It is often said of Roni that she has the wisdom of a woman and the soul of a child. And as such, combined with her artistic talents, her insights, and her relentless pursuit of the practical truth, she is truly a unique character. While she is a self-taught dancer, painter, and in general an artist regardless of the media, she has also developed an uncanny awareness and understanding of our physical and mental selves, starting as a child, which she has always felt compelled to share with those around her.
At the age of 18 Roni began her dancing career, performing in many different ethnic styles including middle eastern belly dance, flamenco, Indian classical and modern styles, and Hawaiian hula. These experiences brought her to appear on numerous television shows, including Best of Broadway and CNN. She has performed for Giorgio Armani and toured extensively throughout the Middle East and Asia giving solo concerts and instructional classes. Her dance experiences have opened up many doors including opening a dance company, event and party planning.
After traveling the world, Roni began teaching yoga classes at the age of 24, and in 2006 became the founder and owner of Inner Spirit Yoga Center in East Northport, New York. To this day Inner Spirit is serving the community, through healing events and donation based classes. Roni teaches an eclectic mix of physical yoga and mindfulness based meditation, all with the focus on developing and maintaining a Harmonious life (based on the yogic philosophy of ahimsa). Her background as a professional dancer has given her a unique understanding of the inner workings of the body and led to the vision of creating Dance Asana and Transcendent Dance.
She places an emphasis on not just doing yoga, but truly living yoga, and hopes to pass that on to others by inspiring them through personal example. With almost 3 decades of experience behind her, raising a family, teaching, certifying new instructors, life coaching, performing, and leading wellness retreats, workshops and seminars, she is honored to be of continued service to our communities.
“My ultimate goal is to reach peace and to assist others in doing the same. I believe it is critical for us to understand and to take full responsibility and ownership for our emotions, and always treat others with the same kindness and compassion we desire for ourselves. Viewing the world in a positive light is an empowering choice that we must constantly choose- one that can transform our lives. For years, I have had the privilege of sharing these life-altering principles and techniques with my students, both at home and abroad, in the hope that they will spread that love and understanding wherever their lives take them.” –Roni Yaari
Andrea Garvey has been teaching yoga for over 30 years, initially as a certified exercise instructor through ACE and IDEA. She received her yoga certification in the lineage of the Himalayan Yogis in 1999 through the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. and has been a student of yoga for over 40 years.
Andrea facilitates special yoga workshops focusing on the Chakra System utilizing gentle stretches, breath work, therapeutic grade essential oils, and sound healing. She became a certified 2nd degree Reiki practitioner in 1986 and a Holistic Health Coach certified by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in 2002. She studied EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) with Ted Robinson in 2008 and incorporated it into her private health coaching practice. With a musical background, Andrea became intrigued by the healing power of the human voice and in 2010 began her sound healing studies with Roger Ansanelli and Stewart Pearce. In 2014, she received a certificate in The Psychology of the Chakras through Anodea Judith (an American author, therapist, and public speaker on the chakra system). Andrea and her husband, Neil, publish Creations Magazine. Andrea has taught various styles of yoga including Hatha, power-style, vinyasa, gentle and chair yoga.
Tuesdays
10:15am Gentle Yoga
Fridays
10:00am Gentle Yoga
Vicki Moir began her yoga journey many years ago when she tried out her first class at Inner Spirit and quickly it became a way of life. Feeling like she was given invaluable lessons from each of her yoga teachers, she was inspired to share these lessons with others by becoming a teacher herself. She received her 200 hour certification in 2016 in Santorini, Greece.
Vicki obtained a Master’s Degree in mental health counseling from Adelphi University in 2011 and began to notice how incorporating meditation and yoga into client’s lives helped their mental health improve. Her belief is that yoga classes should help students reconnect with themselves and use yoga as a moving meditation to help them bring their best selves forward into the world. Her classes give students a chance to honor what their bodies need while also challenging them to try new things. Her hope is to spark joy in others via yoga and to allow a space for self-expression
Saturday
11:30am Gentle Yoga
Elizabeth Madden comes to yoga with a background in dance and art. She received her degree from SUNY Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. In 2013, Liz completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.
Liz has been teaching various forms of yoga. Her past experience includes Hatha yoga at The Fit Zone in Lindenhurst and at Phoenix House, where she taught a program for in-house veterans with PTSD.
Sundays
11 am – 12 pm Yoga (All Levels)
Beth loves the way yoga brings her clarity, and strength both physically and mentally. She started yoga at age 38 because while reaching for a cup of coffee she tweaked her back. She dove right into a challenging Bikram practice hoping to heal. After a few years she went searching for more of a spiritual path, wanting to connect the mind and the body. In 2009, she found Inner Spirit and melted right into the welcoming community. Learning and enjoying new styles of yoga, Beth also loved the new found consciousness and calming effect it brought to her life. With both children in college, she deepened her practice further by receiving her 200 hour a certification with Yoga Alliance. Her intentions are to show students how to strengthen the body and mind. Beth also holds a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts and enjoys teaching pottery. She has done intensives at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and an inversion retreat.
Wednesdays
*4:30pm Gentle Yoga (All Levels)
Fridays
4:30pm Vinyasa Flow (All levels)
*Wednesday’s Gentle Yoga class is a donation based class.
