Our Teachers

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland Alicia moved to New York City in 2002. She has practiced yoga for 20 years and began a more vigorous practice in the last ten years. Finding the right instructors made all the difference, once she found the right instructors, her love for her yoga practice deepened. In 2019, with encouragement from her favorite yoga instructor and her yogi classmates, she decided to become an instructor herself. She completed her 200-hour teacher training at Laughing Lotus NYC (LLstudio) simply because all her favorite teachers came from Lotus. She learned a great deal from her training and continues her education with workshops. She recently completed a 25-hour Flow and Fly training at LL studio.

Alicia has taught at Mang'Oh yoga, New York Sports Club, LL studio (formerly Laughing Lotus studio), and Westbeth Artists Residence.

Andrea Lodico is a New York-based yoga teacher. She found yoga through dance, beginning a new journey of movement and discovery. Since 2004, yoga has been a source of joy and calm within the hustle of life in NYC. In her teaching, she hopes to share the passion and peace she feels on the mat and provide students with an environment in which they uncover new insight, vibrant presence, and strength. Andrea infuses her classes with playfulness and dynamic sequencing in which students move through asana from a strong foundation of alignment. A vigorous and lighthearted practice works to encourage mindfulness of breathing and somatic awareness. Andrea is filled with gratitude for her teachers and the community that yoga has brought into her life, having completed a 200-hour certification at mang’Oh yoga in 2014 with Erica Whalen and her 500-hour training in 2017 at Boston Yoga School in Boston, MA under the mentorship of Ame Wren and Kevin Courtney. She received a 75-hour certification through Kula Yoga Project & The Sacred Fig with Nikki Vilella and Anton Brandt in September 2019.

In addition to teaching yoga, Andrea is an arts administrator, working with choreographers and dance companies to bolster infrastructure and guide change and strategic planning. Over the last decade, Andrea’s creative and strategic vision, along with her commitment to collaboration and innovation, has distinguished her as a leader in the dance field.

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Annie H is a New York-based actress and yoga instructor. Always one for an adventure, Annie has found that her yogic journey has been one of the most rewarding ones, and she loves sharing that journey with her students. Annie is now on faculty at her alma mater, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, where she teaches Yoga for Actors. She teaches yoga at the United Nations, works one on one with patients at a doctor’s office where she leads yoga therapy sessions, and teaches group classes and private sessions across the city. Her classes are carefully crafted to nurture the individuals present, and include lots of detailed alignment work, quiet moments of introspective self-study, and a vigorous, heat-building Vinyasa flow. She received her yoga training at Sonic Yoga, her prenatal training at Sanctuary Pilates, and trained with Connected Warriors to learn how to teach yoga to veterans with PTSD.

Instagram: @anniefeelsthings

Chintamani (she/her/hers) discovered yoga on a whim and quickly realized how powerful, yet simple, yoga can be to help bring balance and healing. Yoga helped Chintamani overcome trauma and redirect her life towards health and wellbeing. She quickly realized yoga was a gift that needed to be shared with everyone.

Chintamani teaches classic and specialty yoga, and is a longtime Teacher Trainer in the mang’Oh 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. She continues to study yoga, yoga for injuries and other healing modalities, including Anatomy, Pilates and Mindfulness Meditation.

Chintamani’s classes blend mindfulness, alignment and joyful movement; encouraging safety and skillfulness, as well as freedom and expression. Chintamani’s mission is to get us all to move, breathe, find our joy, and feel connected and smart.

www.yogawithc.com
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David’s journey in yoga started over 20 years ago. Being a former gymnast and of Japanese descent, he was immediately attracted by yoga’s vigorous yet meditative approach. During his decade long work as a relief worker for the Red Cross and the UN in Africa, Middle East, and South Asia he worked in terrible conditions, war, and natural disasters. Many elements of yoga – breath work, meditation and asana- helped him towards managing emotional and physical hardship.

