Veronica O'Hara - Veronica found yoga after the birth of her third child. She began practicing in local gyms and found Yoga inspiring, relaxing and immediately felt the mind-body connection. After practicing for many years she found her way to a local Yoga studio, in particular Bikram.  After years of a Bikram practice and a weekly Ashtanga based practice she found herself wanting to know more and experience Yoga in depth. She completed Jimmy Barkan’s Method for Hot Yoga Level I and II in 2008. Immediately following her certifications began teaching and soon found herself opening her own studio in 2008 in Lighthouse Point. Many Yoga teachers inspire her: Shiva Rea, Sean Corne, Baron Baptise, Bryan Kest, Bikram and of course Jimmy Barkan. Veronica encourages her students to get in touch with their breath to open their bodies and minds. Veronica also encourages all to do Yoga not only on the mat but off the mat; bringing Yoga into our local community on a conscious level with help to create a more peaceful, harmonious community for all to live in.  She encourages a open heart, open and clear mind to eventually clear the path to a more spiritual existence. Namaste.

Keri Werner has been practicing and studying yoga for over ten years.  She has attended several teacher trainings, including Ashtanga Training with David Swenson, Sivananda and Yoga Fit.  She has been a health & wellness educator for more than 20 years; obtaining a degree in Psychology (B.A.) and Physiology (M.S.) from the University of Miami. She enjoys sharing the endless mind/body benefits that yoga has to offer.

Keri teaches an eclectic-style flow class in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment. She encourages her students to "be their own teacher".  Keri's passion for yoga results in her spending much of her free time reading about the different aspects of yoga and attending workshops and seminars.

She is grateful to be part of the team at  Awaken Yoga.

Jessica graduated FSU with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education. She has been a second grade elementary school teacher for 6 years. She has also taken anatomy and physiology I & II and 2 years of labs in college to study the human body. She uses her passion for yoga and extensive training in ballet and gymnastics to develop a vinyasa practice that just “Flows” to the music. She has performed with the Miami City Ballet and studied under some well-known ballet masters and yoga instructors.  She focuses on building a strong foundation for her yoga students, so they can avoid injury and take their yoga practice to another level.  Her forte is teaching arm balances and inversions. She motivates her students to work towards their “edge” on the yoga mat, and to work towards their goals off the yoga mat.  This keeps life exciting and fun! She believes that yoga is a wonderful form of expression and should be done with “no judgement.” Jessica is also the owner of Jesibeth Yoga Couture, which is a stylish yoga clothing line. These clothes are personally designed and hand-made in the USA. You can check out her super cute items at the studio or by going to www.jesibethyoga.com. 

Diane McEwan is a passionate, energetic, and dedicated Yoga teacher who has been practicing Yoga for over 10 years.  She is certified in several fitness areas, is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and has accrued over 1,500 teaching hours. She likes to incorporate her experience and knowledge of different exercise disciplines, such as strength-training and conditioning, into her Vinyasa-style classes.

Encouraging self-acceptance and motivating students to explore and challenge their bodies in a safe, structured environment, Diane strives to bring out the best in each of her students.  

She sums up the key ingredients in her Yoga Fusion class as the “Five F’s”:  Form (focus on alignment and anatomy), Function, (purpose of postures and development of body awareness), Fusion (integration of various fitness disciplines), Flow (linking postures together with the breath), and Fun (using music and creative sequencing to make working-out enjoyable).  She believes that these ingredients, thoughtfully combined, create a healthy recipe for personal growth—physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

Kate found yoga through a life long love of dance and movement. Her creative classes are inspired by the teachings of Seane Corn, Shiva Rea,  Edward Clark, Doug Swenson and other pioneers of Vinyasa.

She is constantly learning and absorbing yoga from workshops, students, and self practice.  Her classes flow with grace while focusing on proper alignment and honoring your own body. Yoga had the power to transform Kate's life and beliefs. Invite yoga into your life and experience the potential for growth and freedom. 

