Deborah Corsitto has maintained a consistent, beloved, personal vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga practice for nearly two decades and has been sharing her passion for yoga in and around Port Washington for 13 years. She received her 200-hour teaching certification at Om Sweet Om Yoga in 2010 and her 500-hour advanced teaching certification, with an emphasis in yoga therapeutics, in 2016. She has also undergone intensive training in Ashtanga yoga with master teacher David Swenson and an immersive study of restorative yoga with the amazing Gail Grossman. She is forever grateful to her many teachers, most especially Gail Grossman, Lisa Bondy, Cora Wen, Jean Aronoff, Sara Intonato, David Swenson and Shelly Washington, as well as the many teachers she’s met in workshops throughout the years. Deborah was a teacher trainer herself for six years at Om Sweet Om and currently enjoys offering her group classes and private clients a playful, challenging and nurturing flow, where her students can
both have fun and explore their perceived limits,
both physically and mentally, and safely move past them.
Gail Grossman, Yoga Educator, Author & Guide. Considered a teacher of teachers Gail has been sharing the gift of yoga for decades. She educates and supports Yoga Students & Teachers to develop their skills and maximize the benefits of this ancient practice using a modern approach developed over 20+ years.
Gail's book Restorative Yoga for Life has ranked in the top 1% of Amazon book sales. Her audience extends far beyond the established yoga community, reaching many who have never had a yoga practice.
Gail has been a presenter at Yoga Journal Conference, Ahimsa Yoga Festival, and has been a contributor for Yoga Journal Magazine and other periodicals.
Gail’s passion and dedication is to share the multidimensional gifts of yoga that include the physical benefits, as well as the emotional and spiritual components that lead to a meaningful life. Her students describe her as a very nurturing teacher who skillfully guides a transformative experience that leads to a felt sense of relaxation, grounding, and joy.
Gail Grossman Yoga works with individual yoga students in a one on one capacity and also teaches group classes, workshops and trainings and yoga retreats.
The education of yoga teachers is Gail’s true passion. She has trained hundreds of people and has travelled around the World to share yoga’s gifts with others.
Having sold her yoga studio Om Sweet Om in 2018, Gail Grossman Yoga has focused on creating an online community called The Center where she teaches live classes and has a large library of classes ranging in length and style.
She teaches a once a month practice which takes a deeper dive into aspects not available in an online format at Commune and is thrilled to be in contact with the Port Washington community again.
Yoga first came into Beth Lipset’s life from her then 2 year old daughter, who was enrolled in preschool and participated in yoga as an activity. Beth loved how her daughter had more body awareness and became more focused. She decided to begin practicing yoga herself.
In 2008, life events escalated her practice of yoga into Beth’s “off the mat” life when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Yoga not only allowed her to regain her strength and flexibility after several surgeries, but it also allowed her to find the strength in her mind and focus on her outlook on life. Wanting to share and give back all that yoga did for her, she enrolled in the yoga teacher training at Om Sweet Om. In the summer of 2011, she became a Yoga Alliance RYT 200 teacher, as well as a YogaKids instructor and has been teaching on the North Shore ever since. Throughout the years Beth has become certified in Restorative, Reiki I and is currently working toward her RYT 500 certification with Brett Larkin through Uplifted Yoga. She loves sharing all that she is learning with her students.
Beth loves teaching to any age group and believes it is never too early or too late to find your joy and love of yoga. In any given week, you will find Beth teaching Open Level flow classes, Beginner/SLOyoga, Gentle Yoga, Alignment Yoga, Chair Yoga, kids classes, as well as preschool yoga. No matter who she is teaching, Beth finds that being able to share the fundamentals of yoga and help people develop a practice, incredibly rewarding. She loves to integrate many music styles within her classes and it is not uncommon to hear the Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin or Miley Cyrus in one session.
She goes by the saying “have peace in your thoughts, have peace in your words, have peace in your heart.”
Beth lives in Port Washington with her two daughters (when they are home!) and her beloved rescue dogs, Ty and Moose.
Check out Beth and her great music!
Cathy Riva, founder of the wellness brand Celebrate Everyday, is a business coach, reiki master & ADHD teen advisor, bringing tools and awareness to manage stress and maintaining mental health into corporations, such as Viacom, Endeavor, Pryor Cashman; schools, k-12; as well as leading wellness retreats and team building events across the globe. Her passions include bringing information to people that can help improve their life, self growth, and family. She honed her event skills for over 10 years as the CEO of Riva Events and is the former host of Discovery Channel's show Party Girl and Today Show contributor. Discovering inner celebration, she found mindfulness as a way to ease her own stress and search for deep connection to her purpose and passion. You can find her new breath work video series and classes for teens at
Elena is a yogi, comedienne, and modern shamanic practitioner. Viewing the practice as a form of sacred moving meditation, she invites her students to connect to their higher self within and use the breath to guide their movement. Armed with the gift of humor, Elena soothingly challenges students to build both mental and physical flexibility.
