To Amanda, yoga is more than just a sequence of poses. It is a way of life. She initially started practicing because it was a great way to build strength and become more flexible. She found those things and much more. Yoga gives us a greater peace of mind, a tool to manage anxiety, a sense of well being, a supportive community, increased self confidence, connection with others, joy in vulnerability, and a profound spiritual practice. Yoga unites and connects. It meets us in our struggles and amplifies what is going right in our lives while giving us strength to handle what isn’t. It is a source of calm in a chaotic world. Amanda’s goal in her classes is to challenge you and lift you up. You will look within yourself for truth and to your neighbor for support. You will be led through breath, strong poses, and graceful movements, so you can then sit and hear the quiet wisdom of your own mind.

Amanda completed her 200 hour training with Rolf Gates in 2014 and 300 hour training with Jacqui Bonwell in 2018. She is certified to teach Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Meditation. In addition to teaching yoga, Amanda has studied reiki for the past few years in the Usai Shiki Ryoho lineage. She was recently attuned as a Reiki Master and is undergoing her one year apprenticeship to become an independent Reiki instructor. Amanda feels Reiki is the perfect complement to a yoga practice as both work towards balance, wholeness, and overall wellness.

Ami’s love of dance and movement is an integral part of every class she teaches. As a lifelong dancer, she knows the joy, passion, and freedom that comes from moving the body in a way that makes her students feel successful and empowered. Her Zumba classes are an energetic celebration of world rhythms that are accessible and challenging for all fitness levels from beginner to the more advanced student. Ami’s Barre classes are structured to build strength and flexibility, emphasizing quality of movement and proper alignment. Her extensive knowledge of fitness, structural alignment, and how to build strength in a safe and supported way elevates every class she teaches. Connecting with her students and helping them find success, wherever they are on their fitness journey, is what makes her most happy.

If you have ever been to one of Cara’s classes, you know that she wears many hats. She is the friend that pulls over when she sees you in the parking lot to see how your day is going. She is the mom that races to her son’s school because he forgot that Wednesday is violin lesson day. She is the spouse that picks up her husband’s favorite pot stickers from Trader Joes. Cara is also your fitness coach!

After Cara’s son was born, she was looking to get back in shape. She had a laptop and ordered some workout DVDs. She jumped around to the routine in her living room and had no idea (at the time) she was planning her future. Strength takes time and that’s exactly what I Cara gave herself: the gift of patience. Working out is a mindset and hard work will pay off. You will become stronger and you will learn the importance of beauty of rest. Committing to fitness is understanding when to push and pull back. Cara knows this because she walks this talk every day.  What was once jumping around her living room is now training for road and obstacle races and cheering on her friends and family as they find their own fitness paths. Join Cara in a upcoming class – all you need to do is show up and together you will figure out the rest from there.

When Courtney was old enough to join a gym in 2010, she tried her first Les Mills Body Combat class and instantly was hooked. She earned her black belt in karate in 2013 and loved how Body Combat incorporated true martial arts into the workout. Courtney particularly loves the science behind the exercises and the passion that Les Mills brings. She became a certified instructor for Body Combat in 2019 and has been actively teaching since 2021. She also became certified in Les Mills Body Pump in 2023. Courtney values the commitment that Les Mills provides to each and every new workout that is released 4 times a year.

Courtney loves inspiring members who are looking to find the strongest version of themselves and encourages them to step out of their comfort zone. She understands that taking that first step into a new group fitness class can be daunting and intimidating, she works to ensure that every member feels safe and successful in her class. Courtney believes that finding a workout that makes you feel happy is the best workout you will do. Her favorite part about teaching group fitness is the community and friendships that are formed. She is so thankful for her committed members that consistently rise to the challenge.

When Courtney is not teaching at Waverley Oaks, she is teaching her 3rd grade students. She loves sharing her passion for teaching across all areas and ages! In her free time, Courtney enjoys reading new mystery books, running, traveling, listening to new music and lounging at the beach! A fun fact about Courtney is that she ran the Boston Marathon in 2023.

