Dive into the world of Monmouth Beach Yoga & Wellness and discover the dedicated individuals who are the pillars of our commUNITY. From seasoned yogis to passionate practitioners, our team is here to guide you on a transformative journey of health, serenity, and self-discovery. Join us and let their expertise illuminate your path to holistic well-being.
Lisa Matthews has been practicing yoga for close to thirty years.. She turned to yoga to find relief from years of continuous back pain and major surgeries. Through the years she has tried physical therapy and other workout methods but nothing helped her as much as her yoga and stretching. Being on her mat not only helped heal the physical issues but also cleared the mental chatter of her mind. She has studied around the world with many exceptional yoga teachers. As she continued to try different lineages of yoga, one class led to another, and she soon became addicted. Not only did yoga bring profound change, it also brought better health and balance to her life. This encouraged her to continue her path to deepen her practice and move on to the next chapter in her life. In 2011 Lisa decided she was going to take that next step and enroll in the YogaWorks 200 Hour teaching program. Once she became certified, she continued her studies and went on to get her certification in Reiki I & II. It has been her passion to continue this “Amazing” journey, so she decided to retire in 2013 from her successful Corporate Insurance Career of 22 years to pursue her dream and open her very own Yoga & Wellness Center. In 2003 she drafted a business plan with the intention of opening her very own studio. After the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, she knew this was the time to help bring health and healing to the Jersey Shore commUNITY.
Lisa has been battling some hereditary health issues and in 2014 had to undergo major surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering. In 2017 she met with a Specialist at Mt Sinai in NYC, who advised her to continue her scopes & scans on a semiannual basis. Then in 2018 had to undergo another major surgery at Robert Wood Johnson. Lisa continues to listen to her doctors and remains positive and proactive. These challenges inspire Lisa to bring more awareness to people to do annual health checkups and find some stillness in their bodies, so they can actually listen and hear what is going on.
Yoga is about HEALTH, HEALING & RELAXATION. You don’t need to be flexible; yoga helps bring flexibility. She believes every “BODY” can do yoga they just need to honor their bodies.She says yoga helps her learn more about herself every day, and she expects Monmouth Beach Yoga and Wellness will be a haven for others as they pursue their own path toward personal expression and connect with their inner peace so they can take it off their mats and into their daily lives. She is blessed that she can do what she loves to do.
“Don’t be afraid of props, they are our friends. The use of props expands your yoga experience by helping you find more space and stability in your poses, they are great teaching tools and help bring new awareness to your body.
~ Lisa Matthews
Mary began her yoga practice in 2007 after retiring from a 20+ year career as a Buyer and Product Development Manager for several National Specialty Retail stores. She credits Yoga with helping her to transition gracefully into this next phase of her life. She completed her 500 hour yoga works advanced teacher training in 2013. She has also studied with Alan Finger, Jillian Pransky, Biff Mithoefer, Cyndi Lee, and Julie Gudmestad. It has truly been an amazing journey as she continues to learn more about herself and the study of yoga every day. Believing that it is important in our busy everyday lives to slow down, center ourselves, and just simply breathe. She enjoys teaching classes that create a safe space for her students allowing them to find this sanctuary in their yoga practice.
Bridget has been an athlete her whole life. After sustaining an injury, and no longer being able to compete in triathlons, she discovered yoga. Initially, yoga was thought of as a “workout,” but over the years, Bridget’s practice deepened and discovered yoga as a “work-in.” She completed her 200 hours of yoga training and incorporates the 8 limbs of yoga into her practice. Bridget incorporates the mental, spiritual, and physical components of yoga into her practice. She is Reiki certified and continues to grow, develop, and share her practice with the community. In addition to practicing yoga, Bridget is a special education professional. Realizing that yoga is a practice of transforming and benefitting every aspect of life, not just the 60 minutes spent on a mat; Bridget has worked to share the benefits of yoga with the families of students (or adults) with special needs. She firmly believes if we can learn to be kind, truthful and use our energy in a worthwhile way, we will not only benefit ourselves with our practice, but everything and everyone around us.
Julie accidentally ended up in a yoga class after more than 20 years as a serious runner, math nerd, and inflexible klutz. An unlikely yoga student, she was surprised to find that she loved the combination of peacefulness and intensity inherent in yoga practice, and she loved how it complemented her running. Julie completed her 200-hour training with Yogaworks and she strongly believes in focusing on proper alignment while moving with breath. Off the mat, she can be found baking cakes, building financial models, spilling coffee, and tripping over things while out running.
Chrisanne took her first yoga class in 2010 and has been hooked ever since! Chrisanne completed her 200-hour Yoga Works® teacher training in February 2017 at Monmouth Beach Yoga & Wellness. She has since attended various workshops/trainings in continuing education. Yoga has been a big influence in her life and she wants to share her passion for Yoga with others. Chrisanne would like to use the joy of Yoga to inspire her students to live their best lives! Be patient, be mindful, and be kind.
Catharine has worked in fitness for almost 20 years. Inspired after working the front desk at a fitness center in college, she began pursuing her own certifications. While her full-time career is teaching high school English, she has a passion for mindful fitness in her free time. She is a seasoned yoga and barre instructor who carefully designs classes with her student’s interests in mind. Her goal is to motivate and inspire all of her students to transform their mindset and overall health through movement. Her thoughtfully designed playlists complement her classes, keeping you focused and having fun. Catharine encourages her students to listen to their bodies, doing what feels good and right for them.
Veronica started practicing yoga to increase her flexibility after years of intense athletic workouts. What she found was not only could she touch her toes, but a certain tranquility blossomed within. Hoping to pass along the fulfillment yoga has brought to her life, she decided to become a teacher. Her classes blend physical alignment and core strength poses in a fluid rhythm. She emphasizes breath awareness and conscious intention to create balance & well-being in the mind & body. It’s about letting your inner light & true self shine through! To let go of fear & trust your inner wisdom. Yoga touches us at different levels & at different times in our lives. Veronica believes each time we practice, we can take what we learn on our mats with us into everyday life.
Monica grew up on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and moved to New Jersey in 2012. Shortly after her move, fueled by a few major life changes, she stepped into her first yoga class and made a commitment to dive deeper. 10+ years later she finds herself as a trauma-informed yoga guide, bringing students on a journey to self-discovery and relaxation. Monica’s unique approach to both vinyasa and yin blends playful energy with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, creating a nurturing space for personal growth and healing. She infuses each class with positivity and creates a welcoming environment for emotional and mental well-being.
Karen has been part of the fitness and wellness community in Monmouth County for more than twenty years. Sidelined by an injury, she turned to yoga for physical healing and quickly understood she had tapped into something so much more profound. Thus began her yogic path towards realizing spiritual as well as physical wellness and the union of the two.
After a decade of immersing herself in the practice Karen formalized her education, completing a 200-hour teacher training in 2014 followed by a 650-hour program earning her NJ Massage and Bodywork license in 2015. She has since acquired more than 200 continuing education credits in yoga and massage and has emerged a lifetime “student.”
Karen approaches her “teaching” with genuine humility and respect for all. Her intent is to create a supportive and compassionate space where students feel safe to question their limits, trust in their innate wisdom, and access the joy in that freedom. Her classes blend elements of traditional yoga lineages in an accessible, lighthearted way.
She is thrilled and honored to join the community at Monmouth Beach Yoga.
