Meet our amazing instructors!
Ryan Connolly
I started practicing yoga about 10 years ago. After recently completing my yoga teacher training, I unexpectedly discovered a love for teaching. I began subbing in the Boston area and eventually found your way to Tree Yoga. I'm passionate about evolving in my practice and am excited to share it with others.
Class Description: I love blending grounding breathwork and invigorating vinyasa flows while also leaving ample time for bringing in reflection and meditation. Expect being invited to cultivate your own connection with your body, energy, mind, and to personalize your practice to your own intentions and goals.
Denise Devaney
Denise is a lifelong learner of yoga. She began her journey in 1995 when she took her first class and was immediately was drawn back by the benefit of a quiet mind and a strong healthy body. Denise received her 200 RYA certification in Ashtanga Yoga in 2003 at The Yoga Studio in Newton. Denise also holds certification as a children’s yoga instructor with the Boston Public Schools and finds joy in sharing yoga with children. Denise became aware of the power of the mind-body connection and experienced the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of the practice and wants to help others find the same.
Class Description: In this vinyasa class, we will connect with our breath, ground our energy and move through asanas with mindful intention. We will synchronize our breath to movement creating a moving meditation, with focus on how our body feels and what it needs in the moment. We finish with stillness in savasana. This class is open to all levels. Modifications will be provided.
Marlo Franco
I am by nature and by training a teacher. I teach in the Walpole public schools, and I have taught yoga with the belief that all of us are teachers and learners. Yoga is an activity that involves life long learning, as we are all at different stages of our practice. I completed my 200 RYT and my 300 RYT from Universal Power Yoga In addition, I am certified in pre-natal yoga, trauma informed yoga, and yoga nidra.
Class Description: Together, we will work on strength, balance and flexibility with the recognition that everyone is at a different place in their practice.
Candace Lites
Candace Lites, born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, was introduced to yoga in high school so that she could maintain balance and flexibility during the offseason of competitive cheerleading and track and field. No longer a student-athlete, she recognized years ago that yoga is much more than a supplement to competitive sports and training. As such, she decided to deepen her commitment to her yoga practice, which led to her completing 200-hour teacher training in February 2024.
Class Description: Candace enjoys a combination of slower vinyasa-style flows that build heat naturally within the body and faster-paced meditative flows. By teaching yoga, she hopes to invoke the same mental, emotional, and physical benefits that she experiences in her practice. She believes that these benefits are channeled through greater internal and external bodily awareness and through the breath. Candace believes that yoga is for everyone! She strives to create a diverse and inclusive yoga culture that is accessible for all levels of practitioners.
Raika Nasirullah-Patterson
Raika is an E-RYT and completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2016 with the New School of Yogic Arts at Coolidge Corner Yoga. She also completed Restorative Yoga training in 2019 and Yin Yoga training in 2023. Through teacher training, Raika discovered the power of self-exploration with the support of a gracious and loving community. Yoga has taught her how to explore her perceived physical and mental limitations as well as to appreciate the beauty of being a student. Her teaching encourages her students to discover the power of self-exploration through breath and movement. Raika's classes are shaped by her compassionate touch and are characterized by a balance of restorative poses and mindful vinyasa movement. She encourages a slower pace and longer holds so that students can incorporate attention to alignment and integrity in the asanas. Raika also incorporates restorative or gentle yoga poses to encourage students to relax and renew, as time on the mat is the truest form of self-care.
Class Description: This All Levels Vinyasa class is a space that welcomes all yogis, from the curious beginner to the experienced student. Each class is designed to focus on moving with the breath and building strength through a creative vinyasa sequence. Variations and modifications are always offered throughout class, including opportunities to challenge yourself or modify poses as needed.
Sarah Perciaccante
Sarah is a certified Power Yoga instructor through CorePower Yoga (2017). She has been in the fitness industry for over 10 years after receiving a degree in Exercise Science. Additionally, she is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Cycle Instructor, and Nutrition Coach. She blends functional fitness with mindful movement in her teaching. Sarah’s philosophy centers on improving physical skills, reducing the risk of injury, and supporting lifelong health. She is dedicated to helping students create habits that not only enhance their physical well-being but also make life more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Class Description: Strength in Motion. This vinyasa style class is designed for all levels whether you are looking to nail down the basics or refine your practice. The focus is on building strength, flexibility, and proper alignment through fundamental postures. We will move at a steady pace while creating a strong connection between breath and movement. The goal is that you will walk out of class a little sweaty with a sense of accomplishment.
