Fitness Yoga Studios  - South New Jersey Yoga & Pilates Classes - Mullica Hill, NJ

::Now offering four Hot Vinyasa Yoga classes a week::

Staff Bios

Laura Bonanni, BS, RYT, Fitness Yoga Studios OwnerLaura Bonanni, BS, CYT, E-RYT 200 is the owner/founder of Fitness Yoga Studios. Laura has been leading an active, healthy lifestyle for over 16 years, and loves sharing this knowledge and enthusiasm with her students and friends. Laura began to explore the ancient practice of yoga after taking a workshop early on in her group fitness career. She has been practicing yoga for over 12 years and teaching yoga for over 11 years. Laura recognizes yoga as a lifelong path to wholeness; it nourishes the body, mind, and spirit.

Laura has completed 200 hours of yoga training through YogaFit�, and is registered as an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with YogaAlliance�. Laura has also studied with and has been influenced by other yogis/yoginis, including Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, and Shiva Rea, all wonderful teachers of her favorite style of yoga, Vinyasa Flow. In 2010, she completed instruction in Thai Yoga Bodywork with Michael "Mukti" Buck. In 2011, Laura created Fitness Yoga Studio's 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program, which is registered with Yoga Alliance. She continues to study the art, philosophy, and science of yoga with Joan White and looks forward to sharing it with you.

When she is not practicing yoga or teaching yoga, Laura enjoys running, cycling, swimming, reading, gardening, music, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Jacqueline Dadario, Fitness Yoga Studios StaffJacqueline Dadario, RYT200, discovered yoga in 2003. She turned her passion for practicing yoga into teaching, and in 2006 started teaching yoga to children and adults in both studio and beach settings. She has received her 200 hours of yoga training through Fitness Yoga Studios and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance�. She has studied Thai Yoga Bodywork with Michael �Mukti� Buck and Rose Griscom and has received her Reiki Level 1 Certification. She is also the owner and designer of Earthly Elements Healing Crystal Jewelry.

In addition, she graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education. Jacqueline is married and she and her husband currently reside in Sewell with their daughter, Sophia and son, Nicholas.

Karen Kapus, Fitness Yoga Studios StaffKaren Kapus, RYT200, has been practicing yoga for the last 10 years, at home, in the gym, and in studio settings. Her passion for yoga fueled her desire to share it with everyone, which led her to become a certified yoga instructor. Karen received 200+ hours of training from YogaFit�, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with YogaAlliance�. Karen continues studying yoga here and at various locales. She enjoys teaching yoga to all, and recently taught a 5-week kid's yoga series at Wenonah Elementary School.

Karen loves that yoga is truly a system that can be adapted to everybody, and that it can help many people with health issues, such as back pain or stress. Karen says, �Yoga is special to me because, not only does it make me feel great physically, but also mentally. I see yoga as a wonderful journey in my life that has allowed me to grow and improve in so many ways and will continue to do so for a very long time.�

Barbara Paulsen, Fitness Yoga Studios StaffBarbara Paulsen, E-RYT 200 has been practicing yoga since 1992. Certified by the Center for Yoga and the Samata Yoga Center in Los Angeles, California she has an eclectic background in Hatha/Vinyasa Yoga. Her training with Larry Payne, PhD. is inspired by the teachings of T.K.V. Desikachar. She is also a massage therapist, reiki master and has advanced training in pranic healing. Barbara founded In Balance Yoga with the steadfast motivation to remind students that peace and happiness lies within each of us. It is her absolute conviction that when we turn our attention to the inner wisdom of our heart, we are shown the way to a balanced life. "Yoga is powerful tool that anyone can learn. It teaches you to embrace the teacher within, finding peace and inner wisdom. I love sharing this valuable gift with my students. My greatest hope is to provide a safe haven for students of all levels and abilities ... fostering a healing space for acceptance, compassion and love."

Paige Pellegrino-Teti, RYT 200 & 500. Paige has been teaching yoga for many years. She has completed a 500 Hour Advanced Yoga Certification through the Kripalu Center For Yoga and Health, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Kripalu is the largest center for yoga and holistic living in North America. She is also a member of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher Association (KYTA). In spring of 2008, Paige was given the honorary title, �Acharya� which denotes significant spiritual and academic achievement in the Kripalu lineage. In addition, Paige has studied and trained in the following areas: Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis sponsored by the National MS Society, Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley and Paulie Zink, Life Force Yoga with Amy Weintraub dealing with yoga to manage stress and depression, Vinyasa, and numerous meditation trainings and workshops with nationally known teachers. Paige is also a certified Thai Massage Practitioner through the The Thai Institute of Healing Arts, Arlington, Virginia, which is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work (NCBTMB).

