TRANSCEND U
Meet Our Instructors
Prepare yourself to encounter a vibrant team committed to assisting you in achieving new levels of wellness. Our instructors are devoted to leading you through life-changing sessions that will leave you feeling empowered and motivated.
Alaina Tobias
Alaina Tobias, Licensed Massage Therapist & Certified Yoga Teacher, has been leading Buti Yoga practice variations for over 6 years.
Brenda Demyan
Brenda is a RYT-200 instructor who teaches Power Vinyasa to all levels. She enjoys creating fun, challenging and non-intimidating flows set to fluid playlists. Her intention for her students is to feel gratitude in themselves and to acknowledge yoga is a personal practice, solely your own, that is never the same twice.
Christine Knapp
Christine began practicing Pilates on the reformer in 2011. She fell in love with how most Pilates moves work multiple muscles simultaneously. In 2015, she completed a 200-hour Yoga teacher training program, and in 2022, she became a trained Pilates instructor. Christine is thrilled to be a part of the TranscendU community.
Johanna Geister
Johanna Geister MSN, RN, RYT
Registered Nurse, Holistic Nurse Coach, Educator, Yoga Teacher, Holy Fire III Karuna Reiki Master
Johanna’s offerings promote peace, balance and a safe space for you to rest, relax, restore, and rejuvenate. She views health with a holistic lens and believes the body, mind, spirit and environment are all interconnected. Johanna loves to empower others on their own health and healing journey.
You can find her at: johannalynnholistichealth.com
Kara Shiffer
Kara has been practicing, studying, and teaching yoga for over 20 years. She was originally certified in 2006 by YogaFit and continued to take teacher trainings, courses & workshops in Prana Flow, Ashtanga, Hatha, and Power Yoga. Although she is a former elite triathlete and personal trainer, she weaves softness, flow, and balance into her classes and has realized over the years that more inner strength and resilience come from slowing down, being present, and connecting with our breath.
She enjoys swimming, hiking, cooking, reading, and spending much time cuddling and loving her fur babies.
Leslie St John
RYT and Yin Yoga certified
Why Yoga?
I fell in love with the spiritual teachings of yoga before ever stepping into a mat…to become one with myself and my surroundings. Yoga for me has been an outlet to find my own heart, my own peace, and allowed my thoughts to manifest positivity. It has also allowed me to be present, to connect with people on a more loving caring platform. The sound of my mat being rolled out and smacking the floor gives me the strength to endure the difficult things life offers and to experience joy on and off the mat.
Lisa Wagoner
Lisa's passion is to introduce tween and teen athletes to the benefits of not only the physical practice of yoga but also to the mental benefits such as breath, meditation, and mindfulness that they can use as they move forward in life.
Marybeth McCoy
View Schedule
Michael DeCavalcante
Mike DeCavalcante is a well-known expert on adaptive climbing for individuals with paralysis, CP, and Autism on a national level. He first recognized the therapeutic advantages of climbing over 30 years ago when he established the Climbnasium facility.
He has climbed remote, technical mountains all over the world and loves nothing more than sharing his passion for Climbing and bouldering.
Samantha Carney
Samantha is a passionate instructor with 20 years of experience. With almost two decades of competitive cycling and ultra-marathon running under her belt, she has come to appreciate the many benefits that yoga/pilates can offer to athletes. Originally from Gettysburg, Samantha spent much of her childhood traveling the world with her military family.
In 2000, Samantha discovered yoga as a way to deepen her workout routine beyond the gym. She quickly became hooked and in 2002, she completed her certification as a group fitness and yoga instructor, with specialties in Boot-Camp, Circuit Training, Spin, and Hatha Yoga. While her love of yoga initially grew out of her physical fitness training and competitive racing, Samantha has since become enamored with teaching Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga to students of all levels. She holds certifications that are recognized by AFFA, ACE, AEA, NASM, and ACSM.
