Our Talented Islip Yoga Teachers

I started yoga about 10 years ago through videos at home and immediately felt connected to the asana movements because it took my mind away from everyday life and stress.

The benefits my body received, such as the flexibility and strength, was a great asset, but it was the mental benefit of being able to nurture myself that changed the game. The only time I am not multitasking or not thinking of my to do list is while I am practicing yoga.

The practice of yoga has allowed me to manage life off my yoga mat with less stress and as a better version of myself. I have been fortunate enough to learn from many great teachers who have focused on breath, alignment and dedication.

I am RYT-200 and Yoga Alliance certified. My passion is to create an experience for students to connect with the mental and physical benefits of yoga. I truly believe that with gentle perseverance, yoga provides healing in our lives, both on and off the mat.

Samantha has been practicing yoga since 2001 and began teaching in 2015 after earning her 200-hour certification. In 2017, she co-founded The Welcome Mat Yoga and Wellness in Islip, NY. Deeply influenced by Raja, Hatha, and Ashtanga traditions, Samantha completed her 500-hour certification with Mark Stephens Yoga Academy in 2025 and continues to deepen her practice through workshops and trainings.

Samantha believes yoga is a powerful tool for self-discovery and navigating life's challenges. Her classes focus on the body and breath, helping students cultivate self-awareness that extends to the more subtle layers of their being. She skillfully weaves concepts and poses to create an intelligent, accessible practice that makes sense for the body and the mind while also allowing space for personal inquiry. Her mission is to guide others toward greater clarity and confidence in themselves using the wisdom they already possess and the lessons of yoga.

Samantha teaches Vinyasa, Hatha/Vinyasa, Gentle, Beginner, Restorative, and Chair Yoga. She is also certified to teach Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors and is attuned to the 3rd Level of the Usui Reiki Tradition. Based in Islip, Samantha offers group and private classes, workshops, and collaborative events with other wellness professionals.

“My greatest reward is helping people find peace, a sense of belonging, and a sustainable way of life. I understand how difficult it is to make time for yourself, but yoga can enrich your life in ways you never expected.”

Eugene Feis is a Dharma Yoga® Center, NYC, certified teacher (200 hours) and has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. He also is certified as a hot yoga teacher (100 hours) and as a hatha yoga teacher (200 hours) from the School of Living Wisdom and teaches partner (acro) yoga. He combines the physical aspects of yoga with its health and well-being aspects, and he grounds his practice in the traditional, ethical rules which dictate that each posture be a dedication to the god energy that is alive and is within each of us.

The classes Eugene teaches have a flow and ease that originate from within. Each pose has a purpose, which is to bring students to a place that is unique to them. He begins each class with a moment of silence, in recognition of love and compassion for every person in class.

Eugene has also been practicing reiki for a number of years and is certified as a Reiki Master, as well as certified in Thai Yoga Therapy from Thai Massage Sacred Bodywork in New York City. His reiki circles (shares) are held weekly and are by donation only.

Eugene also promotes karma yoga through the healing work he does with reiki. He has performed reiki on children, senior citizens, adults, dolphins, bugs, birds, and domesticated animals. He also practices distance reiki, whereby he directs the healing energy to people and areas far away that have been stricken by tragedy.

Eugene is registered with Yoga Alliance, an IRC § 501(c)(6) professional and trade association that supports the yoga profession and business.

Spirituality, consistency, and dedication are the hallmarks of Eugene’s practice.

Yoga was introduced to Amy during her years in College while studying Photography. After receiving her BFA in Photography, Yoga became a huge healing aide while going through an emotionally challenging chapter in her life.

Having a desire to spread the benefits of Yoga to others, she studied and received her RYT-200 at A Jewel In The Lotus in Islip, NY in June 2016. During her off weekends while training, she received her Reiki Level 1, 2, and 3 Certification.

Teaching Yoga has really changed and opened up her life. She is always eager to learn and considers herself a lifelong Yoga Practitioner.

Kelly has been practicing yoga for 15 years and received her 200 hour Vinyasa teaching certification in Spring 2014 through Three Sisters Yoga in NYC. Since then she has furthered her training with intensive studies in Yin and Restorative Yoga practices as well as receiving her Shamanic Reiki 1 certification.

