Our Instructors
ALLISON WAGUESPACK
Allison Waguespack, RYT fell in love with Yoga while living in San Francisco in 2000. After five years of sampling all the classes SF had to offer, Allison completed her comprehensive teacher training and certification in San Francisco with renowned Ashtanga Teacher (and personal instructor for the Grateful Dead), Larry Shultz in 2005. Since that time she has attended trainings and workshops with David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Sarah Powers and Jason Crandell.
Her journey began with her enjoyment of all the physical benefits that Yoga had to offer but as she became a teacher and more intimately explored Yogic philosophy, the principles of living Yoga off the mat gave her an even deeper connection to the practice.
In Allison’s classes she offers nourishment for the Physical Body and the Spirit with challenging and creative Vinyasa sequences, dynamic music and real life philosophy that can be applied every day. She hopes to inspire others to live in their Yoga practice both on and off the mat. The Journey is the Joy after all.
Allison resides in Irvington NY with her husband and two children. In addition to teaching classes throughout Westchester, she also created and teaches a Yoga for Actors curriculum in the Conservatory program at Michael Howard Studios, The Professional Acting Studio for Theatre, Film and Television in Manhattan and writes a blog based on her teaching. www.allisonwaguespack.com
ANI PIDEDJIAN
Thirty years backs as a UCLA student, Ani discovered the transformative power of yoga. After she moved to New York to work as a reporter she began practicing more regularly, drawn to the power of joining breath, movement, and attention. Inspired by the power and simplicity of Ashtanga Vinyasa, she traveled to Mysore, India, to study in 1999.
After a decade of practice in NYC, she formally fulfilled the requirements of New York Yoga's training program under Michael Gilbert, Govinda Kai and David Hollander, making teaching official at Karma Yoga and New York Yoga in 2004. Soon after she completed the YogaWorks Teacher Intensive with Julie Kleinman, she started leading classes at YogaWorks in NYC at the Westside and Eastside yoga studios.
Nearly twenty years on of teaching in Westchester and Manhattan, she continues to refine her knowledge of the vast practices of hatha yoga, its development and origin. Her relaxed and accessible teaching style while drawing from the lineages of Krishnamacharya also integrates a creative and analytical sensibility that centers on the whole person, beyond one modality, alignment ideal, or creed.
She is most inspired by her husband and two sons who help her utilize the benefits of yoga beyond the mat. Ani looks forward to teaching at Hastings Yoga and reuniting with the many dedicated students who lost their Westchester yoga home at YogaWorks at the start of the pandemic. Ani continues to study functional anatomy, the history of yoga and the complexity of the nervous system in hopes of teaching better movement and the experience of moving beyond the mind.
IRRIT DWECK
While training for a marathon a physical therapist strongly recommended that Irrit incorporate yoga into her routine for emotional and physical health. This suggestion opened the door to a more skillful way of living: of interacting with her three children, her husband, her high school students and her running. Interested in deepening her practice she embarked on the 200 hr training at Jaya Yoga in 2012. Upon graduation she began teaching at Midwood Martial Arts in Brooklyn. Her studies continued with Amy Matthews and a 500 hr training at Jaya Yoga in 2017. This journey continues in her personal practice and off the mat teaching Arabic/Spanish to high school students and spending time with her three children and husband.
JEN KRAKOWSKY
Jen’s yoga journey began many years before setting foot on a yoga mat. At the age of 14, she went through major spine surgery to halt the progression of scoliosis. Many years later, suffering from chronic back pain as well as stress and anxiety, Jen felt drawn to yoga. She immediately fell in love with yoga’s physical and mental benefits and came to realize that yoga offered her a path to understanding her fused spine as well as her underlying scoliosis.
Jen practices in both the vinyasa and Iyengar styles of yoga. Borrowing from her Iyengar practice, Jen teaches with a strong focus on healthy alignment, body mechanics and breath. She approaches her students with the belief that each body is unique and carries with it its own history, limitations, strengths and weaknesses.
