Teachers

Gulsah Diker

Born and raised in Turkey, Gulsah has lived in and traveled around the world, making New York City her home since 2014. She has acquired 700+ hours of invaluable mentorships and teacher trainings, gifting her a mindset of empowerment and self-awareness.

She is certified vinyasa flow, hatha, yin, and yoga nidra meditation teacher. She has a BS in biology, and received her role as a health coach through the State University of New York and Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Her health consultations are rooted in compassion, kindness and deep listening as she holds space for you. Her wish for her students is to cultivate a deeper understanding of their unique selves.

Her yoga classes are guided by breath, rooted in alignment, encouraging you to tap into your inner and outer strength. Each class with Gulsah will meet you exactly where you are, while empowering you to listen to the wisdom of your breath flowing through your body.

Reed Ridgley

Reed offers unique and athletic classes focusing on muscular and core engagement while linking movement with breath. He enjoys teaching through creative, intelligent sequences that build towards exciting, and sometimes unusual, peak poses.

His movement training began during the 8 year period while competing with the United States Gymnastics Federation. After graduating from college, Reed was a personal trainer and fitness instructor. He completed the YogaWorks 500hr Teacher Training program in 2016. Followed by 500hr Modo Level 1 in 2017, Modo Flow in 2018, Modo Freestyle Sequencing in 2019, a 36hr Yin intensive at Integral Yoga in 2019, and a 100hr Pilates Mat Intensive in 2020. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Reed is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and has worked as a professional actor, general manager, producer, and fundraiser Off Broadway for over 20 years.

Juan Gamboa

Juan Gamboa has been a NYC-based yoga teacher since 2009. He is the founder of the P.A.R.C. (Practice And ReCover) initiative, a donation-based, grassroots movement launched in the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

He has taught and guided retreats all over the world: Morocco, Manila, Mexico, Dubai, Thailand, Greece, Cartagena, Sri Lanka, Goa, Panama and Costa Rica. He is most at home in the West Village where he has been residing for almost 10 consecutive years. His trainings include: 200 RYT at Sonic Yoga (‘08), 300 hour meditation at MNDFL (‘18), 75 hour Kula training (‘15) Kula Yoga Project.

In his Sui classes, you will experience energizing and grounding qualities; connected to breath and body. His classes are strong yet supportive. Students are guided by breath, alignment and curiosity for exploration.

AJ Alvarez

A.J. is a yoga and breath technician, ancient medicine mentor, and a modern guide for energy medicine practices. He offers a unique blend of optimal performance training and spiritual insight which empowers others to awaken their potential for transformation and healing.

A.J.s studies consist of kundalini yoga, breath work (pranayama), energy work, and performance training; combined with his indigenous perspective that have shaped his offering and understanding of how we use our breath and energy more optimally. As an internationally recognized teacher and energy mentor, he offers a biodynamic and playful approach to breathwork and encourages others to explore the transformative power of our own healing energy.

Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to breathwork, A.J.’s practical and encouraging approach makes his classes accessible to all. He invites you to experience a journey of self-discovery, where breath becomes a gateway to holistic wellness and self-empowerment.

Sarah Bess Hutchison

Sarah has been teaching yoga in NYC since 2014. She completed 500hrs of training and is certified to teach many styles including Vinyasa, Traditional Hot Yoga & Yin. During her teaching career, Sarah has taught well over 4,000 classes, managed a high-attended yoga studio, and assisted in over a dozen teacher trainings.

Sarah’s classes are powerful, playful, and heartfelt. Drawing on her wealth of experience, she provides a supportive and grounded environment through challenging moments and uplifting sessions.

Delaney Kelly

Delaney began her yoga journey 8 years ago, she took her first yoga class in Boston, MA. Back then it felt to her as a shortcut to get a workout in, and also a way to ease anxiety. The yoga practice quickly grew into something much more meaningful and became part of her wellness routine.

She completed her 200hr teacher training in Hatha and Vinyasa with Epic Yoga in Washington, DC. Now with roots in New York, Delaney has found her home at Sui Yoga. She has the experience of teaching a wide range of styles including yin, hatha, vinyasa, and power yoga. In Delaney’s classes, you can be exposed to clear and thoughtful verbal instructions with a strong focus on breath with alignment, and explore a practice that is accessible to all levels.

As a practitioner herself, she loves a fun and playful power flow, that includes an arm balance or two (read: sometimes falling); because as one of her favorite and most inspiring teachers taught her, “it’s never that serious.”

