Veena is a certified instructor who is dedicated to guiding people to the practice of yoga in a joyful and nurturing environment. She is devoted to helping her students achieve whatever they dream of in their yoga practice, whether it is a deeper level of fitness, a healthier lifestyle, or inner peace. Veena holds a 200hr Yoga Teacher Certificate from Faith Hunter's Spiritually Fly Yoga and a 500hr Yoga Teacher Certification based in Yoga Therapy from Beloved Yoga in Reston, VA. A humble seeker of knowledge, she is immersed in diverse aspects of yoga-- from Ayurveda to managing PTSD (Warriors at Ease, iRest), as well as Reiki (level 1). Veena is grateful to be under the tutelage of Elena Brower, Gary Kraftsow, and multiple mentors at Beloved Yoga. She is experienced in many styles, but her favorite is Slow Flow Vinyasa (influenced by Viniyoga). Veena is a veteran, of both the Air Force (12 years of active duty, 4 in the reserves) and teaching various styles of yoga including Vinyasa Flow (Level 1-1.5), Restorative, and Yin Yoga, at several studios throughout the greater Washington, D.C. area. Her one wish for her adopted city is that its denizens consider ending their weekends with restorative practice, to remedy the countless harmful effects that come with fast-paced, stressful urban living. Restorative yoga is a powerful tool for learning mindfulness and it can ease common issues like headaches, anxiety, backaches, and insomnia. Just imagine what one of the most powerful cities in the world could do, if it was at peace and well-rested!

The balanced marriage of self-study, self-expression, and self-discipline are paramount to Hatha and Vinyasa yoga teacher Jasiri Nkalati. Determined to burst the myth that yoga isn’t accessible to everyone, she created a venue called Yoga City Tour, where she offers free community classes in different parts of the city. In 2014, she taught her first out of state Yoga City Tour Workshops in New Orleans and is currently planning more traveling tours both nationally and internationally. Currently she teaches at the Community Wellness Collective in Anacostia Ward 8, Latin American Youth Center, Yoga Noma, and Washington Sports Club. In the past she’s had the pleasure of teaching the staff at NASA Goddard Fitness as well as Kaiser Permanente in VA. She received her Health Coach certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition NY in 2012 and provides wellness services to women both nationally and internationally that are passionate about living a full life but also struggle with emotional and addictive behaviors connected to food, mind-body awareness, and self worth. Her services include Mindful Hatha/Vinyasa Yoga, personalized wellness coaching, Thai Yoga Massage, Belly Bliss Food presentations for learning how to identify and cook with whole foods, Dance Therapeutics, and detoxFRESH -a unique cleanse to help assist your best efforts for shedding away habits that no longer serve your best self. In 2014, she appeared as a featured guest on radio shows GoGoRadio and WOL 1450/93.9 WKYS to discuss her role as a service provider in the wellness industry. As a health coach first and aspiring author, she encourages and inspires others to come away from their thoughts and into their bodies in order to better assess their physical vitality, emotional and mental stability, and interconnectedness with others. She aspires to be a life long student by learning from her best teachers -her students!

Teaches and is certified in Barre, Yoga, Pilates and Acrobatics. She is also a Holistic Nutritional Counselor. Candace's classes are fun, challenging and will get you the results you desire! She offers multiple levels and modifications for all levels of fitness. When not at the studio she directs plays, teaches acting, choreographs and trains acrobatics.

Margaret Townsend, a certified yoga instructor in the Integral tradition. Ms. Townsend has completed over 500 additional hours training in the Ashtanga Tradition, in Pre-NatalPost-Natal Yoga, and with various reknown teachers. She has been practicing yoga for over ten years and has taught yoga and dance throughout the New York area before moving to Virginia to complete her M.F.A. in Dance.

Tessa is an RN who discovered yoga over 15 years ago. While pursuing other interests such as running, weight lifting and cycling, Tessa had several injuries that brought her back to the healing practice of yoga. In the past few years Tessa has become more focused on her practice of yoga and became inspired to become a yoga instructor. Tessa lives in Chester Springs with her husband and two young daughters and likes to live life with a sense of humor and playfulness.

