Instructors

Our Team

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 is happily married to her husband Dave, of 20 years and has 3 children.

Susan grew up in the Berkshires of Western MA and has a background in dance and group fitness. She was introduced to Pilates in the late 1990's and trained comprehensively in the Pilates Method in 2007. Back and neck pain and several joint surgeries have allowed Susan a better understanding of the vital importance of movement as a healing measure. Susan teaches Pilates, CoreAlign, barre, Kid Yoga and is a Fascial Stretch practitioner.

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 200 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!"

Marilyn is very enthusiastic and always has a positive outlook on life. She’s had a love and desire for helping and guiding others her whole life. Marilyn dedicated 15 years as a guidance counselor to the Broward School District and gave hundreds of families the hope and courage to succeed. Today, she lives a very well-balanced life in Sarasota, working from home and practicing yoga.

Marilyn’s yoga journey began 8 years ago after the loss of her mother and being diagnosed with Graves' disease. The obstacles only made her stronger! She found recovery in yoga and was off on a new journey. Marilyn has had the honor of practicing under inspiring yoga teachers in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and now Sarasota. She’s acquired a love for Aerial Yoga, Yin Yoga, Hatha Flow, Restorative, and Gentle Yoga. Her style is meditative and focuses on quieting the mind and opening the heart. Marilyn’s devoted attention and SMILE are always a sure thing!

Her favorite quote: Choices, Chances, Changes. You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change. -Unknown

Cheridan is a lover of yoga, poetry, travel, sunsets and life. Cher received her Yoga Teacher training certification in India over the summer of 2018, her Aerial Yoga Teacher training certification in December of 2018 and her Child Yoga certification in September of 2019. Cher is also certified in Paddle Board Yoga and received her certificate in June of 2020 at Lazy Dog Adventures in Key West, Florida. Her instruction focuses on Aerial, Hatha, Yin, and Vinyasa Flow. Her experience abroad has made her passion and understanding of yoga extremely vivid. Having received the training in India, Cher feels more connected to the natural source and more at peace in her mind, body, and soul.

Rumi once said, “Let yourself become living poetry.”

There is no better description of what yoga is to me. Yoga is living poetry: in movement, in flow, in feelings, in connecting yourself to every breath. Yoga is an art that works with each human based on their own needs. It is a practice I do to heal, to focus, to love, to breathe, and to live each moment in the present. Let the things that help us grow and the things we love be the things we do.

Karen worked in the human service field for over 30 years helping others focus on their abilities and reach their goals. Karen has been practicing yoga since 2008 on the North and South Forks of Long Island, New York, and feels privileged to have studied under some of the leading practitioners in the country. She obtained her 200 hour RYT certification in 2013 with Hamptons Yoga Healing Arts. She is also certified in Paddle Board Yoga and received her certificate in June 2020 at Lazy Dog Adventures in Key West, Florida. It is Karen's intention to both deepen her practice and to share her love of yoga with others. Karen has a Vinyasa-based practice, with a strong focus on alignment and flow. Karen is honored to be joining the talented teachers at Palm Studio.

Before ever taking a yoga class, Annie was introduced in 2006 to the philosophy when on retreat in Grass Valley, California, she read Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda. She began a regular asana practice in 2008 when she took her first class in Ashtanga. She received her 200-hour teacher training from the Om Seva School of Yoga in Vinyasa in 2010, and, after a wrist injury, received more training in Yin Yoga, a slower meditative practice, from Paulie Zink, the American father of Yin Yoga. Annie completed her 40-hour Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training with world-renown Ashtanga instructor, David Swenson in 2011, and in 2013, completed her 500-hour teacher training in Sadhana Yoga Chi with David’s brother, Doug Swenson. In 2014, Annie received a certificate from Linda Oshens in Pranayama. Annie has also studied meditation with Yogananda disciples Roy Eugene Davis and Swami Vidyadhishananda.

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.

Bethany is passionate about bringing healing and oneness to the world through teaching and sharing herself with others. As a former preschool teacher, Bethany’s 14 years in early childhood education brought out her inner child and through a journey of healing and self love, which led her to a personal yoga practice. After practicing yoga for years, Bethany decided to take her yogi path further by becoming a certified yoga instructor. Her 200 RYT and Level 1 Reiki training were completed at Heartwood Yoga Institute in 2020 and she completed the remaining 300 hours shortly after for her 500RYT. Bethany is certified in Hatha and Chair yoga. She focuses on the rhythm and flow of the mind, body, and spirit connection. Bethany seeks to share her gifts with others by planting seeds of love to grow through self-care and community collaboration.

