Inspire Yoga's Instructors

We are privileged and honored to assist you on your journey through a life better lived with yoga.

Joan Nichols, ERYT

Joan founded Inspire Yoga to build a friendly community of all ages that supports and encourages each other, focusing on strengthening and challenging the mind and body to create a peaceful spirit. Joan started yoga to heal a back injury in 1993 and has since steadily grown her practice. She began teaching in 2001 and is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT) through the Yoga Alliance. She is presently continuing her education with Baron Baptiste through his teacher trainings and has completed over 200 hours with him. Joan completed her first triathlon in 2009. She is also a wife, mother of two boys and an artist who believes in dreaming big, working hard and the power of love.

Lou Papa, MD

Lou has been teaching yoga for over three years and has completed his level 5 training through "Yogafit." Lou believes yoga is an integral part of fitness and well-being. In addition to his yoga practice, Lou enjoys running, cycling, skiing, swimming and weight training. He feels yoga is a critical addition to overall fitness for both men and women. He also enjoys the physical and spiritual overlap between his yoga practice and his training in martial arts; he studies Iaido (Japanese sword) and is a second degree black-belt in Isshin-Ryu karate. Lou is a physician in internal medicine and Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Rochester who strongly believes in the health benefits of yoga and closely follows the scientific evidence of its benefits in clinical studies.

Cindy Edington, RYT

Cindy Edington is a RYT and AFAA certified fitness professional who has been teaching various forms of fitness for over 15 years. Cindy’s yoga teaching style is a graceful blend of Hatha, Ashtanga and Iyengar traditions. Cindy ends her classes with a non-invasive aroma therapy that students have expressed sheer delight with over the years.

One of the principle philosophies Cindy stresses in her classes is that yoga is an individual process and a personal journey to be enjoyed by all. Therefore there is no judgment and the atmosphere for class is warm and inviting. Cindy encourages her students to challenge themselves but to always listen to their bodies.

Cindy is also a certified life coach and Clinical Research professional.

Lynn Klei, RYT

Lynn started taking yoga classes at the Pittsford YMCA in 2002, and fell in love with its effects on my body, mind, and spirit. “Yoga has taken care of nagging hip, low back, and knee pain, and it has cleared my mind and opened the door to inner truth while introducing me to the power of “Om” and the connectedness we all share,” said Lynn.

Lynn has completed 200 hours of training with YogaFit, and has had three trainings with her very favorite yoga guru Seane Corn, one training with Baron Baptise, and core training with Rick Lynch from the Zen center of Rochester. Lynn looks forward to continuing her training, “knowing that when I grow I am able to help students to grow in their practice as well.”

Lynn also is a sales director with Mary Kay cosmetics, and is grateful to be part of a company whose philosophy is to work by the golden rule. Lynn has 2 boys – Alex and Ben, and works hard to bring yoga philosophy into all areas of life.

Ginny Lake, RYT

Ginny’s active yoga journey has been inspired by many teachers which began with Joan Nichols and Cindy Edington. Ginny started training to instruct yoga in 2007 and completed YogaFit 200/hour training in December 2010.

Ginny’s classes are Vinyasa flow, featuring a variety of postures, twists and balancing poses suitable for both beginning and advanced practices. Ginny teaches a style of Vinyasa flow that safely challenges the body by infusing simple alignment principles with doses of visual transitional language. Practicing and studying the principles of yoga enabled her to experience the impossible becoming possible. She strives to share this phenomenon with participants encouraging them to commit to the breath, practice, and everything else will eventually come.

Yoga has inspired Ginny to share its benefits with family, co-workers and friends regardless of age, weight, body type, and skill level. “Everybody is different and every “body” can benefit from yoga. Sharing the gift of yoga brings great joy and meaning to life. “

Terri Orr, RYT

Terri has been practicing yoga since 1998. She has recently completed her formal Power Yoga training and is now a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance. Terri firmly believes in the power of yoga to heal the mind, body and spirit. She believes in living yoga both on and off the mat. She is a member of the iRocYoga which organizes charity and fundraising events for the Rochester community. Terri is the mother of two daughters and enjoys biking, hiking, reading and studying American Sign Language.