Meet the Team
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Brian Stern
Owner and founder of Instrumental Yoga. Hatha Yoga Instructor.
Hello, and welcome to Instrumental Yoga! I've been a yoga teacher in Boston since 2011, and have a background in music as a composer and musician. Yoga is instrumental for maintaining your health and wellbeing. My mission is to make yoga available to anyone wanting to experience its powerful healing benefits for themselves! In 2007, I moved from California to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. During that time, I developed chronic pain in my spine, arms, and hands. This pain was caused by repetitive stress, poor posture, and injuries I sustained during my younger days of skateboarding and snowboarding. Halfway through college, my pain was impacting my ability to play instruments. Seeking relief, I began to see a chiropractor twice a week to manage the pain. My physical challenges quickly escalated into mental and emotional barriers that left me questioning my pursuit of a life in music. My world had flipped so quickly that it left me feeling devastated. Eventually, I decided to try taking a few yoga classes. Within a few months of consistent practice, I no longer needed to see a chiropractor for pain management. Upon feeling and understanding the benefits, I quickly became dedicated to practicing yoga on a weekly basis. I knew I had to share my newfound passion for yoga with as many people as I could reach. After graduating, I went back to California for a nine-week training course to become a yoga instructor. I then promptly returned to Boston to teach yoga full-time from my home studio. Since then, I have been able to open my own studio and share my love of yoga with thousands of people from age five to eighty-five. I have seen firsthand the positive impact yoga has on physical, mental, and emotional issues, and it has only strengthened my belief in yoga's power. Today I offer this opportunity to you as an option to break through your limitations. I promise to provide you the highest level of instruction and support as I guide you on a pathway to your wellness goals. -Brian

Denise Jimenez
Workshop Leader. Founder of DeniJim Verbs
Denise Mariel Jimenez is known from her expertise with wellness through Denijim Verbs (wellness business) and UVERB Journey (commencing organization). Through her background and certifications Denise curates retreats, wellness workshops in which teaches but is not limited to Stress management, Anxiety, Self-compassion and more! Denise is supported by a nonprofit CPLAN, who believes in the purpose of raising mental health awareness through their “Reshaping Community Wellness” group. Learn more about CPLAN here: https://www.cplanma.org. 2023 Honoree of the Extraordinary Women's Award: City of Boston Website MA Psychology, Northeastern University 300 hr YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) -Peru ‘21 200 hr YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) -GUA ‘20 ETF CERT (Emotional Freedom Technique) -Bali, India ‘19 MBSR CERT (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Certified) -AZ ‘18

Ruth Gonzalez
Yoga Instructor.
My name is Ruth Gonzalez. I'm an avid runner, yoga instructor, and fierce Afro Latina who is passionate about teaching yoga in urban communities. I have been a runner and practicing yoga for approximately 10 years. My love for fitness started at a young age as I recognized fitness is essential for mental wellness and overall success. Because of what yoga and running has done for me I have made it my life’s mission to introduce yoga and meditation to urban communities as an alternative source for healing. I am dedicated to the community to motivate, inspire, and cultivate a healthier lifestyle.

Lucas Lambert
Hatha Yoga Instructor. Co-founder of Restore The Balance Life.
My name is Lucas Lambert. I am an Energy Healer, and Living Coach for Restore The Balance Life. I also have been teaching yoga since 2012 for work on physical health and relationship with self. I specialize in helping people align with what makes them feel good. When I sit with clients, I match my frequency to theirs. I feel where people have resistance in their energy, (anger, fear, guilt, concern) and I help guide them to let go of that resistance to align their vibration with what feels good. I have a passion for guiding people to utilize their own power, to see that anything is possible.

Rachel Space
Yin Yoga Instructor. Founder of Rachel's Space.
Rachel Smiljanic is a 500-hr Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher (ERYT-500), a yoga therapist, meditation teacher, sound healer, & body worker. She was first drawn to yoga for it’s physical benefits, and further discovered that it benefits her mental, emotional, and energy bodies. “I love getting on my mat, and immersing myself in the movement and breath. Yoga, meditation, and breath are such a powerful tool of transformation that doesn't require anything external." In the past few years her passion has drawn her to teach more quieter & slower practices of restorative, yin, somatics, pranayama & deep sleep yoga nidra. Rachel has a talent for holding space for students in classes, workshops, day retreats, and private sessions, and has shared her many gifts throughout Boston, the UK, and Australia. “Life can be so busy, now more than ever, with extra stimulation to our frontal cortex with so much screen time & scrolling social media platforms. Society praises us for doing more, multi-tasking, and being busy. My work & passion has drawn me to hold space for students & clients to explore ways of slowing down, tuning in, & simply listening. Slowing down is not always easy but can be fruitful, insightful, and deeply healing.” Rachel completed her 200-hr certificate in Cambridge UK with Bev Nolan & Rachel Moore, and her 300-hr at Down Under Yoga in Boston with Natasha Rizopoulos, Barbara Benagh, and beloved Ame Wren as her mentor. She also completed her 100-hr Yin & Meditation Training with Sarah & Ty Powers, and Restorative Training with Alex Brenna Mattews & Alex Bauermeister. Rachel blends time between teaching public classes and workshops, and runs a private practice in Jamaica Plain, MA in the corporate arena. When she’s not sharing her passion she is hugging trees, forest bathing, hiking, baking raw & gluten free sweet treats, or hanging out with her beloved Iggy’s - her Italian greyhounds Ted & Ada. Connect with Rachel via www.rachelsspace.com Instagram: @rachels_space

Shari Repasz
Gyrokinesis Instructor.
Shari has been teaching GYROTONIC® exercise since 2014 and the GYROKINESIS® method since 2018. With a background in dance, Pilates, personal training and conditioning her movement-teaching experience spans more than 24 years. She has taught dance and movement to people ranging from 3 years to 80, in multiple styles which include explorative, contemporary, ballet, musical theatre and jazz dance and the GYROTONIC® method throughout the Boston area and internationally. Although dance has become more personal endeavor for her, as a choreographer Shari worked in musical theater and creative dance for many years and continues to create and perform in modern and contemporary pieces. Her collaborative projects are predominantly with local musicians, sometimes artists; vocalists, dancers, and sculptors. Periodically Shari can be seen performing in Night Song, a music meditation at the first church of Cambridge. Most recently she began her independent practice as The Soul of Movement. One of her greatest joys is to encourage body awareness, health and healing of individuals with the Gyrotonic method, spirituality and humor. Through this movement modality, Shari has deepened her physical health and continues to pursue her love of physical freedom for herself and others. Contact Shari: Sharisoulmove@gmail.com Instagram: @soul_of_movement

Ingrid Schaller
Pilates & Yoga Instructor.
Hello! I’m Ingrid Schaller. I’ve been teaching in the wellness, health and fitness industry since 2011. I was drawn to yoga at first because my body did it easily. Gradually, I realized yoga could provide me with a guidebook to observe my mind. Taking my 500 hours of teacher training in the thick of parenting my two daughters, I found the practice illuminated my inner story and made me more self-aware. Even though I still cannot catch myself in times of high (negative) emotion, I can reflect, recover, and repair in my relationships. I find contentment more easily. As my daughters have grown, so too has my practice, my curiosity, and my teaching: I reach into a background in strength training, yoga, Pilates, TRX, and meditation for all my classes and private sessions. I look forward to our paths crossing! www.ingridschaller.com @ingridschallerwellness