About Us
Julia Kalish, eRYT-500
How did you get into yoga?
I found yoga one day in 1998 as I was at my gym looking for a new class
to try. Back then, I was really into working out because I was about 25
pounds overweight and a stressed out management consultant. The gym was
offering a “power yoga” class – I was hooked! At first I saw yoga as
just another workout. I would be bored during savasana and wonder how
long I was going to have to wait until it was over. But the more I
practiced yoga, the more I noticed that I was changing in ways I hadn’t
expected. I was becoming more interested in cultivating healthy habits
and thinking about my life differently. I noticed that I felt really
great on my yoga mat in a way that was much different from when I took
aerobics or body pump classes. I started reading yoga books and
learning more about the practice – from there I worked my way to
signing up for a teacher training!
How long have you been teaching? I’ve been practicing since 1998, and I started teaching in 2005.
What’s your favorite yoga pose? This changes constantly! I am really into shoulderstand right now.
What is your educational background? I have my BS in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and my MBA from Yale University. I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training with Doug Keller and Susan Van Nuys at Health Advantage Yoga Center, and my 500-hour training with Shiva Rea. I also hold a Certified Nutritionist certificate.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to take yoga classes from other teachers, as
well as pratice on my own. I walk my dogs a lot – about 2-6 miles every
day. I also like to read novels, knit, bead, and cook. I love to bake! I also recently
became a “blogger!” www.doubledogyoga.blogspot.com.
Kat Reeves, RYT-200
How did you get into yoga?
I have always been drawn to yoga and had collected several DVDs early on, but it wasn't until 2003 when I was living in Hong Kong that I experienced my first real instruction in yoga. I happened to meet a Swami who was visiting from India in order to establish his school in Hong Kong. A friend of mine asked me to go to a class with her, and I did. I felt the powerful effects of yoga immediately, and it changed my life. I started a regular practice, and soon signed up for Swami's teacher training. I quit my job in Hong Kong and spent a month assisting Swami with his classes before returning home to the United States.
How long have you been practicing and teaching?
After my teacher training course in Hong Kong, I gave private lessons for a few years, and then enrolled in the teacher training at Health Advantage Yoga Center in 2007. I completed the training in 2008 and started taking on larger classes.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
I adore the liberation and heart-charging energy of backbends. My "favorite" changes all the time, but my favorite backbend is currently eka pada rajakapotasana.
What is your educational background?
I have completed two 200 hour yoga teacher training classes, and am currently finishing my undergraduate degree at George Mason University. Over a decade ago, I went straight to college out of high school, but found that I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. So after my junior year, I took time off to work. That break lasted a decade, during which time I was able to build a career in internet networking. But now I'm back in school, and studying Biology. I'm currently taking human anatomy and physiology and find that studying the intricate mechanisms of the human body enhances and deepens my asana practice.
What do you do in your spare time?
The primary thing I do in my spare time is enjoy the company of my family: my husband and my two dogs, who make me smile nonstop. Aside from that, I seem to be a collector of hobbies. My primary hobby is cooking and baking, and I love researching nutrition as well. I also enjoy crafts, and I knit, sew, and make jewelry. I dabble in photography and interior design too when I can find the time!
Chris Newcomb
Chris is a certified yoga instructor and has studied under the affiliate Shiva Rea program of Prana Flow with Maria Garre and Julia Kalish.
How did you get into yoga?
I discovered yoga in 2007 while going through a difficult life situation and quickly fell in love with it. Not only did I find ways to manage stress, I found yoga to be physically challenging and mentally balancing as well.
How long have you been teaching?
After practicing yoga for over one year, I decided to take the leap and learn to teach yoga so that I could share the message of the benefits of yoga practice with more people. I started teaching yoga in 2009 and the journey continues to bring peacefulness and joy into my life and I hope to share this with students.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
My favorite poses are arm balances! I think they are fun and challenging:)
What is your educational background?
I have a BA in English from George Mason University. I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training with Maria Garre and Julia Kalish at Flow Yoga in Leesburg, VA, a Shiva Rea affiliated program of Prana Flow.
What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time I love to coach field hockey, softball, and volleyball. I have three children, two dogs, and a husband of 17 years! Yes, I keep very busy! I love to practice yoga at a studio, hang out with friends and family, and yes I love to cook too!
Kristen Day, RYT-200
How did you get into yoga?
My mom first introduced me to yoga in 2001. I was very skeptical about going thinking I was going to be bored. But after that first class, I realized that yoga was exactly what I needed. I was initially drawn to the practice as it was helping alleviate some back pain that I was experiencing. As I continued to practice yoga more, I noticed that it was creating radical changes in my body and in my life. The biggest of which was the strengthening of my core muscles, which led to better posture and no more back pain. In addition, the more time I spent on my mat, my outlook on life and my general happiness was significantly elevated. Something told me that it was part of my destiny to bring the joys of yoga to people, which led me to enroll in a teacher training program.
How long have you been teaching?
I’ve been practing yoga since 2001 and I have been teaching since 2007.
What’s your favorite yoga pose?
I am very drawn to standing balancing poses at this point in my practice. I find them liberating and feel that I am free and flying while performing them. My favorite is natarajasana, dancer’s pose.
What is your educational background?
I have my BS degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry from Virginia Tech. I completed my 200 hour training at Flow Yoga in Leesburg VA. I have also completed teacher trainings in Chair Yoga with Lakshmi Voelker and Kripalu YogaDance with Megha Buttenheim.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to cook healthy, wonderful tasting, whole foods! I have a passion for supporting the local farms and try to source as much of our food from them as possible. I am an avid swimmer as swim with my local Master’s swim team. And I am a blossoming runner as my yoga practice has taught me how to run without injuring myself.
