Yoga Instructor Biographies

At Grayhawk Yoga we take pride in having a warm and friendly team that welcomes all who want to share in the experience of Yoga with us.

All of our teachers are Yoga Alliance RYTs with certification of 200-hours or more in yoga instruction and teaching. Their knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication are evident in every class. We encourage all our instructors to be themselves and let their personal beauty inspire.  Since different teachers bring a little something different to each class, you will experience a varitey of personalities, music, instruction, and individuality; we encourage you to experience all of our various classes and instructors.  

Jenni Fleming

Owner / Creator

With a background in sports and fitness and a love for human movement Jenni embraces the practice of yoga with on open mind and a humble heart. Currently working on 500 hour RYT with Dave Oliver and Cheryl Hall, advanced training in the hot yoga system by the legendary Cintra Brown and Sumit Banerjee, and certified Yoga For Golfers instructor from nationally recognized yogi Katherine Roberts, Jenni has been given the opportunity to pass along the yoga systems as she has learned it, from the masters. Having practiced yoga for many years, and lots of self-study, her instruction is detail orientated and safety focused.  Her class is a challenge of mental and physical boundaries with a mix of dry humor, inspirational words, and eclectic music.

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." Confucius

Jessica Tanner

Owner / Director

Jessica was first entice into the world of yoga by Bikram Yoga studio owner and teacher Sumit Banjeree, with the promise of a "good sweat."  Like many others, Jessica had always envisioned yoga as a more meditative experience, but she could not have been more wrong.  As a self professed "health & fitness junkie" she was immediately drawn to the physical aspect of yoga and began practicing Bikram Yoga regularly; little did she know it would become SO MUCH MORE!

"The inspiration for my vinyasa flow classes comes from all of the wonderful teachers I have studied and practiced with; in particular Alex Austin, Sumit Banerjee, Alicia Beale, Jason Crandell, Bryan Kest, Cheryl and Dave Oliver, Katherine Roberts, and John Salisbury."  Jessica believes that all you need is an open heart and mind to embark on the beautiful journey of yoga and self-discovery.  She encourages all of her students to never give up both on and off the mat.  Jessica is a 200-hr RYT working towards her 500-hr RYT and is certified in Katherine Roberts Yoga for Golfers. 

"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." Emily Dickinson

Alicia Beale

Growing up, Alicia began practicing yoga with Rodney Yee's home videos. Years later, when immersed in a management career in IT, she stopped & tried a hot yoga class from Sumit Banerjee, & instantly resonated with the practice of breathing, sweating, & being. Alicia has continued to grow her practice, studying with a variety of teachers including Eddie Modestini, Nicki Doane, Rod Stryker, & Matthew Sweeney as well as At One's Jenn Chiarelli, Cheryl Hall & John Salsbury.

Alicia's classes are a fusion of what she loves & what she's learned from the traditions of Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, & Tantra. Her classes are demanding & healing, emphasizing that learning to love others begins first by learning how to accept & nourish yourself. From this self-acceptance comes a Yes to Life, - as Dag Hammarskjold said, "At some moment I did answer Yes to Someone, or Something - and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful & that, therefore, my life, in self-surrender, had a goal."

Julie Blew

Julie Blew has been a daily practitioner of yoga since 2003.  For a year in solitude, then making her way into the studio…6 months later she was teaching.  Following in the footsteps of her first teacher Bryan Kest, sharing her journey with others…sharing this way of life, this ride, is what drives her teaching.  Trained in ashtanga yoga…and influenced by many, her classes are filled with powerful flows, music, and a place to truly release, to surrender, to breathe, and to be…. knowing that a quiet mind, an open heart, and deep breath can be all you need. www.iloveomshantiyoga.com

"When the power of love, overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace."  Jimi Hendrix

Mari Carli

With too little precious time, every moment of life should be enjoyable.  Yoga, with its  unlimited benefits, should be fun!  Mari considers this light hearted approach the way of the modern yogi. In order to make the most of every day we're given, we should offer the very best of ourselves to the world, and Mari sees yoga as a key component to a harmonious lifestyle.  Blending multi-level vinyasa sequences with a playlist of upbeat, modern tunes, she leads a well rounded class that will challenge you while helping your practice blossom.

Since beginning her yoga practice in 2001, Mari has completed her 200-hour level yoga teacher training with John Salisbury and Alex Austin.  She continues to learn from and be inspired by the many amazing teachers she practices with every day.  Every day and every practice is another opportunity to evolve.

Jeanene Farley

Guest/Substitute Instructor:  Jeanene or as the children refer to her “Yogini Jeanie," is a pioneer in the creation and development of unique children’s physical programs. She has branded her own refreshing and creative style of teaching in the field of gymnatics, dance, swim and P.E. programs for thousands of children for over the last 18 years.

