Founder, Director
Founder, Director
Gail Silver, ERYT, JD.,
is the founder of Yoga Child, the Yoga Child school based yoga and mindfulness program, Co-creator of the Mind Body Birth program, and the primary teacher of the Yoga Child Teacher Training programs. After several years as a Child advocate attorney, she received her primary Yoga Certification in 1999 and received subsequent certifications in restorative yoga, Children's yoga, and Thai yoga bodywork. Gail was pregnant with her first child when she enrolled in her first Yoga teacher training program.She feels that this created in her a heightened sensitivity to the needs of pregnant women and immediately began to specialize in teaching prenatal yoga and birth preparation programs. A student of mindfulness and member of the Peaceful City Sangha, Gail enjoys teaching students to integrate the practices of mindfulness and yoga, both on and off the mat. She believes that practicing yoga and life in this way can help us to achieve optimal health and to more easily access the kindness and compassion that lies within. Gail is the author of award winning Children's book, Anh's Anger, and forthcoming children's book, Twenty Steps. She provides prenatal yoga editorials to the Expectant Mother's Guide, makes television appearances to discuss and teach prenatal and Yoga babies classes, was selected yoga consultant for PBS Kids Sprout Good Night Show, and has received many awards and honors for her classes, curriculum and Children's yoga Cd. Most importantly, Gail is blessed with the love and support of her husband, Michael, and their three children.
Aleeze Moss, Ph.d, RYT,
Completed her 200-hr teacher training at Integral Yoga Institute in Mew York City. She has a doctorate in cultural anthropology and is currently an NIH funded reearch associate at Thoms Jefferson University on a project that is studying a mindfulness-based intervention for women with cancer. Aleeze is also a graduate of Jefferson University's Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher training program.
Angela Boltz began her study of Yoga in 1999 as a student at Temple University. Intrigued by the wisdom of Eastern Philosophy, she majored in both Anthropology and Religion, combining the two into an independent study of Comparative Eastern Religions and Culture. She has been a Yoga Alliance certified instructor since 2003, receiving her primary training at Wake-Up Yoga, Philadelphia. Her continued education includes workshops and private practice with teachers such as Geri Portney, Roger Cole, Michael Fukumura, Tim Miller, Shiva Rea, Kofi Busi, John Friend, Duncan Wong, and Ana Forest. Her teaching reflects the core values of the Krishnamacharya lineage and she teaches in the Vinyasa style. Her classes explore the pulse of the breath, its relationship to the body, and the way it serves as a connection between our internal awareness and outer actions. In addition to her regularly scheduled classes in Philadelphia, she is a freelance writer, event planner, and can be found teaching yoga worldwide. She is currently hosting both national and international yoga retreats, serves as a Brand Ambassador for Manduka Yoga and is the Director of a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training Program at Montezuma Yoga Center in Costa Rica.
Amanda Jacobs
Amanda is a graduate of the 2009 Yoga Child Teacher Training Program. She teaches yoga for children at Yoga Child and in various Philadelphia area schools as well. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Amanda graduated from Temple University with a BA in Theatre, and is currently working as a Customer Relations Specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Amanda plans on returning to school in the near future to pursue a masters in Education.
Beth Leianne Curtis. CPM,MSW
is a Certified Professional Midwife, La Leche League Leader, founder of Believe in Birth, co-creator of the Mind Body Birth Program and free lance writer for many mothering and birth publications. She is the primary facilitator of many of our Birth Preparation workshops and the mother of three young children.
Brittany Policastro, Ryt, 200
Brittany completed her first 50 hour teacher training six years ago, less than one year after her first experience with yoga. In 2006 she discovered Anusara Yoga and since then has completed the 200 hour Anusara Teacher Training, two 20 hour Yoga Therapeutics Trainings, a Prenatal Yoga Training and the Level 2 Anusara Teacher Training. Brittany has also received training in kid’s yoga through Yoga Child. She has over 5,000 hour of experience teaching and was recently featured on NBC’s The 10! Show demonstrating poses for healthy backs. Brittany brings an enthusiastic and energetic approach to her classes while focusing on proper alignment, cultivating awareness and opening others up to their own magnificent potential. In 2008 Brittany created the One World Many Hearts Project in which she raised $20,000 for the Cambodia Children's Fund and in 2009 traveled to Cambodia with Seane Corn and the Off the Mat into the World Team to experience Sacred Activism first hand.
