Natalie Dodson

Natalie Dodson is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher since 2003.  Her teaching style is infused with the joy that she finds in yoga.  She fosters a safe and deep experience for each participant.  Classes, whether gentle or more vigorous, are paced to allow time to really experience each pose. Natalie believes that the truest experience of a pose is guided from within, by one's response to it.  Through cultivation of fine awareness, the teacher within becomes our most important guide.  With practice, a fluid calibration process between experience and outward expression form a synergy; one's yoga begins to flow even in stillness.  More than any outward measure of a pose, the intelligence of the inner process should be trusted.  A teacher is there to remind you of this while you memorize how safe alignment feels and gently deepen your practice from there.

Linda Evans

Linda Evans, RYT 200, has been practicing and studying yoga since 1996.  She completed her Yoga Teacher Training at The Yoga Center of Columbia.   As a former Montgomery County Public Schools music teacher, she blends her talents for teaching with her love of yoga.  Linda brings a joyful approach to yoga.  Creating a supportive class environment, she encourages mindfulness and alignment.  Linda has benefited from and is grateful to all her teachers for their inspiration, especially Heather Schwartz and Kathy Donnelly.  When Linda is not practicing yoga, she enjoys a game of tennis or a bike ride on local country roads.

Sarah Fishman

Sarah Fishman is a Washington DC native who received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University.  After several years as a professional modern dancer, Sarah was referred to a yoga class to help recover from a knee injury.  What she found on the mat was not just a physically healing routine, but also tools to heal the mind, heart, and spirit, and the means to live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Motivated by this discovery, Sarah sought out a teacher who embodied a philosophy of truth, joy, and compassion, and was blessed to find master teacher Max Strom.  For more than two years, she has been studying with Max, and is currently completing his 200-hour Way of Life teacher training.  Sarah has also studied with and drawn inspiration from the teachings of Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, and Beryl Bender Birch.

At the studio, Sarah encourages her students to first find and connect with their breathing, and teaches never to sacrifice the breath to “achieve” a yoga posture, urging students to listen to their bodies and to take rest when needed.  She believes that knowledgeable and informed students are stronger students; her gentle yet rousing teaching style results in an invigorating Vinyasa Flow practice, with an emphasis on healing and transformation.

Sarah deeply honors the opportunity to share a practice with anyone who finds the courage to unfurl their mat.  It is her ultimate intention to deliver a safe, challenging, and rewarding practice, where all levels of students can take their own journeys of self-inquiry.  She is inspired by the potential of all yogis to align themselves for better health and more fulfilling lives, and to take the gift of yoga one step further -- off the mat -- to serve, heal and unite their communities.  Contact Sarah at yogicfishwoman@yahoo.com.

Peter Gibbon-Owner/Manager

Peter Gibbon is certified by the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts at the 500 hour professional level and has trained in Vipassana Meditation. In addition, he has trained with Shiva Ray in techniques of Vinyasa flow and with senior teachers at the Kripalu center in deeper yogic practices, particulary pranayama. Peter practiced Bikram Yoga for several years and brings that energy, as well as influences from Baron Baptiste to his teaching. He has been practicing Yoga since 1993 and has taught in a variety of venues for the last eight years. He believes our work in Yoga can be transformational, allowing us to become more integrated, compassionate and fully alive beings in body, mind, and spirit. Peter finds joy in the moment  of yoga and works to facilitate his students own journey. He emphasizes practicing in a non-judgemental way and reminds students that while we can work hard in our practice, the development of compassion begins within the self.  Contact Peter for training in Kripalu Yoga, pranayama and meditation here at the Olney studio or 240-338-3879.

Laura Greene

Laura Greene has lived with yoga all her life. She has early memories of toddling on her Mum’s yoga mat at Krishnamurti retreats in the 1970’s, and at her progressive boarding school in the English countryside yoga was held outdoors in the apple orchard before exams. Leaving her native England seven years ago, Laura became part of the DC-area yoga community from her very first morning in the United States. During her long career in front of the TV cameras Laura relied on her dedicated yoga practise to provide strength of body and spirit and calm of mind. Becoming a mother in 2005 convinced Laura of the vital importance “community” plays in all our lives, and the emptiness that can result in its absence. Thus she is devoted to the idea that yoga can forge bridges – between body and mind in the individual, but also between us; breaking boundaries of fear, cultural tradition or physical distance. Laura thanks her teachers all over the world; in every style, shape, colour and tradition, and attributes her good health, balanced relationships and positive outlook to the blessings of yoga.

Rev. Keith Hall

Rev. Keith Hall has studied, practiced, and taught T'ai Chi, Qi Gong, Tantra, and meditation for over 30 years.  He has been a senior student of Professor Yung-ko Chou, with permission to teach.  Rev. Hall has studied at various Mystery Schools across the world and with Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, S. Saraswati and others.  In addition, he has studied Bioenergetics, Ba Gua, Tumo, Vipassana, Zen, Spiritual Massage, various Yogas, and many other Eastern and Western psychospiritual disciplines.  Rev. Hall has published articles on Tantric and Taoist arts in numerous journals.  He is an Ordained Metaphysical Interfaith Minister, and the Founder of Jade Garden Tantra and inner-tranquility.com. For private coaching or instruction look at Keith's site under the coaching section listed below.

 http://www.inner-tranquility.com/instruction-coaching

Contact Keith at tantricqigong@aol.com

Kathleen Halverson

Kathleen Kelly Halverson has been practicing yoga since 2001. Kathleen achieved her certification through The Yoga Center of Columbia in 2007 and is registered through Yoga Alliance at the RYT 200 level. Kathleen works full time as an editor at an association in Rockville, but teaching yoga is her true vocation. Schooled in a program that taught a multitude of traditions (including Anusara and Iyengar), Kathleen describes her teaching style as “hatha hybrid.” Her mission is making yoga accessible to individuals of all ages, sizes, salaries, and body types. She is actively working to dispel the myth that one must be of a certain body type and/or age in order to practice yoga! Kathleen especially loves teaching beginners, Yoga I, and Gentle Yoga. Her warm, congenial teaching style reflects her love of yoga, her application of yogic principles to her daily life, and her deep commitment to her students. Kathleen lives in Olney with her husband Jeff and their beagle, Jupiter. Contact Kathleen at KHalverson@asha.org.

