Washington : Logan Circle
Alex Paraskevas
Alex Paraskevas, a French native and co-founder of YogaChai, first found yoga in California, after a car accident left him with serious neck and back issues. The healing and transformation he experienced through the practice of yoga inspired him to begin sharing the gift with others. He completed his teacher training in New Mexico, under the late Yogi Bhajan, and has since studied with various teachers, including Dharma Mittra, John Schumacher, and Aadil Palkhivala. Alex has been back in DC since 2003, teaching yoga and motivating people to discover their highest potential. Expect to be challenged in his classes, which incorporate an Iyengar-based focus on alignment with the freedom and spirit of other yoga styles. Alex also holds a BA in Political Science, Economics and... Read the profile >>
Autumn Wilson
Autumn Wilson is a former Division I volleyball player who began practicing yoga in 2003. Her background in sports and theatre has given her many opportunities to work with young people and parents over the years, but becoming a mom in 2005 made Autumn even more committed to teaching children and the adults who love them. She has always enjoyed inspiring creativity and encouraging physical activity, but now Autumn has the joy of working with families full-time in the yoga studio she and her husband founded (YogaChai). The space is a reflection of the value Autumn and her husband Alex place on sharing yoga with all families, and Autumn is thrilled to have the opportunity to meet such inspiring children, parents, and caregivers everyday. Autumn holds certifications in Itsy Bitsy... Read the profile >>
Heather Cohen
Heather's energy and passion has made her one of Washington D.C.'s favorite group exercise instructors for the past ten years. After taking her first aerobics class at the age of 13, she became hooked. Her first certification was the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America's Primary Certification at 19 years old. With that, she began teaching a variety of classes at Washington Sports Clubs, George Washington University and Sport and Health Clubs while attending the George Washington University to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. By 21, Heather was Group Exercise Coordinator at Ballston Sport and Health in Arlington, Virginia. Since then she has earned her CPR/AED through the American Red Cross, Balanced Body Pilates Reformer Certification and Certified... Read the profile >>
Jim Bathurst
Balance Gym
Jim loves to find new ways to move and challenge his body. Throughout high school, Jim competed in track and field, qualifying for the Maryland State Championships in sprinting and pole vault events. During this time, he also discovered his passion for weight training and acrobatics. This would be further developed as Jim joined an exhibition gymnastic team in college and performed for kids at local schools, delivering with the performance a message to live healthily! After college, Jim continued his love of acrobatics with the founding of BeastSkills.com - which teaches people difficult bodyweight exercises. BeastSkills.com has been well-received by the fitness community. Always looking for a new physical outlet, Jim has also competed and won events in power-lifting. He also loves... Read the profile >>
Julie Culley
Pacer's Running Stores
Julie Culley is in her third season as an assistant coach of cross country and track and field at American University. Culley is a former Div. I head track and field coach and continues to compete at the national and international level. Most recently, Culley competed at the 2009 IAAF World Championship of Athletics in Berlin, Germany in the 5000m. She qualified after competing in the 2009 USATF Championships finals where she placed fourth overall and set a new personal best time of 15:33.92. She continued her successful season competing in Belgium where she bettered her 5000m time to 15:21 and secured her spot on the team in Berlin. A 2004 graduate of Rutgers College, Culley graduated with honors and earned a bachelors degree in marketing and political science. Julie currently... Read the profile >>
Mike Hamberger
Michael Hamberger is a DC resident who owns DC Running Coach, LLC, a business committed to designing training programs for runners and triathletes. Mike is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) and multi-sport athlete whose run-splits consistently rank in the top 10. Most recently, in 2009, Mike competed in his 3rd Duathlon World Championship (amateur level). In 2008, Mike finished in the top-10 in all 6 of his multi-sport races and finished his second Boston marathon in the top 3%. He also finished the Marine Corps Marathon and Army 10-Miler in the top-100 overall, posting his career-best marathon time of 2:48:40 at the MCM, as the top DC resident. He ended 2008 at Ironman Western Australia, finishing in 10:14:43. In 2007, Mike qualified to represent Team USA at... Read the profile >>
Pleasance Lowengard Silicki
Pre & Post-Natal
Originally from West Hartford , CT, Pleasance Lowengard Silicki has been in Washington, DC for 12 years. While working as an elementary school teacher in the District of Columbia Public Schools, Pleasance found yoga as an outlet for the stresses of urban teaching. She began training for her first half marathon the same year and found running and yoga to compliment each other well. While working as an administrator at Septima Clark Public Charter School in DC , Pleasance taught 3, 4, and 5 year old boys yoga and movement. After deciding to take a break from the school system, Pleasance became the community leader at lululemon Clarendon where she enjoyed spinning, running, dance, and yoga on a daily basis. In 2006, Pleasance completed the Hot Yoga 200 hour Teacher Training and is a... Read the profile >>