Teachers
Abby Ritter
Abby Ritter is an E-RYT 200, RYT 500 certified Hatha Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic Health Counselor trained through the Himalayan Institute. Abby believes in the importance of subtle body work, and often incorporates agni sara, aswini mudra and mula bandha into her classes. She enjoys teaching students of any skill level or ability.
Angela Ross
Angie has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She came to the practice for physical pain relief from sitting long hours and found it especially helpful for stress management. Since 2011 she’s been practicing yoga at Schoolhouse and has benefited from the diverse styles taught here. Her style is eclectic, pulling from many teachers over her years of practice. Angie encourages her students to explore their own journey and find their own practice.
Becky Gilmore
Becky completed her RYT200 training in 2015 at Yoga on the Square in Pittsburgh, and her Aerial Yoga teacher training in 2017 in Chicago. Her trainings were focused on powerful slow flow with attention to alignment, somatics and anatomy. She has moved and taught in multiple states while obtaining her master’s degree in occupational therapy. Becky loves exploring holistic health through these two fields, with all the variations and similarities (although with different language) on how we find holistic wellness through movement and the mind-body connection.
Christine Meng
Christine (230-hour RYT) was introduced to yoga when she was a graduate student in New York City. She has been practicing ever since and decided to become a yoga teacher in 2017. With a background in dance, Christine was initially drawn to the physical aspect of the asanas; however, what keeps bringing her back to the mat is the mental benefits of yoga. Christine believes that everyone who practices yoga has a unique yoga story. The role of the teacher is to help yogis write their stories in their own ways, gaining understanding of themselves, and finding balance in their lives. She is a mother of two beautiful daughters, who inspired her to bring yoga to new moms and children of all ages.
Freedom Foster-Grady
Hi lovelies, my name is Freedom! I am a disabled transgender yoga instructor and started practicing when I was 17 years old. In my classes I take the time to break down asana and focus on proper alignment. I aim to make my classes accessible for students with different experience levels, age ranges and body capacities. I offer multiple levels of intensity in various asana. This allows students to have a physically challenging class or one that respects the student's body's limitations. I have a wide background in yoga, meditation and mindfulness work to pull from. I studied multiple Masters level courses on the application of mindfulness/ contemplative practices in psychotherapy. Further, I lived in India for 8 months and took Bachelors courses in Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, Buddhism and Hinduism. I have my 200 hour certification, that incorporated Iyengar yoga practices. In my late teens and early twenties I had an athletic/ physically intensive practice. More recently I had to relearn how to practice yoga, after multiple surgeries. I look forward to seeing you in class!
Jennifer Tober
Jennifer Tober received her training through Joanne Vandenhengel/3rd Street Yoga/Schoolhouse Yoga. Jennifer has practiced yoga since 1999, and teaches many forms including Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Pre-Natal, Mommy and Me, and Meditation. She infuses her teaching with creativity, a quest for beautiful movement, and and inspiration for each student to explore and develop her/his own spiritual and physical practice. Off the mat, Jennifer is a professional actress and the artistic director of Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks. She is a mom of two amazing children, with whom she enjoys many creative and academic endeavors.
Joni Sturgill
Joni Staaf Stamford is a passionate teacher and student of yoga and mindfulness. She earned the advanced yoga and meditation teaching designation of ERYT-500 from Kripalu, plus she is a licensed professional counselor and studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition as well. For 20 years, she has shared insights on mental, emotional and physical wellness to individuals, corporate populations, cancer patients, caregivers, therapists, educators, and students of her training programs. Joni’s Plugged into Mindfulness professional development program has been adapted for school districts, counselors, first responders, and medical professionals. She is a member of the Vistage Speaker’s Bureau, an Amazon best-selling-author of Heart of All Life, a book of poetry, as well as a proud mother of two sons. Joni can be reached via her website, www.insightwithjoni.com.