Jen, RYT-200, received her teaching certification at Yoga Haven under the direction of Betsy Kase. She regularly takes Iyengar classes with Jill Ganassi and attends workshops in NYC whenever possible. Jen has studied with Elise Browning Miller, Alison West and Deborah Wolk. She is grateful to share her passion and knowledge with others. alignwithjen.com
JENNIFER MARVIN
”The joy of learning to listen to the body is one that is not to be missed.” This is at the core of Jennifer Marvin’s being and what she teaches her many clients through the lens of Inspired Forrest Yoga. Jenn is an RYT200 with two Trauma-Informed Yoga Certificates, is certified through Forrest Yoga’s 70-hour Advanced Teacher Training and holds over 400 hours (and counting) of recognized expertise. Jenn’s approach is therapeutic, helping clients find relief from physical injuries, gain flexibility, increase strength, improve range of motion, reduce stress or anxiety, and learn to breathe better. She helps those with addictive tendencies through decades of work in recovery communities. Classes, 1:1 private sessions and workshops are approached with curiosity, wonder, awe, and fun providing students with a safe, sacred space always. Yoga’s healings continue to bring Jenn to deeper and profound relationship with the body. Helping others find deep connection with themselves in new and exciting ways, continues to inspire her work.
JENNIFER VAGIOS
Contagious love for life and wellbeing is natural around Jennifer. Her energy is abundant and it comes with a nurturing and intuitive ability to simply make others feel good. Being an expert in the field of health and wellness for over a decade has allowed Jen to integrate mind, body and soul into her classes. Jennifer started her career as a nutritionist and has worked clinically, in cardiac and pulmonary rehab, employee wellness, fitness and the food industry. Jen also holds a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition through Columbia University, Teacher’s College. Completing her 500 hour ISHTA yoga teacher training only enhanced Jen’s knowledge for living whole. Jen says about her own journey,"yoga helped me personally overcome digestive issues as well as find a balance between pushing myself too hard both on and off the mat. I’m grateful for my teachers every day.” Jen’s teaching style is lighthearted with a blend of philosophy, ayurveda and a focus on human anatomy and alignment creating a safe and comfortable environment for her students. Jen teaches prenatal, hatha, restorative, core flow, flow and restore, vinyasa and hot yoga classes throughout Westchester County and New York, NY. Her intention is to offer well balanced classes that allow the student to create space through the body using the breath, asana (postures) and meditation. Then using this spaciousness you’ve created to find ease and steadiness in life, which tends to be a natural by product of yoga. jennifervagios.com
JODY RASO
Jody's passion for Yoga began out of curiosity in 2000. She completed her 200 hour Teacher Training in Vinyasa Flow at Yoga Haven under the direction of Betsy Kase in 2011. She then went on to receive additional training in Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga from Jillian Pransky. She is also certified in Prenatal Yoga through Kia Wellness Center, and in children and teen Yoga through Little Flower Yoga. Jody’s classes incorporate these styles, along with her own yoga experience.
In addition to her Yogic and Therapeutic practices, Jody has a profound love for and commitment to her Reiki practice. Jody is a 6th generation Reiki Master, using the Usui System of natural healing. Her innate warmth and nurturing qualities allow her students to feel safe, enabling them to relax and open to the fullness of the healing experience that both Yoga and Reiki has to offer. jodyraso.com
JOY SOLOMON
The first time I stepped onto a yoga mat in 1999, I began to experience the calming nature of breath and its wondrous power to deeply connect me to my life. Since then, my meditation and breath practice has been a steady and reliable source of strength and grace. The practice renews my inner trust that all feelings are teachers and that getting close to direct experience brings freedom. With a tenderness that I have discovered inside myself, every moment is a new chance to choose - to begin again.
I teach meditation and breathing because I love sitting together, supporting people to find their quiet space - guiding them to experience the sublime effect of gathering and releasing energy, and the witnessing of the incredible sweetness that arises from the subtle shifts and the gradual softening that the practice brings.
Joy is a certified yoga teacher (200 hours YogaWorks 2010) and is currently completing a 2 year certification program as a mindfulness meditation teacher under the auspices of Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Joy is also a lawyer in the field of elder justice, currently the Director and Managing Attorney of the Weinberg Center for Elder Justice, which includes the nation’s first shelter for elder abuse victims. Joy also has certification as a mediator and established practices around end of life conversations and trauma informed care.
