Yoga Instructors

Candice Hennessey is a Maryland-based yoga teacher and studio owner with over a decade of experience guiding students on and off the mat. From the suburbs to the shoreline, she owns and operates two thriving yoga studios that reflect her deep commitment to community and connection—values at the heart of everything she creates. She invites students to explore how yoga can be woven into every aspect of life. Her teaching is grounded, accessible, and heart-centered, creating space for personal transformation and authentic connection at every level.

When she’s not creating something new for the studio, practicing or teaching yoga, you can find her spending time with her 3 daughters, husband, and 2 German Wire Hair Pointers. Aside from yoga, her favorite thing to do is rest and relax at her beach house, and decorate and reorganize her surroundings to suit a simpler and peaceful existence.

Jenn was initially drawn to yoga for the heat and sweat factor, seeing it as a perfect complement to her fitness routine of running, boot camp, and strength training. She began her yoga journey with Bikram classes in 2012, where she was encouraged to push her body to its limits. When Yoga Centric opened offering heated vinyasa in 2015, she quickly fell in love with the therapeutic benefits of this challenging yet mindful practice. Jenn discovered that supporting the parasympathetic system is as important as stretching and strengthening her muscles, and began incorporating more breath work and meditation into her personal practice.

An avid knowledge seeker, Jenn attended Yoga Centric’s second 200-hour YTT, graduating in January 2018, and has been teaching ever since. While she still gravitates toward a more fast-paced, energetic flow that sparked her own love of yoga, Jenn offers modifications for all levels and enjoys guiding students toward a harmonious balance of mental, spiritual, and physical fitness, enriching mind, body, and soul.

Off the mat, Jenn holds a senior leadership position in Strategy and Operations. She loves being in nature, hiking, jogging or walking her dogs, reading, and traveling with family and friends.

You can find Sam on the YC schedule teaching vinyasa, yin & restorative yogas! Sam has always been someone who needs to keep her body moving—whether through sports, horseback riding, hiking, or weight lifting, staying active has always been second nature. She’s long known that her life path would be rooted in physical expression.

Her passion for yoga began at a young age, and the transformation she experienced through consistent practice sparked something profound within her. Sam is drawn to the duality of yoga—the dance between movement and stillness, strength and surrender, effort and ease—both in the body and the mind. She believes there’s power in realizing that we are the keepers of our own well-being. Sam strives to hold space and guide others on their yoga journey, offering them the freedom to show up as they are, to just be, and to connect within. Her classes encourage students to feel deeply and organically, in the most nourishing way. Yoga is a practice—and it is never-ending.

Gloria is a dedicated yoga and aerial arts instructor with a deep passion for fostering safety, confidence, and mental well-being through movement. With a professional journey that bridges competitive athletics and mindful movement, Gloria brings over two decades of experience as both a successful coach and a compassionate teacher.

You can find Gloria teaching a number of the studio’s Aerial Yoga classes, including the children’s classes. She also has recently found a passion for Restorative Yoga and a deeper dive into working with and introducing yoga to the teen population.

Health and wellness have always been a passion for Nancy. Over her years of teaching, she has earned an ERYT 500, RPYT, Birth Doula certification, and Reiki Master certification. Currently, Nancy is focused on Yoga Therapy studies and hopes to add this to her resume in the near future. She believes that yoga is healing and that our bodies, minds, and hearts are capable of many wonderful things.

Nancy hopes to share a space for self-discovery and personal growth in her classes. Aside from yoga, you can find Nancy lifting weights, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Carrie attended my first yoga class about 20 years ago in a high school library. Since that time yoga has played a role in Carrie’s life – sometimes a small part, other times a much bigger part. On several occasions, she considered yoga teacher training as a way for her personal practice to grow, but not to actually be a teacher. In 2017, she finally pushed the button reserving her spot in Yoga Centric’s YTT. After graduating in January 2018, Carrie knew that she wanted to explore the idea of teaching restorative yoga.

After reluctantly attending her first private group restorative class for her friend’s birthday in 2016, she couldn’t deny her love for the practice. She knew that it was important to continue her mental state and physical relaxation. Shortly after her first class, Carrie attended a weekend-long restorative yoga training to learn more about the practice and then decided she was ready to teach. Carrie is always available to share her experiences with you and offer restorative as a method of yoga for everyone. Join her twice weekly for class and you’ll also wonder why it took you so long to find your way to the mat.

Samantha discovered yoga in 2015 and was immediately drawn to the powerful connection between mindful movement, breath, and inner awareness. What began as a way to build strength and flexibility evolved into a grounding, transformative practice—one that offered her deep clarity, healing, and connection during a pivotal chapter of her life.

In 2021, Samantha completed her 200-hour training through Yoga Centric, driven by a desire to share the grounding, empowering, and restorative benefits of yoga with others. As a teacher, she creates an inclusive, judgment-free space where students are encouraged to show up exactly as they are. Her classes are infused with intentional movement, energizing flow, soulful playlists, and thoughtful themes—leaving students feeling invigorated, seen, and supported.

