MEET THE TEAM |
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Niki Wozniak
Joga is owned and run by Niki Wozniak. A former professional dancer & choreographer, Niki has over 20 years of teaching experience and has taught in numerous locations across Canada, the US, the Caribbean, and at the prestigious Shanghai Dance School in China. She began practicing yoga 20 years ago, alongside her dance career, and completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2018. Niki's yoga classes are dynamic and flowing, focusing on breath, tuning into alignment, and being present in the moment. She loves to experiment with music to create an ambience that will inspire and encourage yogis on their journey. After an injury forced her to stop dancing, Niki discovered Pilates. It was the perfect combination of strength training, injury recovery/prevention, breath and core work that complimented her dance background and encouraged a mind/body connection. She fell in love. Niki completed her teacher training in Toronto, Canada at Body Harmonics (Pilates Method Alliance approved). Niki began teaching in Sint Maarten as she loved the warm weather and the people of this truly "Friendly Island". She founded Redemption Pilates SXM and took over Joga in August 2020. Niki loves to inspire her clients with fresh and energetic sessions. Come join her for class, where you will be sure to sweat, tone, rejuvenate and have fun! |
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Armelle Trichet
Armelle has integrated Yoga practice & philosophy in her lifestyle for over 30 years. She was a 700-hours certified yoga teacher in Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin yoga, when she found Iyengar yoga. After a 3-year training of 500hrs, she is now a certified Iyengar yoga teacher. Iyengar Yoga is steeped in tradition, anatomy, and physiology. It is designed to adapt to the individual and encourages the use of yoga props to maintain the integrity of the body. It focuses on precision and alignment, making it ideal for all levels, especially beginners, those recovering from an injury, or anyone wishing to refine their practice. Armelle is also a certified Counsellor in Ayurveda & Yoga Wellness; and a certified “food and hygiene” Advisor. Originally from France, she has lived on the island of St. Martin for over 35 years. (She teaches in English and French.) |
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Stephanie Gibbons
Stephanie found the therapeutic properties of yoga and meditation while healing from a chronic illness. She views the practice as a cornerstone of her recovery and is called to share the benefits with others. Stephanie is known for her authentic, non-judgmental teaching style, focused on grounding her students in the present moment. She encourages the growth of both the physical and spiritual self, and makes an effort to connect with each and every one of her students. Stephanie offers a warm but structured environment that integrates movement with breathwork, guided visualization, and meditation. Her Vinyasa classes are dynamic, flowing, energetic and upbeat, while her Yin/deep stretch classes allow you to slow down and reconnect to your mind, body and soul. Stephanie also teaches Chair yoga geared towards elders, students with injuries and disabilities/medical conditions to help make yoga accessible to all who wish to practice. Stephanie is a 200hr RYT and is currently in the process of completing her 300hr advanced training. She completed her 200hr training at Integral Yoga Institute in New York City. She hopes to see you on the mat soon! |
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Hélène Kerhervé
Born in France, Hélène discovered the beautiful practice of yoga in 2002 while working as a journalist and photographer in Tokyo. She used yoga to rehabilitate and neutralize her serious back problems. Soon, she began to see its tremendous physical and spiritual benefits. She was initiated into ashtanga yoga in Hong Kong and completed her initial 200-hr teacher training in 2007. After moving to New York in 2009, she turned to a more calm and mindful yoga practice. She completed the “Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers” program with Jason Ray Brown and studied anatomy and breath-centered yoga with Leslie Kaminoff. Hélène believes that yoga develops strength, flexibility, and focus, as well as physical and spiritual balance. Her style is inspired by ashtanga, vinyasa, hatha, and restorative yoga, and also by the wonderful teachers she has practiced and studied with. Hélène is certified as an E-RYT 500 by Yoga Alliance and has been teaching yoga for more than 15 years. Her classes are vigorous and challenging. She takes great care to adapt her classes to every student’s physical capabilities, focusing on breath and alignment, and using clear, sensitive guidance. |
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Raul Dhanani
Raul was born and grew up in beautiful Sint Maarten until the age of 19. He then moved to the Netherlands, where he discovered his passion for plant-based culinary and eventually worked in Rotterdam’s first fully plant-based restaurant. Raul had already been practicing yoga on and off for a few years, and felt called to deepen his own practice by following a yoga teacher training, specialized in vinyasa and yin yoga styles. After becoming 200-hour RYT certified at Balanzs yoga studio in the Netherlands, he focused on his own practice for a few years until he finally felt inspired to begin instructing classes. His main style is gentle vinyasa with focus on deep stretches and deep breaths. After almost 8 years of living in the Netherlands, he packed up to move back home to Sint Maarten. He now spends his time catering plant-based foods, teaching yoga, gardening, learning about holistic health and DIY (do it yourself), non-toxic products & lifestyle, and enjoying swims at the beach and hikes around the island. His intention for those who take his class is for them to leave feeling more openness in the body and more grounded. |
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Suzy Scholz
