Lehigh Valley Yoga Instructors
Jacque Porterfield
Studio owner, Jacque Porterfield has been practicing Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga since 1999, and teaching it since 2002. Her first teacher training was with David Swenson. Along with many hours of home practice she has done workshops and trainings with teachers David Williams, Kathy McNames, Doug Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, Pattabhi Jois, Manju Jois Danny Paradise,and Dee Silvers. Her current teacher is David Garrigues. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with 200 hours of training under Yoga Alliance. In April, 2006, Jacque bought Lehigh Valley Yoga and, in addition to the Ashtanga classes which are the primary focus of the studio, she added Hot Yoga in 2010. Today the studio offers classes for athletes, expecting moms, kids, and special classes for weight loss. Jacque believes that there is a style of yoga for everyone, and at her studio, students are encouraged to try all the types of practices available. Jacque has worked hard to create a friendly, warm environment in the studio where all students are made to feel welcome. She is dedicated to building community through outreach programs, fundraisers, and social events to be held during the year. Her vision for the future is to continue to create a vibrant, energetic studio that offers a range of athletic, gentle and spirit-filled yoga classes for a variety of life stages.
" We believe everyone, everywhere can achieve opitimum health and fitness through Yoga."
Jenn Kelly Jenn graduated from our Ashtanga School in 2010 and is now teaching at the studio. Jenn loves Mysore practice and attends weekly classes with David Garrigues at Ashtanga Yoga School of Philadelphia to further her own study of 2nd Series. In addition to David, she's studied with David Keil, Kino McGregor and David Swenson, Manju Jois,. As our newest teacher on staff, Jenn is especially fond of teaching Mysore style classes. Jenn has been dedicated to a macrobiotic lifestyle for many years and loves the opportunity to share it. Jenn is a mother of 3 and happily married.
Maureen Murphy Maureen first studied yoga briefly in the mid-'70s. She began studying Ashtanga Yoga over 10 years ago. Since then she has had the opportunity to study with Beryl Bender Birch, David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, Richard Freeman, Kino McGregor, and Manju Jois, ; as well as receiving teacher training certification from both Doug and David Swenson. She teaches and studies in New York at Ashtanga Yoga Shala and other studios and brings to Lehigh Valley Yoga her devotion to the practice and tradition of Ashtanga Yoga. She especially enjoys Mysore style classes and introducing yoga to new students. She is also a member of our Ashtanga Teacher Training School.
Sybel Sierra
Sybel Sierra (E-RYT200) explored various yoga styles but immediately fell in love with Ashtanga Yoga because it challenged her physically and tested her mental discipline. Eager to share the transformational benefits of yoga with others, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certification in 2009 at Lehigh Valley Yoga, and will complete her 500-hour YA Certification in 2012 at Yogamaya New York. She supplemented her training through workshop intensives with senior Ashtanga teachers including Kino MacGregor, Lino Miele, and David Williams. She now actively studies with Manju Jois and travels to India annually to study with R.Sharath Jois & Saraswati Rangaswamy at K.Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Instititute in Mysore. Sybel is also a student of Sanskrit with Manorama and Yoga Philosophy with Rasanath Das & Dhanurdhara Swami. She has heart-felt gratitude towards the many teachers who continue to shine light on her yoga path. Sybel is also a member of our Ashtanga Teacher Training School.
Allison Fiorini
Allison received her training and gained her 200 RYT from Lehigh Valley Yoga's Ashtanga School in 2010. She enjoys teaching Ashtanga and Power Fusion classes, but her favorite is leading the Mysore classes with Jacque on Monday nights. Allison is a full time teacher for Northampton School District, a repeat Marathoner and has an energetic personality you'll really enjoy when you take her classes.
Randi has been practicing all styles of yoga for more than 20 years. Her passion, however, is for Ashtanga yoga, in which she holds her 200 RYT through Lehigh Valley Ashtanga School teacher training. She was amoung the first group to graduate in 2009. Randi loves to practice in NYC where she has attended various yoga studios. Exploring different styles of yoga prompted Randi to begin teaching Hot Yoga classes at our Studio.
Randi has studied with Sharath Jois, David Swenson, David Williams, Kino McGregor and Dharma Mittra. Her teaching methods remain current as she continues to expand her range of experience with many yoga disciplines. Randi is also an active member of International Association of Yoga Therapists, allowing her to remain up to date on the methods of yoga as therapeutic treatments in western medicine.
Prenatal, restorartive and vinyasa teacher, Nancy DeVogel has been practicing yoga for over 30 years and instructing for almost 20. She is a gentle presence in class and especially enjoys teaching prenatal yoga. She continues to attend training and workshops to provide the most beneficial class for her students. Nancy is also and herbalist and creates her own line of essential oils that she uses in her classes.
Joe's first experience with yoga began in the summer of 2004. He began teaching at our studio in 2008. He is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, is AAA Certified in Mat Pilates and is a certified Thai Yoga Bodyworker in the tradition of Kam Thye chow and the Lotus Palm School.The styles of yoga Joe teaches include Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Restorative and Sampoorna Yoga. His yoga is inspired by the teachings of Swami Sivananada, Swami Vishnu-devananda, Swami Rama and Yogi Hari. When Joe's not teaching yoga, he spends time meditating, and taking yogic retreats to many ashrams, including the Sivananda Ashrams, the Yoga Society of New York and the Himalayan Institute. "Yoga allows me to find balance in my life. Practicing and teaching yoga continues to enrich my life, giving me a greater understanding of myself and bliss absolute."
Lynne is currently teaching our Power Girls Yoga class. She is an RYT 500 and is experienced in teaching kids, families and seniors.
Pete originally started yoga for physical fitness and injury recovery. He had tried a few classes here and there, but didn’t develop a regular practice until discovering Ashatanga yoga. After several months, Pete knew he wanted to teach and share all he learned about Ashtanga yoga with others, and enrolled in Lehigh Valley Yoga Teacher Training course. While originally drawn to the physical aspects of the practice, he discovered the mental and spiritual properties of the practice have a profound, positive effect on everyday life. Pete tries to share with all his students his passion for a practice that may not be easy, but always leaves one feeling more peaceful, stronger and relaxed.
Michelle Leach
Michelle Leach has practiced Pilates for the past ten years and became a Certified Pilates Instructor after developing a sincere passion for the practice. She studied under a notable and highly respected instructor in the field, Linda Farrell who trained at the Pilates Studio in NYC under Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska.
A native New Yorker, Michelle was raised in Brooklyn and completed her Bachelor's of Science at Baruch College. With an extensive background in Real Estate, Michelle decided to leave it all behind to fulfill her desire to help people of all different ages and body type. And she seeks to achieve this through Pilates.
Her art is her passion as her patience and knowledge exudes through her teaching as she positively motivates her clients to reap the benefits of Pilates mentally, physically and spiritually......... "It's not about feeling pain, it's about feeling phenomenal" ~ Michelle N. Leach
Sara graduated from Lehigh Valley Yoga Teacher training program in 2009. Her passion is to teach yoga to people who feel like they are not the "typical" yoga student. She developed the Yoga for Real People class for this purpose and welcomes students of all ages, shapes and sizes to her class. Sara is a loving, kind and generous soul and desires to share her love of yoga through her teaching.
