Meet Our Yoga Instructors
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Maria “Puma” Reyes
Puma began teaching yoga in 2004 and became a Certified Yoga teacher through Forrest Yoga in 2006. She also carries certifications in Relax and Renew (Restorative Yoga), Prenatal Yoga and Postnatal Yoga. Maria’s teaching background also includes Workshop Assistant to Ana Forrest, March 2007 and Prenatal Workshop Assistant to Janice Clarfield, April 2009 and May 2008.
Puma weaves her enthusiasm, humor, straight forwardness and compassion into a teaching style that encompasses the strength and intensity of Forrest, the flow and creativity of Vinyasa, the alignment of Iyengar and the relaxing, healing benefits of Restorative yoga. Maria’s teachings are rooted in her life experiences and intuition.
Maria has had the pleasure of studying with many master teachers including Judith Hanson Lasater, Rolf Gates, Simon Park, Manju Jois, Elise Miller, Angela Farmer & Victor van Kooten, Micheline Berry and many others.
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Jennifer Lenhart
Jennifer loves the way yoga makes her feel and loves sharing it with others. She never ceases to be amazed by its ability to transform the body, mind, and spirit. In her classes, she encourages her students to experience the full potential and beauty of each posture, to explore their breath, to be present in the moment, and to see that the gifts of a yoga practice can be carried off the mat and into our daily lives. Her classes are joyful, inviting, and inspiring, and she incorporates her down-to-earth personality and great music into each.
Jennifer began practicing yoga in 1994. She is a certified yoga teacher registered with the Yoga Alliance and considers herself blessed to have undertaken 200 hour teacher training with her amazing teacher Marni Task through the Jivasara School. She has practiced Cyndi Lee’s OM Yoga extensively and is currently taking part in an advanced yoga teacher training program through OM Yoga that will certify her at the 500 hour level. In addition to being inspired by Cyndi Lee, Jennifer’s training and teaching style is inspired by the devotional and integrated Jivamukti Yoga of David Life and Sharon Gannon as well as by the Universal Principles of Alignment of Anusara Yoga. For Jennifer, the study and practice of yoga is a lifelong endeavor, and she enjoys learning something every day from each of her teachers and students.
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Laura Noss Sutphen
Laura Noss Sutphen is a Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher who studies directly under the guidance of yoga masters Sharon Gannon and David Life. She has been practicing yoga since the early 1990s, when she found herself in a Jivamukti Yoga class in New York City, with purple walls and a group of people standing on their heads and thought, “Who are these crazy people and where do I sign up to become one of them?” A teacher since 2001, she infuses her sessions with humor and laughter, accessibility, a sense of ease, and guides students to find simple ways to take their yoga off the mat and into daily life.
As one of the only Certified Jivamukti teachers in Cleveland, Laura’s classes incorporate the classic elements of the Jivamukti method: chanting, to help students find their voice; a lesson drawing from ancient texts with modern, relevant (and sometimes funny) commentary; a challenging but fun, flowing asana class; and the tranquility of meditation. Laura is known for her approach to music as a transformative element in yoga: each class is set to a unique playlist of fresh music that makes a statement, ranging from hip hop, to rock and roll, to folk and jam bands. Featured in national press including The New York Times, Common Ground, Yoga Journal, Real Simple, and Living Fit, Laura is a recent transplant from San Francisco back to her hometown of Cleveland, and hopes to inspire students to ‘rock out’ with their yoga and in doing so, become grounded but inspired to take action in the world.
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Maria Frances
Maria has practiced the art of Yoga since 1989 when she first attended a yoga class offered through the Westlake Recreation Center. From this point on, she was hooked! Over the decade that followed, Maria became a wife, mother, freelance graphic designer, and an AFAA certified Group Fitness Instructor. “Yoga class became my personal time that created a much needed balance in my busy life.”
