Dana Ptucha

Dana Ptucha started practicing Yoga in 2000 after her mother suggested it as a New Year's resolution. She immediately became a devout student and enjoyed the physical, mental and emotional benefits and yoga became an integral part of her recovery. For many years, Dana's dedication to hot yoga and her hunger for knowledge led her to numerous seminars and posture clinics throughout the United States. To date Dana has a 500 hour RYT and 200 hour ERYT through Yoga Alliance - holding certificates from Barkan Methods Levels 1, 2 and 3. Dana's passion for hot yoga led her to teach in studios all over Long Island and she soon had a strong following. Wherever Dana went, they went! Dana is also a certified Personal Trainer through ISSA and enjoys running, spinning and weight training. Her signature style of teaching hot yoga is a blend of discipline and compassion as she urges her students to work to their full potential every single day. Dana graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in Journalism and worked for over 20 years in the corporate world until she decided to pursue the business of yoga full time. Dana's dreams were realized when she developed a partnership with her best friend, Karen Alpert, starting "YogaFlex - Hot Yoga with a Twist", the only studio on Long Island featuring the Hot Barkan Method as well as Barkan's Vinyasa. A true music lover, Dana creates original and eclectic playlists. Her fast paced and vigorous flow classes are high energy and tons of fun!

Karen Alpert

Karen Alpert began practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 2002 in search of new ways to restore flexibility, improve balance and increase strength for sports like tennis, running and skiing. Her yoga practice quickly became her passion as she deepened her knowledge and experience through workshops with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, David Swenson, John Friend, and Bryan Kest. Her path soon led her to Hot Yoga and a regular practice of Bikram and Barkan including workshops and seminars with Bikram and Rajashree Choudhary and practicing Barkan Hot Yoga in Sun Valley, ID. In December of 2009 Karen completed her first 200 hour Yoga Alliance Approved Teacher Training in The Barkan Method of Hot Yoga. She began teaching in New York and Idaho and in October 2010 completed Level II Barkan Hot Vinyasa training. In December that year she partnered with Dana Ptucha to open YogaFlex and fulfill their dream of opening a Hot Yoga Studio. Through conscious sequencing, Karen's classes build and strengthen the relationship between mind and body, breath and movement. Hands on adjustments focusing on alignment and body awareness offer students the opportunity to individualize their practices every day. Karen has an MBA in marketing from NYU Stern School of Business and is the proud mother of three children. Karen flavors her classes with real-life anecdotes and is committed to inspiring her students to take their knowledge of yoga with them when they leave the studio and find balance in their own lives. Always the student, she constantly seeks additional training to grow her own practice as well as her teaching.

Ally Kamm

Ally began practicing hot yoga in January of 2011 while home from college on winter break. She fell in love with the practice after her very first class! While studying at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, she always looked forward to her summer and winter breaks to get back into the hot room.

After graduating in the spring of 2013, Ally continued her daily yoga practice exploring many different styles including: Bikram, Barkan, and Vinyasa.

In June 2016 Ally went to Fort Lauderdale and received her 200hr level I Barkan certification from Jimmy Barkan. She continued her teaching training with Jimmy the following year and completed level II/III teacher training in Costa Rica in April 2017.

Ally plans on continuing adding to her certifications in the future, including a 25hr kids yoga training that will take place at the end of April 2018. Ally loves to share her passion of yoga with others and looks forward to seeing where her yoga journey takes her.

Fawn Candela

I first found Hot Yoga in 2009 when running started to take its toll on my knees and body. I instantly fell in love with the low impact yet intense challenge of the poses, the dance-like flow, and THE SWEAT. I felt an immediate connection to my dance roots and I found my new calling! Once the fire was lit I never looked back! After my first training module in 2014 I began teaching Hot Vinyasa. I completed my 200 hour certification a year later. Yoga has helped me not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually both in and outside the studio. My soul is forever touched. I respect my yoga practice as I try to flow as the dancer I was when I was 6 years old.

In 2018 I found Inferno Hot Pilates (IHP) and completed my IHP teacher training with Gabrielle Walters in May of 2019. Best decision I ever made! My favorite part of being a Hot Yoga/ Inferno Hot Pilates teacher is giving students confidence and positivity while challenging them to do their absolute best.

I love when I see students leaving class smiling and feeling proud of themselves.

Amanda Accardi

Amanda took her first hot yoga class in 2013 while she was in college as a music major. She instantly fell in love with the practice, quickly discovering connections between both disciplines of studying music & yoga!

Hot yoga became the catalyst to live a healthier & happier life. Amanda’s commitment to her yoga practice has increased her mindfulness & self-confidence!

