teachers

Ashley studied dance for twelve years before leaving the art – and her connection to her body – behind when she went to college. Committed exclusively to intellectual pursuits, she suffered for years with chronic scoliosis pain until a massage therapist suggested she try yoga in 2007. Now pain free, Ashley has found yoga to be nourishing and balancing to all aspects of herself, guiding her back to her body and into the present moment. She is interested in how increasing awareness of body and breath in yoga asana can transform life “off the mat,” and is involved in various projects to make yoga accessible and relevant to under-served groups and professional communities.

Ashley completed her RYT 200-hour training at boundless and is a student in the Advanced Studies Program. Her classes emphasize alignment, strength, and expansion, and sometimes include sun salutations set to music. When she is not on her mat, she can likely to be found practicing law, cooking, or running around in her “toe shoes.”

After dabbling in yoga and pilates classes during her college years, Carol began a devoted yoga practice at Boundless four years ago. She graduated from the teacher training program in August 2010 and is certified at the RYT 200 level. At first attracted to yoga purely for the physical benefits, Carol has become increasingly aware and appreciative of yoga’s positive affects on stress and anxiety in practitioners. She is grateful for her wonderful teachers: Liz Marx, Kim Weeks, and Kristen Krash.

Carol’s yoga fundamentals class stresses the importance of alignment in and integrity of poses. This class incorporates various standing poses, core work, and prepatory poses for more advanced asana. She challenges students to observe their own bodies and guides them in attaining increased strength, flexibility, and peace of mind in their practices.

As the clearly senior member of the teacher corps and the lone grandma, I feel extremely privileged to be counted among this wonderful group of teachers. I started yoga at Boundless a little over 3 years ago and was quickly hooked. I joined the Teacher Training class of 2008-2009, and while still involved in that course, jumped into the inaugural Advanced Teacher Training class, which started last spring. It has been a cram course, a roller coaster ride and a wonderful ongoing education. These courses have prodded me to return to an early love of philosophy; and the many facets of yoga have changed my entire outlook on life. It has been especially helpful in the gradual transition out of my life-long pursuit of a high level violin performance. Not to mention the indescribable benefits to the purely physical manifestation of me, more commonly called my body. I feel honored to be given the chance to share some of these life-changing experiences.

Chris earned his 200 hour certification at Boundless after several years of developing a personal practice that began while experimenting with an old yoga DVD in his living room.  From those humble beginnings, Chris discovered yoga to be invaluable tool for self healing and it became an ever-growing part of his life.  Chris offers a free spirited Vinyasa flow, structured to provide challenges for every level of practitioner, all powered by a killer soundtrack.  He encourages students to safely explore the depths of their own practice by building from basic poses to more complex postures while providing thorough alignment-focused instructions. Chris strives to present the fundamentals of yoga in a way that makes them accessible to a wide audience and applicable to the full spectrum of athletic endeavors.

Elizabeth Kanter, RYT 200, teaches yoga to increase happiness, beauty and healing in the world. She has been practicing yoga for 13 years, with early foundations in Iyengar and Ashtanga. Blossoming the seed that was planted during her very first yoga class, she completed Willow Street Yoga’s Anusara teacher training in 2009, and her gratitude extends to all of her teachers and the gifts that they continue to offer her on her journey. Elizabeth’s yoga practice has continually revealed to her the deep intelligence of the body, as well as the boundless wisdom of the heart and the spirit – and of the power of integration. She has experienced firsthand how transformation initiates from the core, both physically and energetically. Her classes are heart-opening, alignment based, and playful – in the Tantric tradition of Anusara yoga. She loves sharing the incredible benefits of the practice – and seeing her students light up with the recognition and celebration of the spark within. Yoga has also helped her recover from several injuries and personal challenges, and her therapeutic teaching is geared toward promoting healing and staying healthy in both body and mind. Elizabeth’s goal is for all students to leave class empowered and joyful, compassionate and present.

Elizabeth’s classes are loving and light-hearted, heating and intense in their longer holds, mindful in their observation of body and breath in the moment, and therapeutic in their alignment. Drawing into and strengthening the core are integral to her teaching: poses radiate and shine even brighter when they’re grounded by inner strength and graceful presence. It’s not how far you go, it’s how you go far

I’m the administrative assistant here at Boundless. I came to Boundless after graduating with a degree in psychology and spending a year in a the non-profit world in the field of international education. I’m a self proclaimed personal-development junkie and I love that at Boundless I have the opportunity to work and improve myself both mentally and physically. When I’m not at Boundless you can find me coaching and leading events with the DC based authenticity and connection community LiveAuthenticDC, or just lying in the grass enjoying the sunshine. I’m really excited to be at Boundless helping to streamline the administrative process and you’ll probably see me around at the front desk on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I really enjoy interacting with the community here, so feel free to say hi!

