MEET OUR TEACHERS

  • As the owner/director of Dennis Port Yoga, Leigh has created a sacred community and home for thousands of students. She has been a teacher of the practice for over 15 years, with the intention to hold a safe and nourishing space for others to cultivate a deeper connection to self - mind, body, heart and soul.

    Leigh's classes are deeply grounding, creative, and full of love, and her kind and compassionate approach makes others feel at ease and at home in her presence. Leigh finds deep joy and inspiration in witnessing others discover and grow their own personal yoga journey, and hopes to support, nurture and encourage them along their path.

    In addition to teaching weekly classes, Leigh offers private instruction, and leads workshops, retreats and teacher trainings both within the U.S. and internationally. She remains forever grateful to all of her teachers and mentors along her path for their life-changing and ongoing contributions to her learning and growth.

  • Sam is a Cape Cod native and began her teaching journey after falling in love with the practice and the ways it transformed her life. She has had extensive training in trauma informed yoga and has a passion for helping people cope with stress and anxiety through yoga, breathwork, and meditation - a path that has led Sam to working with moms struggling with postpartum, those in recovery, and with PTSD. She is currently teaching at two local non-profits helping to make yoga accessible to all, and has her own business, Lumi Yoga & Wellness.

    Sam brings a genuine calmness and a deep sense of grounded presence to her classes, and her kind and altruistic heart shines through in her teaching.

  • Stephanie Gilrein is a certified and registered yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance. Versatile in her class offerings, you will always walk away feeling uplifted, inspired and present regardless of the style you wish to practice. Currently, Stephanie teaches restorative yoga and power vinyasa as an exciting invitation to experience both the art + beauty of slowing down as well as building + creating physical heat to transform your life- on and off the mat. Each class is organically sequenced, paired with a thoughtful playlist and will offer a common theme or intention. As a Cape Cod native, Stephanie enjoys the connection of a small knit community and you will always feel welcomed and supported in her classes!

  • Emily is a registered yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance and completed her 200 hour training in 2013 with Jill Abraham through Power Yoga of Cape Cod. Emily also received her prenatal certification in 2017 with Bec Conant through Om Births in Watertown, MA. Emily began practicing yoga as a way to physically keep in shape, but found the practice to mean so much more than a form of exercise. She quickly learned how beneficial yoga is for the connection of body, mind, and spirit. Emily aims to weave the teachings and practice of yoga in her work in the human service field. In her classes, Emily encourages students to release the heavy burden of the everyday "to-do" lists, and connect movement and breath to create a moving meditation.

  • Kerressey’s yoga practice began when she was searching for ways to counterbalance the physical and mental impacts of her career as a hairstylist. Assuming the practice would mostly benefit the aches of her body, it was the ancient wisdom and personal insights that had her completely fall in love with the practice.

    After over a decade behind the chair, helping clients feel beautiful and confident, she brings that same purpose to the mat. Her mission is to teach others how to look within and find their true authenticity through gratitude and strength. During a class with Kerressey, you can expect a consistent uplifting energy, and a flow that leaves you feeling refreshed and radiant. She believes that when we feel good about ourselves, we do better for those around us. 

    When Kerressey isn’t on the mat, you can most likely find her with a coffee in hand, going for long walks in nature, spending time with her family, or reading an interesting book. She loves learning new ways to make the most out of life, and enjoys creating memorable experiences with those around her.  

  • Jennifer Plusch is a R-500hr yoga teacher, having received her 200hr certification in 2017 at Power Yoga of Cape Cod and her 300hr advanced training in Lotus Flow through Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in NYC. She is a certified Baptiste Instructor, having completed her level 1 training with Baron Baptiste in 2019 and continuing with advancement through assisting courses and Social Impact training through the Baptiste Foundation. She has training in Chair yoga, Restorative, and is currently pursuing a 200hr Katonah Yoga Certification. However, she believes the practice is more than on the mat and has a strong desire to be of service to others. Recently returning to school, working towards her degree in social work.

    She teaches a dynamic class that is lighthearted and accessible to all with a strong concentration on the breath. She enjoys building creative sequences that build on patterns allowing the students to move freely through the shapes, empowering them to find what they need on any given day. Discovering possibilities that can show up on their mats and off. She likes to laugh and keep her students on their toes so they can get out of their heads. Taking the practice seriously but herself, not so much.

  • Meredith is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Yoga Teacher with over a decade of personal yoga practice experience. In 2022, she chose to deepen her passion for yoga by becoming a certified teacher.

    Her training sparked a deeper interest in the human body and a desire to support others on their wellness journeys. This curiosity also led her to pursue massage therapy education at Spatech Massage School, where she further developed her compassionate approach to care. In 2024, Meredith opened her own massage practice, Beachy Bodywork, in Dennis Village.

    In 2023, Meredith welcomed twins into the world. Her experiences with pregnancy and postpartum inspired her to continue expanding her knowledge in prenatal and postnatal care, strengthening her dedication to supporting people through transformative stages of life.

    Meredith’s goal is to create a safe and welcoming space where people can feel supported, strong, and at home in their bodies.

