MindBody Instructors

Angelita Adames, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Angelita found the beautiful science of yoga after a diagnostic of a chronic illness. At first, her yoga journey was intended to deepen her personal practice to regain health and strength in mind body and spirit however she quickly learned her heart's purpose was in serving others in helping them discover their true, healthy authentic selves, finding the peace and serenity within with a major focus on body alignment and breath control. In 2017, Angelita graduated from a 200 hour yoga teacher training course from a local yoga studio where she has been teaching Vinyasa, Yin, and meditation style classes for four years with a focus on Bhakti culture. Angelita enjoys her free time hiking, mountain/trail bike riding, and traveling where she explores her love for food and culture. Angelita recognized her genuine passion for adventure and curiosity for the anatomy of the body at a very young age and has been applying her studies into practice ever since while continuing her ever growing yogic journey studies at the Himalayan Institute in Pennsylvania.

Jess Beers, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Jess Beers has been in the fitness industry since 2008, bringing over a decade of experience and a deeply intentional approach to movement. She holds certifications through ACE, Power Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Spinning®, Beat Boss, and Power Pilates, blending athleticism, rhythm, and mindfulness into every class she teaches. In 2018, Jess relocated to Costa Rica, where she founded her own fitness studio and began training instructors in indoor cycling, yoga, and Pilates. This work evolved into her signature instructor training program, The Ride by Jess Beers, a method known for its musicality, intelligent sequencing, and transformative energy. Jess is also the author of How to Teach Indoor Cycling, available on Amazon, and continues to lead immersive retreats and professional trainings in both Costa Rica and the United States. Her classes are known for being empowering, soulful, and expertly crafted—inviting students to move with strength, presence, and joy.

Katelyn Fox, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Kate is 26 years old,  born and raised in Central New Jersey. Recognizing the need to slow down, her and her fiancé moved to the Catskill Mountains of New York 7 years ago, and have since planted roots. Kate is a 200 hour RYT having received her certification at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Woodbourne, NY. Kate lived on site there for a month in the Summer of 2023. Upon graduating she immediately began teaching, and has been since. She considers herself to be passionate about inspiring others to find their own unique way of curating a playful and patient connection with their body & mind, doing so through yoga philosophy, postures, breathwork, and meditation. She hopes to be able to show her students the delicate balance of trial and error, ease and strength, & breath and movement through each of her uniquely structured classes involving every aspect of the Vedic Philosophy, guiding from 8 years of personal experience. When Kate is not teaching yoga, she enjoys dedicating her spare time to assisting individuals with Autism and other complex disabilities. She is an avid Aerialist as well, and received her Aerial Instructor Certification in 2024 at The Body Art Barn in Chester, NY. You can also find her hiking the many paths and trails of the Catskills, writing, practicing floor acrobatics, and spending time with her chihuahuas! 

Olga Goworek, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Olga is a Certified 500-hour yoga teacher in the B.K.S. Iyengar lineage, with an emphasis on alignment, accessibility, and personal authenticity. Olga is currently pursuing a Counseling degree at the University of Scranton, with a specialty in one-on-one therapy focused on relationships, self-love, safety from abuse, and holistic care. Olga’s therapeutic approach integrates Yoga Nidra, CBT, and Mindfulness Meditation to help clients cultivate resilience and self-awareness. A year-round East Hampton, NY resident since 2003, Olga has worked as a visual artist and a photographer, collaborating with Chuck Close, Pollock - Krasner Foundation, Silas Marder, and many more. Now based in Pennsylvania, she enjoys western horses and swimming.

Blake France, Yoga, Meditation, and Tai Chi Teacher
Blake holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from the UNC-Greensboro, an M.A. in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York City.  Blake was an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Southern Mississippi before returning to New York and following a professional career as a dancer in Musical Theatre in NYC, regional theatres and on tour across the United States.  She also taught dance at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, New York Conservatory Theatre, and Circle in the Square. After leaving NYC she ran a Dance and Yoga studio in Highland Lake, NY for 15 years. Blake is presently working on her 500 hour Yoga Therapy Certification studying how Yoga can help people with Parkinson's, arthritis, and those traveling on their personal journey with Cancer.  This year she became certified in TriYoga after studying with master yogini Kali Ray, adding to her 200 Hour EYT certification.  Blake is a ACE Certified Personal Trainer.

Kazzrie Jaxen, Meditation and Tai Chi Teacher
In May of 2006, Kazzrie began teaching Qigong, Tai Chi, and Meditation in the Willow Studio at The Lodge at Woodloch.  She’s been studying the art of Qigong (also spelled Chi Kung) for thirty years.  She’s certified as an Associate Instructor with Healing Tao USA.  Her teachers have included Ronger Shen, Yi Wu, Franklin Kwong, Michael Winn, Tina Zhang, Ron Diana, Karin Sorvik, Robert Peng, and Mantak Chia.   Also a jazz musician, she is currently writing a book about her adventures with music and Taoist Internal Alchemy entitled "Changing Keys."  She experiences the art of Qigong as "body music" that harmonizes the human body with the musical universe around us -- a universe that is perpetually improvising itself into being.  Kazzrie loves the kinesthetic grace of the movements as well as the emphasis on meditative focus and "less effort."  She is deeply honored to welcome you to the Willow Studio, where you'll light the spark of unlimited possibility through the gentle movements and meditations of Qigong and Tai Chi.

