The team

Meet The Team

The Practice Yoga teaching team is a group of individuals who are passionate about life and embody the tools they have gained through yoga. They will guide you through a physical practice leaving you inspired and uplifted.  Practice Yoga will offer a wide variety of classes appropriate for all levels, including Power Vinyasa, Align, and Yin. The studio also offers regular workshops and teacher trainings. If you are interested in being a part of the Practice Yoga Teaching Team - you must take our 200hr Teacher Training Program.

 studio owner

  • Debi Grilo has been a driving force in South Florida's yoga community for nearly three decades — teaching, guiding, and building the foundation of this sacred space since 1997. Her own relationship with yoga began in 1986, and that deep, abiding connection infuses everything she offers.

    As a trainer of teachers since 2009, her teaching flows from a depth of experience in both alignment and vinyasa-based yoga, woven together with her Master's degree in Clinical Social Work — a union of body, mind, and soul that makes her classes both grounding and transformative.

    In Debi's classes, you are invited to be challenged, awakened, and moved. Her guidance is clear and heartfelt, blending precise instruction, hands-on assists, and present-moment awareness that draws students out of the mind and into the felt sense of the body. She holds space with grace — honoring each student exactly where they are, while calling them toward something greater. Acutely aware, she uses what is present in the room as a doorway into deeper truth — a reminder of the full, luminous, beautifully complex journey of being human.

    A lifelong student, Debi draws on self-inquiry, mindfulness, somatic movement, trauma healing, plant medicine, and life's greatest lessons as a playground of discovery — ever deepening her relationship to Self. Also called to serve, Debi actively supports local and global nonprofits through fundraising and community advocacy, honoring the yogic principle of seva — selfless action in the world.

 studio manager

  • Alexa has been practicing yoga since 2017. She practiced multiple types of dance throughout school and always appreciated the art of body movement. The joy dance brought her she was able to find as soon as she stepped on her mat. Bringing breath to movement is one of her favorite aspects of yoga, as it taps into “Stop. Slow Down. Breathe”, a key mantra she uses in her everyday life. She enjoys nothing more than sharing her passions with others, and teaches to inspire students on their mat. In Alexa’s class you can expect to be motivated and supported through linking breath to movement. Alexa approaches her yoga classes with ease and gratitude and inspires students to really make their practice their own. Alexa completed her 200-hour teacher training at Practice Yoga in 2022. She also is a Holistic Health Coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Alexa approaches life from a holistic lens, working to find balance in all aspects.

teacher development + community outreach manager

  • Meet Julia, a movement enthusiast with a deep love for the practice of yoga. Since 2010, she's found solace and strength on the mat, and since 2015, she's been sharing that journey with others as a yoga teacher.

    Her teaching path began after training with the Yandara Yoga Institute in 2015, followed by a deeper dive into her craft with a second 200-hour certification from Practice Yoga Naples in 2023. Alongside her formal trainings, Julia's hunger for knowledge led her to explore specialized areas like mindful, trauma-informed practices, Reiki, and anatomy studies, including myofascial release and connective tissue training.

    Beyond the studio walls, Julia's teachings have graced yoga festivals, expos, and communities nationwide. Her inclusive approach welcomes everyone, from seasoned practitioners to curious beginners. Whether guiding professional athletes or corporate executives, Julia's goal remains constant: to create a space where every yogi feels supported, empowered, and able to explore their practice freely.

    Julia's passion lies not in perfect poses, but in fostering connection, resilience, and self-discovery through yoga. With each class, she invites her students to embrace the journey of growth, both on and off the mat. In Julia's world, yoga isn't just about the poses—it's about finding inner strength, balance, and joy in every breath.

  • hristina loves that her yoga practice has opened her up to such deep connections with a community of people rich in love, life, friendships, support and accountability. She has always been very active and enjoys the physicalness of yoga, in addition to the emotional growth she has experienced through her practice, discovering that we are all so much more alike than different and that there are many right answers.

    <br></br>

    "In this moment, I am more grounded, accepting, patient than I’ve ever been. That said…I teach and practice w/ the intention to share, and pay forward what I’ve become so passionate about. That is yoga!”

    Students can count on Christina to guide them through a challenging physical practice with clear alignment, while they laugh and have fun. Christina shows up authentically in and out of the studio, has a big personality and uses it to motivate her students and bring them to their edge.

    Christina has been in the fitness industry since 1989, with certifications in group classes & personal training. Christina completing her first 200hr Teacher Training in 2012 and 200 hours of her 500 hour certification with Debi Grilo and several additional workshops. Yoga, teaching and practice, are a commitment she embraces.

