Meet The Team
We Bend.

Caroline has been a part of the yoga community since 2017, diving into the trio of her physical, metal and spiritual self. She became 200 hr certified throughout 2020 and dove into her teaching practice through intricite research and inspiration. Her teaching is inspired by her mentors & yoga teachers that she has met through her journey. Caroline focuses on alignment while leading you through creative flowing sequencing, frequently quing breath to movement. She flows to indie, folk, electronic music, while drawing out positive energy & intricate focus. Caroline will bring you to challenge yourself while having fun in a room of powerful energy.

Emily has been in the fitness industry since 2005 after leaving the financial world and starting a family. With her passion for health and helping others she has become a Certified Personal Trainer who also hold certifications in Pilates, Barre, Spin, Boxing and Fitness Instruction. She is a Certified Nutrition Coach, Owner of her own outdoor boot camp and a 200hr certified Yoga Instructor. She and her husband Paul have four children together and a  (very spoiled) dog. Hobbies include paddle boarding, hiking, and being with her family. Blessed to love what she does,  she is often heard calling Bend Studio, her happy place

Isabella is a yogi by morning, day and night who brings a lighthearted, yet powerful attitude to class. Heavily inspired by her own practice, Isabella teaches how she wants to flow. In her classes you'll find a creative, intention based flow full of intricate movements, fun transitions, balances, twists, and some sneaky core work. No class or playlist ever being the same, you’ll jam out to some tunes while building mental and physical strength. Isabella likes to bring fun and a challenge to her class by offering playful poses, while keeping it accessible to all. 

As a restless person, she finds working hard helps her to go deeper into a meditative state. If she’s not teaching, you’ll probably still catch her at the studio practicing, otherwise she’s either somewhere with her head in a book, or writing horror stories. 

Megan is a mother of two growing boys, an artist, a practicing yogi for over fourteen years, and a teacher of vinyasa yoga. Her passion for yoga began as a natural way to fight anxiety and depression and become the best version of herself. Through her yoga practice, regular meditation, and painting, Megan seeks to bring peace and calmness into her life and the lives of others. Megan is a certified registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)

Nicole received her RYT 200 certification from the Authentic Yoga Teacher Training at the Estudio Casa Del Sol in Montanita, Ecuador in 2018. Nicole likes to take her students on a physical and spiritual journey. Her creative and dynamic flows combine yogic philosophy, mindfulness, and breath to movement. To keep students engaged in their practice, she enjoys teaching thematic classes along with groovy playlists. Some themes include Animal Embodiment flows, the Chakras, and the Earth’s elements. Nicole is a wildlife biologist and to bridge the gap of her love for yoga and all things nature, she likes to encourage her students to feel more connected to themselves and the earth. She inspires her students to find their strength through a powerful vinyasa flow, offering challenging poses to work towards. Yoga can be life changing and she hopes to inspire others to find their own love for the practice because it makes them feel empowered, strong, and more connected to their mind, body, and soul. 

When she is not teaching yoga, Nicole is a full-time graduate student at URI and works as a wildlife biologist studying shorebirds on the Rhode Island coast.

Maddy received her yoga teacher certification in 2021 through Core Power Yoga, specializing in Yoga Sculpt and Power Yoga. Her aim is to make yoga more accessible, fun and motivating for everyone who take her class. When she is not teaching yoga, she is tinkering away in her laboratory as a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island pursuing her PhD in physical chemistry. Maddy initially became interested in yoga as a low impact way to heal from the lasting impacts of her four orthopedic surgeries as a teenager. Since then, yoga has allowed her to reconnect with her body and eliminate chronic pain, while also strengthening her mental health and building confidence along the way.

Kristen is a contemplative psychotherapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, yoga teacher and meditation guide. She has spent many ‬years deeply immersed in studies and practices that synthesize psychology, ‬meditation‭, ‬and yoga. She began her yogic journey in 1999 and started teaching in 2008. In 2012, she spent a month in silent retreat studying and meditating on ancient yogic scriptures. In 2018, she helped facilitate a pilgrimage to Nepal where the group spent two weeks at Kopan Monastery deepening their practice. She had a firsthand experience of the deeply transformative benefits yoga and meditation can have on the body, heart, and mind, and is passionate about bringing these practices to others. Kristen is filled with fascination and joy when she can support others in utilizing their strengths and vulnerabilities to actualize their chosen path. She feels if we can see life’s experiences as opportunities to grow, and play with the possibilities, self-criticism fades, and self-compassion and connection grow. Yoga and meditation can be portals for this. Kristen attempts to practice these things both personally and professionally. She values a free-spirited, joyful, and connected approach to life and has spends her free time traveling, surfing, and spending time with those whom she holds dear.