Jennifer Schwartz, Fitness Yoga Studios StaffJennifer Schwartz is a graduate of the Power Pilates 600-hour Comprehensive Equipment Training Program. A lifelong student of dance and gymnastics, Jennifer expanded her interest to Pilates after a post-partum back issue. In 2006, she became a Certified Pilates Mat Instructor through Power Pilates at University of Pennsylvania, which follows the classical teachings of Joseph Pilates. In 2009, Jennifer completed the 600-hour training program which has expanded her teachings to apparatus including the Reformer. Jennifer�s teaching reflects her belief that Pilates is a powerful whole body workout. The results one receives are endless � improved posture, balance, increased energy, and a longer, leaner, and healthier individual. Jennifer is also a Business Management graduate of The College of New Jersey.

June Busch, RYT 200 has been practicing Pilates and Yoga for over 5 years. Her passion began with an introduction to Mat Pilates. The benefits of Mat Pilates became evident quickly. In an effort to expand her personal practice, June added the Pilates Reformer to her fitness routine. She was hooked from the start as the benefits of breathing, stretching and toning were above and beyond her expectations. Her new found passion was the result of being instructed in both Yoga and Pilates by the wonderful instructors that she has worked with over those 5 years. These instructors encouraged her to begin her own journey into teaching and obtaining Pilates Reformer and Yoga certification. At present, June is certified by Balanced Body in Pilates Reformer and Pilates Tower. In addition, she has completed Level 1 Training with YogaFit. June currently works full-time in a somewhat stressful corporate environment. Her certification journey, and her ability to instruct wonderful students and share in their joy when they see the positive results from Pilates, help to balance out the stress in her life and allows her to enjoy the personal satisfaction of sharing the wonderful world of Pilates with others.

Becky Lyons, Fitness Yoga Studios StaffRebecca Lyons, RYT200 discovered the amazing benefits of Pilates about five years ago at her first class and she was hooked. She became an AAAI certified Mat I Pilates teacher and has been sharing her love of Pilates through teaching the past several years. Rebecca loves Joesph Pilates' quote "contrology (Pilates) develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit".

Rebecca received her 200 hour yoga certification through Fitness Yoga in 2012 and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. She enjoys spreading her passion for Pilates and yoga at Fitness Yoga Studios. Rebecca is also an ACE certified personal trainer and is an AAAI master personal trainer. When Rebecca is not taking classes or teaching at Fitness Yoga she can be found instructing bootcamp classes and training individual clients. Rebecca (Becky) enjoys spending time at home with her husband, three children, and enjoying all fitness related activities!

Allegra Tiver, Fitness Yoga Studios StaffAllegra Tiver, RYT 200, has more than 10 years experience practicing Vinyasa yoga, and acknowledges her practice as an access to self-discovery. Allegra completed the Fitness Yoga Studios 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2012. An athlete and adventurer, Allegra views yoga as a perfect complement to fitness and exploration. Allegra believes yoga offers a means to live a more balanced life and encourages students to realize how our practice �on the mat� offers useful tools in dealing with our lives �off the mat.� She currently teaches Vinyasa Flow at Fitness Yoga Studios. Allegra has also developed and taught classes for young children with behavioral challenges, teenagers dealing with the coming-of-age process and artists. Allegra has B.A. degrees in Journalism and French from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

Kathlina Leotti, CYT200 found her yoga practice in 2007 on a chair in her living room. Weighing in at 210lbs, Kate found a new passion for health and wellness through 3 years of at-home yoga. Her new passion is to share the gift that is a yogic lifestyle. Kate�s yoga �obsession� started when she received an email offering discounted yoga classes. She had no idea how much her life and body would change with that purchase. One year later and 50 lbs. lighter Kate completed Power Vinyasa Teacher Training with Johnna Smith from Yoga Shala Charlotte, in the Carolinas. She learned not only the postures, their meanings, and the muscles the asanas utilize but more importantly she learned how to live her most authentic life. Kate is very much inspired by Baron Baptiste. Baron Baptiste shares in Kate�s belief that yoga is for everyone and every body. Kate actually lives with chronic pain and fibromyalgia. She knows and understands many modifications and assists, whether it is going all out or taking it back because your body (not your mind) asks you to do so. Kate�s utmost important goal is to never stop teaching, and to never stop learning. Her future plans include getting certified in Thai yoga massage, getting her 500hr certification and bringing this gift of yoga to our soldiers through charity.

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