She then decided to obtain her yoga certification and continue her work with children and teach adults yoga as well. Having her own yoga practice based in asana and Kundalini yoga, Jeanene enjoys teaching a variety of styles of yoga for adults. She brings themes with thoughtfully chosen music and readings to each of her classes in order to provide a loving space for each loving soul to experience deep relaxation, peace and experience their own divinity.

BJ Galvan

Guest Instructor: B.J., a Certified Anusara Yoga® Instructor, has been blessed with the opportunity to travel the U.S., Australia, and Europe, studying with,apprenticing, and assisting master yoga teacher and founder of Anusara Yoga, John Friend.  She currently teaches workshops and trainings nationally and internationally.  Contagiously uplifting and passionate about the practice, B.J. will guide and assist you to transform, healand awaken a full expression of divine beauty and goodness from the inside out, on and off the mat. www.bjgalvan.com

Lisa Groves

Guest/Substitute Instructor:  It’s funny how working as a trial attorney can make a girl competitive. After practicing law in the Midwest for over a decade, Lisa took her first yoga class in 2005 hoping to improve both her posture and overall courtroom fabulosity. As it turned out, in an uninvited but divine little paradox, that first class was the end of her legal career.

Within six months she had retired, moved to the desert, completing her 200 hour teacher training in 2007. Described by her students as reverent but not religious, Lisa often integrates pranayama, hand mudras, aromatherapy and guided meditation into her Yin classes. When recently asked by her uber-corporate friends why she walked away from it all, Lisa replied “My yoga mat is the only 72 inches on this planet where I am completely honest.”  Case closed.

“Control is an illusion. Now, get on with your life.”

John Jaksich

John’s first experiences with yoga were around 1996.  He came to yoga at that time primarily for the spirituality.  In 2002 John had back surgery after which he came to the mat in earnest and soon fell in love with the physical component of yoga as well. In 2006 he felt called to share his yoga practice and completed his teacher training at Chicago Yoga Center.  John has extensive training in both the Iyengar and the Ashtanga yoga styles.  He has also studied with numerous national known teachers including Jason Crandell, David Swenson, Sienna Sherman & others.  John has been teaching continuously since 2006; at times as many as fifteen classes a week.  Prior to John’s recent relocation to the Phoenix area he founded and managed Sanctuary Yoga in Highwood, IL.  Today John’s asana practice is an eclectic form of vinyasa flow and is quite vigorous.  As a teacher he mixes physicality with soulfulness to create an experience that leaves students spiritually centered, as well as physically cleansed and strong.  John believes that the greatest teachers lie within, so if he were to have only one goal with his students it would to help them discover their own body as teacher.  “If you can move from ‘doing’ the pose, to feeling the pose, to discovering the pose, then perhaps in time you might also more fully discover yourselves.”  For more info see John’s Web site: www.prayeryoga.com

"What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within us out into the world, miracles happen." Emerson

Lise Klein

A former marathon runner, Lise was looking for a way to gain flexibility in her body and mind.  So, several years ago when her daughter wanted to try yoga, Lise decided to go with her.  That began a journey into yoga that would lead to teacher training to gain more knowledge and further her own practice.  With her nurturing, loving,warm and bubbly personality, her students feel the freedom to find their own practice.  She is grateful for the many teachers who have inspired and influenced her over the course of her life.  A special thanks and much love to her wonderful husband and children for always being there to offer support, encouragement and love.  With peace....

Samantha Lang  

Kate Makaroff

Katie began practicing Hatha Yoga 6 years ago while living in Michigan. She remembers how her grandmother always encouraged her to breathe calmly whenever she was feeling anxious or upset and found the advice inspirational as she began her yoga journey.  Katie trained at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts under the guidance of Mary Bruce, a certified Anusara Para Yoga instructor. Her classes offer a dynamic practice that embodies asanas from different schools of yoga in a unique and tailored way. As a student of yoga, Katie continues learning new ways to teach. She encourages students to connect with their breath, to explore and love their own beautiful practice.

Krysia Maciuszko

Krysia discovered yoga at One to One, in Cleveland, Ohio thanks to her teacher, and good friend Deanna Black in the year 2000. While working as a Registered Nurse in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit, she found yoga to be a great escape from the hectic and stressful environment of a level 1 trauma center hospital. After moving from Cleveland , she continued her practice, at "It's Yoga" in Cincinnati , a Larry Schultz-inspired ashtanga yoga studio. However, it wasn't until her move to Scottsdale , Arizona that Krysia became inspired to become a yoga teacher.