  • For me, yoga is a life path and the choices that I choose along the way. It is about connecting to the body, to the heart, to nature, to Mother Earth, to Spirit - to something much larger than this life. The practice is our greatest teacher inviting us to slow down, breathe, to move inward in order to observe, listen and investigate the fabric of our being - our light and our shadows, our joys and our fears, our humanity and our divinity.

    Yoga is how we live our lives. It is in how we communicate and connect, how we take care of ourselves, how we take care of others and how we take care of our planet. It is our ability to look beyond the physical, connect to the soul, to love and be loved with compassion, empathy, understanding and joy. It is an ever-evolving, unfolding, intimate and exquisite love story.

    I feel truly blessed to be able to share my love for the practice with others through teaching. It has changed my life completely and continues to do so each and every day. My intention as a teacher is to meet every student exactly where they are on their path and hold space for them to feel what needs to be felt and allow it to move through them - physically through the body, and emotionally and spiritually through the mind & the heart. My hope is that through this journey, my students are able to discover their own inner strength, and that place of stillness, peace and home within.

    I believe my role as a teacher is to plant the seed, help to water that seed, and allow my students to grow and evolve in their own unique and beautiful way. My classes are soulful, explorative and creative, emphasizing intuitive movement, a deep listening, connection to oneself, to nature, to spirit and to Source.

  • Eric is a student of life. He can help you get into shape inside and out and make you feel better. Eric can legally stick hundreds of tiny stainless-steel pins in you to elicit health benefits. It has been said that Eric gives a good massage. Eric used to teach high school mathematics, but he now uses those skills to help people buy and sell real estate. Eric practices and teaches yoga to help him in his pursuit of his most authentic and powerful self. Eric’s mission is to create his dream life and by doing so help you create yours. Eric loves his wife and their two beautiful daughters. He tolerates their dog Loki, but secretly loves him too. When Eric is not working really hard to help people, and he isn’t in his own way, banging his head on the metaphoric wall, he can be found enjoying the woods, the water, and the snow. Eric’s “why” is a magical life filled with time playing in the surf, the forest, and the mountains with his family and friends. In this wonderful reality, he still works hard, he still helps people, he still makes mistakes, and learns, and grows…………but the surf is always up, the sun is shining brightly, and the mountains are full of snow, and he is surrounded by babes (wife and two daughters).

  • Julie loves yoga.

    She was introduced to yoga as a teenager, developing a deeper and more steady practice two decades ago.

    She received her 200hr RYT certification in June, 2020 with Jaqui Bonwell’s Sacred Seeds Yoga.

    Local studios were closing and so she began teaching outdoors in both her backyard and at a friend’s. The transition was seamless and connecting to nature during the pandemic was grounding.

    Julie believes the benefits of a yoga practice to be more than physical postures but also a beautiful way to get out of the head and drop into the heart. The positive benefits of staying present and connecting to the inner self can transcend into daily living long after stepping off of the mat.

    Her classes are a blend of mindfulness, music and movement, helping to create a peaceful and balanced experience.

    Julie enjoys consistent learning and is passionate in educating herself about mental health issues. She has been a volunteer at NAMI since 2018, co-facilitating as a trained Family to Family leader and the completion of three F2F teachings.

    She has completed countless yoga workshops and recently received a certification in Lymphatics and Yoga with Tiffany Cruikshank and Yoga Medicine.

    Julie spends as much time as possible in, on or beside the ocean with Brownie, her chocolate lab, and works part time on a local oyster farm.

  • Cristal Gould is a certified instructor influenced by many styles of yoga. She has practiced under various teachers, creating a balanced fusion fitting for first time yogis and seasoned ones alike. While living in Florida, in 2011 Cristal received her 200 hr and has been teaching full time since. She’s happy to be back on Cape the past few years teaching and offering sound baths. Cristal loves the chance to travel, allowing her to have shared at multiple wellness festivals, international conventions and retreat centers at some of her favorite places. Her experiences are fun, intentional and heartfelt. Cristal believes yoga is a gateway back to our true self and a powerful way to access spirit. “Yoga allows us to stimulate the physical, mental & emotional bodies and surrender completely to the moment.”

  • Sid completed his 200 hr yoga teacher training from Nosara Yoga Institute in 2005. Since then he has practiced with many different teachers and has been influenced by many different styles. Sid's personal practice is a combination of Hatha(movement), Bhakti (devotion) and Jnana (meditation/truth seeking). Sid believes that through our yoga practices we can calm the mind and rediscover our own innate brilliance! With an emphasis on mindful breathing, intentional movement and concentration Sid guides his fellow practitioners to radiate their own loving awareness inward to the sensations that arise in the body. When not at work or on the yoga mat Sid can be found on the water kite sailing, on the bike trail cycling, hiking in the woods, or connecting in some other way with the natural world.

  • Ayanna has been an integral part of the DPY community for many years, as both a student and teacher, sharing her knowledge and wisdom in workshops and special offerings. She is a powerful leader, teacher, speaker, and author, who is devoted to helping empower others to become a better version of themselves, in all aspects of their life. And she does just that, and more!