Carrie Powell
teaches children's yoga classes and workshops here at Yoga Child. She has been working with children for over ten years as an, art teacher, childcare provider, and now yoga teacher! She is a certified Reiki Master, and is currently pursuing a masters degree in Holistic Expressive Therapies for Children. Carrie enjoys incorporating yoga, meditation, and art into her children's yoga classes. She values the importance of a safe place for children to express themselves authentically through movement, breath, and creative practices. In her spare time she makes art, crochets hats, and sings her heart out!
Chae Hui Yang has been practicing yoga since 2001. In September 2005 she decided to dedicate her life to studying and sharing yoga, which led her to her first teacher training with Shiva Rea in 2006. She then moved to Central America for 17 months to immerse herself in studying, teaching, and living yoga. Chae is a certified Prana Vinyasa Flow teacher having completed an advanced teacher training with Shive Rea and has 500+ hours’ certification. Chae’s other studies include Kundalini with Gurumukh, Iyengar with Joan White, Anusara with Michelle Synnestvedt, Birkram, Ashtanga, and Thai Massage. Chae and her father immigrated to Philadelphia from Seoul, Korea in 1975. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Philadelphia University in Fashion design, followed by a career in clothing design. Today Chae has dedicated herself to serving the community through Yoga, leading benefit classes for the homeless. Another great passion for her is Ayurvedic studies, a sister science of Yoga
Gabrielle Casella-RYT
Gabrielle Casella initially became interested in yoga practices during her childhood as a result of visiting her Sikh friends & neighbors who had a private shrine/studio in their home. Stimulated by her early interest in the healing arts she began as a young adult studying Hatha and later Ashtanga yoga while in college from 1996-1998. Gabrielle immersed herself in the Chinese medical practices of Taoist internal/martial art forms by training with Master Chik Quadir Mason, founder of the Spirit Wind Internal Arts Society. She received certifications of study in various healing arts such as Kung Fu, Pa-Kua Chang, Dao Yin Yoga, Chi Kung, Tai Chi Chuan, in addition to bodywork techniques such as Lin Zi Chi Therapy & Thai Massage, as well as participating in group collaborations, demonstrations & performances. In 2000, she earned her B.A. from Temple University’s Department of Theater with an exploratory concentration in dance, music & voice. Gabrielle’s work as a healing arts practitioner and instructor continues to intersect with her work as an inter-disciplinary performance artist through the incorporation of internal and martial arts forms in combination with dance, poetry and theater presentation Gabrielle is a certified yoga teacher, registered through the Yoga Alliance. She has also studied Ashtanga Yoga with Miko-Doi Smith, Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers, Vinyasa Yoga with the Rasa School, Yang style T’ai Chi Chuan with Master Yang Jun, Taoist (Yin/Yang) Yoga with Master Pauli Zink & Thai Bodywork with Michael Buck.
Heather Dyas-Fried, RYT, PCD(DONA)
Heather is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher, as well a birth and postpartum doula (DONA). She has completed teacher trainings in Prenatal Yoga (Janice Clarfield, Urban Yoga) and Mom/Baby Yoga (Baby Om Yoga, NYC). She has a BA in Theatre Arts and has been working as an actor/activist since 1990. Heather is a founding member of Equalogy, inc., a theatre for social change based out of NYC that tours to colleges in 14 states performing plays about dating violence and acquaintance rape.
Joan Gordon began practicing yoga in northern New Jersey in 2001. In 2003 she left an executive professional life in the non-profit world to focus on yoga. Once she completed Anusara Teacher Training in Montclair, NJ she began teaching. Over the past six years Joan has trained and practiced with senior certified Anusara teachers, including John Friend the founder of Anusara Yoga. Joan’s style of teaching attempts to help enhance and reveal the beauty and spiritual qualities already present in each student. She emphasizes remembering the spiritual purpose of yoga, which includes reconnecting with our innate goodness, power and beauty to express ourselves freely and joyfully.
