Meet the Instructors
Yoga Instructors:
Hector Daniel Alvarez
Hector was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was only a year old. He grew up in Miami, traveled the world while serving in the United States Army, and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Miami. After successfully running his own business for many years, Hector experienced a traumatic car accident in 2001, which transformed him physically, mentally, and spiritually, leading him to turn to the path of yoga. Since then, he has dedicated an extensive amount of time and effort toward attending workshops and teacher trainings with such teachers as David Swenson, Lino Miele, and Sakaris Vermilyea. Hector completed his 200 hour teacher certification at Prana Yoga under the guidance of his first, most cherished teacher, Anamargaret Sanchez. Most importantly, Hector is the proud father of three beautiful children, Hector Daniel, Henry David, and Madeline Sophie.
Jennifer Attonito
Jennifer began practicing yoga at the age of nine. After getting into her hippy, big sister’s Indian meditation music, little Jennifer began trying to find her “3rd Eye”… she was hooked! Jennifer’s more formal practice of yoga started in 1995 at Integral Yoga in New York, taking particular interest in Jivamukti and Vinyasa style classes. She moved to the Florida Keys in 2002 and began teaching part-time at Sunset Rose studio in Key Largo. After relocating to Miami, she immediately enrolled in her first Vinyasa Yoga teacher training course at Maya Yoga in South Miami and completed her second level of training in March, 2005. Jennifer’s classes are energetic and often entertaining as she includes a wide variety of asanas (postures) that target all areas of the physical and energetic body while offering practical applications for yoga in daily living. Jennifer states, “A student should never be intimidated by yoga. I believe that the practitioner should always create an environment which feels comfortable and welcoming.” In addition to her yoga career, Jennifer is the Education Director in Pediatric HIV/AIDS Division at the University of Miami and also an adjunct professor of Health Sciences at Florida International University. She holds a BS in Psychology and an MS in Diagnostic Teaching. She is currently working with the University of Miami and the Green Family Foundation on developing new AIDS treatment and care programs in Africa.
Esly Caldwell
Esly has been teaching Energy Yoga in South Florida since 2003. He began his yoga practice while traveling and studying Tantra Yoga and meditation in India. Esly is a dedicated practitioner of Eastern mysticism, particularly Hindu and Buddhist Tantra. He received his teaching certifications from Santiago Dobles and Tao Semko of Umaa Tantra. Esly was attracted to Umaa Tantra’s Energy Yoga by its seamless weaving of Hatha Yoga, Qi Gong and meditation. Esly hopes to inspire participants in his class to realize and manifest their own innate healing potential. Esly is a graduate student at the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Hallandale Beach, FL.
Silvia Figueroa
Silvia’s has always maintained a fitness routine and also found herself fascinated by many spiritual philosophies. When Silvia formally discovered yoga about 6 years ago, it was a natural fit. She first became certified as a yoga instructor in Vinyasa style yoga under Rosella Rossi, a highly accomplished and internationally renowned yogi and has attended a number of intensive workshops featuring a variety of yoga methods. Trained in Reiki and gem therapy, Silvia has a natural attraction to healing. Her yoga classes are both invigorating and restorative. Silvia does not push students beyond their abilities, but instead challenges them to reach realistic goals. Her approach is light-hearted, always involving smiles and laughter. At the same time, she maintains rigorous focus on physical alignment and strength-building. Silvia says about her teaching philosophy, “I only want my students to come out of the class feeling that they’ve done something wonderful for themselves.” In addition to teaching yoga, Silvia is an artist/painter, currently exploring mixed media and texture in her most recent series of paintings of the Hindu deities. Always interested in various healing arts and sciences, Silvia earned her dentistry degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1993.
Carol Garabedian
A teacher of movement and dance as well as a student of yoga and meditation for the past 20 years, Carol earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and Kinesiology from UCLA, while performing as a modern dancer and choreographer. As the Director of Training and Developer of Classes for Jane Fonda’s Workouts, Carol was instrumental in the development of the influential fitness programs that reintroduced a whole generation to the health benefits of movement. Carol’s commitment to yoga and love of movement led her to begin studying Anusara Yoga in 2003 with John Friend (Founder of Anusara Yoga). Inspired by Anusara Yoga’s Tantric yoga philosophy and powerful Universal Principles of Alignment, Carol has found greater expansion in her practice and teaching. Carol’s goal is to create an opportunity for students to experience a deeper and vaster space within, enabling them to open their hearts and connect with their inner power and wisdom.
Christy Nones
Certified Anusara teacher, Christy, a student of yoga since 1988, emphasizes playful exploration of Anusara's precise alignment principles. As a classically trained homeopath, she is enthusiastic about the transformative healing capacities of the Anusara practice. She continues her extensive training in teaching and therapeutics with John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga, and also assists him in national and international workshops. In her distinctly vibrant way, Christy encourages students to mine the depths of their own strength and potential, resulting in an uplifting and energizing yoga experience.
Pilates Instrutors:
Shebah Carfagna
Shebah has been a devoted to fitness follower for more than nine years. After years of weight lifting and participating in a variety of strength training, spinning and step aerobics classes her interest in fitness increased. Wanting to increase her knowledge of fitness combined with the desire to share her knowledge with others, Shebah began a series of certifications. Currently, she teaches mat pilates, spinning, boot camp, step aerobics, and core conditioning. She believes that everyone can be empowered to enhance their mind, body and spirit through healthy lifestyle activities and her five “D” philosophy: decision, diet, discipline, desire, determination, and applies these principles to her daily life and activities.
Andrea Ryder
Andrea is an actor with training in classical ballet and modern dance. She relocated to Miami from New York City and was first introduced to Pilates as a method improving technique while preventing injury. She obtained her certification through the Kane School in NYC, and favors an approach in her teaching. Her style is direct, yet flowing, focuses on bringing awareness through movement.
Janet Tiberian
Janet has been working in fitness and wellness for more than 17 years. She completes her comprehensive certification in Pilates from Classical Pilates Studio this fall. In addition to her Pilates certification, she is certified as a primary group exercise instructor from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and health education specialist from the National Commission of Health Educator Credentialing. She earned a double bachelors' degree in Exercise Science and Sports Management, as well as a master's degree in Public Health.
