Tribe Members

Our Tribe

Kari Hayden

STUDIO OWNER

As the studio owner, Kari brings an extensive wealth of information to her space. A registered nurse for 25 years, she has decided to transfer her clinical knowledge of healthcare into a more holistic expression by creating Palm Studio. After many years of having to travel to different studios for particular classes, she has incorporated her favorite mind-body fitness classes into a singular zen environment. It is Kari's belief that kindness matters above all else and it is her intention that students leave her studio feeling rejuvenated, inspired and loved. She has incorporated free kid and teen yoga into the studio to help all children become more mindful. She is happily married to her  husband Dave, of 24 years and has 3 children.

Meagan White

Yoga, aerial & Fitness Instructor

Originally from upstate New York, Meagan is almost an Englewood "native" having lived here since 1989. She is married and has two sons, Miles and Nixon. She fell in love with instructing during her tenure as a substitute teacher for a step aerobics class in 1999. Since then she has broadened her knowledge base by becoming certified to teach Beach Body PIYO and Insanity, POUND, TRX and Barre. She also has her 500 hour Yoga Certification, which she received from the esteemed Heartwood Yoga Institute in Sarasota Florida. Meagan's broad knowledge in healthcare helps her to efficiently tailor fitness classes for all levels. She enjoys being on the water and being active with her family. Her personal motto is "My heart is fitness, it is what I love to do. If I am moving I am happy!"
 

Katrina Sylvan

Pilates
Certified Romana's Pilates Instructor

Introduced to the Pilates Method in 1990, Katrina became a lifetime enthusiast of the work.

Completing her certification in 1999 under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska and Sari Pace, Katrina taught in NYC then continued a lifelong dedication to Pilates while pursuing a career in NYC as a Makeup Artist. A lifelong dancer, The Pilates Method added greater strength and flexibility along with sharper focus, better brain health and more energy to enjoy life. This translates into her teaching style inspiring greater enthusiasm

Kim Scardaccione

Barre Instructor

Kim arrived in Englewood 10 years ago, and joined the Palm Studio team in March of 2020. During her time in the area, she’s been a frequent participant in Yoga on the Beach. She’s also been a student at several area locations for various kinds of fitness training. Her experiences taught her that Barre was the area she found most beneficial, with elements of Pilates, dance, yoga, and strength training. Her determination steered her to classes presented by American Barre Techniques. Her success in those classes earned her the title of Certified Barre Instructor in March of 2019. She has honed her Barre skills by teaching for local training studios, and now is using her skills for Palm Studio in Englewood where she hopes you’ll join her.

Rosa Devi Sangha Kaur

Kundalini Instructor

Rosa discovered Kundalini Yoga in 2012 after a 25-year corporate career and became a certified teacher in 2017. A Stetson University graduate, she now interprets for the Florida 12th Judicial Circuit Courts. Dedicated to personal growth, she practices meditation, attends retreats, and shares her teachings. She currently teaches Kundalini yoga at our studio.

Dena McCabe

Yoga instructor

Dena M. relocated to Venice Florida in 2020 with her husband Michael from Western Massachusetts. Retiring from a successful career in business and education Dena has jumped into pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a Yoga teacher. Dena obtained her Yoga Alliance 200-hour teaching certification and is now seeking a Ayurveda Specialist certification. Dena’s passion for philosophy, spirituality and seeking a deeper meaning in life began at a young age. Dena’s yoga style using chakras, mudras and breathwork encourages calm energy, positivity, focus and clarity. After calming and focusing through breath work we are able to free energy to flow in the body. Dena loves to groove in her yoga classes to modernized yoga and acoustic music.

Grace Pentecost

Aerial Yoga Instructor

Introduced to aerial yoga in 2019, Grace’s new-found passion inspired her to explore her abilities and love for the yoga community. Moving from Lexington, KY to Englewood, FL in 2021, she was welcomed in by Palm Studio with open arms. After consistently taking aerial classes at Palm Studio for a year, Grace went on to complete her aerial yoga certification course at Heartwood Yoga Institute in August 2022. She now enjoys sharing her passion with others, encouraging self-love, empowerment, and confidence for all.

Kristin Cimmino

Yoga Instructor

Kristin is a certified RYT 200 hour yoga instructor currently working towards her 500 hour RYT certification. 