Briana Penzarella

Briana, a native New Yorker, began her Yoga journey back in 2012. She comes from a background of professional classical musicians which led her to originally pursue a life as an opera singer, in that journey, she found a different calling. Utilizing her love for music, and combining the healing power of sound and shape-shifting movements to become more connected to a deeper sense of self.

Briana is a Yoga and Meditation Teacher of various approaches: meditative and restful to dynamic and dance-like. She is also a Bhakti Yoga practitioner and devotee to the musical practice. Briana contributes to a playful, nurturing and explorative environment that strives to share from an inclusive perspective. She studied and taught at Laughing Lotus, has facilitated Advanced Teacher Trainings, as well as guided sound healing practices such as Mantra Meditation, Sound Baths and Kirtan since 2014. She invites you to experience traditional practices, while keeping it real to modern day living.

“Yoga, is to act with love; Build with love; & live with love. It’s been a gift to be able to share these life-changing practices to all who are open to receive. And whether we are teaching or doing the Yoga, we are tuning into the potent healing tools that all of us already possess.”

Certifications: (All trainings were completed with Laughing Lotus unless otherwise stated):

200HR YTT

YACEP Continuing Education Provider

50HR Intensive Fly (Inversions)

50HR Intensive Bhakti Yoga

50HR Intensive Chakras In India

50HR Intensive Super Sequencing

25HR Intensive Intro to Ayurveda

25HR Intensive Alignment & Therapeutics

25HR Intensive Yin Yoga & Essential Oils

25HR Intensive Myths & Asana

25HR Intensive Restorative Yoga

25HR Intensive Energy & Subtle Body

15HR Manual Hands on Adjustments w/Rodney Yee & Colleen Saidman Yee of Yoga Shanti

Avery Rausch

Avery is a proud Metro Detroit native, NYC based yoga teacher (RYT 200) and theatre artist. At Sui Yoga, Avery loves to support and encourage students to slow down, prioritize their breath, and find joy in their movement!

Melissa Grywalski

Melissa discovered yoga while attending Montclair State University for a BFA concentrating in sculpture. In her exploration of yoga she learned about energy work and became certified in Reiki and Healing Touch.

In 2018 Melissa embarked on her 200hr yoga teacher training with Powerflow Yoga lead by Carrie Parker and Stacy Bell. Soon to follow she completed an 85HR Prenatal Yoga training, becoming an evidence based birth doula with Birth International.

Melissa has also completed her 35HR Yin and Restorative teacher training with Masako Miyakawa. She has worked with women in recovery and is certified in addiction and trauma yoga.

As of recent, traveling and teaching yoga created a dream to eventually move back to Puerto Rico to reconnect to her heritage and open a retreat space with daily yoga, holistic services and ethical tourism.

Elissa Marshall

Elissa Marshall is a 500hr RYT, 200hr E-RYT, Trauma-Informed and Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience. As an ex-professional dancer, Elissa first turned to yoga to stay in shape, she quickly realized that the most powerful part of the practice was the meditative aspect of movement.

In each class she empowers her students to go deep within not just to discover their physical strength but for each student to realize the purpose of their own practice. Elissa is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is originally from Texas, loves to travel frequently to Cartagena, Colombia which is like her second home; holds degrees in Dance and Photojournalism from UT Austin; and she is also a Certified Lagree Fitness Instructor.

Victor Cotto

Victor is a NYC based vinyasa Yoga teacher & former Occupational Therapy practitioner. For over 15-years he served students (from pre-k to high-school aged), adults and geriatric clients who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restrictions at schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and private settings as a clinician.

Since 2014, Vicyasa™ has been a full time Yoga teacher. His classes reflect his love for anatomy, music and movement which create a distinct style of yoga that blends feel good vibes with fun and challenging sequences.

Website: www.YogaWithVictor.com

Karina Fernandez

Karina (She/her) uses her time on the mat to reflect and expand. She teaches from the heart and welcomes her students to move safely and intuitively. Karina encourages her students to stay present in their bodies and breath so that any and all inner wisdom can be revealed.

She received her 500 hour certification with Modo Yoga in 2019. In addition, she is vinyasa and yin certified. Off the mat, Karina is a singer and performer.

Babette Godefroy

Babette is a Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (E-RYT500, YACEP) with five years of full-time New York City teaching experience, and offers many different styles of yoga. She also holds a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) personal trainer certificate.

She experiences yoga as an opportunity to have a truly intimate conversation with oneself – learning patience, dedication, non-judgement, detachment and acceptance each time she meets the mat. She has a great passion for guiding her students through fun, challenging and flowy yoga sequences, invigorating both body and mind. Babette is committed to creating a practice in which you can challenge yourself, yet allowing space for you to meet your body and mind where serves you best.

