Mary Clare O'Connor Founder And Instructor |
Mary Clare O’Connor has been practicing yoga on and off the mat for over twenty-five years. Deeply rooted in a variety of Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, mc’s formal education includes the study of English and Philosophy through the Graduate level at SUNY Albany as well as Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness at CIIS in San Francisco. While completing a certificate in Yoga Dance at Kripalu, she decided to become a yoga teacher and dreamed of opening a studio. She earned her 200- hour Kripalu Yoga Teachers Certification in July 2011 and will complete her 500-hour training in 2025. With years of service in educational settings, opening the Studio in 2014 was a natural step and nurturing it into Blessed Community is a continuing joy. |
Christine Barton Instructor |
Christine Barton has been teaching yoga in the capital region for 20 years. She received her training and certification at Kripalu after retiring from teaching elementary school. She loves sharing the gift of yoga with her students. Her classes are safe havens with a lovely, calm spirit. Christine currently teaches yoga for cancer survivors and caregivers at Hope Club, as well as her Kripalu classes here at Inner Bliss. She lives in the Stockade where she enjoys her Riverside walks and the sense of community.
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Cheryl Burton-Murphy instructor |
Cheryl Burton Murphy has been a practicing yogi for over 20 years and became a certified yoga instructor in 2023, also earning a certification in Curvy Yoga. Living in a bigger body, Cheryl has experienced the challenges of making certain poses accessible, inspiring her to create a more inclusive yoga experience for all. She is dedicated to fostering a welcoming space for students of all sizes and abilities.
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Jamie Casterlin instructor |
Jamie Casterlin is the owner of Every Path Yoga. She has been practicing yoga personally since her early 20’s. She offers a fun mix of vinyasa, hatha and yin yoga styles. Jamie believes yoga should be inclusive for all and offers various modifications and alternative approaches to practice. She holds a 200 hr YTT certification from BE Electric in Hatha, Vinyasa, Bhakti yoga. Jamie resides in Schenectady, NY with her family. In addition to yoga she enjoys hiking and kayaking in the Adirondacks.
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Melissa MacKinnon Instructor |
Melissa MacKinnon is a 500-Hour Kripalu Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher and Kripalu Ayurvedic Health Counselor. She has been a student of Yoga since 1986 and certified to teach Hatha Yoga since 1994. Melissa has additional certification
in Kripalu Restorative Yoga, Radiant Child Yoga and The Khalsa Way: Pregnancy Yoga. Inspired by 10-years focused on urban farming and community herbalism, Melissa brings to classes and workshops a deep connection to the natural world around us. Place-based knowledge combined with the ancient teachings of Ayurveda and Yoga provide a myriad of simple practices and tools with which to find support and nourishment throughout the seasons of the year and seasons of our lives. |
Krystal Einarsson Instructor & Social Media Manager |
Krystal is a dedicated 200HR Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with specialized certifications in Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Children’s Yoga through YogaRenew and ShivaShakti. She brings a wealth of holistic knowledge to her practice as a certified EFT Tapping coach, holistic health coach, Certified Personal Financial Wellness Consultant, and an intuitive Oracle and tarot card reader.
With a passion for empowering her students, Krystal combines mindfulness, movement, and self-love to create transformative experiences both on and off the mat. Her classes provide a welcoming space for personal growth, relaxation, and self-discovery. She is currently pursing her degree in Psychology to deepen her knowledge of the mind and help bring mindfulness to the community. |
Ian Engel INSTRUCTOR |
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Springfield College, MA, Ian began his journey in the health and wellness industry in 2014. He honed his skills as a personal trainer and strength coach at Equinox in Manhattan and the Independent Training Spot, holding a CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) certification through NASM.