Jackie Koch
is a graduate of the 2007 Yoga Child Teacher training Program. She Teaches yoga and yoga dance classes for children here at Yoga Child and teaches the Yoga Child program in many Philadelphia area schools. Jackie stems from the mountains of Martinsburg, WV. Since a young age she spent her summers in Panama City, Panama where she became enchanted with salsa and merengue dancing. Pursuing her passion for dance she began taking classes, discovered a love for modern dance, and performed at the West Virginia Dance Festival. Moving to Philly, she attended University of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance in 2007. She has danced and learned repertory at the Merce Cunnigham Studio in NYC. She has had the time of her life performing with Pink Hair Affair at the Philly Fringe, Rocky Awards, music videos & various other performance opportunities. She trains in circus aerial skills at the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. There she studies the Static Trapeze, Corde Lisse, Fabric, Lyra, and Acrobatics.
Jade Groff, ERYT 200, RN, NCTMB
Jade Groff, has taught prenatal yoga since 1999. Her classes aim to empower and educate women supporting them through the use of their breath, yoga practice, meditation, and discussions. Her style is a combination of Viniyoga, Inner Fire Yoga and The Khalsa Way Pregnancy Yoga, (inspired by Kundalini Yoga). Classes guide women into deeper connection with themselves, their babies, and the magic and beauty of the journey of pregnancy, as well as helping women feel comfortable, strong and healthy in their bodies. Since 1996, Jade has served many families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum as a Registered Nurse, Doula, Massage Therapist, and Yoga Teacher.
Kimberly Mendez, SRY 200
Completed her primary 200 training in the Sarawsati River method of yoga and enjoys continued advanced philosophical study with Doctor Pratap of the Yoga Research Society, QuiGong study with Master Hou, and Anusara study with Naime Jezzeny. She has also recently enjoyed a 10 hour Bikram yoga study. In kimberly's class she enjoys the ancient wisdom of Saraswati River yoga with other forms of Yoga & principles of alignment to create a varied and unique style of her own. Kim feels that planting and sharing the seed of Yoga is her way of serving others, but is also why she is here. Kimberly continues to grow her own practice in the hopes of bringing her experiences, education and passion to her students. In her fun and inspired classes look for chanting, pranayama (breathwork) and postures (sometimes linked with flow) to provide a blend of classical and vinyasa style Yoga.
Maria Rodriguez
is a graduate of the 2007- 2008 200hr. Dhyana Yoga Teacher Training Program, as well as the 2008 Yoga Child Youth Yoga Teaching program. A practicing Buddhist & member of Peaceful City Sangha, Maria has participated in sharing yoga & meditation with many throughout the Philadelphia region, teaching Adults, Children, & Teens. She continually studies with many teachers in Yogic and Buddhist Dharma, including her beloved Kundalini Yoga teacher Dhyana, Liana Cameris, Ashley Turner, Simon Park, Kriota Willberg, Jules and Julie Febre, the Brothers and Sisters of Blue Cliff Monastery, and many,many others, to whom she is eternally grateful for their guidance & unconditional love & support
Paige Chapman
Paige was certified at OM yoga studio in Manhattan in 2003 and is inspired to teach yoga through her love of dance, movement, music, and healing. For six years she has taught a blend of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga inspired by the Iyengar tradition of integrating the body, mind, and spirit. This year she completed her Prenatal Yoga certification at OM as well. Having returned from teaching an international yoga retreat in Mozambique, Africa, Paige especially loves to teach beginner students and people who are aspiring to create more balance in their lives. Her classes are light, relaxing, playful, and deliciously rejuvenating.