Kristen is a mother of 2, a high school English teacher, short filmmaker and a practicing yogi for the last 15 years. Her light-hearted spirit and playful nature encourages students to find comfort within their own practice and a safe place on their mats. Kristen believe yoga is for everybody and every BODY. She is a 200 hr RYT and dedicated to being a life-long learner she is currently studying for her 500 hr certification.

Kelsey received her RYT-200 certification in 2018 with Yoga 4 Change, an organization in Florida that provides yoga to populations who have experienced trauma. She has also completed a 35 hour yin yoga training, and additional trainings in trauma-informed and adaptive yoga, as well as Baptiste power yoga. Kelsey strives to create a space in her classes where her students can feel secure, accepted, and empowered to engage in present-moment awareness and self-inquiry. Kelsey originally began practicing yoga as a way to heal her own trauma and relationship with her body, and continues to do so every day. She enjoys teaching a variety of yoga styles, including yin, power/vinyasa, chair, yoga nidra, and breathwork and meditation. When not teaching yoga, Kelsey is spending time with her infant daughter, two big dogs, and her partner, or working as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist.

Elisa is a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher through Intentional Embodiment Yoga. Elisa started practicing yoga 6 years ago and felt a calling towards teaching yoga after watching her physical, mental, and emotional state recover. The more she began to practice yoga, the more her life improved. She wanted to help others after witnessing the benefits in herself take place.

Elisa enjoys practicing and teaching Vinyasa-style Yoga. She believes that what you experience on the mat correlates to what you experience in life; putting a focus on presence, observance, and the power of breath when navigating different poses. She’s drawn to a practice that is strong, rewarding, and balanced.

When she’s not practicing yoga, she enjoys going for walks outside, writing, reading, and spending time with people she loves

Discovering the power of yoga in 2015, Ayla dived deep into the community in pursuit of healing herself, and those around her. In the spring of 2017, she took the next step and became a 200hr registered yoga teacher. She loves to incorporate Reiki, music, essential oils, and incense in her yoga practice - her goal is to strengthen the mind and body, and their connection with each other in a therapeutic environment.

Jenna Smalley - 200 hr Vinyasa Certified through Laughing Lotus

My yoga journey began at Laughing Lotus in New York City. I quickly fell in love with the grace, physicality, and depth of the practice. The 'recognition that anything one needs in life comes from within,' is the cornerstone of my practice making it relatable and achievable to all yogis. In A Path With Heart, Jack Kornfield states, “that which we were running around the world seeking is here at our door. Over and over again we learn this simplicity.” For me, yoga is the catalyst to unearthing our own inner peace that has been there all the while.

My dharma driven yoga classes incorporate creative sequencing and powerful vinyasa flow. Though you will be sure to get a sweat on, my classes begin and end with meditation as a means to ground oneself in gratitude, peace, and stillness. I also utilize chakra based sequencing to foster the connection between the mind, body, and breath.

In addition to teaching yoga, I am also a mom and a high school science teacher. If not in the yoga studio or classroom, you can find me fishing with my daughter and husband, or puttering in the garden.

Nicole has been in the health and wellness space for over 25 years. She is a certified fitness instructor teaching a variety of class styles throughout the years.  She enjoys sharing her love of fitness, yoga, mindfulness and wellbeing in and outside of her classes. Yoga plays an important role in her wellbeing by not only helping manage anxiety but to help balance her mentally and physically. As a mindfulness instructor, coach and wellness business owner, she understands the importance of the mind/body connection and benefits of creating a practice that works for you!

As a teacher, Nicole strives to create a welcoming, light and open feeling in her classes and hopes that everyone leaves feeling stronger mentally and physically and empowered to manage the stresses that our daily life can bring us. 

