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.

Nika Zusin is a passionate yoga teacher with a rich background in movement, combining 15 years as a dancer and a decade as a dance instructor. Her journey into yoga began in 2012, inspired by a desire to heal and prevent the physical strain she witnessed in the dance world. Yoga became more than a complement to her athleticism — it transformed her life, blending meditation, asanas, breathwork, and mindfulness to build both physical strength and emotional resilience. Today, Nika teaches students of all ages and abilities, skillfully adapting various yoga styles to support individual needs. Specializing in trauma-informed yoga, she works with those affected by PTSD, using breath, mindful movement, and meditation to ease triggers and reconnect with the body. Nika’s mission is simple yet profound: to empower her students to carry the wisdom gained on the mat into their daily lives, nurturing holistic wellness and inner balance.