However, such working conditions came with a price – PTSD, malaria, anemia, and Degenerative Disc Disease. His back pain was so bad he could not get out of bed in the morning. Eventually David decided it was time to recover and heal. That’s when a solid yoga practice and the will to become a yoga teacher emerged.

David is now a yoga teacher, a healer (Reiki Master) and certified in Thai Massage. In class, he focuses on balancing body and mind and strongly cues for proper alignment and safety.

David wishes to share his passion for yoga with his students and to encourage them to expand yoga practice beyond asana and help set a path towards healing and strengthening body, mind and spirit.

Gloria infuses artistry and musicality into her classes with creative choreography and uplifting playlists that range from traditionally classical to cutting edge hip-hop; inspired by years of formal dance and music training. Her classes are non-intimidating, challenging and fun! She credits the Mang'Oh Community for providing the solid foundation upon which her personal practice is based, and for inspiring her to become a certified instructor. She is trained in the Hatha/Vinyasa style of yoga for adults, children and teens, having also studied at the Karma Kids Yoga School in New York City. She also has a certification in Mindful, Trauma-Informed Yoga from the Yoga Medicine Teacher Training Program. She has studied the practice of yoga in studios all over the country, and was a devoted Jivamukti Yoga practitioner for over a decade. She is currently pursuing a 500-hour certification through MangOh Yoga’s 300- hour advanced teacher training program, and is proud to call Mang’Oh Yoga Studio her home.

Ilana is a firm believer that movement is the best medicine. From starting Ballet lessons at age 3 to earning her BFA in Dance at age 21, movement has always been a pillar in Ilana’s life. After performing both internationally on cruise ships and nationally on a broadway tour, she started to question if there was a more authentic path in which she could share movement that was right for all bodies... which is where she found the magic of teaching yoga. Ilana has been practicing yoga for 10 years and is a 200-hour RYT, certified in Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. In her class, you can find a welcoming, inclusive, and stimulating environment that fosters curiosity and appreciation. As an instructor, Ilana’s pursuit is for all of her students to cultivate empowerment and advocate for their bodies; to recognize what does and does not serve them. How we show up on the mat is how we show up in life- and that’s what makes Yoga so transformational.

A performer from a young age, Josh has always had an interest in movement as a form of expression. While receiving his BFA in Musical Theatre, he was exposed to multiple forms of dance but was never really a ‘dancer’. He arrived in NYC in 2005, attended his first yoga class, and found that it was the right speed for a ‘mover’ while being just as expressive and beautiful as classical dance.

Adding in the deep intellectual and emotional connections had him immediately hooked. Following years of exposure to awe-inspiring instructors, he found himself full to the brim, and the only option was to start putting it back in the world. He received his certification in 2014 and has been upwardly expanding since. His goal in teaching and practice is to cultivate multiple levels of awareness while aligning the physical body with the heart’s intention.

By creating a safe, healthy environment for the exploration and play of dynamic asana, he aims to weave the depths of ancient philosophy with the demands of modern life, allowing for a yogic approach to any situation the every day might present.

Black. Womanist. Storyteller. Healer. My yoga journey began in 2013. Then, I thought of yoga as just a good stretch and I practiced rather inconstantly. It wasn’t until 2015 that I started to appreciate the ways yoga was positively affecting every aspect of my life. My mind and body were more settled and present. The sense of compassion, curiosity and consistency yoga brought into my life is what I want to share with others while we learn from each other and build our community.

I am a certified yoga teacher (CYT 350 hrs), originally from Johannesburg, South Africa. I passionately specialize in Vinyasa, Yin and Meditation. My classes are an invitation to breath, to pause, to release, to re-align and re-energize.

Li practices a challenging and energetic vinyasa to strengthen and stretch the body. He is passionate in living an active and mindful life, and draws inspiration when guiding students to unlock and discover potential in their practice.

