Our instructors are the backbone of this studio. Every day they show up with the energy and kindness we would like to see put out in the world.
They all bring something authentic, different and special to each class they teach. Get to know them a bit and come see them in the studio. Let’s get to know who teaches – and reaches – you here at Asana in Charlestown
souls of the studio
YOGA + sound bath + MEDITATION + BARRE
THE SOULS OF ASANA
GETTING TO KNOW
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OWNER
My deep appreciation for the practice of yoga began in 2000 while living and working in NYC. Like most twenty somethings, I was on a quest to find myself. Yoga helped. In 2002, I left my job in finance, enrolled in an immersive teacher training at the Omega Institute, moved to Charlestown, and began teaching yoga. It was around this time that I took my first class with my primary teacher, Barbara Benagh.
In 2012, I opened the Yoga Room - a small studio in Thompson Square. It was a sweet spot, but too small to serve the growing student base. In 2015 with the help of many, I had the great fortune of founding a new center, ASANA Charlestown in the heart of city square.
As a teacher I am committed to learning and a desire to serve others. My classes draw inspiration from the direct experiences I’ve had as a student on the mat and a citizen in the world.
I love the exuberant energy of an urban setting as well as the quiet serenity found in nature. I enjoy making cookies, long runs in the open air, swimming in the ocean, and skiing in the trees.
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I discovered yoga in 2010 to cope with the stressors upon the completion of my undergraduate degree. Not long after my first class, I quickly fell in love with the asana practice, and the affirmative effects it had on my overall attitude.
I completed the YogaWorks 200-hour RYT certification and began teaching in 2017. I have now completed the 500-hour advanced training with Jason Crandell in 2021. The approach I take to my teaching is foundational, functional, and 100 % inclusive. With these components, we can take the yoga practice off the mat and make effective into the world. I believe that this practice is for all people in all communities. I welcome everyone into a diverse space to create deeper connection with the self and positive conviction in the world. I aspire that our time together will leave you feeling strong, empowered, and invigorated.
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Jessica Diaz is an inspirational wellness speaker, writer, and certified personal trainer who overcame adversity to promote holistic well-being. As a spokesperson for the American Heart and Stroke Association, she advocates for stroke awareness and prevention. With a love for Barre fitness, Jessica became a licensed instructor in 2012, blending principles of the traditional Lotte Berk Method, Functional Movement, Breathwork, and SmartFLOW Yoga in her dynamic classes. Jessica holds certifications in fitness nutrition, Reiki, sound therapy, brain health training, functional movement. Jessica's speaking engagements and collaborations with notable brands reflect her passion for inspiring others to prioritize health and embrace mindfulness. Through her comprehensive approach, she empowers individuals to unlock their potential for vibrant living. Jessica was also awarded Best of Boston fitness class in 2023.
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Julia became a certified barre teacher in 2016 after working a decade in the financial services industry. As a lifelong athlete looking for something new, she discovered through barre a challenging but sustainable practice that intertwined strength movement with mindfulness. In 2018, she went on to complete her 200 hour yoga teacher training. Most recently, Julia has been certified as a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and is currently enrolled in a wellness coaching certification course. She lives in Charlestown with her husband, daughter Poppy, and dog Pearl.
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The spiritual principles of the yogic path are at the core of why Nicki practices and teaches. She says yoga is not about the perfect asana but rather the perfect expression of what your body is calling for, whether that is inward nourishment or outward expression. Her classes have multiple opportunities to do both while she infuses the art of meditation and movement. She believes music is the gateway to the whispers in your heart and movement is the language of your spirit.
The teachers along her journey hold an enriching place in her heart and she weaves all that has resonated with her, and her heart, into each practice. She obtained her 200 YTT in the mountains of the Himalayas back in 2017, continued her study in Meditation and Yin for a 50-hour CE certification and most recently studied under Gurmukh for her Kundalini practice.
When you take her class you can expect to be surrounded by invigorating music with her favorite philosophers voiceovers, come to play, explore and wonder.
