Teachers at Woodbury Meditation & Yoga Center

Janaki Pierson

Janaki, Co-founder, executive director and principal instructor of the Woodbury Meditation & Yoga Center, presents seminars on Hatha Yoga, Meditation, Stress Management, Death and Dying/Life and Living, Elementary Sanskrit,  and Thinking Into Being: Creating Your Own Reality. Ms. Pierson has been teaching meditation for over 40 years and has been established in her own daily practice for 45 years. She teaches extensively throughout New England  and New York in medical, educational, corporate, and community settings. Janaki received Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification from the Siddha Yoga Dham of America in 1982. For the most of the past 18 years, she has been spending 6 weeks each winter in India, either at an  ayurvedic clinic or doing spiritual practices on the banks of the holy Narmada river in Gujarat, India.  Inner Peace is World Peace.

Laura McEvoy 

Laura received her Yoga Teacher Certification from Kripalu in June 2002. She has been practicing for over 25 years. Her special interest in teaching children arises from their ever present, unique and authentic spirit: a reminder that yoga can bring us "home" to that true being. Through yoga children learn to develop coordination, healthy habits and coping mechanisms. Ms. McEvoy regularly attends workshops at Kripalu. She has been the recipient of various diversity grants providing Yoga instruction to economically disadvantaged children in urban settings. Her work with children of diverse cultural background has been recognized in the KYTA Yoga Bulletin and the National Tides Foundation Publication. She holds an Elementary School Teacher Certification and Masters Degree in Counseling. She recognizes student-learning styles and teaches postures and relaxation techniques in a variety of ways. On the other end of the spectrum, Laura also greatly enjoys teaching floor and chair yoga to seniors. 

Sara Van Doren

Sara began her yoga practice almost 30 years ago with an Iyengar instructor in 1988. After moving to CT in 1996, she discovered Woodbury Meditation & Yoga Center and immediately felt at home here. Sara completed Yoga teacher training with Kripalu in March 2013. She incorporates yoga and meditation into her work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

WYC is a special place. The center has been welcoming and holding space for our community for FORTY years! Ok, we’re supposed to be practicing non-attachment but that’s really remarkable!!!! I’m happy to be part of this loving and dedicated tradition. I offer what i have and I’m so pleased it resonates with my students. It’s a joy and honor to practice with everyone here. I’m blessed and forever grateful that WYC continues to thrive. 🙏🏻 —Sara

Lisa Mahon

Lisa Mahon attended her first yoga class in 1991 at WYC .  She became a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher in 1995 and has attended advanced training workshops through Kripalu, Omega and Sanctuary Power Yoga.  While her classes focus on physical alignment, core strengthening and coordinated breathwork, the true essence of each class is for every student to discover the physical, mental and emotional possibilities of being in the present moment.  She has a degree in Exercise Science and Wellness.

Christopher Gregory


Christopher has taught yoga for 15 years, including 5 years at the Mayflower Inn in Washington, after earning his certification with Lotus Garden Yoga in 2010.  With a background as a Licensed Massage Therapist--offering Thai Massage as well as other styles, he focuses on yoga breath work based somatic release. A regular meditator for six years, Christophers loves all beings great and small, particularly his birds.

Juliette Perez

Juliette currently teaches four classes, Mommy&Me, two gentle yoga, and a restorative yoga class . She began practicing yoga 15 years ago in France with an Integral Yoga Institute instructor.

She is certified in the 200H and 300H RYT with Brianne Davidson Barrett, who trained at Kripalu. Since then, she has volunteered in Kripalu Executive Chef Jeremy Rock Smith’ program to teach healthy cooking. For the last 5 years she has been teaching yoga while adapting her style to the students' needs. Juliette has developed a deep body awareness through her time as a dancer at the French National Conservatory of Dance and Music for 10 years.

I love teaching restorative yoga, and also enjoy teaching strong vinyasa practices.

200H and 300H RYT

Reiki Master

Dancer at the French National Conservatory of Dance and Music

Matthew McGlynn

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