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.

Yoga to me is creating space free from challenges in your own journey to live life to the fullest. With a background in competitive sports, I was never blessed with natural flexibility which at first, turned me away from yoga. Not until I was exposed to the mind and body connection through breath did I fully become a practitioner. While the asanas are fun to explore, the true relief, for me, comes from linking my breath to my practice and treating each sequence as a moving meditation.

In my classes, I have fun combining creative sequences for all level practitioners. Whether you have been practicing for 10+ years or stepped onto your mat for the first time, you will have the chance to explore your edges, find peace and practice self-care. My wish is to help fellow yogis manifest their needs so that they can live a life full of peace and harmony.

Hannah doesn't remember much about her first yoga class in college, except wondering when savasana would end. Over the next few years, however, she began to view yoga as so much more than a workout, but a way to work inward, too. Through the general chaos of being a 20-something, her yoga mat always felt like a portal to clarity, calm, and balance. She graduated from YogaCentric's 200-hour training in April 2019, and today is more likely to have to be prodded out of savasana (blame it on the lavender towels).

Hannah is honored to be part of the YogaCentric community and to support others in their own personal journey. In her spare time, she fashions herself a Spotify sleuth and spends way too much time making yoga playlists.

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!

Chelsea is certified 200 hr yoga teacher. She believes practicing yoga on and off of your mat is the key to a happy and healthy life.

She married her husband in 2012 and is a mother of two wonderful little boys. Growing up, she was considered the social butterfly of her family. She is an optimist and always strives to help people in anyway she can. With her welcoming and outgoing personality, Chelsea is sure to lead a fun and comfortable class.

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.

Misty comes from an adventurous background. From competing in endurance races to rock climbing, and free diving with sharks, she has a desire for living life to the fullest. While trying to keep her body healthy physically, she realized that she must also keep her mind healthy.

As a recent graduate from Yoga Centric in Bel Air Maryland, she has found a desire to help individuals through mediation, positive thinking, and mindful movements. Her goal is to have a kharma inspired yoga philosophy of helping individuals mentally and physically through donations and good deed actions. In her free time, she is an award-winning photographer and still has a love of adventure. If you see her hiking on our local trails, stop and say “Hi” and you will leave with a smile.

Nick began his yoga journey in 2017 to increase his physical stamina as an airport firefighter. Over the next several years he found himself drawn deeper into the mindful movements that yoga has to offer. After realizing how closely related breathwork and heated vinyasa were to the work he performed in his professional career, he decided to pursue a deeper understanding of the practice through Yoga Centric’s 200-hour teacher training. Many amazing teachers and mentors have encouraged and guided him along the way including Emily Glasgow, Tara Lundon, Alexis Yauch, Courtney & BJ Hart, and Candice Hennessy.

As a yoga teacher, Nick is focused on helping his students and clients find growth and balance in their physical bodies to foster a greater mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He gives gentle encouragement through grounding, breathwork and flow. During his classes, you can expect the exploration of space and stillness between each movement to foster a connection between the body, mind, and spirit.

In addition to his love of yoga, Nick is a Level 2 Reiki practitioner. He brings healing energy to his students and clients by advocating patience and kindness as they journey through their Vinyasa. Nick brings an immense amount of experience to the table with his diverse background in many disciplines. He has extensive leadership and management experience as an Air Force Officer with over 13 years of service. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Wildlife Science and Canine Science and has lived and traveled all over the United States and Europe.

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.

Come rock your Flow - Sunrise Yoga with Adonia!

It was Love at first pose for Adonia. Stepping foot in her first yoga class 12 years ago. She found yoga with the intention of getting back into shape after her second child, but soon realized there were so many more benefits of yoga than the exterior results. Wanting to deepen her practice and continue to see where the journey would take her, she completed her Vinyasa Flow 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Master Susan Smith of One Yoga over five years ago to become a Certified RYT through Yoga Alliance. Through the gift of teaching she went on to earn her Accreditation with Yoga Alliance as a 200hr E-RYT.

Adonia teaches a lively, sweaty, and FUN class, emphasizing living your life fully and not taking yourself too seriously.