    "I am grateful to be a part of the Practice Yoga team & have the honor to be, live & work amongst my fellow teachers and yogis. This practice has given me joy and been a savior in dark challenges in my life.

    FEAR: Face Everything And Rise”

  • Why do you #PracticeYoga?
    I practice yoga because it is my purest form of self expression through the body. I practice to clear energetic blockages in the mind and body and to experience freedom.

    Why do you teach?
    I teach because I love sharing my passion for the practice and bearing witness to its transformational effects.

    What are your grateful for?
    I am grateful for the people in my life who are my mirror and inspire me to be my best self.

    What/Who inspires you?
    Witnessing personal growth whether mine or someone else’s.

    What can students expect from you as a teacher?
    Both a powerful and introspective practice. An invitation to use their mat as a mirror for growth. encouragement to be in direct experience of themselves, honoring the teacher within.

    Who are your teachers and what training have you completed? Certifications? Education? Other professions? Trainings: 200 hour from Bala Vinyasa, Baptiste Institute Art of Assisting, Yin Yoga and Fascia Release, Certified Leader Yoga for 12 Step Recovery by Nikki Myers. Teachers: Kiersten Mooney, Debi Grilo, Jacqueline Glasgow, Nikki Myers, Baron Baptiste, Eckhart Tolle and Adyashanti.

  • Gabrielle believes even a bad day is still a luxury. Yoga is Gabrielle’s passport to her serenity, her edge, and her deepest connection within herself. Every time she steps on her mat she’s faced with challenges pushing her mind and body to new limits.

    Walking into one of Gabrielle’s yoga classes, students can expect to be energized, challenged, and supported throughout a moving meditation. Gabrielle approaches each yoga class with a sense of appreciation and admiration. She believes there is always something to learn from any yogi she meets whether it’s their first time or an experienced yogi. One of her favorite aspects of teaching is witnessing new yogis fall in love with Vinyasa. It’s a unique style that can be tailored to anyone's capabilities.

    Gabrielle graduated her 200 hour RYT at The Yoga Shop located in her home state of Connecticut in June of 2021. Gabrielle is grateful for her amazing teachers Annie Q, Holly Zygiel, and Lisa Cozzi for pushing her to step into her true self. When Gabrielle is not on her mat you will likely find her at the beach, exploring hidden coffee shops, or cooking something unique.

  • Chronic back pain drove Joel to yoga over twenty years ago. After dabbling in various forms of practice, He discovered power yoga, and the ability to build intense heat without high impact activity. Through he practices mindfulness and cultivates presence. Learning to sit in and experience uncomfortable moments in yoga has taught him to do the same when life circumstances are challenging.

    Joel loves to teach students the yoga practice that has transformed his life. His classes will encourage students to use the tools of breath, focus and physicality to cultivate presence in a moving meditation. Encouraging students to let go of self limiting thoughts and ideas and being open to the possibility of something new. There are opportunities in each class for students to explore their growing edge, the place or moment in a pose that may be uncomfortable but provides an opportunity to break through and expand into places not imagined.

    Joel is a board certified dermatologist with bachelor degrees in biology and psychology. He studied yoga at the Baptiste Institute. Through understanding anatomy and physiology He incorporates his medical background into yoga teaching, understanding the physical limitations and capabilities of students.

    Joel and his family founded an annual community yoga event, YogaCAN that raises money for the Cancer Alliance of Naples.

  • Steve looks at every day as an opportunity for growth and new experiences. He started practicing yoga in 2015 and instantly felt he had found a new passion. Steve was a competitive gymnast throughout college and likes to focus on form and technique during his practice. His philosophy is to embrace discomfort and work to maintain a positive mindset when it comes to challenges. In his personal life, Steve maintains a daily mindfulness-based meditation practice that fosters emotional stability and enhances his ability to connect to others. Steve is a licensed psychologist and often incorporates themes of positive psychology and personal empowerment into his classes.

  • Brittany Price first stepped on her yoga mat in 2014 during her college years and has been passionate about the practice ever since. Yoga helped Brittany discover what was next for her life during a period of time where she felt a loss of direction. The tools she gained through yoga have given her access to living an empowered life that is filled with purpose and gratitude. She is always a student of yoga, and is grateful to share the gifts of yoga with others. The practice of yoga has moved her from going through the motions of life, to living life openly and fully alive.

    Brittany creates a space in her classes where students can show up and be in full natural self expression. She welcomes her students to show up just as they are, creating a space where students of all levels feel supported and safe. Brittany delivers a class that is both powerful and light hearted, as she uses inspiration and tools from her own life to create opportunity for her students to discover their own inner strength both on and off their mat.

