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LITTLE FLOWER TEACHERS: WHO WE ARE
Little Flower Yoga was founded in 2006, by JENNIFER M. COHEN, when her successful use of yoga in her kindergarten classroom led to requests by other students, teachers and administrators for yoga programs of their own.  Jennifer slowly began to teach more and more yoga classes, until she found herself grateful and excited, but a little overwhelmed. She began to recruit other yoga teachers with education backgrounds to continue growing what had become a flourishing program, and Little Flower Yoga was born.

Jennifer is a native New Yorker and has always aspired to be an educator. Discovering yoga in early adulthood, Jennifer found that as her yoga practice grew more consistent she was imbued with a renewed sense of confidence, inner-strength and a desire to meet new challenges, whether in class or in life. Before founding Little Flower she spent eight years studying and practicing yoga, while continuing to develop her education career and working with children in a variety of settings including a domestic violence shelter, an after-school girls group, and an  alternative therapy program for children with physical challenges. Inspired by her own experiences, she soon realized that she could couple her twin passions of education and yoga to impart a sense of wellbeing, self-esteem and continual joy in learning to children. She became certified through The Center for Yoga Studies at Sonic Yoga, as well as taking numerous children's yoga courses and workshops, and immediately knew that she had found the work she would do forever.

Jennifer's Masters Degree in Education and Youth Development, from New York University's Gallatin School, culminated in a thesis on the use of yoga in education settings. She graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, focusing on education and healthcare. Jennifer has experience teaching students from Pre-School through High School. She has also spent many years working with children with physical as well as developmental and learning challenges, using both yoga and other types of alternative therapy methods to help them shine.

In 2009 Jennifer became a founding member of the Yoga Service Council, a non-profit organization designed to support individuals and organization to empower their communities through yoga and mindfulness practices. She is also a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapy and a registered Yoga Alliance Teacher. 

Jennifer’s inner child lies just below the surface and affords her an instant connection with her students. Children love her boundless energy and willingness to indulge in mutual silliness, while also appreciating the genuine respect that she has for her students of all ages. They look forward to Jennifer’s ever present smile, gentle instruction and the laughter and love that come with it.

 
KATE REIL'S yoga journey began as a playful curiosity about 8 years ago and has grown into a life-long exploration.  As the School Programs Director of Little Flower, she works to maintain and improve relationships with current schools, as well as developing new community partnerships.  She hires and supports our amazing Little Flower teachers, and dreams up ways to create a more vibrant community for the children’s yoga scene, while appreciating all the energy that teachers pour into our classes.

Since completing her 200 hr. teacher training at The Center for Yoga Studies at Sonic Yoga, Kate has also completed over 200 hours of kids yoga training, an advanced training with Off the Mat, Into the World, incorporating purpose, service, yoga, and an advanced Kula Yoga teacher training with Schuyler Grant, studying intelligent vinyasa.  In addition to teaching families and kids with Little Flower, she teaches adults at studios around New York.  Her teaching journey has also taken her to a variety of settings over the years including many after school programs, an HIV/AIDS community support center and women’s and youth prisons.

She loves working with kids because they inspire her to see the world anew each day and teaches her how to truly act from her heart. As a teacher, Kate strives to increase access to yoga, and use yoga as a tool to empower youth towards realizing their greatest potential. Kate ultimately seeks to create a space in her students to bring their practice off the mat and into the world-- living each day surrounded by creativity and a passionate pursuit of silliness!
 
ANITA MCFARLANE is an actress, dance theatre artist, certified Kripalu yoga teacher, certified CircusYoga teacher and children’s theatre educator.  She has been teaching theatre to children in New York and California for Way off Broadway  and for The Yard, the Vineyard Playhouse and Island Theatre Workshop on Martha’s Vineyard as well as her own designed program “Yoga for Performers” for the young company at the American Stage Festival in New Hampshire.  She has directed many children's programs for Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health where she created a varied program that included yoga, circus, theatre and art. Also a yoga teacher on the Kripalu guest yoga team, Anita lead gentle, moderate, vigorous and parent/child classes.  Her CircusYoga workshops are popular with adults and kids in New York, on Long Island, in the Hamptons and on Martha’s Vineyard. Anita is launching the first children’s and family programs at The New York Open Center. She is a published and produced playwright and has been awarded over 20 local and national arts council grants in the U.S. and her native Canada.  Anita’s classes are a delicious blend of riotous fun and calming relaxation.
 