    From years of research in restorative yoga, Yoga of 12 Step Recovery, and multiple trauma sensitive yoga informed programs, Ayanna has developed an approach to wellness that gives people an opportunity to release complex trauma out of the body using movement and holistic and mindful techniques. She is also an active contributor to the social justice movement and founder of “Love & Revolution,” an action based anti-racist social media group serving on Cape Cod and beyond.

    Outside of the studio you can find Ayanna dancing, writing, and “mom-ing” as a mother, stepmom, and dog mom. She is a person in joyful recovery, yogi, and a lover of breath.

  • With over 14 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, Kristen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her roles as a yoga teacher, meditation guide, energy therapist, mentor, and vibrational sound healing facilitator. She is dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for individuals on their healing journeys, regardless of their experience level. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your yoga practice, Kristen’s compassionate guidance and supportive approach make her an exceptional instructor. Kristen believes in empowering her students by equipping them with the practices and tools needed for a compassionate, joyful, alignment based experience both on and off the mat.

     As a BIPOC woman, she understands the vital importance of creating a safe space where everyone feels welcome and valued. Her commitment to the liberation, empowerment, and transformation of all sentient beings shines through in her teachings. Join Kristen on a journey of spiritual growth and healing, where you will embody your true self and flourish in a community that celebrates diversity and connection.

  • Julie Hennessy, RYT 500, began practicing yoga in 2011 as a way to become physically fit, but quickly discovered its benefits for her mind and spirit as well. She strives to incorporate the practice and teachings of yoga into her daily life, and encourages her students to relax and tune into their own bodies, to create a very mindful and personal experience.

    Julie completed her 200 hr teacher training with the Boston Yoga School in March of 2016, studying with Ame Wren and Petra van Aarem. Julie recently received her 300 hr certification from the Summers School of Yin Yoga with Josh Summers and Terry Cockburn, studying Yin Yoga, Functional Yang Yoga, Meditation and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She enjoys various trainings with Tias & Surya Little, of Prajna Yoga, including SATYA 1 and The Art of Healing: Yoga Therapy. She also completed a 50 hr Yin Yoga training with Bernie Clark.

    Julie believes her yoga journey has only just begun, and she is constantly striving to learn more through trainings, books and especially from her students.

  • Stephanie’s yoga practice is a practice of love. She is committed to sharing the transformative practice of yoga with her students. Through a fun, challenging power vinyasa class, students awaken to the potential in their physical bodies and in their lives. Her teaching and practice continues to be inspired by her teachers, Baron Baptiste, Denise Bonnaig, Jill Abraham, her own family of yogis and her amazing students!

    In addition to teaching yoga, Stephanie is CEO of a non-profit working to create solutions that address anxiety, depression, and substance misuse in teens. Stephanie is a certified yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. In addition to completing Baptiste Levels 1 + 2, she also completed a 200HR Princeton Power Yoga Teacher Training Intensive with Certified Baptiste Teacher Denise Bonnaig.

  • Victor earned his 200 hour certificate as a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2014 here on Cape Cod.

    As a full time carpenter Victor understands the benefits of proper alignment for a well supported structure. This is also important in our bodies. Victor's classes prioritize breathing, awareness and proper alignment. Yoga is boundless; like the cartoon image of leading a horse by holding a carrot on a string on a stick just out of reach. Yoga can sometimes feel just out of reach. As such breathing fully where we are is much more important than fighting to get to a position in which we cannot breathe!

    Yoga is for everyone and Victor is happy to hear any questions about yoga poses in order to better cater class to help you. Feel free to ask!

  • Michelle was born and raised in Switzerland, and lived there until a few years ago, when she moved to Cape Cod.

    Michelle completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training with Marianne Wells Yoga School in the jungle of Costa Rica. This experience helped define her practice and made Yoga a part of her life. Yoga is a beautiful way to feel more energy, grounded, and connected to the Self. After completing the training, she went on to teaching online, in corporate office settings and in public parks. Michelle also completed a pre-and post natal yoga certification.

    In her classes, Michelle likes to emphasize the ways to feeling a pose with proper alignment as well as moving through asana creatively. Her classes are designed for everybody at each level and meant as a gateway to reconnect to the heart.

  • Heather Louks is a yoga teacher, sound healer, and reiki master passionate about blending mindful movement with vibrational medicine. Trained in slow flow, restorative, and meditative practices, Heather creates spacious, grounding classes that help students reconnect with their breath, body, and inner rhythms. As a student of Katonah Yoga, Heather weaves its principles of geometry, architecture, and symmetry into her classes in a way that feels grounded and accessible. She uses the body as a map—working with lines, angles, and structure. In reorganizing the body, students often find a parallel symmetry emerging in the mind—greater clarity, steadiness, and spaciousness from within.

    A certified sound healer, she weaves crystal alchemy bowls into her yoga offerings to support nervous system regulation, emotional release, and deep rest. Her approach is intuitive, intentional, and rooted in years of study in energy work, yoga philosophy, and mind-body medicine.

    Heather also holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, which subtly informs her understanding of meridians, seasonal energetics, and holistic balance. Her classes and sessions invite students into a gentle yet powerful space of embodiment, healing, and self-discovery.