Yoga United at Brighton Team

 Meet Denyse

Bio coming soon!

 Meet Ashana

Ashana attended her first Bikram Yoga class in 2009 for no reason in particular - she just felt drawn to this yoga. As a middle school teacher for over 10 years, Ashana became disenchanted with the challenges of the educational system. Through life's personal and professional twists and turns, the only thing that has remained constant for her is to step into the hot room.

Realizing this pattern, Ashana decided to step out on faith and follow her heart, becoming certified in Spring, 2014 with the unwavering support of her two bright & beautiful daughters and the rest of her amazing family and friends.

Ashana realizes that yoga is about developing the whole person. She must really dig in deep physically, mentally and spiritually in this practice. She enjoys the stillness of the meditation, the calming effect that Bikram Yoga imparts in all aspects of her life. As a teacher, Ashana enjoys watching her students triumph through the conditions in the hot room. One of her favorite sayings by Robert Frost is "The only way round is through", as evidenced by her practice and teaching... take class and experience Ashana's beautiful energy!

 Meet Krista

 

Krista Joy Edinger
Krista sought yoga and meditation at a turbulent time in her life in 2015. Throughout her journey she learned how love & compassion towards herself is transformational in how one can successfully relate to the world. After practicing the Hot 26/2 Yoga series for 6 years, and witnessing the impact it had on her life and well-being, she felt compelled to share her experience and knowledge with others. After completing her 200hr YTT she began teaching in April 2024. Krista is a cat mom, book-worm, horror movie lover, and woodland wild child. She encourages all those around her to slow down and live presently. 

 Meet Patty

My name is Patty Mortensen. I have had a career in the financial industry for over 30 years. As far back
as I can remember, I have been dealing with severe neck and spinal problems. In 1997, after being put
on many prescription drugs for pain, Doctors informed me that I would probably be in a wheelchair
within 5 years. It was at this point that I made a conscious decision to not allow that to happen to me.
Shortly after that devastating news, I began my journey to great health and wellbeing. Through
research, study and practice, I discovered that the body has an amazing ability to heal itself without the
use of drugs. Nutrition has played a huge part in my recovery, however around 13 years ago my research
led me to the practice of Yoga. Through the study and practice of Yoga, my mind and body were given
the opportunity to truly start to heal completely. Since then, Yoga has been and will continue to be a
major part of my daily wellbeing regiment. Yoga truly has saved me from a life of mental and physical
deterioration.
I was born and raised in Lancaster County, I have three grown sons who also incorporate Yoga into their
various health routines. I enjoy hiking and kayaking and spending time with my dogs.
I am certified in several types of Yoga, including Vinyasa, Yin Yoga and 26/2 Traditional Hot Yoga.

 Meet Eileen

 

Eileen Wieder Crone, ERYT500, has been teaching yoga since 2006 and loves sharing her knowledge with others. Her "light" vinyasa style is user-friendly for all levels and fun, too. She weaves her experience as a Registered Dietitian, ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist, Kripalu-Certified Mindful Outdoor Guide into her lifestyle and teaching. Eileen is an Adjunct Professor, teaching yoga, nutrition and fitness at Harrisburg Area Community College and also teaches light vinyasa yoga at her church. She is passionate about spending time outdoors and hikes for an hour each day, swims laps twice a week and rides tandem bicycle with husband Neil.

 Meet Joel

 

It has been a good 22 years since Joel Pier began practicing Bikram Yoga while living in Key West, Florida. Joel had just returned from living in the Far East for close to fourteen years. Studying yoga, running food distribution programs in India and practicing martial arts in Japan, while at the same time traveling extensively from Beirut to Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, all ports east and exotic. When Joel arrived back in the states, some of his friends, knowing his background in martial arts and adventuring spirit, suggested he try "hot yoga". "It will be one of he hardest workouts you have ever had" they advised, encouraging him to try it. Adding they thought it would help with an old injury that had returned to haunt Joel’s life.

