Stacey Swierzbinski

E-RYT 200, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Branches of Yoga Founder & Owner

Stacey's yoga journey began a decade ago as a search for relief from depression and anxiety. What started as a personal healing practice quickly blossomed into deep love for yoga's transformative power.

After completing her 200-hour training at Blue Heron Wellness and her 300-hour advanced certification at The Yoga Center of Columbia, Stacey became an RYT-500 with additional training in Kundalini, Yin Yoga, and supportive teaching methods. Her classes blend meditation, slow flow, and strength-building with an emphasis on finding ease and breath awareness.

As Branches of Yoga's founder, Stacey creates a welcoming space where students can explore their own healing journey with confidence and support.

Cheryl Bosse

RYT 500

Cheryl discovered yoga through a workplace wellness program in 2006 and immediately recognized its profound benefits for both mind and body.

After years of dedicated practice, she completed her 200-hour teacher training through Charm City Yoga in 2018, with additional certifications in Restorative and Yin Yoga.

An avid equestrian and outdoor enthusiast, Cheryl dreams of combining her passions through equestrian yoga. When she's not teaching, you'll find her horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, or spending time with her family and beloved horses.

Her classes offer a peaceful refuge where students can slow down, restore, and reconnect with their inner wisdom.

Kimberly Luecking

RYT 200

Kimberly completed her yoga training right here at Branches of Yoga in 2019 after beginning her practice in 2015. She was inspired to pursue teacher certification when yoga brought calming balance to her busy life as a mother of two young boys.

Her classes focus on building strength and flexibility while emphasizing breath connection (pranayama) and calming meditation. Kimberly's love for the outdoors and time with friends infuses her teaching with joyful energy and community spirit.

Students can expect a well-rounded practice that builds physical capability while cultivating inner peace and presence.

Mary Ann Saunders

RYT 500

Mary Ann's yoga journey began with a focus on physical challenges and benefits but soon evolved into a deeper exploration of the practice's spiritual dimensions.

She completed her Hatha Raja Yoga 200-hour training in 2017, followed by 100-hour meditation teacher training in 2018, and Dharma Yoga teacher training in 2019, all under the guidance of Yogini Kali Om of the Sri Dharma Mittra lineage.

Mary Ann is passionate about sharing classical yoga practices that are accessible to all levels, guiding students through complete practices designed to create balance in their lives through traditional wisdom and time-tested techniques.

Edith Lazenby

E-RYT 200

Edith has been teaching yoga since 2004. Therapeutics is her specialty though she enjoys many forms including flow, hatha, yin, restorative and prenatal.

Alignment informs all her teaching. She says "no pain, no pain" and defers to the wisdom of her student's body. Her only rule is: breathe.

Join her on the mat Wednesdays for a soothing restorative class to rest, renew and restore your being.

Tina Edwards

RYT 200

Tina Edwards is a certified yoga instructor, RYT-200. Tina is passionate about fitness and began taking yoga to increase her mobility.

Tina found yoga also provided her with a sense of calmness and community. Tina was drawn to teacher training to learn more about yoga and hopes to help others to experience their own transformations.

Paige Clulow

RYT 200

Paige completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Branches of Yoga in 2024 and holds additional certification in Polyvagal Theory for Therapeutic Yoga from The Embody Lab. She is currently pursuing training in Trauma Aware Breath Coaching and Meditation with The Whole Health Project.

Paige began practicing yoga in the 90’s and noticed whenever she returned to the mat she felt a greater sense of well-being. She believes yoga offers the clarity needed to move through those past and present life challenges that affect our physical and mental health.

Paige is honored to facilitate the transformative wisdom of mind-body practices and ancient yoga philosophy to guide you in connecting with the strength of your inner self. She looks forward to sharing space with you while finding wholeness and increasing serenity through a gentle yet self-empowering yoga practice for all levels of practitioners.

When not doing yoga, you can find Paige playing with her kids, teaching English to multilingual learners, studying Spanish and web design, running in the woods, reading a book, or admiring murmurations.

Rebecca Moran

RYT 200

Rebecca began practicing yoga in 2017 to complement high-intensity workouts and to help manage chronic stress and anxiety. Deepening her yoga practice has brought balance and mindfulness to her daily life, and she believes that yoga is a powerful protective factor for physical and mental health across the lifespan.

Rebecca earned her RYT-200 certification in 2025 after completing yoga teacher training at Uplift Yoga in Olney, MD.

