The Yoga Loft

Dee, E-RYT-200 -YACEP has been practicing yoga for more than 18 years and has been on a spiritual journey for many years. She is a certified Reiki III Practitioner and a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance having completed her 240 hour Yoga Teacher Training. Dee has also received her 150 hours Healing Hearts through Yoga Certification which is a unique program at Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital. This program enabled her to work in the cardiac care unit bringing meditation and breath work to the patients who were waiting for heart procedures. This program was also offered to each patient's family as well. Bringing breath work and relaxation to a patient in the hospital changes your life forever. Dee has also completed several additional training courses with Yoga Life Society and is a Certified Spiritual Life Coach and certified Essential Oil Specialist with doTerra. Teaching from the heart, Dee brings a sense of compassion and peace as she shares the gift of yoga. Dee is also an avid quilter whose passion for fabric is only surpassed by her love of yoga.

Tara Mika began studying holistic health due to burnout in the healthcare industry, and became a Reiki Master at Eyes of Grace in 2015. In 2017 she became a registered 200 hour yoga teacher, having completed her teaching training at Shore Point Yoga. Tara is a musician and singer and in her spare time she enjoys knitting and hanging out with her husband, family, friends and her cat, Endora.

Monica Jagadamba Devine’s journey into yoga began in the early 70’s, discovering the joy of putting together postures with her friends. Once she graduated high school she bounced around for years to different studios, classes and programs until landing at Freehold Yoga Center in early 1990 a Sivananda Center, where she ultimately called home. She completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2012, 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Gail Cristelli of Yoga Flow at Freehold Yoga Center in 2015. Monica has completed many courses and classes and among her favorites are teaching Beginners and Children and well as building strength and balance for all populations. Monica believes that Yoga is where you will find what you’re looking for, no matter what that is.

Michele (RYT200) began her yogic path later in life, and knew from her first experience that yoga was calling her to live her best life through a mind/body/spiritual practice. Her desire to advance her personal practice convinced her to pursue her Teaching Certification. She is a Prana Yoga graduate of the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health, where she received her training from Dr. Jeff Migdow, Program Director. Michele is also a Wellness Coach for WW, and believes that it’s never too late to honor and care for your body. Michele attributes her love of yoga to the amazing instructors she has studied under, who encouraged, guided, and supported her. In Michele’s classes she will guide you through centering and gentle warm-ups, to prepare your body for Asanas, where you will use Pranayama to engage your 7 major Chakras, moving energy from Mother Earth to the Heavens and back down again. Combined with meditation and relaxation, her classes are a wonderful experience filled with patience, support, light and love.

Elena, found yoga over a decade ago after suffering from a serious heart infection that left her with debilitating anxiety. After working in the healthcare industry, first as an Emergency and Surgical Veterinary Technician, and then as a Pharmaceutical Scientist for over twenty years, she followed her calling and completed her Yoga Teacher Certification in 2018 at EvenFlow Yoga in Red Bank, and her Reiki Master Training under Sister Maureen Conroy at The Upper Room Spiritual Center. Along with Yoga, Reiki is Elena’s true passion and she works with cancer patients, trauma survivors as well as volunteering Reiki treatments at hospitals for patients and healthcare workers. Elena is also a certified Reflexologist and Animal Reiki Practitioner. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks with her dogs, enjoying nature and reading and meditating.

Daniele received her 200-hour RYT in 2017 with Soul Power Yoga. Daniele has been practicing yoga since 2009 and fell in love with how the practice made her feel physically, mentally and spiritually. Daniele's favorite class to take is Yin yoga and she enjoys teaching restorative and basic hatha classes. During her free time, Daniele reads suspense novels, takes long walks along the Manasquan Reservoir spends quality time with her husband Nolan, dog Roman and her family! She is very grateful to be part of The Yoga Loft community.

Karin (ERYT-500, CMMT, YACEP, CPT) is a certified yoga teacher, mindfulness meditation teacher and osteoporosis strength coach. She has been teaching somatic yoga and meditation since 2008. She took her first yoga class over 25 years ago seeking relief from low back and neck pain. Karin found not only relief from pain, but a transformative practice that continues to positively impact every aspect of her life. In her classes, Karin celebrates the individuality of each student and strives to make classes unique, fun and empowering. She creates a warm, nonjudgmental sense of community where students are free to explore and challenge themselves. Karin takes an innovative approach to teaching, encouraging a sense of playfulness and curiosity so each student can determine for themselves what feels best.

Angie is a passionate and vibrant yoga instructor that has been practicing for over 25 years. Her initial love for meditation and using this tool for personal healing increasing mental clarity and wellness led her to the Asana practice, as we call it, or the physical practice of Yoga. She found peace and appreciation for this beautiful practice and chose to begin teacher training in 2016. She wanted to share her experience and guide others to fall in love with their yoga and meditation as well. Angie is eager to guide you as a brand new student or well-practiced yogi. Her goal is for you, the student, to leave each class with a feeling of personal confidence, proud of their efforts and gratitude for just showing up on their mats.

Melissa, RYT-200, Yoga Alliance, has been practicing yoga for the past 19 years and actively practicing 18 of those years here at the Jersey Shore. The community support and connections she has made throughout her yoga practice has encouraged her to further her practice into teaching yoga. Whether her class is focused on dropping in on a restorative practice or helping people connect their breath with movement in a vinyasa practice; Melissa’s classes offer creative sequences emphasizing the importance of mind and body connection, proper alignment, pranayama breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation.. She has found inner peace, strength and balance through her practice on the mat which has transformed into a life providing calming breath, happy heart and feeling of ease. It is Melissa’s hope to unleash your inner strength and “Sukha” (happiness) as you move your mind, body and breath on the mat.

Jenn, Since taking her first yoga class, Jenn knew that yoga would always be a constant in her life. After years of deepening her own personal practice, Jenn completed her 200 hour teacher training with a passion for connection, her goal is to make everyone feel welcome-not only in her classes but also within themselves. In her free time, Jenn loves spending time with her family, including her 2 cats Bella & Rambo, reading and road-tripping. She's very grateful to be a part of The Yoga Loft community and cannot wait to take this amazing journey.