Maggie completed her 200 hour YTT in Rishikesh, India where she trained in hatha & ashtanga practices. Through years of practice and trying out different variations of styles, Maggie has come to love teaching slower but still challenging classes where she guides her students to focus on deeply connecting to their breath, heart, and body. Maggie loves offering a long shavasana at the end of her classes to allow students time of complete stillness and resetting before moving about the rest of their day.

Michelle Swain began her yoga journey over a decade ago as a personal and therapeutic way to counter a very fast-paced career in entertainment marketing and tour management. In 2019, she obtained her RYT-200 in the Viniyoga modality and she has been working at furthering her wellness education since. She is a certified Holistic Nutritionist, Restorative Yoga Teacher, and Energy Healer. She believes in embracing what makes one individual different from another and incorporating that into a tailored yoga practice that meets her students where they are. Michelle hopes to help her students feel motivated, inspired, and strong in their bodies. Her classes frequently include programmed music, readings, and mediation.

Brenna did her 200 hour Integrative Vinyasa yoga teacher training with Coral Brown. She brings a welcoming environment and an inspired practice to her classes. You can expect a Vinyasa layer to her Power Yoga classes with the connection of breathe and body at the center. Brenna found her personal practice years ago, when she was pregnant with her first daughter. Along with helping her physical body, yoga gave her many tools to help stay centered and mindful in any situation. She meets every student where they are and creates a space for wellbeing.

Kaileigh is an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor and also holds certifications in Barre & Mat Based Pilates. Kaileigh began practicing barre in 2018 and quickly discovered the amount of confidence that can be found and built through group fitness. She became an instructor to help others build their confidence and find joy in movement. Classes are upbeat and focus on building strength for daily life and are accessible to all levels. When not at the barre, you can find her in the kitchen, on the beach, or listening to true crime podcasts.

Ryt 200

With almost 20 years of practice along side of close to 10 years of teaching, Amanda’s passion & presence in the yoga room has warmed the hearts of many students through the years.

At the age of 17, Amanda was in danger of not graduating high school because of a long-standing battle with allergy induced asthma. Her pulmonologist suggested the breathing methods that were practiced in yoga to create deeper lung function for the struggling teenager. Desperate to find a solution, she attended her first yoga class at a seaside studio in Westerly in 2002. The rest is your typical love story, where she fell hard & never left.

Through the years she’s worked with more than a few different styles of yoga such as Kriaplu, Baptiste, Hatha & Yin. She’s also studied with notable teachers including, Anna Forrest, Leslie Kaminoff, Rolf Gates, Faith Hunter, Coeli Marsh & Dr. Lee Albert. She also attended college for physical therapy. This tireless study of how the human boy moves in the practice of yoga has created a funky fusion flow that’s truly unique, challenging, safe & amusing, given her exceptional sense of humor.

These days, if she’s not on her mat, you might find her raising her almost teenage son or sharing a walk with her very lovable pup, Maddie. Don’t miss a chance to enjoy a class of hers. We’ll see you there!

When I was certified to teach yoga, I made lots of phone calls and visits to try to get a teaching job. Nobody had any “open spots”, but one studio did invite me to come and audition anyway…RIYC…Bend. The owner and founder was Lauren and she said, “Come and teach one of my classes, we’d love to meet you.”

I was especially excited about Bend because I heard it was a unique place with an amazing community...so many different styles and approaches to practice. And because I was just starting out as a teacher, I especially wanted to find a place where I would be comfortable being a beginner, learning to grow in my practice and sharing it with others. 

I remember being really nervous driving down to the campus to teach, Lauren would be taking the class herself. What I recall even more vividly about that day was that the moment I walked into the studio, I felt an amazing sense of ease. Not just Lauren and her amazing smile, but everyone there. Just moving around you could feel the peace and joy of what felt like an energy filled with ease. 

My first class was anything but flawless and that didn’t seem to matter. I left that day with nothing but thanks and praise. 

Today, the studio still exudes the same radiance...thanks to Lauren’s successors, Alyssa, heroic throughout the toughest of times and now Caroline, always the tireless passion. The “ease”, I’ve come to learn, is an incredible young energy that always rises up to meet experienced souls. It bends in so many ways to blend together. It’s awesome. 

So that’s really all you need to know about me. I’m Tom, always the beginner teacher and so proud to be a part of your amazing community.