Our Teachers — Monarch Yoga

a yoga teacher helping correct a yogi in half moon pose

Monarch Instructors

Meet Our Amazing Group of Teachers

Brianna Albertini

Rachele Cipollone

Michelle Dillon

owner of monarch yoga, Michelle Dillon

Brooke Ferguson

Nicole Grundhoffer

Reshma Kothari a yoga teacher at Monarch yoga in philadelphia

Maria Lena a yoga teacher at Monarch yoga in philadelphia

Nicole Neminski

Daniela O’Keefe

placeholder image for Daniella O'keefe, a yoga instructor at monarch yoga

Michael Perl smiling for monarch yoga's teacher list

Sim Safer smiling for monarch yoga's teacher list

Victoria Schick

Victoria, a yoga instructor for monarch yoga in philadelphia

Bridget Stearns

Latoya Thornton

Chesy Tronchoni-Bello

Brianna Albertini

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Favorite Book: The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer

Special Skills or Hobby: traveling, reading, yoga, stargazing, hiking, creative writing, long walks with Brody (my dog), and being with people who I deeply connect with <3

Rasheeda Bell, Yoga teacher sitting on mat at monarch yoga

Rasheeda Bell

Hometown: Philly Philly

Yoga Pose You’re Workin’ On: Birds of Paradise

Favorite Sports Team: EAGLES

Favorite Book: ‘Their eyes were watching God’ by Zora Neal Hurston

Andy Chen

Hometown: Edison, NJ

Favorite Podcast: Broken Record, anything F1 or Arsenal at the moment

Favorite Philly Business: Fishtown Tavern, Milkcrate

Rachele Cippollone, a Philadelphia-based yoga instructor, in Easy Seat

Rachele Cipollone

Rachele Cipollone, a Philadelphia-based yoga instructor, in Side Bend

Hometown: South Jersey

Favorite Book: ‘Awakening the Buddha Within’ by Lama Surya Das

Favorite Philly Business: REC Philly

Fun Fact: I love to write!

Michelle Dillion - monarch yoga owner

Michelle Dillon

Michelle Dillon the owner of monarch yoga, practicing yoga

Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan

Favorite Philly Park: John Heinz

First Job: I started my own babysitting company when I was 13.

Favorite Local Businesses: Martha, Mural City Cellars & Forin Cafe!

Fun Fact: I taught fifth grade for five years!

Sara Downey

sarah Downey, a yoga teacher at monarch yoga in extended side angle pose

Hometown: Chalfont, PA

Favorite Book: ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney

Favorite Philly Park: The Wissahickon!

Favorite Local Business: Downerss

Brooke Ferguson

Brook Ferguson, a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in a lunge

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Favorite Philly Eatery: Murph's Bar - best Italian food around

Fun Fact: Was born during half-time of Super Bowl Sunday 1992!

Special Skill or Hobby: Singer, songwriter, and music producer who also has a huge love for building Legos

Claire, a yoga teacher at monarch yoga seated on a black yoga mat in northern liberties

Claire Going

Claire Going, a yoga instructor in side plank at monarch yoga in philadelphia

Hometown: Allentown, PA

Favorite Philly Park: Penn Treaty

First Job: I was a local news reporter for a few years after college

Favorite local business: Urban Exchange, Milkcrate Cafe, and Wokworks ♡

Yoga teacher Nicole Grundhoffer in easy seat at monarch yoga in northern liberties Philadelphia

Nicole Grundhoffer

Nicole G, a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in philadelphia on a black yoga mat in a half-bind seated position