Britney Shine

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Britney moved to New York City on a whim. The fast pace of the city meshed perfectly with her inner drive. Britney’s love for fitness, health and anatomy determined her area of study through college. She graduated from The Florida State University with her Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science.

Fitness has always been a priority in Britney’s life. After growing up a competitive gymnast, later transitioning to dance and playing lacrosse. During her time at FSU she started yoga and she fell in love with the practice. She first became a yoga certified teacher through Yoga Alliance at the 200hr level and later went on to study for her NASM Personal Training Exam. She also holds certificates for Pre/Postnatal and fitness.

Incorporating her dance and gymnastics background you can expect a fun, dynamic sequence using muscles you may not know exist. Her love for an active lifestyle inspires Britney to contribute to the betterment of lives of children and adults through movement and a positive attitude.

When Britney is not teaching yoga, she is involved with Real Estate throughout Manhattan. She also loves traveling and enjoying time with her husband, Dan!

Susan Conrad

Susan is all about cultivating calm and presence. It is important to her to share what she has found through the practice of yoga: safety, consistency, warmth and connection. Her studies include Modo Yoga 500 hour teacher training, Yin training and Yoga Nidra with Kate Kuss of Soul and Steady Yoga and Sound Bath training with Sara Auster.

Susan’s lifelong yoga journey began by practicing yoga with her older sister in front of the TV watching “Lilias Yoga and You”. She found her next yoga teacher in an unlikely place: the Learning Annex, where she connected with Ana Sussman, studying out of a 3rd floor East Village walkup every Thursday for 11 years. Since then she has studied at Kripalu Yoga and Modo Yoga NYC. Susan is beyond delighted to share her teachings at Sui yoga.

After a career in the corporate publishing world, Susan now pursues all things creative: painting, fashion, graphics, yoga and artful living. She loves to travel and fill the well with sights, sounds and adventures! Her personal goal is to learn, grow and stretch in yoga and every other way. She hopes to help others do the same.

Luna Castilho

Luna Castilho is a Registered Yoga Teacher, also certified in Breath work (Pranayama) and Sound Healing.

She completed her trainings at Pure Yoga and Prema Yoga Institute, giving her a background in Vinyasa with roots Ashtanga and Iyengar alignment, as well as Hatha yoga practice with a strong focus on pranayama (breath work) techniques and philosophy.

Luna grew up in a small beach town close to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, surrounded by nature, hiking mountains barefeet, going to the beach, surfing, exploring the jungles and playing all sorts of outdoor sports. For nearly 20 years in the Fashion industry working as a fashion model, she spent most of her life trying to constantly adhere to a certain “beauty standard” set forward by the fashion industry. Disconcerted with how she felt, she discovered her life’s purpose: to help others embrace their body and tap into their force within.

Practicing yoga for many years after being a fitness coach, she found in yoga an opportunity to unite the physical and the spiritual practices. She considers yoga a path to heal, connect and remember our inner strength.

When taking classes with her, you can expect powerful flows combined with mindful contemplations and grounding experiences, including somatic release techniques, connecting the body, mind, soul and spirit.

Özzy Aydogdu

Özzy started her yoga journey in 2015 in İstanbul. Soon after she decided to move to NY, she noticed that there was a connection between the beginning of her yoga path and her moving to New York City. This makes her believe that there is a reason for everything. After moving abroad, yoga became a very important anchor in her life. Özzy started practicing daily and right away, she began to notice the positive changes in her life. She was able to rewire her anxiety-driven brain in a way that she didn’t even know was possible.

In 2016, she cmpleted her first 200-hr Power Vinyasa training at Yoga to the People, and has taught hundreds of classes in many studios and online platforms. In 2020, she finished her second 200-hr training in Rocket Yoga with ‘Yoga with Carson Academy’, where she became a part of the teacher training crew and taught global online classes to serve the community.

During Covid-19, she traveled while teaching her online and outdoor classes. Traveling gave her the opportunity to experience teaching in different countries and cities. Currently she lives in Brooklyn, continues serving the NYC community, and continues working on new projects including retreats to share the love of yoga with others.

She likes creating playful and challenging sequences for her classes combining strength drills, fun mobility exercises with breath work and mindfulness.

Özzy believes that with a clear mind, one can do or be anything they want! Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation practices are her ways of keeping her mind in a good space. She loves to share the goodness. For Ozzy, yoga has become the greatest path for sharing the love with others.

