|
Suzanne Leitner-Wise
Suzanne is a full time Yoga Teacher and the founder of 532Yoga, Arts, & Culture. She has been teaching yoga since 2000, after moving to the USA from England. She has studied with many different teachers and styles, and has a two-year Iyengar Yoga training. She also loves to explore movement and challenge the body and mind in a respectful way. Suzanne has presented at several yoga events, such as the First Annual Yoga Alliance Conference in Palm Springs, 2011, the MindBody Conference in Hollywood, 2016, Yoga Jam and DoahFest. She is also a Manduka Mats Ambassador, a prestigious yoga brand. Suzanne has taught yoga to various notable clients, such as Senator Mark Warner, The Department of Justice, The Department of Defence, Inova Healthsource and The World Bank. She has also conducted workshops and retreats, both nationally and internationally, lectured for organizations such as the National Institute for Health, and written published articles on yoga. Suzanne is passionate about adapting yoga to suit each individual’s needs and goals, and teaching pranayama and meditation accordingly. Suzanne is also a published artist and poet, a PADI-certified diver, soul-mate to Paul and the mother of two extraordinary sons. E-RYT500, BWY, BYTA, TMT, AYC, RCYA, CERTIFIED ASHTANGA and ROCKET Teacher, Member of IYEA and IYNAUS, DIRECTOR of 532YOGA TEACHER TRAINING, A REGISTERED YOGA SCHOOL WITH YOGA ALLIANCE SINCE 2003. |
|
Natalie O'Connor
Natalie O’Connor is the Gallerist at 532Yoga, Arts, & Culture and the Owner of NCO Creative. With over a decade of experience in the arts, including five years with the World Bank Art Program, she focuses on creating environments where art feels accessible, intentional and connected to community. Known for her ability to elevate spaces through compelling artistic narratives, she brings a thoughtful, contemporary vision to every project she leads. |
|
Maia Worden
Maia comes from a dance background and discovered yoga in the gym in the early 2000’s with an inspiring Vinyasa teacher. Through years of studio classes, Yoga unfolded new paths for variety, mental discipline, challenges, spiritual practice and always somewhere else to go. Convinced teacher training would deepen her practice, Maia completed a RYT200 program with Suzanne Leitner-Wise and Mary Richards at 532YOGA in early 2013. She is teaching alignment-based flow classes in Alexandria and Arlington, sharing the benefits of a strong foundation to build beautiful asana and life-affirming practices. |
|
Melanie Rowland
Melanie has been working out in some form or fashion since she was born. Using her childhood living room as an obstacle course, she not only “entertained” her parents, but also quickly learned how much fun she had moving. She followed her need for all things fast and joined the Army after college. Fast-forward 26 years…. As a retired Army Officer serving 15 of her 20 years in Special Operations, Melanie understands first-hand the importance of being physically and mentally ready to meet any challenge. Additionally, she learned (the hard way) that balance is a necessity. This led her to yoga and Suzanne Leitner-Wise's 532Yoga teacher training program. Through this amazing journey, she learned how transformative, challenging, and uplifting yoga could be. Melanie earned her Masters Degree in Bio Chemistry/Human Nutrition and practices nutrition in the local area. Supporting others in finding happiness is her passion – she does this through teaching Yoga, coaching CrossFit, practicing nutrition….and cracking the occasional joke. |
|
Lola Olabode
Lola Olabode loves yoga and has been practicing for over 15 years. In 2019 she completed her 200 Hour Yoga Training at 532Yoga. She likes offering practices that calm the mind and body as well as tap into strength. Lola makes yoga accessible for all body types, and encourages having fun in practice. When she isn't practicing yoga, she enjoys traveling, music, cooking, and dancing. Lola's 532Yoga teacher training has provided her the lifelong foundation to having a disciplined personal practice and incorporating all 8 limbs of yoga into her spiritual life. She is eager to share all the awesome benefits yoga provides. |
|
Annette Shellenbarger
Annette Shellenbarger, RN, AP, is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Vedic Astrologer, Panchakarma Practioner and Licenses Massage Therapist. She has her own private practice in Bradenton, Florida, teaches courses online, and mentors other Ayurvedic practitioners and Ayurvedic Students in Vedic Astrology. Her mission is to help people transform and improve their lives through the ancient Vedic Sciences. |
|
Kayla Robison
Kayla is the Director of Sports Rehabilitation and a Physical Therapist for the Para-Olympic Team. She has a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialty (CSCS) from the NSCA, an Exercise Physiologist Certification (EP-C) from the ACSM, a Level II Certification in Trigger Point Dry Needling from Kinetacore, and a certification in the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). She is also working on her manual fellowship training through the NAIOMT. Kayla has experience in both general orthopedic and sports medicine, and has provided medical coverage for Olympic and Paralympic athletes in various sports, such as BMX, Gymnastics, Weightlifting, Cycling, Swimming, TaeKwonDo, Soccer, Track and Field, Triathlon, Judo, Boxing, and Wrestling. She has worked at training camps and competitions both on the national and international level. Kayla is also a triathlete who has competed and placed in several triathlons. She enjoys working with and treating other athletes, especially examining the body’s regional interdependence and associating deviations or dysfunctions with current or possible injury. Kayla is married and has a beautiful baby girl. PT, DPT, COMT, EP-C, CSCS, FAAOMT. |
|
Leeza Tekeste
Leeza is a long time student and admirer of Yoga. She crossed path with Yoga many times over the last 2 decades; finding each other in countries like Italy, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and eventually Ecuador where she took her first teacher training in 2019. Since then, she has taken several more trainings- with over 800 collective hours of teacher training (Hatha, Flow/Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Meditation, and Breathwork). She is also a licensed Holistic Lifestyle Coach. Her passion is restoring health to the body, and she enjoys taking students through thoughtful and intentional sequences designed to improve overall wellness. Currently, she is looking forward to sharing her practice with the community at 532Yoga. |
