Meet Our Miami Instructors

Jessie Potter

Jessie Potter

Yoga Instructor

Jessie, 500 RYT & 200 E-RYT, joins the SOL Yoga team bringing years of practice, teaching, and yoga retreat experience.

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Among her greatest achievements, includes her role in creating Rise and SoulShine, a Miami based event for yogis, vendors, and philanthropists, with proceeds supporting local charities every month. Striving to be relatable and inspirational to those who follow her story, she devotes a good amount of her time connecting and listening to her students through social media and in person at public events and retreats. She’s also the creator of Priti Yoga, a unique yoga style, but more importantly a way of life. Focusing on powerful flows mixed with traditional balancing poses, students can expect a repetition of challenging calisthenics, inversions, breath work, core exercises, and deep juicy stretches. With an emphasis on transitions, movements are slow, fluid, and controlled to help establish body listening skills and mindfulness. When she’s not teaching, Jessie can be found painting, putting her green thumb to use around the house, snuggling with her dog and fiancé, planning the next adventure, or making something delicious in the kitchen. From green smoothie bowls to straight-up brownies… life’s too short otherwise! Follow Jessie: @priti_yoga.

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Nikkii Holtzheuser

Nikkii Holtzheuser

Yoga Instructor

Known as “nikkiibear”, she may be petite in size, but don’t be fooled otherwise! This girl’s been practicing yoga for most of her life, earning her teaching certificate with years of experience throughout South Florida.

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Whether you’re new to the mat or a seasoned pro, her classes will have you moving through diaphragmatic breath work, with a mixture of vinyasa flow and restorative. Put them together and expect to leave feeling lighter and stronger, with reduced stress and tension – both physically and mentally. When she’s not teaching yoga or hammering away closing real estate deals, you can find Nikki somewhere on the beach doing a variety of water sports while filling-up her Instagram feed with inspiring photos, often appearing in campaigns for leading lifestyle brands. In her words: “Having known Cathy for years, I’m beyond excited to be part of her team and to give Miami locals a yoga experience unlike any other. SOL is where it’s at! See you on the mat real soon!” Follow Nikki at: @nikkiibear.

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Miriam (Mimi) Ghandour

Mimi Ghandour

Yoga Instructor

Born in Paris and raised in Saudi Arabia, Mimi is a certified yoga teacher, lifestyle blogger and busy Mother of two.

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Since discovering yoga years ago, she says it changed her life in every way possible – physically, mentally and spiritually. So much, she took her practice further, educating herself on technique and training. Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned student, her classes tend to move at a faster pace for those seeking a good sweat and to feel energized. For more ‘Mimi’ inspiration – including her latest fashion picks, adventures in yoga, travel and family, follow her at: @mimilicious_mia.

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Julianne Aerhee

Julianne Aerhe

Yoga Instructor

With a background in dance, including a spot on the Miami HEAT team, it wasn’t until Julianne landed on a yoga mat that her life would change forever.

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Enthralled with this form of movement both physically and emotionally, she completed her first 200-hour yoga teacher training at Bala Vinyasa Yoga in 2013. What started out as a hobby in college, turned into an exit strategy from a demanding career in the world of start-ups and marketing. So much, she completed her second 200-hour teacher training with mentor Jason Lawner and the Fluidus Method. Diving deeper into the idea of yoga as movement therapy, and with a bigger passion for sharing her practice, Julianne began developing content and leading teacher trainings. Today, she is the co-founder of The Inspired Life Teacher training, a 200-hour yoga teacher certification launching this November. Drawing on her double Bachelor of Science in Communication and Psychology, and minor in Exercise Physiology, this sacred practice is a culmination of all that she is weaved with multiple schools of thought. Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned student, Julianne creates a space for you to show up as you are, to explore with courage, and to move your body in the most authentic ways. Inside each of us, there is magic waiting to happen, and she hopes to inspire yours to shine! Follow Julianne: @where.your.hope.lives.

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Hilary Bone

Yoga Instructor

Hilary grew up always expressing herself through her body. From gymnastics, dance, circus, and yoga — she has always felt best while moving.

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Her teaching style is reflective of her fluid movement background while also emphasizing the importance of your bodies intelligence to express itself organically through body sensations. Holding space for her students to acknowledge what is showing up and to fully embrace it. Whether you are new to yoga or a seasoned pro, her teaching incorporates intentional restorative poses and pranayama exercises to compliment your physical energetic release. Believing a moving body is the best gateway to a healthy and happy life, Hilary practices what she preaches, keeping an active, healthy lifestyle. Always exploring our own balance between movement and rest, her vision is to bring ease to your body, mind, and spirit both on and off the mat. Follow Hilary Bone: @hilary_bone.

