Meet Our Team of Healers

Leslie Yogi

Yoga Instructor and Founder. My journey began at Newark’s YMCA. Once I realized the benefits of yoga I thought everyone must do this. I then found a yoga studio and got certified as a 200 hour instructor. My goal is to share my love of yoga with everyone and allow people to grow with yoga. See you in class.

Antwon Rhodes

Yoga Instructor. As a 200 hour teacher training student of Yoga Impact, I knew this would a great path to personal development. As a way of being a bridge to enjoy with others who love and want to have this practice in their lives. I believe that giving back to oneself in terms of self-care. Besides having yoga in my life, I'm a runner, vegan/plant-based and practice Reiki.

Nakeefa Bernard Garay

Tarot Card Reader. Nakeefa is committed to raising the collective vibration on Earth. Nakeefa’s introduction to Tarot began in the winter of 2019 at the precipice of a major life transition. The stillness and silence in covid provided the right climate for learning how to hone her intuitive skills. Rooted in the frequency of love, she reads the energy emanating from people, places, and things. Her intuitive practice honors God, her Ancestors, Spirit, Mother Earth, and the Universe. 

Nakeefa’s intuitive practice recognizes love as the highest human vibration and uses love frequencies to connect with others. Her readings are not intended to tell a future story set in stone. She believes that each of us has a destined path towards our highest good, however the future is unwritten. Instead, she reads the energy of a person or situation with the intention of providing insight to support new ways of thinking that align with the next best version of oneself. 

Misayka Ahmed

Yoga Instructor. Yoga for me, used to be purely about physical exercise, but I've come to realize that it is so much more than that. Yoga is a spiritual and mental exercise, a philosophy, a lifestyle and so more. In the beginning of 2020, I had the opportunity to deepen my personal relationship with yoga, practicing in my room alone on a daily basis. I realized that it was a gift that needed to be shared with the world. I was inspired to expand my knowledge. I acquired my 200hr YTT from the Integral Yoga Institute in New York. I am so honored and excited to be begin my teaching  journey at I’m So Yoga Newark. To my students, I aspire to hold a space that will allow you to be comfortable enough to release and let go of all that doesn’t serve you in the present moment. 

Altagracia Cruz-Jones

Reiki Healer. Altagracia works to bring a divine abundance of alignment and clarity through healing practices and Divine Intuition by shifting energy and uplifting the I AM that WE ARE. A firm believer of Spirituality in Action, she believes that healing comes from within. It uplifts the Highest Self to achieving full balance, alignment, and awareness. PLAN, SEW, PLANT, HARVEST, and so it is.

A connoisseur of many titles, Spiritual Warrior, Wife, Mother to 7 beautiful beings, Breast Cancer Overcomer, Advocate and Healer. Altagracia Cruz-Jones is a Level II Reiki Practitioner under the tutelage of Your Reiki Relief. Spiritual Warrior under the tutelage of Iyanla Vanzant. Spirituality student under the tutelage of Elemi, and a yoga instructor in training at I'm So Yoga Newark. An alumni of Bloomfield College with over 13 year’s experience in Case Management, Adjudication, Advocacy and Therapeutic specialties with mentally ill patients.

Navin Chaganti 

Bansuri Flute Meditation Instructor. I grew up in a small village in India where my journey with yoga and meditation began as a kid. I started Indian classical music training almost 5 years ago under Pt. Ashok Kumar Karmakar and had the unique opportunity of practicing meditation with Bansuri. My goal is to introduce Raga based meditation through Bansuri and heal people using this ancient form of therapy.

Faith Afriyie

Yoga Instructor. I’m a certified yoga instructor and have been practicing yoga for 15 years. Being at peace with your body and mind is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, by bringing yoga and mindfulness to life! With my experience as an occupational therapist and yoga instructor, I am passionate about helping others find peace, balance, and joy in their lives. Bring the peace, love, and joy you've found on your mat, out into the world.  Namaste!

Substitute Teachers:

Juanita Martin

Crystal Worker. I am an Intuitive Reiki Master/Teacher, Vibrational Sound Therapist, Crystal Worker and Artist (Usui Reiki Master/Teacher). I began my Energy Practice in 2002 at the Edgar Cayce Association for Research and Enlightenment Center (ARE) in New York. I've studied with some of the most loving instructors on my journey. I am a perpetual student who loves learning new alternative modalities to add to my lexicon of energy healing.

