Delaney Halsted

Delaney Halsted, RYT 200, began practicing yoga in 2017, during her freshman year of high school as a way to integrate more mindful movement into her life. She  graduated her 200 hour certification from Laughing River Yoga in 2023, and has loved teaching yoga since. Delaney is a student at the university of north carolina wilmington, studying exercise science. She loves teaching at Soulshine when she is home in Vermont, and hopes anyone who joins her for a class feels loved, appreciated, and embodied as they move through their practice. 

Emily Souliotis

Emily has been practicing and teaching yoga for five years. She earned her 200 hour teaching certificate through Yoga Vermont in Burlington, and is currently working on her 500 hour certificate. Although Emily loves teaching many styles and levels, her favorite class is a challenging vinyasa! When she’s not teaching, Emily loves spending time with her husband, two little ones, and boxer pup.

Jenny Sugar

Jenny Sugar (you can call her Sugar!) took her first yoga class in 1999 and has been teaching ever since. With a background in Ashtanga, her true passion is for Vinyasa-style yoga because of its playful, energetic, fluid, and challenging nature.

Sugar’s vigorous classes use the connection of your breath to your movements to deepen the connection you feel toward others and to the world. You’ll strengthen and open every inch of your body, and are encouraged to move at your own comfort and ability level, to explore new, challenging poses, and above else, to have fun!

Karl Woods-Lucas

Karl found the practice of yoga in his late twenties. It took him only one class to realize how much he had been neglecting his body, despite years of movement through sports. He became consumed with understanding what it was about yoga that was so effective at nourishing the entire body. Since then he’s completed his first teacher training, taken various anatomy courses and workshops, and has continued to develop his and his student’s personal practices. He’s seen and experienced how yoga, when practiced with specific attention to the minute details of the postures, can remove tension in the body, leading to reduced tension in the mind. He believes in the practice as therapy for the body’s musculoskeletal and nervous system, which then opens up the possibility for deeper, richer experiences of life.

Karl’s goal is to bring the practice of yoga to beginners who are curious or dubious or simply unaware, and to deepen the practice of advanced practitioners. His classes are rich with precise verbal cues to effectively establish and maintain alignment in the bones and muscles, building strength with stability while creating ease in movement.

Kate Blondin

I started practicing yoga when I was 20 years old. Fast forward 26 years and I still find so much value in the practice.

I became a teacher in 2013. I then went on to get certified in teaching children’s yoga and mindfulness. This is something I had practiced with my daughter Bella, when she was young.

I love being active! Long bike rides, Olympic lifting, frisbee golf and hiking are some of the things I do most often.

I’m looking forward to getting back to teaching regularly and expanding my knowledge even more. I love a thoughtful, balanced practice that is full of shoulder and heart openers.

Kelsey Reed

Kelsey first came to yoga during high school as a way to prevent injuries from other sports, but she quickly realized the benefits of yoga beyond the physical aspect. The physical movements combined with the breathing techniques have been crucial for her stress management. In the summer of 2018, she decided it was time to learn how to share her passion with others and completed her Yoga Alliance certified 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training through Health Yoga Life in Stratton, VT. Kelsey is also a registered nurse and appreciates using the various aspects of yoga to help her patients achieve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Lindsay Carey

Malaika DosRemedios

Malaika DosRemedios (E-RYT-500, and YACEP) is a full-time teacher of the Tantric Tradition of Hatha Yoga, group fitness instructor and personal trainer in the Burlington, Vermont area during the late spring to mid fall and lives in Key West, FL during the winters. When not in Vermont she is traveling and teaching all over the globe. In the recent years, Malaika has lead Intensive Immersion Teacher Trainings in Bali, Indonesia and clinics for students and teachers in Sydney, Australia.

She enjoys working with communities, inspiring others into their best selves. She is a community partner, and consultant with other yoga communities globally, helping to fine tune their vision and creates collaborative partnerships with other teachers and studios involving yoga retreats, teacher trainings and events throughout the world. Her life is dedicated to this work and she always feels as though it is just beginning. She and her beloved Yellow Lab “Teddy,” who is a certified Therapy Dog of Vermont, like to volunteer in their free time unleashing smiles to folks in need of personal visits.

Marissa Pappalardo (She/Her)

I began my yoga practice as a simple means of gaining physical strength and flexibility. Years
later, I find myself enjoying yoga as a spiritual, physical, and philosophical path. I hope to honor
the complexities of yoga as ancient culture, science and wisdom, as well as acknowledge yoga as
a modern practice that helps me unveil clarity and grounding within.

I am first and foremost a student of yoga, and secondly I am a 500+hr RYT. My classes are a
blend of pranayama, asana, and meditation. In this way, I hope to offer a dynamic, light-hearted,
and wise approach to practicing yoga in a modern context; and I look forward to sharing yoga
practice with you!

Mary Taussig

I am a New York native and forever lover of Vermont. Yoga has weaved in and out of my life- primarily as a counter to various physical sports I participated in and now as a tool that helps me to ground and to cultivate openness in the unknown.

After receiving a degree in counseling, I wanted to teach yoga and mindfulness to children- to support emotion regulation and to serve as a foundation to self and social awareness. Through Laughing River Yoga’s 200hr YTT program, the learnings of yoga tradition and philosophy as well as the interwoven connection between the subtle and physical bodies inspired me to continue learning and teaching yoga to all humans.

To me, yoga means finding a place to land and to play. I love the potential yoga offers to experience familiarity and newness at the same time. To experience depth in familiar poses and to build peace with the mind. In a busy world, with a busy mind, yoga reminds me to pause and take a moment. I hope my teachings guide students to find a place to land, to take up space, and to have fun.

