Teachers
Brittany MCkay - Co-Owner
If you ask my mother when I began my yoga practice, she will tell you that I was raised on the mat. From a young age, I did watch my mother’s own yoga journey evolve as she fell in love with Kripalu and Iyengar styles of practice. I would watch her eagerly demonstrate crow pose to my father and a week later, full firefly. I didn’t know it then, but I was learning about yoga through observing my mother’s love for the practice.
Growing up, I was always the, “black sheep.” I was diagnosed with ADHD and other learning differences in elementary school and later on, diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder. I had a lot of internal pain and was prescribed lots of drugs, which I apprehensively took to help feel calm. Yet, nothing seemed to help other than doing deep breath work in a silent space.
During my senior year of college, I underwent discectomy in my L5 spine for a chronic herniated disk. I was always very active and I had to figure out how to get myself out of bed and back into feeling like myself. My mother invited me to go to a yoga class with her and since that day, I have dedicated my life to the healing powers of yoga. It was not only the physical practice that saved me, that healed me, that brought me back to life; I had friends again. Being surrounded by other yogis lifted me out of my funk. I had been an anxiety-ridden, self-loathing girl who found herself suddenly surrounded by a yoga community who looked out for each other. I found a family who were all healing and learning as one.
In 2014, I chose to receive my teacher training from The Yoga Society (formally Haute Yoga) and I consider it to be one of the greatest decisions of my life. I had already received my Master of Education from Loyola University and was a full-time Montessori school teacher, but I knew I wanted to keep growing in the yoga community. I immersed myself in any workshop I could attend or any yoga gathering that I could be a part of. I love this yoga community with all of my being. From Palm Beach Island to Jupiter, from this hemisphere to the next… everyone that practices yoga is a part of the same tribe. We are all in this together and I cannot wait to guide you. But most of all, I cannot wait to practice next to you.
Hamsa Power Yoga is an inclusive space, open to all levels. It is a place of non-judgement. It is my honor to co-own a space filled with love. I hope that you feel the joy here and know that you are always loved.
Shanti.
Jamie Tarasuk - CO-Owner
When I think about yoga and what it has done for my life, how it has shaped me, I immediately feel a sense of calm come over my body. Throughout my life I have always used movement as ways to ground me. Always active in sports growing up, cross-country, running, spinning, biking, aerobics. Fitness has always been a part of my life. In college my mom was the person who pointed me towards yoga to help calm me and ease my anxieties. Although I wasn't ready for the practice at that time I always remembered her advice.
I stepped on my yoga mat 20 years ago and immediately fell in love, my yoga journey began. I was extrememely fortunate to have teachers that blended a very powerful physical challenge of yoga with the spiritual teachings behind it. I yearned for more knowledge. I decided to take a teacher training, without an intention to teach at the time. I received my first 200HR YTT from the Miami Yoga Shala under Paul Toulisczious and Fred Busch. I continued to practice everyday, then life took over. I stayed home with my first two children, nursed an injury received from my early overzealous days practicing and mourned the loss of my mom. All these took me away from the practice for some time. I went back to all my other forms of physical activity but nothing affected me the way yoga does.
When we moved to Palm Beach Gardens 6 years ago, both my children were in school and it was the first time in a long time that I didn't have a job to go to or kids at home during the day. I was trying to figure out what to do next and I remember sitting with a neighbor talking about what to do. She asked me, what do you love? I said I love yoga! She said, then do that! I never imagined I could be a yoga teacher. After that, I began practicing daily, healing my injury and re-falling in love.
After about a year of daily practice I started subbing at a local studio and 5 years ago was given my first yoga teaching job at The Yoga Society, formerly Haute Yoga. I love to teach powerful, creative sequences that keeps the students and myself guessing! I love to infuse these sweat filled sessions with spirituality, the same way I learned and the way I love to practice. I am so grateful to all of my teachers along the way who have helped shape me into the teacher I am today.
I look forward to sharing this practice with you.
Dara Gyorko
I have a passion for yoga and healthy living! An art teacher by day, and yoga instructor by night, I can truly say I’m living my passion every day.
I was first introduced to yoga in high school, and started a regular practice through college, after a few years or regular practice I felt called to get my yoga teacher certification, and now I’ve been teaching yoga since July 2017, and loving every moment of it!
I teach a variety of styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin all over south Florida. With a background and education in the fields of Social Work and Nutrition, I have a deep appreciation not only the physical benefits of yoga asana, but also the mental and spiritual healing benefits; and I strive to incorporate all of these aspects of yoga into my practice.
I find so much joy, love, and light in my yoga practice, and hope to be a part of bringing the same to everyone who comes into my classes.
Outside of teaching yoga, I am a school teacher, and nature lover. You can find me spending my free time at the beach, on the water, doing acro-yoga, and traveling as much as possible.
Lauren Schaller
I was born and raised in OH and was called to FL 3 years ago for year-round sunshine, the heat and the ocean!