Jatesha Madden-Wilson

Substitute Yoga Instructor. Jatesha “Jaye” Madden-Wilson is a serial entrepreneur, mother and nurse of over 15 years. She began practicing yoga several years ago, but decided to start her journey as a yoga instructor under the instruction of Leslie of I’m So Yoga Newark and her passion for yoga was quickly solidified. Learning to push beyond the limits of her mind, Jaye has pressed forward and learned that the only boundaries that exist are the ones we let live in our minds. She has joined the I’m So Yoga Newark staff focusing her classes on teaching family and kids yoga as well as expanding through the 8 limbs of yoga to bring more communities together. She is currently the Director of Community Engagement creating opportunities to bridge yoga and the community in one space.

Nicholas Sotomayor

Sound Therapist. Nicholas Sotomayor is a professional audio engineer, sound therapist, and Buddhist practitioner. He has studied the effects of sound therapy and auditory stimulation at The Integrative Sound and Music Institute Program in New York. He completed his training at the Atma Buti Sound and Vibrational School with a certification in Singing Bowl Sound Therapy. 

 As he combines his passion for the therapeutic power of music with the pursuit of spiritual growth and expansion, Nic's sound meditations allow both practitioner and client to experience consciousness-transforming sessions. Sound wave after sound wave, the restorative vibrations resonate deep into one's being, promoting a profound sense of peace and balance of mind, body and spirit, inviting a new sense of well-being and clarity.

“Jay” Jennette

Yoga Instructor. Jennette Haynes, a certified 500hr yoga instructor, mobility coach, and cannabis advocate has been working to spread awareness on mindful movement for years. She started her career in healthcare helping to heal others dealing with challenging mobility issues to rehab sports-related injuries. When she started to include yoga practices into her daily lifestyle routine, that is what changed her approach to healing the body and changing her mindset.

Intentional – based movement and breathing techniques are the focus for all of her classes, be it a challenging vinyasa sequence, slow Hatha flow, or even a restorative cannabis class. All with the same goal in mind, to help her students become more aware of the power within themselves.

Syreeta S.

Yoga Instructor. My practice began 15 years ago and it evolved into a daily one during the pandemic. It was during this time that I fell in love with yoga and the benefits it afforded me. I decided to pursue yoga teacher training and attained my 200hr with the Breathe For Change in August 2022.

Caitlyn Alava

Yoga Instructor. I am a Preschool Teacher, 200Hr RYT, registered behavior therapist, wellness/self care advocate, and lover of books. I was was first introduced to yoga4 years ago as an elective in school by an amazing teacher of mine. I specialize in children’s yoga. I believe mindfulness and yoga teaches not only children but everyone to identify their emotions and respond to them in a healthy way as well as focus on their breath and body movements while also building up their self esteem. I dove deeper into yoga this past year when I became a 200hr RYT. Yoga has helped me stay positive all while making me resilient. I live a plant based lifestyle. I believe yoga has no boundaries and is for everyone. With these aspects of my life I learned that happiness is an inside job!

Lian Brooks

Substitute Yoga Instructor. I was once a nine to five, corporate zombie until I experienced a spiritual breakthrough. I began practicing yoga in 2018 at a studio in my hometown. The practice helped me see the light when I was in the darkest phase of my life. During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, I decided to become a certified instructor with I’m So Yoga Newark. After completing the training program where I gained deeper knowledge of the yogic philosophy and asanas, I am confident in saying that I am mentally, physically and spiritually stronger than I have ever been before. I am grateful for yoga and I am grateful to share my practice with you. I look forward to meeting you on the mat.

Abinaya Swaminathan

Substitute Yoga Instructor. Yoga Practitioner/Student & Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in Hatha, Vinyasa, Asthanga, Pre & Postnatal, Restorative, Yin, Prop and Chair yoga. Was introduced to yoga as a kid, my base is Integral Hatha yoga. I have been teaching online and offline sessions for all age group women and kids, handle both therapy & general yoga. Absolutely love what I do, have been more passion driven. Just so grateful for everything I’m able to share with yoga. Hope to see you all in the mat :) 

Evelyn S. A

Substitute Yoga Instructor. I am a Certified Yin Yoga, Meditation, Subconscious Mind, Reiki I, and Wholistic Nutrition Coach. My personal journey of healing began in 2018 when I realized my stress and limiting beliefs were signs of unhealed parts of myself.  I began practicing yoga as a form to relieve said stress. The journey of healing and transformation led me on a purposeful path to connect and create harmony between mind, body, and soul.