Bio coming soon!

Ava is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), RYT500 teacher and has been teaching for 6 years. She has been teaching at Hotbox since 2019. She received her 200 HR Yoga Teacher Certification with Free to Be in New Orleans in 2018. Since completing her training she has completed the Social Impact Training and Hands on Assisting Training with Grace & Glory Yoga, the 40 Days to Personal Revolution Facilitation Program through the Baptiste Institute, and the Personal Best Immersion with Luca Richards. In addition, Ava is certified in Yin Yoga through Grace & Glory, Kids Yoga through Yoga Ed., and YOD Level 1 through Danielle Jonkinen. Ava received her 300 HR RYT with Kripalu’s Therapeutic Yoga Program.

Current Mantra: “This is it” - Thich Nhat Hanh

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? I love the sense of community. I know that on any given day I can walk into Hotbox and have amazing conversations. Hotbox is a space that is welcoming and I have made friendships that will last me a lifetime. Teachers are committed and really care about deepening their practice & their teaching methods. 

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I am a twin!

What are you most passionate about right now? I am most passionate about yoga, gardening, cooking, and spending lots of time outside.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Probably in the Wissahickon with my dog, Henry and my boyfriend, Courtney. 

Current Mantra: Practice the Pause

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? Golden hour at the studio. The windows in the practice room let in so much light — it’s pure magic. Not only do they let the light in, they offer endless options for Drishti.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I am filled with so much gratitude for each and every person who carves out the time to make it to their mat. This practice is challenging & sweaty and it is an honor and inspiration to witness each person’s greatness & growth.

What are you most passionate about right now? Movement. When life is chaotic and anxiety settles in, movement, of any kind, allows me to get out of my head and into my body.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Chasing my dog Theo around Manayunk, riding my Peloton, or drinking coffee.

Current Mantra: Leave every place better than you found it.

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? Our community is unmatched. I can practice yoga anywhere in this city, but our community makes Hotbox feel like home. I’ve made so many yogi buddies here as a student and instructor. The best part is when we take the friendship off the mat and link up as non-sweaty humans in real clothes.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? We are such an incredible collective. The love, strength, and energy we all bring to this space is so infectious. It’s personally been so healing for me. I love seeing people come to Hotbox for the first time, and then watching their power and confidence shine over time as they keep coming back. I hope y’all know the power each of you carries—own it.

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What are you most passionate about right now? Choosing joy and being my most authentic self above all things. There are very few things we can control in life, but these two things are golden. I happen to be in a very vulnerable season in my life right now where so much is shifting; while Idk my outcome, I’ve learned that joy and pain can co-exist, and I can choose to lean into joy every time. I’ve also learned that even the most difficult decisions feel more bearable when I know I’m honoring myself.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Depends on the day and the mood…but either…catching up on my stories (Real Housewives is my guilty pleasure), nature walks with friends, cute lil dinner or brunch vibe—gotta get these fits and laughs off, plotting my next travel adventure.

Current Mantra: There is no reason I must feel hurried right now. 

What's your favorite thing about Hotbox? I love how tied to the community I feel. Hotbox was where I made my first new friends when I moved to Philly in 2017 and since then has always felt like another home. 

What's one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? One of the aims of practicing yoga is to calm the fluctuations of the mind in favor of peace and stillness, in Sanskrit: chitta vritti nirodha. That's a feeling we all know from the last part of class and something I often leave the studio feeling. 

What are you most passionate about right now? Finding ease in a yoga practice. I'm leaning into listening to my body and slowing down, pausing, or resting when I need to. The heat of summer in the studio has helped me recognize the importance of this. 

When you aren't at the studio where can we find you? Being a therapist, cooking at home in East Falls, and taking lots of weekend trips to see friends and family. 

Current Mantra: You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? It feels like home. I love knowing that every time I walk through the door I will be greeted with smiles and hugs. I am so grateful for the community of inspiring people and teachers. I’m also grateful for the big tree outside the window! I love picking a different branch or leaf to set my drishti on. AND there is nothing better than walking into the heated room on a chilly winter day.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Send more LOVE and be present with those around you! When life/people challenge you, smile softly and breathe deeply.