In 2018, Ian completed his yoga teacher training at Pure Yoga, studying under Kay Kay Clivio, Adam Vitolo, and Yogi Charu. A year later, he further expanded his expertise by becoming a certified holistic health counselor of Ayurveda under Dr. Naina Marballi at Ayurveda’s World. Since moving to upstate New York, Ian has been sharing his passion for health and wellness by teaching yoga, group fitness, and personal training at various gyms throughout the Capital District. He is dedicated to helping individuals unlock their potential, achieve their goals, and embrace a healthier, more balanced life. |
Mati Grieco-Hackett INSTRUCTOR |
Mati Grieco-Hackett has been teaching yoga and meditation for a lifetime now, continually drawing on the refuge of her daily practice. Her highest aspirations are to stretch, strengthen and serve.
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Sarah James instructor |
A lifelong fitness enthusiast, Sarah discovered yoga in 2008 as a way to complement her active lifestyle and reduce injuries from competitive sports. Over the years, her love for movement expanded to include multi-disciplines like running, strength training, and yoga, fueling her passion for holistic fitness and wellness.
Initially drawn to the physical challenges of yoga—especially fun poses and handstands--Sarah found a deeper connection to the practice in 2015, when it became a vital source of emotional strength after the loss of her parents. Yoga transformed into more than just movement; it became a way to find balance, build resilience, and connect with her community. In 2017, Sarah earned her 200-hour Hatha Yoga Certification from GypSEA Yoga School in Costa Rica, driven by a desire to share the healing power of yoga with others. She’s taught various styles of yoga across the Capital Region and even owned a local studio prior to the pandemic. Sarah is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels empowered to explore their own unique journey, whether on the mat or in other forms of movement. She strives to inspire others to embrace yoga as a tool for building strength—physically, mentally, and emotionally—while cultivating positivity both on and off the mat. As life ebbs and flows, Sarah continues to guide her students with compassion, encouraging them to integrate the lessons of yoga into their everyday lives. |
Theo Rabii Instructor |
Theo is a yoga instructor, dancer, choreographer, actor, poet, and activist. Theo has been practicing yoga and dance for most of their life and throughout the years has found movement practices to be powerful and transformative tools that have:
In each class, Theo strives to provide spaces for others where we can utilize various forms of movement, mindfulness, and art as mediums to assist us in creating moments in our lives where we can experience and engage in love, fun, freedom, creative expression, embodied awareness, and resistance in ways that are accessible for everyone. Ase! |
Karen Radley instructor |
Karen is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT-200), trained in the Bhakti tradition, under the guidance of Gopi Kinnicutt (ERYT-500). She completed her training in 2015 at Yoga Mandali and has been teaching ever since. Karen specializes in restorative yoga, having completed over 100 hours of study with Ann Saffi Biasetti (PhD, LCSW-R, ERYT-500, C-IAYT) through Ann’s Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Program, Level 1 (2016) and Level 2 (2018), also at Yoga Mandali.
Karen brings to the mat years of mentoring, guiding, and helping people. She first became interested in yoga as a way to stay fit and active. When life got messy, Karen’s yoga practice became her refuge and conduit for working through anxiety, depression, and grief. This experience inspired her to become a teacher and share the gift of yoga with others. Karen is devoted to fostering compassion, humility, empathy, and openness in her classes and private sessions. Let her guide you on your own personal journey in a warm, safe, and welcoming environment, one breath at a time. |
Dawn Reed instructor |
Dawn Reed completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certification as well as her Yin Yoga Teacher Training at Jai Yoga School in Slingerlands, New York. While taking yoga classes, she would leave the classes feeling stronger, refreshed and balanced. Dawn wanted to share this feeling with others. Yoga Teacher Training gave her the tools to help others realize the physical and mental benefits that yoga can bring into their lives. Dawn’s classes focus on combining movement with breath which helps to strengthen the body and calm the mind.