In 2003 Deb was helping dear friends open a fitness center for seniors and physically challenged individuals. There was an evident need for Yoga at the club, but she had never taken a yoga class in my life. Her friend was adamant that I would enjoy it and should teach it. It was then that Deb decided to take a ViniYoga training program. The philosophy of ViniYoga is anyone can practice. Surprise – she loved it – from the very first class. Deb taught yoga there for 3 years and became a “sub” yoga teacher at Waverley Oaks Athletic Club.

Yoga is a union, combining the inside and outside, being mindful and in the present. The most meaningful lesson for Deb in her ViniYoga journey has been learning to be in the present and not expending a lot of mental energy ruing the past or worrying about the future. She believes it is important we make our lives with what we have, not what we do not have. Practicing yoga is key to keeping that balance in focus.

Anyone can practice yoga – tall, short, overweight, underweight, young, old – and Deb’s classes are about doing what you can. If your fingers do not reach the floor in a forward bend, that’s ok – you can still reap the benefits of a forward bend to your own ability. Moving through the postures is only one element of the yoga experience. Deb is there there as your yoga guide, the hour is your own personal yoga experience. She offers posture adjustments and alternatives to meet differing ability levels. Deb aims to have the participants in her classes leave feeling more relaxed, centered and in the present moment.

Emily (CYT 500) received her B.A. in Dance and Human Development, summa cum laude, from Connecticut College. She has been practicing yoga for 15+ years. Emily completed her 200-hour certification in 2016 and her 300-hour certification in 2020. She also danced professionally in Boston for several years. Emily’s yoga classes intend to empower practitioners to feel grounded and joyful.

Jamee’s earlier education includes study at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in NYC and Berklee College of Music. Jamee’s past work as a documentary filmmaker won an award for the film “How it All Began, Origins of the Universal Tao System”. Along the way Jamee became a Senior Instructor and teacher trainer with the Universal Healing Tao system, (UHT), teaching qigong, ancient meditation techniques and tai chi; the Yang style tai chi short form, long form and sword forms. Jamee’s been part of a team of instructors involved with Tai Chi studies with Harvard and Brown Universities. Jamee is also an Internationally Certified Alexander Technique Instructor and teacher-trainer at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee where Tai Chi is a principle activity to explore dynamic integrated movement.

Jamee uniquely synthesizes ancient Taoist practices, Alexander Technique principles and spiritual healing opening the way for deep personal transformation and self empowerment as people learn and experience these self healing techniques. Over the years Jamee has shared her knowledge and experience with numerous institutions in the Boston area. Jamee also has a private practice around the Boston area where private lessons are available in all disciplines. Nowadays, Jamee also holds live and recorded classes online where she can reach people globally.

After a 35-year career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, Joanne is living her dream and teaching yoga. She has been practicing yoga for 23 years and has experienced a changing practice change over time. Joanne practiced hot power yoga and Ashtangha yoga for many years, but as she got older, she began listening more to what her body needed so she slowed her practice down. She believes there is a place for all types of yoga, including hot power yoga and Ashtangha practice, but listening to what felt best for her was a priority and this is how she teaches her classes. Joanne encourages folks to always listen and pay attention to how things feel: we are all different and it is not about how flexible we are or if we can put our head to the floor. It’s about paying attention to how your body feels in a pose and meeting your practice where it is without judgement and with compassion. She believes that if you can breathe you can practice yoga – there is a pose for everyone.

Joanne is a 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher through Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, MA. Kripalu has been training yoga teachers for over 40 years and is the largest training center in North America. Kripalu translates to “compassion” or one who is compassionate. It is with this legacy of compassion that Joanne teaches and guides her classes. All are welcome in her class – from brand new practitioners to experienced yogis – and all body types can join Joanne in a practice of mindfulness, meditation, and learning.