She fell in love with  hot yoga while training to hike the high peaks of NY State. Finishing and signing in at # 12,405 right before her move to Florida in 2020. 

Kristin is a full time hairstylist but when she’s not behind the chair she’s on her mat, crocheting, or in nature with her family and dog.

Kristin believes that yoga is for every body and if you can breathe you can do yoga.  Meet your body where it’s at and join her on your mat.

Grace Perkins

Kids Yoga Instructor & Brain integration tutoring

Grace has always loved working with kids. For 10 years she worked with children in the ESE department. She now specializes in brain and cross body integration and handwriting to children with dysgraphia. It was working with kids where Grace found true compassion and felt that her students would greatly benefit from practicing yoga and mindfulness.
She has been a yogi for over 25 years finding love through movement and breath. Grace also enjoys photography, tennis, holistic health and disc golf. Through Grace's childlike imagination she hopes to inspire and motivate her students.

This summer she will be in charge of Youth Yogi's at Fun Under the Sun Camp. 

Jen Hill

Yoga & Aerial Instructor

Jen has a diverse portfolio from Art and the Air Force to corporate America and the service industry. She is a "forever" student and a well rounded metaphysician. Her consistent studies include a PHD in Astrology, Naturopathy education certification, RYT 200 aerial yoga instruction, Tarot reader, Reiki healing and Nada yoga with crystal bowls.

Lisa Truisi

Kids Yoga Instrcutor

Lisa has a passion for our youth, the arts and nature. She grew up dancing, cheering and participating in gymnastics and has always loved creating and being outdoors.
Over the last 35 years, she has spent her time focused on our youth as an elementary education teacher, a physical education instructor, a preschool teacher and a cheerleading and gymnastics coach.
Lisa is currently our teen yoga instructor and helps out with the youth program. She is certified in youth yoga through Kidding Around Yoga, Integrated Energy Therapy and is currently working towards her 200hr yoga certification. She is always learning new ways to help balance the mind, body and spirit and loves to empower the youth with her knowledge and spirit.

Robert Austin

Sound Healer & Reiki Master / Private sessions

At an early age Robert had a reading and was told “some day you will heal with your hands”. Robert did not understand this meaning until later in life, but that seed was planted in his memory. Robert received a Reiki treatment which was extremely profound and this awakened him to his healing path. He became a Reiki Master and studied several other modalities of energy healing. Eventually, he began to incorporate a Crystal Bowl in the guided sessions. With the beginning of the new Millennium, the healing techniques began to change significantly during sessions as well as amazing shifts during the Crystal and Tibetan Bowl concerts. Robert now teaches and exchanges this knowledge with others so they may integrate this modality into their own path. Energy Sound Healing workshops consist of learning about the Crystal and Tibetan Bowls, Tuning Forks, Crystals, Healing Stones and Pyramid Activation.

Testimony:

I attended Robert Austin's "Floating" Crystal Bowl Concert at the Palm Studio and I am truly amazed!  
To preface, over the last few months I had been experiencing some sort of block.  I was not feeling like myself; my drive and motivation towards activities that I typically enjoy was way down.  I was having a hard time looking at things in a positive perspective.  
Firstly, I have to say that the Palm Studio is a wonderful facility.  I was very interested in experiencing a sound bowl concert in a hammock.
I chose a turquoise hammock as the color drew me to it, and I happened to be right next to the bowls. 
During the concert I had several experiences which I can only explain as "out of body."  The weightlessness in teh hammock was very comfortable.  I was able to feel the vibrations flow through my body, at some points I had the sensation that I was rocking in the hammock at the same frequency that the bowls were playing. 
During this concert I had made an intention to let this experience heal me and for it to guide me in the direction I needed to go in order for me to be my best self. 
After the concert I felt very peaceful and like my worries had melted away.  In fact, I drove the wrong direction to go home.  
I thought that this was going to be the end of it, but, NO!
Over the next few days I felt increasingly more clear.  I started noticing the things that I was doing that were not serving me and that were lowering my vibration.  
By the second day I found myself doing the things that I have been putting off for months.  I have been feeling inspired and motivated again!