Elena creates a living temple in which you’re free to flow.
When coming to her classes, you can expect to feel held in a ceremonial-like sacred space. She encourages the releasing of breath through voice, and the flowing of your poses in a way that feels best for you – releasing all expectations of what a yoga pose ‘should be’ and providing a space
for you to explore how the poses feel in your body.
Her Open level classes are Vinyasa flow, while incorporating gentle stretching and intuitive movement. Playlists vary from tribal beats
to gentle contemporary, inspiring cinematic–like soundtracks, and even West African music. A feast for the ears is in store for you! Elena also teaches prenatal yoga for a beautiful experience between mom-to-be and baby.
Elena studied and taught at Port’s Om Sweet Om beginning in 2011.
Training with teachers from Brooklyn to Bali, Venice Beach to Peru, or Australia to the Amazon, Elena has been seeking knowledge from the
far corners of the earth to share with her clients.
Most recently she’s been living and studying yoga in Paris.
Elena was born and raised on Matinecock land in Port Washington.
Instructor Adina Dabija is a New York State Licensed Acupuncturist
nationally certified in Oriental Medicine by
the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She holds a Clinical Master Degree
from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and
formal certifications in Medical Qi Gong
from the Institute of Classical Asian Studies, New York. Adina is also an orange belt level kung fu practitioner.
She lives in Port Washington.
Rosemary is a Port native who is happy to have the opportunity to offer sound baths at Commune. Rosemary began her sound journey as a client and experienced a life-changing transformation. This led her to The Sound Healing Academy where she was able to study the science of sound and its powerful effects on the 5 elements of consciousness, body, emotions, mind, soul and spirit. Rosemary follows a process that results in relaxation, release and restoration/ grounding. Rosemary has a passion for creating sound baths that are infused with intention and beautiful sounds, using multiple instruments, knowing that intention + sound = healing. Her sound bath creates peace, serenity, and harmony of mind, body and soul.
"Immerse yourself in a monthly sound bath, infused with intention and experience the transformational power of multi-instrument deep sound vibrations for relaxation, release and restoration of your mind, body and soul."
Jessie Valentine completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training through Emerge Integrative Wellness and recently completed an 85-hour prenatal yoga teacher certification through the Prenatal Yoga Center. In addition to practicing and teaching yoga, Jessie is a registered dietitian with a focus on fertility, prenatal, and postnatal nutrition. She is also a postpartum doula serving new parents in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Jessie teaches Mommy & Me yoga as well as various workshops all geared towards supporting moms and moms-to be through movement, breath and proper nutrition.
Jessie believes that women should feel supported as they enter motherhood, whether that’s through nutrition counseling, yoga, and/or support in the postpartum period. Having a supportive community throughout pregnancy can help you feel empowered and excited for birth and new motherhood, instead of anxious and ambivalent. The time is now to find your village, so come to your mat to connect with your baby and other expectant parents.
As a mom, wife, Yoga Instructor, Cheerleading Coach, Wellness & Essential oils Instructor, I am always on the move. I find happiness in staying fit by using natural movement, holistic wellness approaches, and dancing to the music of life. One of my great passions is bringing women together to share natural ways of optimizing their health to ultimately live longer, healthier & happier lives. With a background in fitness, yoga, essential oils, and nutrition, I strive to help women feel empowered and be the best version of themselves.
Connie teaches Release Yoga at Commune and loves incorporating essential oils into her classes to help facilitate an amazing experience.
Sheila Kamara Hay, MA, VITA, is a certified trauma informed, somatic (body-based) female sexuality and empowerment coach, Purity Sensation Kundalini Activation Facilitator and the founder of Ecstatic Birth.
Sheila brings her Kundalini Activation class to Commune twice a month, one Thursday morning and one Wednesday evening. It is open to men and women alike. Kundalini Activation is an energetic transmission intended to clear whatever is standing between you and your life force energy. Life force energy is essential to our vitality and joy. We are all born with full connection and access to this universal life force energy (kundalini). As we live our lives, become socialized, develop patterns around how to behave, what is safe and acceptable and what isn't, suppress our expressions and our truths, we tend to dim our connection to this life force energy.
The Kundalini Activation experience is a path of surrender. You don't have to "do" anything. You lie down, listen to music, feel and receive the energetic transmission. The energy supports you in tending to your inner realms and whatever you need in that moment. Some people release layers of emotion, some move and release from their physical form, some don’t move but travel in their consciousness, and some feel intense bliss and pleasure. Every experience is unique and meets you exactly where you are and gives you exactly what you need at that time.
