our studio
First opened in January 2017, The Woods offers a space to heal, find balance, stress less, and feel alive!
The Woods Yoga offers Vinyasa and Yin Yoga, Meditation, and Kettlebell Cardio classes seven days a week. We have full-time, dedicated management, teachers, and staff. We boast an exceptional team of teachers, all of whom are in service to you. Named Providence Journal Readers' Choice for BEST YOGA STUDIO in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 AND 2018! We've also been named BEST WELLNESS CENTER, BEST HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER, and BEST PERSONAL TRAINER in the 2024 Valley Breeze Voices of The Valley awards!
Our studio was designed and built with you in mind. The practice room has a natural hardwood bamboo floor which stays at room temperature and feels warm to the touch. Bamboo is truly sustainable and eco-friendly. Our lobby/reception area is open and inviting, with benches and plenty of cubbies and hooks to stash your belongings. In spring on 2024, we launched infrared sauna sessions with best in class, Sunlighten Infrared Saunas.
In our lobby shop, you'll find premium Manduka yoga mats, blocks, straps, towels, and bolsters. We sell KettleGuards, Woods Yoga apparel, insulated water bottles, and yoga mat bags. We also offer specialty items including China-Gel, and Jahmu Turmeric Ginger Extract. You will also find a thoughtful curation of books, Lily's Ladle Bone Broth, plus an assortment of unique decorative items and sage and Palo Santo bundles.
our story
More people doing more yoga.
The name "The Woods Yoga" was borne out of the studio's proximity to Lincoln Woods State Park. And the owl, a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and keen observation, became our logo. As we have grown and matured through seven+ years of operating a yoga studio, more meaningful interpretations of this name and animal totem have revealed themselves to us.
Traditionally, the forest represents exploration and being lost. Trees represent life itself; a reflection on our personal development, spirituality and individual growth. The many spiritual meanings of the forest often seem to be diametrically opposed to one another. For example; lightness and darkness; taking action and finding stillness; transformation and being grounded; ancient history and renewal; self-reliance and community; the conscious and subconscious mind. Through the teachings of yoga and the lessons of life, we learn that harmony lies in the balance.
"Finding stability in the body and the mind while practicing asana, meditation, or any other yogic practice is what ultimately brings us into balance."
The concept of Sthira and Sukha in yogic philosophy is generally understood as the balance between effort and ease. Sthira is the fire; the part of the practice that requires you to be fully present when you experience discomfort, whether it emerges from the physical body, the mind, or the energetic body. Finding stability in the body and the mind while practicing asana, meditation, or any other yogic practice is what ultimately brings us into balance. Sukha occurs when we learn to let go. It’s the part of the practice where, as we become more familiar with ourselves, we begin to relax and become more present in the experience without the need to do more or try harder; the law of minimum effort. It is that part of ourselves that truly knows when we’ve arrived in the posture. Everything feels aligned and there is no strain in the muscles. The mind feels calm, content and spacious, and the life force energy flows freely through us.
And then we have the owl. What was once a simple and pleasing mascot for our business evolved into a deeper, more meaningful totem. As with the forest, there are numerous symbolic associations for the owl including that as a harbinger of death. But don't let that frighten you. Let's look at our yoga practice as a metaphor for life.
A wise old owl lived in an oak.
The more he saw, the less he spoke.
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
Now wasn't he a wise old bird?
As in life, there is also death. In most classes, we start in Child's Pose, and progress through movements and poses until we reach our final resting pose, Savasana, which is also known as Corpse Pose. Savasana is the practice of death. Death of the ego, death of all craving and grasping toward anything outside of us which we mistakenly think will create happiness, and death of all aversion to anything we think is causing our unhappiness. In Savasana, we practice recognizing that everything is perfect exactly as it is. There’s nothing left to do. And as we slowly awaken from Savasana, we roll to the fetal position, thus representing a rebirth. As we rise, we are reborn as a clear-headed, peaceful, and more loving version of ourselves. And so as we step onto our mat, whether for the first time, the last time, or the only time, we are granted an opportunity to begin again. With every breath, every pose, every action, every reaction, we have the opportunity to begin anew, to bid adieu to the past and to sit with ease in the present.
Savasana is the practice of death. Death of the ego, death of all craving and grasping toward anything outside of us which we mistakenly think will create happiness, and death of all aversion to anything we think is causing our unhappiness.
Welcome to The Woods
Love all. Serve all.
Christine
Studio Owner
When I first began practicing yoga, I had no idea what I was doing. I struggled my way through a handful of classes, hot Bikram style yoga classes. I wore fleecy sweatpants because that's all I had at the time and it was 105 degrees in that yoga room. It was disgusting. I wasn't athletic or even active. I pretty much despised every minute of those classes. But something drew me back.
