The Yogis of Karma Kids Yoga

  • Founder & Creator of Karma Kids Yoga

    Shari was a VP, Advertising Director before completely changing her path to combine two things that are close to her heart - yoga and children. She created Karma Kids Yoga in 2002, encouraging playful and imaginative movement through yoga as the core philosophy. Kids really respond to Shari, as she communicates with them in a fun and trusting way that will comfort even the most shy child. She knows how to connect and talk to kids on their level, allowing them to sense her friendliness and understanding. Shari can turn any task into something fun and is simply an enthusiastic child in an adult body.

    Shari has developed yoga programs for many schools and consults on various family wellness initiatives. She is an original presenter at the National Kids Yoga Conference and Yoga Journal Live. Shari is a regular contributor to NY Yoga + Life; Yoga + Life, YogaLove magazines kids and family section. Shari has been featured on Sesame Street sharing yoga with Murray and Ovejita at "yoga school"!

    Shari has trained over three thousand people around the world to teach yoga to children through the renowned Karma Kids Yoga Teacher Training Program. Many of them have started their own kids yoga programs. She has also trained hundreds of Preschool, Elementary, Middle and High School Educators through her Yoga in the Classroom, Yoga in the Preschool Classroom and Yoga For Test Prep courses, spreading the benefits of yoga into the public, charter, and private school systems. She also acts as a mentor to teachers around the world. Shari created the Teen Yoga Teacher Training Intensive, Baby Yoga & Developmental Movement Workshop, Yoga & Mindfulness for Stressed Out Teachers, and The Business of Kids Yoga Workshop. Shari's latest endeavor is her Girl Empowerment Series. Shari is currently working on projects with Sesame Workshop...stay tuned.

  • Juliana Secches was born and raised in Brazil, where she was a dancer for many years. It was only after she moved to New York that she found Yoga and in her very first class she knew that Yoga was something she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Juliana has been a teacher for over 17 years. Having earned a certification from Be Yoga and Karma Kids Yoga, she continues to study with some of the best instructors in New York. Her life-long passion for working with kids also led her to further her studies of childbirth, child development and postnatal physiology. More recently, Juliana completed KKY's Baby Yoga & Developmental Movement course. Juliana currently teaches Vinyasa classes, as well as Prenatal, Mom & Baby and Kids Yoga. Her classes are fun and her nurturing personality always makes even first-time Yogis very comfortable. She builds her classes around what she sees as the most important limb of Yoga: Satya (truthfulness). Juliana is also our Prenatal Yoga Director and offers a comprehensive Teacher Training in Prenatal Yoga. She is also mom to yogini Bruno, who practices with her almost

  • Amanda started practicing yoga in 2001, but became serious about her practice after she had her daughter in 2011. Under the tutelage of her first truly inspirational teacher, Vivekan of Bodhisattva Yoga, she received her 200 hour teaching certification. Shortly thereafter, on a friend's advice, she completed her children's yoga certification with Shari Vilchez-Blatt at Karma Kids Yoga and found the opportunity to share this practice with young minds to be incredibly rewarding, not to mention fun. She loves to bring yoga and mindfulness into the classroom at schools, and her studio classes are always playful and fun. Amanda is continuously studying and deepening her own practice, on her mat, and on the meditation cushion. She has also received certification in Every Kids Yoga with Craig Hanauer and Prenatal Yoga with Samba Yoga. In 2019 she completed The Art of Teaching Beginners with Jason Crandell, and in 2020 she completed his course on Preventing and Managing Yoga Injuries. Amanda is also thrilled to add Pilates to her skill set, having been trained by Power Pilates in Manhattan and earning her certificate as a Core Mat 1 and Core Mat 2 instructor. She is grateful for the guidance of her own amazing teachers, including Jason Crandell, Amanda Harding, Bobbie Marchand, Miles Borrero, Scott Anderson, Shari Vilchez-Blatt, Juliana Secches and Venerable Amy Miller.

  • With a love for the stage, Laura made her way to NYC after completing her Master's in Acting at the University of Houston. Upon arriving, she realized that she also had another love and that was working with and helping children with their confidence through movement based fun. She realized quickly what a rewarding experience it was to work with kids of all ages and knew she wanted to pursue more movement based programs for children. Laura had been practicing yoga for several years and through a chance introduction, she became part of the KKY family. She completed the Karma Kids Yoga Teacher Training, Jyothi Larson's Postnatal Yoga Mom Buddha Baby Training, KKY Teen Yoga Teacher Training Intensive, and Prenatal Yoga Training with Juliana Secches. More recently, she became certified to teach kids with special needs through Every Kids Yoga. When she's not teaching at KKY, Laura is traveling the country teaching movement and acting at different Theater Academies and festivals. Laura is also the Artistic Director of Promethean Theater Company and a very proud member of Actor's Equity. Laura's favorite yoga pose is Natarajasana (Dancer Pose) because it makes her feel strong and confident, but mostly because she's been doing it since she was a little girl, when pretending she was an Olympic Ice-Skating champ. This pose still creates a sense of play and fun in her practice.