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Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon instructor |
Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon, a registered 500 RYT yoga teacher. During her 200 Hour RYT training at Jai Yoga School in Slingerlands New York she developed a love for Bhakti yoga (yoga of devotion and service) and deepened her expertise and mastery of asana. Alithia is certified to teach Kundalini and is a Usi Reiki Level 3 Healer. She recently completed a 300 Hour RYT with Yoga Farm Ithaca specializing in Kundalini. Her yoga journey began in the 1990’s, watching Gaiam videos and practicing at home as a way to deal with stress of life and work. After the lose of her mother to dementia, Alithia started the yoga teacher journey to help process grief and to heal. It is her belief that a consistent yoga practice provides the space and place to help us process and release stress and emotions. Combining her love of yoga, and many years as a student (more than a decade), she creates a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all of levels of students. Alithia is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys running and outdoor activities. Alithia was born in Brooklyn, New York and relocated to Albany where she currently resides, to attend graduate school at Rockefeller College.
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Nettie Romanzo-Smith INSTRUCTOR |
Nettie has taken yoga classes for the past 10 years, which helped her to better manage stress and anxiety and cultivate greater feelings of relaxation and well-being. In June of 2023 Nettie completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification with Aura Wellness Center so she can share the joy and benefits of yoga with others. With a background in exercise science, ballet and modern dance, Nettie brings her
knowledge of movement, body awareness and posture to her classes. She also has a passion for accessibility and making the practice of yoga available to all and is committed to helping students of all ages, abilities and backgrounds cultivate their healthiest selves and discover inner peace. |
Ashley Rutledge SOMATIC DANCE Instructor |
Join IIN certified health coach and SAH Method trainee Ashley Rutledge for a somatic dance class designed to help build awareness and presence in the body. Using breath work, affirmations, meditation and dance we will explore and express our inner worlds. All emotions and sensations are welcome on the dance floor where they will be met in a safe container to be metabolized; leaving us feeling lighter, more energized and with a lasting sense of peace. Students can expect moderate cardio activity and will be offered plenty of opportunities for rest and modification. You are the highest authority on your experience and the practice is meant to be a fun, non-invasive way to move your emotional baggage without having to go through it. Let's dance for the benefit of ourselves and all beings!
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Chrissy O'Reilly instructor |
Chrissy O’Reilly entered the yoga world as a pregnant mom over 25 years ago. The gifts that her teachers enabled her to access in her mind, body and spirit have allowed her to thrive despite all of the turmoil life has thrown her way. Her mat has been a place for healing, breathing, reconnecting, strengthening and simply being. With the help of her yoga practice, she has been able to sustain her active lifestyle including running, paddleboarding, roller blading, skiing and biking.
After practicing with so many special teachers through the years, she decided it was her turn to give to others and she completed her 200 hours of YTT with Meg Horan at JAI Yoga School. It is her intention to continue her learning journey as she shares her knowledge with those around her. In Chrissy’s classes she is mindful of her students’ abilities and seeks to empower them to adjust and adapt as necessary. It is her desire to bring the gifts of yoga to all who have not yet found their way onto a mat and help them to reconnect to their mind, body and spirit. |
Graciela Solano Virtual Instructor |
Grace is a ERYT 500 hour yoga instructor, holistic minister practitioner, reiki master practitioner and reiki teacher. With her background in Nursing, her passion for helping others has shaped her love of using her healing gifts to bring balance to the mind, body and spirit.
When working with her yoga students, she encourages them to develop a yoga practice that best meets their needs. Through yoga, Grace encourages her yoga students in learning how to connect to their mind and body so they can lead better lives off the yoga mat. One of her favorite quotes that she encourages her students with is "Yoga is not what you practice on your mat. It teaches you how to live your life off your mat." Grace teaches many styles of yoga including restorative, vinyasa, chair, yoga nidra and yin yoga. She is also certified in teaching yoga to people who are receiving cancer treatment and are in survivorship through her Yoga4Cancer classes. |
Donna Tritico Belly Dance instructor |
HABIBA (Donna Marie Tritico) Habiba has been performing and teaching belly dance for nearly 30 years. She has taught classes at SUNY Albany, Sage College and Siena College.