Samantha typically teaches fast-paced, dynamic Vinyasa classes designed to build heat, strength, and confidence, while also offering Yin and Restorative practices for deep release and renewal. No matter the pace, her goal is to help students feel empowered in their bodies and more at home in themselves.

With a deep respect for the holistic roots of yoga, Samantha continues to grow her practice through the study of meditation, Ayurveda, and prenatal yoga. She believes yoga is a lifelong path of self-discovery and healing—on and far beyond the mat.

Off the mat, Samantha leads a global team as Head of Advertising Operations at a fast-paced affiliate marketing company. She thrives on meaningful connection, travel, a good book, nourishing meals, and time spent outdoors with her two pups, Aspen and Ash.

Maria’s passion for movement began during elementary school (way back in the 1970s), in her living room, where she spent most nights dancing to her mother’s Elvis records. That led her to a dance studio, where she spent her teenage years training for a competitive dance team. In college, Maria spent most days on football fields as a Carolina Coquette, dancing with the University of South Carolina’s marching band.

All of this experience led her to fitness studios, where she began teaching all types of classes including cardio, conditioning, kickboxing, pilates, and dance-based formats.

Many years later, Maria discovered yoga and realized that it was exactly what her mind and body needed. She found it to be a dance that nourishes and heals, which prompted her desire to teach it. Maria realized that everyone, all ages and fitness levels, can benefit from Yoga, and she wanted to share this with the world!

Maria has a powerful practice that focuses on strength, breath, and flow.

Come see Maria on Friday nights at 6:00 PM for Community Yoga and on Thursday nights at 7:30 PM for Yoga Strength!

Emily has been teaching yoga for 10 years, bringing warmth and presence to every class. She is a 200-hour E-RYT and has completed 50 hours of Restorative Yoga training with Tara Lemerise. Her teaching is rooted in care and experience, inviting students to move in ways that feel good and to find the quiet strength within breath, movement, and stillness.

For Emily, yoga is more than postures – it’s a way of living with intention and connection. She is guided by the Buddhist belief that life exists only in the day you are living, often sharing the reminder: “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

Outside the studio, Emily finds joy in life’s simple, nourishing rhythms: long walks under wide skies, preparing meals, baking bread and watching it slowly rise, and sharing heartfelt conversations that bring people together. She sees these daily practices, much like yoga, as reminders to slow down, be present, and savor the process.

Her classes are not about perfection but about presence – not about performance, but about permission. Emily encourages students to soften, to breathe, to grow, and to return again and again – like bread that is cared for, shaped with love, and shared in community. She doesn’t just teach yoga; she lives it – in every step, every loaf, every conversation.

Phoebe has been practicing yoga since she was old enough to move on her own mat. As an athlete and long distance runner it is her goal to bring simple yoga practices off of the mat and into other active spaces.

Since getting her 200 hour certification from Yoga Centric in 2025, Phoebe has been able to curate a practice style that will help you reconnect with the foundation of your practice while taking creative approaches to building strength.

While still young, Phoebe hopes to continue to grow in her practice, education, and teaching skills in order to maintain a space for her students to explore and grow with her.

Elesa began her love for yoga in a hot and crowded Ashtanga studio about 20 years ago and has lived her yoga practice on and off the mat ever since. Having had the chance to practice in several different studios over this time, Elesa finds the most comfort in the freedom and flow of Vinyasa yoga and its breath-to-movement connection. Graduating as a certified Yoga Instructor in the spring of 2025, Elesa is excited to share her passion for yoga and background as a Physical Therapist in the studio by offering all-level Vinyasa flows that both strengthen and open students’ bodies and minds for the challenges they may encounter in their daily lives. Elesa’s classes focus on empowering students to get out of their heads and into their bodies through the wisdom of yoga, a philosophy that encourages inward self-study and cultivating strength.

When not on her mat, Elesa enjoys reading and spending time outside with her family.

Kate is a 200-hour RYT and certified aerial yoga instructor who brings a blend of strength, ease, and joy to every class. She trained in Puerto Escondido, Mexico in 2021 and has been teaching ever since—guiding students to move mindfully, breathe deeply, and carry the magic of their practice into everyday life. Kate’s goal is always to guide others back to feeling aligned, empowered, and at home within themselves, welcoming students just as they are, no matter where they are on their journey.

Always a student herself, Kate continues to grow through ongoing education and assisting trainings.

Javier started doing yoga to add some strength training to his workout routine, but stepping onto that mat opened a whole new world. The heat of the studio wasn’t just for sweating – it became a place to discover himself. His body and mind started talking to each other in a whole new way, and the poses themselves became these awesome physical puzzles to solve.

Yoga became such a passion that he completed his RYT 200 teacher training in 2021. His classes are definitely high-energy vinyasa flows, but he believes everyone’s journey is unique. That means moving at your own pace, making adjustments whenever you need them, and always listening to what your body’s telling you. In his class, there’s no pressure, just the chance to explore your own practice and find what feels good for you.