With a heartfelt message in every class, Krysia encourages her students to let go, surrender, and create a positive vibration in their body, mind, and spirit. As a result of supporting charities such as the Humane Society of the United States , Krysia encourages students to meditate for individual and universal peace. As you discover your true self and your true nature through yoga, you will connect with your inner compassion, love, and creativity. Come to sweat, smile, and blissfully set yourself free.  For more information about Krysia and her classes, check out her webpage www.krysiaenergy.com 

"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our mind."
Bob Marley

Ralph Miller, Jr.

Ralph has a background in health and fitness. While working at a fitness facility, he and his wife, Jennifer, took their first Yoga class together. Several months later, in December 1999, Ralph met his meditation teacher, at which time he was healed of an ongoing illness. That experience inspired him to understand more about himself, the mind, and the practice of Yoga and meditation. He's had the great fortune to study with a variety of teachers and styles, including the Iyengar style, focusing on the principles of alignment and structure, Anusara's heart centered approach to asana, and Ashtanga Yoga. While he draws upon these diverse experiences in his teaching, his classes are reflective in nature and emphasize listening to the body, deepening your relationship with your Self and using Hatha Yoga as a preparation for entering a deeper state of awareness within.

"Now is the time to know that all that you do is sacred... Now is the time for you to deeply compute the impossibility that there is anything but grace." Hafiz

Scott Page

Scott fancies himself a Renaissance man. He has diverse interests, and has had many interesting work opportunities. Scott served 4 years in the United States Marine Corp. He attained the rank of Sergeant, and spent his last 2 years as a Weapons Instructor. After that, Scott did everything from hot tar roofing, life insurance sales, professional floral design and calligraphy, to psychological counseling of dually diagnosed young adults in a Psychiatric Hospital. As an entrepreneur, Scott ran his own business for 10 years before moving to Arizona. Most recently, Scott has worked at Indian casinos as a professional Blackjack and Poker Dealer.
Scott's interests are varied. He spent 4 years as a volunteer First Aider as a certified EMT. He plays guitar, chants, meditates, reads spiritual and motivational literature, and writes poetry.
Scott was a latecomer to Yoga. After ten years as a Martial Arts student and instructor in the 1990's, and numerous injuries, including a torn Achilles tendon, Scott gave up Martial Arts, and began his Yoga journey. Scott began practicing astanga vinyasa yoga in the tradition of Sri K Pattabhi Jois.
Astanga vinyasa yoga is described as “a method in which a set series of poses is linked by vinyasa (flowing movement) and synchronized with the breath, which produces intense internal heat and purifying sweat.” Astanga classes are vigorous, and physically challenging.
Scott studied with Wendy Green while living on the East Coast. After moving to Scottsdale in 2003, Scott continued his astanga practice with Dave Oliver, a well respected yoga instructor. In early 2006, Scott committed himself to becoming a full time yoga instructor. He is certified through At One Yoga, and is a registered yoga teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance. Scott teaches in the North Scottsdale area in a variety of gyms and studios, and privately. His class offerings range from Gentle and Yin/Deep Stretch, to Flow and Power. Although he teaches, he continues to be a perpetual student always eager to learn about yoga and life. For more information on Scott visit his webpage:  www.scottpageazyoga.com

Celia Reed 

Guest/Substitute Instructor:  Celia started practicing yoga in 2003 to regain her balance after a serious illness.  She had no idea how taking off her socks and rolling out her mat would help her feel better, but miraculously, they did.  Over time, Celia began to understand that everything that happens on the mat, in the physical poses, translates to life off the mat.

In May 2008, she completed her 200-hour teacher training at At One Yoga and has been teaching ever since.  Her goal is to help her students transform through the practice, to find more space and openness in their bodies and minds, and to connect with the essence of who they are and realize their potential.

Celia teaches with compassion and humor, emphasizing the power of the breath.  When not practicing law or practicing yoga, Celia runs, reads, and hangs out with her friends and two Maine Coon cats, Oofer Rabbit and Barnum Bailey.

Katherine Roberts

Guest/Substitute Instructor:  Katherine Roberts is the Founder and President of Katherine Roberts Yoga for Golfers and The Roberts Flex-Fit Method.  Her unique approach to golf conditioning is a hybrid of Western biomechanical research and Eastern mind/body conditioning for performance, and herwork has been profiled in USA TODAY, Golf Magazine, Golf for Women, Golf Week, National Post, and US Airways Magazine.

As a fitness expert and a regular contributor for The Golf Channel, she currently appears on the television show The Turn and has previously appeared on The Big Break, Your Game Night, How Low Can you Go and GameON!  Katherine’s new golf fitness series, Swing Fault Solutions, will air on The Golf Channel in the winter of 2008 in both the international and domestic markets.

