Kayla
I first discovered yoga as a teenager to complement my cheer and performing arts training, using it to build flexibility and fitness. At the time it felt like a tool for performance, but it quickly became so much more.
Yoga supported me through college stress, balancing multiple workloads, and even periods of unexpected unemployment. Now it’s what keeps me strong while helping me stay (mostly!) calm and present as a parent.
​
I’ve always loved helping people grow, so teaching came naturally to me. While working on my master’s in Wellness and Lifestyle Management, I realized yoga was the perfect complement to my studies and a tool I could carry into any career path.
A turning point in my yoga journey came when I discovered yin. For years, I was all about vinyasa—I loved the movement, flow, and physicality that felt like a dance. But yin showed me how much I needed to slow down, not just in yoga but in life. That experience of deep calm and presence shifted me completely, and it’s now my favorite practice to teach. I love helping students find moments of peace and balance in the middle of life’s chaos.
​
I’d describe my teaching style as light, easeful, and welcoming. I connect most with Heart & Grit’s values of being real and resilient, because authenticity matters to me. To me, “Heart” means leading with kindness and compassion, and “Grit” means encouraging people to work through challenges while honoring where they are. My biggest hope is that people leave class carrying calm, confidence, and a sense of possibility into their daily lives.
Credentials & Education
-
M.A. in Wellness and Lifestyle Management
-
B.A. in Communications and International Studies
-
A.A.S. in Pre-Nursing
-
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2017
-
300-Hour Advanced YTT - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2019
-
Art of Assisting
-
Evoke Yin Yoga Training - 2019
-
30-Hour Kids Yoga Certification
-
30-Hour Prenatal Yoga Certification
LezLee Ann
I discovered yoga in 2019 and immediately felt a deep sense of relief and ease. What started as a practice quickly grew into something more, the philosophies and teachings became the foundation of my self-care and a guide for how I live my life.
​
My teaching style is intentional, goofy, and real. I believe yoga doesn’t have to look a certain way to be meaningful, and I love creating space where people can show up exactly as they are.
If I could leave my people with one takeaway, it would be this: the practice of yoga isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. What you discover on the mat can ripple out into every area of your life.
Credentials & Education
-
200hr Yoga Teacher Training, 2022
-
50hr Mastering Functional Yoga - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2025
-
50hr Meditation Teacher Training - 2022
-
72hr Permaculture Design Certified -2021
-
Bachelor of Social Work - Stockton College - 2026
Renita
I first discovered yoga on my 30th birthday as a gift to myself. At the time, I just wanted to try something new. I kept coming back because I loved the physical practice. However, as my practice became more consistent, it began to change my life in ways I never expected.
​
I knew I wanted to teach after a class I had with Gina Ward. I happened to be the only one in class so Gina practiced with me. After we practiced, we talked for a while and I began to share what I loved about yoga. Gina asked if I had ever considered teaching which I had but I always found reasons to hold myself back. Our conversation encouraged me to invest in myself, release my reservations, and lean into possibility, and that’s what set me on the path to teaching.
My teaching style is fun, challenging, and empowering. I want people to feel supported while also being encouraged to grow stronger and more confident in themselves. To me, being part of Heart & Grit means living by the values of being real and resilient. I’ve learned the gift of being true to myself, giving myself grace, and embracing my imperfections. “Heart” reminds me to lead with love and compassion and hold space for others, while “Grit” is the commitment to keep showing up, for myself, for those I teach, and for the practice, even when it’s not easy.
​
As someone who grew up as an introver, terrified of public speaking, yoga has given me the courage to step into spaces I never thought possible. My hope is that people leave class remembering one thing: comparison kills. Who you are, as you are, where you are — is already perfect.
