Jacquie Ruderman - Yin Yoga
I hope you’ll jump at the opportunity to lift your heart, mind and body by taking a class (virtually, during these pandemic times) with this master teacher, Jacquie Ruderman. Jacquie teaches a LIVE Yin Yoga class at 6:30 PM each Sunday (a 75-min class) at JaiPure Yoga in downtown Montclair. Known in the Montclair area and beyond for her Yin Yoga teaching, Jacquie has spread her vast knowledge of this yoga system by conducting frequent Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings. It was through one such teacher training that I learned of the power of Yin Yoga and the magic of Jacquie’s teaching.
Informed and inspired by her personal study with many master instructors, Jacquie is certified to teach multiple yoga methodologies: Slow Flow Vinyasa (shaped by her own practice and study of Iyengar & Kripalu yoga’s mindful sequencing); Yin and Meditation practices (influenced by yoga and Buddhist meditation teachers Sarah and Ty Powers — from whom she received certification to teach Yin Yoga Levels I and II); Restorative Yoga (Jacquie was certified by Judith Hanson Lasater).
Jacquie’s classes always thread poetry, uplifting music, and Buddhist-influenced teachings together with her vital knowledge of Anatomy and Chinese medicine. Whether she is teaching Yin, Restorative, or Slow-Flow Vinyasa yoga, Jacquie's intention is to create an inclusive environment for "self-observation without judgment.”
Julie Margolis - Vinyasa
I have been a devoted fan of Julie Margolis’ yoga teaching from my early days as a yoga student. Julie’s cues in her vinyasa sequences are clear and nuanced. With her careful guidance, I never feel at risk of injury while flowing from one posture to the next. Her sequencing is incremental, growing and heightening in tandem with her students’ bodies as they warm and expand during the practice. Julie also builds beautifully curated playlists to accompany her mindful flows — simply the best song compilations I’ve heard throughout my years as a yoga student.
Julie started teaching yoga in 2004 and has a large and dedicated community following. She holds the highest level of Yoga Certification with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500). She teaches five weekly public classes as well as private sessions and workshops designed to deepen and expand her students’ yoga practices. Check out her website for updates on her latest virtual and outdoor classes during these COVID-19 times. I promise you, you’ll be glad you did! Please note: Julie is back teaching a Mixed-Level Vinyasa class — virtually and LIVE — at Yoga Mechanics in Montclair on Wednesdays, 12:00 Noon - 1:00PM.
Sarah Flaherty - Vinyasa
You know those harder postures you’ve always wanted to try but have been too afraid to think about? Or maybe you have the courage to attempt those trickier yoga shapes but you haven’t achieved the body strength yet. Well, Sarah Flaherty can help you with that! Sarah has woven challenge, strength and spirit into every single Vinyasa flow she guides. With a little bit of sass, an incredible amount of body mechanics knowledge and a whole lot of fun (unique playlists by the way), Sarah’s yoga classes leave you feeling fully empowered, slightly exhausted, and fired up.
Sarah has a degree in biology with certifications in functional range systems (FRC&FRA). She is co-creator of Yoga Framework and is a mobility specialist with a local NFL team. Her unique style of yoga is a blend of the Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Katonah and Laughing Lotus traditions. I think you’ll want to join me in one of her powerhouse virtual classes as soon as possible. Also, be sure to check out all of Sarah’s classes at the new ZURA Blooms, 71 Washington Street in Bloomfield, NJ.
Halley Mechanic - Yin Yoga
If you’re ever on Martha’s Vineyard, hustle yourself right off the beach and over to the next Yin Yoga class with this teacher. When I took my first Yin Yoga class with Halley in New Jersey, I was struck by how difficult it was for me to be still, really still, in both mind and body. But class after class, Halley’s gentle guidance, blissful playlists, and inspirational readings helped nudge me to stillness every time. To say Halley has a gift for guiding a Yin Yoga practice is putting it mildly; she helps you travel so deeply within, you forget where you are and who you are. You find yourself just locking into her voice, the background music of her playlist, and the sensations of your body.
Halley’s certifications include her Yoga Certification with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500), Yin Yoga, and Yoga for Breast Cancer. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist (The National Academy of Sports Medicine — NASM), a Wellness and Nutrition Consultant (American Fitness and Professional Association — AFPA), a Holistic Lifestyle Coach (the C.H.E.K. Institute), a Reiki Practitioner (Master Level), and a Spinning Instructor.
Currently, Halley teaches a Yin Yoga class at the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard in Vineyard Haven, Fridays @ 10:30AM. Before you head to MV, be sure to check out Halley’s website (button below) to see where else on the island she may be teaching. Then, after you’ve had the best yoga class of your life, with one of my most favorite yoga teachers of all time, on the best island destination there is, don’t forget to tell her I sent you, okay?
Brenda Bingham - Restorative Yoga
Ready to chill out during these stressful times? Then you need to check out Brenda Bingham’s online Restorative Yoga class through Good Vibes Yoga Bar in Nutley, NJ, on Thursday mornings at 9:30 AM. (See link to the Good Vibes Yoga Bar website below.)