With a soulful & invigorating expressive flow she will sprinkle in traditional and playful sequencing along with great music into each class. She encourages students to have a healthy curiosity about their edge, “when we create new edges for ourselves on the mat it trickles out into the world and we begin to create new edges in our day to day lives.”

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.

Courtney found yoga during a time of great change in her life. She had drastically changed her lifestyle to improve her mental and physical health and along the journey (after many recommendations from a loved one) she stepped onto a mat.

On her mat, Courtney could finally step into the stillness, clarity, and power she had been yearning for; she began to internalize peace within herself. Courtney relished in the mind-body connection of yoga as it built upon her academic studies of mental health.

Courtney completed her 200-hour certification program through Red Lila Yoga School in July 2016. Off the mat, Courtney enjoys hula hooping, being outdoors, writing and hanging out with her rescue cat.rove her mental and physical health and along the journey (after many recommendations from a loved one) she stepped onto a mat.

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 Kristen, yoga is like magic. She took her first hot yoga class over a decade ago and was immediately in love with the energy it brought to both her body and her mind. A restless seeker at heart, she knew yoga would be a powerful force in her life, and would help guide her towards happiness, peace and strength.

She found an even deeper commitment to yoga after the birth of her second son and soon felt the desire to share its powers with other seekers like herself. After falling into a passionate love affair with Aerial Yoga she also completed her Aerial Yoga Teacher Training with Kim DeAngelis in early 2019. In 2020, she completed her 200 Hour Vinyasa Teacher Training here at Yoga Centric in Bel Air.

As a teacher, Kristen hopes to help others find more love in themselves and their lives. Her own journey with anxiety and depression has given her a deep appreciation for self-care and mindfulness and she encourages others to allow yoga to open their hearts and let the light in. All levels of yogis are welcome to her classes to escape the noise, challenge their bodies and find their own magic.

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.

Ashlee’s yoga journey began in 2015 thanks to her husband who gave her that final push. Ashlee practiced sporadically over the following few years, but in 2020 yoga became passionate enough to register for a new adventure. After only a few months, she made the commitment to become a yoga teacher, and in 2021 received her certification from Yoga Centric.

Outside of yoga, I Ashlee works as an ARRT registered MRI Technologist and spends time with her husband and two dogs- Weston and Twyla.

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.

Amanda Pierce has been practicing yoga since 2003. She found yoga in college beginning with a home practice and continued to practice through her pregnancy and after the birth of her daughter. Today, she is still finding yoga’s many benefits for overall health and wellness and sharing them with her students.

The link of breath and movement was compelling and inspired her to teach and share yoga with others. Not long after in, 2014 Amanda received her 200 hr certification from One-Yoga of Delaware.

Amanda’s passion is helping others enhance their overall health and well-being and is always sharing her fun and loving style with her students.

“I came to yoga for the physical practice and through this practice discovered my own individual strength and learned to release and let go. I truly feel that yoga is for everyone and that it will give you the key to unlock whatever hidden potential you might be searching for, and in the process you may find so much more. Yoga is a gift that I love to share, so others too can find their inner light and let it shine.”

Paula began practicing yoga 5 years ago to connect with herself and minimize the stresses of life. Her practice deepened within the past two years 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 Breath work Therapy. Through her own experiences and witnessing the results of clients, Paula places focus heavily on the breath through fitness, 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 towards 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.

Angela’s love affair with yoga began in 2001 when she took a Hatha yoga elective course in college. However, things only got serious three years later when she joined a Baptiste affiliate studio in Dallas. From then on she’s been hooked! Yoga is a constant in her life and she enjoys exploring all of its aspects (physical, spiritual and philosophical) and different formats of yoga.

Like most, she was originally attracted to yoga for its physical benefits, but it's the spiritual aspect that keeps her coming back to her mat. Once that spiritual seed took root, Angela realized that sharing the joy of yoga was her true passion.

When she moved to Chicago in 2009, her fashion career took a back seat and she enrolled in teacher training with CorePower Yoga. Since completing her power training in 2010, she has gone on to train in Yin and a Bikram inspired Hot Power Fusion format. In each class, she aims to help her students find a deeper mind/body connection through breath work. She believes that it is through the breath that we tap into our inner True Self where our spirituality dwells.