Having started yoga back in the sixties in California, Joel allowed that interest to take him to India from the big cities like Bombay to the plains and deserts of Maharastra, Rajastan Gujarat and Haryana. Spending time in the neighboring country to the north, Nepal, taking shelter of those greatest of all mountains the Himalayas. Joel’s journey in India started in 1974 with a visit to a small village in west Bengal know as Mayapur (famous as it's the birthplace of the amazing proponent of bhakti yoga, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). In '76, Joel landed once again in Calcutta, the once capital of the British Raj in India and the crown jewel of the British empire in Asia. Settling for the bulk of that time at Calcutta, West Bengal and in the village of Mayapur, district Nadia, on the banks of the confluence of two rivers, the Jalangi (known to some as the mystic river Saraswati) and a main branch of the great Ganga.

Pursuing his interest in Martial Arts and Yoga, Joel studied a classical style of stick fighting known in West Bengal as "Lati Keli" and practiced hatha yoga with many local teachers and participants. He also spent hours in the National Library of Calcutta researching old, out of print books in English on the subject matter of hatha yoga practice in the 1800’s and 1900’s.
Translations and renderings of old classic texts on the subject written by westerners and members of the British Raj and first hand accounts of this "new found practice" of a very ancient science.

From India, Joel moved on further into the Orient and took up residence in Japan where he lived for six years. During that time, he studied the Martial Art of Aikido - acquiring the rank of 2nd degree black belt all the while continuing his own yoga practice. The similarities of the old Vedic culture of India and the old Japanese culture of the Samurai are many and varied thus creating a very conducive environment to practice in.

While there in japan Joel had an unfortunate moment wherein old injuries from a major car accident in 1968 were aggravated, creating severe limits to the range of motion in his lower back threatening to derail the majority of Joel’s physical activities - bringing us back to that fateful moment in Key West Florida.

Within moments of the start of class and into only the second or third posture of Bikram’s yoga series Joel was faced with a crisis: "bend over and grab your heels" the teacher instructed. Fearing he would have to stop in the very beginning of the class because of his old injury Joel was filled with worry and trepidation. But in that moment, the common sense way of entering, holding and applying the pose brought an amazing sense of relief to Joel’s misgivings. Joel immediately understood that this was a way back from the painful restrictions his old injuries had imposed on him. "After the very first class, I knew it would help my back", Pier recalls. "I crawled home, and crawled back to the studio the next day" completely convinced and sold on the healing benefits of Bikram’s hatha-based yoga series.

Because of the positive effects this practice had on his health, Joel Pier felt inspired to become a teacher, and in 1995 he decided to attend to third Bikram Yoga Teacher Training program, held in Los Angeles. At the time, there were only thirty students taking the training. Today, Bikram Yoga Teacher Trainings are attended by over four-hundred students at a time. Joel Pier received direct instruction from Bikram himself, as he would teach the majority of classes and posture clinics. Bikram would give detailed descriptions regarding postures, benefits and corrections. Thus, Joel Pier acquired a vast of knowledge and insight on the Bikram series, which qualified him to be one of only a dozen instructors authorized by Bikram to give workshops.

In 2000, Joel Pier opened the first Bikram Yoga studio in Philadelphia. Because of his passionate teaching, humor, caring and charming nature, Joel has gained the respect of his colleagues and students alike. He is sought after as one of the best Bikram Yoga instructors in the East Coast.

Currently, Joel Pier resides in Philadelphia, where he teaches regularly.

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"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it"

Meet Debbie

 

 

I have over 48 years’ experience as a cosmetologist & 33 years of owning a salon. I’ve
seen firsthand the physical toll that my profession can take on the body. After starting
Yoga 26 years ago to address my back, neck, and shoulder stiffness, I experienced a
transformation I never thought possible. Yoga has given me much more flexibility now
than when I began
I’m a certified instructor in both Bikram 26/2, and Power Vinyasa Flow and have over
500 hours of accredited training through Yoga Alliance. Sharing the gift of Yoga has
become my passion; a way to help others enhance their way of life through improved
flexibility, strength and mindfulness.
As a mother of 5, and a grandmother to 12, I am soon turning 70 in January of 2025
but Yoga continues to be my personal “fountain of youth”. I was born and raised in
Elizabethtown, PA. I embrace hobbies like flower gardening (my yard), Scuba diving,
and continuously deepening my Yoga practice. Yoga is a lifelong journey of learning and
growth and I am excited to share my knowledge to help others on their own path to
wellness

 Meet Rick

My name is Rick Allen. I first started my Yoga journey when studying alternative healing practices,
philosophy, and meditation almost 20 years ago. This endeavoring has led me to the practice and
healing facets of 26/2 Traditional Hot Yoga and Yin Yoga practice. I enthusiastically look forward to
helping facilitate healing and the wholistic system of yogic being in our community.
I am a certified NACYT 200hr 26/2 Hot Yoga Instructor, as well as a 75hr Yin Yoga Instructor.