  • Tonya received her 200 hr. Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Certification at NYC’s Sonic Yoga. While there, she discovered children’s yoga and fell in love. Following this passion, she obtained her Children’s Yoga Teacher Certification at Karma Kids Yoga and has continued her training at Little Flower Yoga, also in NYC. She has been teaching in schools and studios throughout the city for the last 7 years.

    A musical theatre performer, Tonya’s energetic, imaginative style brings magic to any class she teaches. As a dancer, she has a unique understanding of body awareness, movement, and storytelling. Her children’s classes are light-hearted and silly, as she believes kids learn best through play.

  • Jeannette has been a devoted yoga practitioner for the past 18 years. She discovered kids yoga after attending classes with her daughter and loved every single minute of it! With a love of music, movement and children, Jeannette completed her training at Karma Kids Yoga in 2013. She believes that sharing the practice of yoga with children early on can give them a "toolbox" that will grow with them as they face some challenges that life brings. Jeannette holds a BA in Communications from Adelphi University. She worked in advertising for 12 years as a video editor cutting commercials and corporate videos. During this time, she discovered the practice of yoga. It was exactly what her body needed after sitting in a static position for many hours a day. She became hooked and knew this was something she'd be doing for the rest of her life. More recently, Jeannette completed her 200 hour adult yoga training and KKY's Baby Yoga & Developmental Movement course. Jeannette feels blessed to share her love of yoga and to be teaching at Karma Kids Yoga! She loves to sing, be goofy and play! Her favorite yoga poses is Virabhadrasana 3 or Warrior 3, because it makes her feel strong to balance on one foot. It's also a really great way to get to an exciting yoga adventure. Jeannette looks forward to seeing you and your kids on the mat!

  • Shell Merrill has always enjoyed using her imagination and expressing herself physically; from the first plays that she wrote and performed with her sister as a child, to her career as a modern dancer and later as a zany Spinning instructor in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN. Shell has a huge belief in the knowledge gained through trying new things, learning to "practice" rather than trying to be perfect and most of all, being able to laugh through the whole experience. She has been teaching for 17 years in NYC and brings a sense of fun, play and compassion to all of her classes, for both adults and kids. Shell is an E-RYT 500 registered teacher trained at BeYoga/Yoga Works, and calms her inner "bouncing off the walls" big kid energy through her own yoga practice. She is also certified to teach yoga to children through Karma Kids Yoga, Little Flower Yoga, Street Yoga and Every Kids Yoga. She additionally trained with Samba Yoga and Gina Menza at ISHTA Yoga to teach prenatal classes. Her classes are engaging and hysterical, always filled with laughter. She is also a mom herself to Tessa, another born-yogini. Shell's favorite pose is Pigeon Pose or Eka Pada Rajakapotasana because it reminds her to take time to relax and let go.

  • Tessa Ramsay has been practicing yoga for eight years and appreciates its transformative forces both on and off the mat. She earned her 200-RYT certification through Breathe for Change, a program designed by educators in order to serve students. In her decade of teaching English and leadership in New York City, she has learned how important confidence, reflection, and expression are to developing children and adolescents. She finds creative ways to embed poetry, curiosity, and exploration and celebration of self into her classes with the hope that participants get one step closer to their happiest, healthiest selves. Her favorite pose is peaceful warrior because it combines power and grace.

  • Heather can't think of a better way to spend her day than having fun, being creative and supporting the developmental needs of our children. Born and raised in the California sunshine, she brought her little light to NYC in pursuit of acting. Heather's educational training, theater endeavors and classroom experience has shed light on the many layered connections between child development, yoga, and the dramatic arts. She believes that when children play, they happily learn. Heather is a NYS Certified Theater Arts Educator, and has received certifications in teaching yoga to children through Karma Kids Yoga and Little Flower Yoga, Radiant Child Heart & Soul workshop, CircusYoga Ring Two Teacher Training, and Zenergy's Yoga Therapy for Children. More recently, Heather completed KKY's Baby Yoga & Developmental Movement training. She is also mom to two little theatrical yoginis. Heather's classes are inspiring, exciting, and always include something unexpected or a wonderous learning experience! Her passion for working with children is obvious in all that she does. Heather's favorite pose is Vrksasana, or Tree Pose, because she loves the strong and glorious nature of trees and because they remind her of people. Like us, trees are forever growing, and need to stay rooted in a healthy environment with plenty of love in order to survive.

  • Paige has been teaching kids yoga since 2014! She loves leading little ones through yoga adventures, families through group poses and teens through more advanced classes. Paige grew up dancing, and has worked as a dance teacher to the littlest of ballerina's, tappers and jazz dancers. She began practicing yoga at a time when the last thing in the world she wanted to do was to slow down and breathe, but she is so grateful she did! Paige completed her 200 hour Teacher Training in 2014 and quickly went on to do her 50 hour Kids Yoga Teacher Training. She recently completed Every Kids Yoga for Special Needs. Her favorite yoga poses is Mermaid pose.