Laura Kustaborder
Laura Kustaborder (she/her) is a holistic wellness practitioner dedicated to empowering you to live joyfully and thrive. She offers a range of services including transformative health coaching, reiki, meditation, breathwork, and embodied movement practices. With over 20 years of experience in health care, Laura has developed a profound understanding of the body and its systems. Her holistic journey began as a path to heal her own physical and mental traumas while discovering her true self. Laura is here to support you in making impactful changes, building healthy habits, and fostering self-growth. She works with individuals, groups, and corporate clients, and is available for workshops, events, and speaking engagements. Let Laura guide you on your journey to transform, evolve, and thrive! In her free time, you will find Laura rock and ice climbing, cycling, or enjoying adventures with her dogs, Sydney and Franklin. Learn more on her website: www.eclosionwellness.com.
Laurie Held-Ireland
Laurie has a strong background in gymnastics and has competed in triathlons. In 2003, she discovered Schoolhouse Yoga and became inspired to study yoga. She has studied with Manju Jois, Angelique Sneeden, Tim Miller, and Doug Swenson. Laurie completed teacher trainings in Ashtanga yoga with both David Swenson and Tim Miller.
Leta Koontz
Leta Koontz, E-RYT and founder of Schoolhouse Yoga, has been studying yoga since 1998. Leta trained at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India, and has completed her 200 hour certification with the Himalayan Institute and her 500 hour training with Lori Brungard. www.schoolhouseyoga.com/leta
Richard Gartner
Since 2005, Richard Gartner has been fostering a non-dogmatic and compassionate attitude about students’ abilities and circumstances in Pittsburgh and beyond. Richard’s style is paradoxically both unique and universal. His instructions allow for any student to approach the practice, embracing all levels of experience and ability. This allows for yogis to explore their own unique structure and make every practice their own. His teachings fuse traditional posture and breathwork with contemporary anatomy and bodywork. He draws from many forms of yoga, fascial release, mindfulness techniques, and common sense. Learn more about Richard at his website https://frameworksyoga.com/
Rose Silfani
After several years of practicing yoga, Rose decided to follow her passion and become a yoga instructor. She enjoys sharing the uplifting energy of yoga while leading classes and workshops. She holds a CPR certification and is a 200 hour RYT with Yoga Alliance. One of her favorite poses is balancing half-moon – Ardha Chandrasana. It feels open, expansive and truly uplifting. Her hope is that her classes promote the mantra, “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu,” meaning “may all beings everywhere be happy and free.” When is she off the mat, she enjoys supporting local farmers markets, cooking, long walks in nature and traveling when the opportunity arises.
Shikha Pasrija
Yoga, for me, is not just limited to the aspect of physical practice. It is an extraordinary experience and freedom that is gained by observing, understanding, and controlling the modulations of the mind. It is the blossoming of one into a whole being through physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. My classes generally comprise of gentle mindful and therapeutic Tao-Yin (yoga and qigong fusion) movements with focus on energy flow, yogic breathing through pranayama, chanting, meditation, and yogic wisdom to help raise self-enquiry, self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-care. You can expect philosophy from ancient scriptures to be weaved into the class. The classes are simple, casual, inclusive, and accessible to all. In addition to yoga, Shikha is a Reiki Master, Qigong instructor, Medical Qigong practitioner, and an Ayurveda enthusiast, who is dedicated to holistic living and healing practices. She is currently pursuing a yoga therapy research program with a focus on mental health, chronic pain, stress, and anxiety. Shikha is deeply passionate about giving back to her community and regularly volunteers her time and expertise with various non-profit organizations. She warmly invite you to join her on this transformative journey towards holistic well-being and inner peace.
Tara Irwin
Tara’s spiritual path began in the heart of India, where she embraced meditation through breath awareness. She naturally flowed into a love for vinyasa yoga with movements that challenge weakness and restore strength. In 2019, she deepened her practice by completing a 200-hour training with Unity Vinyasa. Inspired by teachers from around the world who have guided her healing journey. Join together in the studio, outdoors and online for mindful flows designed to rejuvenate the body and relax the mind. Classes are accessible for all levels with optional hands-on assists offered to release tension, enhance grounding and balance alignment. Outside of yoga, Tara loves exploring with her dog Pipsi, creating botanical wellness products and living her best life. Connect with her at http://www.ignitewellness.one.