Instructors

Photo by Amanda Marie Mason
Aubrey Bird: ​Aubrey began her yoga journey in 2014. Her first classes were right here at Rosemary Court! After a couple of years spent casually developing her flow, Aubrey began to dedicate more discipline to her practice in 2016. Turning that practice into a passion, the timing was right for Aubrey to go full force into yoga teacher training with her first two teachers, our own Jamie and Stephanie. Their passion and knowledge of anatomy and alignment, as well as their fun-loving spirits, have guided her immensely through her path to becoming an instructor. 
Aubrey is enjoying developing her style of vinyasa flow, combining fluid movement and inspiration from nature. You will find her incorporating themes that bring her joy and peace from the world around her, with mindfulness to each student's alignment and unique physical capabilities. Her classes are designed for all levels, offering modifications and challenges wherever possible!
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason

​Paul Carroll
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Cheryl Chaffee: Cheryl Chaffee (ERYT-500, YACEP) has been teaching yoga since 2005 and is one of the country’s top teacher trainers in Ashaya Yoga. She has studied intensively with Todd Norian, the founder of Ashaya Yoga, and has studied with Tantric Yoga philosophy scholars, Paul Muller Ortega, Douglas Brooks, and Bill Mahony.

Cheryl loves the depth and intensity of Ashaya Yoga. She feels that the purpose of yoga is not to do the most difficult asanas, but is to go deeper into the understanding of the Self through the body, and connect to the Heart. Ashaya Yoga invites students to look at the places where yoga (and life) is challenging, and encourages everyone to connect to their own authenticity. Cheryl teaches authentically from her heart in order to help her students bring about their own transformation.
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Cheryl is also a kirtan leader. She enjoys chanting the sacred names of the Divine with others. Her sweet melodies are uplifting and easy to follow along with. Her first album, Prashamana, is available wherever you stream music.
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason
Stephanie Cole: Formerly a certified personal trainer and nutritional consultant, Stephanie has been in the fitness industry since 1993. Her yoga journey, which began in 2001, has included Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, and Bikram traditions. Her dedicated practice and further studies led her to become a certified yoga teacher, registered with the Yoga Alliance, in 2005. She expanded her certifications to include Aerial Yoga in 2011. Her teaching is most influenced by Kino McGregor, Govinda Kai, and Sarah Powers. She takes these teachings, and others, and blends them with her own caring style for a wonderful yoga experience. The joy and lightness she creates in the room is her beautiful parting gift to take with you out into the world.
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Rebecca Harp: Rebecca has completed 200 hours through Garden of the Heart Yoga Teacher Training Course and is 200 RYT through Yoga Alliance. She is also a Certified NeuroMuscular Massage Therapist and a Certified Reflexologist. She has had her own practice for 10 years and has been practicing as a Massage Therapist locally in Sarasota for 16 years. Her passion for yoga began her first day in the massage therapy program at Florida College of Natural Health, where she experienced her first Surya Namaskar, salute to the sun. Since then, she has practiced with a wide range of yoga instructors here locally and became inspired to go through an intense alignment based training at Garden of the Heart using principles of alignment from the style of Anusara Yoga. She very much values these principles and hopes to create a wonderful yoga experience for her students.
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Meredith Kaplan: Meredith Kaplan, RYT 200, received her teacher certification at Garden of the Heart Yoga Studio in Sarasota, Florida in 2009 and has been teaching in the community ever since.

Meredith’s training and teaching style is a Hatha based alignment yoga which focuses on the connection between breath and movement bringing an overall sense of greater freedom, strength, and empowerment to each student, and harmonizing body, mind, and spirit.

Classes always include modifications and cues so that everyone at any level may participate comfortably and safely.
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We will weave some core work into our flow of yoga asanas (poses), stretching and strengthening, and always conclude with a deep relaxation to recharge and set a positive mindset for the day.
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason

​Laura Mahoney: Laura has been teaching yoga since 2000 and teaches several styles of yoga. Her classes are on the gentle side of effort and complexity. She is a healer, a channel, and an Angel Therapist. She loves sharing healing energy and angel messages and their Light with her students during class.
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason
Sigrid Olsen: A lifelong yogini, Sigrid completed her Yoga Teacher Training at Rosemary Court with Stephanie Cole and Jamie Coffey in 2020. Some may recognize her name from her trademark fashion designs as well as Creative Wellbeing Yoga & Art Retreats that she has hosted for several years.
Sigrid is passionate about the transformative power of yoga and meditation, on and off the mat. Her classes are specially crafted for all levels-- from brand new beginners, to those returning to the mat as well as regular to advanced practitioners. The goal is to use a meditative flow to mindfully showcase  the interplay of body, mind and spirit, while gently opening up energy pathways through movement and breath.

