and quickly discovered Studio Serenity right across the street from her new apartment. She found the Vinyasa style of the studio to be more compassionate and soothing than Ashtanga, and a better fit for her busy DC lifestyle. She continues working on her career in financial services, and is currently pursuing an MBA in Finance. Besides yoga, her other passions include Argentine tango, food and wine, travel, reading and exercise. Her goal at the studio is to learn to always link breath and movement, and to consistently practice 4 nights a week. As part of the team at Studio Serenity, she hopes to encourage others to develop a regular practice as well.
Rachael Levy, Studio Assistant
 Originally from upstate New York, Rachael graduated from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2006. She spent the next two years living in Maine, Cork in Ireland, North Carolina, and Tel Aviv, where she worked with an organization that facilitated dialogue and relationship building with Jewish and Palestinian youth. She moved to DC in October of last year to explore the opportunities in organizations doing conflict-transformation work. Rachael started practicing yoga in 2004 after a back injury, and though it was always in a very informal setting, she was amazed by the relief it brought her. She is very excited about becoming more involved in the Studio Serenity community and deepening her yoga practice with a strong foundation.
Delphine Schrank, Studio Assistant
Delphine discovered yoga ten years ago in her college town. In the throes of back pain after a bicycle accident, she stumbled on an instructor who taught her not only how to do the turtle and other curious contortions, but also how to breath like the ocean. Delphine was hooked, and has since used yoga not only for her own personal growth but also to hone the her actors' performances in the plays she has directed in the UK, France and the US. She is incidentally a journalist on leave from The Washington Post with a penchant for stories in the jungles of resource-rich failed states and holds degrees from Oxford University and Columbia University's School of Public and International Affairs. When not in said jungles, she turns regularly to Studio Serenity for an oasis of calm and serenity.
Natasha Pedroza, Studio Assistant
Natasha grew up in Florida (which she still prefers to claim as home) and Indiana, graduating from DePauw University with a degree in Conflict Studies and Indiana University--Bloomington with a Master's Degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. After moving to DC nearly 4 years ago, she has appreciated how much practicing at Studio Serenity has made Washington, DC and Adams Morgan smaller, more intimate communities for her over the last year. She currently works at Georgetown University, primarily on Main Campus Reunion, and enjoys the opportunity to step away from the events she plans for others to focus inward. Other interests include volunteer work, cooking, hiking, softball, her cat, and a great cup of coffee.
Claire Cinque, Studio Assistant
Born and raised in Vermont, Claire moved to DC in 2001 to live near her sister and school friends. Thinking she'd stay just a year or two, she has somehow ended up being here for almost 9, with no plans of leaving any time soon! Claire has lived within 8 blocks of her current apartment for the full 9 years and love being part of the Adams Morgan community. She currently in school to be a Physical Therapist Assistant, a career that should balance nicely Claire's interests in working closely with people, being active, and helping people achieve their goals physically.
Claire began her yoga practice 7 years ago and in bits and spurts she participated in a number of studios and styles, trying to find the right balance and fit. Starting practice at Studio Serenity last fall, Claire feels as though she found a studio that cares as much for the people that practice here as they do the yoga itself, a place where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to go at their own speed and push themselves as much as they can or want. She enjoys all the knowledge that the instructors bring to classes, not just about the poses and breathing but also the anatomy and how the body is working through each pose. This speaks to Claire on a level of better understanding her own practice, and also appeals to her current course of study!
Sarah Ness, Studio Assistant
Sarah is originally from Chatham, New Jersey and has lived in Washington, DC ever since graduating from American University. She comes from a very close family with one young brother, older sister and great parents. Sarah currently works for the American Cancer Society, but loves to be active on the side – running, swimming, and of course, yoga!
Sarah loves yoga because of the way that it makes her feel. During practice, it is a time to wash her mind of the day/week/month/year’s worries and focus on herself and each breath she takes. Afterward, Sarah notices that she feels more centered and stronger both in mind and body. In such a chaotic life, this sense of balance gained from practicing is the gift she gets out of yoga.
Studio Serenity is such a welcoming environment and enriching environment. The idea of joining something while also becoming a part of a smaller community – making connections with others - is something that is very much important to Sarah. Studio Serenity teaches and encourages these values. Beyond that, the studio is a relaxing haven that Sarah looks forward to coming to for a few hours each week.
Kathryn Cohen, Studio Assistant
Kathryn comes to us from Boston, Massachusetts. She is a public interest lawyer who loves the law and its potential for achieving justice, avocados, learning how to cook, conversation, laughter and the Red Sox. She graduated from Brown University and attended Suffolk and GW law school. Before law school, Kathryn worked as a nutrition advocate for low income children in Massachusetts and also spent some time as an online news journalist. She loves the sense of calm that her yoga practice has allowed her. Years of high impact sports such as running and rowing crew have made her stiff. Nonetheless, the gentle and controlled movements of yoga help rejuvenate her body and mind. Because of yoga, Kathryn feels flexible and stronger and stands up straighter. Kathryn is happy to be a new addition to the Studio Serenity team.
|