She is the recipient of several grants from the NYS Council on the Arts. Some past performances include U-Massachusetts at Amherst; Iron Horse Music Hall; Olana State Historic Site; Caffé Lena; Manhattan’s Ibis Supper Club; Boston Museum of Fine Arts; the Organization of African Unity to the United Nations. One of her career highlights was performing at Saratoga Performing Arts Center with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and rock music legend Sting. |
Lua Arcos-Pangione instructor |
Lua Arcos-Pangione has been part of the Inner Bliss community since spring 2022! After completing her 200-hour Vinyasa teacher training at Studio 4, she has continued deepening her understanding of yoga to share with others. With a lifelong connection to movement—from ballet and musical theater to yoga —Lua understands that every body moves differently. Her personal journey through injuries and healing has taught her that there’s no timeline for your practice. This perspective shapes how she supports the community, creating a welcoming space for all. |
Alexa Giardino instrUctor |
Alexa Giardino, 200 RYT has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. During her time as a grad student, Alexa’s love of yoga deepened, as the practice became her daily retreat from stress. In 2021, Alexa completed her 200hr yoga training at Jai Yoga School in Slingerlands, NY, where her knowledge of yoga asana and philosophy expanded. Shortly after completing her 200-hour certification, Alexa became certified to teach Kundalini yoga and is currently enrolled in a Yin Yoga certification. Off the mat, Alexa works as a Clinical Social Worker and enjoys nature, walks, and hikes alongside her dog, Clover. She is grateful to learn from the individuals she works with on and off the mat. Blending her understanding of mental health and love of yoga, Alexa creates a welcoming, safe, fun, and explorative environment for all those who join her. She encourages individuals to explore and find what feels good in their bodies and finding ease in their lives.
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Mandee Guzzo Instructor Emeritus |
Mandee Guzzo has been practicing yoga, asana, and meditation since 2012. She began her practice in her early 20s as a way to navigate her anxiety. Cultivating a mind-body connection while practicing yoga transformed her. Eventually, she earned her 200hr YTT at Phoenix Rising School of Yoga Therapy. She offers a range of classes, including Adaptive, Chair, and Vinyasa. These classes are taught with an inclusive and trauma-informed approach. Emotions and past experiences present themselves in our bodies and manifest in our minds. Her goal is to help others understand and internalize this. She aims to create a safe yet challenging space where people can meet themselves, recognize their patterns and habits, and make the shifts they're ready to make. She believes that even the darkest parts of ourselves deserve love, care, and compassion and that the only way out is to go through. Through this practice, she hopes to bring you to a deeper understanding of yourself and how you navigate and experience the world!
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Linda Rockinger INSTRUCTOR |
Linda is a retired Schenectady City Elementary school teacher who has been practicing yoga for 20 + years. In addition to her YTT 200+ training, Linda has completed coursework in Chair
Yoga, Accessible Yoga (with Jivana Heyman), and “Shake Your Soul:The Yoga of Dance” at the Won Dharma Center. She is a level 1 Reiki practitioner. She believes in making yoga accessible for all ages and body types. She has also lead classes combining yoga and art. She sees visual art and yoga as intertwined. She is the owner of Creatively Gentle Yoga LLC |
Julie Verret iNSTRUCTOR |
Julie Verret is a 200-hour yoga instructor since 2016, as well as a hairstylist and health coach. She is passionate about sharing the mental and physical benefits of yoga. As a student, Julie developed a deep love for how yoga made her body feel and the energy that resonated through her after each class. She has found the connection between mind and movement to be incredibly beneficial in her own life and loves sharing this experience with others.
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STAFF MEMBERS
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Pamela Imbesi Receptionist |
Sophia Thompson ReceptionisT |
Elizabeth Walsh INSTRUCTOR For The Union Classical Institute |