Yoga Instructors

After years of sports, high impact exercise and a full life shared with her husband and three daughters, Candice began to explore yoga as a way to ease her busy mind and tired body.

After attending hot yoga classes regularly, she quickly fell in love with her practice and the unexpected benefits yoga brought to her life. As her practice took on new form, so did her vision for the future.

In 2015, Candice made a life changing decision to leave her 15 year career as a pharma-sales rep & changed gears, by fully immersing her time into the foundation and future of Yoga Centric. Although creating a studio from those qualities that made her most comfortable as a student and not yet a teacher, would be risky, she believed that the busy people of Harford's suburban towns would also see the benefit of having a place where they could just come to relax and “be.” 

With creativity and the provisions of comfort and ease at the forefront of her mind, Candice has since become a yoga teacher herself, bringing that creative flare to her classes.

Jenn’s initial attraction to yoga was the heat and sweat factor. Jenn enjoys varying her workout routines and thought hot yoga would be a great complement to her fitness repertoire of running, bootcamp and strength training. She started taking Bikram yoga classes in 2012, where she was encouraged to push her body to its limits.

Jenn began taking heated vinyasa classes when Yoga Centric opened near her home in 2015. She fell in love with the therapeutic benefits of a challenging yet mindful practice, and has been hooked ever since. Jenn graduated from Yoga Centric’s 200 hour YTT in January 2018. Jenn enjoys showing her students how to balance mental and physical fitness to benefit mind, body and soul.

Gloria was born in Baltimore, MD. She lives in Harford County with her husband, 3 children and 2 dogs. She retired from Nursing after the birth of her twins to be a household manager. The twins are what lead her into the world of cheerleading! Gloria has coached Cheerleading to youth athletes for 15 years. Her focus is building strong athletes to avoid injuries. Instilling kindness builds self confidence. Gloria is a 200 hour trained yoga teacher, Certified Aerial Instructor and USASF All Star Cheerleading Coach. In her free time she loves camping with her husband, spending time with loved ones and yoga.

Gloria has been practicing yoga for 12 years. She leads by example and leads with her heart!

Carrie attended her first yoga class about 20 years ago in a high school library. Since that time yoga has played some role in her life – sometimes a small part, other times a much bigger part. On several occasions Carrie considered yoga teacher training as a way for her personal practice to grow, but not to actually be a teacher. In 2017, she finally pushed the button reserving her spot in YogaCentric’s YTT. When she graduated in January 2018 Carrie knew that she wanted to explore the idea of teaching restorative yoga.

Carrie very reluctantly attended her first restorative class in 2016 - it was her friend’s birthday and her friend had paid for a private class for the group, so how could she say no? By the end of that first class, restorative yoga made sense. Carrie knew she had to return to that state of mental and physical relaxation.

After graduating in January 2018, Carrie took a weekend long restorative yoga training to learn more about restorative yoga. After that weekend she decided she did want to teach restorative yoga.

Carrie is here to share that with you. Restorative yoga is a great counterpoint to an active practice like vinyasa or simply to the busy lives we all lead.

A Harford County native, Kimberly began teaching yoga and pilates locally more than a decade ago. She wanted to share the benefits she had experienced herself and help others discover what their bodies could do with the right encouragement and technique. Since then, Kimberly has built a strong community of aerial flyers at Yoga Centric, who find her instruction to be creative and inspirational. Her clients particularly love her therapeutic-restorative classes, finding her knowledge to translate naturally to the mat. Kim’s gentle and creative style are the unique gifts she brings to the YC schedule. When Kim isn’t teaching or spending time on her own practice, she can be found hanging upside down, flying or performing on the static trapeze and lyra!

When her feet are on the ground, Kim spends her time reading, cooking, relaxing or just hanging with her husband or two beautiful daughters. 

To Christina, yoga saved her life. After years of suffering from depression and anxiety, it was suggested that she start practicing yoga and meditation. Two years ago, she took her first yoga class and fell in love immediately. She would walk out of each class feeling safe, protected, and empowered. This amazing transformation opened her eyes to the world around her and helped her love herself again.

