The Inner Space Philosophy

For me, yoga is a practice which leads us on a path to self excellence. Yoga helps me find the limits of my body and mind, and then pushes me to continuously work towards expanding those limits. I have found that self excellence requires patience, endurance, integrity, courage, discipline, compassion and confidence. Practicing yoga on a daily basis has blended the way I practice yoga and the way that I live my life into one seamless experience. Learning to harness my awareness as a tool my mind employs to connect with my body and environment has helped me to discover my inner space. This inner space we have, is simultaneously void in nature, and also the source of all our creativity. When we discover how to harness our creativity, we become better creators. The ability to create, brings more balance in our lives, and balance brings us inner peace.

I approach my teaching using the traditional 8 steps of yoga: socially oriented ethics, personal oriented ethics, physical postures, breath work, focus, withdrawing from the senses, and meditation. Those 7 principles of yoga lead us to the 8th and final step, inner peace. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding are the tools of any great teacher and are traditionally passed down from teacher to student, most effectively, through personalized instruction. That is why I am excited to teach small intimate classes. Every person requires a different combination of tools which will work best in their lives. I believe in connecting with people and addressing their specific needs. I look forward to working with you and sharing the ways I have used yoga to enhance my life.

Ben Alpern

My first encounter with yoga came when I was in college and needed to stretch my achy muscles before going snowboarding in Colorado. It was only a few postures at the time but enough to pique my interest. Gradually, I understood the effect that a daily practice could have in my life. Over the years, I have learned with some excellent teachers and during the Covid quarantine, I learned to develop my own practice by listening to my body and focusing my mind. I read books, watched videos and spent countless hours on my mat. One day, sitting on my mat, I realized that waking up in the morning and teaching yoga to others is the best way to live my life. My favorite part of yoga has been developing the ability to find inner peace which brings me the feeling of being in harmony with myself, my environment and my relationships. I am grateful for any opportunity to pass along the knowledge that I have acquired. In my teaching, I emphasize using mobility, balance, stillness, breath work, structural integrity and philosophy to enhance our lives on and off the mat.

Kendra Jackson

My name is Kendra and I have been teaching yoga since 2006 and have been an Ayurvedic health counselor since 2017. My love for health and wellness through these two modalities has grown more and more over the years and I welcome the opportunity to share them with you.

Melissa Ramirez

A passionate yoga practicioner since ‘05, she found solace in yoga while battling chronic migraines. Her journey from using yoga to complement her workouts to relying less on medication and ultimately becoming migraine-free sparked her desire to share its transformative power.

Certified in Prenatal Yoga, Children’s Yoga and a Reiki Practicioner, Melissa’s classes are more than physical practice; they’re a space for intention setting, pushing boundaries gently, and finding freedom on and off the mat. Her teaching style is a blend of creativity, grounding meditation and free flowing movement infused with uplifting rhythms and positive energy.

Lily Urias

I employ a holistic approach to help individuals regain emotional and or spiritual health. I love to work with people who are ready to transform their life, people who want to heal and want to live their happiest life now. I rely on my naturally-embedded deep wisdom in treating clients and approach each person with gentle humanity, compassion and intuitive guidance.

Deb Serri

I’ve been practicing yoga for over ten years. My relationship with the practice began as a physical replacement for soccer following multiple knee surgeries. It has since grown into a deep appreciation for what yoga brings to my life by going inside myrself and being present on my mat. I believe that yoga is for any body, and my teaching offers modifications for all levels, preferences, and injuries. Nobody starts their yoga practice being "flexible!" I live in Riverdale with my family and I’m excited to share my love for yoga with others in the Riverdale community!

Jen Volmer

I’ve always enjoyed experiencing flow through the synergy of body and mind. As a young child, I spent years training as a ballet dancer in the Russian method to unlock this connection. It wasn’t until years later, in 2008, that I tried yoga for the first time and was immediately drawn to the harmony created between body and mind. Now a certified Vinyasa practitioner, I focus on achieving this balance through strength and flexibility. Typically, I use slower, Hatha-infused Vinyasa flows to open greater mindfulness of each person’s unique alignment. Through each pose, transition, and breath, I hope to help students recognize their inner strength and explore their own mind and body connection.

Henriet Cohen

I’ve been teaching yoga for the past 25 years in the Iyengar tradition. After completing a rigorous two year training program at the New York Iyengar Institute, I taught at the Riverdale Y for 8 years and maintained a home studio for the past 15.

My approach is to teach students in a progressive and sequential way so they feel safe in the process. The focus in the process is to strengthen, find balance and cultivate stability. I support students along their journey to treat themselves with kindness and appreciate their bodies.

Kevin Vargas

As a Bronx-born Afro-Latino, I lead with an unwavering commitment to uplift my community through transformative practices such as breathwork, movement, and sound. Raised by Dominican immigrant parents, I've overcome challenges, forging resilience against limited resources and time. My journey, deeply rooted in ancestral traditions and fueled by a passion for neuroscience, has led me to design practices that guide communities toward holistic well-being, transcending struggles, and reshaping narratives surrounding pain.

In my yoga and meditation practice, I believe in the power of stillness and breath to connect with the inner self. Drawing inspiration from ancient traditions, I emphasize the unification of mind, body, and soul, guiding individuals to reprogram their nervous system and find empowerment in the present moment.