I always feel Brenda’s love for yoga in every moment of her class. Each posture in her sequence is taught with mindfulness and joy behind it. Employing a somatic style of movement, Brenda purposefully creates a safe place for yoga practitioners to fully focus on their personal and internal experience while moving their bodies.
Formally trained to teach yoga at Powerflow Yoga (with additional teaching certifications in both Yin Yoga and Kids Yoga), Brenda teaches slowly, carefully and heartfully. She chooses just the right words to guide your body into and out of shapes. The light poses and stretches in her sequences are particularly suited to beginner yogis as well as to those who are looking for balance in their bodies after practicing more intensive yoga or taking part in other high energy workouts or sports activities.
For me, Brenda’s yoga classes are blissful and restful, the perfect antidote to the daily grind. I return to my life “off the yoga mat” feeling tranquil and restored. I think you will too.
Katie Niewodowski - Vinyasa and Hot 26X2 (Bikram) Yoga
Katie Niewodowski is one of my most treasured yoga mentors and teachers of all time. Along with my yoga teacher training mentors (Jagadisha Peter Petrovic and Rebecca Frezza), Katie has helped to bring my yoga practice to a whole new level. Her creative and challenging sequencing in her Vinyasa Yoga classes and her steady voice and succinctly descriptive cues in her Bikram Yoga classes lead yoga practitioners to a new kind of yoga experience. I’m certain you’ll find (as I do) that in a “Katie Niewodowski yoga class,” you not only stretch your muscles and fascial tissue to find more space and ease in your body, but you also achieve space and ease in your mind. This is because every class led by Katie is a moving meditation.
Katie became a certified Bikram Yoga Instructor in 2008, and in 2010, attended Baron Baptiste’s Teacher Training in New York. Then, she opened SunMoon Yoga studio in Jersey City, which she ran successfully for 7 years.
Katie is also an accomplished artist. Several of her gorgeous prints graced the walls of the beloved ZURA Montclair Yoga studio. In addition to teaching private yoga and art classes, Katie is professor of Visual Arts at Montclair State University and Hudson County Community College. You can visit her artwork at www.katieniewo.com and check out her personalized portraits at www.petitraits.com.
Katie now teaches two 75-min Hot 26X2 classes at Juniper Yoga + Fitness. I’m telling you, RUN, don’t walk, to Juniper Yoga + Fitness to take class with Katie: Tuesday evenings, 7:00 PM, and Sunday afternoons, 4:00 PM. To register for class, go to JuniperYogaFitness.com.
Stephanie Pope-Lofgren - Hot 26X2 (Bikram) Yoga
When the pandemic first began, I scrambled, like many of you, to figure out a way to stay connected to my yoga community and continue to learn from my favorite yoga teachers. When I found out that Stephanie Pope-Lofgren—one of the strongest, most talented Hot 26 teachers I’ve ever had the pleasure to learn from—was teaching a full 90-minute Hot 26 class on Zoom, from her home studio, I rushed to sign up.
Stephanie’s career first began in musical theater. She performed as an actress, singer, and dancer, appearing in many roles, most significantly the role of Velma Kelly in the longest running American musical, CHICAGO, on Broadway. Eventually, Stephanie became recognized for her expertise in Bob Fosse choreography. Throughout her theater career, Stephanie always credited Bikram Yoga for helping her to maintain her strength, flexibility, and stamina on the stage.
In 2008, after training with Bikram Choudhury, Stephanie opened her own Bikram studio in NYC, and in 2011, the studio was named one of the top Bikram Yoga studios in the country! After her yoga studio closed in 2016, Stephanie returned to her musical theater career, but continued to teach hot yoga with guest teaching engagements at various hot yoga studios around the country. She has told me repeatedly how much joy she finds in sharing this invigorating and healing yoga practice with as many people as possible.
There are moments in Stephanie’s class, when you will hear the undeniable voice of Bikram coming through, but it is Stephanie’s own unique uplifting and calming voice, which practically sings as she guides you in and out of postures, that makes her teaching inspired and special. As LIVE, in-person classes return to Hot 26 yoga studios in the tri-state area, I will keep you posted about where Stephanie will be teaching next in 2022. Rest assured, I’ll save you a spot in line because her class is one you do NOT want to miss!
Shakiem Evans - XTREME HIIT
I remember the first day Shakiem Evans walked into the ZURA Hot Yoga studio. He was fresh from completing his Hot HIIT training at BodeNYC and seemed determined to show Montclair yogis the extreme benefits of the unique high intensity interval training system. I took his class and was floored (literally) by the experience. After what was one of the most extreme, exhilarating, exhausting, pumped-up workout classes this yoga body had ever experienced, I questioned whether I would ever dare to take the class again. But much like the extreme experience of a full 90-minute Bikram Hot 26 class, I could not deny that I liked the “buzzy” feeling in my body and mind after the class was over. I venture to guess this post-class reaction is common among many of Shakiem’s fans.
