Orlando Power Yoga Instructors

Kelly Senn is from Orlando, Florida, and first started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2001. At such time, Kelly had severe cystic acne and was medicated to combat her acne. Knowing that medication has its side effects, Kelly sought other forms of therapy to assist her with her cystic acne and began practicing yoga as part of that search. After nine full weeks of consistent practice, Kelly's cystic acne was gone, she lost weight, felt better, and was able to discontinue her prescribed medication. Since such time, yoga has been a way of life for Kelly.

Kelly studied under Bikram Choudhary in Los Angeles and began teaching Bikram Yoga in 2003. In 2005, Kelly received her 200 hour Hatha Yoga Certificate from Edely Wallace at Yoga Matrix in Orlando, Florida. In 2009, Kelly completed Mark White's Teacher Certification Program, which is inspired by the teachings of Baron Baptiste. Kelly has completed 500 Hour Teacher Training with Dharma Mittra in New York and also has workshop training under Cameron Shane, Sean Corn, Rod Stryker, and Cyndi Lee. In 2012, Kelly completed a 30 hour Budokon training with Cameron Shane. Kelly also holds a Medical Esthetician Degree from the Florida College of Natural Health and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from UCF.

Through many years of practicing and teaching yoga, Kelly has learned that through breath, anyone can do yoga: "if you can breathe, you can do yoga; if you can't breathe well, you should be doing yoga."

Janelle Pochintesta first started practicing yoga in 1997 purely for its physical benefits. She was a belly dancer and began practicing to improve her muscle tone, strength, and breath. Janelle still remembers her first class ... she thought being a dancer would make yoga much easier for her. Granted, she was flexible, but she was surprised to discover that she did not have the discipline to calmly complete a two minute Svasana. With that knowledge, Janelle began her regular yoga practice, where she started to see the results of a stronger, leaner body with acute muscle awareness. Also, Janelle found an inner stillness, peace, and liberation. Janelle says that, "yoga set me free – free from myself and the machinations of mind."

Janelle wanted to help others experience the growth she found in yoga. So, in 2005, Janelle received her 200 hour Hatha Yoga Certificate in 2005 under Edely Wallace at Yoga Matrix in Orlando, Florida, and her 500 Atmananda Yoga Certificate under Jhon T, based out of New York City, in 2008. In 2009, Janelle received her Baron Baptiste Power Yoga Certificate from Mark White in Jacksonville, Florida, who is a senior Baron Baptiste teacher.

Alex McCullough first began practicing yoga in January 2008. She had been practicing a regimen of physical fitness for twenty years but had never tried yoga. She went to her first yoga class not knowing what to expect, but before the end of the class was over she was sweating and moving and completely invigorated. Alex began a regular practice, which at first was based purely on the physical aspects of yoga, but soon discovered breath, awareness, and an inner stillness that she had not known before. Reflecting on the beautiful process of yoga and its many benefits, Alex wanted to share her experience with others, and decided to get certified to teach yoga.

She completed her 200 hours through Atmananda Yoga(based in New York) in 2008, and in 2009 went back and completed her 300 hour training certification through Atmananda Yoga. In 2010 she received her certificate to teach Baron Baptiste style Power Yoga from Mark White in Jacksonville, FL.

Greg began practicing yoga many years ago to help correct the damage he did to his body from smoking. It helped immensely, after a few months he was off of the medications that were prescribed to him and he was breathing normal. The style of yoga he was doing no longer fit, so he put his practice on hold for awhile and worked as a personal trainer. He needed to return a few years later to improve his flexibility and balance and to correct some injuries, whiplash included. Greg was directed to Orlando Power Yoga where they taught Baptiste style Vinyasa, he came with an open mind and a healthy enthusiasm. He discovered that this style of practice feels great and resonates with him a feeling of home. Greg has seen amazing improvements in his body, whiplash gone, much less injuries and better posture as well. Greg decided to become a yoga instructor after receiving so many awesome gifts yoga has freely given him. He realized it was time to give back to his community that which he has gratefully received.

