Meet Our Instructors
Irene Pernick
Studio Manager, Instructor
Irene has been a yoga enthusiast and practitioner since 2007. She is an E-RYT 500 receiving her 200 hour certification in August of 2015 and completing her 500 hour Advanced Certification in November of 2017 with Raji Thron at Yoga Synthesis. Irene holds additional certifications in Advanced Personal Training and Group Fitness Instruction.
Irene’s enthusiasm and love of all things yoga and fitness are evident in every class that she teaches. Her intention for anyone walking through Humble Yoga’s doors is to have them feel welcome, safe, happy and watch them leave their practice feeling challenged, encouraged, and above all else, smiling!
Alicia Markuske
Instructor
Alicia began experiencing elements of yoga as an adolescent in her dance studio training. Formally introduced to yoga and sound bowls in a course at Montclair State, she found it to be profoundly healing. Alicia stepped into the world of professional dance, teaching dance and dance fitness. Yoga has always been her solution to center, rest and rejuvenate. After a labral tear injury lead to hip surgery, Alicia became more involved with mantras, meditation, breath work and mindfulness as a self practice. With this balance, she continued teaching body connection and movement. 200-YTT has been the biggest blessing to deepen Alicia’s practice and help her feel even more in harmony and flow mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Anthony Loffredo
Instructor
Anthony began his yoga journey in 2003 when he found Bikram Yoga to restore and recover from injuries he sustained competing in sprint triathlons. With a desire to teach, he completed his 200RYT in 2018. An injury while practicing Bikram became an opportunity to reassess his practice and teaching style. He discovered Become One Wholeness (BOW) and, under the direction of Jody Domerstad, completed a 50hr Yin training.
Attracted to the Functional Yoga style he continued his training with BOW in 2022 and formally completed his 500hr RYT in 2023. He is currently pursuing his certification to become a Licensed Yoga Therapist.
Anthony’s personal motto is “repetition, over time, without breaks and done with love creates change.” Most importantly, yoga is a practice designed to help us down-regulate our nervous system and with daily nervous system regulation you can create the capacity to choose love over fear.
Cheri-Ann Santini
Instructor
Cheri-Ann, a 500-hour certified yoga instructor under the guidance of renowned teachers Raji Thron and Steph Ball-Mitchell, is a passionate advocate for holistic wellness. With a deep-rooted understanding of ancient yogic principles, Cheri-Ann empowers students of all levels to unlock their full potential through mindful movement and breathwork. Her classes are thoughtfully designed to cultivate physical strength, mental clarity, and emotional balance, creating a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation.
As a dedicated teacher, Cheri-Ann fosters a welcoming and inclusive community where individuals can connect with their bodies, minds, and spirits. Through her expertise in alignment, breath awareness, and mindfulness, she guides students towards a deeper sense of self-discovery and inner peace. Join Cheri-Ann on a transformative journey of self-care and empowerment.
Cristy SyCip
Instructor
Cristy May SyCip teaches Yoga, Barre, Pilates, Meditation and Circus Yoga to all ages and abilities. Cristy is certified in Yoga through Zhenya La Rosa, she is also certified in Booty Barre, Classical Pilates, Cycle. She is a Reiki Master through Dorothea Grant and a Third Degree Black Belt in MMA through TCMA. Cristy also holds certificates in Sports and Culinary Nutrition through Matthew Kenney, Progressive Ballet Technique and continuing studies in Blue Throat Yoga, Global Bowspring and Rajanaka.
To love life for all its diverse resplendent offerings. We consciously align with the totality of nature, we recognize our default reactions that don’t serve us and choose to create dynamic harmony to complete healing, maximum regeneration and powerful unimaginable transformation. May we magnify exquisite beauty, extra extraordinary love and experience the many levels of joy from a place of unbounded freedom.
Daniela Hoffner
Instructor
Daniela began her journey with yoga having been a competitive athlete most of her life through college, seeking a fitness outlet a little less taxing on the body. She has been a full-time practitioner for 15 years and completed the 200 RYT certification in 2019 under Raji Thron. In her class expect to move through fun, creative and challenging sequences, guided with alignment cues and great music. Several options and modifications will be offered and encouraged for beginners to more advanced yogis to get what they need from practice.
Darrah Phykitt
Instructor
Darrah has been a massage therapist for the last 42 years. She found yoga 22 years ago and realized that in correlation with her massage therapy, she could provide her clients additional relief for their injuries. She earned her 200 hour yoga certification in 2017 and has been teaching for the last four years. She is passionate about her own practice and about pushing her limits to meet her body’s fullest potential, in safe ways. This, among the additional gifts of movement and breath, are what she opes to pass onto her students during every class.
