Our Teachers

Jen Portman (Owner/Founder)

   Always an avid athlete, Jen found yoga twelve years ago when injuries prevented her from running and competing in triathlons.  Yoga soon became a passion because of its ability to heal and strengthen, it’s power to create balance both mentally and physically;  and simply for the way it feels.   Jen has completed the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute levels 1 and 2 teacher trainings and is in ongoing studies with Baron Baptiste.  She has attended numerous Bikram Yoga workshops with Bikram and   Rajashree Choudhury and Jason Wynne.  She loves being able to offer these two types of hot yoga at Synergy, and is continually seeking knowledge about other styles of yoga through workshops with Shiva Rea, Desiree Rumbaugh, David Swenson, Sri Dharma Mittra and others.  “Yoga has been such a gift to me;  I feel so lucky to be able to help other people find it....And, I can't believe this is my JOB now!"-   Jen lives in Fair Haven with her husband and three teenage children.  Besides yoga, she loves swimming, cooking, skiing and hiking (and is still trying to become a surfer!)

Kristin Gould

    Kristin Gould (Jyoti), RYT is an inspired and spirited yoga teacher.  Using her life-long experiences and dedication to  ballet, creative dance and yoga, she brings passion, intuition and “grooviness”  to her vinyasa style of yoga teaching.  Kristin has studied many aspects of Ayurveda and Hatha yoga with both American and Indian yogis.  She believes in order to be a responsible teacher, she must continue to be a humble student – always learning, growing and sharing her knowledge of this ancient practice from the countless numbers of teachers who have come before her.  Kristin has a non-profit organization known as CoolKidsyoga,  bringing  yoga classes to children of all ages and abilities in schools and to those unable to pay for classes.  Kristin is married and a mother of three children, who affectionately call her Swami Mommy.  Together with her family, she enjoys cooking, gardening, painting, surfing and boating.  Kristin reminds us that as we practice yoga with skillfulness uniting breath, body and soul, we are ultimately connecting to all things beyond our egos and off our mats.  Through truth, joy, compassion, peace and love – we are all one!

Cara Yakey

Cara  began practicing yoga over 15 years ago.  It was her passion for yoga that lead her to do her teacher training in 2001.  She was trained in classic Hatha Yoga, but has practiced ashtanga,jivamukti, and Bikram.  Cara strives to provide her students a safe enviroment in which to practice yoga.  Prior to teaching yoga she worked as a physical therapist specializing in sports related injuries.  She brings an extensive knowledge of anatomy and proper biomechanics to her teachings, always striving to teach her students the proper alignment of a posture.  Besides being a devout yogi, Cara is the proud Mom of thirteen-year old  Lucas.  She also enjoys walking the boardwalk in Long Branch and riding her beach cruiser.

Alice Nelson

Daniel Abbott

    Daniel is a nationally certified Personal Trainer and a Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Instructor. Currently he is finishing his 500 hour certification with Yoga Alliance. His personal influences, training and practice has culminated into a free-flowing vinyasa style that combines breath, dynamic movement, feeling-sensitivity, visualization, meditation, and heart wisdom---all resulting in strength, flexibility, clarity, radiance, and an increased sense of boundlessness. Daniel is committed to offering not only the traditional elements of yoga, but spontaneity, present day relevance, and obvious variety in his classes. Expect unique vinyasa sequences and challenging strengthening poses combined with pranayama and calming rejuvenation. With vast experience teaching all levels of yoga, from teens to seniors, Daniel is not only dedicated to serving all with Yoga and Physical Fitness, but also to continuing his own education. Daniel offers workshops in couples and partner yoga, as well as in The Work of Byron Katie. Daniel graduated from Rutgers University in 2003 with a Bachelors degree in Organizational Communication, and has returned to Rutgers part time to study High level Mathematics. Find out more about Daniel by visiting www.openasallyoga.com.

AnnMarie Rung

  AnnMarie Rung is a senior Hatha Yoga teacher who has completed more than 500 hours of study with Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury during the 1998 teacher training in Los Angeles, CA. She has attended, and assisted with, seminars with Bikram and Rajashree to continue her education in the therapeutic method of Hatha Yoga, rooted in the tradition of Bishnu Ghosh and Paramahansa Yogananda.   In 2007, AnnMarie was certified in Yoga Nidra, Meditation and Pranayama techniques, rooted in the tradition of Paramahansa Satyananda. In 2010, she attended a YogaKids foundation training and completed an Anatomy and Physiology course at Brookdale Community College. She is presently a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner in Training.

AnnMarie has taught at several locations over the years, giving her the experience to offer comfort to the beginner as well as challenge to the seasoned practitioner. She also maintains sessions with spiritual healer and teacher John W. Cooke, giving her clarity of insight and deeper perceptions of things previously learned while expanding upon her inner self.  Through personal and professional study, her teaching style continues to evolve to integrate yoga with other healing philosophies. While trying to maintain the integrity of the traditional poses, her approach to teaching Hatha Yoga incorporates all she has learned about the mind-body-spirit connection and the healer within us all.

AnnMarie received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Marist College in 1990. She lives with her husband and two children in Middletown, NJ.

Chris Cordasco

Virginia Lennon

    Virginia was a scholastic basketball, softball player and runner who has always had a passion for sports.  She has competed in many races, including the Spring Lake 5, The George Sheehan Classic and the Long Branch Half Marathon.  Multiple knee surgeries prohibited her further pursuit of running, but opened up the world of yoga to her six years ago. She quickly became involved in various methods and teaches based on the Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga style. Virginia continues to explore the various styles of yoga, has attended workshops with Bikram and Jimmy Barkan and is thrilled that she can pursue her physical and mental goals without further discomfort and damage to her knee. Virginia lives in Middletown, NJ with her husband of 18 years and their two daughters.

Julie Simser

Tanya Williams

Patti Siciliano

Lilly Flanagan

Lilly began practicing yoga over ten years ago while attending Eugene Lang College in New York City.  She soon began practicing daily, experiencing the multi-faceted benefits of yoga, including a stronger body, calmer mind, and happier face.  After finishing college, Lilly tried a Bikram Yoga class in 2004 and decided to train with Bikram at his school, The Yoga College of India in Los Angeles, CA.  Having successfully completed the 9-week, intensive training, she began teaching the Bikram method of yoga in June 2005 at studios in Rumson & Westwood. Lilly is happy to share the gift of yoga with her students, promoting a sense of inter-connectedness and peace.  She lives in Rumson and also sells real estate.

         ** Photos by chris cordasco