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Taylor first stepped onto her yoga mat in 2007 and immediately fell in love with the practice. Growing up as a ballerina, it was the movement that initially spoke to her, but it was the mind body connection and the community that got her hooked. In 2019, after years as solely a student of yoga, she decided it was her turn to contribute to the community that has held space for her time after time and completed her RYT-200 certification with the Essence of Yoga School.
Taylor teaches an all levels vinyasa flow style class that focuses on mobility and creative movement. She encourages students to take the practice beyond a specific end goal of doing a certain pose and instead, focus on checking in on what’s going on inside your mind and feeling good in your body. Her goal is to create a fun, engaging class so you just might lose yourself in the flow and leave class feeling strong, mentally and physically.
Taylor is passionate about all types of movement. She will be a lifelong student of yoga, continuously learning from new teachers with different approaches to the practice. She also loves indoor cycling, boxing, weightlifting and, of course, dancing. Outside of the studio, she is the Marketing and Social Media manager for a nonprofit education and research institute and spends the rest of her time with baking projects and watching the Red Sox.
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Molly discovered yoga in 2020 and was immediately hooked. After months of practicing on an app during covid lockdown, she ventured into a studio which deeply grew her practice. A former athlete, runner, and busy-body, yoga became a tool to slow down and connect to her body.
Molly combines asana sequences with meditation concepts and an inspired playlist to create a welcoming, upbeat, and grounded experience. Molly enjoys learning about the body and aims to inspire curiosity in her class.
Molly completed her 200 hour teacher training at Boston Yoga Union with Tim Kelleher and Emily Tevald, attends workshops as much as possible, and practices at studios across Boston.
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In 2006, I stepped on my mat looking to transition to a new form of exercise after more than a decade of being a trained ballet dancer. Following my first class, I was instantly hooked on the positive vibrations yoga gave to me; that mind-body connection found on the mat. Now every time I step onto my mat, the philosophy and spirituality of yoga, coupled with the asana practice create an opportunity for growth, compassion, and greater understanding of the self.
I have studied various styles of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Bikram, but currently focus on Vinyasa. My classes are challenging yet playful with an emphasis on alignment. My intent is to provide an open space for my students to quiet the mind and strengthen the body to cultivate a transformative experience of self-awareness.
I completed my 200-hour certification at Boston Yoga School in 2013.
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I view the practice of yoga as a means by which to tune to our underlying essence and thereby find healing, relief, insight and wellness from which to direct our actions in the outer world. My moderately paced flow classes are fun and engaging while aimed at deepening an understanding of the body through which to cultivate meditative awareness and a deeper calm from which students can experience their essential wellbeing.
I've been a Boston area teacher since 2005. In 2010 I opened Samara Yoga in Somerville, MA where I enjoyed cultivating a dedicated Yoga community with some of my dearest friends and colleagues for 10 years. I'm looking forward to bringing what I've learned in both inner and outer leadership to other yoga communities and to my one-on-one work with students and Life Coaching clients.
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Ekaterina Blekhman: Born to Move, Born to Thrive
Passionate about movement and holistic living, Ekaterina Balduzzi – a spirited yoga teacher and lifelong fitness enthusiast. Hailing from Russia, my journey has been defined by an unwavering commitment to an active and balanced lifestyle.
Guiding others on the path of mindfulness and physical well-being, I bring a unique blend of ancient wisdom and modern vitality to my yoga classes.
With a lifelong dedication to fitness, I inspire others to discover the transformative power of movement. My dedication has most recently driven me to Slide, a powerful movement class focusing on strength and agility. Fitness isn't just a routine; it's a way of life.
Join me in embracing the joy of movement and the essence of holistic living.
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I dabbled in so many forms of movement growing up (skating, dance, volleyball, etc), but it wasn't until a friend dragged me to a yoga class in the early 2000s that I was able to fully connect with myself. I remember feeling overwhelmed, inadequate, and profusely sweaty in that heated/branded power class, but I also remember being incredibly tuned into the sensations I was experiencing, and the patterns of my thoughts. I felt fully present, unwavering in the face of my limitations, my power, my spaciousness. Since then, yoga has been a way to center myself during even the most tumultuous times of my life. It reminds me to practice compassion, every day, for self and for others.
