Marianna Adams, R.Y.T., has been an avid student of yoga since 1990. After her initial yoga certification from Kripalu she has continued her yoga teacher training and advanced yoga study with senior Anusara teachers Betsey Downing, Jenny Otto, Moses Brown, and Doug Keller, as well as workshops with John Friend and Desiree Rumbaugh. She has taken Anusara-influenced prenatal teacher training from Mary Barnes, Yoga for Two¬, in New York City. Her background in dance and arts education gives an unusual twist to her classes. When not practicing or teaching yoga, she is a senior research associate for a non-profit educational research and development organization in Annapolis, MD, that seeks to understand "free-choice learning" - learning when you don't have to. Her research focus is school/museum partnerships and development of interactive art museum exhibitions. Her new main focus is her granddaughter, Annabelle, (shown here) born January 4, 2007.

Denise Alston, Ph.D. Denise's commitment to yoga lies in her desire to expand the practice to the diverse community of Washington, DC. She began her yoga practice 25 years ago in the Bikram style. From 1999-2002, she was a student at Dancing Heart Yoga and has taken workshops with Shiva Rea and Rod Stryker. Denise received her Kripalu Yoga Teacher Certification in June 2003. In Denise's professional life she helps to turn around low-performing schools by working with teachers and other school employees.

Danielle Brand-LeMond, R.Y. T., is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher who delights in helping her students feel more at home in their own bodies. She also brings to her teaching an eclectic mix of other styles which she has studied over ten years of personal practice. Danielle has a Master's degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution and facilitates workshops on spirituality and peacebuilding. She strongly believes in the connections between inner and outer peace; by encouraging self-reflection, compassion for self and other, and awareness of the ethical and philosophical aspects of yoga in her classes, she believes she is helping to create a more peaceful world.

Stacey Etheridge, R.Y.T., has been studying yoga since 1997 and Anusara Yoga since 2003. Stacey completed the 400+ hour yoga teacher training program at Willow Street Yoga Center where she was taught by Suzie Hurley, Jenny Otto, Moses Brown and Joe Miller. She continues to study with and be inspired by her teachers Elizabeth Goodman, Joe Miller and Suzie Hurley. Stacey has a Ph.D. in Oceanography and she brings her love of nature and knowledge of science to her practice and teaching of yoga. Stacey's classes focus on the breath, body awareness, and the alignment principles of Anusara yoga. Stacey seeks to empower her students and encourages them to celebrate all that is good in life.

Carrie Ganz loves to share her delight in Anusara yoga with her students. She is a recent graduate of the Willow Street Yoga Teacher Training Program and continues to study and learn with her teachers. Her classes emphasize empowerment and joy and are imbued with a sense of creativity, play and freedom.

Rebecca Gitter, R.Y.T., delights in sharing yoga with her students - primarily babies, toddlers and their caregivers. The natural joy and playfulness of children is a perfect compliment for yoga. Teaching yoga to such young students is as challenging as it is rewarding. As a mom of two very active school age children, Rebecca identifies with the challenges of parenthood and finds her yoga practice and sharing yoga with her children help to bring a sense of balance and stillness to an otherwise hectic world. Rebecca is a certified Itsy-Bitsy Yoga® Tykes, Tots & Baby facilitator, training with IBY founder Helen Garabedian. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2006 at the Yoga Center of Columbia, and has completed Level II of the Radiant Child Yoga Program.

Elizabeth Goodman's study of yoga is informed by her work as a lawyer for the Department of Labor and her avocation as an artist. Her classes express her belief that the practice of yoga helps to bring us in alignment with our true nature, enabling us to be more compassionate and generous to our living planet, all other beings and ourselves. She was raised in a meditative tradition and took her first yoga class over 20 years ago and has been studying intensively since 1999. Elizabeth is a Certified Anusara instructor. She did her teacher training at Willow Street Yoga Center and continues to study with John Friend and at Willow Street.

Naomi Gottlieb-Miller, R.Y.T., began her study of yoga in 1999 to take the edge off of living in New York City. A native DC-er, she returned to the city of her youth to become a yoga teacher, graduating from the Teacher Training program at Willow Street Yoga. She continues to study with her primary teachers, certified Anusara Yoga instructors Kate Miller and Amy Ippoliti, who are constant sources of inspiration and guidance. Naomi brings a sense of lightness and play to all of her classes, encouraging her students to open their hearts enough to invite a healthy dose of laughter into their practice. She continues to be inspired by the joy her students bring to their mats and considers teaching yoga the best gig ever.

Leyla Mahbod Kenny, R.Y.T., has studied the principles of a yogic lifestyle during a year long residency at the Kripalu Center for Health where she received her certification in 1998. Since 1999, Leyla has been drawn to Anusara Yoga and has taken workshops and classes with senior Anusara instructors. Leyla brings warmth to her classes along with a focus on breath and alignment. She motivates her students to explore yoga in their daily lives to become more aware of their bodies and breath. Leyla is also a psychotherapist with a private practice in clinical social work.

Cecilia Monahan is a YogaKids Associate teacher, and is in training toward the 300-hour Certified YogaKids Facilitator level. She holds a Montessori teaching certificate from the American Montessori Society and is actively involved in her two sons' Capitol Hill schools.

Julie Wetherbee Miezan, CHY Office Manager, has been with CHY since it started. Before yoga, she spent ten years working in the production office of Arena Stage. When not at CHY, Julie enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering at her almost 8-yr old son Ricky's elementary school.