Amberlyn Mathis-O'Melia hopes to share with her students the experience of being fully alive and in the present moment. Daily yoga practice has been transformational in Amberlyn's life and has provided a tool for knowing and accepting herself more completelyShe invites individual exploration of the body, breath, mind, and heart as she believes that each student is their own best teacher and that through the practice of yoga, all aspects of the self can be unified.
Amberlyn enjoys working with students who are uncertain about what yoga can offer them, students just beginning their journey into yoga, students interested in the therapeutic applications of yoga, and students looking to experience their practice more fully. Through careful attention to the body, her teachings offer a safe opportunity to balance and heal. Amberlyn has a M.A. in psychology and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. She attempts to integrate the knowledge of modern psychology with the ancient wisdom of yoga and views both sets of teachings as opportunities for diminishing suffering and understanding the human condition.
Chanda Creasy completed the Studio Serenity Yoga Teacher Training Level 1 training in 2005. She began her journey with yoga and meditation 10 years ago while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia, but she began the experience of finding liberation through the flow of the body at age four when she began to dance. Chanda has been guided and inspired by many teachers, including Sara Reis in New York City with whom she studied for many years. As a Cultural Anthropologist, Chanda has been a humble student of Africa for many years and brings the rhythms of that continent into her flow. Inspired by the resilience of the peoples of Africa and the world, Chanda hopes to encourage students to play with their edges with courage and lightness while accepting the variability of life's flow as it presents itself in our present moments.
In addition to teaching classes, Chanda is also Studio Serenity's "Dance, Art and Acrobatics Liaison" and is happily, with the owner Katja, looking forward to the recitals of Studio Serenity's Yoga Dance troupe. Chanda is very excited about completing 500 hours of study with Shiva Rea in 2008.
Eric Yatar was born and raised on Guam, a beautiful island in the Pacific, Eric Yatar was instilled with a strong sense of family, community, and spiritual awareness; and it is through his yoga practice that Eric continues to revisit and experience those channels of strength and energy in his life. In teaching, Eric hopes to foster truth, trust, and mindful self-discovery through a focused and energetic practice – inspired by the essential connectivity of breath, movement, and foundation, and the dynamic flow of energy through the body, harnessed by the energy of others.
Eric completed the Studio Serenity Teacher Training Level I with Katja, and has continued his yoga studies in a variety of lineages with several well-renown master teachers. He completed his teacher training at Prajna Yoga in Santa Fe, New Mexico under the tutelage of Tias Little, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance. Eric has also completed training in Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers, and in Pre-Natal Yoga with Linda Spackman. Eric is an attorney, lives in the District, and enjoys reading, eating, and sleeping well.
Katja Brandis, founder, yoga teacher trainer, birth coach and prenatal educator has over 15 years of experience in the somatic healing arts. She has studied with many noted master teachers in the US and abroad. Her classes are infused with dynamic elements of vinyasa yoga, trance dance, qui gong, kriya and meditation. Katja offers a multi-dimensional integration of movement, breath and intention that create a journey toward self-awareness and acceptance.
Her approach as a teacher is to allow the body's innate intelligence and unconstricted breath lead the practice rather than forcing the body to achieve a perfect asana form. Her classes are known for vigorous and challenging sequences in a non-competitive atmosphere. While strengthening the physical body, Katja's classes invoke the intuitive essence which opens a deeper part of being for an experience of the unified self that is love. Katja completed her first meditation retreat 18 years ago and her first yogic scripture 22 years ago in her native Germany where she was born and raised.
Melisa Darby has been practicing yoga consistently for over five years and teaching yoga for over three at Catholic University of America and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC. Melisa received her certification as a registered yoga teacher at the 200 hour level in February 2006 and attended the Level 1 Teacher Training Bootcamp with Baron Baptiste in August 2006. She has trained with Lisa Black and Ana Forrest and several other master teachers.
