Yoga/Fitness Instructors
Jennifer Risio
Jenn has been cultivating her yoga practice for over 25 years, which began in a Cleveland, Ohio, gym in 1997, where she instantly fell in love! Life’s journey and ebbs and flows brought her to a much-needed yearlong immersion of yoga and mindfulness on a path to truth, self-love, forgiveness, compassion, strength, and peace.
She completed her YTT in 2009 at Grace School of Yoga in Jamestown, RI, with her teacher/mentor Judy Mclaine studying the teachings of Sri Dharma Mittra. Her roots as a teacher began in Newport, RI, teaching Power Vinyasa, Restorative, and Vinyasa Flow. Her Vinyasa flow style is an eclectic fusion of so many teachers she has studied with over the years, to honor some: Sri Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rae, Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman, Elena Brower, Sean Corne, Wade Morrisette, MC YOGI, Kathryn Budig, Janet Stone, Jason Crandall and many more.
Jenn continues to be captivated by the inner peace and love she experiences as a teacher and in her own personal practice. Teaching is her lifelong passion! Her classes are creative and fun. She guides students to find grace and stillness, strength and agility while igniting breath and movement as one. She believes yoga should encircle freedom, grace, and laughter on and off the mat. Jennifer’s classes encompass a powerful flow, emphasizing strength and lightness, allowing the mind to relax and the heart to shine!
In addition, Jenn is the owner of The Studio in Mattapoisett, MA. She is a Reiki Master Teacher (RMT) whose energy healing is sprinkled into ALL her classes! She studied under the tutelage of Reiki Master Teacher Reinette Fournier of Tenth Gate Yoga in Portsmouth, RI, completing her Reiki Master teacher certification in 2015. She now leads Reiki Teacher Training(s) at The Studio in Mattapoisett. Jenn is also a Certified Pilates Instructor (CPI).
Deb Fraine
Deb has been practicing yoga for 20 years and is a registered member of Yoga Alliance having completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Donna Pagliarani at the Dharma Connection in Sandwich, MA. “As a yoga instructor my goal is to integrate my knowledge as an outpatient orthopedic occupational therapist into my yoga classes by helping to prevent injury with sequences that stretch and strengthen the core, neck, back, shoulders, quadriceps, hamstrings, hips, shoulders, wrists and hands.”
Joey Machado
Joey received his 200-hour training certification from Kripalu four years ago where he studied with Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman, and Shiva Rea. Joey’s passion is allowing yoga to be accessible no matter the circumstance. He teaches Kripalu yoga, gentle, moderate, power and chair yoga. He is also certified as a personal trainer by the American College of Sports Medicine. He has been successfully training people for more than 11 years.
Joelene Marinone
Joelene has been practicing yoga for 27 years and teaching yoga for 20 years. She has trained in Reiki ll, energy medicine traditions, and many different types of yoga such as Kundalini, Iyengar, Anusara, Restorative, and Yin, all of which add to her teaching and understanding of embodiment. Joelene believes that yoga truly is a healing practice of mind/body and a wonderful way to spend time with yourself.
Jo Norton
Jo is a life lone fitness enthusiast. She is retired from her corporate role as Global VP of HR and now fully devotes herself to sharing her passion for fitness. Jo has spent years studying body movement., weight training, Pilates. yoga and barre. She has her certification in Pilates and functional aging, and has completed coursework in Physiology and Anatomy UMASS Amherst.
Linda Vivino
Jesse Jarvis, ERYT, RCYT
Jesse is empowered to bring the physical and mental practices of Yoga into the lives of as many humans as she can reach. As a former corporate employee, she can relate to the everyday office worker and builds her teaching around a well-balanced mental and physical practice with a focus on mindful movement and breath awareness. Jesse changed the course of her life while living in San Francisco in 2016 and decided to quit her corporate job and travel to India to study Yoga. She received her first 200-hour RYT certification as a Hatha Yoga teacher in Rishikesh, India, and has been teaching consistently ever since. She has also continued studying Yoga throughout the years and has most recently completed her 500-hour training with a focus on Ayurveda. In her classes, you can expect an accessible and approachable teaching style, enabling students of all levels to feel comfortable and encouraged in their practice. Jesse is originally from Mattapoisett, lived and taught Yoga in San Francisco, and currently resides in Boise, Idaho.
Kaylee Grodzki
Kaylee began her journey in yoga as a gym requirement in high school. After realizing how important it was for her self esteem, physical body, and learned tools of meditation, she received her 200 hour yoga certification in 2012. She quickly fell in love with Barre and shortly thereafter; realizing yoga and Barre worked hand in hand with each other.
Kaylee moved to Chattanooga, TN with two goals: climb and open a yoga/barre studio with her now husband Cody back in 2015. She received her 300 hour teacher training certification from her incredible mentor and friend, Dolly Kaupp, specializing in ceremony and inner work. She moved back up to Massachusetts to be closer to family and closed her studio after 7 amazing years to pursue her passion for leading teacher trainings and retreats around the country.
With well over 10,000 hours of teaching under her belt, and mentoring hundreds of trainee’s, she looks forward to the cold winters, beautiful summers, and collaborative movement.
Cindi Assad
Cindi is a certified Yoga teacher in Ashtanga, Hatha, and YOgalates, and also holds her personal training certification. She is an Ayurvedic Holistic Counselor, and a longtime Vinyasa instructor at Maha Yoga Center, YogaLight Studio, and Bridgewater State University. She currently teaches at serval studios in Southcoast. Her offering also includes personal training and small group fitness classes. Cindi lives happily with her five cats: Monica. Phoebe, Herry, London, and Goose.
Sara DaCosta
Sara has been an educator in some capacity throughout her life. Initially, she began her professional career as an educator and administrator in residential and public schools. Eventually, her path shifted and she became certified in Pretzel Kids Yoga in 2018. The following year she began her 200 hour level training through Yoga Alliance International completing her certification in 2020. Since then she has taught yoga in a variety of settings and studios. Sara holds a certification in both Reiki I and Reiki II infused with Bio Scalar Energy and is actively taking continual energy courses. In 2021 she received her certificate of Trauma – Sensitive Mindfulness with David Treleaven. She is also trained in sound healing and has a great appreciation of vibration and frequency. Sara brings awareness to the mind, body and spirit throughout her practice and continues to learn and grow each time she is on the mat.
Donny Rudnick
Donny’s yoga practice was cultivated for nearly 30 years before eventually completing his 200 hour YTT training at the School of Yoga New Bedford in 2023. A retired business entrepreneur, he discovered yoga and yogurt in college 50 years ago.
After taking a long break to start his business and family, Donny rediscovered yoga, to complement his swimming while recovering from 1993 back surgery.
His yoga foundation was established and nurtured by a wonderful Kripalu-trained teacher for over a decade. Subsequently, Donny has practiced extensively with Iyenger, Vinyasa, Sva Ha, Form, and Animal Flow-trained teachers. His YTT program included exposure to Yin, Restorative, Chakras, anatomy, and yoga history.
With his love of yoga and passion for helping others, Donny’s classes will bring you through a gradual warm-up, to classical postures and a closing savasana. All done with purposeful movement, to discover your inner strength and confidence, while creating balance and a calming mind.
His compassion, tenderness, and lightheartedness will have you feeling renewed and refreshed.
A lifelong resident of the area, he has been married to his supportive wife, Susan, for 47 years. They have two adult daughters and three granddaughters. His other passions include sailing, paddle boarding, traveling, and appreciating nature.