Eventually, I fell away from the practice citing the usual excuses, it was too expensive, I didn't have the time, it was so hard, blah blah blah. A number of years later, on a lark, I stumbled into another yoga class. I was approaching 40 and I was out of work, overweight, depressed, living with a parent. I was lost. I showed up for that first class and I've never looked back. It was literally a turning point in my life. The yoga was still hard and the room was still hot. The prices hadn't gone down over the years either. The difference this time around was that I didn't hide behind my old excuses. I got front and center and I showed up. I showed up for myself. For the first time in my life, I showed up for myself.
The rest, as they say, is history (in the making nonetheless). Just over five years from that day when I finally showed up for myself, I opened The Woods Yoga. Just like the practice of yoga, the business of yoga is not easy, it takes a lot of time, and it is also quite expensive. But I am called to show up. And this time, I'm not just showing up for myself, I am also showing up for you. I am humbly in your service and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
The light in me honors the light in you, Christine
anthony
Lead Teacher
Considered one of America's top trainers, Anthony DiLuglio is known for his unique approach to fitness, and yoga. His style embodies the timeless concept of physical culture: how to train for maximum functional strength, making your body more durable, more resilient, and less prone to injury. In 2024, Anthony was named BEST PERSONAL TRAINER in The Valley Breeze 'Voices of The Valley Awards'.
DiLuglio has created award-winning fitness equipment, a successful gym franchise, and works with wide range of clients, including athletes and strength coaches from the worlds of the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and PBR to Hollywood celebrities, to everyday people who have been discarded by the medical system. After launching his career in Sweden, DiLuglio worked with some of the country's most elite athlete's and successfully launched several businesses geared towards living a healthy life. After five years DiLuglio returned to the United States where he was appalled by the state of fitness in this country and quickly set out to bring about change. In an effort to take his clients training to a new level, he delved deep into history to uncover authentic, strength-building exercises that are the basis for his workouts, utilizing tools like kettlebells, ropes, thick grip vintage barbells and dumbbells and suspension. His workouts are not only out-of-the-ordinary and fun, but effective, focusing on the total body. In 2004 and 2005, Men's Journal named DiLuglio to their list of "100 Best Fitness Trainers in America." In 2006 DiLuglio introduced his wildly popular and revolutionary Ropes Gone Wild program to the fitness community. Ropes Gone Wild was created so varying clientele could receive the proper metabolic training they required using variations of weighted and free-hanging ropes, combined with a wide range of motions and movements. Ropes Gone Wild hit mainstream status when it was first profiled on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’ in 2007 and was then featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Men’s Health magazine as the #1 new cardio tool in 2009 and as part of Kim Kardashian’s workout routine on Muscle & Fitness – Hers. Anthony is known as one of the fitness industry's leading sources of education, unique equipment and training programs. With Minute of Strength, nearly 700 free training videos, inspiring stories of recovery and rehabilitation, downloadable and DVD workouts, as well as a wide selection of equipment, Anthony delivers a unique approach to people the world over.
talia
Lead Teacher
Talia Gerardi has been a passionate practitioner of yoga since 2011, and a Lead Teacher at The Woods since its inception in 2017. Talia enjoys teaching all styles of yoga, and is always looking for ways to deepen her knowledge and her practice so that she may share that with her students. Inspired by her faith and love for her family, Talia creates a comfortable and supportive space for students. She offers modifications to guide you as you learn the language of your body, and blends many different styles and techniques into her classes. Talia specializes in wrist free sequencing that offers a fresh new perspective. Talia completed a 200 hr Believe You Can Teacher Training certification program in August of 2016. Talia teaches at The Woods throughout the week and offers a variety of specialty workshops like Partner Yoga and Restorative Soundbaths.
pamela
Teacher
Pamela Maldonado recently returned to her roots here in Lincoln after living for 33 years in Petaluma CA where she and her late husband owned and operated for 20 years, a wellness studio with Yoga, Personal Training, Massage, Pilates and Reiki, along with a Registered Yoga School for teachers in training. After her husband passed away in 2022, Pamela sold the studio and came back to RI to be with family. She is excited to be part of the Woods Family now and offers heart-centered classes grounded in the breath which she believes is one of the most transforming tools of this ancient wisdom practice. Pamela is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and a Continuing Education Provider with Yoga Alliance. She is also a Reiki Master. Pamela teaches Power(ful) Vinyasa Mondays and Wednesdays at 730am and Balanced Vitality Tuesdays at 630pm. In addition to her weekly classes, Pamela leads Candlelight Yin + Reiki workshops—an indulgent blend of slow, passive Yin Yoga paired with Reiki healing. These workshops offer a deeply restorative experience, combining gentle movement, prolonged holds, and the powerful, universal energy of Reiki to nurture the body, mind, and spirit.
lauren
Lauren Lombardo is an Intuitive Healer and Spiritual Coach. A licensed massage therapist since 2004, Lauren brings a deep understanding of the human body to her teaching, crafting classes that feel nurturing, intuitive, and attuned to physical and emotional well-being. Guided by her unwavering faith and love for God, Lauren integrates Christian spirituality into her offerings, weaving in elements of prayer, reflection, and divine connection. Having worked with indigenous tribal members from around the globe, she provides sacred practices and modalities to help heal, educate, and awaken our souls. Lauren teaches a soulful Yin class on Wednesdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 6pm, and Sundays at 4:30pm, along with spectacular and unique workshop experiences that inspire and uplift.