Melisa teaches Power Yoga based on Baron Baptiste’s style. Melisa encourages students to challenge themselves in her class and to break through self imposed boundaries through the physical asanas and by breathing through and staying present in challenging moments. Melisa believes that a truly challenging yoga practice is up to each student and will enable a person to focus on the more important things in life by stripping away both physical and mental distractions.
Nandini Kadambi began practicing yoga about seven years ago trying to maintain an exercise routine after knee injuries from running and dance. She soon discovered that her practice was a great tension release and helpful to her focus as she taught elementary school, while attending graduate school in New York State.
Upon returning to the DC area, she resumed teaching elementary school, and practicing yoga. After moving on with her career to a position in the US Department of Education, she missed teaching and wanted to share her love of yoga with others. Nandini completed her RYT 200 Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in May of 2008 and enjoys bringing a sense of fun and playfulness to her classes.
Para Somma has studied yoga for over 14 years and has been walking the path of Divine Mother for over nine. His education includes many mystics and sages. He owes his understanding of mindfulness meditation as Buddhism in action from venerable Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. He owes his knowledge of yoga lifestyle and philosophy to the great Swami Satchidananda Maharaj, and considers the lotus temple and home of Integral Yoga to be a home in his heart. He received initiation into the path of yoga from Dharma Mittra, and aspires to honor his Ishta with the same loving devotion Dharmaji has for his guru.
Para learned laughing meditation first from Patch Adams, and thought he had met the greatest karma yogi on the planet with that encounter until he saw Amritanandamayi Devi Ammachi giving hugs to her children. Para met the supreme teacher in Bhagavati Sri Karunamayi Amma and offers the fruit of all his labor to her feet and the feet of her many manifestations. Para is an initiate into the path of Sri Vidya, the sacred science of the worship of mother divine, and through Mother's grace aspires to attain full self-realization in this lifetime. Para's classes are a meaningful blend of asana, philosophy, humor and devotion.
Ryan Arnoldy completed the Studio Serenity Teacher Training Level 1 in 2007. He began to study yoga as a way to bring more guidance and awareness into his life. Born and raised in Minneapolis, he moved to DC with a BA in political science and global studies. As the studio manager, he thoroughly enjoys meeting and learning about every one of Studio Serenity's students, and is grateful for being surrounded by all the wonderful people who practice here.
He finds yoga as a powerful way to inspire and bring compassion, clarity, and peace to others. Ryan has studied with renown master teachers such as Simon Park, Max Strom and Micheline Berry. In addition to yoga, Ryan also currently enjoys studying martial arts, psychology, and other Eastern healing art forms and philosophies.
Sean Zimmermaker was brought to yoga when traditional medicine could not help his back and sciatic injuries. His pursuit of yoga led him to explore various forms including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Bikram. He's had a consistent practice for over four years and couldn't image life without yoga. Sean's favorite and primary practice has been a Vinyasa Flow designed by Baron Baptiste. Lately his practice has expanded to include forms of meditation and pranayama.
Sean values diversity and differences both between individuals and within the same. One aspect Sean appreciates most about yoga is the 'integration of contradictions' (such as grounding down while lengthening up in Warrior 2). Another lesson that has brought about great personal liberation to him has been in 'finding balance through embracing opposites' (for example, kicking back while reaching forward in Dancer's Pose). These principles have helped him to accept his own personality 'contradictions', one of which is evident in his teaching style...the balancing of intensity and passion with lightheartedness and fun.
Stacey Vaeth Gonzalez completed the Studio Serenity Teacher Training Level 1 in 2007. She took her first yoga class at 17, after suffering a severe hip injury from a decade of competitive gymnastics, and fell in love with the deep emotional and physical releases she experienced from the practice. She comes to Studio Serenity with admiration and intrigue of the ancient traditions of yoga and is dedicated to serving the art as both student and teacher.
Stacey lived most of her life in Rochester, New York, before moving to Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Guatemala, C.A. In 2004, she and her husband settled in Adams Morgan and seem to finally have put down roots. Stacey has worked for three years in D.C. as a community organizer and is currently launching her photography business.
