Simplify Yoga

Michelle is a Kripalu Yoga Teacher Association member and has been teaching yoga for 17 years. Michelle has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics through the University of Rhode Island and Masters and CAGS from Salve Regina in Holistic Counseling and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.  Michelle is a counselor/ Social Worker in addictions and mental health and has been in the field for several years. She is certified in Reiki levels 1 & 2 and in angel therapy.

Renee is a 200hr Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher. She enjoys sharing the physical and mental benefits with her students. Renee is a down to earth instructor who is not afraid to open up and inform her students about the practice. She started taking yoga to reduce stress and feel better about her body. She is a perfect example of someone who took a chance trying a new thing with yoga and found that it changed her life.

A former Zumba and Yoga teacher at Simplify, Emma now works behind the scenes, managing the website and newsletter. Simplify was the first place she ever took a yoga class and it changed her life! She is honored to have taught classes here for almost ten years and is grateful to stay connected to this amazing community with her current work. 

Amanda holds a 200hr from Raffa Yoga, a 200hr in Forrest Yoga, as well as 50hr certifications in Yin, Restorative, Airreal, Yoga Nidra, Somatics, and stretch therapy. Amanda is an energetic practitioner, as well as a sound healing facilitator.

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"I believe in the power of linking breath and movement, and linking mind to body. I enjoy teaching the softer sides of yoga and holding space for individuals to find themselves on the mat."

Carole is a 200-hour certified teacher through the Pranotthan School of Yoga and All That Matters, with Devarshi Steven Hartman.  Her yoga journey began almost 20 years ago right here at Simplify, and she is honored to be part of this wonderful community as a teacher.  She encourages light-hearted fun and exploration in her classes, which are suitable for all levels.

Ellen is a 200 hour Yoga certified instructor with an extensive fitness background. She has been certified as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor through the American Council on Exercise since 1991. She has worked as a fitness and wellness director in addition to training clients in their homes. She came to Yoga 25 years ago looking for new ways to challenge her students and clients and instead found the balance of Yoga made a profound difference in own life. Ellen believes that Yoga is for everyone! There is a style of Yoga that can suit each individual regardless of Physical abilities. All levels are welcome in her class!

Ellen discovered yoga through a course during her senior year of college. The course offered an introduction to yoga philosophy, breathing practices, physical practice, and meditation. At the time she was suffering from depression and she found her burgeoning practice to be a source of hope and healing. From then on, Ellen always comes back to her mat to reconnect with herself and has found a sense of belonging in many studios across the country. Ellen has completed two 200 hour yoga teacher training courses and continues to deepen her knowledge of the practice through many outlets. Ellen’s classes will focus on tuning into the present moment and the sensations in the body through gentle movement and longer held stretches. Off of her mat, Ellen loves being outdoors, listening to music, and gardening. Ellen’s goal is to  bring connection, peace, and healing to her community through the practice of yoga.

Jaclyn discovered the healing power of yoga at a time where she was struggling to balance a full time career and being the mother of two beautiful children. She received her 200 hour certification in Vinyasa Flow Yoga at Raffa Yoga and has gone one to study many things including trauma sensitive yoga and MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction). Through her own positive transformation, Jaclyn felt compelled to share the gifts she found with others and began teaching yoga full time. Find out more at yogawithjaclynri.com and follow her on Instagram at @yogawithjaclyn.

Jamie is a 200hr certified yoga teacher through Raffa Yoga who has practiced around the world; including India, Ireland and Greece. She's also certified in Reiki I and II with a background in ballet, tap, jazz and expressive movement. Jamie brings a soulful, intuitive approach to each class, weaving in her experience as a tarot reader and founder of Arrow Tarot. She holds an MBA from the University of Rhode Island and is currently pursuing a license in Mental Health Counseling at Rhode Island College.