What are you most passionate about right now? Combining my career as a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and love for teaching yoga. I recently started my own children’s yoga business called “Flow and Grow” and find so much JOY in offering yoga to kids and parents! I’m also getting married in a few months and can’t wait to start an exciting new chapter with my soon to be husband.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Going for long walks, hanging out with my friends and siblings (so many of my favorite people live in Manayunk now), Volo. 

Current Mantra: Practice imperfection

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? I love the people! New and familiar faces alike, our studio has fostered the most beautiful, respectful and uplifting community of people. Sharing our space with community is one of the greatest gifts.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Creating space creates power in your practice and in life. There is room for growth when we make space for ourselves to show up, space to be great, and space to make mistakes. I hope my class will create space for you to grow your practice on and off the mat.

What are you most passionate about right now? Spending as much time outside as possible!

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? At the gym, taking walks outside, baking elaborate desserts or rooting for the Eagles!

Current Mantra: Breathe and take it all in.

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? To me, the Hotbox studio equals community. When I walk through the doors, I feel like I’m home. It’s a safe space, a place where I can be my silly self, but also practice and focus with intention (and often giggles). My heart is filled with the smiles and hugs of the friends I’ve made and the friends I have yet to make.

What are you most passionate about right now? One thing I am super passionate about is taking time to notice my surroundings, notice the people, the sounds, the animals and see what is going on around me.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I find joy in the simple things, and I smile at just about everyone. If I could encourage more people to do same, I think the world would be a better place. Which ties in with my current mantra to just breathe and take it all in. Breathe and find peace and joy in the moment you’re in, because everything is temporary.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Taking daily walks with my dog Murray and my Starbucks coffee. I’m the girl who knows SO MANY people in Roxborough, the neighbor who loves feeding the birds on the front porch and the woman who loves spending time with her husband, Larry.

Current Mantra: Keep it moving

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? The opportunity to learn and grow with so many enthusiastic and truly unique people!

Goal of each class: Build full body strength and presence through intentional movements and breath.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Cruising around with my dogs Claude and Luther or riding bikes with my son Cole.

Current mantra:Be human

Favorite thing about Hotbox: How I feel when I walk in the door and how I feel when I walk out the door…the palpable sense of community…the heat!…the shared breath when we practice.

One thing to share about me: I’m a 3 — in enneagram.

When not at the studio: Building Community in my day job with Habitat for Humanity PHL.

BONUS: I’m addicted to all Real Housewives shows on Bravo. True story!

Current Mantra: Make it different 

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? The community of students and teachers. Love the connection and support across the group to learn and explore.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I’ve been a passionate traveler/adventurer most of life! If you have a travel/adventure suggestion let me know! Or a great travel story, I’m all ears! It’s one of the great connectors between us all I believe…travel as an access to discovery, connection and empathy.

What are you most passionate about right now? Reading and learning about expanded states of consciousness and how these may apply to healing as well as expanding & informing life perspective.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Hanging with my partner Jess and our dog Ziggy. 

Current Mantra:

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Be with presence
Speak with power
Live with purpose

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? This Community is incredible. Hotbox has cultivated a space where everyone and anyone can feel welcomed to explore, be vulnerable, and celebrate every moment of growth.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Flow is not something that happens outside of you. Flow is the complete presence with the moment, movement, and breath that is YOU. Keep moving. Move and you’ll be Moved.

What are you most passionate about right now? Expanding the greater consciousness toward a deeper & more embodied connection between the BodyMindSpirit.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Rehearsals. Currently preparing for the premier production of BATHHOUSE, an immersive theater dance experience where audience and cast are invited to explore their deepest darkest desires and even discover some new ones.

Name: Joy! But this is short for “Ethel Joy,” because I’m named after my mom, Ethel, who became totally blind at 30. She gave birth to me 5 years after losing her sight. I’m her only daughter and her joy, “Ethel’s Joy.”

Current Mantra: It is never too late to embrace peace, in whatever way feels right to you.