After two years of practicing, Christina wanted to dive deeper into this beautiful and powerful practice and become a yoga instructor to help others the way yoga had helped her. She received her RYT 200hr certification in April 2020 through MaKa Movement and was ready to start her new journey immediately.

In July 2020 she started teaching at Yoga Centric and immediately fell in love with the studio and the community. Because of her journey rekindling her own self-love thanks to yoga, Christina uses that same teaching in her classes to help her students strengthen their relationship with themselves. Christina emphasizes the importance of loving yourself unconditionally on and off the mat.

Off the mat, you can find Christina hiking, reading, or cuddling with her daughter, Chloe, the world's cutest pomapoo (and you can’t convince her otherwise)! She also enjoys watching movies, pro wrestling and singing along to musicals!

Sho became an RYT 200 certified yoga instructor in April 2021 at Yoga Centric in Harford County, Maryland. She teaches all levels of students. A class with Sho may be fast-paced and challenging one day, and slower with more purposeful asana the next. For the student who finds it challenging to have an asana practice, Sho will guide you through meaningful movement.

From Maria herself, “Well, let’s just say, I love to move!” For Maria, this passion started a long time ago. Probably during elementary school, in her living room, where she spent most nights dancing to Elvis records. She never stopped dancing from the time she can remember. She spent her teenage years in a dance studio, training for a competitive dance team, and then as a Carolina Coquette, dancing with the University of South Carolina’s marching band on the football field. Three decades later she still spends most of my time moving her body in a studio, teaching many fitness formats from yoga to dance classes.

After discovering yoga in the late 90s, she realized that it was exactly what her mind and body needed, as she found it to be a dance that nourishes and heals. This is what built Maria’s desire to teach. “Everyone, all ages and fitness levels, can benefit from Yoga, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing it with the world!” Maria has a powerful practice, focusing on strength and flow which is evident in YC’s Signature Heat Vinyasa class.

Emily's journey to Yoga is somewhat of a happy accident. Having never practiced yoga before 2015, Emily was employed at Yoga Centric as a studio caretaker and quickly fell in love with the energy and spirituality of the practice. A people person through-and-through Emily knew that she wanted to able to connect with people on a larger scale.

In April of 2017 she completed her first certification (RYT 200) and has been working rigorously to improve her craft while also being one of the faces of Yoga Centric as the studio manager. To this end you may see Emily working the front desk, teaching a class, or even on the mat next to you taking a class or four.

Emily's guiding philosophy is to always learn and she takes great pride in learning as much from you as you do her. Emily is a well known master chef when she's not in the studio. Although she sometimes feels like the imperfect yogi because of her love affair with the occasional pizza, cheesesteak and fries!

In the past two years Emily's life has changed so much, as a person, a friend, and a mother, she wouldn't change anything about her past, her present, or whats to come in the future. Those things make her the person she is today! “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

BJ began practicing yoga in 2004 at Charm City Yoga in Baltimore. Right away, he saw and felt the benefits of yoga. BJ practiced intensely for about three years before he decided to become a yoga instructor.

BJ received his 200 hour certificate in 2013 and has since taught at several studios in and around Baltimore. BJ believes that the transformative power of yoga reaches far beyond the confines of his mat. BJ teaches out of gratitude and service and hopes to spark and nurture such transformation in others.

When he is not on the mat, BJ can be found writing, playing guitar, juggling, hiking and spending time with his son.

My first experience of mindful movement was attending a yoga class in college, simply hoping to find greater flexibility in my body to improve my climbing. After practicing for several months, my spark for yoga came when I found that my practice of yoga really was helping to alleviate tension in my body, and it was also teaching me practices to care for my mind and soul as well.

In my classes, I value the balance between effort and ease, movement and stillness, challenge and surrender, in order to guide others into a space where they can experience greater freedom and healing in their own bodies, minds, and souls.

For as long as she can remember, Tara has been interested in the practice and methodology of Eastern philosophy, and searching for ways to infuse some of its key aspects into daily life.