My athletic background is rooted in strength training and yoga. Over the past thirty-plus years it has been awesome to train a variety of people, from musicians to professional and nationally ranked athletes. Being an iPEC Certified Health and Wellness Coach, an Energy Leadership Coach, and a Life Coach has enabled me to help each individual with their personal growth. These skills have helped me develop a variety of yoga classes, co-found the Steamboat Movement Festival, direct and organize power lifting meets, develop and teach strength and fitness classes as well as yoga at Colorado Mountain College, and create a variety of sports specific strength training and yoga programs.

Spiritual growth and physical fitness best describe my continuing journey. Creating a place where people of all levels, beginner to expert, can come to help and support each other while meeting or going beyond their dreams is my passion! This atmosphere helps me connect with each person, guiding them to reach their goals and find a deep inner sense of joy and peace.

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!

I will definitely be going to these as often as I can!

Erin has a great drive to help people truly understand themselves,due to trials and tribulations she has come through and has great understanding that people often are overwhelmed by the card readings and all spiritual modalities. She has developed her intuitive abilities to include crystals, crystals grids, oracle cards, essential oils and astrology. She incorporates all these modalities into her grids and readings. Erin is always dabbling in and learning new things. Erin is eager to help others use crystals to their greatest benefit as she has done personally to change and transform into her most authentic self, which is also an ongoing process!

Erin has been practicing as an Integrated Intuitive reader since 2015. This gift is something that has always been there. Raised a nondenominational Christian but with some heavy Roman catholic influences, it took a lot of inner work to not only accept her gifts but to use them confidently. Starting in 2014 Erin decided not to let her past control her anymore and worked towards acceptance of her chronic illnesses and finding a way to integrate them into what she does. Added to that dealing with Infertility, job losses and even homelessness,she will be the first to tell you inner healing is not pretty or easy, it's messy but necessary work to be the best self you can be.

Carolyn Fowler is a Certified Medical Reiki Master, Usui Reiki Master Teacher and a Karuna Reiki Master Teacher, Founder of the Peaceful Healing school and owner of Peaceful Healing Reiki LLC. She teaches classes in the area. A former Paramedic, she brings medical knowledge to her practice of Reiki.

Shakira commenced a love interest for the mat originally with the simple intent to improve flexibility 8 years ago. Over those years she traveled living in 4 different states, all while growing a deeper desire to learn more about the divine practice of Yoga. She decided to take her casual relationship with Yoga to the next level in December 2019 when she completed her 200 hours at Yogi Hari’s Ashram in Miramar, FL. She loved it so much that it inspired her to return and add 300 hours onto her certification in July 2020. Here she learned the principles of Sampoorna Yoga, a Yoga of fullness, which she now bases the foundation of her classes on. Becoming an instructor, and remaining a student, has greatly humbled Shakira in a way she hopes to repay by inspiring others to get on their mats and find a comforting home within themselves.

Sandra and Michael Katala offer meditative Sound Nidra baths at Palm Studio. Each intentional meditation immerses you in organically unique sound with world instruments such as: harp, singing bowls, chimes, tuning forks, vocal toning, frame drum, buffalo drum, flute, and more.

They have been providing individual and group sound healing meditations in the community since 2012.

Sandra is a Board Certified Massage Therapist, offering over 20 years of experience in the healing arts. She is a Certified Sound Healer and Tuning Fork Therapist. Sandra co-owns and operates Holistic Healing Arts down the street in Englewood, and is available by appointment for Massage, Sound Healing and Therapeutic Art sessions.

Michael is a talented artist and musician, playing percussion for over 25 years. He builds, repairs and teaches drumming technique. He hand-crafts his own unique world instruments, many of which are played in their meditations.

Instructors

Our Team

Kari Hayden

Susan Hoffman

Meagan White

Marilyn Cacabelos

Cheridan Smith

Karen Ascher

Anne Moore

Kim Scardaccione

Bethany Taulbee

Charlie Chase

Robert Austin

Erin Fangboner

Carolyn Fowler

Shakira Giordano

Sandra & Michael Katala

Leia Haney

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