Hometown: Lancaster, PA

Yoga Pose You're Workin' On: Handstand

Favorite Philly Biz: Reanimator & Riverwards

Jordon Hafetz a monarch yoga instructor in extended side angle

Monarch Yoga in structor Jordon Hafetz in an easy seat

Jordon Hafetz

Hometown: Old City, Philadelphia

Favorite Podcast: Almost 30

Favorite Philly Eatery: Taqueria La Prima- Get the Chicken Tinga Tacos

Fun Fact: I walked the length of Manhattan, top to bottom

Ashley Iwu a yoga instructor in philadelphia at monarch yoga

Ashley Iwu

Ashley Iwu, a yoga teacher for monarch yoga

Hometown: Atco, NJ/Abuja, Nigeria

Favorite meal: Quality Taste Jamaican Restaurant’s Brown Stew Chicken

Favorite Sports Team: Arsenal FC

Favorite Podcast:Balanced Black Girl

Lise Jackson - a yoga teacher at monarch yoga in Philadelphia

Lise Jackson

Lise Jackson in a yoga pose

Hometown: Harrisburg, PA

Yoga Pose You’re Working on: Tripod

Favorite Podcast: Deeply Well with Devi Brown

Favorite Restaurant: Suraya!!

Sabah Jamshidi, a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in tree pose

Sabah Jamshidi

Sabah Jamshidi a yoga teacher at monarch yoga

Hometown: Broomall, PA

Favorite Podcast: Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

Favorite Philly Business: Herman’s Coffee

Fun Fact: On a good day I can juggle three items that are exactly the same size for about four full seconds.

Sasha Kostryko, a yoga teacher in Monarch Yoga

Sasha Kostyrko

sasha kosturko - a yoga teach at monarch yoga in philadelphia

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Favorite Sports Team: Go Birds/ Let's go Phillies

Education: UARTS MFA in Devised Theater Performance

Fun Fact: I spend 4 years touring Montana with a Shakespeare company. I love Montana.

Reshma Kothari, a yoga teacher in Monarch Yoga seated

Reshma Kothari

Reshma Kothari, a yoga teacher at monarch yoga in camel pose

Hometown: Queens, NY

Yoga Pose You’re Working On: Sirsasana (Headstand!)

Favorite Philly Restaurant: Poes Sandwich Joint & Human Robot! A perfect combo!

Fun Fact: I'm fluent in American Sign Language

Maria Lena, a yoga teacher at monarch yoga in northern liberties in a seated position on a black yoga mat

Maria Lena

Maria Lena, a yoga teacher at monarch in a high pigeon pose with a bind on a yoga mat

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Yoga Pose You're Workin' On: Legs Up the Wall—it’s the easiest thing ever, but so good for your lower back. Honestly, it just flips your whole perspective and chills you out

Favorite Book: Definitely Interview with the Vampire. I’m kinda obsessed with it. The whole vibe, the way it’s written... it just draws you in. It’s dark and beautiful, and I just love getting lost in that world.

Favorite Philly Park: The WISS.

Special Skill or Hobby: I've been running for 20 years now. It’s been a huge part of my life, and it helps me stay grounded and clear-headed.

Jaime Marrero, a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in Philly in easy seat

Jaime Marrero

Hometown: Taunton, MA

Favorite Podcast: My Favorite Murder

Favorite Book: ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ by JK Rowling

Special Skill or Hobby: Creating / Photography / Video

Emily Matthias

Emily a trach at monarch yoga in northern liberties in side plank

Hometown: Pitman, NJ

Yoga Pose You’re Workin’ On: Savasana

Favorite Podcast: The Funny Thing About Yoga

Favorite Philly Park: Schuylkill River Park

Fun Fact: I love dogs - I have 3!

Nicole Neminski

Nicole, a teacher at monarch yoga in scandasana

Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ

Favorite Book: ‘The Untethered Soul’ by Michael A. Singer

Favorite Sports Team: Whoever Gritty is rooting for

Special Skill or Hobby: Anything related to plants! I’m currently starting a rooftop veggie garden!

Hometown: Miami, FL

Favorite Local Business: Art in the Age

Special Skill or Hobby: I love making friendship bracelets!