Ellen Davies
Instructor
Ellen has been involved in the fitness industry since 1994. In 2017, after a total hip replacement, she became certified through Soul Body Barre, to continue to strengthen and tone, after completion of physical therapy. In a journey to continue to build strength Ellen fell in love with yoga and completed her 200 hour certification in 2021.
Ellen personally lives an active lifestyle. She has participated in triathlons, half marathons and completed the Marine Corps Marathon in 2015. She earned her first degree black belt in 2009 and her second degree black belt in 2012. She also enjoys attending spin and yoga when she is not teaching. Her mat gives her perspective, where she learns patience, balance, and strength in mind, body and spirit.
Her philosophy is that everyone should be the best that they can be. Everyday is a chance to make small improvements to your health and well-being and a little progress each day adds up to big results!
Eilish Bresnan
Instructor
Eilish has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. Eilish graduated from Fire Shaper’s 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017. In 2020 and 2021 she found herself, like much of the world, focusing on herself and self care. In January of 2021, she graduated from a second 200 hour yoga teacher certification in yoga and mindfulness from Yoga Farm in Ithaca NY.
Eilish is also a certified Antigravity Fundamentals, Antigravity Yoga, and an Antigravity Pilates instructor through Antigravity fitness in NYC. As Christopher Harrison reminds us “we are only as young as our spines are flexible.”
Eilish completed her 300 hour Pilates Certification through the Evolve Your Studio Pilates teacher Program in Harrington Park, NJ.
Eilish is a true believer that yoga and pilates are for everyone. She can be heard saying in her classes….. “to take a moment. A moment to be grateful. Grateful for the bodies that we have that allow us to be here. And grateful to the person and/or people that give us the time, space and place to be here.” - quote from Eilish Bresnan
Melanie Ax
Instructor
Movement has always been a main source of medicine for Melanie. A classical dancer and professional performer, yoga was introduced into her routine as another outlet to further build balance, strength, lung function and mind-body connection. She completed her 200 Hr training with Stacey Bell and Carrie Parker through Powerflow Yoga in 2019. Mel focuses on alignment, breath, strength, and fluid flows that help you move out of head and more into the heart space. Mel also has certifications in Lotte Berk and other Barre methods and has created her own dance company and community, Thrive Up Movement.
Melanie Rud
Instructor
Melanie is a yoga instructor and personal trainer based in Cresskill, NJ. Originally from Argentina, she lived several years in Israel where she experimented with different kinds of training modalities and yoga styles that deeply influenced her as a practitioner and teacher. She studied under Rose Erin Vaughan, Authentic Movements, Awakening Yoga Academy and Carson Calhoun.
Melanie's classes are rooted in breath awareness and can be described as an intelligent and playful sequence that nurture self-awareness. Students can expect challenges, choices and encouragement to experiment and find the variation of each posture that is most beneficial to them in the present moment.
Raluca Minea
Instructor
Raluca is a dedicated yoga teacher passionate about empowering individuals of all ages to discover their inner strength and balance through the practice of yoga. With years of experience guiding both children and adults, Raluca brings a nurturing and inspiring approach to every class, fostering self-awareness, confidence, and mindfulness. Through creative sequences, breathwork, and an emphasis on personal growth, Raluca creates a supportive environment where students can thrive and carry the lessons of yoga into their everyday lives.
Renée Scherer
Instructor
Renée is a 500 ERYT with a diverse background in martial arts and pilates, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her teaching.
As a dedicated yoga instructor and sound healer, Renée blends these disciplines to offer a holistic approach to well-being, focusing on the harmony of body, mind, and spirit. Her classes are dynamic and fun with an emphasis on challenging sequences with energetic, upbeat music.
Shira Gadot Teichmann
Instructor
Shira is a proud mom of three, a certified yoga teacher, and a therapist and clinical social worker. She is excited to teach at Humble Yoga where she appreciated the intimate and personal atmosphere.
Shira starts her classes with stretches and heart-openers, gradually building the flow to make it more challenging, and conclude with a soothing Shavasana. Shira believes that yoga is a practice that integrates both mind and body. It involves moving with intention, shifting and creating energies, and focusing on what serves us while letting go of what doesn’t.
Shira’s happy place is with her kids and family, and at the beach — feeling the sand on my feet and breathing mindfully.
Stacey Accardo
Instructor
Growing up as an all state athlete in track and field, strength, flexibility along with dedication, devotion, determination and discipline remain a key part of my life. Teaching now for 12 years with a 500hr certification as well as being a professional registered nurse, I love to inspire, encourage and motivate my students to become the best versions of themselves mentally, emotionally and physically, living their best lives each and everyday, one breath at a time.
