The Academy's experienced instructors are Registered Yoga Alliance Teachers. Each seasoned instructor offers a wealth of knowledge about yoga and its application to modern day life. The American Yoga Academy instructors are highly qualified, professional, and reliable.

CLAIRE E. DIAB

Claire is the founder of the American Yoga Academy & Studio. She is an International Yoga Therapist, Health & Wellness Expert, and Inspirational Speaker who has been teaching nationally and internationally for over 25 years. She has been teaching Yoga and Meditation with Dr. Deepak Chopra for 18 years and is the Director of The Chopra Center Yoga Teacher Training Program. She is also a Professor of Asian Studies at Seton Hall University teaching one of the most popular courses on campus: Zen and Yoga. Claire has taught Fitness and Wellness programs to the Navy Seals as well as the Fire Fighters of New York City and New Jersey after September 11th, 2001 to provide long term support for them and their families. She continues to write a bi-monthly column about Yoga for Firelife.com which is the largest website community for Firefighters around the world. Claire has written yoga manuals and workbooks on Health and Wellness and has produced, directed and starred in 7 Yoga DVDs. 

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JENNIFER CAVALIERI  

Jennifer is the Director of The American Yoga Academy & Studio. She holds a BA in Marketing from Kean University.  Jennifer worked in the corporate world for many years before discovering yoga several years ago. She received her 200 and 500 hour certification from the American Yoga Academy and loves sharing her passion and excitement for yoga with everyone. Her experience along with her enthusiasm for Health and Wellness continues to transform the lives of many.

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PAMELA VANDENBERG-SMITH

Pamela is the Assistant Director of The American Yoga Academy & Studio. She was born and raised in Holland. Philosophy, spirituality, psychology, physical movement, nutrition and overall health consciousness have always been at the center of her life. She has been practicing yoga for more than 15 years. Now living in New Jersey, a former Miss Holland is a Certified Yoga Instructor, happily married and mother of one.

HELEN DIAB 

Helen is a licensed Acupuncturist in New Jersey and New York.  She holds a Master of Science in Natural Sciences.  As a certified Yoga Therapist she integrates Yoga Philosophy with Oriental Medicine creating a unique style of teaching. She is an expert in Anatomy and Physiology and teaches the Anatomy portion of the teacher training in a fun and informative way.

MARYANN GEBHARDT

Maryann  has been studying yoga for 25 years. She is a registered member of the Yoga Alliance 500 hour and is a Chopra Certified Instructor. She received her various trainings from The American Yoga Academy & Studio, Mary Barnes Pre-Natal Yoga for Two, Sarah Tomlinson “The Ancient Ayurveda Yoga Series at The Yoga Ayurveda Institute”, Sue Dumais Yoga for Fertility and also practices Primordial Sound Meditation. Her deep respect for yoga comes in part from her experience working in hematology and open-heart surgery as a Medical Technologist, where she witnessed first-hand the powerful connection between mind and body in the healing process.

PAUL NEWELL

Paul is an expert in Anatomy & Physiology and has been in the Health and Wellness industry for 12 years. He received his Yoga Certification from the American Yoga Academy and is an incredible Yoga teacher and Certified Personal trainer. He works as a Retention Manager for MedfIt and is also the owner of Balanced wellness, a Fitness and Wellness coaching business helping people to better themselves. He infuses movement with mindfulness in his classes to help others enhance physical and mental well-being. 

STACEY SHAMES

Stacey is a professional harpist, who works in New York with such orchestras as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Metropolitan Opera. She is a member of the flute, viola and harp trio, Aureole, with which she has toured and released nine CDs. She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and now that she is a certified yoga instructor, enjoys teaching enormously. A favorite activity is visiting random yoga studios while traveling. She is the mother of three daughters and resides in Millburn with her husband, Tim Ries, a jazz saxophonist.

BERNADETTE COLON

Bernadette has been practicing yoga since 2001. Looking to deepen her practice, she enrolled in The American Yoga Academy Teacher Training Course, where she discovered a great passion for teaching and sharing the many benefits of yoga. Bernadette aims to help you find high energy, clear mind, and a stronger body.

MARCI FINE

Marci is an actress and voiceover artist as well as yoga instructor. She works on indie films, commercials, TV and radio projects. When she's not pounding the pavement in New York City, she's doing the equestrian pose here in North Jersey. She trained at The American Yoga Academy & Studio and thinks Claire is one talented guru.