Daniela O’Keefe

Sarah Owens seat in monarch yoga studio in Philadelphia PA

Sarah Owens

Hometown: Jenkintown, PA

Yoga Pose You’re Working On: Standing Split

Favorite Sports Team: Sixers! (Even though they let me down every year)

Fun Fact: I'm a hobby collector - if it exists, I either have tried it or have plans to try it.

Michael Perl, a yoga teacher at monarch yoga in philadelphia

Michael Perl

Michael a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in a yoga pose

Hometown: Hopewell, NJ

Favorite Podcast: Armchair Expert with Dax Sheppard

Favorite Philly Eatery: Murph’s Bar (the pasta is amazing)

Fun Fact: I met Jimmy Fallon and had a conversation with him on an elevator once.

Sim Safer, a yoga teacher at monarch in kensington in an easy seat position.

Sim Safer

Hometown: London, England

Favorite Philly Park: Penn Treaty :)

First Job: Coffee Barista!

Special skill: Crafting the perfect road trip itinerary to explore hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Victoria Schick

Victoria, a yoga instructor in half moon pose at monarch yoga in Kensington Philadelphia

Hometown: Allentown, PA

Favorite Philly Park: Konrad Square

First Job: Red the Robin at Red Robin

Favorite Philly Eatery: Streetside (Vermicelli w/ Crispy Parcels) or Front Street Cafe (buffalo cauliflower)

Khumo, a yoga teacher at monarch yoga in Kensington in an easy seat position with prayer hands on a yoga mat

Khumo Sehume

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Yoga Pose You’re Workin’ On: Sirsasana

Favorite Meal in Philly: Jam Rock Jamaican Restaurant in West Philly and Cantina la Martina in Kensington

Favorite Sports Team: The Springboks. the best rugby team in the world

Random Fun Fact!: I collect tea cups and saucer sets and it’s a bonus if they come with a matching tea kettle. I also speak 6 languages.

Bridget Stearns

Hometown: Atlantic City, NJ

Favorite Philly Biz: Riverwards. You have to try their Kale Vegan Caesar Salad! The best.

Fun Fact: I used to be a wedding planner!

Sarah Thompson, a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in Philly, in easy seat

Sarah Thompson

Sarah Thompson, a yoga teacher at Monarch yoga in Philadlephia in tree pose

Hometown: Durham, CT

Yoga Pose You’re Working On: Crow Pose

Favorite Philly Business: Gryphon Cafe and Proper Goods

Fun Fact: Pennsylvania is the fourth state I’ve lived in and I’ve travelled to 42. My goal is to eventually see al 50!

Latoya Thornton in heros pose with one hand on her heart and one hand on her stomach in meditation at monarch yoga

Latoya Thornton

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Yoga Pose You’re Workin’ On: Hanumanasana and at some point a headstand

Favorite Book: I don’t think I have a favorite book, but here’s 2 books I think are worth reading: The 4 Agreements and Pause Rest Be. These books have been very helpful. Learning how to slow down in such a busy world can be very hard and these books encourage taking care of yourself.

Favorite meal: Pizza…I can always eat Pizza

Chesy Tronchoni-Bello

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Yoga Pose You're Workin' On: Headstand!

Favorite Podcast: Financial Feminist, Just Between Us, Escuela de Nada, so many more...

Alma Mater: Music Therapy at Temple University and then Villanova University for a master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Tatiana webb a yoga instructor at monarch yoga in philadelphia

Tatiana Webb

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, PA

Favorite Book: ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ by JK Rowling

Favorite Philly Eatery: WM Mulherins (or Pub Webb)

Fun Fact: My family is from Caguas, Puerto Rico!

Jen Wilson in a seated yoga pose at Monarch Yoga

Jen Wilson

Jen Wilson, a philadelphia yoga instructor, in a yoga pose at Monarch Yoga

Hometown: Chatham, NJ

Yoga Pose You’re Workin’ On: Any variation of legs up the wall!

Favorite Podcast: Who? Weekly

Favorite Philly Park: John Heinz Wildlife Refuge

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