Born in Paris to a Caribbean mom and German dad, Suzy’s journey in movement started out with dancing. Several years ago, she fell deeply in love with yoga magic. She spent time in India learning about the culture, context and history for the authenticity of her own practice and wants to share this with others. She is a 200 hour certified teacher through Alakh Yoga, in Rishikesh, India, focussing on Hatha and Ashtanga. Her grounding energy, eye for alignment details, and focus on breath will invite you to slow down, to honour yourself, embrace the gift of yoga, and leave you feeling at your best. |
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Margot Mesnard
Margot started her yoga journey practicing and learning from talented Caribbean yoga teachers in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. After traveling the world with stops in Asia and the South Pacific, she got her 200 hours certification at Akasha Yoga on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, to keep in touch with the good vibes of island life. Her classes are about finding a positive mindset within, relaxing the body with the breath, and to have fun in the process! Her signature class is the Reggae Yoga Flow where you will relax and groove to the uplifting rhythm of reggae music. |
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Sasha Mittlehauser
Sasha is a Reiki Master, Holistic Guide and Healer. She believes that wellness can be achieved by harmonizing the inner energetic system, as well as by releasing the limiting beliefs that we carry from the past. She hosts unique guided meditations and guidance sessions (in French and English), to unlock the power of our subconscious mind and to use our inner wisdom to achieve personal transformation. She combines meditation, mental programming, creative visualization, card reading, and practical life tips to help you achieve a physical and emotional balance in order for one to attain their full potential. She teaches techniques such as EFT, Ho Oponopono, conducts Inner child workshops and uses Shadow work to overcome mental and physical limitations. As an intuitive card reader, she shows you the righteous path to harmony and personal empowerment. Her personal healing sessions include Reiki Healing, Crystal Healing, Past life Healing, Intuitive Guidance and Life Coaching. Originally from France, Sasha has been living on the island for over 20 years. |
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Lisa Davis-Burnett
Lisa says yoga practice is for everyone and anyone. She focuses on the client’s needs for physical exercise with gentle awareness. Her goal is restoring, reviving, and reconnecting the body, mind, and spirit for improved health and self-love. |
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Annemarie Reininger
Annemarie is a native of Toronto, Ontario in the summer…and a local resident of Sint Maarten in the winter season. A retired elite gymnast, health and wellness has been a part of her DNA her entire life. MOTION IS LOTION is her motto. Annemarie offers a variety of Pilates Mat classes incorporating Props such as light toning weights, mini stability ball and resistance loops that makes every class fun and invigorating. Always offering a variety of modifications to accommodate all levels from beginners to advanced students…Annemarie’s classes will leave you feeling sculpted, strengthened and stretched! |
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Sasha Mall
Sasha discovered her love for the practice of yoga in 2010 in her home town of South Africa. She later moved to Sint Maarten and completed a 200hr Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training. Following her passion for Wellness she obtained certification in Holistic Health Coaching. She was later introduced to the Dynamic Yoga Method and travelled to Italy where she spent 8 weeks immersed in nature and undertook a 500hr Somatic Awareness Training immersion. This allowed her to approach practice by way of deeply feeling sensation within the body which strengthens pathways of love, fearlessness and trust. Her classes invite one to develop a deep intimacy within the body, so it's natural intelligence can be expressed in the most nourishing ways. Since becoming a mother she sought certification in Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga. As an instructor, she works closely with women during the pre & postnatal periods. This pursuit further led to her becoming qualified in Baby Yoga & Baby Massage. Sasha loves to help new and expectant mothers flourish as they transition into the journey of motherhood. She draws from her experience and love for woman's health. She teaches both group and private one-on-one sessions. You can keep up to date on all her classes and upcoming workshops on Facebook:~ @Nurturingmama&bebesxm |
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Jolanda Dejong & Melinda Chiu | Joga Founders
What better inspiration for Joga than a love for yoga and healthy food? Friends since the 1990's, Jolanda and Melinda recognized there was a great need on St. Maarten for a studio dedicated solely to yoga. They saw that there were many devoted and talented yoga teachers on the island but their classes and locations were constantly changing. "We wanted to create a place where teachers on the island could unite and share a beautiful space. A consistent place where those seeking yoga could find it." Joga's mission is to form a community where we can all learn, teach and share the love of yoga and beautiful, healthy food" Jolanda first started practicing hot yoga in 2011 while living in Fort Lauderdale and was instantly hooked. After moving back to St. Maarten in 2014 she quickly recognized that she needed yoga in her life and so Joga was born. Melinda was first introduced to yoga 1999 and it felt as if she had come home. Her love for yoga and yearning to deepen her own practice led her to attend Yogi Amirt Desai's teacher training at the Providence Zen Buddhist Monestery in 2004. Through the years Melinda has attended numerous yoga retreats, conferences and ashrams around the world. |