He came to New York City from Nashville, TN in 2020 at the height of the pandemic to support his wife’s work as an infectious disease scientist. Living and working from home through the pandemic, Li relied on yoga to maintain a strong body, persevere through the isolation and find gratitude in every breath.

In addition to his work in studios, Li is proud to have been a volunteer yoga instructor teaching in underserved communities in community centers, parks and events to encourage active and healthy lives.

Li received his yoga teacher training from the Baptiste Institute.

Maggie has been teaching yoga since 2012, but her fascination with movement and body awareness began long ago when she trained as a ballet dancer and started teaching dance during college. She then went on to enjoy running a successful recruiting business in New York City, M. Luca & Associates.

She reconnected to her dancing past and started practicing yoga on a regular basis in 2010. Two years later, she completed her Yoga Teacher Training at Mang'Oh. Since then, she has plunged into teaching a wide range of students.

She obtained an advanced teaching certification in Yoga for Arthritis in 2013 and certifications in Yin Yoga, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Yoga Therapy in 2014 from Integral Yoga Institute. Most recently, after several years of study, she has been accepted as a Yoga Therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapy.

Maggie also studied the roots of Yogic philosophy in Haridwar, India. In addition to teaching at Mang’Oh, Integral Yoga Institute and other New York studios, Maggie has a private Yoga Therapy practice for students with movement disorders, arthritis and other health issues. Maggie hopes to share her enthusiasm for the benefits of yoga with the Mang'Oh community.

Masako stumbled into a yoga class after having a particularly hard day in February 2001. The rest, as they say, is history. She practices yoga not only for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits, but because it is just so much fun! Sharing what she has learned and experienced with her students has brought her joy and happiness beyond all measure.

Originating from Japan and having gone to an all-girls Buddhist school has prepared her to infuse Buddhist teachings with yogic philosophy, and weaving them into the class. She is known for her mindful, caring, kind, and light-hearted approach to yoga and to her students. Masako is a certified Integral Yoga and OM Yoga teacher, with additional training in restorative, yin, pre-and-post natal, and chair yoga.

Inspired by his love for movement, Phillip crafts his classes striking a balance between strength and fluidity. He specializes in leading creative classes with challenging balance postures and a brisk pace which allows you to quiet your mind and connect with your body.

Phillip has been teaching Yoga for over 5 years. He has completed over 500hrs in Yoga Teacher trainings, first receiving his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Laughing Lotus, and his advanced teacher training at Laughing Lotus, Soulfull Solution, and studying under Rocky Heron. Phillip is masterful at teaching the student and encouraging his students to their highest potential. Off the Mat, he is trained in contemporary, jazz, hip hop, and modern dance. He currently teaches at various top yoga studios in NYC and choreographs contemporary jazz movement.

Stephie (she/her/hers) is a mind-body enthusiast. Throughout all of her life, she's championed human connection, movement, and community. Stephie received her certification through the mang’Oh 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and continues to study yoga and mindfulness when she's not riding her bike in the city or soaking up the sun at a park.

Stephie teaches classic and restorative yoga and her classes blend alignment, mindfulness, breath, and joyful movement. Stephie encourages safety and skillfulness, as well as creativity and individual expression. Stephie's mission is to promote inclusion in the search for wellness and wellbeing. She's humbled to pay forward the wisdom of her teachers and mentors.

Stephie can be found on Instagram @stephiesyoga and on Facebook at facebook.com/stephiesyoga.

When Erica found The Yoga Common, she was running around New York City teaching at various studios, gyms, and living rooms. At the time, the studio had a tiny community and was in need of some love and inspiration. In 2007, she, along with her business savvy sister and dearest friend Cynthia, purchased and reinvented the studio.