    Brittany completed her first RYT 200 hour training in 2016 led by Debi Grilo and completed her second RYT 200 hour training with Debi in 2019. She has worked with using yoga as a tool in the recovery community, has taught yoga to local sports teams, as well as privates and open classes. She is fiercely committed to uplifting those around her and is in awe of witnessing the moments in life where people discover their greatness. Brittany enjoys spending her days practicing yoga and being outside with her baby and her dog, nights laughing and connecting with friends and family, and has a never ending love for learning and growth.

  • After a series of high import sports and strength training injuries depleted her joints and led to two knee surgeries in 1996, Lesley Reilly was eager to rebuild her strength. When she entered her first power vinyasa yoga class, atransformation within her stirred. This powerful Baptiste style of yoga was the most physically and mentally challenging experience she had ever encountered; thus her new passion emerged. The practice taught her to slow her pace, be still, feel and breathe. She found true meaning in “the present moment.” Her inner connection with yoga and being present in the moment led her to want to share this gift with others. Lesley became more than a student of yoga; she became a teacher.

    Lesley Reilly is the founder and owner of bCalm Power Yoga in Hopkinton MA, a Baptiste Affiliate studio and a Yoga Alliance 200-hour Registered Yoga School.  She is a registered Baptiste Power Yoga Institute and Yoga Alliance 500-hour certified teacher. She leads accredited yoga teacher training programs annually at bCalm Power Yoga. She is active in community-based non-profit yoga organizations including:  YRO, Yoga Reaches Out and AYP; Africa Yoga Project.  Lesley has been strongly influenced and supported by her teacher and mentor,Baron Baptiste.  She has recently traveled with Baron to assist his All Day Immersion workshops and his weeklong intensive boot camps.   She is an ambassador as well as a contributor for Yoga Vibes, a collection of live, on-demand classes featuring top worldwide instructors.  Lesley has introduced yoga into the local communities through several community action initiatives, offering restorative yoga support and instruction. She has been actively involved with The Sharon Timlin Memorial 5K Race/Walk and Family Fun Day to Cure ALS, a major ALS fundraiser with over 2,500 people attending and over $1 million raised towards finding a cure, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life participants, the Boston Marathon runners.  

    Lesley and the bCalm instructors have been instrumental in developing and creating specific yoga programs to meet the academic and athletic challenges of today’s modern youth. The “Pre MCAS” yoga instruction initiativeto alleviate exam pressure and anxiety is one such example. bCalm has also developed a student athlete conditioning yoga program, focusing on injury prevention and performance enhancement for aspiring young athletes.

    Lesley’s own practice and instruction is fueled by her ability to introduce yoga and lead her students on their respective journeys of self-discovery.  Lesley brings power, grace, humor and enthusiasm to her yoga classes.  She encourages and guides her students to awaken and explore unexpected places, both on their mats and within themselves, to challenge their own preconceived limitations, and to lead them towards a deeper connection to their true and best selves. Her energy and honesty is inspiring and infectious.

  • Shannon Fleischer is a yoga teacher, sound healer, and lifelong mover drawn to the wisdom of the body and the healing power of presence. With a degree in psychology and dance, and years of experience as a Pediatric Emergency Room Registered Nurse, Shannon has long been guided by a deep curiosity about the relationship between movement, emotion, and healing. Yoga became a refuge and turning point during the loss of her father, offering her a space to breathe, grieve, and reconnect to what matters most.

    She has danced her entire life, finding creativity, freedom, and grounding through movement. With a diverse background in contemporary and classical dance, Shannon holds a special love for tap dance—its rhythm and percussive nature sparked her connection to sound, and continues to inspire her therapeutic approach to vibration and stillness. This lifelong relationship with embodied movement now informs her work as a teacher, where rhythm, breath, and energetic awareness come together to support transformation and integration.

    Shannon has completed over 700 hours of advanced yoga teacher training, including studies in Iyengar-inspired alignment, Baptiste Power Yoga, Pranayama Vinyasa, and Bhakti traditions. She is also a certified sound healer and aromatherapist, weaving these modalities into classes, workshops, and private sessions to create spaces that are both grounding and expansive. She is deeply grateful for the Practice Yoga community and the opportunity to teach and learn among others who are committed to growth, authenticity, and shared experience. For Shannon, yoga is a living practice—one that invites presence, curiosity, and meaningful connection on and off the mat.She is currently building a retreat home in Nosara, Costa Rica, where she envisions welcoming others into the healing rhythm of nature, stillness, and self-discovery.

