teachers
Get to know the BambooMoves team
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Monica is the owner of BambooMoves Yoga Baltimore and a 500 hour E-RYT. Monica began her journey with BambooMoves Englewood in 2008 working as their studio manager learning the ins-and-outs of the yoga world in the tri-state area. Her teachers, Scott Kleinfeld and Stephanie Miller (owner of BambooMoves Cincinnati) convinced her to take the BambooMoves 200 hour Teacher Training which ended up changing her life's path. She wanted to open a studio in her hometown of Baltimore, MD to provide an inclusive and safe space for everyone to come back home to their Self. In 2013, she did just that and opened BambooMoves Baltimore. Monica received her 500 hour certification through Chris Loebsack of Boundless Yoga in 2017. She is also a professional singer/songwriter and has released several albums including a yoga mantra album 'Veil of Time,' recorded with NYC's top sound engineer Robert L. Smith (Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga). You can see her performing on Wednesday nights during the 'All Levels Live Music Classes.’
Click here to listen.
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Nik is a 200 hour RYT certified through Bamboo Moves in Baltimore where he has been practicing since 2017. A lifelong athlete, Nik came to yoga as a method of deepening and strengthening the relationship between mind and body and very quickly found that the practice nurtured his spiritual self, as well. Postural yoga opened the doors to meditation and mindfulness and Nik seeks to incorporate a healthy balance of breathwork, meditation and movement in his classes. Off of the mat, he holds a keen interest in the language of Sanskrit and the life science of Ayurveda, both of which have become academic and personal pursuits. Nik is committed to creating classes which are inclusive, grounding and encourage growth and thoughtfulness.
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Hi there, I'm Catarina de Sousa Henriques. I'm a certified Yoga & Breathwork instructor and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach with graduate studies in Health and Clinical Psychology.
I teach various Yoga styles, such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Gentle, Somatic, and Restorative. My goal is to make my classes accessible to all bodies, so I constantly adapt to my student's needs and abilities.
In 2023, I opened my Breathwork Space in the Patterson Park area of Baltimore, Maryland, after experiencing the transformative power of Breathwork. My journey began with this practice in Portugal. I received my initial Yoga teacher training in 2010, where I was fortunate to learn from a Yoga Master for six years, amassing 6500 hours of traditional Yoga education. I later completed the Yogaworks YTT in Baltimore, and during the pandemic, I also graduated from Bamboomoves Road to Yoga.
I'm pursuing the My Vinyasa Practice 300H program, focusing on Trauma-informed, Yin, and Restorative Yoga. This will complement my existing expertise.
Aside from being vegan, I tend to smile a lot, and I also love getting to know my students on a deeper level beyond small talk. My passion is to create a supportive community that fosters empathy and compassion, empowering individuals to make positive and impactful choices that enable them to live life to the fullest.
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Tina Crandell, E-RYT 500, has been a registered yoga teacher since 2014 and in that time has continued to cultivate her teaching skills through study and practice and by working with students of diverse ages and backgrounds. In addition to her professional E-RYT 500 designation she has received certifications in the Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra Professional Training and Yoga Nidra Advanced Training and is highly qualified to facilitate classes in the Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra, I AM Yoga Therapy Body Psychology, and Advanced Yoga Practices. Most recently Tina started coursework towards registration as a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) through the Amrit Yoga Therapy Program. Tina also holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of North Carolina.
Tina is grateful for the opportunity to connect to all types of people through the beautiful tradition of yoga. She has built her career on providing an authentic yoga experience for students within - and outside - a traditional yoga setting. In addition to her on-going group instruction at studios around the Baltimore metro area and maintaining a portfolio of private and corporate clients, Tina has partnered with The Center for Trauma, Stress, and Anxiety in Bel Air to offer sessions in yoga and meditation to clients as a compliment to conventional psychological care. Tina’s additional experience includes working with elite athletes competing in semi-professional sports and middle-school and elementary students in Baltimore City public schools. Tina has also worked with adult students in specialized settings including an Addiction Treatment Center, Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center, Outreach Center for Homeless Women and Children, and Low-Income Residential Housing Staff and Residents. Most recently, Tina has welcomed clients for private Yoga Therapy Body Psychology sessions specializing in anxiety/stress-reduction, trauma, and grief.