Julie Montalto is a graduate of Boston University  Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. After spending several years working in the fields of benefits and education, she took her anatomy and physiology education and applied it to becoming a Certified Personal Trainer in 2000. Having taken her first Les Mills BodyPump class in the mid-nineties, she enthusiastically became an  instructor in that program.

She truly values the science behind Les Mills  programs and the energy, challenge and FUN that comes with the workouts. She encourages her  training clients and class participants to achieve their personal best in each and every workout and class. She hopes to inspire participants to appreciate the challenge of the workout and to especially have a great time during class.  Taking her training to the next level, she received a certificate in nutritional counseling and guides people in viewing food as fuel and understanding that calories are their energy, not their enemy. She is also a certified Indoor Cycling instructor.

Julie is thrilled to bring her love of fitness to Waverley Oaks Athletic Club and is inspired by the members’ efforts and participation. She is truly  honored to be an instructor and is thoroughly enjoying the enthusiasm and passion for fitness that the members have. Her  favorite part of the workout is the smiles of the participants as they sweat it out and take their fitness to the next level. Julie has lived in Natick, Massachusetts for over 25 years with her husband, daughter, and beagle.

Kelly has been teaching yoga since 2010. A lifetime athlete, she loved that yoga was more than just a workout, and how every class could be different. She completed her 200-hour teacher training with Ana Forrest and took a 32-hour adjustment training with Sue Jones. She has also studied with Ame Wren and David Regelin to further her teaching practice.

She is inspired to give students a practice that both challenges them physically and allows them a respite from our busy modern lives. Kelly’s teaching is a vinyasa style, linking breath and movement with compassionate cueing and assists.

When not teaching yoga, Kelly enjoys doing most anything outside, traveling, volunteering at her kids’ schools & sports, and reading. Kelly grew up in Massachusetts and received her BS at Babson College and MBA at Boston University.

“Yoga is one of the few things in life that I never tire of, and I hope my classes provide students something both familiar and novel. I want them to leave class feeling a little better than when they walked in.”

Literally the last one to be picked in gym class and a complete failure at the 1970s, Presidential Fitness Awards, Nicole started loving exercise in the early ’90s taking Jazzercise and step aerobics classes. Nicole believes that exercise has always gotten her through the inevitable ups and downs of life. She started teaching exercise classes in 2009 because it gave her something uplifting at the lowest point in her life (loss of a parent, divorce, and changing family life). Other than being a mom, fitness instructor is the best job she’s ever had.

Nicole enjoys working with all different age groups and has coached preteen girls to people in their 90s! Because she loves doing all sorts of at-home exercise workouts, she always brings a fresh perspective to her classes. She constantly incorporates the latest findings that exercise is good for both the body and the mind.

Her newest fitness passion is working with people who have Parkinson’s to lessen some of the side effects through certain types of exercise.

Sandra calls Pilates a FUNCTIONAL FITNESS  program. Over time it has expanded from a basic concept of enhancing core muscles into a complete low impact workout. This will improve both the body and mind.

During the past twelve years of teaching, Sandra has expanded her training skills to include the latest techniques including Barre and other Pilates equipment, all of which she is certified to work with. Her workouts are all about precise and controlled movements while maintaining proper alignment. Sandra’s low-impact approach has been proven to sculpt strong, lean bodies, improve muscular imbalance, flexibility and posture, as well as help release tension. What more can you ask for? Plus, your body will thank you.

Tricia is a personable and passionate teacher committed to empowering students with fundamental movement, meditation and breathing practices. These practices are geared towards enhancing function in both the physical body and the mind, and teaching people how to mindfully move their bodies in a safe and more integrated manner. She completed her 200-hour yoga training at Empowered Wellness in Wilmington, DE and her 300-hour program at Down Under School of Yoga in Boston, MA. She is also certified in BALANCED ATHLETE® (levels 1 & 2), a functional fitness training program that helps people mindfully move their bodies. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, cycling, hiking, and being creative in the kitchen.