Instructors
Our Instructors
Jacqui Vernon, E-YRT, ESQ.
Owner/InstructorJacqui Vernon is the founder and director of YogaSpa, Westchester’s premier hot yoga studio located in Elmsford, New York and four-time winner of Westchester Magazine’s “Best Yoga Studio” award.. A Yoga Alliance Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT), Jacqui has combined her study with some of the nation’s leading yoga teachers and her many years of fitness training to create and offer a full spectrum of yoga disciplines and styles, including her signature Flow31, SlowBurn and BootCamp Yoga classes, all within the hot yoga lineage. Jacqui's personalized, hands-on teaching style, reflects her background in the study of anatomy and postural alignment, which guides her students to achieve their optimal experience in the yoga postures and allows them to enjoy their practice as a vehicle of personal transformation. Coming to yoga during her career as a biotechnical patent litigator for a prestigious law firm in New York City, Jacqui's keen understanding and passionate appreciation for yoga’s healing power, has garnered a large and devoted following for her in-studio classes, one-on-one private and semi-private trainings, regional master classes, and international yoga retreats and international Teacher Training Programs and was honored to teach at Wanderlust Festival in Stratton Vermont. Jacqui's corporate clients include YWCA of White Plains, Solar City, Bright Horizons Family Solutions as well as a host of corporate and sports private clients including former NBA Players, Medical Doctors and Television Executives. Having dedicated her studio, founded in 2001, to the memory of her mother, Jacqui has served as a founding member of the board of directors and organized fund-raisers for the Cancer Support Network, an organization that is committed to bringing yoga and other complementary healing modalities to cancer patients, their families and caregivers.
Ani
InstructorSome seventeen years back as a college student Ani discovered yoga, working behind the desk at the then Santa Monica Dance and Exercise. After moving to New York to work as a reporter, she studied more extensively, beginning to better appreciate the many dimensions physical yoga offers. Drawn, in particular, to the power of joining the breath, movement and attention, in 1999 she made a pilgrimage to study Asthanga Yoga in Mysore, South India with K Pattahbi Jois. Since then, she has explored other styles and become a Certified Yoga Teacher. She received her teacher training under Govinda Kai, David Hollander and Michael Gilbert. And, furthered her training with Yoga Works, completing their Teacher Intensive. She is also certified in Baby Om yoga. She has taught at the Westside Yoga Works in the city, New York Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Be Yoga. Her eclectic teaching style draws from the lineages of TKV Desikichar, B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois, focusing on correct alignment, use of the breath and flow. She feels fortunate to be able to pass on the life-giving practice of yoga.
Renee
InstructorRenee took up yoga after watching Madonna in 'The Next Best Thing' in 2000. After realizing this 42 year-old woman was able to put her leg behind her head and still be peaceful and content, Renee was hooked. Being 35 and unable to bring her fingertips to the floor, a change had to be made. In 2003 she was surfing the internet and came across an article on Bikram yoga. YogaSpa in Elmsford was close by and the rest is history. If you're looking for an Un-orthodox Bikram or Vinyasa style class with eclectic musical selections, give Renee a try.
Keith
InstructorAfter working in advertising and noticing it wasn't lacking in the stress department, Keith took his first class of Yoga in 1998. Truly enjoying every aspect of where different teachers and practices took him, he expanded his practice. Then in 2004, a diabetes diagnosis forced another deep look internally and he became even more in touch with his own physiology and ultimately his center. He decided to become involved with the Greenwich Triathlon Club taking his physical training to a new level. Since this led to tightening up every muscle he knew and some new ones, he again went deeper into yoga. In trying to find balance between stretching and training, he contemplated the deeper aspects of yoga. In an effort to get the Mind, Body & Soul in tune, he had an epiphany to do what he truly loved, Teach Yoga and still pursue Design. The answer was to keep his graphic design studio kGraphics and to get certified as a yoga instructor thus bring his love of exercise and holistic living to the everyone he knew.