DR. KIMBERLY GROCHER
Dr. Kimberly Grocher is a licensed clinical social worker, executive & wellness coach, and a certified yoga & mindfulness meditation teacher. She integrates yoga and mindfulness practices into her work with her coaching & psychotherapy clients in addition to offering individual and small group yoga sessions with new yogis in mind. For more information visit www.kimberlybondsgrocher.com.
LAURA LEVENSON
In 2014, when my 2nd of 2 kids went off to college, I found myself searching for a reboot. My yoga journey started a couple of decades prior, but I decided yoga teacher training would be a great way to deepen my practice, but I didn’t anticipate that I would still be teaching 9 years later - through personal losses, physical injuries, and work life balance challenges.
For me, yoga has fully taken root as my happy place, no matter where I am mentally, physically, and spiritually. I endeavor to share the practice and help others along their journey to find emotional and physical strength, flexibility, and ease that can seamlessly transition from the mat to daily life. For those just beginning to explore the benefits of all aspects of yoga, or for life-long practitioners, I believe yoga offers benefits to anyone and everyone who is looking for ways to explore a deeper awareness of self, and use that knowledge for ongoing personal growth and a life filled with gratitude and contentment.
MARY-ANN MASTREANI
Mary-Ann has been a student of yoga for 30 years and instructing for over 25 years. She holds 200 hour certification from Tim Miller, 200 hour certification from Alison West at Yoga Union NYC, and Karma Kids yoga certification. She also holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and is a Certified Life Coach through Leadership that Works.
Mary-Ann's main reason for teaching is because she knows that yoga helps people suffer less in the world! She knows that time spent on the mat allows both herself and her students to be more fully present in compassionate, kind, loving ways off the mat! Her classes tend to challenge students physically, mentally and spiritually to be the best version of themselves as often as possible. She loves that yoga has allowed her to embrace her perfectly imperfect self more and more each day! Mary-Ann is the mom of three amazing children, and lives humbled by, and in gratitude to them, for being her most amazing teachers everyday!
MEGHAN COVINGTON
Meghan is a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified personal trainer as well as a seasoned yoga instructor. She obtained her 200 hour certification through Yoga to the People and her prenatal yoga teacher training through Om Yoga Center in New York City. In addition, Meghan is certified to teach Women's Special Populations (prenatal, postnatal, menopause, autoimmune diseases, and breast/ovarian cancers) and Movement Skills Development for Children. She has experience teaching men, women, and children of all fitness levels both one on one and in classroom settings. She especially loves working with postnatal and prenatal mothers as well as children. Meghan work as an instructor with Mind Body Fitness NYC has also been featured in American Baby Magazine, Vogue.com, DNAinfo New York, Westchester Family Magazine, and Wee Westchester.
NASYA CAMACHO
Nasya is, first and foremost, a lifelong student and 500 hour RYT with an Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Therapeutics background. She has received her training in Ashtanga at Pure Yoga NYC with Scott Harig & John Campbell, where she is also a current assistant to Scott, and gained her therapeutics training with Dana Slamp of the Prema Therapeutics Institute. Teaching for over four years and practicing for over five, Nasya continues working to bring a fresh, spirited approach to yoga by staying true to traditional philosophies and building strength through creative mindful flows. Always encouraging her students to play with shapes as a means of self discovery, she explores on how to FEEL through collective intention and breath. Breath is everything - allowing you to be present, check in with the mind + body and express your power, your true self.
She believes our bodies were made to move and push passed the limitations of the mind, meaning yoga is for every body. No one person’s pose will look the same and that is the beauty of yoga. We celebrate our differences, connecting to those around us on a deeper level of compassion and understanding.
Her experience allows her to focus on individual needs, providing modifications when necessary and adjusting classes based off the energetic atmosphere. Nasya hopes each person leaves class with more awareness, more confidence and a lightness to let go + fully release. Always spreading more love + light.
Mantra: “Leave it better than you found it!”
MELISSA JHUNJA
Melissa loves to share the transformative practice of yoga with others. She is a graduate of the 200 hr Yoga Works teacher training program and the 300 hr Ishta Yoga advanced teacher training. She is also certified in Trauma-Informed and Restorative Yoga.