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courtney

Courtney McDonald

Yoga Instructor

Growing up with a mother in the group fitness industry, Courtney always understood the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle. She was an athlete all her life.

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From softball to soccer, to lacrosse, you could always find Courtney on the field or in the gym. She often attended her mother’s group fitness classes at the local gym, and fell in love with her yoga inspired class. She loved the balance between finding strength as well as softness on her mat. After moving to Miami from Orlando, she sought out to find a training to become a Registered Yoga Teacher. In 2014, Courtney traveled to her father’s hometown, Lima, Peru to indulge in a 200 hour power vinyasa training. After returning to Miami, she starting teaching yoga full time, anytime, anywhere. On the mat, Courtney encourages students to absorb every bit of their practice with acceptance, and to take it with them when they step off of their mat. Always reminding students yoga can be practiced anywhere! Courtney says “Everyday we face new challenges and/or new blessings, and its important to find the beauty in it all. Every time we step on our mat, we tune into that place where we are exactly where we need to be” . When Courtney is not on the mat, teaching or practicing, you can find her creating beautiful spaces as an Interior Designer, laying on a beach or at the dog park with her pup. For more inspiration, follow Courtney @courtneyshea.

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cristina

Cristina

Yoga Instructor

Meet Cristina, also known as @HighOnYoga on social media. Cristina fell in love with Yoga back in 2012 as she discovered a way to heal herself through this practice.

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Whether it is a “heartbreak” or just “life” happening, she understood at some point we all feel broken and need to heal. Through her practice she hopes to inspire others to try yoga and implement it as a way of living. Her message to the world is, “You are capable, you are strong, you are love, you are everything you need to be and more. You are enough.” Cristina started documenting her Yoga journey on her Instagram page @HighOnYoga in 2014 and has reached thousands of people by sharing her story and inspiring others to try yoga. She is a RYT 200HR Power Yoga Teacher who loves creative Vinyasa flows. So whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, if you are in for a mindful vinyasa class with power yoga fusion, come try her class. “Yoga saved me. It made me feel whole again, regardless of the outside situations. It showed me the way to love myself again and spread that love to others in a way I never thought possible” ~ Cristina. Follow Cristina: @highonyoga.

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Johanna Thompson

Johanna

Pilates Instructor

Meet Johanna, aka @JungleJohanna, a force of energy and inspiration, ready to make you work hard for results you need and want.

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A full-time model and ex-dancer, Johanna’s life and career has always focused on body movement. Professionally trained in ballet and modern dance, Johanna began and earned her pilates certification at Equinox, before Lagree Fitness. Bringing her mat and reformer expertise to SOL, she is considered one of Miami’s hottest trainers, helping her clients achieve a longer, leaner physique, with precision and a bit of sass :). Combining cardio, light resistance and toning, her mat pilates class provides the perfect fusion for core and glute workouts. Focusing on form and posture correction, she incorporates high intensity with conditioning, stretching and toning. Along with teaching at SOL, you can find Johanna traveling the globe on various modeling assignments, while training private clients. Follow Johanna: @junglejohanna.

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Marissa Lew

Marissa Lew

Yoga Instructor

From the time she was very young, Marissa was a girl on the move. From gymnastics to dance, figure skating to competitive swimming, she loved keeping an active, healthy lifestyle throughout her high school years and beyond.

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So naturally when her Mother introduced her to yoga, she fell in love with the movement aspect it offered, along with its combination of balancing strength and softness. After completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Marissa moved to LA to pursue a career in Public Relations. Not long after, she decided to move back to Miami and change course, completing a yoga teacher training. Now instructing most days per week, Marissa strives to teach a soft yet powerful class. One that challenges your body and mind – as balance is very important to her. She also loves to get creative and keep things fresh with her flows and playlists. When Marissa isn’t on her mat teaching, you can find her working on her swimwear brand, Mahina Bikinis that she designs and manufactures here in Miami! Follow Marissa Lew: @marissa_lew.

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Ginger Harris

Ginger Harris

Pilates Instructor

Though she hails from the Midwest, Ginger Harris considers herself a Miamian, as she’s spent more than 20 years as a Miami Beach resident.

