Patrice Flesch, K.Y.T., owner, South End Yoga

Patrice began studying yoga in 1975 when she attended Integral yoga classes. Over the years she has studied many styles of yoga.

In 1998 Patrice received her certification to teach yoga through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She chose this type of yoga because it is accessible to everyone.

Physical limitations are not a problem since poses may be modified to accommodate injuries or lack of flexibility.

Patrice’s goal is to have her students relax, feel good about themselves and improve their physical and mental health. Her students become stronger, more flexible and gain a greater awareness of their bodies and minds.

Since receiving her certification, Patrice has continued her education by studying almost every type of yoga. She attended Anusara classes for 2 years. Her teachings are heavily influenced by Gary Kraftsow and Viniyoga.

Patrice has been teaching yoga classes at the Boston Alzheimer’s center for eight years. She is a pioneer in this area. Patrice’s work with Alzheimer’s has been featured on Channel 5 in Boston, CNN and the Yoga Journal. Patrice was also recently featured in the Boston Globe.

Patrice also teaches in rehabilitation centers and nursing homes within the Partners Health Care system. In addition, Patrice teaches at Farnsworth House, an apartment building for the elderly and disabled.

Patrice is certified to work with both cardiac and cancer patients. She received her Yoga of the Heart certification from Nischala Devi, the yoga consultant for the famous Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. Nischala also co-founded the award-winning Commonwealth Cancer program.

Patrice has also received the Yoga for the Rest of Us certification through Peggy Cappy who is known for her public television series, books and cds.

Patrice is available for private lessons. southendyoga@gmail.com

I attend Patrice's Saturday AM class regularly and enjoy it very much.  I like the way she approaches each asana and preps our bodies for the poses.  It is a nice compliment to my other classes.  I also like how she welcomes newcomers to yoga.

                                 ------ Sheila A.

I am currently a student at Patrice’s Tuesday night class which I thoroughly enjoy. I have been a student of Patrice’s for many years and her style of teaching and Kripalu yoga in general suits me very well. I like the unpretentious nature of the studio and the people who attend it.

                               ------ Gillian L.

You're by far the best yoga teacher I've ever had! I have tried many classes since I moved here to California but none of them have been as good as you. My sister has remarked the very same comment!!!!

                               ------ Bonnie R.

Suzi Parks received her Hatha Yoga certification in 1997 at the Moving Center with Bob Cooley. The word “Hatha” is made up of the Sanskrit syllables “ha” (sun) and “tha” (moon). Hatha Yoga indicates the union of these two opposites. Bob utilized traditional Chinese medicine and developed a system of resistance stretching  focused on energy meridians within the body, which he called Janna Hatha Yoga. The focus of this path of Hatha Yoga is to use isometric or resistance movements within each asana (pose) to further the stretch of each muscle.  As Suzi and her students went through life changes, she has adjusted her classes: she has furthered her studies into Yoga for and with Babies and Children and has put a special focus into yoga for menopausal women. Suzi developed a yoga program at Northeastern University for faculty and staff, as well as an after school program for Cape Verdean and Portuguese speaking children. She has also taught at various studios throughout Boston, including Healthworks, City Lights and C2 Studios as well as working privately with a wide variety of students.

In 1985 Suzi studied with Margo Adair in the technique of Creative Visualization. She uses these applied meditation techniques to assist the yoga participant in creating visual images for deep relaxation and intuitive problem solving. 

Each yoga session begins with the traditional Sun Salutation  and ends with guided meditations. Together we will begin a journey of stretching, flexibility and physical and mental stress reduction. 

Suzi’s classes are amazing, afterwards my body feels so relaxed!
                           ----- Celia C.

The small class environment is perfect for me. I love the partner poses, as they help me go deeper into the poses.
                          ----- Holly R.

I love the class with Nancy - if she taught I would come five times a week for sure!

                           ----- Joan W.

Doreen Kleinschmidt (RSYT) teaches Svaroopa Yoga. She has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1986. Originating as a Kripalu Yoga teacher, Doreen stylized an eclectic rendering of hatha yoga based on an emphasis of Kripalu yoga with strong influence from other styles.

The Svaroopa practice and paradigm has evolved and satisfied her life work in yoga, and her understanding of yoga practice and yoga philosophy. She offers yoga classes, yoga therapy and massage.

See Doreen's website: www.yogawithdoreen.com

After Doreen’s clas, it's such a pleasure just to walk. I feel light, everything aligned, decades younger.
                           ----- Kurt F.

Ken Hadden has been teaching yoga in the Boston area for over 12 years at various places including: Salem Hospital, the North Andover Senior Center, Yangs Martial Arts in Andover, the North Shore YMCA, the Woman's Health Center in Danvers and the Grosvenor Park Nursing Center in Salem. Ken is a Kripalu Yoga Instructor and a Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga Instructor, certified through the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, MA. He has assisted several times with the Men's Yoga Quest at the Kripalu Center.  Ken also has graduated from the International Macrobiotic Institute in Switzerland and the Ann Wigmore Health Institute in Puerto Rico. Ken is a student of the Moreno Institute East and has completed over 100 hours of training in Evolutionary Social Science based upon forces of cohesion and creativity through the applied aspects of Psychodrama, Sociodrama,  Sociometry, and repair of the Social Atom.