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​Lauren Peltz: Lauren is a 200RYT and has been teaching yoga since 2012. She is classically trained in the Hatha Style but also enjoys the Principles of Yin Yoga for those deeper fascial poses. She has been an LMT for over 20 years, bringing her hands on knowledge to her yoga classes. Lauren loves helping students and clients to heal and empower their own body, mind and spirit.
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason

​Michelle Roy: Michelle Roy is an RYT-certified yoga instructor with more than 25 years of experience. Her system is alignment-based, teaching each student how to safely move and arrange the body for each pose. Michelle’s yoga instruction is heart-felt, empowering and introspective, providing an atmosphere in which each student can explore the practice free of competition and judgment. Her extensive anatomical and therapeutics training, combined with her skills in other healing modalities, offer a more holistic approach to the yoga practice.
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Valerie Schneiderman: Valerie Schneiderman (ERYT - 500) has studied and practiced ashtanga yoga for the past 25 years. Under the guidance of many exceptional teachers, including Tim Miller, Beryl Bender Birch, members of the Jois family and many others, her individual teaching style has been nourished and developed over time. Valerie believes that yoga practice is open to all, and she actively seeks to dispel the misconception that a student need be physically flexible in order to practice yoga. The traditional yogic teaching of mindful movement, breathing technique and meditation are of benefit to all interested practitioners, regardless of age, technical ability and/or level of experience. At its heart, Yoga is about getting to know ones true nature...a place of joy, stillness, abundance and well-being. Valerie's goal as a teacher is to share with others, the traditional teachings that have been transformational in her own life...those practices which enhance and support mental, physical and spiritual growth and well-being. It is with a deep sense of gratitude and commitment to the teachings, that she shares this practice with interested students. 
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason
Liana Sheintal Bryant: Liana truly lives her yoga both on and off the mat. Joyfully dedicated to her practice and her students, Liana empowers all who come to yoga to live it as fully and as happily as she does, whatever their level of fitness or experience. Known for her bright smile and infectious warmth, Liana infuses her classes with the same spirit of nurturing care. With a background in gymnastics and college cheerleading, Liana soon discovered her passion for yoga after graduating from the George Washington University in 2002. After four enjoyable years working at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, she has now made yoga her full time career. Previously a YogaWorks Studio Manager in New York City, Liana has now returned to her hometown of Sarasota, FL and in addition to teaching her beloved classes, she is also the owner of Rosemary Court Yoga. She is an active part of the yoga community, and after helping to launch the lululemon athletica store openings in the Washington, DC area by serving as one of their first Ambassadors, she was honored to return to Sarasota and be invited to serve as an Ambassador there as well. She is also a Product Ambassador for Manduka. She has completed the YogaWorks Teacher Training Program and is a 500-hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) through Yoga Alliance. Liana has drawn inspiration from all her teachers, including Jenny Aurthur, Erika Hildebrandt, and Kino MacGregor. For more information about Liana, visit her website at www.lianayogasrq.weebly.com.
Photo by Amanda Marie Mason
​Stacy Tarter: Stacy Tarter is a sound healing and energy balancing expert. She has trained with sound healers around the globe, David Gibson and the Globe Sound Healing Center and is a member of the inaugural online program at The Open Center, NYC with a certification in Sound and Music. Stacy combines Kundalini Breathwork and Full Moon Sound Workshops with astrology and ritual. A Kundalini Yoga (KRI level 1) teacher, Stacy is certified in many modalities including Reiki and Stanford University's Compassion Cultivation. Stacy has experienced the way Kundalini Breathwork combined with Sound Baths can awaken the soul in mysterious and cosmic ways. She is honored to teach her humming classes and sound baths at Resilient Retreat, www.resilientretreat.org, offering people who have experienced trauma and helping professionals with compassion fatigue simple and easy self-regulation practices and healing sound baths. www.soundbathsrq.com
Kerry Tice: Growing up I never saw myself as particularly spiritual until my travels, teachers, and inner journey ignited a flame that now burns brightly within me.  Through this journey, I found a love for simply being with myself and truly getting to know Myself. I wish to share the acceptance, connection, and love I've discovered with you and teach you how to connect to the power within.

Yoga played a crucial role in healing my body, mind, and soul after a severe back injury in my early twenties. Through teaching yoga, I've helped hundreds of students learn to embrace this powerful practice and connect within. I've learned to lean into the stillness and connect to Nature. To remember the feeling of being whole, connected, and present.

My studies have profoundly impacted me, especially in Yoga Therapy & Yin Yoga. Each study has opened my heart, helped me heal my body, and activated a powerful strength within that allowed me to become more and more myself. 

I finally found what I had been searching for my entire life— I discovered that what I sought outwardly was already inside me. I'd love to share the skills, experiences, and teachings that helped me find my way home. I invite you to join me for one of my weekly classes or workshops at Rosemary Court Yoga. 

​Joy Waganheim: Hi, I’m Joy and I love yoga and children. Over the past 17 years I have been practicing yoga around the world meeting beautiful people with the same passion. From Israel to Barcelona to Sarasota the studios around the world all share an accepting & encouraging culture. I am an elementary school teacher and use classroom skills to empower children. My 200 hours of yoga teacher training equips me with sound ways to foster an inclusive atmosphere. I am committed to safety, creativity and FUN in my classes. My favorite pose right now is bird of paradise because beginners are able to practice the technique and advanced students are able to explore deeper into the pose.