Allison MacDougall
Running and swimming competitively for years, teaching elementary school, and chasing my 3 young kids around led me to my first yoga class about 10 years ago. I was constantly on the go and not very present for myself or those around me. Something in me kept bringing me back to my mat. I was beginning to become more aware of how yoga was the magic connection of the mind, body, and soul. Meditative breath work, focusing on strengthening postures, and enjoying the benefits of a restful savasana taught me how to steady myself on and off the mat. I kept going to yoga classes because I felt a shift after each class and I wanted and needed to keep feeling good! I was eager to deepen my practice and knowledge even further, therefore I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2022 and have been teaching all levels vinyasa flow yoga ever since! In addition to teaching adults yoga, I am also a certified children's yoga instructor. I love guiding people of all ages on their yoga journeys and meeting them wherever they are at on their mats!
Class Description: This all levels vinyasa class will encompass strengthening, balancing, and meditative postures while connecting breath to movement. Modifications for poses will be offered for more of a challenge or for more support throughout our 60 minute class. You'll feel stronger, steadier, and better equipped to dial down the noise of life, on and off your mat!
Mica McMorrow
For Mica, practicing yoga is when she feels most connected to both the earth and her authentic self. She was introduced to yoga by her mom from a very young age and like most things our parents share with us, did not appreciate just how magical the practice is until she got older. She practiced ballet for well over 18 years and yoga became a bit of a continuation of her ballet practice. Yoga continues to evolve and teach her the more she practices and it now serves a sacred, daily meditation that has become one of the most sought after moments of the day. She received her 200 RYT from Hot Power Yoga Center in Worcester MA in 2024 and shortly thereafter received her 20 hr Yin Cert.
Class Description: Mica teaches a traditional style vinyasa flow, offering modifications, making it accessible to all levels. She focuses on the powerful relationship of breath to movement and enjoys closing out the practice with restorative poses along with some light breathwork.ur 60 minute class. You'll feel stronger, steadier, and better equipped to dial down the noise of life, on and off your mat!
Elyse Mickalonis
I am an upstate New Yorker living outside of Boston who transitioned from a career in journalism to yoga to find peace and help others. Elyse’s yoga journey began in 2012, leading to her 240-hour certification in 2015 at Free Spirits Yoga in Greensboro, NC, in the tradition of Dharma Mittra. She has since taught yoga in North Carolina and Massachusetts, crafting classes rooted in kindness and compassion. Elyse is also certified in Reiki, SUP Yoga, and Ganja Yoga, and leads yoga hikes in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Elyse aims to create a supportive and brave environment where people can discover more about themselves, shed daily stress, embrace joy, and build strength in a personalized way. As a four-time marathoner living with Lyme disease, Elyse hopes to inspire others to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her fiancé, Tim, and keeping up with her energetic pup, Korben Dallas.
Class Description : Power Flow: Kick off your weekend with a powerful Vinyasa flow designed to boost your energy and challenge your strength. We’ll move with intention and end class with a grounding Savasana and soothing aromatherapy, setting you up for a refreshing weekend.
Megan McGahan
Megan was born and raised in Massachusetts and currently resides here in West Roxbury. Megan has a background in elementary education and worked as a fifth grade teacher for 6 years at Carver Elementary School. Through her years working with students, she discovered her passion for mental health and became a school adjustment counselor in addition to practicing mental health counseling for adults. Megan now offers maternal mental health coaching to mothers at any stage. Megan has always been passionate about exercise and wellness, especially the practice of yoga. In 2021, Megan obtained her 200-hour yoga certification through Core Power Yoga in power yoga and yoga sculpt training. Megan enjoys combining her yoga practice and mental health experience to help heal and support her local community.
Class Description: Megan teaches a vinyasa style yoga class. In this class, you can expect a traditional flow with postures intended to strengthen, stretch, and balance the mind and body. Megan offers modifications to accommodate all levels of ability.
Colleen Prioux
After years in the pool as a competitive swimmer and miles of endurance running, Colleen practiced yoga as a way to tap into breathwork, stretching, recovery, and mindset development. Yoga was a way to balance Colleen’s busy routines, which led her to her 200-hour teacher training with LifePower Yoga in 2022 and her Breathwork & Meditation Teacher Training with David Magone. Her focus was to go in deeper, expand her practice, and share yoga with her personal training clients. True surrender to the practice arrived when Colleen was injured with a concussion/ TBI, forcing her to step back from her “normal” routines, social engagements, and activities. During this challenging recovery, her yoga practice became so much more than a stretch— The practice offered her a sense of safety, trust, stillness, and acceptance of herself, her injury, and the world around her. In pursuit of sharing this peace with others, yoga taught Colleen how to soften, how to listen, and how to love herself and others as they already are. Yoga is for everyone and every body.