Jen Kiesendahl, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Jen began her yoga journey over two decades ago.  What began as an innovative way to get fit developed into a means of pacifying a naturally anxious personality and further blossomed into a guidepost for life.  With a Masters degree in Pastoral Counseling, Jen is well educated in spiritual and psychological therapeutics.  She is also well versed in dancing, acting, and singing, having performed for more than 10 years professionally.  A 200 hr RYT certification was a natural fit for Jen's life exploration.  She has taught a variety of classes including vinyasa, chair, yin, and therapeutics over the past few years.  Gentle yoga with a focus on alignment and utilizing creative tactics to create body awareness is her favorite modality.  In Jen's class, you can expect a space open to all levels with a lot of breathe awareness, and often flavored with philosophy, pranayama, and chanting.  Her philosophy as a teacher is to be a guide in coming back home to ourselves.

Kimberly Matthew, Yoga, Meditation, and Tai Chi Teacher
Kimberly Matthew received her yoga certification 20 years ago, after an immersion at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. In addition to teaching Hindu based yoga, leading crystal bowl sound baths and mala meditation classes, Kimberly is on an energy quest. Always interested in sharing the magic of the subtle energy bodies with her students through various forms of moving meditation. Sometimes that is Chinese based leading Tai Chi or Qigong classes, other times it's Japanese based with certifications in Reiki and Shinrin-Yoku, the medicine of being in the forest or Forest Bathing. Kim also enjoys working with universal energy as a certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator. Kimberly feels that her calling is to have students feel their prana or chi, to have energetic vibration move over them and through them to achieve total wellness and vitality!

Larry Robinson, T'ai Chi, Meditation, and Self-Defense Instructor
Larry is a dedicated and passionate martial artist with 30+ years of experience. He is highly skilled in teaching martial arts, self defense and Tai Chi. Larry has a proven record of success in designing and teaching martial arts curriculums, seminars and workshops. Larry has a professional background that expands into the first responder industry including Pennsylvania paramedic services and Police Defensive Tactical Instructor.  In 2019 his diabetic condition forced him into retirement due to the surgeries to both of his feet. His love of the martial arts led him to study and practice Tai Chi for rehabilitation along with learning the holistic healing art of Reiki. Larry has earned the title of Black Belt Master Instructor in the Korean martial arts in 2010 and is board certified to teach Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention. As a Reiki level 3 and a Group Chakra Healing and Balancing Practitioner, as well as martial arts and Tai Chi instructor, Larry’s fun-loving personality and enthusiasm spreads across all fitness platforms and he looks forward to every class he teaches.

Alyssa Scheunemann, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Alyssa began practicing yoga about 20 years ago in NYC while studying for her BFA in photography at NYU. She received Jivamukti’s intensive 300hr certification directly from Sharon Gannon and David Life in 2003 and Jivamukti’s rigorous 800hr certification in 2004. She has been teaching for over 12 years, including several years at Jivamukti’s flagship studio in NYC, as well as around the U.S., and abroad. In addition to her certifications, Alyssa has studied extensively in both Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, traveling to India and studying with The Dalai Lama. She has received initiation in both Indian and Tibetan traditions and has completed several silent solitary meditation retreats. Alyssa is well versed in both the physical and philosophical aspects of the practice and is adept teaching beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Alyssa’s classes draw from her own deep practice, feature carefully crafted playlists, masterful hands-on assists, intelligent sequencing and equally deft alignment cues. These elements come together to provide students with a deep and satisfying practice.

Susan Schneider-Levin, MindBody and Fitness Teacher
Susan grew up being extremely active in both her community and her family’s extracurricular activities. She started swimming and sailing at a very young age. For over 20 years Susan home schooled her young children, substitute taught, and worked for her husband’s chiropractic business educating patients on the importance of chiropractic. After years of constantly being on the go, Susan started to get cluster migraines. Her blood pressure started to rise, which was concerning since she was so active, fit, and young. Things needed to change. Susan found that doing yoga helped ease the migraines and lower her blood pressure. That’s when she fell in love with Hot Yoga. In 2019, she became a Health Coach and a 200 hour certified Yoga Instructor through Balance Yoga. This both satisfied her desire to help the community and help herself stay active and healthy. After the death of Susan’s husband, she found meditation, which gave her acceptance and gratitude for all she experienced in the past and in the present moment. Susan presently is an enthusiastic mind/body/fitness instructor here at The Lodge at Woodloch. She teaches Chakra Yoga, Aqua Tabata, and Aqua Toning. She seeks people who desire to hone their body, spirit, and soul through breath work, meditation, and movement.

Susan Sullivan, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Learning, practicing, and teaching yoga has served Susan well for the past 25 years.  In her classes, she strives to blend challenge and ease.  She teaches classic hatha yoga postures, with a focus on alignment derived from the Iyengar method, and a focus on mindfulness and awareness that comes from her training as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner.  In her work at The Lodge at Woodloch, her goal is to make yoga  and meditation accessible to anyone who wants to experience the benefits of these ancient practices.  Susan is a Certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner, and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.

Alicia Urban, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
After owning and running a local horse facility for 20 years Alicia decided it was time to do something different. She pursued personal training, Pilates, and sport yoga certifications but found that Yoga - its philosophy as well as physicality suited her best. She then enrolled in a Dharma Mittra style yoga training at the North Carolina School of Yoga in 2005. After graduating she began teaching at The Lodge at Woodloch in 2006. Her personal practice is Dharma inspired Vinyasa, sometimes regimented ashtanga, and she’s taken classes from Hawaii to Alaska to New York City to keep her current and inspired. She has since been certified in yoga wall trainings, SUP yoga, barre, and Pilates reformer, and has completed her 50th birthday goal of doing a headstand in all 50 states!