Instructors

Sharon Beddard-Hess, E-RYT 500
Sharon has been studying and instructing yoga for thirty-five years. Her training has been with teachers from many different disciplines; Judith Lasater, Rodney Yee, Dean Lerner, Manuso Manos among a few. She is certified in restorative yoga “Relax and Renew” through Judith Lasater and has worked with Sarah Powers, “Insight Yoga Training” focusing on Eastern approaches to healing and well-being. Sharon’s classes are an eclectic mix of all the teachers she has studied with. Her classes are thought to be both gentle and challenging. Her ability to differentiate instruction is very evident in her teaching techniques. Attention is given to body alignment and the integration of the breath and movement. Restorative poses and a deep relaxation are also an important part of every class. The end result is a positive feeling toward life and health.
Carol McClenahan, RYT 200
Carol has enjoyed teaching yoga for 30 years, including yoga for persons with special needs. She received her training at an ashram in Florida and has refined her teaching skills by attending workshops throughout the country and in Jaipur, India. In addition to teaching at Yoga in Sewickley, she taught for the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for reversing heart disease at Allegheny General Hospital. Carol is registered with Yoga Alliance and a member of International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Laura Mastorrocco, RYT-200
Laura has been sharing her passion for yoga with students since 2009 when she taught in Michigan. Her background in Iyengar, Vinyasa and Anusara Yoga flavor her practice. She deepened her practice at Schoolhouse Yoga in East Liberty where she learned a more therapeutic approach to yoga and received her 200-hour training. Off the mat, Laura strives to apply the principles of yoga to her life and the strength, flexibility and relaxed state that she gains from her practice to improve her distance running, mountain biking and skiing.
Martha Karipin, RYT-500
Martha Karipin, a musician and an educator, came to yoga in 2003 hoping to improve her general health. She was immediately attracted to the spiritual qualities of the practice and since then has explored yoga and music as a pathway to deep inner awareness. She has attended workshops with Desire Rumbaugh, Judith Lasater, Max Strom, Erich Schiffmann, and other nationally known teachers. Her greatest enjoyment comes when students discover their own inner teacher and indicate an awareness for the healing aspects of breath and movement to unite body, mind, and spirit.
Tim Joy
Tim was born and raised in the Economy Borough area and is a recent Pitt graduate. Throughout his youth, Timmy trained in various forms of dance, including ballet, jazz, and acrobatics, and it was during his years as a dancer that he was first introduced to yoga as a compliment to his training. Though his involvement in dance grew to an end, Timmy continued to crave movement that combined flexibility, balance, muscle coordination, and a sense of grace – movement he is grateful to have found on his yoga mat. Tim has spent the last 10 years diving deeper into yoga to better understand its roots and benefits, which has included the pursuit of his RYT200 certification. Timmy is now pursuing an exciting career as a yoga instructor and teaches in various locations within the Pittsburgh region.