Daniel Melton
Yoga Instructor
Dan Melton, M.Div., RYT
While searching for ways to occupy the mind during exercise, Dan Melton joined a local
yoga class. The experience drew him in completely; he took over 100 classes in his first
year of practice, resulting in rapid weight loss, increased muscle tone, and (more
importantly) a deeper sense of peace and wholeness in life.
A natural teacher – and an eternal student – Dan’s practice evolved organically through
Shiva Rea’s Affiliate Teacher Training Program at Ananda Shala. His classes explore the
physical edge even while calming the mind and encouraging a deeper sense of self. Dan is registered with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher.
Alexandra Anderson
Yoga Instructor
Alex currently works for Samudra Yogadventures and is a Personal Trainer for KBK Fitness in Georgetown, D.C.
Kimmer Roberts
Yoga Instructor
Kimmer has been practicing different styles of yoga off and on for the last 10 years. In 2008 she took her first Prana Flow class and immediately fell in love with the beauty, creativity and freedom of the practice. After 30+ years of wear and tear on her body as a gymnast, collegiate swimmer and avid runner her love for physical fitness began to take its toll on her body. Multiple injuries and arthritis made it difficult to remain physically fit. Additionally, life became more complex as she became a mother of 2 boys, worked as a flight attendant and created her own floral business. Now in her 40’s Kimmer finds Yoga to help fulfill many needs while keeping her grounded through her busy lifestyle. “Yoga can be physically challenging, creative, nurturing and calming all at the same time.” Teaching comes naturally for Kimmer through her ability to connect with others. The daughter of two educators, she was provided with many examples of “Living Yoga.” In 2009 she completed her 200hour RYT in Prana Flow with Maria Garre as well as Anjali Restorative Yoga with Shannon Paige Schneider. Recently she has returned from Costa Rica where she studied with Shiva Rae. She continues to study and use yoga as a wonderfully effective tool to keep life in perspective. When not teaching, Kimmer enjoys spending time with her family and nature at their Farm in Middletown.
Amanda Breon
Yoga Instructor
Amanda Smith Breon is a graduate of the Pilates Teacher Training Program at Excel Movement Studios in Washington, DC. She has been teaching and practicing the Pilates method for five over years. Amanda also holds a B.A. in dance with an emphasis in teaching from Mercyhurst College. She has performed with various modern dance companies and teaches dance to children. Amanda is also an instructor at Mid-Maryland Performing Arts Center, The Pilates Center of Leesburg and Center of Life Pilates Studio. Amanda will begin the Power Pilates comprehensive teacher certification program at Evolutions Body Clinic in Annapolis, MD as a bridge participant in January 2010. Amanda resides in Emmitsburg, MD with her husband and two children.
Dominica Knapp
Yoga Instructor
Dominica started to practice yoga in her early 20’s. Through those scary “out on her own” years her yoga practice would bring her security and balance. Before she began to teach yoga, she was a songwriter, and musician. She had a passion for writing and performing music in which the lyrics inspired the audience to think and hopefully feel emotions of compassion and acceptance. Then as her life changed becoming a wife and mother, so did her priorities. Late nights and early mornings were not compatible. She dove deeper into her practice, and as the passion grew so did the desire to share it. The transition from musician to yoga instructor was a natural one. She completed the 200 Prana flow teacher training with Maria Garre at Ananda Shala in Frederick, MD. She also teaches regular classes at Ananda Shala as well. Her classes are filled with great energy, live music and an accepting environment where every student can find their own fullest expression.
Callie Hildreth-Liston
Yoga Instructor
A Maryland native, Callie has been practicing yoga since she was 13. She is certified in yama therapeutics style of yoga. She is an avid runner and loves to spend time outside. Callie has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Callie worked with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault for over three years. Callie teaches yoga with the philosophy that every person has the potential.
Debbie Chu
Yoga Instructor
Debbie is a transplant from New York City growing up in Brooklyn and Queens. She is a graduate from Columbia University with a degree in Economics. She left the corporate world to raise her family. Always maintaining a healthy active lifestyle, she began her journey to Yoga as way to control the stresses in her life. She completed 200HR RYT in Prana Flow Yoga. In addition to Yoga, she also teaches Spin at local fitness centers. She is very involved with bringing Yoga to the young people in the world.
Julie Kaus
Yoga Instructor
Julie is a Psychotherapist and Registered Yoga Teacher. Anusara, Kripalu, Prana & Vinyasa styles influence her teaching, which focuses on the healing aspects of a yoga practice. She views yoga & psychotherapy as journeys to “wholeness” and self-discovery. Her classes combine yoga philosophy and earth wisdom; the physical & emotional benefits of the yoga postures; breathwork & stillness to foster emotional release and relaxation. Julie received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and has been in the mental health field for over 20 years. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Registered Yoga Teacher (has over 300 hrs of teacher training & independent study); a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists & a Life Force Level I Yoga Practitioner. For more information go to www.livingbalanced.org. Other interests include leading wellness & empowerment retreats & workshops for women and nature & yoga hikes. Julie is married, has two daughters, resides in Frederick, MD.
Kelli Audibert
Yoga Instructor
Kelli Audibert discovered yoga in an East/West Humanities class in college and felt instantly connected to the poses presented and how they opened up her body, but also her mind. After that introduction, Kelli explored numerous styles of yoga and worked with master teachers such as Baron Baptiste, Kimberly Wilson, Shiva Rea, and Megan Griffith. After 8 years of personal study, Kelli knew she wanted to share her love of yoga with others and obtained her 200 hour cerification through the Shiva Rea Prana Vinyasa Flow teacher training program under the mentorship of Maria Garre. She now teaches at Flow Yoga in Leesburg, VA and Ananda Shala in Frederick, MD. She also teaches a basic beginners series with Novabodyworks in Sterling, VA. She plans to continue her studies through the 500 hour certification of Shiva Rea’s program.
Kelli’s philosophy of teaching is to allow each student to find their own personal connection with yoga. She encourages her students to have fun and share in the love and opportunity for personal exploration each asana offers. Expect laughter and joy in Kelli’s classes while pushing your personal edge!
Love! Kelli
Aimee Firor McBride
Owner, Pilates and Yoga Instructor
A native of Frederick, Aimee Firor McBride is the owner of Ananda Shala. She began as a physical fitness instructor in 1996 and has focused solely on yoga & Pilates for over 10 of those years. As a fitness instructor, she quickly became interested in yoga primarily for the mental and health benefits that helped counteract the effects of the corporate world. Aimee almost immediately saw the positive effects on stress management as well as overall physical fitness. In addition, Aimee discovered the benefits of Pilates to strengthen her core and help her with back pain that resulted from spine issues as a child. Aimee appreciates the healing power of living naturally through holistic means and wishes to continue to share her experiences to help others. When Aimee is not teaching or running the studio you will find her with her baby boy Kalen and husband Dave.
Aimee has obtained extensive training through many different yoga and Pilates teacher training programs. She completed the Power Pilates System Level I to III Certification training. Her Pilates teachers and training has led her to study with Janine Galati of Philadelphia, Bob Liekens of New York and Erin Horst of Annapolis. Aimee has trained and studied with several Senior level Yoga teachers including Sharon Gannon, Saul David Ray, David Swensen, and her primary teacher Shiva Rea. She has completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher studies including traveling to India to study yoga, tantra, thai yoga, and ayurveda.