In 2010 Greg received his certificate to teach Baron Baptiste style Power Yoga from Mark White in Jacksonville, FL. He continued on the path and in October 2012 he became an enthusiastic, powerful, and mindful Baptiste Yoga Instructor. He has studied with many big named Yogi's in that time, but he resides true that Baptiste Power Vinyasa is his home.

Greg teaches, and is the Studio manager at Orlando Power Yoga in Orlando Florida.

"My goal is to motivate and inspire my students to open their life to new possibilities and allow themselves to trust that which life has to offer. When we come to our mat with willingness and acceptance, compassion and enthusiasm, we walk away with a new found freedom. Ultimately we discover a power within strong enough to create change not only in ourselves, but in every person we come into contact with."

"I began to practice yoga to fix what was wrong with my body, I continue to practice for the calmness and ease I feel deep in my soul, and to fuel my passion for constant evolving change."

Cortney Singleton has been teaching yoga since 2001 under various influences including Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, John Gillespie and Bob Liekens. "My yoga practice is a dynamic moving meditation that will strengthen you from the core of your body and being to develop a strong body, a sound mind and a loving spirit. Yoga brings brings mindfulness to movement and with diligence can create a peaceful existence on and off the mat."

Cortney's life experiences has guided her to form Anywhere Yoga and Pilates. Whether it is drawing from the core strength it requires to be an avid horseback rider or your need to develop the balance and stability for surfing,Cortney draws on many disciplines to make yoga yours, but received her formal teacher certification with Integrative Yoga in 2001 and Power Pilates Level 1 in 2005. She has traveled all over Costa Rica and all the way to Saudi Arabia to provide Pilates and Yoga training for teachers and students. Cortney is currently pursuing a master's degree in Chinese Medicine and Herbology at The Florida College of Integrative Medicine and will be licensed to practice acupuncture in December 2011. "Teaching is my passion and I once I discovered yoga, I knew it was my destiny to help others learn how to embrace the strength and grace we all possess through yoga. I can only hope to positively influence and inspire each soul I meet on this life long journey of natural healing."

A competitive athlete all her life, Chelsie walked into her first yoga class in 2009 looking for a physical workout, in no way being present to how exhausted, mentally and physically, she really was. Leaving the studio after her very first class she was in euphoria, and to put it simply, she fell in love with yoga.

Chelsie has studied with her teacher, Tymi Howard, since this day in 2009 and completed her 200 Hour Vinyasa Flow Certification under her at Guruv Yoga in January 2011. She also has workshop training from Steve Ross, Kathryn Budig, Missy White and Mukti Michael Buck, graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCF with majors in both Psychology and Interpersonal Communications and is a Certified Holistic Health Coach. She is attracted to the physical practice of yoga because when you play with a challenging practice it often becomes uncomfortable… and when you're uncomfortable, you get to experience the most growth – physically and emotionally. Plus, it's fun!

"The best thing about yoga is it's for everyone" says Chelsie. "When we get on our mats and let go, it's cool to watch how all that "life stuff" just works itself out. One may come to yoga for the physical but it's impossible to separate the mind, body, and spirit so just keep practicing and the rest will come. Practice yoga to wake up and feel. Feel what it feels like to be alive and learn to love every minute of it."

Michelle Coutinho began practicing yoga in 2001. Michelle was mostly attracted by the philosophical and spiritual nature of the practice. She appreciated yoga as a way to keep her body fit and healthy. Once her practice depended, she was amazed at the transformations that happened to her mind and body. Michelle noticed when she was dedicated to her practice of daily yoga and meditation her mind, body, spirit, and life would all thrive. If she neglected her practice, she would wake up with migraines and tension in her neck and shoulders. After that realization, Yoga became an integral part of her life, and her passion grew so much she longed to share this knowledge with others.

Over the last 10 years, she has experimented with many different styles of yoga, such as Hatha, Yin, Kundalini, and Bikram. But when she discovered Baron Baptiste Style Power Vinyasa Flow, she fell deeply, deeply in love.

"I saw the detoxifying benefits and my new inner clarity and determination. I knew I needed this level of intense physical practice to bring a deeper discipline into my life and my yoga practice. Power Vinyasa has helped me ground and maintain an inner balance that is necessary to function in this world. I feel it is my duty to share that knowledge with others, to help people gain insight into themselves and help bring peace to the world."