Class Description: Colleen focuses on offering students a sacred space to practice intentional awareness. Through stillness, dynamic stretching, stability, strengthening, mobility, and breath, Colleen’s classes allow students to become & trust their own inner teacher. All levels of experience are welcome and encouraged to observe how their practice flows on & off the mat!
LoriAnn Romano
I received my 200 hour YTT certification through LifeTime Athletic in 2019 after practicing for many years and wanting to deepen my practice. Many people feel they aren’t good at yoga but I believe there is no good or bad way to “do” yoga. It’s not about flexibility or athleticism, although both of those will improve with yoga. It’s about connecting with yourself through breath and movement and calming your mind. The practice is just that, a “practice” and every class is a journey of self discovery and awareness. It all starts with coming to your mat and I hope to see you there!
Class Description: This all levels vinyasa class will encompass strengthening, balancing, and meditative postures while connecting breath to movement. Modifications for poses will be offered for more of a challenge or for more support throughout our 60 minute class. You'll feel stronger, steadier, and better equipped to dial down the noise of life, on and off your mat!
Mary Rush
I have lived in West Roxbury for nearly 15 years, and I love the area as well as surrounding neighborhoods. My love for yoga began at a little studio in West Roxbury called, ‘Yoga for You’, a Bikram studio. I loved the classes, the heat, the instructors, and the community it created. Many years later after being introduced to a Vinyasa style of yoga I quickly became interested in this brand new (to me) style of yoga! My certification began as a quest to learn more about the practice as well as to one day teach it.
Class Description : This is a classic vinyasa flow class. Whether you are a beginner or a multi year practitioner, the class will help you become more at ease with your body while also calming your mind.
Jessica Watson
Jessica first discovered yoga 15 years ago while living in Thailand. A coworker had invited her to a class and she immediately took up the challenge of learning how to connect with her body and move in new ways. As Jessica continued her career and travels in Asia, her yoga mat accompanied her and daily yoga practices became the norm. Her dedication grew into a devotion to traditional Mysore Ashtanga yoga which led her to India to complete her 200hr YTTC. Over the years, Jessica’s practice has evolved with her own seasons of life and she has delved deeper into the study of the relationship between strength, flexibility and mobility. Her goal now is to create classes that blend these three foundational exercises to help students achieve balance on and off the mat. Jessica’s hope is to provide her students with a solid foundation to explore their own individual range of motion while encouraging them to focus on longevity.
Class Description : Jessica’s classes blend traditional Vinyasa style yoga with playful and creative moves to explore how our bodies take up space and encourage a deeper connection between our mind and body. Students can expect classes to be strong with a steady place that still allows students to focus on their own individual needs.
Vered Yeret
Coming from a dance background and looking for a way to expand her ‘workout’ routine, Vered took her first yoga class in Israel. She was initially curious about the effects of yoga but did not begin regularly practicing until she was on a three-month trip to India. Each morning, she would start her day with yoga, and her passion for the practice developed through this journey. Vered noticed how yoga supported her physically and emotionally, helping her through back pain. For Vered, yoga is a way of healing. As a mother of three, Vered appreciates how yoga helps her find stillness and remain present both on and beyond the mat—two of the many benefits she hopes to share with her students. After over twenty years of practicing, Vered expanded her understanding of yoga by completing the 200-hour RYT at Stil Studio. She is excited to share her passion for the practice by supporting students wherever they are in their yoga journey. Vered’s love for yoga extends beyond just the practice; she especially enjoys offering hands-on assistance to help students deepen their postures and connect more fully with their bodies. For Vered, yoga is not just about alignment but also about personal connection and growth, both on and beyond the mat, and she hopes to have you in her class!
Class Description: My Vinyasa Yoga classes are designed to offer personal attention while fostering a welcoming sense of community. We’ll focus on fluid movement, mindful breath, and hands-on assistance (with consent) to help deepen your asanas and ground your practice. Each session is thoughtfully structured, beginning with a gentle warm-up, gradually building intensity, and leading into a smooth, enjoyable flow. I provide insightful cues and gentle adjustments to support your journey. The atmosphere is always warm, inclusive, and relaxing, making it an inviting space for both beginners and seasoned practitioners.