Teachers
The wonderful people who lead our classes
Stephanie Nystrom - Owner
Stephanie Nystrom began practicing yoga in 2000. After experimenting with several styles (mostly Sivananda and Iyengar), she took her first Bikram Yoga class on a sweltering July day in 2003 and fell instantly in love. She deepened her Bikram practice while attending graduate school for Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Then, one evening while studying, she came to the sudden realization that getting her Ph.D. was not really what she wanted to do with her life, and decided to become a yoga teacher. She attended the intensive Bikram Yoga teacher training in Los Angeles 2005 and taught extensively in the San Francisco Bay area before moving with her husband to the Hudson Valley in 2006. Since moving to the area, she has taught in local studios as well as the Bikram Yoga studio in Danbury, Connecticut. She is very passionate about Bikram Yoga (which she practiced through two pregnancies) and is so honored to be able to share this practice with the Hudson Valley.
Sam Ogden
Sam comes to Hot Spot via New Hampshire and completed his Bikram teacher training in Fall 2011. He has taught on the west coast of the US and in New England. He currently attends Bard College pursuing a bachelor's degree in classical studies. He has a wide variety of interests including art, natural building, and landscaping.
SHULIN CHINILSON
Shulin has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 20 years, including a six year immersion living and serving in a yoga ashram. She attended Bikram’s teacher training in 2003 followed by others including Svaroopa (yin style), meditation, Reiki, Vinyasa, and YogaShapeshifting. It is her greatest passion and aim to support students’ journeys with inspiring yoga instruction and gentle yet profound energy healing. Originally from San Francisco, Shulin now lives in the Hudson Valley where she delights in the richness of nature and community. She teaches Yoga ShapeShifting, Bikram, and Original 84 weekly classes along with offering special events and private sessions.
Kimmer Gifford
Kimmer completed her first teacher training in 2007, the same year she completed her LCSW. She believes yoga is the greatest therapy of all.
Sarah Andrus
With over 10 years of exploration in various yogic practices, Sarah has settled into hosting Yin Yoga in the Hudson valley.
Having enjoyed Vinyasa styles primarily, particularly Jivamukti, Sarah found herself reveling in the contrast of Yin Yoga.
Consequently, she was inspired to share this practice with others. Having completed two modules of Yin Yoga teacher training under the gracious guidance of Biff Mithoefer, Sarah is eager to provide others the opportunity to experience the depth and richness of this practice.
JOCELYN SONGCO
Jocelyn certified as a Bikram instructor in Fall 2007 in Hawaii and then taught for many years at studios in Brooklyn and Manhattan. She also studied with Dharma Mittra in NYC in 2011 and 2012 (500 hour TT, Level II certification) and with AcroYoga Montreal in July 2012 (Level I certification). Jocelyn is thrilled to be teaching and practicing in the Hudson Valley with this community.
NANDINI APATINI
As a native New Yorker, Nandini found her way to her first yoga class when she was 14. In 2005 she was introduced to the Jivamukti Yoga School at Union Square where she developed a daily practice and became immersed with many aspects of the yoga traditions. In June of 2013, Nandini attended the Jivamukti 300hr YTT in Costa Rica co taught by Rima Rani Rabbath, Jules Febre & David Life. She then continued on to complete the 800hr Jivamukti Teacher Apprenticeship Program with her beloved Mentor Rima Rani Rabbath. She has continued to teach at various studios consistently ever since. She loves to offer optional hands on assists as this is one of the teaching methods of her lineage and was one of the ways she deepened her practice. She encourages practitioners to question and search inside themselves, become inspired, and seek to develop lightness and humility to guide their experience both on and most importantly off the mat.