CORY TIXIER grew up in the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico, where from a young age she appreciated the beauty and understood the importance of a balanced natural environment.  Cory is the founder of Pure Habitat NYC, which is an eco-friendly cleaning and consulting service. She makes a point of actively educating her clients on ways they can be kinder to and have less of an impact on the environment. Enter…Little flower Yoga.  While participating in one of the city’s “Green” events, Cory was introduced to Jennifer Cohen and her organization. That encounter was important to Cory.  Already practicing and studying Yoga, this meeting reinforced her belief in the need for balanced spiritual and physical healing.  Since this meeting Cory has completed teacher training with Little Flower Yoga and with The Lineage Project which teaches yoga and meditation to at-risk and incarcerated New York City teenagers. Cory hopes to use yoga therapy to continue on her mission of bringing people back in balance with nature in the belief that their health and the health of the earth are inseparable.
 
DEB RADLOFF was always interested in yoga, particularly for its stress relieving benefits, but wasn't able to really have a steady practice until 2005, when she decided to become a work-study student at Sonic yoga, and fell in love with the practice!  She has since spent most of her spare time on the mat, happily practicing.  After 2 and a half years of devoted practice, Deb decided she needed to become a yoga teacher, and went through Sonic yoga's 200 hour teacher training program.  In the past, Deb has always taught kids in various acting and improvisational workshops, and loved every minute of it.  She then decided that her passion for teaching yoga extended to teaching yoga for kids through Little Flower Yoga's program.  Eager for more knowledge, Deb will continue her education and earn her 500 hour teacher training through Sonic yoga.Deb has an incredible passion for teaching yoga, and children are drawn to her energy, presence, and spirit in the classroom. She is thrilled to be a part of the Little Flower family! Namaste!
 
JESSIE CONRAD has been practicing yoga for over ten years. She is certified at the 200-hour level in Hatha yoga and she has additional training in Prenatal and Children’s yoga. Jessie is also a birth doula, providing labor support to families throughout the NYC-metro area. A curious soul, living each moment with awe and wonder, Jessie considers all of life to be constant opportunity for growth and exploration. Jessie brings warmth, compassion, enthusiasm, and presence to all experiences in which she is involved.
 
Upon discovering yoga in 2004, KAREN GILMOUR watched her true self shine through every time she practiced. After experiencing the many benefits of yoga first hand, she knew bringing these benefits to children could help shape their awareness, self-esteem, and confidence now and in their future. 
Karen completed her teacher training with Little Flower Yoga in NYC. She is certified in Children's Yoga and trained to teach grades K-12. Karen teaches children’s courses at Alluem Yoga in Cranford, NJ and visits school in NYC and NJ bringing the beauty of the practice to the classroom when she can.
When Karen is not practicing yoga, she is most likely working on illustrating her next children's book. She has currently illustrated 4 children self-help books focusing on health, emotions, imagination, and self-esteem.
 
KAREN WEBER is both a yoga instructor and a pediatric occupational therapist. Her passion to become a yoga instructor began after completing coursework with Sonia Sumar in the Yoga for the Special Child program.  Karen found using yoga as a modality in her occupational therapy practice to be extremely beneficial for her students.  Yoga helps the children she works with by improving attention, self-esteem, motor planning, strength, alignment, balance, coordination and the ability to relax.  After seeing the benefits of yoga within herself and the individual children she worked with, she began bringing yoga to classrooms as well. Karen currently teaches yoga in numerous schools, children’s hospitals and yoga studios as well as through private instruction.  Drawing on her background as an occupational therapist, Karen makes yoga accessible and fun for children of all levels Karen received her degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Scranton with a minor in Spanish.  She completed a 200 hour-level yoga teacher training at Integral Yoga Institute and children’s yoga teacher training at Little Flower Yoga.  Karen is also trained in restorative yoga through the Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training program. When not working as an occupational therapist or yoga instructor, Karen enjoys spending time with her dog Magoo.
 