Susie Ryan has been practicing yoga for more than 30 years and is committed to introducing yoga to students of all ages. Susie embraces yoga as the most holistic system for the entire body, and that asana practice isn't about using your body to get into a pose, but rather using the pose, in conjunction with the breath, to get into your body. She was certified as a teacher with Yogi Bhekja, and has attended teacher workshops and training with many of the major Western yoga masters.
She has also completed Teacher Training Part 1 to teach people who have cancer, or who are cancer survivors. Susie continues her practice and study with Shiva Rea's Prana Vinyasa Flow, Fluid Power, and Trance Dance Teacher Training programs.
Vionna Jones began her love of fitness ten years ago when she moved to the Washington DC area. She found herself with a desk job and a much more sedentary life than she led during her years attending The Pennsylvania State University. While working at a local gym, she discovered yoga. Yoga seemed to offer a perfect balance between physical strength, flexibility and meditation. After practicing yoga for about a year, Vionna became a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).
Her other certifications include: AFAA-Certified Group Fitness Instructor (2004), ACE-Certified Personal Trainer (2004), and Healthy Moms Fitness Professional (2005). Vionna works with all populations, but especially enjoys working with expectant moms, new moms and seniors- one on one and in a group setting. As a yogi, Vionna strives to help others to live healthier, happier lives.
Guest Teachers
Neelama Eyres 's vision and greatest joy are to assist people on their journey towards inner freedom. Her background includes a B.A. in comparative religion, counseling homeless people, facilitating meditation and yoga classes, and teaching children. She has worked with individuals in personal and group processes for the past 9 years, and currently works as a transformational coach with adults.
Neelama facilitates transformational seminars in the US, Canada and Europe, and is part of both course design and facilitator training for meditation retreats called "Inner Journey Seminars". She designed the workshop called "Body Embraced", a seminar for women, out of her desire to transform the body content that most women experience into a vehicle for profound healing and growth.
Penelope Bell has over 17 years of experience as a massage therapist specializing in working with people who have experienced post-trauma. Penelope is impassioned about facilitating personal transformation and deepening connections among all people. She has 27 years of personal experience in both group and individual counseling, including bioenergetics, Gestalt, Jungian, and cognitive therapies. Her spiritual practices include Women's Prayer Circles, Afro-Haitian dancing, Dynamic meditation and Buddhism. She is a founding member of "Inner Journey Seminars".
Megan Davis was introduced to yoga by her high school English literature teacher, who lead the class in pranayama exercises while he read Robert Frost poetry every Friday. After a knee surgery at age 15 and a car accident that injured her neck, back and hips, Megan recovered with a rehabilitation program in Iyengar yoga. In 2001, she made vinyasa her primary practice and continued her vinyasa training with Neva Ingalls and Shiva Rea. She also studied with Doug Swenson and Baron Baptiste. Megan completed her 200-hour registered teacher certification with the Yoga Alliance in 2003. She has done additional training in anusara yoga and has become more interested in the therapeutic modalities for special conditions and injuries. When she is not practicing or teaching yoga, Megan is pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Sciences with a focus on disability studies and teaches interdisciplinary courses in philosophy, religion, literature, and women's studies at GW University. Megan lives in DC with her two loyal canine companions, Scooby and Angus, who are great and inspiring yogis.
Kate Franklin is a personal and business coach and consultant with over ten years experience in developing leaders. Kate has an unshakeable belief in people’s greatness and is gifted with powerful intuition and a warm, non-judgmental style. Her company (www.oaktreecoaching.com) provides a range of individual and group coaching services, challenging people to define what they really want and to live their best lives.
Kate is passionately committed to social justice and diversity, and contributes a substantial proportion of her hours to work with non-profits. Outside of work, Kate loves to travel, swim, scuba dive, meditate, socialize...and curl up on the sofa to watch re-runs of 'The West Wing'!
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