Melissa focuses on bringing yoga to underserved populations and feels particularly grateful for the opportunity to bring the healing practice of yoga to prisoners, women who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence and first responders. A true Karma Yogi at heart!
You will find her classes to be a well balanced combination of mindful movement, attention to breath and guided meditation- with friendly reminders to find ease and joy in your practice.
Off the mat Melissa is a Social Worker and EMT with a serious case of wanderlust.
NATALIA SHMONINA
Natalia is a former gymnast, born and raised in the Far East of Russia.
After her graduation she moved to Japan and stayed in Asia for 10 years. Buddhism and eastern life culture attracted her during her time in Japan where she experienced yoga for the first time. She began yoga as her gymnastic exercise and realized qyuickly that yoga practice is beyond the physical, developing spiritual, mental and emotional strength.
In 2012 she arrived in USA for her Yoga Teacher Training and found a multicultural energetic NYC, full of different yoga styles and teachers. She has trained at NY Yoga, Mang’Oh Yoga, Sacred Sounds Yoga, and The Integral Yoga Institute. Going through the difficult times of her life and her gymnastics background instilled the belief that challenges makes us stronger and better. Her goal is to stay positive. In attaining physical results, we achieve a spiritual practice, which leads us to a positive direction. She teaches vigorous yoga classes that combine physical challenge and graceful movements all with connection to breathing. Natalia inspires students to find their inner peace through strength, balance and harmony.
During the pandemic in 2020 she moved with her family from NYC to Westchester. She is continuing her yoga path searching new communities, developing her teaching and sharing it with people.
SUSIE CARAMANICA
Susie Caramanica is a certified RYT 200 hour hatha based teacher who received her training with Betsy Kase at Yoga Haven in Scarsdale in 2016. She has since attended trainings and workshops with Rodney Yee, Allison West, Bryan Kest, Dr. Loren Fishman, Matthew Sanford, and Tara Tonini, incorporating these learnings into her own classes. In addition to teaching yoga privately, in studios, and special events, Susie teaches trauma informed yoga at a women's shelter.
Susie is no stranger to health and fitness, maintaining a regular exercise routine, competing in triathlons and road races and practicing yoga for two decades. However, Susie’s interest shifted towards mindfulness after receiving a serious health diagnosis that made spending more time on her mat her destiny. Susie’s passion to help others heal and achieve peace led her to Yoga Haven's Teacher Training.
She enjoys making yoga accessible to all levels, emphasizing strength, stretch, breath and balance. She focuses asana on proper alignment while incorporating awareness and body mind connection, bringing a sense of calm, release and joy into each class.
Susie resides in Hastings on Hudson NY with her husband and three boys.
TORI CRONK
Tori was immediately intrigued by the practice of yoga when she wandered into a crowded NYC studio about 15 years ago, however it wasn't until after the birth of her daughter quite some time later that her own practice really took hold. She started to notice subtle physical and spiritual changes and it became clear that life could be much more balanced when time was devoted to the mat. After experiencing firsthand how healing yoga can be Tori wanted to explore how she could share this with others.
Tori has completed training programs through Riverstone Yoga and Yoga Haven and is certified to teach vinyasa, prenatal, and postnatal styles of yoga. She has also recently completed coursework in teaching trauma informed yoga through the organization Exhale To Inhale. Tori is passionate about creating community through the practice of yoga, and it is her hope that her students feel both encouraged and empowered on the mat to explore their own physical and spiritual growth. Tori is honored and humbled to do this work and it has been one of her greatest blessings to be able to bear witness to one's process on the mat.
In addition to her yoga certifications Tori holds a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling and she is a proud mama of 2.
TORI MACDOUGALL
A yoga student for over 15 years, Tori brings a joy to teaching her classes, and sharing yoga is a passion of hers. Prior to moving to New York, Tori taught numerous classes weekly in the heart of Washington, DC. She focuses on correct alignment and bringing awareness to the body through conscious breathing, stretching and strengthening as well as giving students a greater understanding of the benefits and possibilities through each pose. Tori has trained with Mark Whitwell, Bryan Kest, Natasha Rizopolous, Jason Crandell, and Katja Brandis.