Amy discovered passion for yoga about 7 years ago the first time she attended a hot yoga class at this studio. She loves it so much that she now practices daily. Practicing in the heat has been particularly healing for her body. The mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of yoga have truly changed her life. She is a certified yoga instructor who enjoys teaching all forms of yoga.
Native New Yorker, Yogini, Reiki Master, Entrepreneur, and mother of two. Her yoga journey began in 2000, and after two years of practice, she transitioned into teaching. Yolanda has taught across the U.S., including New York, California, Oregon, and internationally in Vancouver, Canada. She opened her first studio on Long Island in 2002, followed by a second studio in Queens in 2008, helping pioneer the hot yoga movement in New York’s outer boroughs. As a wife and mother, Yolanda expanded her wellness expertise with certifications in Pre/Post Natal Yoga, Kids Yoga, Buti Yoga, and most recently, Sound Healing & Yoga Nidra. A passionate teacher trainer, she has mentored many New York-based instructors. After relocating to a warmer climate, Yolanda is eager to guide her new community of wellness warriors in achieving their health and healing goals. Her commitment to yoga remains as strong as ever.
Melissa Feldman has been working in the wellness industry for over three decades. She began teaching aerobics in the Jane Fonda era and fifteen years ago walked into her first hot yoga class. She was hooked and within a year taught her first class. Melissa has a Master's Degree in Kinesiology, is an ACSM certified Exercise Specialist and holds an E-RYT 200 yoga certification. Melissa primarily teaches Bikram style yoga, vinyasa and yin and like a good party planner, she creates themes for her classes. One week might be centered around a chakra, a body part, a quote and more. When she isn't teaching, Melissa enjoys reading, cooking, baking, holding her husband's hand and fielding phone calls from her three adult children.
My fitness journey started at 16 with weightlifting, but once I discovered Pilates, it was love at first pulse. The mind-body connection and that unbeatable post-class shake completely hooked me! Now, as a Pilates instructor, I get to share this amazing workout with others, helping them feel strong, centered, and unstoppable. When I’m not instructing, I love seeing friends and going for long walks with my dogs!
Christina, born and raised in Sarasota, is honored to share yoga with the students of Hot Yoga Sarasota! She took her first yoga class at 16 with her mom and rediscovered it in college to manage stress and find balance. Experiencing its benefits, she dove deeper, completing her RYT-200 training at Joyful Yoga & Spa in 2015 after graduating from FGCU. Since then, Christina has taught students of all ages in gyms, senior living facilities, schools, corporations, and studios. A favorite milestone was co-leading a retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica (2023 & 2025). Her mission: make yoga accessible, fun, and empowering for everyone!
Jen, a Sarasota native with a bachelor’s in education from the University of South Florida, has taught sports medicine and health science at Riverview High School for many years, where she also coaches Girls Cross Country. Her 15-year yoga journey began to balance her passion for endurance sports, eventually inspiring her to earn a master’s in Exercise Science and become a Certified Exercise Specialist. In 2021, Jen completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training and Reiki Level 1 certification. She now leads safe, alignment-focused yoga classes, aiming to help students build strength, deepen self-discovery, and find balance in both body and mind.
Dave began practicing yoga later in life, inspired by “How To” images on Pinterest when his daughter Noelle started her Yoga Teacher Training in 2014. After Noelle moved back to Sarasota and began teaching at Circusoul Yoga, Dave attended her classes daily. He soon expanded his practice to Aerial and Yin Yoga. Dave started his YTT in September 2016 and has been teaching Vinyasa Flow ever since. He now holds his RYT 500 certification and is completing his Aerial Yoga Training. With a lifelong athletic background, including playing hockey since age 5 and 16 years as an Athletic Trainer in Minor League Baseball, Dave also owns Meilus Precision Therapy and is excited to teach at Hot Yoga Sarasota.
Sara, originally from England, is a mother of three and married to a U.S. Air Force pilot. They relocated to Sarasota a year ago, where they plan to settle. Sara discovered yoga while stationed in Okinawa, Japan, earning her RYT 200 and SUP yoga certifications. She began teaching heated Power Yoga, Glow Flow, and SUP classes, but her passion for supporting service members, veterans, and their families through yoga led her to become certified in Warriors at Ease (Levels 1 & 2), focusing on adaptive and trauma-based yoga. She’s taught online for Warriors at Ease and earned a certification in online yoga teaching. Sara also teaches Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Adaptive, Children’s Yoga, and more. She is excited to return to teaching in a heated studio, offering a welcoming space for healing, health, and growth for all.
Ruth is certified in Power Pilates, Inferno Hot Pilates, and Spin. She has been in the medical field for 30 years and recently retired from nursing. She understands the importance of incorporating fitness at every stage of life for mental and physical well-being. “Teaching is not a job for me, it’s a fun way to interact with students and help them push themselves. I love the energy my students bring to class but most importantly, love to hear how exercise has changed their lives”. When she isn’t teaching classes, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her Goldendoodle, Booker and cat, Orbit. Ruth is excited to join the team and hopes you’ll join her for Hot Pilates.
Kripalu and Bikram certified in yoga and Mad Dogg certified in spinning. Has been teaching fitness since the early 1990’s, starting with step aerobics, weight classes and pool aerobics. Moved into spinning and yoga and still teaches and practices both. Owner of Bikram Yoga Rumson in New Jersey for five years from 2000 until 2005. Is an avid cyclist, crossing the USA by bicycle in 2006 for the American Lung Association. Is very grateful for finding yoga to enhance all of life’s experiences and uses yoga tools to enhance all life has to offer.