Sarah Landis
Sarah first began her yoga journey around 10 years ago as a supplement to running, cycling, and weight training. At first, her yoga practice was simply physical but in the span of a few months from late 2018 to early 2019, some major life events opened her eyes to the benefits of yoga beyond the physical asanas.
Yoga became a true outlet for her to remain physically active while becoming more mentally grounded which inspired her desire to pursue a complete a yoga teacher training and experience this experience with others. She obtained her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2023 via Studio B University in Harrisburg, PA. In addition to instructor preparation, this amazing experience allowed her to gain a lot of insight about herself such as how she approaches and reacts to life’s challenges and the changes needed to bring the best version of herself to light.
Sunny Sidhu
Sunny is an exceptional Bhangra workout instructor, renowned for her infectious energy and passion for fitness fused with cultural expression. Hailing from the vibrant Punjab region, Sunny's journey with Bhangra began at a young age, deeply rooted in the rich traditions of the dance form.
Sunny's dedication to promoting physical fitness and cultural heritage empowers individuals to embrace the rhythm and vitality of Bhangra while achieving their fitness goals.
Christine Brindle
Christine is a lifelong physical fitness and outdoor enthusiast. Her dedication to fitness and wellness led her to aerial arts in 2018. She started teaching aerial classes (including Aerial Fabric, Sling, Lyra and Trapeze) in 2021 and completed the Aerial Yoga Academy’s 250hr Aerial Yoga Teacher Training in 2023. Christine’s class, Aerial Flowing and Flying, exclusively uses an aerial sling or hammock to build strength and increase flexibility with beautiful poses, skills and sequences.
Nancie Hart Blackwell
Nancie is a fitness professional who has been instructing classes in Central PA for the past 40 years. She is AFAA® and ACE® Group Fitness and Personal Training certified, Ashtanga yoga certified (David Swenson), Power Yoga® certified (Beryl Bender Birch) and holds certifications in Mat Pilates®, Zumba®, Zumba® Toning, Step®, Resist-A-Ball®, Slide®, meditative practices, and numerous other fitness genres. Nancie is best known for demonstrating how to achieve the best feels from each exercise through an understanding of muscle biomechanics and the use of levers.
Erika Mollo
I have been practicing Bikram, Power, and Restorative yoga for over ten years. Since getting into Pilates over the past year, it has given me incredible changes to my body, more tone, core strength, and better posture. I have fallen in love with both classical and contemporary style Pilates and have finally found a workout that I am excited to practice and grow in consistently. Other physical activities I enjoy when I’m not doing yoga or Pilates are hiking, biking, and gardening.
Valerie Snyder
My passion is to help others feel energized and confident in who they were created to be. I hold certifications as a group instructor, personal trainer, life coach, and health coach. My teaching style is geared towards all levels of fitness with a primary focus on yoga, Tabata, and Pilates. My goal is to create a class that unites challenge and surrender.
Alaina Tobias
Alaina Tobias, Licensed Massage Therapist & Certified Yoga Teacher, has been leading Buti Yoga practice variations for over 6 years.
Brenda Demyan
Brenda is a RYT-200 instructor who teaches Power Vinyasa to all levels. She enjoys creating fun, challenging and non-intimidating flows set to fluid playlists. Her intention for her students is to feel gratitude in themselves and to acknowledge yoga is a personal practice, solely your own, that is never the same twice.
Christine Knapp
Christine began practicing Pilates on the reformer in 2011. She fell in love with how most Pilates moves work multiple muscles simultaneously. In 2015, she completed a 200-hour Yoga teacher training program, and in 2022, she became a trained Pilates instructor. Christine is thrilled to be a part of the TranscendU community.
Leslie St John
RYT and Yin Yoga certified
Why Yoga?
I fell in love with the spiritual teachings of yoga before ever stepping into a mat…to become one with myself and my surroundings. Yoga for me has been an outlet to find my own heart, my own peace, and allowed my thoughts to manifest positivity. It has also allowed me to be present, to connect with people on a more loving caring platform. The sound of my mat being rolled out and smacking the floor gives me the strength to endure the difficult things life offers and to experience joy on and off the mat.