  • Colby has embraced yoga as a part of her weekly routine for more than a decade. As an avid runner and exercise enthusiast, Colby started incorporating yoga into her lifestyle to compliment her athletic training. However, she quickly learned that yoga was so much more than a “good stretch,” it was a shift in mindset she didn’t know she needed.

     

    In 2016, Colby completed her RYT 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grilo. It was in this training where she learned the power of living in the present moment. Once she realized yoga was a way to get out of her head and into her body there was no turning back. After graduation, she remained committed to her practice as a student. Colby credits yoga for helping her through her biggest life challenges. Yoga taught her that how she was showing up on her mat, was how she was showing up in life. “Wherever you go, there you are” is one of her favorite quotes. That saying transformed her yoga practice on her mat and her life off her mat.

     

    As a student in Colby’s class, you can expect a practice that is physically challenging and uplifting. As a teacher, she uses yoga to inspire students to let go of self-limiting beliefs, step out of their comfort zone and have fun! Colby joined the Practice Yoga team in 2020 as the Studio Manager and began teaching in 2021.

     

    Colby is originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Miami (FL) where she double majored in broadcast journalism and psychology. After a 7-year stint working as a TV reporter, Colby co-founded Wellfit Girls, a local non-profit with the mission to inspire, challenge and empower teen girls to climb high in all areas of life through transformational leadership programs.

  • The first time Sarah was introduced to yoga was at age 12 when her 7th grade English teacher, an experienced yogi, did a headstand during class. She remembers being completely enamored & thought ‘Wow! I want to do that!’ While at the time this experience seemed insignificant, it slowly cracked open the yoga-door &, unknowingly, that door never closed.

    Sarah started practicing in 2016 & finds particular interest in the mind/body connection as well as the communal aspect of yoga. One of her favorite elements of yoga is how the physicalpractice can spiritually unify people from varying walks of life.

    Sarah completed her 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grilo at Practice Yoga in 2023 & is excited to complete more trainingsin the future. Off her mat, Sarah is an alumni of West Virginia University (her home state) & works as an interior designer. She is passionate about blurring the lines between the wellness & design industries.  

  • I started practicing yoga in 2014 in a Spa Resort in Mexico where I was working at that time and I remember how I enjoyed the flow on the mat.  I grew up dancing and the symphony of the movements was something that captivated me and made me feel so light.  I always looked for a yoga studio in every city I lived in and discovered the different types of yoga during those travels. Yoga became a lifestyle for me. 

    I practice yoga because is such a beautiful gift that I can give to my body and my soul, it always makes me feel so happy and allows me to connect with myself and have that 'me time'. 

    I teach to share my energy with others through this amazing practice and help others to discover what yoga can do for you as a human and spiritual being , to connect and enjoy the flow. 

    I am so grateful for life, for all my loved ones who I create memories  with, for the wonderful friendship that I've  made through this yogi journey.

    I am inspired by nature, just being outside and appreciating the beauty of mother earth always creates a sense of serenity and creativity. I am also inspired by those passionate humans who made a difference in the world and in my life, those who show unconditional care, love and empower others.

    Students in my class can expect a joyful flow on their mats and moving in the way that makes them feel good,  a class that makes them feel revitalized,  grounded  and with a smile on their face. 

    I did the 200 hours YTT at Practice Yoga Naples. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism and Hospitality by the University of Guadalajara Mexico. 

  • Lauren first began her yoga practice in 2019 and quickly fell in love with how yoga helped her connect her mind, body, and soul in a way she never felt before. She found herself on her mat again and again—always seeking a little more presence, a little more connection, and a lot more self-discovery. In 2025, Lauren completed her 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grilo, deepening her passion for sharing the magic of yoga with others. Her classes invite students to move through whatever is present for them, creating space for growth, connection, and a sense of belonging. Whether you’re brand new or a seasoned yogi, Lauren welcomes you to join her on the mat and explore what’s possible—one breath at a time. 

  • Marta's yoga journey began in 2008.  Her first class she attended was taught by Debi G. Since that day she has been practicing yoga regularly.  What she found in yoga was more than she ever knew was available. Yoga has brought her so much love and recovery in all areas of her life. As her yoga practice deepened, she was pleasantly surprised that the healing properties of yoga expand far beyond the physical benefits. Over time, little by slow, her yoga practice has evolved and continues to change. Her practice of self acceptance, self forgiveness, and self empowerment.  Her yoga mat has become a safe place, where she can show up without judgement.  She teaches yoga in hopes to pass this onto each student in her class.  

    She is honored to teach Power and Gentle Yoga Classes at Practice yoga.  She love the community and atmosphere.  She has completed 2 - 200 hour teacher training.  Her goal is to encourage her students treat their bodies with love, playfulness and without judgement. 