Bringing over 15 years of teaching experience to the yoga community, Maria loves to share what she has learned on her journey. Her classes incorporate a blend of pranayama, alignment, meditation, and a vinyasa style influenced by the many facets of her training. She continues to deepen her knowledge of yoga with dedicated home and group practice, as well as on-going attendance in workshops & teacher trainings around the Cleveland area and nationally. Maria is certified at the 200 hour level in Jivasaura Yoga, which is influenced by the Jivamukti and Anusara traditions and is currently earning her 500 hour level certification in Yoga Therapy and Therapeutic Yoga.
Maria is so grateful to all of her teachers, past & present, who have inspired her since her very first yoga class. Maria’s wish as a yoga teacher is to share the peace and joy she has discovered by committing herself to her yoga practice.
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Rosie Miller
Rosie has been a yoga practitioner for the past ten years and a yoga instructor since June 2007. She believes in an approach which is safe, compassionate, nonjudgmental, and which honors the Self. Rosie feels blessed that she is able to share her journey of yoga with others and believes yoga to be life changing. She has seen the many ways it can enhance a person’s daily life.
Ms. Miller holds a B.A. in social work and finds yoga to be a direct way of “helping others help themselves”… a way to cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and inner peace, which leads to a greater sense of awareness and peace in the world. As a resident of Lakewood, Rosie is very excited to be part of the goodness that Puma Yoga brings to the community. She is grateful to all of her instructors for their kindness in sharing knowledge, her students for teaching her more, and her husband and two children who lovingly remind her to live in the moment.
“Rosie is a Certified Yoga Instructor through TRY For Life with Judi Bar and Jan Hauenstein and a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She also studied and earned her Prenatal certification through Janice Clarfield, owner and director of Urban Yoga.
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Alysia McKean
Alysia McKean, RYT, EMP found herself on the path to a dedicated yoga journey 5 years ago. She discovered the practice while working as an exercise specialist for local employee wellness centers, and was immediately drawn to the energy yoga brought out in herself and others.
Her intentions while teaching a yoga class are to always assist in a way which encourages “effortless effort” in each individuals practice. Alysia’s training of vinyasa yoga continues to grow with ongoing various teacher trainings both locally and nationally. She is a member of the yoga alliance and has completed her 200 hour teacher training certification.
Alysia is also a massage practitioner, and enjoys complimenting her yoga classes with hands on relaxation and rejuvenation!
You can now book a massage with Alysia at the studio! She provides an eclectic blend of Swedish massage, reflexology, and polarity techniques based on each clients individuals needs at the time. Her specializations include massage for athletes, the expecting mother/new mother and the busy lifestyle individual looking to balance the mind and body. Alysia provides a safe and comfortable atmosphere in our warm, inviting studio. Her massage is sure to leave you feeling wonderful and rejuvenated!
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Melissa Russo
Melissa began practicing yoga on and off about six years ago. After nine months of living in France without practicing any yoga, she was struck by how much she missed the practice and realized what yoga truly meant to her. Melissa returned to Cleveland and immediately sought out studios to practice at. She was lucky enough to find out about a Karma Yogi shift at Evolution Yoga Studios in Beachwood where she helped around the studio in trade for yoga classes soaking up all the knowledge she could. From this point on, the yoga journey began.
Melissa completed Evolution Yoga’s OM yoga Teacher Training Program in June 2009 and is currently enrolled in OM yoga’s 300 hour teacher training program which will make her 500 hours certified in June 2011. She is passionate about the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga and tries to encompass all three of these things in her yoga classes. Melissa inspires all of her students to honor their bodies and have patience with the practice…the rest will follow. She has studied with many amazing teachers, including Cyndi Lee, Joe Miller, David Nictern, Simon Park, Desiree Rumbaugh, and John Salisbury.
Her classes are technique and alignment based, combined with a wonderful flow for the soul!
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Susan Livingston
Having danced since the age of three, Susan was classically trained at the School of the Cleveland Ballet and has studied with jazz, tap and modern teachers of note. She danced with a modern company in NYC until an injury left her looking in a new direction for her creative talents.