I started practicing yoga when I began my healing journey 6 years ago. Both the physical practice + the study of yoga philosophy have been a big part of my healing and growth. I completed my 200-hr ytt and am currently enrolled in a 300-hr ytt with Lizzy Moore at Little Ocean Yoga.
I love how yoga provides the tools and potential to bring you back to balance. Yoga gives you exactly what your body, mind and soul needs … no matter what you feel or what you have going on any given day.
The sensation of the breath fueling release, of the breath moving life-force energy through the body during practice brings me into the most grounded, expansive alignment. Sharing this practice in community is truly one of my greatest joys.
My classes are powerful and creative. I’ve been told they can be challenging on the sly. My intention is to provide balanced flows for students and allow space to deeply explore and feel into the poses. My hope is that through yoga students will begin to find their own aligned flow not just on the mat, but in all areas of life!
Nikki Rattinger
Guiding her students through 9/11 to the present, Nikki, Brittany McKay’s mom, incorporates her training in Kripalu, Ashtanga, Power Vinyasa, Anusara, Iyengar, and Bikram yoga into one powerful and unique power vin flow class. Filled with postures and challenge, they are also instructional, passionate and joyful.
Kelly Palmer
I was born and raised in North Carolina. I grew up playing soccer and practiced yoga here and there with my mom, who is also a yoga instructor. After graduating from Appalachian State in 2017, I moved down to Jupiter to work with my family in real estate. Over the next couple of years (and a few different jobs) I began to reconnect with my yoga practice and spirituality. My path led me to the 200 hour teacher training at The Yoga Society in West Palm. It was there that I trained with Jamie, Holly, and Brittany and truly began to understand what it meant to move with my breath, become present to my body, and surrender to what is.
Forever a student, I’m so grateful to have the most amazing community to learn and practice with! I would describe my classes as an “intuitive flow” allowing the yogi to create space for their body, becoming present to what it needs versus what the mind may think it needs. Allowing themselves to let go of resistance and find gratitude for where they are in their practice.
When I’m not flowing I am designing for my upcycling business You’re Like Soul Pretty, hanging with my amazing pets Knight and Mabel, or floating around somewhere on a sandbar in the intracoastal! I’m so excited to be a part of the Hamsa family and I can’t wait to meet you all.
ADDIE FOLEY
At a young age I was introduced to yoga by my mother who is a Bikram yoga instructor. I started with bikram and from my first class it changed me mentally in a way I couldn’t express. From that first class I started taking classes almost twice a day. I was hooked. But I wasn’t taking class anymore for the sweating or physical aspects of it, I was going for how it made me feel mentally. My thoughts changed, my days changed, my whole life changed. I felt like I had become a different person. I was me in new ways and I was constantly changing with my practice. I became a student, a forever student. From that point on I realized that I needed yoga in my everyday life.
I knew I wanted to teach at some point so I started teaching bikram for fun to friends. I then started to expand my practice to vinyasa style, ashtanga, yin to try everything. I then decided to get my 200 hr vinyasa and yin certification locally through Thrive Power Yoga. Shortly after, I received my kids yoga certification as well. I have been teaching at local studios for years now. I love yoga for my mind and body. It has changed my life and I couldn’t imagine not sharing that love through teaching, it’s who I am. What I love most is that you are always a student, there is always something new to learn.
When I teach I give my all. I teach through my soul and passion for yoga. Yoga holds an incredibly large and important space in my life. So when I teach I want to share that love, I give my all to my students and hope they can feel that through my teaching.
To the teachers who have inspired me along the way, continue to teach me daily, help me find my way through this ever evolving practice, I wouldn’t be where I am in my teaching without them all.
Laura Cresci
I’m a 500-E-RYT with a background in fitness training & gymnastics. I taught my first group class at the age of 18 armed with a neon leotard, club music and some fierce aerobic moves, and have been studying and growing ever since.
My yoga study began in 1997 in the ashtanga style at TriYoga in Primrose Hill, London. In the U.S., I earned my 200-RYT with Juluka Yoga in NJ and my 300-RYT at Laughing Lotus in NYC. Over the years, I gained hundreds more hours of advanced training as well as 105 hours specifically for Pre-/Post-Natal Yoga (85-hours with Sonic Yoga, NYC).
Eight years ago I hung up my sneakers and bootcamp whistle (not a lie!) to teach yoga exclusively. No more pounding on my joints or yelling at the top of my lungs. Fitness and health became much more than just physical.
I’ve always presented my classes with a sense of humor, and yoga is no different. (Laughter in class is highly appreciated & works the abs!) I encourage every student to move in a way that suits them best & break free from self-imposed limitations, without judgment or pressure. I love playing with hybrid poses and creative, yet logical sequencing that allows you to learn something new or move in a way that feels different! My playlists are eclectic collections (happy to take requests) and all classes are as challenging or relaxing as you choose them to be.
At the end of the day, it’s the off the mat stuff that matters most and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to inspire, elevate and empower every student who passes through.
David “Dee” Rae
Is a South Florida Native. He is currently finishing his 500hr teacher training, & has worked within the yoga community for the last 10 years. He has managed a small donation based studio, & has been focused on teaching yoga since 2020.