He is also a certified Tong Ren Energy Therapist certified through the Oriental Culture Institute in Quincy, MA. Ken integrates his holistic background, intuition, and his gentle nature into all his classes allowing every student to feel accepted, relaxed, and eager to explore the body and learn how to calm the mind and emotions. Ken is also a professional disc jockey and resides in Boston, MA.

I like the Kripalu style and Ken's instruction, with the focus on the whole person, emphasizing the breath, noticing sensation in the body and opening to spiritual growth. I'm not interested in being pushed to the point of injury, and I value instructors who work with people where they are in a noncompetitive class that is open to newcomers and experienced yogis alike.                          ----- David B.

Karen Wenc has been a student of Iyengar yoga since 1981, and has been teaching for over 18 years. A former competitive runner, swimmer and cross-country skier, Karen's teaching style emphasizes developing strength and flexibility to prevent sports-related injuries. A Brookline resident, Karen teaches full-time throughout the greater Boston area, and has taught at the Yogashala in Santiago, Chile among other international venues. Karen is a longtime student of Patricia Walden, who Time Magazine called one of yoga's "leading luminaries."

Karen's illuminating classes provide you in-depth, technical cues on how to fully experience the asanas, while keeping your mind present as she describes the eight limbs of yoga and decodes obscure Sanskrit terminology. Towards the end you will be busy floating off to some other time and space, at which point she brings you back with her tiny bells to close out the class. Invigorating, mindful and relaxing.

Iyengar is a style of yoga which emphasizes anatomical precision and alignment to promote both strength and flexibility. Its use of props (such as blocks and straps) helps to enable students to more readily experience the essence of poses (asanas).

Current student! LOVE Karen's Thursday morningIyengar class!

                                    ----- Meredith F.

Carolyn Langley has been practicing yoga for over 25 years and has been teaching in the greater Boston area since 1996. She received her 200 hr. Kripalu certification in 1996 and received a 400 hr. Anusara style certification in 2002 through Todd Norian. In 2007 she completed a year long advanced training program through Arthur Kilmurray, integrating science, spirituality and practice. Arthur is a well-known teacher throughout the U.S. and also director of the former Mystic River Yoga in Medford.

Carolyn was introduced to Kripalu yoga in creative movement classes in the early 80’s. She was very drawn to yoga as she found it greatly helped to relax the tension level in her body leaving her more peaceful, happy and enthusiastic. Today she continues with a strong commitment to her own practice of yoga and meditation.

She often weaves basic yogic philosophy into her classes bringing them a spiritual and heart-centered intention. She incorporates the Anusara alignment principles helping students become more aware of their alignment and how it can benefit them. She brings humor, spirit, compassion and lots of individual attention to her teaching. Classes can be gentle to moderate or more challenging, depending on the clientele. She teaches in corporate settings, has pre-natal teaching experience and has even brought yoga to bariatric patients at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford. So come Align with Your Inner Divine!

Carolyn is also available for private or semi-private therapeutic yoga sessions. In addition she is studying to become a whole health coach through the National Institute of Whole Health in Wellesley, MA.  

Carolyn’s style of teaching is warm and friendly.   She has a great awareness of a person’s individual needs, and an ability to tailor poses to each student.  I leave every class feeling relaxed, flexible, and moving with ease which is exactly what I want from a yoga class.

                                  ---- Janey

Carolyn, You've always been prepared and you especialy understand the body of aging women. You didn't push me hard but you gave me a chance to challenge myself so I was able to move to the next level without having any problems.

Now yoga class is the main part of my healthy life. It is so much enjoyment for me to have a yoga class with you.
                                 ----Soohae C.

I really look forward to my yoga class with Carolyn. I like her mix of spirituality and exercise, and I feel so much better since I started her class.
                                  ----Wynelle

Ryan Cunningham was introduced to yoga practice when a friend suggested that it might help his tendonitis; which had developed from years of playing woodwind instruments. From that point on he has been fascinated with both the physical and mental aspects of the practice. Over the past few years Ryan has been fortunate enough to study with some truly inspiring teachers, including Barbara Benagh, Ginny Nadler, Simon Park, Kathryn Budig, Desiree Rumbaugh, and Cyndi Lee. A year of more intense study led him to OM Yoga’s 200hr teacher training as taught by Sarah Trelease, Joe Miller, and Sandy Gross at Evolution Yoga in Cleveland, Ohio. As a certified teacher, he strives to meld a strong physical practice, with precise alignment cues, middle path thinking, and unique music. Whether in a class or private setting, Ryan challenges students of all levels with standing sequencings and high flying arm balances approached with detailed alignment and a lot of playfulness.  Ryan is an RYT at the 200hr level through Yoga Alliance, and is a Masters student at New England Conservatory where he studies Jazz Composition.