What's my favorite thing about Hotbox? Our community! It has been such a source of incredible support and grounding, especially during life's ups and downs. As a student, I'm immensely grateful for this community and as a new teacher, I hope to give back as much as I've received. Also, I adore the tree(s)! At Hotbox Manayunk, I love to practice in the front row and experience the changing seasons through our beautiful tree in the window. Hotbox Ambler has sooo many trees and the sunset backdrop adds so much beauty to our evening practice.

What are you most passionate about right now? biggest passion is health equity. Last year, I pitched my business idea, "The Wellness Co-Op," for the #wellcitychallenge, a Shark Tank style competition focused on social impact in healthcare, powered by @independencebluecross in partnership with the @economyleague and Accelerate Health Equity. I won the Judges' Choice Award for Supporting Community Connections and $10,000 in seed funding. Life interceded, so I've put this dream on hold, but I am still committed to eventually bringing The Wellness Co-Op to life. Follow @wellwithinreachcoop for updates and check out my pitch video. I'm always open to connecting and collaborating!

When you aren't at the studio where can we find you? Practicing piano and other random instruments; hanging out with my senior creamsicle cat, Rusty; singing karaoke (especially belting out Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know"); wearing something black and glittery while dancing at a local goth night; teaching as an adjunct music therapy and counseling professor at Drexel University; working my social services day job as the Director of Place-Based Initiatived with the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and enjoying a pre/post yoga sweet treat @boostinbowlsphilly in Manayunk or @alohasmoothiecoambler in Ambler!

Current Mantra: Slow down and smell the roses!

Favorite thing about Hotbox: The heat and the people, not necessarily in that order!

To share with the Hotbox community: Learn to love your practice—it will always be there for you.

Current Mantra: Feel it all.

Favorite thing about Hotbox: There is something so uniquely special about Hotbox that cannot be described but can only be felt. Walking into Hotbox feels like coming home. Also, the heat.

One thing to share with the community: It's okay for your practice to change over time, it's also okay for your relationship with your practice to change over time. I've been coming to Hotbox since 2012, a lot has happened since then! I have taken long breaks from my mat, because it's what I needed at the time. Your mat is a place to land and to return to, not a place to hold rigidly.

What I'm most passionate about right now: Experiencing JOY.

When I am not at the studio you can find me: Working with my clients (as a therapist), walking around Germantown, hanging out with my husband and my cat!

Current Mantra: The only way out is through

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? The magical light and quiet of the empty studio before it’s filled with yogis.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I’ve been around Hotbox since 2016 and seen the studio through lots of transitions. I’m grateful to our longtime students who’ve supported our community over the years - thank you for keeping our doors open and our room sweaty. 

What are you most passionate about right now? I’m very passionate about helping students deepen their practice by offering variety in the classes that I teach. Our practice and passion for yoga can dwindle without challenge. Come check out my restorative classes on Sunday nights, my 45 minute lunchtime class on Thursdays, and the fun sequencing in my power classes!

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? I run a nonprofit called @lwvpa that fights voter suppression and empowers all Pennsylvanians to vote and engage with government. 

Current Mantra: Flow like water breathe deep and free.

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? The space.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Minimal Effective Wording — Aka speak only if it can be used now.

What are you most passionate about right now? Feeling each pose.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Scarpetta or playing with Atlas, my 2 year old.

Current Mantra: Healing is my birthright; God is healing me. I will run again!! (Currently healing from a long term injury which caused me to temporarily give up my love for running and it is difficult but reminding myself of this promise keeps me encouraged.)

Why Hotbox? When my home studio was open, Hotbox was always home away from home. A loving, safe community for me. When my home studio closed it has become home. Some of the most amazing teachers work here and in each and every class you get something different that is needed. The feeling of my feet to the floor is like no other.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? No one can be you but you. Do not rob the world of you trying to be someone else.

What are you most passionate about right now? Refocusing, Resetting, Refreshing—let’s just say I am at a “Re” time of my life. My birthday is May 7th and I honestly want to just sit on a beach, in the presence of God and write out a life plan—What’s working? What isn’t working? Where do I want to be? Am I on a journey there? Etc. It is time to be passionate about self discovery and while I will always care for others- refraining from forgetting about myself.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? On Zoom (way too much) with my therapy clients or grad students LOL, driving in my car singing at the top of my lungs, somewhere working out (pool, outdoors, Peloton bike) or with my sons.