Today, The Yoga Common has become the place they always dreamed it could be: a sweet yoga sanctuary full of heart and soul. Erica is in love with the practice of yoga. She profoundly believes in its healing effects for the individual body and spirit, as well as the collective whole. She delights in teaching beautiful and expressive asana classes in the hatha vinyasa style. Every day, she is inspired by and grateful for all of the students and teachers that call The Yoga Common their yoga home. Erica has a BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, and she received her yoga certification through Laughing Lotus Yoga School. She lives in Austin with her husband, Evan and her two children, Charlie and Lila.

Erica Santiago received her BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University in 2003. After graduation, Erica continued her training at intensive workshops with great artists such as Alonzo King and Doug Varone. 20 years ago, Erica became a mother to her incredible daughter, Crea, which completely changed the trajectory of her life path. Through the birthing process and early childhood years with her daughter, Erica became a seeker of truth. Not knowing where to begin, in 2005 she came home to Austin seeking soul healing. She enrolled in Dharma Yoga of Austin's yoga teacher training under the direction of Keith Kacthik and continued to work as a dance teacher and dancer. She became a member of Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company where she stayed for 6 years and had the honor of being nominated “Best Dancer” by Austin Critics Table. As her dancing life continued, she was gifted with the opportunity to perform with Contemporary Dance Fort Worth, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Ballet East Dance Theater, Wild Goose Chase, and Lisa Nicks and her Wild Band of Ponies.

In 2011 Erica took a sabbatical from the dance world to pursue her love of yogic philosophy. By the grace of Mother Divine, she was introduced to Vedic rituals and the study of the scriptures of ancient India. Over the last 10 years, she has had the good fortune to study with authentic teachers from Chinnmaya Mission and Sri Rajarajeshwari Peetham while being held in sacred space to journey through her own rebirth and deep healing. She is a devotee of our Mother Divine, a student of Advaita Vedanta and is receiving ongoing tutelage in the philosophical applications of yoga and evolutionary astrology which she integrates into her movement practices and choreographic explorations to round out her teaching style as a universal approach to conscious living through artistic expression.

Trained as a massage therapist at Lauterstein & Conway and mentored by Dr. Arthur Peterson, D.C. and Jeff Johnson, LMT she learned (and continues to explore) ways to harness that energy and focus it for the well being of others. Erica has learned that dance, yoga, massage, and meditation are all different tools in her toolbox of healing modalities through the years. Her deepest passion addresses the whole being, body, mind, emotion, and consciousness in an intuitive and creative way that affirms one with his/her most profound knowing of truth for their greatest benefit. The cornerstones of Erica’s work are willingness, conscious consent, faith, and curiosity. From this foundation, Erica co-creates actively with her clients to bring them into a profoundly transformative space where they have the choice to bring into conscious awareness that which no longer serves and therefore release at the cellular level.

Erica founded Shakti Moves Dance Company seven years ago to provide a sacred place to explore spiritual philosophy, the human condition, and artistic expression.

Erica is currently self employed through Elemental Therapy where she uses movement, meditation and massage to support people on their healing journey.

My name is Jackie Ey, pronounced like the letter “E”. My journey into yoga has been long and diverse. At the time of my first yoga class, I was a young golfer at the age of 17 and though I had been flexible at some point in my life, I felt so inflexible then and so out of my element. It was a struggle that first time, I was NOT good, it was straining, I was weak in my shoulders and arms and I was most definitely humbled.

After high school, I went on to receive a full golf scholarship to play four years at Texas Tech University, continued my yoga practice and ultimately wrapped up my decade-long junior/amateur “career” receiving a BA in public relations with a minor in psychology. Out of college, my yoga practice continued to grow into studio classes where I discovered heated yoga and an array of other styles. I dabbled in Bikram, Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin and studied under some great teachers. Along the way, I found my personal practice. Although I aspired to teach at the age of 19, I didn’t come into being a teacher right away as I thought I would. It was a journey that meant to unfold exactly at the right time in my life 10 years later through LifePower Yoga. At that time I was a personal trainer and found a passion for helping people correct imbalances. I found yoga to be a beautiful compliment to fitness, creating balance within the body as the practice helps one observe oneself from the inside-out, find inner strength, overcome challenges and discover peace. Not only that, the practice was one that was deeply healing for me as I personally went through major life changes and rediscovered myself.