Erica Martinelli is the current choreographer and director of the Inner Spirit Dance Company. She has had a passion for dance since adolescence that was expressed through high school and college. Erica coached the West Islip Kickline Squad for 8 years. Her growth in dance evolved towards a more ethnic direction when she started taking classes at Inner Spirit in 2005. Later that year, she joined the Dance Company and began performing throughout the tri-state area for public and private events. In 2010, Erica started teaching dance classes at Inner Spirit. She balances stretching, technique, and choreography in her classes with an energetic and enthusiastic approach. Erica became the Dance Company’s director and choreographer in 2014.
In 2019, Erica completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification with Roni Yaari at Inner Spirit and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. Through yoga, Erica has found a much deeper connection to her body which has translated into a more creative choreography in her dance. She is currently teaching yoga classes at Inner Spirit.
Mondays
7:00 pm Belly Dance Technique
8:00 pm Belly Dance Choreography
Thursdays
7:30 pm Vinyasa Flow
With active boys at home and a hardworking military husband Jennifer found solace, strength and peace on her mat back in 2010. The more she practiced the more her passion grew leading her to make a life changing trek down to Costa Rica for a month long intensive study in Raja Yoga in 2013. There she studied with Jackie Chiodo, of Joyful Yoga, learning about the sister sciences of both Yoga and Ayurveda. In the heart of the jungle she learned about Asana, Pranayama, Mantra, Meditation, and the Chakra System completing her 200 hour RYT.
Upon returning home, Jennifer tapped into her background in education and began sharing her passion for yoga teaching at a studio in Williamsburg, Virginia. Within a year, Jennifer felt a desire to further explore a focused study of Yoga and Ayurvedic Care for Women and Children. Enrolling at Yoga Tree in San Fransisco California, Jennifer studied with Jane Austin, Chrisandra Fox Walker, and Kimberly Johnson concentrating on Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Mama & Baby Yoga and Ayurvedic care. After completing more than 150 hours of study Jennifer became a Registered Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor. In her teachings, she strives to support women through all stages of life and works to foster an open-minded community focusing on nourishment and self-care.
Most recently, Jennifer achieved a Groovy Kids Level 1 & 2 Certification as well as beginning an in-depth exploration of Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers. Currently, Jennifer teaches a vast array of classes comprising of Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Gentle Hatha, Gentle Flow, Vinyasa, Prenatal and Mama & Baby classes just to name a few. She loves sharing the gift of yoga and finds joy in encouraging others to explore their own yogic journeys. Ever the student, she continues to explore yoga through reading, private practice and workshops around the globe.
Tuesdays:
6pm Prenatal Yoga Series
Wednesdays
10:15am Yoga for Strength & Stability
11:30am Mama & Baby Yoga Series
Thursdays:
10:15am Deep Movement
Bianca was born and raised a New Yorker on Long Island. She was a shy little girl who immersed herself into the lyrics, melodies, and harmonies of her favorite songs. She fell in love with Broadway show tunes, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion, as well as, The Eagles, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac. When Bianca was in 6th Grade, her chorus teacher, Judy Leopold, pointed out that she had a ‘stand-out’ voice and she needed to audition for the concert solo. Shocked and in disbelief, Bianca thought long and hard about this proposition. It took a lot of courage for this little girl, but she rose to the challenge and auditioned. Bianca got the solo and from then on, she couldn’t be stopped. She loved the stage because for her it was a place she could be whoever she wanted to be, she was free in those moments. She dove deep into musical theater and the arts, playing the leading roles in many musicals.
Later in her career she began to struggle with Asthma. Her vocal coach, at the time, suggested she take yoga classes and eliminate dairy from her diet to help her breathing and overall health. Being the good student that she is, she didn’t question his authority and jumped right in with two feet. She began a consistent yoga practice in Bikram Yoga, took out the dairy from her diet, and started juicing fruits and vegetables. After about a month of this practice, Bianca felt energized, stopped suffering from her usual sinus infections and her breathing improved tremendously. It wasn’t long after, Bianca became very passionate about the healing powers of yoga and conscious consumption. She quickly enrolled herself into her first 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2008 where she learned more about her Self and this very powerful practice that seemed to have found her. This training changed her life forever.
Since, she has studied, practiced, and shared the art of yoga. She was given the opportunity to study with Roni Yaari of Inner Spirit Yoga- a person she can now call her best friend. From there she became a leader and community driver at LifePower Yoga in Syosset. Bianca has led several 200 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and has traveled the country and other parts of the world sharing the ancient wisdom of yoga. She has sat two 10- day Vipassana Meditation Retreats, once while she was 7 months pregnant with her daughter, Angelina. She has been through Landmark Education, another game-changer as she sees it. She is currently holding space and driving, conscious community at Gritty Buddha in Glen Cove, her hub for sharing yoga, meditation, conscious action, and good karma. Bianca lives a Vegan Lifestyle in hopes that her choices will make a positive difference in her health, our environment, and the lives of other sentient beings. She is currently training to become a Health Coach with Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Her call to action is to share the art of yoga through Bhakti, or devotional yoga meaning to approach all experiences with love. She believes God is Love and Love is God. Chanting to the higher source has opened up Bianca’s heart and helps her realize that we are all One under God and thanks her teachers at Laughing Lotus NYC for opening her up to the world of Bhakti. Bianca is feeling especially grateful to her family for the love and support they’ve given to her to help make her dream to serve yoga around the world, a reality.
Vinyasa Flow (all Levels)
Fridays 8:45 am – 10:00 am