Katherine is the yoga expert for the San Diego Padres and has just completed her fourth year with the team.  Additionally, she currently serves at the yoga expert for Diet.com, the leading online provider for dieting and nutritional solutions.  Katherine is inher fifth year as a weekly contributor to TheGolfChannel.com

Linda Santopietro

Guest/Substitute Instructor:  With a BFA in graphic design and a love for the fine & performingarts, I see yoga as a true artform. I was introduced to yoga in 1997, while living in Boston, as a way to create some balance in my life.  I have been a devoted student since that very first class.  In 2003, aftermoving to Arizona, I received my teaching certification and was registered with Yoga Alliance. My training was based on Anusara yoga, and I'm grateful to my original teachers Jordan and Martin Kirk for their continued inspiration and commitment to the practice. Through the years, I have had the opportunity to practice and study with some amazing, accomplished instructors such as Erich Shiffman, Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea and Paul Grilley, in various disciplines of yoga including Vinyasa Flow, Power, Yin and Restorative.  My classes weave together avariety of ideas as I explain the alignment principals, emphasize the importance of the breath, reveal the richness of yoga philosophy with thoughtful readings and inspiring music, and always encourage my students to fully experience and enjoy the benefits and transformations yoga will provide.

"Ultimately we know deeply that on the other side of every fear is freedom."  Marilyn Ferguson

Steven Sorr

Originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Steven came to Arizona in 1999. He has attended ASU, Scottsdale Culinary Institute and has been in the restaurant business during his studies.  Throughout this time, Steven has been practicing Yoga, going deeper and deeper into his practice and spiritual growth.

After a back injury that left him incapable to do the things a regular teenager at the time could do, Steven sought out therapies to heal the injury.  Western medicine prescribed high doses of steroids and painkillers along with physical therapy. These were not working at all and were degrading everyday life and energy.  After seeking chiropractic care, yoga was recommended to help with recovery and strengthening back to health.  The body has an innate ability to heal itself and yoga allowed gentle movement to rehabilitate his spine and create a body stronger and more flexible than prior to the injury.  Yoga became a foundation of life for Steven.

Steven is registered with the Yoga Alliance after going through At One Yoga teacher training.  Now teaching, Steven shares all of his knowledgeand love to everyone else with focus on alignment principles, body mechanics and philosophy that can be applied to everyday life on and off the mat.

Patricia Vamos

Patricia found yoga in 1998, when she was attending a Women's Busines Leadership conference in LA.  After hearing Beryl Bender Birch and Judith Lasater talk about yoga, she arrived home to find a new studio had just opened thier doors 5 minutes from her home.  She was hooked, and on a the eve of her daughter's birth, she was asked to become a teacher! 

Since embarking on her journey, her influcences include Shiva Rea, Tim Miller, Dave Oliver, Lisa Cohen, Nicolai Bachman and Martin and Jordan Kirk.  Her experience with a modern dance company, a love for music of all genres, and passion for helping others, blend beautifully together to create a class that is unique and challening each time.  Her life is kept exciting by the enjoyment she finds in anything active and outdoors - snowboarding, skiing, hiking, climbing, surfing, golfing, cyclilng, and so much more.  Kali, her daughter, is the true love of her life. Her hope is that every student leaves her class feeling incredible. 

Natanya Washburn

Natanya is committed to honoring and responding to her students' individual desires to grow and deepen their own yoga practice.  She respects the unique experience of each student in the room and believes that her students are her greatest and most important teachers.  After years of practicing yoga in a variety of styles, it became clear that it was the only reliable source of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health for Natanya.  It was then that she chose to merge her service and professional background as a teacher with her yoga practice. Natanya's highest goal as a teacher is to share the abundance, freedom, and healing that can come from yoga. Her personal yoga practice is the source of her energy which she dedicates to her family and to helping those who seek a more peaceful and abundant life.
Natanya began practicing yoga in 1996 as part of her life journey which has also included being an elementary school teacher, a mother, a birth doula, an herbalist, and an Itsy Bitsy Yoga facilitator.  She completed her 200 hour training with At One Yoga and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.  She is grateful to currently be a student in the 500 hour Authentic Yoga Teacher Training program with her teachers Dave Oliver and Cheryl Oliver.  She is a native of Scottsdale, who has also lived in DC and upstate NY.  She expresses deepest gratitude to her teachers Carol Mitchell, Donna Helm-Yost, all the teachers at the Bikram Yoga College of India in Washington, D.C., Cathy Prescott in Albany, NY, Alex Austin, Carlos Santo, Gila Shire, John Salisbury, Jenn Chiarelli, Dave Oliver, and Cheryl Oliver.  "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." Rumi

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