Carole's yoga journey blossomed in 2001. It is of self discovery and self growth, which she believes are the path to freedom and peace.  She likes to bring lightness and joy in the yoga room, as well as focus and intention.

Trained in Iyengar, White Lotus Foundation Flow Yoga, The Barkan Method Hot yoga & Hot Vinyasa, her class is designed to create meditation in movement, allowing for the flow to move the emotions and strengthen the mind and body connection.

“Through the rigorous and disciplined practice of Yoga, we can all achieve radiant health. I care to share my experience on the mat with all of those I cross path, with an open heart.”

Erika was born and raised in a fitness-oriented environment on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and discovered yoga almost 20 years ago via homepractice watching videotapes.

As a former classical ballet student and group fitness instructor for Bally's Total Fitness in Miami, it was natural that a nice chemical reaction would take place between her and Yoga, though commitment would not happen until many years later.

Erika experienced the bliss and amazing after"birth"math of pre-natal yoga while expecting her son, and after spending time involved in different fitness activities that included spinning and capoeira, she reconnected with her passion and decided to become certified to teach and share her love of yoga with whoever wants to learn.

She has and continues to further her practice and teaching skills during yoga events and workshops, having studied with amazing locally and internationally renowned instructors. Inspired by the teachings of Pattabhi Jois, Dharma Mittra, Seane Corn, Bryan Kest, and Jimmy Barkan, Erika works to blend elements of Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and the Bikram-inspired Barkan Method of hot yoga into her flow sequences, weaving strength, grace, awareness, sensibility, great music and fun into her classes.

Marlea - Being physically active has always been an integral part of Marlea’s life. She began dancing at the age of 4 and studied ballet for the next fifteen years. . An unexpected injury ended her dancing career and she found yoga shortly thereafter. She fell in love with the vinyasa practice because the fluid movements and flow of asanas reminded her of her ballet dancing days.

She graduated from YogaSouth Teacher Training Program where she received her RYS 200hr certificate. She studied dance at Suny Purchase, New York State College and in 2007 she received her group fitness certification through Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Marlea has completed coursework in Anatomy and Physiology and is intimately connected with her body on both an educational and physical level. She uses her passion for fitness and ballet and gymnastics background to develop her unique and inspired vinyasa flows. The benefits of yoga go far beyond Marlea’s physical practice, nourishing her mentally, emotionally and spiritually, ingredients that make for a strong and balanced life. Yoga has inspired her on many levels and her practice continues to evolve and grow with her.

As a teacher, Marlea’s goal is to help her students reach beyond the physical asanas and seamlessly unite the mind, body and spirit. She encourages them to let go, have fun and create positive vibrations that will flow into every area of their lives.

Candice

Jennifer Perrotta has been working in the fitness field for over three years. She has a very strong passion to help motivate and inspire others to reach their fitness goals. Jenn found yoga about five years ago. She was initially attracted to yoga by the heat and the challenge, however, she soon learned the benefits of yoga on a much deeper level than just physical. Yoga has helped Jenn embrace change and to accept those things that she can not. Jenn loves  the mixture of physical exercise (the work-out) and the focus on self-awareness by quieting the mind (the work-in).Jenn brings her passion and awareness when teaching her classes, always creating new challenges to offer her students. She has her 200 RYT Vinyasa Teacher Training with Monica Schmidt at American Yoga and is also certified to teach spinning, group fitness, personal training, and TRX. Jenn has also received her BA in Health Administration, graduating from FAU in 2005. She is always continuing to educate herself by attending yoga conferences, fitness conventions and self-practice. It is such a wounderful feeling for her to be able to share her knowledge of yoga and fitness to enhance the lives and well-being of others.

Jenna has been praticing yoga for three years. She is certified with Yoga Alliance and is trained under Jimmy Barkan Hot Vinyasa levels | || & |||. Her intention as a teacher is to create a balance between strength and flexibility. She believes yoga is not just for the workout but for the work in and encourages her students to look inside their body to find who they truly are. Being dedicated and commented to yourself and your practice will lead to a healthy and beautiful mind, body and spirit!