Dawna Houston RYT500

Dawna teaches a well rounded yoga class that includes instruction on asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), chanting, meditation, and relaxation. She was trained initially at The Yoga Center of Columbia and has completed  the 500 hour advanced yoga teacher training program at Golden Heart Yoga in Annapolis.  Her teaching is rooted in the Anusara tradition, which is a heart-centered practice of yoga with a brilliant method of teaching alignment and the foundational elements of each posture. Although she is best known for her vigorous vinyasa flow classes, her interest and study in yoga philosophy, Sanskrit, chanting and meditation provide an excellent framework for students to work with their emotions, their mind, and to experience yoga as a spiritual practice.  Contact Dawna at yogidawna@yahoo.com.

Jeffrey Kenney

Jeffrey Kenney has been practicing Yoga and meditation for over 14 years and has studied and practiced many different Hatha Yoga styles. This extensive experience and study provides Jeffrey with a vast knowledge of Yoga. Jeffrey has been described as compassionate, knowledgeable, calming, and motivating. His teaching style allows students of all abilities to expand their physical and mental edge and still maintain an enjoyable and pleasant experience. Jeffrey teaches Yoga throughout the Washington DCarea. Jeffrey is now offering Chinese medicine at Olney Yoga. He has been practicing Chinese medicine for 8 years and currently sees clients in Friendship Heights. Jeffrey specializes in pain relief, women’s health, and stress relief. To schedule an appointment or to find out more about Chinese Medicine you can contact Jeffrey through his website (www.oceanstream.org) or email (kenneyqidr@aol.com).

Edie Lazenby

Edie lazenby has been teaching yoga and been registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level since finishing her first training with City Fitness in DC. City Fitness introduced her to Anusara Yoga and she began study at Willow Street yoga in 2005 and graduated in 2008. Anusara speaks to her heart, through the universal principles and provides a road map to asana making yoga availiable to all. Strength and flexibility are not prerequisites as they can be developed over time. Edie likes to challenge her students while encouraging them to listen to the wisdom of their bodies.Her goal in class is to have fun and connect to her students providing room for them to experience their own heart connection.

Orly Leizerov

Orly Leizerov is a child development specialist and a certified yoga instructor for children.  As an avid multi-disciplinarian practitioner, Orly integrates the visual arts, creative movement and music with her work with children and yoga.  Her classes combine the basic elements of yoga (stretching, exercising, breathing, relaxing, as well as love of self and kindness to others) in a playful and fun way that incorporates sensory integration and lots of imaginative play.  Such an approach exposes children to an enjoyable and exciting physical activity that is very different in nature from many of their current experiences and is uniquely rewarding in its non-competitive approach.  Orly holds a Masters degree in Developmental Psychology and has been a passionate yoga practitioner for over 15 years.

Christina Martinez

Christina Martinez began her yoga journey over 10 years ago. She dedicated her life to the practice after experiencing yoga's ability to heal the addicted mind. She has studied many different traditions of yoga including Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anusara, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Forrest and Yin. Christina is truly grateful to have had the honor of studying with her dearest teacher Stephanie Keach of the Asheville Yoga Center. It is there where Christina found her voice and became a teacher. She has attended massage school, two 200+ hr. yoga teacher certification courses and is a certified NIA white belt instructor. She continues to study movement and healing through self study, practice, teaching and workshops. It is her path in life to offer healing through movement to anyone who seeks it.

Nancy Neves

Nancy Neves is a Kripalu-certified yoga teacher who recognizes the healing and transformational power of yoga.  In her classes, she provides a safe place to encourage each student's personal growth. Discovering yoga's ability to develop body, mind and spirit simultaneously is what led Nancy to become a devoted yoga practitioner.  Combining her love of group work with her compassionate approach to teaching, Nancy encourages her students to develop greater strength, flexibility and endurance.  She leads her students through mindful movements, encouraging them to connect with their lives.  Nancy gratefully acknowledges the influences of her mentors and beloved friends Rudra Tyson and Natalie Dodson.  When not practicing yoga, Nancy is busy caring for her husband, two children and two cats.

Karen Papanicolas

Karen brings many years of teaching experience and a light-hearted energy to the Olney Yoga team.  In addition to earning her 200-hr certification at Columbia Yoga, she has been studying Yoga Therapy, and has recently completed an Anusara Alignment intensive.  The goal in her classes is to assist students in making the connection between yoga and life by using pranayama, strongly aligned asana combinations, mindfulness and fun. "Your mat is your playground, let's play!"

Karen Tasto

Karen Tasto, RYT200, draws upon over 15 years of yogic discovery and extensive study to create classes that are empowering and supportive. She is inspired by the teachings of Anusara Yoga and has been teaching yoga in the Olney community since 2003. Her classes invite self-inquiry,light-heartedness and self-awareness with a strong focus on alignment and breath-all for a heart- opening experience. Karen derives inspiration not only from her regular yoga and meditation prctice but also from reading,nature and her three energetic boys and dog.  Contact Karen at ktasto@verizon.net.