Noelle Davis

Noelle Davis has practiced yoga for the last 16 years and completed her 200 hour teacher training through Yoga Vermont. Her vinyasa classes focus on being present, listening to the breath as the voice of the body, and having fun. The connection that we all make through breath, movement, and our minds is what inspires Noelle to get on her mat everyday. She believes that through the physical mind we can free the mental mind. Noelle is grateful to be here sharing her love and adventure for yoga, for her teachers who inspire her daily, and most especially for her family, as it is their love that makes living her life blissful.

Paula Palermo

Paula identifies as a teacher. Yoga, art, mindfulness and mathematics both sacred and practical are passions she shares with adults and children alike. Fostering wellness, curiosity and building strength as well as supporting practitioners in developing meaningful and sustainable life-long practices are the goals of her teaching. Expect a mindful practice which integrates breath-body connection, energy, humor and music with Paula.

Rachel Cowan

Rachel found yoga over fifteen years ago, beginning with the fundamental Ashtanga sequence and exploring many other disciplines since. She fell in love with yoga, the union found in practice, one’s ability to quiet the mind, focus on breath, challenge the body, and most of all have fun!

Rachel teaches Vinyasa flow yoga with creative sequencing that will work all areas of the body, focusing on opening the heart and undoing the ways in which we’re hard on ourselves in our day-to-day lives. Rachel hopes that through mindful practice each practitioner will cultivate a sense of awareness and awe within their individual practice, taking time to enjoy. Rachel enjoys intertwining music and philosophy into her teaching, while never taking practice too seriously. When Rachel is not in class practicing yoga, she enjoys being on the water, hiking, art, writing, live music, food, and finding new adventures.

Sam Fontaine

Samantha’s first exposure to yoga was through Rodney Yee VHS tapes with her sisters in the early 2000s. It wasn’t until 20 years later when she set out to complete 365 days of yoga that Samantha embraced the calling to teach. She completed her 200-hour certification in May 2023 through Burlington Yoga. Samantha immediately began offering yoga to area high school athletic teams and gym classes, a way of introducing the next generation to the practice. Recognizing in this post-covid social media era adolescents need mindfulness and purposeful movement now more than ever. 

Samantha has served in the Vermont Army National Guard for more than 10 years, giving her a unique perspective on integrating yoga into military training and mental health intervention. She plans to continue to make yoga more accessible to fellow service members and veterans. 

When she’s not on the mat, Samantha enjoys spending time with her family, cooking up a storm and diving into anything Tolkien. She is currently working on her 500-hour certification. 

Samantha’s teaching style aims to make all feel welcome, all bodies are yoga bodies! 

Santiago Mendez

Santiago began his yoga journey 4 years ago taking classes and practicing on his own shortly after moving to Vermont. He grew up in Miami, Florida, but found himself craving a change of pace and made his way north. Since moving to Vermont he has travelled to Portugal to get his 200 hour Vinyasa certification with the Sacred Fig as well as to explore various areas of Europe for two months prior to his training. Santiago loves to travel and expand his capabilities whenever possible. He often finds himself in his free time rock climbing, hiking, mountaineering, sea kayaking, skiing and much more. He is an avid lover of the outdoors and has spent extensive periods of time immersed in nature on outdoor expeditions over the years.

Santi (Santiago’s childhood nickname) finds that the practice of yoga allows him to dive deeper into his own relationship with himself and in turn to the world and those around him. Linking breath to movement serves as a moving meditation for him and there are few things in his life that bring him deeper joy and connection than doing so. Being able to share the love of yoga that he has developed over the years is truly a gift and blessing that has forever changed his life.

Sarah Quinttus

Sarah was first exposed to yoga in the spring of 2011 and quickly fell in love with the practice and its teachings. Growing up playing competitive sports, Sarah endured several injuries which resulted in 5 reconstructive knee operations. Yoga was the only form of rehabilitation that made a lasting impact, and she attributes her daily practice to being able to remain active outdoors, whether it be skiing, biking, hiking or kayaking. 

Although Yoga started as a mostly physical practice for Sarah, it has grown into a way of life, both on and off the mat, and has become deeply spiritual and healing for her. Through living her yoga she has learned the power of intention, positive thinking and remaining present. In Sarah’s class you can expect to be physically challenged, play with your edge and find space and serenity in the mind. Sarah has been inspired by many wonderful teachers on her path and is excited to share the traditions of this beautiful practice with her own students. Sarah is currently working towards her 1,000hr IAYT certification in Yoga Therapy.

Sara Swartz

Sara completed her 200 hour yoga certification in Embody Yoga at Yoga Center Amherst in 2005. She is currently working towards her 500 hour certification. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 20 years.

Sara takes a structured yet light-hearted approach to teaching. She aspires to create a safe, nurturing space that will bring you to your edge while allowing you to have fun and express yourself fully. A lifelong lover of movement, Sara will encourage you to approach your practice from a new perspective. Her classes are grounding and centering, yet dynamic and powerful.

Sara is also a mental health professional and has taught yoga in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals and community health centers. Her practice is trauma-informed and all-affirming.

When she’s not teaching yoga, you will likely find her exploring the natural beauty of Vermont. She loves hiking, biking, kayaking, cooking, watching birds and spending time with her dogs.

Stacey Sadowsky

Stacey is an avid runner and volunteer running coach who was told by her massage therapist if she didn’t’ find a way to stretch the body, she would not be able to continue running. That comment led her straight to yoga! Though her body calls for a heated, vigorous practice with arm balances and handstands for strength, her passion is teaching beginners who think they can’t “do yoga”. She loves to inspire, encourage and unite through yoga, breath and meditation.

Stacey completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2019 and will graduate with her 300 hour teacher training in January 2021. She is also a certified chair yoga teacher and volunteer teaches at a local senior center. She is also certified in Dharma Wheel and Yin practices.