Emily took her first Zumba class in 2009. She immediately recognized that Zumba helped her to let go of all the stress created by a hectic workday. And the music and dancing made her smile – something she didn’t often do while working out! After a couple of years as a student, Emily got certified to teach. In her years of teaching, Emily has adapted her class for her students, as well as her own life-changing events (including two pregnancies). What Emily loves most about teaching Zumba is its immediate and positive effect on her students’ moods and health.

I have been practicing vinyasa flow for over seven years. Started out as a necessity in high school to help me reover from a bad back and scoliosis and help me build confidence. Eventually I began practicing everyday in college at various studios around New York City. When I moved to DC, I missed home and needed to feel more grounded. Yoga helped me do that. Life is always change for me. Yoga, however has always been the one thing that has always been there for me...and it always will be. And I want yoga to always be there for my students I specialize in vinyasa style yoga, and occasionally ashtanga. I know many pranayama exercies which I always incorporate into my classes at the end of the session. I help students link breath to each movement, as well as breath control so that we not only become more flexible, but also so that we can achieve our greatest potential. I incorporate the chakras, or energy centers into each and every individual practice. I am certified through the yoga alliance to teach vinyasa and hatha yoga and received my 200 hour certification though Faith Hunter's Embrace your Flow. I have also learned ashtanga style. I believe that everyone is different and that each yogi has their own way of breathing authentically in their own way. I am currently receiving my masters in clinical Mental Health Counseling and hope to incorporate yoga as a way of healing my future clients.

Annie joined the Just For Kids team in 2015 and is thrilled to come on board to help with marketing, design and communications. Annie is originally from Washington, DC and went to college at Wheaton College in Massachusetts where she earned her B.A. in Art History. After graduation, she then completed a 2½ year certificate program in Graphic Design at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Annie is also a proud mom of 3 young children and enjoys the opportunity to help spread the word about the Just For Kids program within the DC Metro area.

Coach John Jenkins grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey, a small town where there were ample places to run, play, and work off some energy. John started his journey by getting his Personal Training Certificate and becoming a P.T. at Georgetown’s Definitions Gym. While getting himself into tip-top shape, he realized there was a need for children to be taught the importance of being physically fit at an early age. John’s wife Annie came on board in summer 2006 as a swim and yoga instructor. Annie is a Budding Yogi certified yoga instructor and shares her husband’s passion for fitness. Since 2006, they have collaboratively been adding classes and seeing more than 400 kids a week. Over a thousand children have participated in the Just for Kids programs since its creation in September of 2002, and Coach John hopes to see many more! He knows that an active child is a happier, healthier child!

Mel was born in Doylestown, PA and was involved in many sports growing up including soccer, volleyball, track and field, and swimming. She decided in high school to focus on soccer and track and eventually went on to college to play soccer on a scholarship to the George Washington University. She was a 4-year starter on defense and was named All-Academic in 2013. She graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science in May 2014. Since graduation, she has been involved in coaching with Just for Kids and started teaching Physical Education at Horace Mann Elementary in Washington, DC in August of 2015. She has enjoyed her last few years working with Just for Kids and hopes to continue to help more kids feel success in sports.

Lindsay was born and raised in New Jersey and growing up, she played all sports, including soccer. She believes children at a young age should try many different sports and activities to really discover where their passions lie. She graduated from University of Maryland where she was a participant on the Cross Country and Track and Field team. Ever since she has graduated, she has been a nanny for families in Bethesda as well as taught a large range of fitness classes for kids in the area. She has a love for kids and sports. She decided to start her own business called Simple Sitter. Simple Sitter is a nanny placement service catering to the greater DC area. She finds and screens the best nannies in the area! Lindsay loves being a Just For Kids coach and is excited to work with your child on the progression of the sport.

Coach T was born in Baltimore, MD and moved to Harrisburg, PA at a young age. In Pennsylvania, he played many sports including soccer, basketball, football, hockey, and track and field, but eventually decided to focus on soccer and fitness. Coach T has been working with Just For Kids since 2010. He has worked with children all over the Maryland, DC, and Virginia area in a variety of sports. Coach T attended American University in DC where he earned a B.S. in Biology and was a four-year starter for the Men’s Soccer Team.