Credentials & Education
-
Bachelor in Marketing Management
-
Health & Wellness Coaching Certificate – Institute of Integrative Nutrition
-
200hr YTT Certification – Heart & Grit Yoga, 2020
-
100hr Advanced Teacher Immersion Course - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2020
-
330hr YTT Advanced Leadership & Yoga Training– Certified in Functional Yoga, Hatha, Yin, Guided Meditation – Heart & Grit, 2025
Becca
I first discovered yoga after a lifetime of movement, 10+ years of ballet followed by decades of running, lifting, swimming, aerobics, and kickboxing. While those activities were satisfying for a time, they never held my attention the way dance did. I had always been curious about yoga, but the first time I tried it—hot yoga, on a cheap mat that made me slip around—it was a disaster, and I didn’t go back for years. Then, years later, a friend invited me to try a class at her studio. I was hesitant, four kids, no “typical” yoga body, but once I stepped on the mat, I was hooked. That hour in class, my mind finally quieted; I wasn’t thinking about to-do lists, kids, or work, I was just there. For the first time in forever, yoga gave me presence, challenge, and calm all at once.
My journey to teaching started as a way to deepen my own practice, particularly during COVID when the world felt overwhelming. My first yoga teacher training was about personal growth, not teaching, and my early teaching experiences were brief and hesitant. Yet, the more I practiced, the more I realized that yoga had given me so much, and if I could share even a little of that with others, it would be worth it.
​
A defining moment in my practice, and the way I approach teaching, came from my commitment to safety and functional movement. Early on, I injured my arm attempting a balancing pose, and it made me deeply aware of the importance of moving intentionally and safely. I want every person to leave class feeling capable, confident, and cared for.
​
My teaching style is still evolving, but at its core, it is kind, compassionate, and grounded in real-life functionality. For me, “Heart” is the kindness, love, and compassion we bring to the shared journey of life. “Grit” is showing up and doing the work, even when life is messy and unpredictable. My hope is that people take their yoga lessons off the mat, to slow down, take a breath, and find something to enjoy in the present moment.
​
Outside the studio, I’ve lived on three continents and one island nation, and I continue to explore the world and life with curiosity and wonder.
Credentials & Education
-
BS Biology, minors in Environmental Planning & Marine Biology
-
BSN, Nursing
-
MSN, Certified Nurse Midwife & Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified
-
200hr Yoga Certification – 2021
-
330hr Yoga Certification in Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin & Meditation - 2025
Dawn
My yoga journey began in 2003 at LA Fitness, where I took my first yoga class to support my high school track training. It didn’t take long for yoga to become more than just cross-training—it was fun, it felt good, and it gave my mind a sense of calm I couldn’t find anywhere else.
After finishing college, I made a list of dream jobs and “yoga teacher” was right there near the top. Years later, I found Heart & Grit Yoga, where one pivotal moment, learning about how shearing my SI joint was affecting my movement, shifted the way I approached my practice and now my teaching.
My teaching style is structured, focused, and strong, grounded in Heart & Grit’s core value of science-based movement. I believe yoga works best when it’s both informed by research and personalized for the person in front of me. For me, “Heart” is about connection through love and compassion, and “Grit” is about showing up, putting in the work, and always striving to get better.
My hope is that people leave class knowing one thing: you can do hard things, both on and off the mat.
Fun fact - I once held my high school’s record for the high jump.
Credentials & Education
-
Yoga Instructor Certification – Heart & Grit School of Yoga 2025
-
Mommy and Me FitCore Certification – Fitness 4U Moms, 2019
-
Instructional Substitute Certification – 2024
-
Arcadia University, Glenside, PA – BFA in Studio Arts, 2007
OUR INTERNS
Michele
I first discovered yoga as an active recovery workout to balance my high-intensity and weightlifting routines. At first, it was simply a way to give my body a break, but something deeper kept calling me back, a quiet knowing that yoga had more to offer than I was letting myself originally experience.
​
My journey to teaching began as part of a personal transformation quest. I signed up for a 200-hour yoga teacher training with no intention of teaching, yet along the way, I fell completely in love with the practice. Inspired by the lessons that yoga taught me, I felt a strong pull to share them with others.
​
A defining moment in my teaching came from the heartfelt feedback of clients in her gentle slow flow classes. Seeing how intentional movement and a slower pace impacted their bodies, minds, and confidence gave me a new appreciation for understanding body mechanics and celebrating small wins.
