Meet Your Yoga Instructors

Barry Brooks, RYT®200

Barry came to yoga in 2008 after a life altering medical event left him with extensive nerve damage, chronic pain and a severe case of M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) which left him bed-ridden for long periods of time. After noticing that his first yoga class greatly relieved many of his systems, Barry started a vigorous daily yoga and meditation practice, taking 750+ yoga classes to date, which he credits in great part for his recovery.

Barry received his Level 1 Yoga certification from Tranquil Space Yoga Studio in Washington DC and completed his RYT 200 Hatha training at the Yoga Center of Columbia. Barry is also the founder of the Annapolis Yoga Facebook page and AnnapolisYogaCalendar.com - which serve as an on-line yoga community for over 2000 Annapolis area yogis and yoginis.

Elizabeth Lloyd, RYT®500, E-RYT®200

Elizabeth has been a yoga practitioner all her life. Yoga has always been a safe haven from the stresses of life for her; like a warm embrace from a loved one after a tough time, it is never judgmental, always embracing and forgiving. Elizabeth is a certified Vinyasa, Kundalini and Raja Yoga instructor. Her classes emphasize the connectivity of the breath to movement. Elizabeth enjoys infusing meditation and mantra into her practice to elevate the body, breath and spirit. Off the mat she tries to live her life the yogic way - with grace and gratitude. Elizabeth completed her TTC900 in Raja Yoga, and periodically goes to Kerala, India to continue her yoga training with her guru Swami Santiprasad.

Jennifer Mims, RYT®500

Jennifer first experienced yoga at age three. She continued to practice asana throughout her life and began a deeper study of yoga sixteen years ago. In 2005 she earned a 200 hour teaching certificate from YogaWorks and is currently working toward her 500 hour certificate. Her advanced coursework includes vinyasa yoga, Ayurveda, prenatal yoga, sutras and philosophy, pranyama, restoratives, yin yoga, and anatomy. Jennifer believes yoga is an accessible tool for anyone who wishes to calm the mind, rejuvenate the spirit, and refresh the body. Her classes are alignment-based and include asana, pranyama, and meditation. Her students range in age from five to eighty and she has worked with many special needs including autoimmune disorders, stroke recovery, hip replacement, and depression. Adapting yoga to each student so he or she receives maximum benefits is her delight.

Dana Opalinsky, RYT®200

In 2001, Dana experienced her first yoga class and has been practicing ever since. Dana is a graduate of the Golden Heart Yoga, RYT200 hour Immersion into the Yoga Tradition program. Dana was drawn to the program because she wanted to learn the philosophy behind the yoga classes she had been taking. She is honored to introduce students to the path of yoga and to teach them how to take their practice out of the studio and into their everyday lives.

Diana Schneider, RYT®500

Diana has been practicing yoga since 1996. She completed her 200- and 500-hour training at Golden Heart Yoga with Jenny Otto and Lynn Matthews. She enjoys the balance yoga brings to her busy life, and is especially interested in helping students develop a regular yoga practice that meets their personal needs. She spends her days working as a public health epidemiologist, and also enjoys swimming, cycling, gardening, cooking, and reading. Diana is currently working toward an advanced Viniyoga Teacher Certification with Gary Kraftsow, Mirka Scalco Kraftsow, and faculty of the American Viniyoga Institute, and studies yoga anatomy with Leslie Kaminoff.

Mary Richert

Mary came to yoga as a teenager in 1999 and found the practice to be a refuge amid the many challenges of growing up. From that first experience, she learned that yoga creates a powerful opportunity to make peace with ourselves and one another. Over the years, she has practiced Kirpalu, Kundalini, vinyasa, and hot yoga and completed the 200 hour hatha teacher training program at Golden Heart Yoga in 2011. Her classes aim to invigorate the body while calming the mind and soothing the spirit so each student can find peace, joy, and well-being.

Aimee Seal, RYT®500

Once Aimee attended her first yoga class in 1996 it did not take her long to realize the profound sense of serenity, empowerment, and physical strength yoga offered. Previously a fitness instructor, teaching yoga seemed like a natural progression. With a psychology background and fueled by the desire to delve deeper into understanding yoga principles, philosophy and spirituality, she completed her 200 and 500 hour teacher trainings at Golden Heart Yoga in 2009 and recently attended a prenatal yoga teacher training with Jacci Reynolds. As a special ed/home teacher she incorporates breathing, stretching and relaxation to help students relieve stress and gain focus and confidence. Integrating breath with movement, Aimee shares her passion for yoga while guiding students on their individual journeys toward discovering peace, joy, and creative expression.

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