In November 2018 she completed her 300 hour Ancient Wisdom teacher training with Kula Collective in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

Kelly loves to infuse elements of these different practices into her classes, as well as integrating breath work, mantra, mudra, essential oils and crystals, guiding her students to a state of rest and relaxation. She truly believes in the importance of a regular yoga and meditation practice to create space in our lives and align with our true selves.

Tess began to deepen her yoga practice during her undergraduate career as she studied Human Development and Psychology. Upon graduating, she realized how integral yoga was for her, particularly as she coped with transitional periods in life. After a few years of consistent practice, she felt driven to widen her knowledge of the yoga philosophy.

As Tess completed her Master’s in Psychology, she also received her RYT - 200 with Always at Aum in September of 2020. As an advocate for promoting mental health, she intentionally integrates mindfulness techniques into her practice, and continues to broaden her understanding of trauma-informed yoga.

Like many, my introduction to the practice of yoga came from a need to heal from chronic physical conditions. I was born with Club Foot, a musculoskeletal deformity. While I was blessed to have had a surgeon who reconstructed my foot to be aesthetically “normal,” it still left me with a lifetime of pain and limited mobility- at times having to relearn how to walk.

Fast forward to my mid-twenties and a lifetime of forced inactivity and pain had taken a major toll. Unable to do most other physical activities, it was suggested I try Yoga, and my entire life changed in that moment. Asana practice gave me the physical empowerment I had been missing my whole life- providing ways to move, stretch and strengthen that weren’t possible before. Pranayama, Meditation, and the subtler, more introspective components of the practice gave me the tools to provide a more compassionate outlook on things that couldn’t be changed.

Since graduating from my 200H YTT in May 2018, I have taught well over 2000 hours of group and private classes, as well as developed and lead several workshops, yoga retreats, and teacher trainings. Whether teaching a power flow or gentle yin class, my focus is always on providing room for student exploration to honor individual needs. It is my passion and honor to hold space for others to discover their own empowerment through this practice which has impacted me so deeply.

Carina started her personal practice in 2013, and earned her 200-hour yoga teaching certification through Always-At-Aum in 2016. Carina's teaching approach is inclusive, mindful, and focuses more on static holds than in your typical vinyasa-style class.

Carina also finds it important to incorporate and remember yogic foundations beyond asanas (poses), as the benefits of this practice far exceed the physical. I believe yoga is truly for everyone; your journey is your own, and all you need to start is you.

Monica became fascinated with the stars while she was in girl scouts which later lead to her understanding astrology in her teens. At 18 her best friend introduced her to manifesting through the book, The Secret, that is when her spiritual journey took off! She attended her first yoga class, YOGA 101, as a freshman in college. She fell in love immediately with asana (pose) and breathe. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., and discovered a boutique yoga studio, CorePower Yoga.

After her first class she knew she needed to teach this yoga format. She signed up for the 200HR YTT a week later. Her Power Yoga Certification specializes in sequencing, music, adjustments, themes while incorporating methods from Bapstiste Power Vinyasa including ujjayi breath, and heat (physically and internally). She thrives on incorporating her teachers’ philosophies weaved into class including; Gabby Bernstein, Louise Hay, Marianne Williamson, Abraham-Hicks, and many more. Monica has many other modalities she is looking forward to sharing.

Kelly aims to make yoga accessible for every body! She understands that it can be a challenge to even just step into a studio. Kelly focuses on creating a welcoming space where you feel safe enough to relax and experience the mind body connection.

Her classes are slow intentional movements paired with slow intentional breath creating a moving meditation. She has been practicing yoga close to 20 years, drifting in and out as her family’s schedule permitted. About 3 years ago, this became a full commitment as she discovered yoga was natural way to manage stress and health. Her practice took on a life of its own! She couldn’t get enough, enjoyed the physical practice, but more importantly, she fell in love with the spiritual, mind calming effect of the meditation and breath work! “I loved how I felt walking out of class and it continued throughout the day. Best of all was my family noticed it too!” She continues to guide others on her journey of holistic wellness; combining her love of yoga, essential oils, crystals and reiki into a daily practice. Kelly is a RYT 200 certified, intuitive coach and an energy worker.

My yoga journey began in 2013 at a yoga retreat in Nicaragua. At that moment I learned the power of yoga and the space it provided to be able to take an extra breath during the stressful moments; to cry during the worst, and to feel pure joy at the simplest things life has to offer.