  • With a deep commitment to learning and an ever-evolving spiritual journey, Tania’s path into yoga began in her late teens and has since flourished into a profound passion for teaching and sharing her wisdom. Rooted in extensive training and certifications, her understanding of yoga’s spiritual, mental, and physical dimensions allows her to guide students back home to themselves—back to their breath, their body, and the innate power within.

    Through offerings like Yin Yoga, Gentle Flow, Yoga Nidra, and Breathwork, Tania creates a nurturing and transformative space for self-discovery, healing, and deep inner peace. Her classes are more than just movement; they are an invitation to quiet the noise, restore balance, and reconnect with the magic within. Expect to leave feeling lighter, calmer, and profoundly connected—with a heart full of gratitude.

  • Aleks was introduced to yoga by his partner at the beginning of 2020. He was expecting it to be a walk in the park, but that did not end up being the case at all. Years of sitting at a desk came with a stiffness that was undeniably discouraging. Despite being daunted, he promised himself to stick to it for 30 days to give it a fair chance and confirm that it wasn't for him. By the end of the month, he was hooked, and the 30-day daily practice turned into a year and then another, until the way of self-love and acceptance grew into something that he was compelled to share.

    Trying something new and giving it a fair shot is a mindset that Aleks has been able to take from his yoga mat into his daily life. Above all, he emphasizes the playfulness and ease that yoga offers. He believes that learning to enjoy the journey rather than waiting to reach the destination makes liberation possible. Aleks delivers a practice that is welcoming to all and aims at giving his students an opportunity to embrace yoga as a way of being. He cherishes the sense of community that yoga brings with it and strives to cultivate connection.

    Aleks completed his 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grillo in 2022. He graduated from FGCU with a degree in Computer Information Systems. In his free time you will find him hanging out with his cat roommates, feeding the neighborhood chicken, reading, exploring new music or getting up to something with his friends.

  • I began my yoga practice 20 years ago and quickly turned a hobby into a living by completing my first teacher training in 2011 with Debi! Since then, I have earned multiple certifications for 200 hour yoga, 300 hour yoga and 750 hour Pilates. In addition, my studies have included course completions with focuses on breathwork, mediation, and yoga philosophy. After many years of leading training & retreats, in 2018, I co-found a 200 hour, international yoga training that ran successfully until covid shutdowns.

    Fast forward to today, I am beginning my yoga journey anew, as a mom of two! I’m inspired daily by my girls who teach me to be curious with what our bodies can do. 

    Students can expect to leave my classes feeling grounded and good in their bodies. I hope each class is a reminder that yoga is a lifelong practice that is worth the time.

  • Abby is an experienced yoga instructor who began practicing in 2006 while navigating the pressure of corporate America, looking for something that would quiet her mind and reconnect her to her body. What began as stress relief became a lifelong path of study, discipline and personal transformation.

    She left her corporate career in 2020 and went on to own Soul Project Yoga & Wellness on Marco Island for five years, where she was a trusted teacher, mentor and leader within the community. She also developed and facilitated teacher trainings, retreats and workshops that supported the growth of both new practitioners and seasoned instructors.

    Abby completed her 200-hour training with Debi Grilo in 2014 and a 300-hour advanced training at Bali Yoga School in Indonesia. With a background in exercise science and extensive experience in strength training and functional movement, Abby blends empowerment with ease, ancient philosophy with modern movement and strength with stillness. 

    Through her own practice, Abby has seen how mindful movement and focused awareness can open the door to authenticity, self-understanding and inner steadiness, which is why she is passionate about teaching and guiding others. She believes that when people learn to inhabit their bodies with intention, meaningful change becomes possible in every area of life.

    Abby’s classes offer thoughtful sequencing, clear guidance and an encouraging environment that invites students to explore their edges with confidence while cultivating strength, resilience and a rooted sense of self.

  • Rachelle started practicing yoga in 2014. The confidence she got on her mat started to transpire in all areas of her life after becoming a 200 RYT yoga instructor in 2016.

    Rachelle has taught yoga at studios, gyms, retirement communities, and children’s after school care programs in Naples, Gainesville, and Boston.

    When attending Rachelle’s class, students can expect a warm, welcoming and adventurous space where everyone can be themselves. Rachelle loves witnessing students grow in their practice AND in their life. Providing a safe space that encourages this self-development is fulfilling for her.

    Outside of yoga, Rachelle enjoys working as a higher education research consultant. After work, she also loves walking at local parks, swimming at the beach, playing beach volleyball and pickle ball, or watching movies.