Elissa discovered yoga in 1996, and her love of it has continued to blossom ever since. In Elissa’s classes, you can expect a fluid, creative sequence built on the fire and flow of Ashtanga, the precision and attention to safe alignment of Iyengar, and the thoughtful consideration of individual bodies and needs that stems from the school of Desikachar, or therapeutic yoga. She strives to create a space in which her students can challenge themselves to grow in both body and mind, find their own edge, and discover grace and strength on and off their mats. Most of all, she hopes her students will leave her classes smiling… and with some inspiration about how they might carry their yoga off their mats and into the rest of their lives.

Her work in global health has carried her from Haiti to the Congo to Kenya to Vietnam, so her yoga journey is woven from a colorful tapestry of styles she has practiced in each place, including Ashtanga, Iyengar, acro-yoga and yin. Elissa is 200-hr certified through YogaWorks, and has studied with Seane Corn and David Swenson among many other wonderful teachers. Her teaching style reflects this training as well as her exposure to many forms and interpretations of yoga throughout the world.

Elissa derives tremendous inspiration from working with underserved populations, and is passionate about finding synergy between yoga and service. After a decade of working on HIV prevention with disadvantaged youth, HIV-discordant couples, sex workers, injecting drug users, and other marginalized populations in the developing world, she is thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to bring yoga to some of those same groups here in DC.

I am the General Manager here at Boundless. I come to Boundless after spending nearly 10 years in the non-profit finance/administration field.  I am very excited to be working in the context of a small, local, woman-owned business. I am a California native, musician, silkscreen visual artist, poor but persistent gardener, and mother of two. As I go deeper into my role here, I continue to think about nurturing the studio space into an inviting and warm place to deepen a yoga practice and support community. I’ve received such helpful feedback and ideas, and I’m always interested in requests, thoughts, dreams, visions, complaints, and “even better ifs…” These things get stored, processed, and hopefully come out the other side a cohesive improvement to the way we all experience our time here no matter if it’s your first yoga class ever, or your 25th year of practice.

Katie’s classes are upbeat and playful. She aims to empower students to strike a balance between flexibility, strength and therapeutic action; all while not taking things too seriously – it’s ok to laugh in yoga, really it is! Students will have the opportunity to align, to move, to challenge themselves and play their edge. Hopefully, they will gain a better understanding of themselves in the process, cultivating skills that not only serve them on the mat, but in real life too!

After majoring in dance, Katie began practicing yoga in 2002 as another way to move her body and began teaching in 2008. She has studied Jivamukti, Iyengar and Anusara yoga. Her teaching and practice is most informed by the Anusara system. Following its dissolution in 2012, she has taken the proverbial “baby/bathwater” approach: she’s kept what is effective for her practice and benefits her students while leaving behind any formal affiliation with the system itself.

Katie’s philosophical viewpoint is influenced by her extensive study of Rajanaka Tantra with Dr. Douglas Brooks. To that end, she aims to share ideas in her classes that affirm life and encourage students to savor the full range of human experience. Katie believes a yoga practice can enhance every aspect of your life. This has been true for her, and inspires her to share the teachings she has been offered with her students. Most importantly, Katie endeavors to ensure each student leaves class feeling better than when they entered, with a deeper sense of connection to themselves and the world in which they live.

When not on the mat, Katie enjoys engaging conversation, deep belly laughs, impromptu dance parties, almost anything hot pink and copious amounts of bacon.

Layne Morrison believes first hand in the power of yoga to transform our lives and cultivate happiness from within. She is a current graduate of the Boundless teacher training and Yoga Therapy program. Layne has practiced yoga in a variety of styles for over a decade and also teaches on a volunteer basis for local nonprofits. She facilitates the passion of vinyasa flow in a therapeutic environment, with attention to alignment & accessibility for all bodies.

Michael first started practicing yoga in 2006 as a student at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His initial interest was in the vinyasa flow style, which he appreciated for its physical vigor and fast pace. Over the next few years he became a more regular and devoted yoga student, and in 2010 he completed his 200-hour teacher training at 4025 Yoga in Richmond, Virginia. Shortly after moving to Washington, Michael started taking classes with Kim Weeks at Boundless, where he learned to value the increased subtlety and intellectual rigor of an alignment-based approach. Since that time, his teaching style has gradually changed, and his classes now focus on combining the physical challenge of vinyasa flow with a more considered and precise understanding of the body and its mechanics. In order to further his understanding of yoga, Michael has recently begun the RYT-500 and Apprenticeship programs at Boundless. In addition to practicing and teaching yoga, Michael is also a Ph.D. student in art history at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he is studying early 20th-century American art.