LEAH SCHNEIDER is a Registered Yoga Teacher and completed all three levels of Little Flower Yoga’s Teacher Training Program. Orignally from Wisconsin, she recently moved to New York City from Nashville, TN, where she completed her first yoga teacher training. As a public school teacher in Phoenix, AZ, Wisconsin and Nashville, Leah couldn’t help but share her passion for yoga with her students. After seeing it’s effectiveness, she knew she wanted to become more involved in teaching children’s yoga classes. "Little Flower Yoga validated and continued to inspire my vision in bringing yoga to children. It is my drive and inspiration to see the light in each child so they might see their own light and choose to live by it. I believe yoga is a beautiful way to make that happen. I am honored and delighted to have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing organization!"
 
Yoga has been doing LISA VANDEGRIFT for the past several years. Recently, her desire to deepen her own personal practice led her to complete a 200 hour adult certification program through Sonic Yoga in New York City. She is currently enrolled in their 500 hour certification program.  Lisa received her Level I, II, and III children's yoga teacher training from Little Flower Yoga and has been teaching for them ever since. A big believer in every child's right to blossom emotionally, mentally, and physically, Lisa whole-heartedly throws herself into every class with enthusiasm, imagination, and love!


 
MAURY BROWNING was a yogi from an early age.  Born at home, in St. Louis, Missouri.  She began her first headstands at the age of three, when she would wake up and do yoga with Lilias Folan, on "Lilias! Yoga And You." on PBS. Drawn to kids natural ability to imagine and create, she encourages, educates, and excites through dramatic play.  Children are equally
drawn to her exuberance and love of play.  She strives to combine; movement, imaginary play and yoga to children.  Having completed Karma Kids Yoga and Little Flower Yoga training.  She has a strong desire to nurture the whole child through developmental play, and accessing their multitude of intelligences. Currently, she is very close to completing her (Adult) Advanced Jivamukti Yoga Teaching Certification.  In addition, she is pursuing a
Graduate program in Creative Dance/Movement Therapy from Pratt Institute.  In the future, she wants to be just like Jenn Cohen and Kate Reil when she grows up!!!
 
NICOLE MCBRIDE began her yoga practice in college as a way to connect to patience and strength.  She has gained much more than those two characteristics through her continual journey.  Nicole has learned how to encourage compassion, mindfulness and openness, as well as patience and strength, in herself, so that she can affect others positively and openly.  These skills helped her during her time as a Teach for America corps member and New York City public school teacher, where she learned how to use her yoga practice to help her understand her students.  After Nicole realized how much of an impact yoga had made on her own mind, she decided she wanted to share what she had learned with everyone – especially students.  Nicole went on to obtain her 200-hour yoga certification from Sonic Yoga in Manhattan, and her children's yoga certification from Little Flower Yoga.


 
SHAWN MCGIBENY chose to pursue a career in education during her year of service with City Year in Boston.  She received her undergraduate degree in childhood development from San Francisco State University and deepened her yoga practice during this time.  When she moved to New York, her personal yoga practice fused with her work with children through the role of teaching artist with the Arts and Literacy program.  She trained with Karma Kids Yoga and completed Little Flower Yoga teacher training. Shawn has experience teaching elementary school students of all ages in various environments.  She enjoys creating engaging and developmentally appropriate activities for children that introduce them to the practice of yoga! She feels grateful to share the practice that supports her life with children. Now, she cannot imagine yoga and education as separate.  She hopes to bring yoga into traditional classroom activities as an elementary school teacher.  She currently teaches classes for Little Flower Yoga while pursuing a graduate degree in General Childhood Education at Bank Street College.
 
SHELL MERILL has always enjoyed using her imagination and expressing herself physically; from the first plays that she wrote and performed with her sister as a child, to her career as a modern dancer and later as a zany Spinning instructor in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN. Shell has a huge belief in the knowledge gained through trying new things, learning to "practice" rather than trying to be perfect and most of all, being able to laugh through the whole experience. She brings a sense of fun, play and compassion to all of her classes, for both adults and kids. Shell is a 500 hour certified RYT trained at BeYoga/Yoga Works and calms her inner "bouncing off the walls" big kid energy through her own yoga practice. She is also certified to teach yoga to children through Little Flower Yoga and Karma Kids Yoga, and recently completed Prenatal Yoga Training. Her classes are engaging and hysterical, always filled with laughter.
 
 
 

little flower yoga, llc 2006