Over the years Susan maintained a mild exercise routine to balance the stresses of work and world. She found that yoga, as a lifestyle, has the values, discipline and wisdom, offering a familiar place to grow and to be challenged-physically, emotionally and spiritually-a place of love.
Susan uses her experience, training and intuition in sharing her passion of Hatha yoga (an emphasis on alignment and healing) with a belief that the practice of yoga is for everyone.
Susan is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and a graduate of the T.R.Y. 4 Life Training program with Jan Hauenstein. She also is a certified yoga assistant and continues her ongoing yoga education by attending classes, workshops and training. “I am blessed to be able to breathe in and out daily with the universe and find joy in sharing my love of yoga with others.”
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Kelly Novak
Kelly Novak embraces yoga with enthusiasm and love. In February 2008, she found herself in a Saturday morning yoga class as a last resort for stress relief, with no idea what to expect. That morning, and in the months to come, she found more than she ever expected – a development of mental and physical strengths with a touch of spiritual awareness. As a non-athlete, she felt relieved to find a way to step into her body in a fun, accepting environment. Kelly cultivated her nonphysical yoga practice as a way to deepen her mind and heart - and to laugh and be light! As her yoga practice continued – on and off the mat - she found courage and confidence and never looked back.
Kelly’s classes focus on a well-rounded physical practice with the incorporation of thoughtful concepts ranging from the contemplative to the humorous. She loves to laugh and brings that energy into her classes. She believes that how we navigate our yoga practice parallels our lives – finding strength, flexibility and balance. Kelly completed yoga teacher training at Inner Bliss Yoga Studio in Rocky River, Ohio, under the instruction of Mitchel Bleier and Tammy Lyons, and has been fortunate enough to practice with many talented teachers. Her favorite teachers, however, are her students, who truly teach her everything.
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Jen Bistritz
Jennifer found her way into a yoga class the way most people find pastimes they enjoy, through her mom. Being a runner most of her life, and a part time gymnast, Jennifer began practicing yoga and discovered it not only provided an intense workout, especially for the abdominal region, but also discovered yoga as a way to quiet the mind, exhilarate the body and relax the soul.
After college, Jen went into the Peace Corps and served 27 months in the West African, francophone country of Benin. An extended period of time on foreign soil will lead anyone to a search for stability, comfort and peace within. While there, Jennifer deepened her practice first through the occasional Rodney Yee or Duncan Wong DVD practice and later through her own practice that would unfold based on the day, the mood, the weather and the number of roosters, goats and chickens loitering outside her door.
After returning from the Peace Corps, she enrolled in Jivasara Teacher Training, (a combination of Jivamukti and Anusara yoga styles) led by Marni Task. Jennifer completed her training in June of 2009 and from there, her teaching career blossomed.
Her number one desire is to inspire. Jen’s free flowing classes provide motivational music and themes to inspire and intelligent sequencing that leads to challenging poses.
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Caressa Mathews
Caressa Mathews, a yogini since 1996, is honored to bring her years of study and the wisdom passed down from her teachers to all those around her. She received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training from Brahmrishi Yoga in 2006 and completed her 500 hour Yoga Teacher and Therapist Training through Purusha Yoga in 2010. Upon traveling to Thailand to study Traditional Thai Yoga Massage, Caressa is now a certified practitioner, teaching new students interested in learning this sacred healing art. She also holds certification in, and practices Reiki and Jin Shin—forms of energy work that calm the mind while relaxing the body.
Caressa has taught as a guest teacher for Yoga Teacher Trainings in both California and Ohio, and also enjoys leading yoga workshops, in addition to teaching her weekly yoga classes. This life-long student earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2004, and her creative artistic interests, along with her loving connection to Mother Earth, inspire both her life and practice. She brings joy and compassion to her yoga classes, aspiring to impart the same thirst for knowledge of the higher self to her students, as she invites them to relax into their bodies, their breath, and the present moment.