While getting her BA of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia and working at a yoga/acupuncture center, Laura started practicing yoga. Laura was a cheerleader and gymnast throughout her younger years, so she instantly connected with the physical aspect of yoga. However, as Laura learned more about yoga she was drawn to the stress/anxiety relief and relaxation that yoga offered her. In 2012, after practicing for nine years, Laura received her 200 Hour YTT certification from Asheville Yoga Center.

As a Yoga Teacher, Laura encourages students to focus on alignment in their practice and deeply connect with their movement and breath. Laura creates a comfortable environment for her students where they can open their hearts, relax into each posture and be playful in their own practice. She encourages students to smile and have fun! Laura brings a laid-back, playful approach to class, making yoga fun and accessible for every type of body and level. Laura’s practice is a combination of vinyasa and restorative. She loves working with beginner and intermediate students, athletes, military, kids, pre/postnatal and seniors.

In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with her babies and husband and fur kids, traveling and being outdoors.

Amanda began with a love to run and push her limits with racing and high intensity training. After injuries and little recovery, she needed to find a balance to all the intensity of her workouts and running. She started a consistent yoga practice while pregnant with her son in 2013, In 2016, Amanda felt inspired to teach and commit to a life anchored by yoga, she earned her 200 RYT at Yoga Centric in Harford County.

With a guiding philosophy of always being a student, Amanda has completed her Prenatal Yoga Teacher training as well as Pilates training as a way to teach a well-rounded, alignment-based class. She has a passion to teach yoga to athletes, mamas-to-be and those looking to incorporate balance and ease with their training and everyday life.

Amanda is still busy being a mom to her son, Max, and committed to her graphic design career, but possesses a certain calm. Her classes bring a sense of balance between hard work, self-improvement and exploration to a more peaceful state of mind and being.

As a student of Nutrition & Dietetics at West Chester University Emily was first drawn to yoga to receive physical benefits, but quickly came to find that yoga offered way more. Yoga offered her growth in other aspects of her life that keeps her coming back to her mat. She finds that whenever she steps on her mat there is always something new to discover. She encourages her students to deepen their practice and let go of all expectations!

Emily also is currently studying nutrition and dietetics at West Chester University. She loves to share her passion with others and encourage everyone to take on a healthy lifestyle! When she is not on her mat she is either in the kitchen cooking, taking her dog on a walk or taking a group fitness class. She also is a certified group fitness instructor and a dog lover. Emily hopes to inspire you to reach new limits on and off the mat.

After practicing yoga on and off for nearly a decade, Jen found herself deepening her personal practice at Yoga Centric in 2016. Then a few months later, she enrolled in Yoga Centric’s first-ever Teaching Training — and there was no turning back!

At YC, Jen learned that yoga is for everybody and every body, including herself. Jen enjoys teaching yoga to all levels, especially beginners (just say yes to props and modifications!). And she loves restorative yoga — both teaching and practicing — because as a former TV newsroom journalist and marketing account executive, her mind and body are still recovering from living in a constant state of fight or flight!

Jen completed her 200-hour certification program in April 2017. Off the mat, she loves reading and listening to podcasts, going to the beach and hanging out with her husband, stepson and fur babies.

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.

Katherine began taking yoga classes in college as a form of cross-training for her lifelong passion of dance. It was not until a few years later, when she was going through a period of transition and personal growth, that Katherine began to experience yoga as something more than just the physical asana practice. After deciding against a career in dance, Katherine began to spend more and more time on her mat, finding solace in the mind-body-breath connection.

In August 2016, Katherine completed her 200 hour yoga certification at Yoga District in Washington, DC, where her program focused on Dharma Yoga, Power Yoga and trauma-sensitive yoga. Katherine most enjoys taking and teaching Vinyasa yoga classes because of the emphasis on linking breath with movement to flow — or dance — through the sequence. To Katherine, one of the most amazing aspects of yoga is the opportunity to start each practice anew, without expectations or judgment.

Katherine takes and teaches classes at Yoga Centric, where she is inspired by the dedication of the teachers and compassion of the community. When she is not in the yoga studio, Katherine enjoys traveling, taking walks, organizing and spending time with family and friends.

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.