You can learn more about Sheila and the Kundalini Activation modality here.
Rev. Dr. Hildur Palsdottir is an Ordained Interfaith Minister, Reiki Master Teacher and Certified Mindfulness and Meditation Instructor. Co-founder of Sol Center, a nature-based healing arts center in Port Washington, Hildur offers both private and collective energy healing and spiritual counseling. Hildur grew up intimately connected to nature in Iceland and feels passionate about caring for both our inner and outer nature. She is a co-founder of ReWild Long Island and Transition Town Port Washington. She currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees at The Science Museum of Long Island, where she participates in stewarding Leeds Pond Preserve, while inspiring future scientists to care for the natural world. She contributes to a weekly environmental column Earth Matters in the Island Now newspaper. In her free time she enjoys outdoor activities with her family and friends. She especially enjoys bird watching, wildlife tracking and repairing the Carbon cycle.
We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.
~Thich Nhat Hanh (1926 -2022)
Connect with Hildur at hildur@sol.center
Stacey Lynn is the founder & facilitator of S.H.I.N.E Wellness, a Supportive Healing Inspiring Nurturing & Energizing program for children & adults.
The roots of SHINE stem back to 2012, at Sunrise Day Camp, an oasis for children living with cancer.
Inspired by her young students, Stacey developed a self regulating "tool belt", a collection of over 20 years of Spiritual Teachings to implement at yoga studios, wellness centers, public & private schools, hospitals, & community centers in the North Shore & NY Metro areas.
Stacey infuses her knowledge of the physical, emotional, mental, & spiritual aspects of Yoga, Meditation , Reiki, Pranic Healing & Sound Therapy into her classes.
As a survivor of a Cardiac Arrest in 2021, during a global pandemic, & a relocation to Colorado, with a "restored heart" Stacey's journey has brought her back to her roots on the East Coast.
Stacey is currently living on the North Shore of Long Island to assist in the revival of the human spirit with emphasis on sharing her Gd given gifts with humanity.
SHINE UP NOW to feel the MAGIC!
I’m Andonia Fthenakis, I work with the vibrations of matter through the Energetic Healing Arts. I utilize a variety of tools from CranioSacral Unwinding, Reiki, Sound Healing, ThetaHealing, Tuning Fork Therapy, and Vocal Toning to create coherence in your energy field. I started my healing journey in 2002 after a traumatic spinal cord injury. I was told by the top neurologist in the country that I would lose all my right brain functions, including going blind and possibly being crippled, which pivoted me onto my journey of self empowerment. My desire to heal led me on a path to discover my innate healing capacities and to achieve my goals holistically using ancient practices.
I offer both private and group sessions at www.akouie.com a Holistic Healing Arts studio in Port Washington NY to create coherence in mind, body and soul, to feel the divine magnificence of our creator, to experience higher levels of enlightenment, and to allow you to access your souls' wisdom. My passions include hosting monthly community circles for women and creating elixirs for the body and soul with D i A d i i i body alchemy . sacred . wild . conscious wellness. frequency medicine. When I am not working with clients I spend my time painting, practicing 5 Rhythms dance, gardening, singing and practicing Osho Meditative Therapies. I enjoy spending time in the beautiful secluded parts of New York and in Greece, living in harmony with nature and re-wilding my soul. My friends would describe me as an alchemist, ethnobotanist, medicine woman, a lover, and passionatly authentic. For more info and more connection- https://bit.ly/3hHSo7l
Jaclyn Bronsky is a Port Washington resident and mom of three. In addition to working full time, she is a startup growth advisor, investor, certified professional coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP). She is passionate about supporting mothers and has created an online community called Pineapple Village. She enjoys hosting events and retreats focused on supporting mothers to be the best versions of themselves.
My name is Paul Benedetto. I was introduced to yoga in
2008 after having hurt my hamstring playing lacrosse
in college. I ended up never playing lacrosse
again competitively, but I did continue to practice yoga.
Yoga has been a tool for me in my life which has
helped me to grow through all of my experiences.
For many years I suffered with addictions and if it was not
for my yoga practice, I’m certain I would not have made it
through those times. I made a decision to study and practice
yoga in much more depth when my pain became great enough.
I'm happy to offer guidance in the posturers and principles of yoga
which guide my life.
Hi! I’m Lisa, Registered Dietitian and founder of The Well Necessities. My job is to strengthen your introspective abilities, make you a more mindful eater,
and ultimately provide you with the freedom that comes
when you realize your self-worth is not tied or related to your body image, food choices, or how much you exercise. I also make easy plant-based recipes
I hope you’ll bring into your home so meal times can be about the
people you’re with and the memories you make.
My goal is to bring joy and lightness back into your life, while giving you the tools to swim when the seas get rough.
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