It wasn't until she moved with her family from New Jersey to Harford County in 1995 that she began to seriously study Kundalini yoga, under the guidance of teachers at a local dharma center. In 1998, Tara started incorporating meditation into her practice, continuing to expand on her teachings by attending workshops, open practices, and online learning.

When her foremost place of Eastern study closed in 2006, Tara continued with her personal practice, however shifted her focus more towards her career as a paramedic firefighter, and to various volunteer projects.

Eventually, after months of sensing that something was missing from her life, Tara finally found her “Happy Place” at Yoga Centric, and felt her love of yoga reignite. She completed her RYT-200 certification in 2018, and continued her yoga education by certifying as an instructor in both Aerial, and Yin Yoga. Tara firmly feels that everyone, at any age, can benefit from yoga, and is currently working to bring both yoga and meditation to first responders, and those working is fields that are both physically and emotionally stressful.


When she's not on her mat, or in the aerial silks, Tara, an avid animal lover, can be found playing with her dogs: Saffron, Olive, Jingles and Carmen, and her hedgehogs, Clover and Livvy, or working on her quest to find Maryland's best French fries and craft beer.

Kate has a background in competitive dance and a lifelong calling towards mindful and spiritual practices. She found yoga to provide her body with a less toll-taking practice, while still giving her all the room to connect, flow, stretch and roll around the floor. After incorporating personal spiritual studies and physical yoga practice into her daily life, Kate found her way to Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca MX at the age of 20 to receive her RYT 200 certification. Kate feels she has finally found what she calls her “happy movement” to fill the void for that mind-body connection, bringing together two important values in her life of spirituality and movement. When not on the mat find Kate as a barista at Z Vault or wandering around Barnes & Noble and Sprouts, (her two happy places).

Louisa earned her degree in Integrative Studies with a concentration in resilience and well-being from George Mason University. With appreciation towards self-expression, movement and healing through the arts- Louisa minored in dance. "By showing up as I am, I aim to provide an atmosphere where you can listen and let go with ease. I teach in a way that allows you to self-observe while being supported through guided asana and breath. I strive to live a yogic lifestyle and lead my classes in a way that reflects that choice. The classes I teach are focused on the foundation of each practice with the idea that you meet yourself where you are. I teach with the intention to lead a safe class for your mind and body to flow with purpose."

Louisa completed her 200 hr program with Yoga Centric at Zenna Wellness in Berlin, Maryland and works as a Community Manager for YC.

I received my RYT200hr through Yoga Centric in the summer of 2018 as well as my Yin Certification through Richard Gartner at Yoga Centric in the fall of the same year.

I have always been searching and exploring for the deeper meaning to life. The death of my son in 2013 propelled me into a life of solo traveling as well as some very deep spiritual understandings.

I found my way to the jungles of Peru in 2015 to explore the mystical meanings to my life. I made two more trips to Peru in two years and, through months of integration, took my first yoga class in the heat of the Peruvian jungle. Upon returning from my most recent trip there in December 2016, I was introduced to a new yoga teacher beginning her community practice in a barn behind her house. I instantly fell in love with the practice, both physically and mentally. I continued to practice yoga for two years and yearned for a deeper understanding — that's when I registered for YTT.

Through the yoga community I was introduced to and experienced the benefits of Sound Healing. I noticed that there was just a small corner of the community who had any knowledge of Sound Healing or Sound Baths. This led me on my next pursuit of providing this amazing service to the community. My investment into sound therapy, or gongs to be exact, has blossomed from the seed that was planted three years ago at my first yoga class!

Lauren is a recent graduate of Yoga Centric's 2018 Yoga teacher training program. She first discovered yoga while in college after suffering a traumatic back injury. Her love of the discipline was further fostered by taking a course in yoga philosophy and Sanskrit.