Fast-forward to now, I have under my belt 10 years of being a nationally ranked golfer (AJGA/collegiate), 15 years of being a personal trainer/corrective exercise specialist (NASM); almost a decade of teaching yoga (E-RYT200, about 3000 hours of teaching experience); and owner of Yoginistones, a small jewelry business. With a big-time love and appreciation of energy work, I am expanding how I affect people energetically by pursuing my Kundalini & Reiki certification this year. On top of this, I am a mother in a blended family that consists of my 17yo step-daughter, my 13yo daughter from my first marriage, my 5yo son with my partner now and our fur baby, a mini Aussie named Orion. This dynamic has taught me more about love and growth than I can ever imagine. If I can sum it up, my life goal is to spread as much positive, self-perpetuating, healing energy as possible. It is not energy we find externally but rather what we discover from within and what this raw energy creates that is the most important. We each have a potential–if each breath is a gift coming in, what is our gift back to the world?

Jess has been practicing yoga for over a decade and is happily furthering her practice through teaching yoga to others. She aims to introduce her students to movement that they can carry with them in their daily lives. Jess tends to emphasize graceful and fluid movement in her classes and is always striving to influence students to connect with their breath and body.

Lauren McLaughlin is a passionate yoga teacher with nearly two decades of practice and 8 years experience teaching. She is dedicated to guiding her students on their yoga journey. Lauren holds multiple certifications in yoga, including in Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative yoga as well as in martial arts, including Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu, and Chi Gong.

Lauren’s diverse training and experience allows her to create dynamic and well-rounded classes, catering to practitioners of all levels. Lauren understands that each individual's journey is unique, and she takes great care in tailoring her classes to meet the needs and goals of her students. Her teaching style emphasizes mindfulness, breath awareness, and proper alignment, guiding her students to deepen their mind-body connection and cultivate a sense of inner balance and peace.

Yoga has been an integral practice in my life for nearly ten years. I received my 200 hour YTT in Austin, TX, and studied meditation and yoga in India in 2020. In my personal life, this practice serves me in quieting the chitta vritti, or mental chatter, so that I can cultivate inner peace, and return to self. I am not concerned with being a "perfect" yogi, instead I find that this practice continues to remind me to not take myself too seriously, and to release and allow the only constant in life: change.

In class, my hope is to create a safe space for students to return to themselves, and feel held by communal breath and movement. Further, I hope in my class you can find balance between ease (Sukha) and strength (Sthira); allowing yourself to create the space you need to thrive. I believe that a yoga class full of warmth and fellowship can be the best balm to soothe any aches. We are humans, doing our very best at any given time - I hope to nurture compassion (especially towards self), kindness and support in every session. As Ram Dass said, and I firmly believe, "We are all just walking each other home".

I look forward to practicing with you!

Nathan was first introduced to yoga asana as a warmup before high school theatre productions, but the philosophy and embodiment practices quickly became foundational to his everyday life. Difficult life transitions, injury, and both physical and mental illness kept luring him back to the mat for years to come.

Having completed his 200-hour power yoga teacher training in 2016, Nathan has since grown his practice through such programs as a 300-hour training; a “Yoga For All” certification to guide students of all body sizes and abilities; and “Embodied Social Justice,” an exploration of how the body responds to unjust social conditions and how a disciplined embodiment practice can sustainably fuel one’s own social justice work.

In class, Nathan invites students not to escape the world around them, but to orient themselves within it. He encourages curiosity and compassion, using a physical challenge as a mechanism through which to accept, embrace, and marvel at one’s own limitations and abilities alike—all while leaving room for the occasional pun and a please-don’t-take-me-too-seriously demeanor.