Meet Our Teachers

About Leah: Leah has been passionate about yoga since she stepped into her first class over a decade ago. Spending much of her 20s traveling around the world for work, yoga was a cornerstone of consistency, grounding, and gratitude in her life. Throughout the years, Leah has had the opportunity to practice at studios in every corner of the globe, and loves to enrich her classes with new things she’s learned along the way. Leah obtained her RYT 200 training in 2022 with a focus on Vinyasa, and has been teaching classes in Pittsburgh and Seattle ever since. She has also received training in Yin and Children’s yoga.

You can expect a casual, fun approach in Leah’s classes. No need to worry about being “flexible” or a “yoga person” – just show up with comfortable clothes, a smile, and an open mind. Leah prioritizes making students feel comfortable and confident in finding what works best for their bodies… because the best type of yoga practice is the one you actually do!

Outside of the studio, Leah works as an engineer. Having worked in manufacturing and construction for almost a decade, she is passionate about making yoga approachable to people who work in those fields. When she’s not working or teaching yoga, you can find Leah gardening, cooking, working on projects around her house, and spending time with her dog Blanche and cat Tino.

About Carley: Carley’s yoga practice began in 2018 shortly after moving to Pittsburgh. Yoga helped her find focus and presence during a difficult transition in her life. In 2022, she completed her 200-hr teacher training and began teaching vinyasa classes. With a deep desire to learn more about yoga philosophy, her personal practice shifted, and she began regularly attending Ashtanga yoga classes. Carley is a devoted practitioner of the Primary series and also teaches Ashtanga classes at The Shala of Pittsburgh. While teaching is her passion, she considers herself a forever student, always seeking new opportunities to learn. She is excited to be continuing her studies through a mentorship program with authorized teacher, Taylor Hunt, and looks forward to sharing this knowledge with her students. Carley is also a certified kids yoga teacher and has regularly taught kids classes around the Pittsburgh area since 2023. 

You can expect a playful, lighthearted vibe in Carley’s classes. With her experience in kids yoga and education, she firmly believes that we do our best learning when our minds are in “play” mode. She delights in helping students make a connection with their inner child, ultimately their most authentic self. Carley is a firm believer that the most important yoga happens off the mat and delights in helping others expand their practice beyond the physical postures.

Carley works as an educator and has 10+ years of experience in autism support. In her spare time, she’s likely reading, hiking with her dog, or playing card games with friends (euchre is her favorite!).

Favorite Yoga Pose: Down Dog
Least Favorite Yoga Pose: Tree

About Ameera: Ameera has been practicing yoga for many years after falling in love with its deep history, philosophy and the natural connection of the mind, body and spirit.  She earned her RYT 200 certification in Pittsburgh and has been teaching ever since.

About Sydney: Sydney first started to explore yoga online and was immediately drawn to its calming effect. Aside from the many physical benefits, she fell in love with the ways yoga opens the mind and heart. It wasn’t until moving home to Pittsburgh after 5 years of living in Los Angeles that yoga became such an integral part of her world, supporting her through life’s transitions. Sydney’s practice grew while trying various studios around the city. It was when it brought her back home to herself that she realized yoga was no longer just a personal practice-it was something she felt compelled to share with others. That desire led Sydney to Kathmandu to pursue her 200 Hour YTT at the Himalayan Yoga Academy.

Warm and welcoming is always the goal of Sydney’s classes. Knowing yoga is for every body, she puts an emphasis on warming up all parts of the body and breaking down poses to ensure proper understanding and alignment. You’ll experience the power of your breath while cultivating presence, strength, and stability. No matter the class size, your practice will be one of playfulness and expansion.

When not in yoga class, Sydney works in tech, making movement even more vital. Disco nights, wandering the city with her favorite people and pup Lula, and seeking out nature are her favorite ways to move. Community is a pillar in Sydney’s life both on and off the mat.

Favorite Pose: Pigeon pose
Least Favorite Pose: Camel pose

About Linsey: Lindsey has been practicing yoga for over a decade. She discovered yoga while she was a student at Clarion University, studying psychology. She then used it as a way to move her body and get out of her own head. As she continued learning the philosophy of yoga, her passion grew stronger. After years of surrounding herself around a yoga community and having a daily practice, yoga became more of a lifestyle.  What she loves most about yoga is that she can forever stay a yoga student; learning and growing. She values that yoga gives the opportunity for a mindful moment to look inward.

Lindsey holds a 200-hour yoga teacher certification and currently offers sound healing in her practice. As a wellness enthusiast and Certified Recovery Specialist, she enjoys bringing community together and helping others achieve personal growth and wellness.

In Lindsey’s class, you will find an inclusive sacred space. She utilizes pranayama, mindfulness, meditation, and sound healing.

When not on her mat, you can find Lindsey paddleboarding, creating art, or spending time with her loved ones.

Least Favorite Pose: Humble Warrior

About Natalie: Natalie came to yoga at a stressful period in her life when time for herself was limited. She started taking yoga classes from video and books, then found a yoga studio close by and found community, a place of solace and peace. Yoga was something that was hers, and it felt like coming home. As she continued to practice, she wanted to learn more and signed up for the studio’s next teacher training. Her plan wasn’t to teach, but during that first training in 2011, she knew she wanted to be able to share the benefits of yoga with others. Natalie has been leading yoga classes and events throughout Pittsburgh ever since. Her yoga education focuses on Vinyasa, and includes Hatha, Yin and Prenatal yoga.

Least Favorite Pose: Wild Thing

As a teacher, she meets her students where they are at in their practice so that their journey to connecting with themselves, mind, body and soul, is a personal one; one where they feel they are driving and I’m the passenger guiding them with a map (and an aux cord, bumping awesome music)! She believes communities aren’t just spoken into existence, they bloom over time with careful attention, love, and respect. In her class, you will always have space to connect to yourself in earnest, and you’ll also have the support and opportunity to connect with others along the way.

About Kelsey: Kelsey is our meditation leader and mentor at Yoga for the People! Kelsey’s meditation journey started as a white belt in martial arts school when she was 16 years old. Her class learned to close their eyes, clear their minds, and breathe. Kelsey found all of this easy – except the part where she was supposed to clear her mind. As her martial arts school expanded into yoga, more instruction on meditation was provided and Kelsey was able to learn to meditate on the sensations and postures of the body. 

After leaving martial arts and yoga behind for several years, Kelsey re-immersed herself in both practices in 2020. She began with the basics: finding stillness in the body and focusing on the breath. After some turbulent times in her personal life and a spiritual awakening, Kelsey came to the realization that meditation might be the only way “through”, and dove deeper into the world of meditative practices and techniques, and soon found herself meditating up to 10 times per day. She started looking into whatever variety of meditation she landed on any given day. 

For nearly four years now, Kelsey has meditated nearly everyday, and specializes in finding unique opportunities to find meditation and mindfulness in day to day life and tasks. Working in the education field, Kelsey has a natural inclination to teach and mentors meditation practitioners around Pittsburgh.