Peat began exploring yoga practice after experiencing an injury in the martial arts in 2009. He spent the next two years immersed in a daily home asana practice, meditation, and pranayama, as well as the study of yogic texts. Gradually yoga became more than just a way to care for an injury and he gained an awareness of and appreciation for the more subtle inner layers of yoga. He then took his first YTT focused on the therapeutic aspects of yoga in 2011 with Yoga Therapist, Diane Finlayson through Yama Studio. Peat then began his teaching in student homes, working one-on-one with students applying the therapeutic aspects of yoga, and started to teach in a studio setting in 2012. In 2013, he received his second YTT from Yogaworks, with a stronger focus on asana practice. From there, Peat has traveled the U.S. teaching in different cities and studios and has been fortunate to participate in various trainings and workshops with many prominent teachers of the time and styles of yoga. He also holds focused certifications in Yoga for 12-step recovery, Yoga as Medicine, and Children’s yoga. With these teachings and practices, Peat has developed an integrated approach to teaching yoga, encompassing many aspects of yoga practice. He believes yoga, is not merely a practice to better ourselves, but rather a relationship we build with ourselves and to life around us.

In his classes, you can expect a well-rounded asana practice, but will also incorporate mantra, pranayama, and meditation. He guides with a strong focus on physical, as well as energetic anatomy, and will often apply the theme of the day’s practice to situations in daily life.

Currently, Peat has settled back to his Harford County roots. He lives in a school bus named, Santosha on a farm in Forest Hill and spends his time with his artwork and plants and caring for animals with his partner.

Maddie brings a fun, high-energy presence to the mat. Known for her creative, challenging sequences and perfectly curated playlists that bridge the gap between old-school favorites and modern beats. She holds a 200-hour yoga teacher certification and is also trained in restorative yoga, offering a well-rounded experience that meets students wherever they are.

Outside the studio, Maddie works as a caretaker for someone with a disability—a role that deepens her understanding of compassion, mindfulness, and the body’s need for both strength and rest.

Her classes reflect balance, weaving together intensity and care to create a space that’s empowering, inclusive, and deeply connected. Come join Maddie’s blazing hot Signature 1 class every Monday night at 6:00pm!

Lissa began her yoga journey in college while studying music therapy at Shenandoah Conservatory. In 2013, she discovered Buti yoga and deeply connected with the practice as it combines her two passions of music and movement.

Lissa became a certified Buti yoga instructor in 2017 and obtained her 200-HR in 2020. Lissa uses her knowledge and passion for music to curate the perfect playlist paired with a mindful flow. When she isn’t teaching, you can find her singing, traveling, enjoying live music, or spending time in nature!

Alexis Yauch is an experienced instructor known for her ability to curate thoughtful and transformative yoga experiences. With a focus on attention to detail, she intricately links breath, shape, and movement through innovative sequencing to create a seamless blend of mindfulness, curiosity, and introspection in every class. Whether guiding a Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin, Aerial, or Trauma-Informed yoga practice, Alexis creates a space where students can connect deeply with themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally.

She believes deeply in the power of listening, not just to the body and the breath, but to the world around us fostering a practice of presence. As a certified Sound Immersion Practitioner, Alexis enhances her teachings with the healing power of sound, facilitating emotional release and relaxation.

Inspired daily by the ever-evolving experience of being human, on the path of self-discovery Alexis embraces each day as an opportunity to grow, reflect, and discover something new.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that yoga is not just about physical postures, but about connecting to the deeper layers of the self. Alexis strives to create a space where everyone has the opportunity to feel supported, seen, and empowered to explore their practice. She encourages each individual to honor their own experience and trust their inner wisdom throughout the journey.

When she’s not teaching, Alexis is a devoted student of life. You’ll often find her painting with intuition as her guide, getting lost in music, or recharging in the quiet wisdom of nature. She finds balance through lifting at the gym, expanding her mind through books, and diving deep into any space where growth and curiosity meet. For Alexis, learning isn’t just a passion, it is a way of being. Constantly enrolled in continuing education, yoga training, and workshops, she thrives in environments where insight and evolution are always unfolding.

Currently pursuing her license in massage therapy, Alexis honors the profound power of touch and the vital role it plays in healing and human connection. In her yoga classes, she offers hands-on assistance as intentional, mindful invitations, not as corrections, but as tools for students to explore body awareness, structure, and alignment on their own terms. Her touch is guided by presence, technique, and deep respect for the student’s personal journey.

Her parting intention is simple yet powerful: ease your mind, heal your soul, and strengthen your body, teaching us that yoga is not only a practice of movement, but a ritual of self-care: to live with strength, to meet life with softness, and to listen deeply to the quiet wisdom within. She believes yoga is not confined to the mat but lives in the way we breathe through discomfort, move with purpose, and show up for ourselves and others every day.

Outside of class, Grace can be found spinning pottery, admiring the wonders of Mother Nature, or drinking her fourth cup of coffee in her garden.