I slowly began to build my practice with annual yoga retreats but it wasn’t until the last 3-4 years did I start practicing more regularly, noticing the improvement in strength and most importantly flexibility, which I am still always trying to improve. A desire to help others along on their path to healing led me to graduate from Stony Brook University with a Masters Degree in Adult Nurse Practioner in 2016. Having practiced yoga for several years, in 2020 I felt a major shift and longed for more. I decided to sign up for the 200 hr YTT with the Online School of Yoga to pursue this desire to deepen my home practice. As a 10+ year fitness instructor, the teacher in me wanted to share this new-found love with others and to help them cope with the most stressful times, as yoga did for me. Yoga truly is a way of life.

Yoga has been a practice that I have come back to at various points within my life over the past 10 years. I have explored and practiced many healing modalities throughout this time. In 2020 I embarked on my personal journey towards embodiment. Yoga became the cornerstone of this explorative journey. I decided to complete my YTT 200hr training at Always -at Aum. Throughout this process I was able to experience a level of embodiment & liberation that I have never achieved up until that point.

In addition to being a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and a Reiki II Practitioner, becoming a yoga teacher has added another modality and access point for healing. My intention for students is to cultivate a safe, warm, and compassionate space that offers you the opportunity to explore new pathways along your own embodiment journey. My mission is to awaken the depths of your autonomy and potential, inviting you to dive deep into sacred connection that liberates your truest essence which allows for your most authentic and embodied expression.

Walter's passion for inner exploration led him on a journey of gathering and applying the many branches, philosophies, traditions, and practices of the yogic path. “Quiet your mind, open your heart.” Cultivating a moving meditation, the practice he offers is an all-inclusive experience that shifts attention and awareness inward, leading you into the present moment. This class is for everyone.

"Yoga changed my life. Prior to yoga entering my life, I had little self-awareness. I was often anxious, frustrated, confused, lethargic, and sick. Then one day, my partner and her mother convinced me to take a class. I was reluctant, scared, close-minded, and introverted. Fast forward 10 years, a 200-hour Hatha/Vinyasa/Energy Teacher Training, and a 300-hour deep dive into the yogic philosophies, and yoga still continues to be the most transformative, passionate experience of my life. Yoga is a bridge to cultivating awareness, strength, perseverance, and love for inward reflection. The practice is ever-transforming my perspective on breath and movement. Self-practice using Bhakti, mantra, and music is a means of opening my heart. The practice of yoga allows me the tools to move through this all-encompassing life with a little more grace and ease. Join me as we journey together into foundational Hatha poses, along with a touch of Vinyasa flow, and cultivate concentrated breathing using “pranayama” techniques, while expanding and contracting with the “asana,” releasing gathered tensions.

Come flow with me!

10 years of practicing yoga, 200-hour Hatha/Vinyasa/Energy teacher training with Free Spirits Yoga. 300-hour deep dive philosophical studies of the yoga path accompanied by Forest Yoga posturing. Training with OM Namo, a.k.a. The Funky OM.

Kerry was raising a family and working as an attorney when she began a daily yoga practice. She immediately noticed that yoga was the perfect antidote to her hectic lifestyle. Initially interested in yoga as a physical practice that made her feel good in her body, Kerry soon realized yoga was a lot more than that. She decided to take a teacher training and immediately began teaching. Kerry eventually left her law career and began to focus on teaching and coaching full time.

Kerry’s mission is to help others find a more balanced and fulfilled life. She believes in action and has created a system that is easy to implement so that people can create change quickly. Kerry teaches Simple Tips for Extraordinary Living using stress reduction techniques and work-life balance to help people supercharge their lives.

When not teaching, you can usually find Kerry outdoors, barefoot with her face in the sun, enjoying life with her husband and five kids.

Stan has been practicing yoga for over 30 years, recently completing his 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. Yoga was always part of his overall health and fitness regimen as a triathlete who started to compete in 1985. Over the years Yoga helped provide him the strength, flexibility and recovery from the intensity of training.

Stan was also Head Coach for Connetquot Masters Swimming in the 1990’s and still competes in open water swimming and cycling events. Yoga has helped him maintain his overall health and also a mental calmness to deal with the daily stresses of life. Stan’s goal is to share the many incredible benefits of Yoga that have helped him over the years.