Karen Walsh is a Yoga Alliance–certified RYT 200-hour yoga teacher with an additional 50-hour certification in yoga anatomy. She discovered yoga during a time of personal transition, and it completely shifted her mindset—opening the door to healing, self-awareness, and balance. Today, she incorporates mindfulness into every class, guiding students to connect breath, body, and intention in a way that supports both physical and emotional well-being. Karen teaches with compassion and clarity, creating a welcoming space for all students—whether they are brand new to yoga or deepening their practice. Her goal is to share what yoga has done for her with others, helping them discover strength, stillness, and self-acceptance on and off the mat. A lifelong learner, Karen continues to study yoga, self improvement techniques, and movement practices to bring fresh, informed energy to her classes. She absolutely loves what she does—both as a yoga teacher and as a dedicated member of the special education department in the Warwick Public Schools. Her work in education deepens her belief in the power of patience, presence, and connection that also guide her teaching on the mat.

Kelly manages all aspects of a yoga studios daily operations, client relations, marketing, sales and podcast production.

Kim is a Certified Yoga Teacher through Integrative Yoga Therapy and holds a Landscape Design Degree from the University of Rhode Island. From her professional work in horticulture, which Kim has done for the past 20 years, she learned the need for balance. Over the years she has enjoyed aerobics and pilates but found Yoga fascinating and restorative, and so, became a teacher to share it’s great benefits. Kim’s approach to her Yoga classes involves basic postures (asanas) with a gentle touch and maximum reach that strike a balance between activity and relaxation. Kim is inspired to share compassion and self-acceptance from her own yoga practice with her students.

I am a 2017 graduate Pranotthan School of Yoga. I’ve been practicing yoga for approximately 6 years. I started practicing yoga to help ease some major pain issues from various injuries and arthritis. I have been teaching a gentle yoga class at Simplify since June of 20I7. I teach various stretching exercises and some postures throughout my class so you can gain strength and flexibility.

Maria is a 200-hour certified YogaFit Instructor.

I have been blessed with yoga since 2008 when I became pregnant at 40! It has been a game-changer for me. I came to it as a person of faith who struggled with depression and postpartum depression. The breath of life is so very powerful. It is the essence of life. I am honored to share the practice of yoga with others.

Rebecca began to regularly practice yoga in 2013 while living in Boston. She quickly saw it as a way to calm her mind and build her strength while living in a fast-paced city. As her practice grew, so did her love for yoga. After building her own personal practice for 8 years, Rebecca decided she wanted to help others find their own inner peace as well. In 2021, she received her 200hr yoga teaching training from Breathe For Change and in 2022 completed a Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training with Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center. Rebecca aims to bring her learnings of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment to her classes. Through her energetic flows, Rebecca's goal is to have her students leave class feeling energized, strong and balanced. 

Sara Dempsey sought to deepen her personal yoga journey of more than twenty years and completed her first 200-hour Radiant Warrior Yoga Teacher Training through Yoga Farm Ithaca early in 2025. With over 21 years of experience as a Registered Nurse(RN) and 15 years as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Sara brings a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology and the mind-body connection to her teaching. A lifelong advocate for health and wellness, she has always been passionate about movement, exercise, nutrition, and the social nourishment that comes from community involvement—whether through her children’s school PTO or her professional associations. In this season of life, yoga has become a central focus for Sara—a grounding practice that supports resilience, eases stress, and aids recovery from sports-related injuries. Her classes are rooted in compassion, body awareness, and the belief that yoga is for everyone, at every stage of life.

Tricia is a dedicated student and teacher of yoga and living in the flow. Tricia offers a creative, energetic and lighthearted approach to yoga. She has over 30 years of experience in group fitness and 20 years in yoga which she utilizes to provide guidance, encouragement and open space to students for self-exploration and transformation.
Tricia received her 500 hour certification through All That Matters with Coral Brown. Tricia is a 500 RYT certified Prana Vinyasa Flow teacher, created by Shiva Rea. She has also been fortunate to have studied with international teachers such as Sean Corne, Ana Forrest, Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste and many other well respected teachers. Tricia feels blessed to be able to teach yoga, and help her students grow. May you always live full of life, free from tension, with an open, happy heart!