|
Jessica Bub
Jessica found her way into a yoga class at her college gym in 2013 and years later she still loves being on the mat. Yoga has given her the tools she needs to reconnect with her inner self and improve the way she moves through life, both mentally and physically. Lately Jessica’s personal practice is based in Ashtanga yoga, where she finds personal enjoyment in building strong foundations and discovering new layers of each pose by exploring alignment, engagement, and breath in the body - something she finds valuable no matter which style of yoga she is practicing. Jessica hopes everyone feels welcome to join her in class and offers many variations to help each individual practice in a way that is respectful to their limits. Whether she is teaching Hatha, Vinyasa, Slow Flow, or Restorative classes she aims to help each person walk out of the studio feeling a little more centered and proud for showing up for themselves. |
|
Jenny Perez Curranderra
Jenny was born in Central America during a time of civil war, when her grandfather, a Curandero, or Shaman, took the role of her guardian. She was introduced to Curanderismo and became his apprentice, being taught to be kind to the trees, animals and humans alike, and the gift of Curar (To Heal), which was passed down to him by previous generations. She continues her spiritual path with the core values learned from her grandfather. It is her mission to be of service to individuals searching for inner healing, growth and expansion, bringing healing, and messages from the spirit world to anyone who is open to receiving them. She conducts a variety of healings, ceremonies, workshops, and group events offered to assist everyone in bringing back balance into their mind, body and spirit. |
|
James Tedeschi
James Tedeschi is a dedicated and passionate Ashtanga Yoga practitioner and teacher. Having found Ashtanga yoga in January, 2014, James continues to grow in understanding and profound reverence of the practice. James guides students on a transformative journey towards physical and mental well-being. He has been a Registered Yoga teacher since 2017 and has studied under the guidance of teachers, whom are direct students of Pattabi, Sharat , Saraswatti and Manju Jois. James creates a safe and supportive environment for students to explore their practice and deepen their understanding of themselves. He continues to deepen his knowledge and understanding of yoga through daily practice, regular workshops, retreats, and self-study, allowing him to bring fresh insights and inspiration to his teaching, ensuring a dynamic and evolving experience for students. |
|
Beatriz Ruiz
Beatriz discovered yoga while seeking a meaningful and less intense alternative to her high-intensity training routine, which included marathons, TRX, and spinning. Burnt out, she explored various yoga classes and studios until she found her favorite teachers. Realizing yoga’s importance, she pursued a 200-hour teacher training in Costa Rica and began integrating yoga into her career as a wellness motivator. Beatriz now teaches dynamic Power Vinyasa flow classes that balance strength and flexibility. Her sessions emphasize movement, sweat, and breath, aiming to create space and flexibility in the body and openness in life. She believes in the transformative power of daily commitment to yoga, encouraging her students to embrace consistency for profound life changes. |
|
Crissy Saalborn
Crissy's yoga journey is a vibrant tapestry woven with over seventeen years of passion and exploration. Her love affair with yoga began in San Antonio, where a Kundalini class ignited a spark that has only grown brighter. After diving deep into her practice, she earned her certification at CorePower Yoga in Colorado Springs, mastering the invigorating flows of Power Yoga and Vinyasa. But Crissy's story doesn't stop at the mat. Her travels have taken her across the globe, immersing her in a rich variety of yoga styles and teachings. Each new destination and encounter has enriched her practice and expanded her perspective, fueling her deep affection for both yoga and the diverse community that surrounds it. Through every twist and turn, Crissy has been transformed by her practice and by the people she’s met along the way. Her journey is a testament to the profound impact that yoga can have, not just on the body, but on the spirit and the connections we make. |
|
Elle Pierre
Elle Pierre is a Los Angeles native whose work lives at the intersection of creativity, exploration, and wellness. She began her yoga journey in 2007 while studying theatre in New York City and, in 2016, deepened her practice—earning her 200-hour YogaWorks certification in 2019 and completing a 120-hour apprenticeship. In 2020, she led a yoga residency with Ethel’s Club, a space centering the wellbeing of Black and non-Black creatives of color, including those in LGBTQ communities. As the founder of Be Unfurled—a heart-guided, body-informed wellness community—Elle now calls the DMV home, bringing her signature blend of yoga, intuitive movement, and community care to the district. |
|
Samantha Humphreys
Alexandria native Samantha has been practicing yoga since 2012, drawn to the path by a deep interest in yogic wisdom. Trained in Ashtanga yoga, she guides classes that move with calm intention and breath-led awareness, offering thoughtful modifications to make the practice accessible for all students.Nourished by restorative and yin traditions, her teaching blends more than a decade of personal practice with over 200 hours of training and additional studies in anatomy and Katonah Yoga. A Jnana yogi at heart, she weaves yoga philosophy into mindful movement with a sense of play and curiosity. Her intention is to help students feel grounded and connected, shifting from doing yoga to being yoga. Samantha hopes each student leaves class remembering the quiet strength and innate wisdom they already hold. Outside the studio, she enjoys bioregional herbalism, dancing, reading, and spending time with her two cats, Sokka and Suki. |
|
|