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A gymnast and nationally competitive cheerleader in her younger years, Ginger has always dedicated a portion of her life to physical fitness. She’s also been a vegetarian for more than two decades. A devout yogi in her adult life, Ginger spent most of her 20s and 30s twisted like a pretzel in yoga poses. Seeing this, a friend encouraged her to try Pilates for the first time. Seven years later, she’s now a teacher. Ginger was astounded to find Pilates increased her flexibility and strength far beyond that of her 20-plus year yoga practice. Ginger is a firm believer that each day should begin or end with a workout, and she finds true happiness in her Pilates endorphin blast. Through Pilates, Ginger believes you can think more clearly, overcome stress, feel better about your physical appearance and heal injuries and mental hurdles. It’s these reasons why she is dedicating her life to helping others through Pilates. Plus, she thinks toning up muscles, particularly abs, is a pretty rewarding payoff, too. Follow Ginger @gingerharris.

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Jessica Rose Fisher

Jessica Rose Fisher

Yoga Instructor

A teacher, but forever a student. Jessica’s yoga journey was initially fueled by her passion to introduce this physical and spiritual practice to the younger generation.

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Certified and trained with The Inspired Life, this Miami native co-founded Angel Watching Over Me (AWOM) Girls Club Yoga. As one of the board members of this non-for profit foundation, she is also co-director of their wellness programs. She focuses on teaching meditation, patience and compassion to her students, while relieving inner stress and improving goal oriented focus.

“Yoga training not only taught me to be a teacher, but more importantly, a better human.” By incorporating a union of creative sequencing, playfulness, and a dose of inspiration; she feels immense joy and fulfillment seeing her students discover their own personal yoga journey... while connecting on a soulful level.

Follow Jessica: @jessicarosefish

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April Gardner

April Gardner

Yoga Instructor

April first came to yoga when she studied dance and business at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

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During her three years at Manduka, she was able to travel the nation, take classes from world famous teachers, and attend popular yoga festivals. April completed her teacher training in Denver, Colorado and then got the chance to open her own yoga retreat center in northern New Mexico at a private resort. Teachers and guests throughout the nation now visit the retreat center, giving life to a place that had no visitors for several years. As the list of cities and countries she's taught in continued, so did her ways of connecting to people through teachings about the body, mind and spirit. You'll often find April's classes to be an alignment-based vinyasa flow, with music and practices she's learned from around the world.

Follow April: @aprilmaygardner

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Gabriella Bhatia

Gabriella Bhatia

Yoga Instructor

Leaning on her foundation of classical dance, Gabriella's style of yoga focuses on strength and stability through fluid and powerful postures.

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Her curiosity for movement started at a young age and became her career. She received a BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts in 2012 and a BA in Economics from the University of Miami in 2015. She has performed in theaters all over the US and the Caribbean and has a strong passion for the cultural arts. Although ballet led her to the mat, it was ultimately a serious injury that brought her into a deeper practice she wanted to share. She completed her 200hr YTT at Urenergy Yoga with mentor Nicholay De Salto, and her 500hr YTT at Shiva Yoga Peeth in Himalayan mountains in Rishikesh, India. She uses movement as therapy and believes in a sustainable yoga practice, one that can be practiced throughout your entire life. Her other forms of meditation include deep sea diving and hanging out in botanical gardens. Follow Gabriella @bhatiayoga.

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Darren

Darren

Yoga Instructor

Darren is a dedicated student of yoga who passionately shares the knowledge.

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He has done his 500 hour Teacher Training with Skanda Yoga, 200 hour TT with Functional Power Yoga, and has assisted with 4 of Skanda’s TT200s. Darren views yoga as a system of growth and transformation beyond the mat.

Yoga has not been as easy path for Darren. Previously, he was an athlete and brought a lot of physical karma into his practice. He had ran over 50 full and half marathons, all while dribbling two basketballs, in less than two years for charity. His body was suffering and due to injuries was very limited initially but remained consistent and trusted the process. It’s still a process because Darren never wants to stop learning.

When teaching, Darren caters to all levels whether you’re an advanced Ashtangi with 15+ years on the mat or a beginner who is trying yoga for the first time. His classes are fun and challenging. Each one is uniquely themed and sequenced and includes a brief meditation with pranayama, breath work. Darren corrects alignment and habits that can lead to injury. He always holds space after each class to answer questions related to asana and other aspects of yoga. Take his class and feel good here!

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