Amy Gordon

Social Worker

Amy Gordon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years experience in child welfare.  In her pre-Florida life, she was Director of Intact Family Services at an agency in Illinois and then a Field/Practicum professor for Bachelors level Social Work students at Illinois State University.  She has taken a leave of absence from direct work to enjoy raising her child and re-located to Venice in 2022 to be closer to family.  Now that her child is school aged, she is focusing on shifting gears in her career to provide parent coaching and is working on setting up a private practice to serve the parenting/family therapy needs of the community.  She loves to read non fiction, to learn, to ride her bike, and can't ever see enough sunsets.  

Riley Chewning

Yoga Instructor

Riley is a 200hr RYT originally from Southern California and has spent the last few years traveling and teaching in places like Mexico and the Bahamas. She is excited to call Englewood her new home and invites you to join her classes for all levels!

Emily Davis

Yoga Instructor

E-RYT 200 hour certified with Level Yoga in Vero Beach, FL. Emily is a Tampa, FL native with over 18 years of experience. In her classes you can expect a combination of challenging postures, thoughtful sequencing, a strong foundation in alignment, and deep relaxation. When Emily isn't practicing yoga, you can find her spending time outdoors with her two sons, eating spicy food, and expanding her knowledge of the yoga practice in her everyday life. Emily aims to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for each student who shows up on their mat so that you can feel the absolute best in your body.

Kathy Sgroi

Yoga Instructor

Kathy began practicing yoga in 2007 to manage stress and anxiety, eventually discovering her passion for Vinyasa Yoga. With over 1,000 teaching hours and certifications including RYT 500, from Jonny Kest and Baron Baptiste, she specializes in Vinyasa Flow, Hatha Yoga, and Breathwork, creating accessible classes for all levels. Now retired, Kathy lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, Tom, and their Maltipoo, Lennon, cherishing time with her daughter and granddaughter.

Krista Ruffoni

Reiki Master

Krista Ruffoni is a mindfulness and meditation coach, reiki master, and lifelong student of the universe. Krista believes meditation and mindfulness are life-changing, powerful practices for bringing more peace, joy, love, and presence into your daily life

Denese Venza

Yoga Instructor

Denese “Nese” Venza is a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer with expertise in Hot Vinyasa, Power Flow, and Gentle Flow yoga. She holds a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification and is Barkan Method-trained. With extensive teaching experience at studios, schools, and fitness centers, she has led classes ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Known for her dedication and adaptability, she provides engaging sessions that blend physical fitness with mindfulness.

JoAnn Cooke

Light Language

JoAnn Cooke acts as a channel through which subtle information is brought forward into the physical plane from higher dimensions. Light Language is a form of communication that bypasses the left brain, logical thinking mind. It is a vibrational expression that speaks directly to your soul and DNA. It brings healing on a deep cellular level; aiding in releasing patterns that no longer serve,
releasing trauma, and healing disease in the mind or body.

Nikki Zahora

Yoga Instructor

Nikki is a 200 hour RYT with Yoga Alliance through Kootenay Yoga School. She brings a calming and nurturing energy to her teaching, with a special interest in yin and restorative yoga. Her teaching style emphasizes the importance of being present to cultivate inner peace, self-care, patience, and acceptance. Nikki’s classes create a peaceful, inclusive space where students feel supported and safe to allow for reconnection with themselves and experience the profound benefits of slowing down in a fast-paced world.

Yoga Instructor

Ryann Stein

Youth Mentor

  As a fourth-generation auctioneer, entrepreneur, and benefit auction specialist, I’ve spent
my career helping organizations create impact. But my greatest passion lies in empowering
young minds to discover their potential and step into their strength.
As a youth mentor at Palm Studios, I have the privilege of guiding children and young adults
on their journey of self-discovery, connection, and growth. Whether through movement,
mindfulness, or creative expression, my goal is to help them recognize their power, embrace
their uniqueness, and build a deep relationship with themselves, others, and the world around
them.
Beyond my work, my most cherished role is that of a mother and wife. My family is my
foundation, and I bring that same sense of care and devotion into my mentorship. I believe that
we are here to love and learn, and that teaching is a two-way street—just as I guide the next
generation, they teach me in return.
At Palm Studios, I strive to create a space where joy, curiosity, and self-expression thrive—a
place where kids can grow, explore, and find their rhythm.
Let’s move, learn, and rise together!

Founder of www.thinkbirdbrains.com 

Click the link or go to our "youth services" page to find out more information