Rebecca Ingalls, Ph.D., RYT
is also an English professor, so perhaps it makes sense that her first yoga class several years ago was held in the storage room of an independent bookstore in Michigan. The inspiration of those first classes led her to study Hatha, Ashtanga, pranayama, and meditation, each of which she integrates into her teachingThe greatest lesson yoga has taught her so far is one of its core principles: the knowledge is there, we just have to give ourselves permission to connect with it. Thus, in her personal practice and in her teaching her intention is to infuse the yogic philosophy of ease balanced with effort into a rigorous physical practice that aims to nurture, clarify and awaken. Rebecca's hope is that, when our physical yoga practice ends for the day, the expanse of its wisdom will continue to inform our self-talk, and to help us to let go and breathe into the present. With diligent practice, our yoga can help us to cultivate a kind, compassionate energy that recognizes our oneness despite differences.
Renata Gregori, RYT
Renata Gregori has been practicing Yoga for over ten years. She received her Teacher Certification from Satchidananda
Ashram - Yogaville in Virginia, under the guidance of one of the most revered Yoga Masters of our time, Sri Swami Satchidananda. She returned to the Ashram later as a teacher and staff member and also received her certification in Prenatal Yoga. She was on staff for the Ashram's Teacher Training program in Mexico and also at the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City. Renata has studied extensively in New York, including with notable Yogi Swami Ramananda and at the Sivananda Yoga Center. She continues to study and practice in Philadelphia. At yoga child, Renata offers prenatal, postpartum, restorative, and vinyasa yoga classes.
Robin began practicing yoga in 1999 on the recommendation of her doctor to help with stress, anxiety and migraines. She later received her 200 hour yoga teacher training certificate at Lourdes Institute of Holistic Studies and started teaching as much as she could. Since then she has studied with and been influenced by Erich Shiffmann, Paul Grilley, Corina Benner and many others. Robin’s additional certifications are in Yin Yoga and Yoga Child’s children’s yoga. She is currently studying to become an Occupational Therapist at Thomas Jefferson University. She hopes you will find her class soothing, centering and rejuvenating.
Ruchama Bilenky, RYT
is a Certified Yoga Insructor who specializes in bringing the spiritual and physical benefits of Yoga to diverse individuals and populations . She is also an actress and musician. She is inspired by Pema Chodron, travel, meditation and chocolate! Think Yoga isn't for you? Try a class with Ruchama and have your misconceptions dispelled!
Sara Tronaugh, RYT
Seven years ago, Sara was introduced to yoga after suffering an injury while on the swim team at University of South Carolina. Yoga helped her move toward full recovery while opening up her awareness of the importance of mental and spiritial heath, as well as outer physical health. She completed her 200 hour teaching certification at the Sivananda Center of Val Morin, Canada and began teaching right away. Since then, Sara has been inspired by and recieved training in Ashtanga, Iyengar and Kundalini yoga. She also is a practicing massage therapist, specialzing in Thai Yoga Massage as taught by the Lotus Palm School of Thai Massage.
Tracy Childress
Traci has been a student of yoga since 1998. A visionary, writer, teacher, consultant, and mama, she excels at creating space for personal exploration and community. In addition to her own practice, her formal yoga training has consisted of a two year apprenticeship; an Iyengar Yoga teacher training program with Patricia Walden; a month at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in India; and many hours of classes and workshops. She believes that every one should feel welcome to the practice of yoga and seeks to support this in her classes, as well as in her other work in the world.
Vishnu, M.Ayu., BA Psy., RYT, CMT
Antonio Aragona (Vishnu), with many years of experience: has a BA in Psychology, is a Certified Shiatsu Practitioner (CSP) through The Motherhand Society, Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) through the International Massage Association, Registered Yoga Instructor (RYI) through the National Yoga Alliance, AYI (Ayur-Yoga Instructor through Betheyla Anuradha), CAS (Certified Ayurveda for Self-care) and CAHE (Certified Ayurvedic Health Educator) through The American Institute of Vedic Studies. Antonio is a CAP (Certified Ayurveda Practitioner) and AAP (Advanced Ayurveda Practitioner) through Kerala Ayurveda Academy. Antonio has also obtained has Masters of Ayurveda (M.Ayu.) through International Vedic Hindu University of America.