Rebecca strives to integrate breathwork and body awareness into inclusive, encouraging, and strength-building yoga classes for practitioners of all levels.

Lois Bryan

RYT 200

Lois is a deeply spiritual, mantra chanting, meditating yogi who has immersed herself in Hatha, Kundalini, Bhakti, and Yin traditions. To help students discover their “yogi within,” she tries to flavor her classes with influences from each of these styles.

She uses some music; the soundtrack of her classes (and her life!) run the gamut from soft and mellow to Caribbean vibes to Snatam Kaur depending on the desired mood. (Sometimes quiet yoga can be beautiful too.) She generally does not burn incense, but enthusiastically encourages chanting because the power of Naad yoga can never be over-estimated.

Lois’ path is one of endless learning and she regularly attends workshops to not only improve herself and her teaching but also to deepen her understanding of the spiritual side of yoga. An alumnae of Yoga District’s 2015 200-hour Summer Intensive, Lois recently earned her 300-hour Spiritual Warrior certificate through Yoga Farm Ithaca, and is pursuing Somatic Yoga and Qigong certifications to add to the mélange that is her teaching vibe.

She is also a Certified ChildLight Yoga Instructor and a Radiant Child 30-hour Approved Teacher – soon to be a certified 95-hour teacher in both.

Melissa Bassett

RYT 200

Mel Bassett is a Nurse Practitioner and 200 hour certified yoga teacher, having completed her training at Branches of Yoga in 2024. Rooted in both science and soul, she believes that true vitality comes from integrating mindful movement with intentional living. Her approach to yoga is gentle yet powerful, designed to meet you exactly where you are-no matter your level or experience.

Mel is passionate about sharing the timeless philosophy of yoga, helping you discover how it can harmonize with your modern life to enhance your health span and restore your connection to self.

Beyond the mat, Mel spends her days empowering people with knowledge about their health, singing, dabbling in art, and exploring nature-whether paddle boarding, hiking, or simply soaking in a good book. Most of all, she cherishes time spent with her family, the truest anchor of her heart.

Rebecca Ballantine

RYT 200

Rebecca Ballantine began practicing yoga at the age of nineteen to add flexibility and relaxation into her workout routines. Learning more about the incredible benefits of yoga; both physically and mentally, she began incorporating it more into her regular fitness schedule. In 2017, Rebecca embarked on her yoga journey to obtain her 200-RYT certification through Charm City yoga/YogaWorks at Downtown Yoga in Westminster, MD. She continued her educational yoga journey in 2019 to complete her advanced 500hr RYT certification through yoga works, hosted by Downtown yoga. She has additional training in Restorative yoga and Yin yoga. Rebecca believes that we are forever students, always learning! Rebecca provides a holistic approach to yoga; as she is also a registered nurse, and will provide a caring and safe environment to ensure that everyone has a fantastic practice. Rebecca has a loving yet joyful disposition, welcoming to all. “Escaping onto my mat provides me a sense of belonging and purpose, along with personal time to challenge my body and mind.

Kelly Bellgrau

RYT 200

Curious about the practice, Kelly began her yoga journey in 2008. Since then she has adapted a healthier lifestyle and is able to find more peace and balance in her everyday life. In 2013 she completed the 200 hour teacher training with Charm City Yogaand the 500 hour program in 2014.

Her calming energy helps students relax in challenging poses that focus on building balance, strength and flexibility. She encourages students to embrace self acceptance and guides them towards finding inner peace.

Elizabeth Sutherland

RYT 200

Beth completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Branches of Yoga in 2024. She’s been practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years, loving the peace, self-awareness, and grounding they cultivate, along with helping to manage anxiety. She hopes the classes she guides help others also find their joy and balance!

Beth loves spending time with her kids and dogs, relaxing at home, exploring new places, or out in nature! Her work as an engineer has its own joy in learning and helping others grow.

Chris Bergman

Dr. Bergman brings a lifelong dedication to movement and creative expression to her yoga teaching. She holds a BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School, an MA in Performance Studies from New York University, and a PhD in Dance from Temple University.

Her yoga journey began in New York, where she completed her first teacher training at the Integral Yoga Institute. Finding more freedom in yoga practice than in the dance world, she completed an additional teacher training program in an alignment based style at Willow Street Yoga in Takoma Park, Maryland. Chris has experience teaching classes to small and large groups in university, studio, gym settings.

As a mom, and with a blended background in dance and yoga, her classes offer a gentle and lighthearted approach to traditional asanas.