Instructors

Our Team

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.

Sandra & Michael Katala

Sound Healing

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 25 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 and are available for sale. 

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.

Kori Hancock

Yoga Instructor

Kori loves being a part of Palm Studios. Kori enjoys sharing her practice with others, and teaches with authenticity, generosity and humility. Kori was introduced to yoga in her early twenties while living and working in downtown Tampa. Yoga gave her the space to find peace and stability in her life. In 2020, when the world changed and slowed down, Kori decided to attend Heartwood Yoga Institute and Retreat to learn more about the philosophy and practices of yoga. After receiving her 200 hour yoga certification she regained her passion for yoga, and believes that “yoga is not only a set of asanas, but it is the union of body, mind and soul”. Yoga is a lifelong journey.

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.

Dena Kittelson

Yoga Instructor

Dena is an Englewood native.

Dena’s yoga journey began in 2012 when she was introduced to a few classes on her university campus. She became hooked and began practicing at yoga studios weekly for over 7 years. She has practiced a variety of yoga styles including hatha, vinyasa, hot yoga, ashtanga, yin yoga, and yoga nidra. Since Covid, she began a daily home practice. Dena is now dedicated to a little yoga every day, whether it’s 5 minutes or 60 minutes. Dena has just completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification.

Dena has learned that the most important tool in life is the breath. She appreciates how physical practice of yoga allows an individual to go deeper into focusing the mind and sensing the body. Dena simply explains yoga as a moving meditation, a perfect opportunity for mind and body harmony.

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!

Joseph Breton

Sound healer/
Cloud Feather

Teaching artist and licensed naturopathic physician for 24 years. Teaching style encompasses energetic presentation, down to earth and understandable language with a hands-on and holistic foundation in mind / body / spirit philosophy. Founder of both enrichment school workshops (K-6) Bamboom! and Mindfulness, Music and Connection utilizing group drums, music and art. Created and instructed university courses in natural therapeutics and health sciences. Years of working in conjunction with healers of North and South America with the vision of creating a better world for all people.

 

Joe will be facilitating Youth Drumming in the Kid's Summer camp.

 

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 Instrcutor

Sheri Levine

Kundalini Instructor+ Thai Yoga Bodywork

Sheri is originally from NYC, where she had careers in advertising, the airlines industry and retail. Throughout these professional endeavors she practiced Hatha yoga, as well as aerobics. Upon moving to Florida in 2012, to Delray Beach, she discovered Kundalini yoga and after taking her second class she became a dedicated student of this transformative practice. Sheri completed 220 houts, from KRI, acquired a spiritual name and became a certified Kundalini teacher. She loves the practice and is grateful every day for how it has enriched her life.

Lisa Truisi

Kids Yoga Instrcutor

Lisa is certified in kids yoga and teaches PE.

Jenna Weston

Yoga Instructor

Coming soon