Teacher
jenna
Teacher
A dedicated student of yoga for over twenty years, Jenna began instructing classes in 2007. She has taught countless Beginner workshops and is adept at catering to mixed level classes. Her teaching is rooted in basic Classical Yoga principles and is more akin to mindfulness practice than it is to a fitness regiment. Her style of teaching is non-competitive and is intended to promote stress reduction and an overall experience of community and well being.
In addition to being a licensed massage therapist since 1999, Jenna is a trained and experienced practitioner of Mantra Meditation and a long-time student of Advaita Vedanta and Yoga philosophy. All of this study and experience lends itself beautifully to her commitment to supporting herself and others in managing stress and finding connection, comfort, ease and freedom in both body and mind. Jenna teaches Strengthen + Lengthen Thursdays at 430pm and Balanced Vitality Thursdays at 630pm.
jessica
Jessica is a Recreational Therapist and certified Yoga Teacher since 2018. She’s passionate about helping others discover the transformative power of slowing down. Jessica’s classes focus on creating space to truly listen to your body, move with intention, and breathe deeply—allowing you to find the “ahh” moments that bring balance and healing. With a gentle and mindful approach, she guides students to connect with their body, mind, heart, and spirit, leaving you grounded, rejuvenated, and at ease. Jessica teaches Slow + Stretchy Monday nights at 730pm.
Teacher
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stephanie
Stephanie wandered into an intensely heated Bikram yoga studio in 2001 and has not left her yoga mat since. As the years went on, Baptiste was the next yoga style to heavily influence her practice. As she became more devoted to her yogic studies and curious about the deeper spiritual practices that complement the yoga postures as a system, the eastern traditional discipline of Ashtanga Yoga became the framework of her studies and practice. She completed her 200 hours in a one month immersive training, temporarily residing in Miami Beach, with Kino MacGregor and has since traveled the U.S. to complete countless hours of direct studies and training under the various masters of Ashtanga Yoga from India and around the world. The Ashtanga schooling is a deep dive into the study and execution of each of the traditional poses and Stephanie brings this valuable knowledge to her classes through instruction and cues.
Stephanie's Vinyasa classes offer hints of meditative techniques and a unique blend of the above dynamic styles mixed with the wisdom of her own experiential observations, connecting the valuable lessons from the yoga mat to the daily lives we lead. Stephanie teaches Strengthen + Lengthen Wednesdays at 9:30am.
Teacher
Nelia
Front Desk
A Rhode Island native, Nelia is a recent addition to the yoga world, and she brings a fresh and friendly energy to The Woods Yoga team. You can find her at the front desk ready to help with any needs you may have.
When she's not at the studio, Nelia loves spending time with her husband and stepdaughter, enjoying a latte with oat milk, and making sure her dogs, Rhino and Chewie, get plenty of attention. Always rocking her Vans, Nelia’s upbeat and welcoming personality makes everyone feel right at home.
Gabby
Front Desk
Gabby has always loved staying active and creative, growing up as a dancer before discovering yoga in 2020. After practicing at home for around 3 years, she found The Woods and was drawn to the positive energy and community within the studio. When she's not at the front desk or on her mat, she enjoys walking and spending time outside, listening to music, and reading.
JEN
Front Desk
Since 2017, The Woods has been Jen's yoga home—a place where movement, breath, and mindfulness have helped her navigate the ebb and flow of life. She transitioned into a front desk role early on, drawn to the incredible energy of this community. Yoga became a powerful tool for her, especially through the pandemic and in stepping away from the intensity of an executive-level career. Off the mat, she's learned to embrace balance, presence, and connection in everyday life. She loves meeting new faces and discovering what calls them to step through our doors—because yoga, in its many forms, has a way of meeting us exactly where we are.
emily
Front Desk
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Emily brings a calm, can-do energy to the front desk at The Woods Yoga. Whether she’s welcoming you in or helping with your account, she’s all about making things feel easy and welcoming from the moment you walk through the door.
A graduate student at Providence College, Emily is pursuing her Master’s in Education with a passion for helping others grow—on and off the mat. When she’s not at the studio or buried in her coursework, you’ll likely find her at the beach, planning her next trip, or deep in a good book.
megan
Front Desk + Teacher
Pic and Bio Coming soon!
marie
Front Desk
Bio Coming Soon!