Come & experience David’s big heart, smile, soul & welcoming arms.
Brooke Sorenson
Yoga allowed me to find peace in so many ways; a place to move, sweat, find my calm and can quiet my mind. It has guided me to see my footprint and observe how I walk through this world, how my light gets transferred to those around me, and how to feel and love my life more fully.
When I am moving through asana poses, I can feel the energy that flows between myself and the environment around me. It makes my connection to the universe much more real.
As an instructor, first and foremost I want to provide people a safe place to listen to their body, move and challenge themselves. I want to give people an experience with more depth than that of a regular exercise class. I want them to listen to what they need, pay attention to the details of the postures, and to really feel the energy of yoga move through their body helping to open them physically and mentally. I adore the idea that while I am giving people a body experience I also have the opportunity to help support them in some of the more mental and spiritual pieces of yoga.
Experience: practicing yoga for about 17 years. I have completed two separate 200 hour yoga accreditation programs:
2007 Training: Core Power Yoga, Denver, Colorado
2021 Training: Hamsa Power Yoga, Jupiter Florida with Brittany McKay & Jamie Tarasuk
Diana Dowd
Born and raised in North Carolina, I moved to Florida five years ago to pursue a degree and career in marine biology. My yoga journey began about 8 years ago when I suffered a gymnastics injury that ended my career. My yoga practice was originally intended as a transition from a sport that I loved so much to mitigate my scoliosis and maintain my strength and flexibility, but now yoga has become so much more.
In November of 2021, I completed my 200 hour YTT at Hamsa Power Yoga led by Brittany & Jamie. I am so excited to be teaching at the studio that has brought so much healing and love into my life. I am a power vinyasa teacher, guiding fast and challenging classes to upbeat music. This style of yoga is close to my heart, as it’s how I began my yoga journey, & helped me work through challenges over the years. The faster pace of heated Power Vinyasa allows me to be fully present in my mind and body while on my mat, which cultivates mindfulness and connection to self with each breath I take.
My intention for my classes is to bring you into a space where you can use your practice to not only strengthen your body, but heal from the inside out. I strive to guide you through a class that allows you to feel confident, resilient, and creative. With all the chaos and heaviness that can come with life, I truly believe that this practice can help us connect with our mind, helping us learn to understand how emotions live within our bodies, and how to work through them.
Besides practicing and teaching yoga, I work as a shark freediver, photographer, and handler. I am extremely passionate about the ocean and protecting it. I love to share my knowledge about sharks & the sea with others. Freediving and yoga are very connected for me; both utilize the breath to create deep concentration and spiritual connection.
I am so thrilled and grateful to share this practice with you and cannot wait to meet everyone!
Adam Everitt
Hey, my name is Adam. I have lived in West Palm Beach, Florida for 12 years now. I love it here. I grew up mostly in Washington state, but was born in England! I love the sun and warm weather. That’s kind of the main reason I am here haha. I Have been a golfer most of my life, and I still think it’s the greatest game ever played. I got into yoga almost five years ago, and the journey has been amazing. Yoga has helped me in every aspect in my life. I now teach, and that is incredible. I am very glad I did yoga teacher training. I’m also very glad that I completed my YTT at Hamsa Power Yoga with two awesome women whom I adore; their names are Brittany Mckay and Jamie Tarasuk, owners of Hamsa.
When you take my classes, expect a strong and consistent flow. I always start with a few minutes of meditation to connect with breath, go inward, and tune into your own being. We still the mind and slow down the brain waves. Then we move! I like to play fun, upbeat music. I end each class with a relaxing savasana. See you on your mats soon!
Karen Burnett
Karen Burnett is known in Florida as a respected teacher’s teacher and has been practicing and inspiring others since 1996. Karen has been teaching yoga since 2003 and blends her over two decades of experience and leadership to create her own unique style that is accessible to all. She encourages students to challenge themselves in a smart and strong way and pushes the boundaries of what a yoga class could be by considering yoga an approach to movement, not a rehearsal of poses. Athletic, flowing, alignment based classes where she skillfully integrates the poetry of yoga philosophy and yoga asana with energetic music is her trademark. Karen gets her students to move, expand, balance, and relax, and does it with integrity.
Karen is a scholar-practitioner and is currently completing her MA in Yogic Studies at Naropa University and LMU University. Her many certifications include Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 and in-depth studies with senior teachers of Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Iyengar, and Yin yoga. A former professional athlete’s trainer, TV fitness personality, yoga studio owner and entrepreneur, Karen’s diversity gives her the opportunity to offer greater reach and support for the health and well-being of students and teachers in her community and beyond. She leads her own 200-hr Teacher Training Program, 300-hr and Advanced Trainings, workshops and retreats. One of her greatest joys is sharing her knowledge with teachers and students who participate in her training programs so they can teach and practice more wisely, sustainably, and mindfully.
Karen is dedicated to the practice of yoga and her passion for the time-honored tradition continues to grow with each day on the mat.