Yoga Class Instructors

Our instructors will inspire you to reconnect with nature through yoga, in the heart of NYC!

Our talented team of instructors has been offering yoga classes in Central Park since 2011 and has consistently received Trip Advisor's Certificate of Excellence and Travelers' Choice awards.

Learn more about our instructors below and come join us in Central Park!

SHANE ALLEN, 500 RYT

The way we move tells a story. The liberty in our steps or the rounding in our spine are silent communicators of where we've been and what we've inherited along the way. Shane's intention is to listen. His hope is to encourage self love and compassion for others.

Applying the ancient principles of chinese medicine (Science of Self 300 RYT) and the oral tradition of the vedic chakra system (Daya Yoga 200 RYT), his classes are intended to celebrate the body, and perhaps more importantly, to have fun! Laughter is contagious, but falling in class doesn’t have to be! Don't forget that the real practice transcends the mat.

Shane is also a proud and active volunteer at SAGE- Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders, as well as staying active with refugee resettlement within the Tri-State area.

LILLIAN CUTHBERT, 200 RYT

Lillian found yoga at an early age and immediately recognized its many benefits. She fell in love with the practice and the way it enhanced her other physical activities, such as mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, running, and tennis.

She completed the 200-hour training at Yoga Vida in 2018 and further studied under the guidance of her mentor, Sangeeta Vallabhan. She is now in progress to complete an additional 300 hour training at Yoga Vida.

Lillian’s classes are athletic and challenging, yet balanced, safe, and accessible to all. She believes that a mindful yoga practice extends beyond the mat and infuses everything we do. With that in mind, Lillian aims to have people leave her classes feeling stronger, calmer, and more connected to the world around them.

MARK SAFERSTEIN (aka Yoga Ranger), 500 RYT

Mark creates a safe space, for students to confidently evolve their practices and work through some of life’s hurdles. He earned his 500-hour Yoga Alliance certification, training at YogaWorks and Pure Yoga in New York City. By applying learning from contemporary neuroscience and biomechanics, Mark blends the ancient yoga philosophy of Patanjali with modern scientific knowledge.

Yoga in the park combines two of his passions. In addition to teaching, Mark is engaged in new product development with a focus on safety and ergonomics, bringing a new yoga/fitness prop to market. Informed by an accident that left both his wrists permanently injured, Warrior Blocks® are a unique, patented yoga blocks, designed to maintain neutral wrists, instantly improve alignment and make the physical practice of yoga more accessible for everyone. He also reaches millions of park lovers in his role as editor-in-chief at American Park Network, publisher of the familiar green Oh, Ranger! guides.

CHRISTIAN CARPIO-RAMOS, 500 RYT

Christian practices yoga as recovery from sports-training and as way of life. Yoga asana can truly be life changing, for the better, for the greater good. Becoming aware of how energy flows and dances through the body can be insightful to our everyday and long term wellness (Science of Self 100, 200, 300 RYT, YttP Traditional Hot 100 RYT). Ultimately, yoga can help prepare us for meditation, compassion, and devotion (Bhakti Center 300 MTT, Three Jewels 200 MTT).

Christian meets you where you are, guides you through strength, presents variations, offers challenges, moments of resolve, and emphasizes a sense of stillness through it all. 

MIA BERGLUND, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Mia has been practicing Yoga since 1999 and did her first Yoga Teacher Training at Jivamukti Yoga in 2002. She then fell in love with Iyengar Yoga and became certified at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in NYC.

Mia worked with Azahar.org, a nonprofit dance and yoga organization. For many years now, she and Estelle Eishenberger (Yogeswari) have been bringing yoga to orphanages in Cambodia to teach the children.

Mia seeks to build a solid foundation and teaches with attention to alignment and breath. Her classes will challenge your strength in a precise and deliberate manner, making the practice more dynamic and understandable. She welcomes all level of students and is attentive to their individual needs.

MADALYN PEDONE, 200 RYT

Madalyn is passionate about making the joy of yoga accessible to all levels of practitioners. She gently guides her students to acclimate themselves more intimately with their body, mind, and breath.

Madalyn has a background in theater and has been a dancer and mover from a young age. She received her 200 hr certification from Kula Yoga Project and is actively working towards her 500 hr. 

Madalyn aims to teach the same types of classes that she likes to take herself; alignment-focused, thoughtfully themed, intelligently sequenced, and most importantly - anchored in breath.

JOELLE NG, 200 RYT

Joelle guides her students to work toward quieting the mind and bringing about the natural flow of the body. Her creative style rooted in her knowledge of Ayurveda consists of conscious movement, awareness, imagery, and balanced choreography. Students are encouraged to shape their individualized practice to tap into their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellspring for restoration, healing and natural harmony.

Her classes are designed for all, an experience that offers multiple options for the beginner to seasoned participant.

Joelle’s certifications include 200 hours with Ishta Yoga, Yoga Nidra with Jennifer Reis, Restorative / Yoga Nidra with Mona Anand, Ayurveda with Dr. Paul Dugliss and Dr. Vasant Lad, and Marma therapy with Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla.

About the Founder

SILVIA NERI, E-RYT500, Founder of The Yoga Trail

Silvia's Yoga teaching focuses on a strong connection between breath and movement, as a means to honor the body, calm the mind, and find harmony within, acknowledging our divine nature.

We all have unique bodies with limitations and strengths, so understanding the individual range of motion and anatomical differences is key for a safe practice that stimulates the deep potential within ourselves, while recharging the body, and releasing tension and stress.

Sivia developed the idea behind The Yoga Trail in 2011 while she was traveling in Latin America, sharing her yoga practice with fellow travelers immersed in beautiful Nature: what an inspiring and powerful combination! Everybody should experience it!

Silvia was born and raised in Italy and lives in NYC since 2004. She received her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training at Ananda Ashram, NY under the guidance of David Hollander, and her 300hrs training in India with Raghunath and the Supersoul Yoga Team, focusing on Bhakti, Yoga Vedic phylosophy and Ayurveda. She is a certified Yin Yoga teacher after a training with Corina Benner at Integral Yoga, NY. Silvia is also a second level Usui Reiki practitioner. and she incorporates the flow of Reiki energy in her classes to stimulate the natural healing processes in the body.

Silvia has her own channel at Online Yoga TV, a video platform powered by Yoga Magazine, and she appears on Yoga Downloads in the Life Force Project channel.