Chris MoDavis
During Chris’ classes you can feel free to let your guard down, to be yourself, and to fully let go while allowing the practice of yoga to fill you up as needed… just a simple reminder to use the tools, that you’ve had since birth, to find strength, balance, and flexibility, within the body and the mind.
The practice of yoga is meant to help you feel open and grounded. Yoga literally means union and the idea of the practice is just that. To reunite the mind, the body, and the soul, to one present moment. This is where we find calm. This is where we can begin to once again find our true nature. This is how we create space inside so that we can be open to new information, new ideas, new thought patterns, new adventures, and see through new eyes.
Sometimes the speed and structure of life can hold us in a tight form. The constant rushing and monotony can put us on a set of rails that allows every day (the schedule) to look the same. It is this that lets time fly by so quickly. The train will go faster and faster until, one day, we’ll look back and wonder what the heck just happened?!
The practice of yoga allows us to slow the train down, to step off once in a while, and to look around and enjoy your surroundings (life) in the present moment and just breathe. This is what children do. This is what mammals do. This is what we do in all the greatest moments and memories of our lives. This is how we were meant to be.
Chris’ classes are a constant reminder to slow down and breathe, to feel, and to listen. When we allow ourselves to let go of the things we no longer need, we give ourselves the opportunity to search within. We can tap into our inner child, we can re-ignite our passions, and we can begin to remember what it means to truly live again.
Erica McHugh
With over 27 years of experience as an Ashtanga practitioner, instructor, teacher trainer, studio owner, and mother, Erica brings a deep and lived understanding of yoga both on and off the mat. Her journey began in 1998 with her first teacher training at the iconic It’s Yoga in San Francisco. Since then, she has continued to evolve her practice and teaching through trainings with renowned teachers such as David Swenson, Beryl Bender Birch, Kathy McNames, David Williams, and many other leading voices in the U.S. Ashtanga community. In her classes, she encourages students to let their breath and gaze lead the way, gently guiding attention to the subtle, often invisible aspects of the Ashtanga practice—the ones that ultimately create meditation in motion.
Off the mat, she finds joy in the simple things: playing in nature, cooking for friends, and spending time with her daughter, two dogs, cat, and a quirky flock of chickens.
Erica McHugh, E-RYT500
www.AshtangaWithErica.com
Jessica Dellmyer-LaCoe
Jessica’s yoga journey in 2013 after having two daughters and searching to find herself again. Her journey continued about six months into practicing when she committed to getting her kids, teens, and children with disabilities yoga certification. Then in 2014 she committed to her 200 hour YTT at a local Bethlehem studio.
Yoga blends together many of Jessica's passions; her love of people, physical and mental health, art, and creativity. Jessica’s mat grounds her and allows her to be her true self, her love of self expression, and creativity. As much as Jessica loves an intense and challenging practice, she has also recently found equal enjoyment in teaching and practicing on a slower more gentle scale. Her love for an intense practice was the distraction it gave her mentally from the intensity of everyday while empowering her with things she used to think were impossible. However, she has also learned that when moving slowly she has to put more effort into keeping her thoughts quiet, this is the continuous work for her. Her goal for every class is for people to find a deeper version of themselves and peace of mind while instilling a strong foundation and alignment to every practice. Allowing each student to step off of their mats feeling empowered and a better version of themselves.
Jessica's favorite quote ~ Buddha was once asked, "What have you gained from meditation?" He replied, "Nothing! However, let me tell you what I have lost: anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age and death."
Jessica Dellmyer-LaCoe E-RYT200
Melanie Smith
Melanie Smith Is 500 ERYT- Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher Through the Yoga Loft of Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Welcome and thank you for taking the time to learn about me, Ms. Melanie Smith, aka…Miss Melanie Yoga. Yoga has been a lifelong journey for me, starting in my teenage years as an athlete looking for something to help heal my body from long days of practice. To what has now developed into a practice of intention setting and empowerment inside a body that I feel comfortable in and love.
After spending ten years in social work, in 2015, I turned my focus full time to teaching the practices of Mindfulness Meditation, anatomical-based Asana, and the empowering practice of Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga. My Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor degree in Communication Studies from West Virginia University have served me well in teaching and communicating the effectiveness of the mental and physical benefits of yoga.
Many people have turned to yoga to find healing and change their lives. I can honestly say that yoga as a whole has changed the way I live and carve out my life. My yoga has taken me beyond the mat and into the world, finding myself challenging the template of the “American Dream.” I now find myself an entrepreneur and international yogi, leading retreats, teaching yoga classes & workshops on land and stand-up paddleboards. Working with Shanthi Project, a nonprofit community-based organization leading mindfulness meditation to children in Kindergarten through 12th grade as well as children & families who are involved with child protective services, offering yoga to women in prison, homeless women, and pregnant teens.
For me, yoga is not just about the physical poses. It’s about being in nature, and it’s about helping and healing; it’s about bringing together the goodness in us all and letting it shine forth to find our unique gifts in this world. Yoga has taken me to this place, but where will yoga take you?
Om Shanthi
Melanie