 Meet Marilyn

Marilyn first experienced the healing benefits of Bikram Yoga in the late 1980's. Practicing the 26 postures has relieved her of arthritis in the knees and ankles as well as developed strength and flexibility in other areas of her life.

She is a retired flight attendant who is active in gardening, skiing, hiking and flyfishing. A Lancaster County native she is the mother of two daughters and the house mom for two dogs and a cat. Marilyn completed the 9-week teacher training at the Bikram Yoga College of India in Los Angeles, CA on June 1st 2002.

 Meet Ryan

 Meet Kevin

I have been practicing yoga on a regular basis for about 15 years. Before that I practiced various form of exercise including BodyFlow, and QiGong, but I was hooked on yoga when I discovered Hot Yoga around 2005. I have been a pharmacist over 40 years and have seen what happens to people when then do not take care of themselves physically and mentally. My philosophy is that we all grow old but we can do it gracefully and mindfully by practicing yoga.

After attending a yoga retreat in Costa Rica in 2018, I rededicated my practice and became a yoga instructor. I received my 200 hr. Certification form BodyHeat Yoga / Ignite yoga studio in Sarasota Florida in 2020 at the age 66. I lead classes in Vinyasa Flow and Yin styles. My emphasis is teaching strength, flexibility, and balance. I encourage everyone that they are never too old to practice yoga as a way of growing older mindfully and gracefully!

 Meet Eva

 

Eva has been practicing Bikram yoga since 2007. She initially viewed yoga as just "another form of exercise", but quickly realized her mindset couldn't be further from the truth. With continued practice, she soon realized that yoga is so much more than the physical. Yoga is truly a holistic practice of body, mind, and spirit. In 2024, Eva completed a 200 hour Bikram Yoga teacher training and is now certified to teach the 26 and 2 series.

Aside from teaching yoga, Eva is employed as a board certified psychiatric nurse. She has been a psychiatric nurse since 2010 and can't imagine doing anything else! 

Eva is also a proud mom to two amazing kids. When she isn't at the studio or the hospital, Eva can most likely be found at a ball field cheering them on. 

Eva looks forward to seeing you in the studio and can't wait for you to experience the magic that is YOGA. 

 Meet Josh

 Meet Ryan

 Meet Teri

“Yoga has been a part of my life for over nine years. I started Bikram Yoga after returning from my first
Backroads Hiking Trip in Puget Sound where the hiking was challenging and invigorating. I was always
intrigued by the concept of Hot Yoga but unsure if I would be able to tackle it and used the confidence I
gained while hiking to take on the challenge. I signed up for a 30-day pass and have never looked back.
Initially my interest was increasing physical fitness. Over the past several years, my interest expanded to
exploring the mind/body connection leading me to a decision to become a teacher. I started teacher
training in January 2024 and have recently completed my certification in Bikram Yoga. I love instructing
new students who are beginning their Yoga Journey while continuing to grow and learn from other
teachers and experienced students. My hope is that you step off the mat feeling refreshed, nourished,
and balanced. It is a joy to enter the studio to teach or to practice and I am so excited to be part of the
Holistic Center for Health and Wellbeing.”

 Meet Theresa

Bio coming soon!

 Meet Crystal

 

Hello, My name is Crystal! I have been practicing Traditional Hot Yoga since 2012. Yoga has been a staple in my life ever since. When I first started practicing I was drawn to the amount of focus and determination it takes to complete the postures. The promise that "one day" I'll be in a standing split or touch my forehead to my knee is essentially what kept me coming back.

I recently completed teacher training which strengthened my understanding of our practice and grew the love that I have for yoga. I am very excited to continue on this yoga journey with fresh eyes. I hope to inspire you as much as I have been inspired by others through yoga. It is a blessing to share this practice with you. The light in me honors the light in you.