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?
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: Sunday afternoons, 4:00 PM. To register for class, go to JuniperYogaFitness.com.
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 ZURA Flow and ZURA Fit classes at the new ZURA Blooms on Washington Street in Bloomfield, NJ.