Our Talented Islip Yoga Teachers

Toni has been practicing yoga since 2003. Starting with home videos, she felt an immediate connection to the movements, poses, breath work and the state of mind yoga brought her. Toni noticed the benefits her body received, such as the flexibility and strength, as a great asset, but it was the mental strength yoga provided that changed the game.

Toni has now been teaching yoga for over 10 years, sharing a practice that balances strength, presence and accessibility. She completed her 200-hour yoga certification in 2015. In 2017, she co-founded The Welcome Mat Yoga and Wellness. Since opening The Welcome Mat, Toni has cultivated a welcoming community built on trust, connection and belonging - one that continues to grow and thrive. She is a lead teacher for the studio's 200-Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training, where she has mentored and inspired aspiring teachers, sharing her passion for yoga, mindful movement and authentic teaching.

Toni pursued a Power Yoga Teacher Training with Bryan Kest in 2021, and his influence continues to shape her grounding, yet empowering style. She explores additional trainings that she is passionate about, such as Exploring Ashtanga-The Primary Series, Sequencing for Yoga Teachers, and is certified in Power Yoga, Chair Yoga, and Reiki 1 healing. Toni’s passion for yoga lives both on and off the mat. As a teacher, her goal is to guide with authenticity and believes in yoga being strong yet playful; grounded yet curious; powerful yet tender. In her own practice she is guided by the breath, and the consistent reminder to stay present. Off the mat, yoga became a way of life. It reminds her to choose compassion, mindfulness and connection. This practice has taught her the value of community, how to move through the world with intention, and helps find the balance between effort and ease, while encouraging others to do the same.

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.

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.

Kelly Roan, founder of The Yoga Ma, discovered yoga during a season of life when she needed it most and has been sharing its benefits with others ever since.

Her classes combine restorative yoga, gentle movement, breathwork, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques to help students slow down, release stress, and reconnect with themselves. Kelly is passionate about creating supportive, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—whether it’s their first class or their hundredth. Through yoga, workshops, retreats, and community gatherings, Kelly’s mission is simple: to help people feel more connected, supported, and at home within themselves. Kelly is a RYT 200 certified, intuitive coach and an energy worker.

Jess has been practicing yoga for 18 years and initially took yoga teacher training to deepen her own practice and become more knowledgeable about the history and philosophies behind yoga.

She was certified in Costa Rica in 2018 and eventually she yearned to share it with others and started volunteering for a non profit called Third Eye Insight, which provided yoga for the visually impaired. She then started teaching yoga to kids in various summer camps and at a few yoga studios and she became more and more excited to learn more and share more. After returning from Costa Rica, she completed the 300 hour YTT through Always-at -Aum yoga School and is now a 500 hour RYT with certifications in hot yoga, yoga nidra, chair yoga, kids yoga, SUP yoga, yin yoga and sound healing. She teaches at 6 libraries and does workshops for the teachers at her school. She is currently earning a masters degree in Transformative Teaching and Learning with specialty in yoga and meditation through Breathe for Change. Jess aspires to inspire and empower individuals of all abilities and ages through the transformative practice of yoga. With a deep commitment to the history, philosophies, and healing benefits of yoga, she aims to create safe, accessible, inclusive spaces where every person can connect, grow, and heal. Through teaching, learning, and sharing, her mission is to nurture well-being, foster mindfulness, and cultivate a sense of community that transcends physical and mental barriers.

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.

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.