Tina is most interested in using the tools and wisdom of yoga to achieve profound emotional and mental transformations beyond just the physical – or, “fitness” – benefits. Tina’s approach includes a combination of asana (postures), meditation (mindfulness), pranayama (breath-work), deep relaxation techniques (yoga nidra), and yoga therapy body psychology techniques that work beyond the mind to restore and balance physical and emotional health and create a more positive relationship to the stresses of daily life. Her trauma-informed practices are intended for all, regardless of yoga experience or physical ability.
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Lainie Smith is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), honored by the National Yoga Alliance. In 2015, she traveled to Guatemala where she stayed for two months living at a Sattvic Ashram, studying classical Hatha yoga principles, class instruction, Hridaya meditation, and much more. Hatha yoga is an ancient practice that focuses on working with the body, moving to the breath, diving deep within the mind, and eventually reaching the inner self for means of self discovery and realization. Allowing the mind and body to become one, moving in unison and bringing balance to the entire system. Lainie is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Energy Healer, often incorporating energy healing into her yoga classes. Over the past years of teaching, her style has transformed and grown to include vinyasa flows along with dance like movements. Linking breath and movement to bring the body to life. She continues to learn and train in order to bring new types of movement to her classes including Chi Gong and mobility practices. Using the combination of her healing background and teaching abilities, she will assist you in bringing new refined light to your inner being and help you to cultivate a rejuvenated spirit deep within yourself.
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Amina Ahmad is a 200 Hour RYT with a love for movement and how the body flows. She has been exploring yoga for 20 years and it has become a guiding light through different stages of her life. After a brief hiatus she found her way back to the mat at BambooMoves while 6 months pregnant. Her practice consists of energetic flows and is inspired by patterns and rhythms in nature. Off the mat, Amina owns a small candle company, Handmade Habitat, and mindful lifestyle shop Habitual Work+Shop in Baltimore, Md.
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Julia RYT-500, RYPT, DPT approaches yoga with playfulness and curiosity. She teaches creative flow sequences with focus on mindful opening and strengthening. Julia draws on her training in physical therapy to offer a wide range of modifications in her classes for students working at all levels, whether they are striving for peak poses, nursing injuries, or anything in between. Come out and play!
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Michael Baillieul is a passionate yoga teacher who completed his 200-hour teacher training in 2023. His ultimate goal is to help others create a space of peace, stability, and comfort within themselves. Michael's lifelong interest in meditation, flexibility, and critical thinking led him to pursue a career in yoga teaching and share his knowledge of a yogic lifestyle. As a student of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Michael brings a unique perspective to his practice, incorporating a Taoist attitude of balance and humility. His teaching style is focused on empowering students while creating a safe and supportive environment for introspection and physical growth. With his dedication and expertise, Michael is committed to helping his students achieve their full potential both on and off the mat.
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Sara was introduced to yoga more than 15 years ago and has enjoyed exploring the various styles of asana over the years. She was further introduced to the deep well of yoga philosophy during her 200 hour 'Road to Yoga' Teacher Training at BambooMoves that she completed in 2025. Sara believes that the mind-body connection that is so foundational to yoga is transformative on and off the mat. Sara holds that yoga is for everybody and every body and offers variations and modifications to meet students where they are.
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Laura Collins, 200 hour RYT, has been practicing yoga in studios, community centers, in backyards, and at sea for 20 years. Retired from the United States Coast Guard after 28 years of service, she completed her 200-hour “Road to Yoga’ teacher training with BambooMoves in Baltimore in the spring of 2023. She is passionate about bringing peace and unity of mind, body, and breath to her students’ lives.
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Elena is a life coach, yoga teacher (RYT 200), and author of ‘Inhabit Your Joy: A Book of Nudges.’ What most people say about her is that she brings sparks of energy to everything she does. On the mat and in life, Elena is a guide for helping people come home to themselves; to their inner wisdom, to their strength, and to their joy. Elena completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2016, her yin certification in 2017, and Radiance Sutras meditation teacher training in 2021. When not practicing yoga or leading life-coaching groups and retreats, Elena can be found sitting on her balcony reading, dragon boating, or planning adventures big and small with her husband, daughter, and labradoodle.