As a health care professional in cardiac care, Lauren has merged her love of yoga and caring for people by introducing mindfulness and meditation techniques to add comfort to her patients. Her classes combine a traditional Vinyasa flow with a modern pop flavor. Lauren has also has a strong background in acro and aerial yoga. When not on her mat or in scrubs, Lauren loves to travel, read and paddle board with her pup Calli.

I am a lifelong learner and I am passionate about personal and professional growth. I first started practicing yoga 14 years ago as a college student as a way to move my body and ease my mind, and have continued a regular yoga practice since then. I have also been a Nurse Practitioner for almost 10 years and have worked in a variety of clinical settings, primarily in geriatrics and palliative care.

After years of aspiring to teach yoga and a sense of pandemic burnout, in addition to a strong desire to join my two worlds of yoga and healthcare together, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2022 from Yoga Centric in Bel Air, MD and I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. I believe that yoga should be accessible to all and hope to bring yoga to fellow healthcare workers, patients with serious illnesses, and geriatric populations.

Outside of this special interest, I also enjoy teaching all levels of vinyasa-based classes to the general public. With a deep knowledge of anatomy and physiology and a strong belief in the mantra “meet yourself where you are,” I aim to make every class safe and enjoyable for all. Off the mat and away from the hospital, I can be found enjoying time with my husband and two energetic boys, cooking, or seeking out the next thing to learn.

Paula began practicing yoga to connect with herself and minimize the stresses of life. Her practice deepened as she noticed how yoga began to enhance her life. Her love for Yoga and compassion for people and nature has influenced her practice and teaching of both Yoga and Breathwork. Through her own experiences and witnessing the results of clients, Paula places focus heavily on the breath through mindfulness, meditation and yoga.

Paula completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Centric to become RYT 200 certified. She is also a Certified Breath Master, Mindfulness Coach and Spiritual Lifestyle Consultant. Paula was led on this path through a journey toward self-actualization and love for humankind. She learned that Yoga connects each of her professional disciplines & allows her to serve others which is a joy as she believes that our primary purpose is enhancing the lives of others.

Samantha began practicing yoga in 2015 and initially fell in love with the practice of mindfulness coupled with the strengthening and stretching of her body through powerful flow classes. Following a tough and life-changing year, Samantha decided to pursue RYT 200 as she noticed immeasurable benefits through turning to yoga as an outlet to settle her mind and feel in tune with her body. She later graduated from Yoga Centric’s RYT 200 program in June 2021 eager to spread her passion to others through teaching.

Samantha aims to provide her students with endless support in their journey and practice of yoga in a judge-free atmosphere. Through supporting her students, her mission is to aid them in their search of healing, empowerment, self-understanding, and self-love through the power of the study of yoga. Samantha prioritizes transparency and authenticity and invites each and every individual to join her on the mat exactly as they are, free of expectations. Samantha typically teaches a fast-paced, sweaty Vinyasa class with the goal of leaving you feeling invigorated, inspired, and powerful.

To further her education, Samantha plans to expand her knowledge gaining more expertise in both the studies of meditation and Ayurveda as she highly values the full-body practice behind yoga, extending beyond the purely physical aspects.

Off the mat, Samantha works full time for a fast-paced, global affiliate marketing company and spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors, taking pride in being a major foodie, and playing with her puppy Aspen.

Here at YC, Alexis has come into her practice, which has grown into a lifestyle and inspired the pursuit of a teaching career. Starting with a personal at-home practice at the age of 18, she began to find herself in love with the valuable experiences and lessons that yoga has to offer. From growing up in Pittsburgh to living in Virginia, North Carolina and now Maryland, Alexis has always been able to rely on yoga to provide guidance along the way.

As a recent graduate of YC’s first YTT, you can find Alexis not only teaching at the studio or working as a community manager at the front desk, but also leading Paint Night workshops. Aside from yoga, Alexis loves to paint to express her creativity. She often spends her free time eating tacos and guac with the studio manager Emily!

Teaching has flourished into a lifelong journey for her, as she wishes to spread the love of yoga and share the ability to ease the mind, heal the soul and strengthen the body. Keep it simple, remember to breathe.