Jhon-Harvey
InstructorJhon-Harvey Taborda-Gomez has been a yoga practitioner since 1986. Having had yoga as an integral part of his martial art practice. He traveled extensively looking for growth in his martial arts. Lived in Korea and Japan, where he studied and dedicated time to his craft. Yoga always taking a back seat to the fighting arts. It wasn't till a car accident that broke his neck, that he found his way back to Yoga. The practice nurtured his body back to health and allowed his mind to accept the state his fragile body was in. Humbled by the experience, he has dedicated himself to pass the knowledge entrusted to him by all of his wonderful teachers. Knowing well that "knowledge lies in the understanding of details, since the number of details is infinite, one will always have an imperfect knowledge. "Come in and experience Jhon's knowledgeable, wise and introspective guidance as well as his serene and reverent personality.
Keith
InstructorAfter working in advertising and noticing it wasn't lacking in the stress department, Keith took his first class of Yoga in 1998. Truly enjoying every aspect of where different teachers and practices took him, he expanded his practice. Then in 2004, a diabetes diagnosis forced another deep look internally and he became even more in touch with his own physiology and ultimately his center. He decided to become involved with the Greenwich Triathlon Club taking his physical training to a new level. Since this led to tightening up every muscle he knew and some new ones, he again went deeper into yoga. In trying to find balance between stretching and training, he contemplated the deeper aspects of yoga. In an effort to get the Mind, Body & Soul in tune, he had an epiphany to do what he truly loved, Teach Yoga and still pursue Design. The answer was to keep his graphic design studio kGraphics and to get certified as a yoga instructor thus bring his love of exercise and holistic living to the everyone he knew.
Helene
InstructorBio being written.
Renee
InstructorRenee took up yoga after watching Madonna in 'The Next Best Thing' in 2000. After realizing this 42 year-old woman was able to put her leg behind her head and still be peaceful and content, Renee was hooked. Being 35 and unable to bring her fingertips to the floor, a change had to be made. In 2003 she was surfing the internet and came across an article on Bikram yoga. YogaSpa in Elmsford was close by and the rest is history. If you're looking for an Un-orthodox Bikram or Vinyasa style class with eclectic musical selections, give Renee a try.
Sinda Anzovino, E-RYT, CATYMT, BEST OF WESTCHESTER YOGA TEACHER 2015, 2014 & 2013 (WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE)
InstructorSinda began teaching VinyasaYoga in 2000. She is certified to teach, prenatal and postnatal yoga, kids yoga, including kids with special needs. She is also a certified Thai Yoga Massage Therapist with advanced training in that field. Sinda has designed and taught a 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Program recognized by Yoga Alliance as well as a teacher training programs for Kids Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Toddler & Me Yoga and Mommy & Me Yoga. In 2005 SINDA opened YOGA JOURNEY, Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance, where she ran with a full schedule of daily classes, monthly workshops, teacher trainings and special events. Yoga Journey hosted Doug Swenson, Journey Dance, Wah!, Girish, Yoga Teachers Association & David Swenson The doors closed to this beautiful space in 2009. Sinda is thrilled to join the talented staff of teachers at YogaSpa, Westchester’s longest running and dynamic hot yoga studio. Come in and experience this precious gem as the newest member of our YogaSpa family.
Our Substitute Instructors
Keith Conover
InstructorAfter working in advertising and noticing it wasn't lacking in the stress department, Keith took his first class of Yoga in 1998. Truly enjoying every aspect of where different teachers and practices took him, he expanded his practice. Then in 2004, a diabetes diagnosis forced another deep look internally and he became even more in touch with his own physiology and ultimately his center. He decided to become involved with the Greenwich Triathlon Club taking his physical training to a new level. Since this led to tightening up every muscle he knew and some new ones, he again went deeper into yoga. In trying to find balance between stretching and training, he contemplated the deeper aspects of yoga. In an effort to get the Mind, Body & Soul in tune, he had an epiphany to do what he truly loved, Teach Yoga and still pursue Design. The answer was to keep his graphic design studio kGraphics and to get certified as a yoga instructor thus bring his love of exercise and holistic living to the everyone he knew.
Leslie
InstructorLeslie comes to us with extensive knowledge from personal and professional experience. She often travels back and forth from Florida where she studies with Jimmy Barkan.