The Inner Space Philosophy
Yoga is a practice which leads us on a path to self excellence. Yoga helps us find the limits of our bodies and minds, and then pushes us to continuously work towards expanding those limits. Self excellence requires patience, endurance, integrity, courage, discipline, compassion and confidence. Practicing yoga on a daily basis helps to blend the way we practice yoga and the way we live our lives into one seamless experience. Learning to harness our awareness as a tool of our minds helps us to connect with our bodies and the environments we enhabit. This blending will lead us to discover inner space. This inner space we have, is simultaneously void in nature, and also the source of all 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.
Inner Space Yoga emphasizes the teachings of the traditional 8 limbs of yoga: restraints, observances, physical postures, breath work, internalizing the senses, concentration and meditation. These 7 principles of yoga lead us to the 8th and final step, total aborption of mind into the body, or 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. Inner Space Yoga is an intimate space, class sizes are relativel small and students get individualized attention. Every person requires a different combination of tools which will work best in their lives. We believe in connecting with people and addressing their specific needs. We look forward to working with you and sharing the ways that we use yoga to enhance our lives.
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.
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.