Michelle’s first foray into yoga was definitely not love at first sight (or pose). Not being naturally flexible, she associates the early days mostly with sore wrists, overworked shoulders, and unhappy hip flexors. However, something kept drawing her back to the practice, and three years ago she began to attend classes regularly, first at work and then at Boundless studio where she was introduced to an alignment based practice.  There she began to understand yoga in a whole new light, and has since completed the Boundless 200hr RYT training. She hopes she can help new and returning students access the same transformative power of yoga in their own practice.

Nandini has felt the pull towards yoga from a very young age. Dropping in and out of yoga classes while growing up in India and Thailand, the lingering emotional and physical benefits of yoga remained with her always.

However, Nandini truly committed to her yoga practice when she moved to
Washington, DC in 2005. In between jobs and in a completely new city, she decided to sign up for a 3 month unlimited yoga pass at boundless…and found her self returning every day. She was drawn to the boundless teachers, community and philosophical approach to the practice.

Nandini completed her teacher training at Boundless in 2007. She wishes to provide a space where students can discover a steadiness in their practice and a deeper understanding of their own body. Nandini’s classes focus on uniting breath with movement and finding alignment within each pose.

Naomi Gottlieb-Miller, E-RYT 500, is a Washington DC based yoga teacher known for her ability to creatively weave everything from pop culture references to comic book superheroes to Tantric philosophy into her yoga classes.

She is inspired by the notion that yoga exists everywhere including the kitchen, in traffic, at a rock concert and deep in the woods– you simply have to uncover it and bring it into the light.

Her classes are infused with the qualities of wonder and exuberant joy, mixed with a little sweat and a lot of laughter, that inspires radical transformation. Naomi believes that the more we empower ourselves on the mat, the more our lives off the mat will be steeped in greater consciousness, skillful attention and grace.

Naomi invites each student to explore their edges on the yoga mat in order to discover an innate ability to do things they never thought possible.  Naomi is inspired by the courage and humor her students bring to their mats and considers teaching yoga the best gig ever.

Scott believes a regular yoga practice unlocks the body’s innate intelligence and capacity for transformation and healing. His classes are alignment-based, with a focus on easeful action, strength and integrity in each pose. He uses a variety of props and supports to deepen and expand the experience for each student. Scott’s approach is influenced by the life and teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, who said, “Balance in the body is the foundation for balance in life.”

Scott developed his teaching style through the Boundless Yoga RYT-200 Advanced Studies and Yoga Therapy programs. He began his yoga practice in 1998 with Iyengar classes at Unity Woods Yoga Center.

Shauna found a home at Boundless Yoga in 2012 and soon after began her RYT-500 in the yoga therapy program, with a focus on yoga as therapy for trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her classes are both sweaty and meditative, and focus on energy and connecting with our bodies.

Shauna plans to continue her formal training in trauma-sensitive yoga upon completing her RYT-500 this fall. She hopes to bring this approach to Boundless, and to prisons and detention centers in the US and Mexico. She has also completed various trauma and resilience trainings.

Shauna completed her RYT-200 at Yoga District in 2011, and taught classes in English and Spanish in Mexico that year. She recently began teaching at a local transitional housing center with Yoga Activist.

Tamara is a RYT 200 and studied under both Neva Ingalls and April Puciata. She teaches prenatal yoga and is in the Yoga Therapy Program and Boundless. Her prenatal classes are ideal for women in all stages of pregnancy.  She has a playful, hands-on approach, weaving massage and vocal toning into her teaching style. Tamara loves sharing practical tips for everyday efficient movement and relaxation.  Above all, she emphasizes that breath and a sense of humor can carry you a long way in the asana practice.

Ugonma began her practice in the early 2000’s when she caught sight of a large poster in the middle of her college court yard advertising yoga and meditation for stress relief and relaxation. After her first om, she was hooked! To her, yoga is an elevating practice of self discovery.

Ugonma She holds a BA in psychology from Boston College and is a 200 Hour Certified Yoga teacher in both Kundalini Yoga and Ishta (Integrated Science of Hatha Tantra and Ayurveda) Yoga. In addition she is a Reiki master in both Western and Eastern ( Usui Reiki Ryoho) techniques and has practiced an eclectic variety of energetic modalities ( Yuen Method, vibrational clearing, and indigenous techniques) for many years now.

Ugonma combines her passion for yoga with her love of energy work. She teaches a fluid Vinyasa practice that balances the best of both worlds invigorating asana for strength and flexibility fused together with pranayama and energy techniques for clearing, heart opening and restoration. Final relaxation is assisted by soothing reiki adjustments to leave students open to their next moment of experience.