Who we are
- Meet Our Band of Gypsies -
The intent of GypsyYoga108 is to provide an environment where Yoga Studios, Yoga Teachers, and Students of yoga can gather and grow as a community.
Band of Gypsies
Lynne Avallone - Yoga Instructor -
A true yoga gypsy, Lynne teaches an exhilarating style of yoga fusion, mixing Kundalini with Vinyasa flow, combined with core and strength poses. Lynne's journey into yoga began over 15 years ago. Through the practice of yoga she is able to connect with her divine self, and she feels the desire to help others unlock their true selves in the way she has been able to do. Lynne received her yoga teacher certification at Sacred Movement Yoga with Kristina Hupp. She is also certified in Reiki, and has attended workshops at Kripalu with Shiva Rea and Demetri Velisarius. While visiting her daughter in New York City she enjoys taking different yoga classes and is excited to share her experiences with all of you. She is ecstatic about joining our band of gypsies, and says, “Without yoga, I would never have truly learned how to breathe…”
Karena Virginia - Yoga Instructor -
Karena began her career as a spiritual teacher while working in the entertainment industry as an actress and model. Meeting many beautiful people on her journey, she began to recognize the human need for sharing and uplifting one another with heart centered compassion as a tool for happiness. Ever since childhood she has had a sensitive and profound love for humanity, and has practiced opening her heart while embracing the divine connectivity between all. As a certified healer and yoga instructor registered in the Kundalini and Hatha schools for nearly twenty years, Karena brings accessibility, wisdom and hopeful transformational healing to her teachings. Karena encourages students to connect powerfully with their truth through love, compassion, inner beauty and radiance. She believes we can be our own instruments in dramatically and positively enriching our lives once we accept and align ourselves with the gracious gift of attracting miracles by illuminating our brilliance with light and gentle surrender.
Jennifer Howell - Yoga Instructor -
A true force of nature, Jen creatively weaves her musical vibrations with a flowing Vinyasa. Her personal, grounding-yet-expansive yoga experience reverberates in each class, to share the energy that has touched her life so deeply. Jen brings her humble rocker energy to her classes while guiding all through their own parallel, personal journey. Studying PranaVayu Yoga and Fluid Yoga with yoga rockstars like Betty Riaz and Kevan Gale has expanded her limits — both physically and mentally — transforming her life on and off the mat. She finds her values closely aligned with yogic philosophy and feels she has only scratched the surface of what life has to teach.
Jen’s goal is to help people find the path of happiness through developing space for transformation in an encouraging and open environment by drawing on creative skills, experience design and humor.
Jen finds inspiration in others. Her classes and creative works reflect her quick wit and warm humor, allowing many to connect with her easily. Her deep background in event design has made Jen an expert in creating “now” experiences. Applying this unique background, Jen is able to combine music, sweat, breath, laughter and love to unite those around her. Yogini, philosopher, misguided karaoke enthusiast and smart aleck, Jennifer hopes to find friendship with everyone she meets.
Jerry Urban - Yoga Instructor, RYT -
Though his primary influence is Shiva Rea, it would be hard to exclude any instructor that he's ever practiced with or any number of styles of yoga that he's touched upon. Inspiration comes in many different forms and occasionally it requires a change or shift to find where it's hiding. Each teacher sharing their inspirations and practice provides a new and different avenue of thought or perhaps, a new path to follow.
Have you ever come into something that you knew would change your life forever? This was yoga for Jerry. But it was not an immediate change or something readily apparent, at first. It was a slow and steady progression through years of practicing and quitting and practicing some more, slowly gaining little awakenings, transitions and transformations, and on occasion, even recognizing them. Each time he went away from yoga, there was always something bringing him back, usually a girlfriend. And then one day, it just stayed with him. And he's been thankful ever since. So come and do a little digging with Jerry, you might like what you find.
Demetri Velisarius - Yoga Instructor -
Demetri is an E-RYT-certified Prana Flow Yoga teacher, AFFA-certified personal trainer and cycling coach and continues his studies with meditation masters in the Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu tradition. He has completed numerous pilgrimages and retreats over the past 20 years including a cloistered 108 day Tibetan yoga and silent meditation retreat with Lama Willa Baker. Demetri is dedicated to the living dharma and his teachings are drawn from his varied life experiences from the authenticity of the streets to wisdom of mountain retreats.