​
My teaching style is curious, open-minded, and playful. I am a strong advocate for community wellness, and I thrive on building meaningful connections with people who take my classes. For me, “Heart” is your purpose, your life force, and the why behind showing up; “Grit” is the commitment to keep showing up, with accountability to yourself and those around you. My biggest hope is that people leave class ready to be students of life, to thrive, not just survive.
​
Outside the studio, I have a deep passion for service, especially causes supporting military veterans. I am incredibly proud that both my daughter and son serve as officers in the NJ Army National Guard.
Credentials & Education
-
Registered Nurse (RN)
-
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
-
Master of Science in Complementary & Integrative Health (MSCIH)
-
200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher – Ayurvedic Yoga
-
Level 1 Thai Bodywork
Colleen
I first discovered yoga more than 30 years ago during my undergraduate Exercise Science program, and it’s been a constant in my life ever since. Yoga has supported me through every major stage of life, but it wasn’t until recently that I knew I was truly ready to teach. After a health scare led me to choose a prophylactic double mastectomy, yoga became my anchor, preparing my body before surgery and helping me recover afterward. That experience gave me the confidence and calling to share yoga with others, so they too can feel strong, resilient, and ready for whatever life brings.
​
Having gone through a life-changing surgery, I see every healthy day as a gift, and I want people who take my classes to feel that same gratitude and empowerment in their practice. My teaching style is genuine, curious, and playful, and I love reminding people that movement is meant to support their daily lives, not just exist on the mat. That’s why Heart & Grit’s core value of Movement That Makes Sense resonates so deeply with me, it’s what first drew me in to practice and what continues to inspire me as a teacher.
​
For me, “Heart” means meeting each person where they are, honoring them as individuals, and creating a space where they feel seen and supported. “Grit” means encouraging them to take on the “just-right challenge”—pushing enough to grow, without losing the joy of the journey.
When I’m not teaching yoga, I’ve spent 25 years working as a pediatric occupational therapist at Voorhees Pediatric Facility. At home, I’m happily kept on my toes by my one-year-old Cockapoo, Tucker.
Credentials & Education
-
M.S., Occupational Therapy – Towson University, 2002
-
B.S., Exercise Science – Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, 1998
-
Yoga College, Heart & Grit Yoga, 2025
-
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training & SEL Facilitator Certification, Breathe for Change, 2022
-
Reiki Level I & II Recertification, AOTA –2025
-
BLS Provider, American Heart Association –2023
-
Reiki Level I, II & Master Training, Healing From Within – 2004-2008
-
Sensory Integration Certification (SIPT), USC/WPS – 2006
-
Neuro Developmental Treatment Certification, NDTA – 2006
-
Cranial Sacral Therapy 1, Upledger Institute – 2005
Elisa
I first discovered yoga while on vacation. There was a 6 a.m. class that no one else in my group wanted to take, so I decided to give it a try. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I’ll never forget how good my body felt afterward. From those first few classes, I was hooked.
​
At first, yoga was just something that made me feel better in my body, but over time I began to notice how much it helped me navigate the stress of daily life. I didn’t decide to pursue teaching until recently, but I’ve been so inspired by my own teachers that I thought, how amazing would it be to be part of that for someone else?
​
The Heart & Grit core value that resonates most with me is community wellness. I’m a nurse by day, and I’ve always believed in the power of wellness to change lives. Yoga is such a beautiful way to strengthen not only ourselves individually, but also to share energy, support, and connection when we come together in a room.
​
For me, “Heart” means practicing self-love, compassion, and kindness, and my hope as a teacher is to help others discover and nurture those qualities in themselves. “Grit,” on the other hand, is about showing up to do the work, even when it’s uncomfortable. Building strength, leaning into challenge, and being able to reflect on your progress is powerful, and it’s something I carry into both my nursing career and my yoga teaching.
​
If I could leave people with one takeaway to carry off the mat, it’s that yoga can help you create a deeper mind-body connection. Just the act of practicing—even when it’s imperfect—can bring more calm and clarity into the chaos of everyday life.
And one fun fact about me? I was born in Munich, Germany, and still have family there!
Credentials & Education
-
Yoga Teacher Training – Lavender Koi, 2024
-
Mastering Functional Yoga Advanced Training, 2024–25
-
Bachelor’s of Nursing, Rutgers 2014
