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.
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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.
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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
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M.A. in Wellness and Lifestyle Management
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B.A. in Communications and International Studies
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A.A.S. in Pre-Nursing
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200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2017
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300-Hour Advanced YTT - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2019
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Art of Assisting
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Evoke Yin Yoga Training - 2019
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30-Hour Kids Yoga Certification
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30-Hour Prenatal Yoga Certification
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.
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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.
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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
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Bachelor in Marketing Management
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Health & Wellness Coaching Certificate – Institute of Integrative Nutrition
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200hr YTT Certification – Heart & Grit Yoga, 2020
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100hr Advanced Teacher Immersion Course - Heart & Grit Yoga, 2020
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330hr YTT Advanced Leadership & Yoga Training– Certified in Functional Yoga, Hatha, Yin, Guided Meditation – Heart & Grit, 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
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Yoga Instructor Certification – Heart & Grit School of Yoga 2025
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Mommy and Me FitCore Certification – Fitness 4U Moms, 2019
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Instructional Substitute Certification – 2024
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Arcadia University, Glenside, PA – BFA in Studio Arts, 2007
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.
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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.
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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.
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And one fun fact about me? I was born in Munich, Germany, and still have family there!
Credentials & Education
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Certified Yoga Instructor - 2024
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Mastering Functional Yoga Advanced Training, 2024–25
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Heart & Grit Yoga Internship 2025
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Nursing BSN - Rutgers University
