When's the last time you felt GREAT?

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Something we hear – again and again – is that people come to us in pain, or tense, or unable to sit/walk/be comfortable for long stretches of time, but after spending a month or two of quality time with us, they aren’t living in the same discomfort.  They are living pain-free, or atleast in a lot less pain than they used to live in.  Or they are happier, less stressed, and feel more connected to other people.  Or maybe a combination of all of the above.

If you want to know how we judge the quality of our work – that is EXACTLY the standard that we hold ourselves to – we want you to be more comfortable, happier and more connected.  The world becomes a better place every time someone feels a little more free from pain, anger, loneliness or tension.  

So, are YOU ready to feel GREAT?

 

Dr. Kristi Shaw, founder, owner

Coastal Retreat owner, Kristi Shaw, Ph.D., MHS, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, C-IAYT (Certified Yoga Therapist), NCPT (Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher) began her yoga teaching career in 2006 at the local YMCA. Following the path of yoga therapy as an integrated approach in her teaching style, Kristi completed her RYT 500 and C-IAYT hours with University of Maryland Medical School, Center for Integrative Medicine, which included a focus on yoga therapeutics, Reiki and energetic healing. In addition to her yoga training, Kristi has completed Reiki training through Master level. In 2008, Kristi completed her RYT 200 Anusara-based training with Golden Heart Yoga in Annapolis, MD. During that time, she has also completed a Body Balance Yoga Therapy Training series with Jenny Otto, E-RYT 500, Senior Anusara Teacher, and 20 hours study of therapeutic yoga for scoliosis and back care with Elise Browning Miller, E-RYT 500, Senior Certified Iyengar Teacher. In 2015, she completed her certification in Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR) with Nikki Myers.

Kristi has taught a range of class styles over her career as a yoga teacher, from vinyasa to prenatal yoga, in settings ranging from gyms, studios, community centers and outpatient addictions programs, with a focus on the therapeutic use of yoga as a mechanism for powerful transformation and healing in the body through alignment and self-awareness. Kristi is most excited to share the powerful and transformative properties of yoga, both physically and emotionally, which are available for each of us as we step onto our mat and into our breath. Kristi Shaw also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences (2005), Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2007) and a Ph.D. in Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Sciences from University of Maryland, College Park (2013). She enjoys blending her scientific background with the study of yoga to deepen her yoga practice.

She founded Coastal Retreat Studios and Wellness in 2017 to further her vision of bringing multiple healing modalities under a shared roof, sharing a common focus on aligning and healing the whole person.

eleanor denegre

Eleanor Denegre, RYT 500, began studying and practicing Yoga as a teenager to build strength and grounding for her career in theater and dance as a performer and a Theater Specialist at the NEA. Her practice cultivates resilience, stillness, and focus within the “noise” of daily life and her inquiry is how to create freedom and joy within the constraints of desks and schedules. Eleanor is a 500-hour Kripalu Professional Teacher and a certified Interdisciplinary Yoga Teacher, Nosara Yoga Institute. She studied Yoga with Swami Neeladevananda and corporeal expression with French artist Etienne Decroux and with theater artists Henryk Tomaszewski and Jerzy Grotowski as a Kosciuszko Foundation Fellow in Poland. She has been honored to teach at the Athenaeum Gallery in Alexandria, VA, C2 Fitness, and the Justice Department for over 17 years in Washington, D.C.

Sharon Gotimer

Sharon Gotimer, RYT200, Certified Yin instructor.

Karen knauss

Karen Knauss, RYT 200, Physical Therapy Assistant and Radiant Child Yoga Teacher, Karen blends her physical therapy background with alignment-based yoga instruction.  Trained at Willow Street Yoga Center by Maria Hamburger, Joe Miller and Natalie Miller, Karen continues studies in children's yoga through Radiant Child.  Karen is a Pilates mat and equipment teacher, a certified stand-up paddle board instructor,  and a certified Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR) leader.

Dr. ann smith

Ann Smith, PhD, sits a lot as a clinical psychologist, national trainer and consultant for the treatment of Substance Abuse and PTSD.  Prior to that, she moved a lot in her work as a drama therapist, a yoga instructor and as a general overall New Yorker who walked everywhere instead of sitting.  Ann has completed more than 500 hours of yoga training under the guidance of The World Yoga Center in New York City and Anusara Yoga.  These days, instead of walking to work, she does facial yoga during her commute, and shares her love of yoga and meditation with her patients. Currently, her husband and daughter keep her moving as they live, love and play on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.