    Paige is based in Canada but is available for Zoom classes!

  • Originally from Massachusetts, Ginger has been living in New York for half of her life, while traveling the globe singing, dancing, and acting in various Broadway shows. Upon her return to the city, she began teaching dance at a studio that also offered yoga classes, and that is where she experienced the life transforming practice of yoga. Yoga helped Ginger to become strong both inside and out. She loved this feeling, so she decided she wanted to share it with others so that they might feel the power of yoga as well. Ginger received her 200-hour certification through YogaWorks. She also completed her Children's Yoga Training with Karma Kids Yoga, and Prenatal Yoga through Samba Yoga, and Special Needs training with Every Kids Yoga. She also teaches adult Vinyasa and Hatha classes throughout the city. Ginger's students will not only explore challenging yoga postures but they will have fun as they dive into and explore their imaginations. She believes yoga helps build confidence and self-esteem in children of all ages. Ginger's favorite pose is Crow Pose or Bakasana because it makes her feel like she's flying.

  • Born in Thailand, Melissa has lived throughout South Asia, Southern United States, and now calls New York home. Her yoga practice began when she took it as an elective in college and fell in love with it. She brings a playful aspect to her yoga that carries into her life off the mat. Melissa is a fine artist and Karma Kids own 'artist in residence'; our murals and paintings of Ganesh and Sita are her handiwork. She leads classes that inspire creativity such as mat painting and yoga art, as well as other children's yoga classes. Melissa also teaches at St. Ignatius Loyola Day Nursery where her class is part of the curriculum. She has become the "Yoga Fairy" to 150 preschoolers. She believes that there is magic in a yoga practice that illuminates people from the inside out and she brings this magic into all of her classes. Melissa holds certifications to teach yoga through Karma Kids Yoga, Radiant Child Yoga, Yoga for the Special Child,Yoga Mom Buddha Baby, Pediatric Yoga, and is trained in First Aid and CPR. Her three precious children have practiced yoga and meditation since birth. Melissa's favorite pose is the Balancing Half Lotus.

  • Tashya is a former educator with a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in Health Promotion. After finishing her degree, she became a certified health education specialist (CHES). Combining this with her health coaching certification she has created programs, curriculums, lessons, and experiences on the subject matters of mindfulness, yoga, wellness, SEL, self-care, and empowerment. Enrolling in a yoga teacher training allowed Tashya to do the hard work of healing herself by applying yoga philosophy, meditation, and aspects of her wellness coaching. She removed herself from toxic behaviors and relationships. Using her own experiences, she has been able to create programs that empower women to thrive as their best selves. After leaving the classroom, Tashya worked for several different non-profit organizations teaching kids cooking classes, nutrition education, social emotional learning skills, girl’s empowerment, yoga, mindfulness, and self-care practices. She is a professionally trained and certified health coach and yoga instructor. Tashya is a passionate advocate for promoting wellness and empowering young people and adults to know their worth and practice self-care on a daily basis. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where she continues to teach yoga, coach clients, and write about various wellness topics. Her favorite yoga poses are forward fold and eagle.

  • Always an athlete, Dena grew up competing in gymnastics, track and cheerleading. Yoga started as a workout that was much kinder on her body. But when she endured personal hardship -- losing her mom to cancer -- she started to see yoga as a much deeper, holistic practice that became a critical tool for healing. When she decided to make the leap to teaching yoga and mindfulness, Dena received her 200 hours certification through Tavoos Garden, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. She later earned a specialized certification to teach yoga and mindfulness to kids through Little Flower Yoga. Now her hope is to help students use yoga as a tool for empowerment and resilience and to make the practice available and approachable to all. Her classes are dynamic, yet playful, rooted in classic hatha while incorporating things that light her and her classes up. Students love the energy and enthusiasm she brings to each session as well as her constant care for their well-being and enjoyment. Dena has been working as a teacher with Sputnik Yoga (a pop-up yoga company that holds classes in unexpected locales), Brooklyn-based studios Yogasole and Dou Yoga along with teaching in a variety of schools and play spaces around NYC. Her favorite yoga pose is Warrior 2 (virabhadrasana B), especially when she wants to feel fierce and powerful.

  • Danielle earned her 200-RYT certification with Breathe for Change, a Mindfulness, Social Emotional Learning and Yoga Teacher Training created by educators. She has been teaching elementary Special Education in New York City for 9 years. Danielle is a passionate yoga instructor dedicated to spreading joy and mindfulness through playful movement. Her goal is to inspire children to explore their bodies and minds, build confidence and spark creativity in a nurturing environment. Her favorite yoga pose is boat pose.