Michelle decided she would become a teacher so that she could empower herself and others. She received her training in Power Vinyasa Flow from Baron Baptiste's senior teacher Mark White.

In addition to Power Vinyasa, Michelle teaches Yin Yoga and uses her natural intuitive abilities to offer guided meditations to her students. The receptive and slower nature of the Yin classes allows her to take her students into stillness by holding the postures longer and focusing on the breath. Michelle is also an Intuitive Counselor and has been working with meditation, metaphysics, and energy healing since she was nine years old.

"It is my honor to be able to teach the sacred practice of yoga, a practice which has transformed my life, my sense of personal power, trained my mind to focus, and to really trust myself."

C. Reider Howe started his yoga experience somewhere around the age of 16 in 1996. His first experience with yoga came from a yoga for strength VHS with Rodney Yi. In that experience he realized that he needed to work on his physical fitness because despite his youth he couldn't get through 20 minutes of the tape. His next major yoga experience came during a school project where he read The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnu Devananda. Through this book and the practices depicted there Reider learned a lot of difficult balances meditation and poses.

Over the next decade plus Reider has stuck with a dedicated personal yoga practice from many different sources like; Bikram, Hatha, and Power Yoga. It was not until 2011 when he decided to take his yoga dedication to the next level and learn to teach. By that time Orlando Power Yoga came into Reider's life and he really got a perspective on how much the quality yoga experience of excellent teachers, community, and pushing self to one's edge could advance one's life. It was only his intent to take the same training other teachers at OPY had taken but instead he was offered a possibility of a job and additional guidance from seasoned instructors.

In October 2011 Reider completed his 200 hour Baptiste Inspired Power Yoga training with Mark White at MBody Yoga in Jacksonville. In December of 2011 Reider gained a thirty-hour training in Budokon yoga from Cameron Shayne at Budokon University. Feeling inspired by what he saw within this system and the community around it he decided to dedicate himself to the Budokon martial arts. He is currently putting in the work to move within the Budokon Martial arts system which includes offering Budokon Yoga at OPY.

"I came to yoga with a desire to keep myself physically fit but I found so much more. Yoga and Budokon have brought me health, love, community, perspective, mental fortitude, and a deeper appreciation for life. Yoga can be in everything you do when you bring it into your life. I cherish the opportunity to bring as many benefits as I have received to my students. Always though, I am your student as much as you are mine. Osu and Namaste."

Lori grew up in the white sandy beaches of Sarasota, Florida. From day one, she has always been a vibrant person who loves physical movement and expression. Whether through dance, gymnastics, running, or yoga, she has always been drawn to achieving and living a healthier lifestyle. However, in 2007 Lori knew she had found herself and the path she was destined to follow during her very first yoga practice. Within six months of her first class, she had trained under her instructor and discovered teaching yoga to be an honest and natural transition from her roots of dance instruction.

Faced with debilitating health issues in her teens, Lori intensified her personal study of nutrition and alternative medicine and in 2009 earned her Drugless Practitioners Certification at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. During this time, her desire for healing those in need and sharing the profound powers of yoga with others became perfectly clear. Her passion blossomed as she dove head first into her yoga journey by traveling to India to expand her teaching and practice under her guru. This once in a lifetime experience magnified Lori's true understanding of yoga and the yogic lifestyle.

Lori is now at peace with her personal health and wellness, as well as living her dream of sharing her vast knowledge and experiences with others.

Beth is a lover of life and yoga, and feels that her connection with yoga has created magic and vibrancy along with each breath she inhales. Beth loves to experience both the deep "inner lifetime work" of practicing, along with the therapeutic and revitalizing physical benefits she feels in her body. It is her desire to share her love of yoga and life with others.

Beth has completed 200 hour Teacher Trainings through White Lotus Foundation, Yogafit, Mark White's 200 hour Teacher Certification Program, which is inspired by Baron Baptiste's Power Vinyasa Flow, and is committed to a life of growth, exploration, and study.