Teachers at Woodbury Meditation & Yoga Center

Janaki Pierson

Janaki, Co-founder, executive director and principal instructor of the Woodbury Meditation & Yoga Center, presents seminars on Hatha Yoga, Meditation, Stress Management, Death and Dying/Life and Living, Elementary Sanskrit,  and Thinking Into Being: Creating Your Own Reality. Ms. Pierson has been teaching meditation for over 40 years and has been established in her own daily practice for 45 years. She teaches extensively throughout New England  and New York in medical, educational, corporate, and community settings. Janaki received Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification from the Siddha Yoga Dham of America in 1982. For the most of the past 18 years, she has been spending 6 weeks each winter in India, either at an  ayurvedic clinic or doing spiritual practices on the banks of the holy Narmada river in Gujarat, India.  Inner Peace is World Peace.

Sharon O’Brien

Sharon has been a part of the WYC community for about 5 years. In her regular classes Sharon teaches traditional hatha yoga, focusing on basic postures, breathing, gentle opening, deep closing relaxation, and ending with a brief deep stillness for meditation. She tailors each class to the level of the students participating: sometimes strengthening and vigorous, sometimes gentle and restorative, always attentive, present and accepting.

 

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Laura McEvoy 

Laura received her Yoga Teacher Certification from Kripalu in June 2002. She has been practicing for over 25 years. Her special interest in teaching children arises from their ever present, unique and authentic spirit: a reminder that yoga can bring us "home" to that true being. Through yoga children learn to develop coordination, healthy habits and coping mechanisms. Ms. McEvoy regularly attends workshops at Kripalu. She has been the recipient of various diversity grants providing Yoga instruction to economically disadvantaged children in urban settings. Her work with children of diverse cultural background has been recognized in the KYTA Yoga Bulletin and the National Tides Foundation Publication. She holds an Elementary School Teacher Certification and Masters Degree in Counseling. She recognizes student-learning styles and teaches postures and relaxation techniques in a variety of ways. On the other end of the spectrum, Laura also greatly enjoys teaching floor and chair yoga to seniors. 

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Sara Van Doren

Sara began her yoga practice almost 30 years ago with an Iyengar instructor in 1988. After moving to CT in 1996, she discovered Woodbury Meditation & Yoga Center and immediately felt at home here. Sara completed Yoga teacher training with Kripalu in March 2013. She incorporates yoga and meditation into her work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

WYC is a special place. The center has been welcoming and holding space for our community for FORTY years! Ok, we’re supposed to be practicing non-attachment but that’s really remarkable!!!! I’m happy to be part of this loving and dedicated tradition. I offer what i have and I’m so pleased it resonates with my students. It’s a joy and honor to practice with everyone here. I’m blessed and forever grateful that WYC continues to thrive. 🙏🏻 —Sara

Lisa Mahon

Lisa Mahon attended her first yoga class in 1991 at WYC .  She became a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher in 1995 and has attended advanced training workshops through Kripalu, Omega and Sanctuary Power Yoga.  While her classes focus on physical alignment, core strengthening and coordinated breathwork, the true essence of each class is for every student to discover the physical, mental and emotional possibilities of being in the present moment.  She has a degree in Exercise Science and Wellness.

Matthew McGlynn


Matthew has been a part of WMYC since 2022 in yoga and meditation classes and Sound Healing events. He received his 200hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate in 2024 and is also a Level 2 Sound Healer with the International Association of Sound Healers.