Meet our amazing instructors!
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.
Katie Dougherty
Katie began her yoga journey as a means of exercise but soon found it to be so much more than that. Yoga gives her a healing space to transform her life by aligning her actions with her values, which is the space that she intends to create for all students attending her classes. She received her 200 CYT and her 300 CYT from Universal Power Yoga. She is a lifelong learner and continued her spiritual education by becoming a first degree reiki practitioner in February 2023. By day, Katie teaches preschool and Kids Yoga. In her free time, she loves to travel, cook, play guitar, and connect with her loved ones.
Class Description (Rotating Substitute): This vinyasa yoga class connects breath to movement. The teacher may provide modifications to bring more ease or challenge into the pose and allows the student to decide what they need in the moment. Students will leave class feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to bring what they learned on the mat into their daily lives!
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 (Rotating Substitute): 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.
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!
Erin Mapunda
Erin completed a 200HR in Fluid Yoga from Stil studio in Dedham. She has spent most of her life exploring mindfulness and yoga practices by immersing herself in various communities across the world. She believes that wherever you are, yoga can help you connect with your body and the present moment. Erin is a teacher at heart, and she knows how to patiently guide others toward their goals while meeting them where they are. Her classes offer every student the opportunity to connect with themselves and cultivate a sense of community along with a fun playlist to keep things grooving during class!
Class Description (Community Class and Rotating Substitute) : Erin teaches a Fluid vinyasa flow class that is medium paced and challenging but that allows access points to everyone in their own yoga practice. Erin uses hands on assists during class and strives to ensure students are listening to their bodies and their breath. Classes reflect an appreciation for the interconnected nature of our lives and the earth by incorporating seasonal and astrological themes and playlists.
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.
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.
Valerie Dalati
I am an accredited organization development consultant with 15+ years of experience focused on building and empowering professionals, teams and organizations through effective: Leadership & Development -Human Capital – Corporate Communications - Events Design & International Relations. I have stretched my experience towards becoming a wellness and wellbeing practitioner and coach by acquiring my Yoga Trainer Certification with a Yin Yoga Specialization and creating and planning several classes and retreats.
Class Description: Most of my yoga and wellbeing activities are built around the following objectives: *Creating awareness on the impact of energy on day to day productivity and work performance; * Developing insights and practices about the connection and resonance between mental energy “work preference & work behaviors” and physical energy “The 7 Chakras of the human body”; and ❖ Learning how to develop suitable activities to keep the energy flow in harmony and having a better approach on handling challenges and achieving results. The atmosphere is always warm, inclusive, and relaxing, making it an inviting space for both beginners and seasoned practitioners.
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 : Vinyasa Flow (Wednesday mornings): Mid-week reset! Flow through a dynamic Vinyasa sequence, linking breath with movement. This class builds strength, flexibility, and balance. Finish with a relaxing Savasana, accompanied by calming aromatherapy. Jump Into Your Weekend: Power Flow (Saturday mornings): 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.
Madeline Meyer
In 2013 I came to yoga as an opera singer looking to improve my breath and alignment. Deep down, I think I knew I was more interested in cultivating vocal technique than preforming arias. As the years passed my yoga practice deepened and my fascination with the voice expanded to encompass the rest of the body. This year I took the leap from student to instructor, and had the pleasure of studying under Daniel Max, Alana Brennan, and Alex Bauermeister at JP Centre Yoga.
Class Description (Community Class and Rotating Substitute): My classes pull inspiration from Asana, Pilates and physical therapy. I aim to create an engaging space where it’s okay to come as you are and hopefully leave feeling a little stronger, more grounded, and kinder. I can’t wait to see you on the mat.
Jelisa Adair
I first fell in love with the practice of yoga in 2017 during a moment of extraordinary difficulty in my life, and I will always be appreciative of how it held me during that time. Yoga helped me become connected to my body in a way I had never experienced, and over the next six years I continued to cultivate my connection to the practice. In 2024 I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at JP Centre Yoga, and I'm now so excited to be growing as an instructor in the Boston-area. Off the mat, I am a licensed clinical social worker who has a full-time job at Boston University and a part-time private practice where I work with folks from communities I hold dear to my heart, including the polyamorous, BIPOC, and queer communities.
Class Description (Community Class and Rotating Substitute): 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.