Amanda strives to deliver creative & playful yoga classes, always encouraging her students to have fun & try, try, try again!

Amanda has three YTT certificates from Yogaflex: Level I Barkan Method, Level II/III Vinyasa, & Hot Yoga (26&2).

Amanda also enjoys sharing her love of music by singing & playing live music as students enjoy Savasana.

Gina Gallo

Gina is a native Long Island gal who now calls Brooklyn home, but feels so blessed to be able to live the dream everyday by doing what she loves and making people HAPPY as a part of the team at Yogaflex Locust Valley! P.S. Gina taught her very first class at the Locust Valley studio over 12 years ago and is so happy to be back in the revamped BHPR!

Certified in Bikram Yoga in Spring 2008 and Inferno Hot Pilates September 2017, She truly believes in the power of yoga and pilates. The strength and incredible results the combination provides, is a match made in fitness heaven!

Her style of teaching delivers strong and fun classes that will make you "sweat with a smile, and leave with love in your heart!"

Melissa Reeves

Melissa Reeves graduated Dowling College in Oakdale Long Island May 2013 with a GS in Sports Management. She has played ice hockey her entire life and was always looking for different techniques to help improve her agility, strength and balance. Her search led her to Hot Yoga and at age 20, Melissa became one of YogaFlex's original students in 2010. She quickly became a studio regular as she fell in love with the practice. Hot Yoga changed her life in such a positive way that she went on to a teacher training with Jimmy Barkan in June of 2013 and received her 200 hour Level I certification in the Barkan Method of Hot Yoga. Melissa continues to practice regularly and brings her youthful enthusiam to the classes she teaches. Melissa continues to add to her knowlege and experience by attending Jimmy Barkan's Level 2 Vinyasa training in Costa Rica, April 2014.

Lori DeCapua

Lori has been a fitness enthusiast for years. After years of running and weight lifting, she found yoga and never looked back. As Lori continued to practice, she wanted to learn more and more. She pursued her first 200 hour teacher training with Always-at-Aum in 2015, becoming certified in Vinyasa Yoga and Hot Yoga. She began teaching immediately, sharing her love and knowledge of yoga. in 2016, she studied with Jimmy Barkan, and received her 200 hour certification in The Barkan Method Hot Yoga.

Lori believes in consistently taking numerous workshops and trainings to bring as much as she can into her classes. In 2017, Lori became a 500 hour certified yoga instructor with Always-at-Aum. Her classes are challenging and she inspires the practitioner to reach their full potential. Lori is also an attorney, licensed to practice in New York.

Barbra Neilson

Barbra took her first Bikram Hot Yoga class about twenty years ago. She later discovered Vinyasa and Barkan and loved the incorporation of upper body strength and variety. Always up for a challenge, she completed her 200hr Barkan Teacher certification in 2016 as began vinyasa level II training as well!

Barbra believes that yoga is the perfect blend of physical, mental and spiritual fulfillment and challenges her students to go outside their comfort levels. Barbra is dedicated to her students and hopes to inspire them to grow in their practice as her teachers have inspired her.

Jane Kirschner

Jane took her first hot yoga class in while attending Acupuncture school in 1994. Thus ,began her journey into the alternative health and wellness field. Over the years she continued practicing hot yoga and immersed herself into energy work. In 2011 Jane became a certified instructor and began teaching hot yoga. In 2014 she completed her Reiki 1&2 certifications. Her energy studies continued with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) coursework. In 2015 she completed a yoga and meditation training with Bryan Kest. In 2016 Jane received her 200 hour Barkan Method Level I Hot Yoga teacher training. Finding the Barkan Method to be her favorite style of yoga, she went in to complete the Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa level II & III teacher training in 2017. In 2018 Jane officially became an EFT Practitioner with a certification from the International Metaphysical University. Along with her family, hot yoga and energy work continue to be her love and passion!

Jodi Cohen

Jodi began practicing yoga as a new way to exercise outside of her traditional workout routine. She discovered YogaFlex Hot Yoga and instantly fell in love with the heat. Not just loving the physical challenge but the mental challenge as well. Her practice evolved from an occasional class to a passion and curiosity to learn more. Yoga is a constant part of her life and she aims to be a student of the practice as she believes the knowledge of yoga is limitless. She completed trainings and certificates including 200 hour Barkan Method Hot Yoga level I, Hot Vinyasa II/III, and 26 & 2 Hot Yoga Flow with Jimmy Barkan through YogaFlex. She loves the opportunity to guide others and to bring positive energy to their lives. She is grateful and honored to be part of the YF community and share her love of yoga with you.