In terms of the physical, I love that postural yoga provides a chance to work all areas of the body, to practice building strength at end ranges, and connects us to the rhythms of our breath and our heartbeat. In classes, I like to partner strength and mobility work, explore ways to reset the mind-body connection, and infuse a sense of play into sequences. I hope to be a guide on the path that leads yogis back to themselves.
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Erica began her journey in the world of Pilates over 10 years ago, driven by a desire to help others discover the incredible benefits of this transformative practice. She is a seasoned private and group instructor who empowers clients to achieve their fitness goals and find balance in body and mind. Known for her warm and encouraging teaching style, Erica creates an inclusive and supportive environment in her classes. She holds certifications in Pilates, Yoga, anatomy, and injury prevention, allowing her to provide personalized and effective instruction to clients of all levels.
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Caitlyn first stepped onto the mat in 2005 and found it was the only time when she truly felt at "home" in her body. In 2009 she completed YogaWorks 200 hr training program and has been teaching full time ever since. Her classes continue to be influenced by the YogaWorks method; with a strong focus on alignment, sprinkled with arm balances and inversions. Caitlyn believes yoga is the opening of new possibilities; it is the opportunity to create a healthier body, clearer mind and sense of peace that translates to the outside world. Her goal as a teacher is to share the joy of yoga and create a fun, safe and challenging environment for students to grow their practice.
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Fez has been teaching yoga and meditation in the Boston area since 2000. He views his yoga practice a natural extension of and a pathway back to his meditation practice. He is a two time cancer survivor, a musician, a husband and a father.
“We may not be able to make sense of our suffering, but we can learn to make meaning from it. If we’ve seen difficulty, and not only survived, but gone on to heal and find gratitude in our lives, we are given a unique perspective that can allow us to help others who are seeing adversity anew. We can learn to be with them with compassion and empathy and explore if they may benefit from our view of practice. There is nothing more meaningful than showing up and caring.”
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Lyndsey started an asana practice in 2002 before she really realized it was a practice at all. Little did she know that these poses would turn into a 20-year practice that would act as a workout in her teens, ground her in her 20’s, and lead her into her career in her 30’s.
Through inspiring instruction, Lyndsey achieved her 200 hour teaching certification at Back Bay Yoga in 2012. Since then, she has continued her education with trainings in breath work, Yin, prenatal, and hands on adjustments.
Lyndsey takes an anatomical approach to alignment in her intelligently sequenced vinyasa yoga classes. She has found herself in awe of the body and all its moving parts. She hopes that through her teaching she can inspire future yogis, like her teachers have inspired her, to find stillness of mind, strength of body, and peace within their hearts.
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Born and raised in Italy, Micol brings passion and energy to her classes. She started her yoga journey in 2010 and since then she has never left!
In 2020 she took her 200 HRS Teacher Training diploma at YogaWorks and started teaching right away.
She is, and always will be, a student, loving and appreciating the journey she is in and sharing it with her students.
Her classes consist of powerful and challenging Vinyasa flows, focused on alignment, strength and breath. She guides her students into challenging postures with ease, making them hold positions focusing on their breath and building strength. She encourages students to come to the mat, forget about what’s waiting for them outside, focus on themselves and be in the moment.
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As a Boston-based Pilates and Yoga instructor, Annette leads group classes with a teaching style that is graceful, challenging, and uplifting. Yoga has been a part of Annette's life for over 20 years and her practice is influenced by a variety of modern Vinyasa forms with an emphasis on alignment, strength, and breath. With a love for movement and Mind-Body practices, it was only natural she fell in love with Pilates as well. The two disciplines complement one another beautifully. Annette holds a 200-hour yoga certification from Pure Yoga and a mat Pilates certification from the Equinox Pilates Training Institute. Annette's class setting is safe and sacred with a commitment to help students find a deeper connection within themselves through movement and meditation.
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Katie found her passion for Barre after her mom took her to her first class in high school. She continued to practice barre throughout college and her adult life. Once she was living in Boston, she became certified in Barre by Jessica here at Asana and she is so excited to now be teaching. Katie loves to teach an energizing class that both challenges and inspires students. She is also certified in yoga and yoga sculpt. Outside of class you can find her trying new restaurants, hanging out with friends and family, or at her full-time job working in interior design.