Sarah Otey

Sarah Otey is a seasoned fitness and wellness guide with over 15 years of experience. She started her career as a model with Wilhelmina Models in 2009 and has worked as a model, trainer, and marketing consultant with well-known companies such as Nike, Peloton, Womens Health, Fitness Magazine, Ralph Lauren, Free People, Carbon38, Cosmoplitan Magazine, Lexus, and Adidas among many others.

Sarah holds two 200hr Yoga Certifications and multiple personal training certifications including NASM, Corrective Exercise, Pre/Post Natal, Functional Range Conditioning, Kettlebells, Breathwork, and Transcendental Meditation. She has worked as a performance coach and healing guide for A-list Actors, Athletes, Entrepreneurs, CEOs, hedge fund and private equity groups. Sarah believes in the power of connection, community, and creativity.

She trusts that our practice on the mat can heighten our vibration while providing clarity and awareness. Her tagline for over a decade has been “Yoga Everywhere” because she has witnessed how the practice has transformed her and many of her student’s life in the way they are with themselves, family and friends, as well as in business, and in creative pursuits. She is very grateful to be part of the Sui community and the home that we are co-creating and nourishing together.

Keith Allen

For Keith, yoga is a powerful tool to improve our overall well-being. His classes balance a focus on mindful presence with healthy alignment.

He has studied from different teachers and lineages around the world, and his teaching is a unique blend of styles that have made an impact in his life, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Forrest, traditional hot yoga and Yin. He was certified by the Yandara yoga institute, and also trained to teach Hot Yoga, and Shiva Rea’s Yoga Trance Dance. He is also a student of Vipassana (silent) meditation.

Keith has led teacher trainings and certified over 200 students from 35 different countries to teach yoga. His classes are intentionally created to be inviting and accesible for all levels. They have a strong meditative focus on breath, and an encouragement to meet yourself where you are.

Sasha Korbut

Sasha Korbut is an experienced and certified yoga teacher, based in the East Village. With over a decade of teaching and practicing yoga both in New York City and worldwide, Sasha brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his classes. He obtained his Hatha, Vinyasa, and sequencing training at Modo International and furthered his studies at Integral Yoga in New York.

Sasha’s unique teaching style resonates with the following thought-provoking question: How can we transform our bodies into a secure sanctuary, serving as a safe space for our soul?

Eva Kornet

Eva Kornet possesses a strong healing intuition and is dedicated to empowering people to heal, transform, and create a meaningful life. With over 15 years of studying various healing modalities, Eva’s own healing journey has been a source of profound wisdom.

At the core of Eva’s practice are Breath, Self-Awareness, and Energy, which serve as transformative tools. As a certified, trauma-informed Breathwork Facilitator and Kundalini Yoga Teacher, Eva guides people on a deep self-discovery journey, liberating them from unprocessed life events and reconnecting them with their true selves.

Through her gentle, heart-centered guidance, Eva encourages people to access their inner healing resources and unlock their true potential. As a free-spirited person and artist of consciousness, Eva’s healing practices merge with her artistic soul, allowing her to explore new realms of transformation and healing.

Tori Bate

Tori finds instructing yoga to be an honor. She has witnessed firsthand the power of yoga as a healing, connective, and freeing modality. Having practiced Yoga and Mindfulness since 2017, Tori was initially drawn to them as methods to support greater mental health. Through immersions within Nepal and Bali, Tori completed her 300hr qualifications in Power Vinyasa, Yin & Mandala Yoga back home in London. Every moment, she aims to seek a balance of “sthira sukha”; strength with grace. Tori’s aim is to instill a greater sense of embodiment, helping others find such balance and deepen their psychosomatic understanding.

Francesca Valarezo

Francesca Valarezo is a New York City-based yoga + meditation teacher, breathwork facilitator, shamanic and Reiki practitioner. A New York City native, Francesca battled severe depression, panic attacks, and IBS during her formidable years. Her desire to self-heal led her to train in yoga therapeutics, Reiki, and shamanism. In 2010, Francesca embarked on a new path in teaching as she discovered that her desire to heal expanded to the need to assist others on their journey.

Francesca is the founder of a spiritual community and functional course called Spiritual Rebel NY, which aims to honor ancient wisdom and practices for embodiment and somatic healing. She is also the co-founder of Piantabased, a locally made plant-based cheese aimed at improving gut health and sustainability on our planet. Francesca specializes in a holistic approach, incorporating her life experience, knowledge, and in-depth training across all principles to create an environment for community, harmony, and wellbeing.