Current Mantra: If it’s not a hell YES it’s a hell no.

Why Hotbox? COMMUNITY! Hotbox is a magnet for beautifully spirited like minded souls. The interactions before & after class fill my cup as much (if not more) than the vinyasa itself.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Every single person who walks into Hotbox adds so much value to the space. If you’re coming to a class seeking connection and community, know that I’m here for it and we’re here for you. If you catch my class or see me on the mat, come say hello! I cannot wait to meet you.

What are you most passionate about right now? Rediscovering myself after becoming a mom. My yoga practice, my routines, my desires and my boundaries.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? With my family! My husband, our toddler Autumn, and our two fur baby dogs. With the weather warming up you can find us at the parks, the library or the zoo.

Current Mantra: Change the things you can change. Make peace with the things that cannot be changed.

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? Being able to practice with my wife Jill (a powerful Yogi) and all the great friends, both old and new, I have made over the years.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Great and meaningful music via the albums I play during my class, Friday Sounds with Steve.

What are you most passionate about right now? Spending quality time with my friends and family.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Fronting Concrete Charlie, a rock and soul cover band.

Taylor took her first yoga class over 12 years ago at her local YMCA. As her practice grew, she searched for a studio that both challenged her edge and respected her boundaries. In 2022 she discovered Hotbox. She took one class (taught by the amazing Nicole Braun) and immediately signed up for the teacher training program. It was at Hotbox where she saw her own potential as a yoga teacher, sharing this beautiful, life-changing practice with others. She now teaches at Hotbox as well as her local YMCA and loves to be part of some students’ first experience of yoga, meditation, and the mind-body connection.

Taylor describes her teaching style as gentle, but she will still create a powerful class with opportunities to modify or push your limits. She loves to emphasize sensation over shape, encouraging practitioners to tune inward and take control over their own practice. Her words are merely an invitation to connect movement and breath in the present moment.

Current Mantra: “This is a place of practice, not perfection.”

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? It’s my happy place! I can show up and feel surrounded by community even if I don’t know everyone’s name. I love breathing together, grounding down all the way to the hardwood floor, and setting my drishti on a new but familiar space.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I’m a highly sensitive empath who holds on to so much tension unintentionally. When we strengthen our mind-body connection we can observe this and start to let go—so notice your shoulders, your jaw and your forehead. Can you let go anywhere and find ease? You’re worthy of rest and restoration!

What are you most passionate about right now? Setting and sticking to my boundaries. Easier said than done!

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? At home on my sofa with my husband and two cats. 

Current Mantra: I can do hard things

What’s your favorite thing about Hotbox? The sense of community! It’s nice to see familiar faces each week and everyone has been kind.

What’s one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? Every time you come practice may look and feel different. Listen to your body, push yourself when you can, and focus on your own mat.

What are you passionate about right now? Recommitting to my home practice. I love coming to the studio but it’s important for me to be able to tap into the same energy by myself.

When you aren’t at the studio where can we find you? Teaching at AFC fitness or at home crocheting and trying to not kill my plants

Tim is a RYT500. He received his 200 HR from Hotbox in 2014 and his 500 HR in alignment based vinyasa from 3 Queens in 2019. Tim has attended Baptiste Level 1, 2, and both Art of Assisting workshops. 

Mantra: Keep it simple. 

What's one thing you want to share with the Hotbox community? I've lived in Manayunk with my wife Molly, and two children, Hank and Hedda for the last 14 years. 

What's something that you are passionate about? In 2016 I founded Roots2Rise, a yoga based nonprofit. I have extensive experience facilitating yoga and mindfulness classes for, as well as, teaching to various populations across the city. I've worked with incarcerated individuals, seniors, individuals in recovery, children and students, city employees, as well as the general public through Philadelphia venues such as local libraries, schools, and various rec centers and city parks (such as the Manayunk bridge). 

When you aren't at the studio where can we find you? When I'm not at Hotbox I can be found riding my bike.