Lisa Wagoner
Lisa's passion is to introduce tween and teen athletes to the benefits of not only the physical practice of yoga but also to the mental benefits such as breath, meditation, and mindfulness that they can use as they move forward in life.
Marybeth McCoy
View Schedule
Samantha Carney
Samantha is a passionate instructor with 20 years of experience. With almost two decades of competitive cycling and ultra-marathon running under her belt, she has come to appreciate the many benefits that yoga/pilates can offer to athletes. Originally from Gettysburg, Samantha spent much of her childhood traveling the world with her military family.
In 2000, Samantha discovered yoga as a way to deepen her workout routine beyond the gym. She quickly became hooked and in 2002, she completed her certification as a group fitness and yoga instructor, with specialties in Boot-Camp, Circuit Training, Spin, and Hatha Yoga. While her love of yoga initially grew out of her physical fitness training and competitive racing, Samantha has since become enamored with teaching Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga to students of all levels. She holds certifications that are recognized by AFFA, ACE, AEA, NASM, and ACSM.
Sarah Landis
Sarah first began her yoga journey around 10 years ago as a supplement to running, cycling, and weight training. At first, her yoga practice was simply physical but in the span of a few months from late 2018 to early 2019, some major life events opened her eyes to the benefits of yoga beyond the physical asanas.
Yoga became a true outlet for her to remain physically active while becoming more mentally grounded which inspired her desire to pursue a complete a yoga teacher training and experience this experience with others. She obtained her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2023 via Studio B University in Harrisburg, PA. In addition to instructor preparation, this amazing experience allowed her to gain a lot of insight about herself such as how she approaches and reacts to life’s challenges and the changes needed to bring the best version of herself to light.
Sunny Sidhu
Sunny is an exceptional Bhangra workout instructor, renowned for her infectious energy and passion for fitness fused with cultural expression. Hailing from the vibrant Punjab region, Sunny's journey with Bhangra began at a young age, deeply rooted in the rich traditions of the dance form.
Sunny's dedication to promoting physical fitness and cultural heritage empowers individuals to embrace the rhythm and vitality of Bhangra while achieving their fitness goals.
Christine Brindle
Christine is a lifelong physical fitness and outdoor enthusiast. Her dedication to fitness and wellness led her to aerial arts in 2018. She started teaching aerial classes (including Aerial Fabric, Sling, Lyra and Trapeze) in 2021 and completed the Aerial Yoga Academy’s 250hr Aerial Yoga Teacher Training in 2023. Christine’s class, Aerial Flowing and Flying, exclusively uses an aerial sling or hammock to build strength and increase flexibility with beautiful poses, skills and sequences.
Nancie Hart Blackwell
Nancie is a fitness professional who has been instructing classes in Central PA for the past 40 years. She is AFAA® and ACE® Group Fitness and Personal Training certified, Ashtanga yoga certified (David Swenson), Power Yoga® certified (Beryl Bender Birch) and holds certifications in Mat Pilates®, Zumba®, Zumba® Toning, Step®, Resist-A-Ball®, Slide®, meditative practices, and numerous other fitness genres. Nancie is best known for demonstrating how to achieve the best feels from each exercise through an understanding of muscle biomechanics and the use of levers.
Erika Mollo
I have been practicing Bikram, Power, and Restorative yoga for over ten years. Since getting into Pilates over the past year, it has given me incredible changes to my body, more tone, core strength, and better posture. I have fallen in love with both classical and contemporary style Pilates and have finally found a workout that I am excited to practice and grow in consistently. Other physical activities I enjoy when I’m not doing yoga or Pilates are hiking, biking, and gardening.
Valerie Snyder
My passion is to help others feel energized and confident in who they were created to be. I hold certifications as a group instructor, personal trainer, life coach, and health coach. My teaching style is geared towards all levels of fitness with a primary focus on yoga, Tabata, and Pilates. My goal is to create a class that unites challenge and surrender.