And Shakiem does have an impressive group of fans. They return again and again for whatever grueling sequences he can dish out because the class is not only hard core, it’s fun. Shakiem is a performer and his class is a lot like a show. The students are equal part audience members — watching his every move — and players on the stage — trying to replicate the sequences with as much strength and grace as they can muster. With his incredible energy, sinewy dancer body (which he uses like an elegant tool to demonstrate each sequence flawlessly), inspiring music that surrounds his students with a heart-thumping beat, and his mega-watt smile, Shakiem directs his performers with flair. You simply can’t get enough of this guy!
Shakiem started performing professionally at the age of 13 as an actor, dancer, and singer on Broadway as well as film and television. He began using a Bikram Yoga practice to protect his body from the physical demands of dancing. When Shakiem took his first Hot HIIT class in NYC, he found that it complemented his yoga practice well. His core muscles became stronger and he was able to hold yoga shapes (asanas) more deeply and for longer periods of time.
Shakiem now operates his own company: XTREME HIIT. Currently, he teaches his XTREME HIIT classes in a rented heated studio at Juniper Yoga + Fitness in Upper Montclair. If you are looking for an extreme belly-crunching, butt-kicking, arm-toning workout to complement your yoga practice or you just want to experience a workout buzz like no other, don’t wait to sign up for Shakiem’s LIVE, IN-PERSON classes on Tuesdays: 5:30-6:30PM and Saturdays: 9:00 - 10:00 AM. There is often a waitlist, so my advice is to book your class far in advance. Shakiem also teaches a LIVE 45-min XTREME HIIT class on Thursdays: 7:15-8:00AM. Shakiem is in the process of changing his booking platform. Stay tuned for more information in how to sign up for one of his classes. Soon, you’ll be able to click the “Book Here” button below to register for your class.
Beth Smith - Hot 26X2 (Bikram)Yoga; Fusion
If there were just one word to describe Beth Smith’s yoga teaching style, it would be nurturing. Whether teaching a Hot Fusion or a Hot 26X2 (Bikram) Yoga class, Beth’s calm and melodic voice soothes you like a warm blanket. She so gently and carefully guides you in and out of postures and sequences you are completely uplifted by the experience. When Beth is your guide, your yoga confidence builds. Postures that seemed all too challenging initially, slowly begin to ease. When you leave Beth’s class, you’ll feel as though you are walking on air. It is no wonder that she has an impressive following — made up of new and experienced yogis as well as up-and-coming hot yoga teachers. Everyone wants a bit of Beth’s nurturing grace to shine on them.
Beth took her first Bikram Yoga class sixteen years ago and was immediately taken by the physical challenge of the meditative class. She has shared with students repeatedly how the stillness and depth of her yoga practice centers her, calms her, and allows her to consider all her possibilities. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Immersion and Teacher Training with Jagadisha Peter Petrovic in 2014. After teaching more than 1,000 hours, Beth has earned her E-RYT 200 designation. If you are looking for a teacher who will guide you through your yoga practice, with a strong emphasis on alignment and care, then you’ll want to check out all of Beth’s classes at ZURA Blooms on Washington Street in Bloomfield, NJ.
Dante Sterling - Hot Vinyasa Flow; Fusion
From the moment I first stepped into Dante Sterling’s Fusion Yoga class (a Vinyasa Flow with a blend of chaturangas, sun salutations, and multiple Hot 26-Bikram postures), I fell deeply for his style of teaching—the cadence of his voice in giving cues, his choice of background music (many pieces on his playlist included simple drumming), and the overall pace of his class, which had me sweating and invigorated, but never depleted or wiped out.
Dante enjoys sharing his yoga knowledge—not just the physical aspects of the yoga practice but also the philosophical and meditative benefits. Many gifted teachers like Dante travel through life with a solid group of dedicated students in tow. These teachers often seem genuinely humbled by their fans’ loyalty and enthusiastic praise. They are amazed to find that wherever they go, their students quickly follow. Such is the case with Dante. Ask anyone who has ever taken his class. Immediately, they tell you just how special he is.
Initially, Dante came to yoga in 2001, with a wish to explore complicated and contorted poses, so he could push the boundaries of his physical flexibility. As his practice deepened, however, he discovered that the path of yoga was not just about healing and challenging his physical body, but was, more importantly, a direct path to quieting his busy mind.
Dante received his yoga teacher certification in 2015 (RYT200). He is also a practitioner of the Usi Reiki technique (level 2), and a meditation guide and instructor. Outside of yoga and the healing arts, Dante has worked for many years in the performing arts as a singer, actor, dancer, voice and performance coach, and teacher. He recently earned his master’s degree in French Language at Middlebury College.
To be on the receiving end of Dante’s teaching is to experience his passion to help others discover peace and joy through yoga. Dante, the teacher, leads by example, repeatedly showing his students the value of serving and caring for others and the joy that can be found in simplifying and slowing down the pace of our lives. The ripple effects of his teaching know no bounds.
Dante teaches LIVE Hot Vinyasa Flow yoga classes at Juniper Yoga + Fitness in Upper Montclair and Fusion and BodyART TM classes at the new ZURA Blooms on Washington Street in Bloomfield, NJ.