Sophia first found yoga when she was moving forward in a dancing career, but having a hard time in life.

Through the struggle of perfectionism, self-criticism, and an eating disorder, she found healing in yoga. Her passion is to help others feel at home in their body and more happiness in their life.

Her classes weave a combination of uplifting music, intelligent sequencing, emphasis on proper alignment, and breathing techniques. She is known for her calm nature and ability to provide support to the needs of each student.

Sophia’s teaching style is inspired by her world-acclaimed teachers: Sharon Gannon and David Life of Jivamukti Yoga. Other teachers she's been lucky to study with are Janet Stone, Kia Miller, Jason Crandell, and Shiva Rae.

When she isn't on the yoga mat, you'll find her hiking, dancing, singing, or making mischief somewhere with her niece and nephew.

I remember falling in love with Yoga when I was 18 years old.

While I was in university in New York City, studying fashion and art, I started to go deep into my practice. I was lucky enough to take classes from so many incredible teachers while I was living there. The sense of ease after a yoga class was just so palpable, my stress started to melt away. I knew yoga was going to be an important part of my life creatively and spiritually.

In 2009 I went to study in India for a year where I got my Yoga Alliance certification. The most important thing I learned is to listen: there is no one perfect practice for everyone. The practice we have changes every day every minute every year.

Lucid is alive to help others thrive.

As a trauma informed yogi, with 30 years of study in many healing practices, she weaves the teachings of Yoga; movement, breath, meditation, & Non-Dual Tantrik philosophy w/ ritual & practice that acknowledge;  season, celestial movements, and phases of life.  She includes the use of sound healing & expressive arts.  Her studies in healing from trauma, cancer, & addiction, as well as neuroscience, nutrition, essential oils, Non-Violent Communication, Peer Counseling, earth magick, energy medicine, & Lifeline Healing Technique also inform her teaching. 

Her classes are naturally spiritual, playful & creative, anatomically sound, and deeply informed by the history and tradition of yoga while also occasionally weaving in other movement modalities. Her classes have been called "the sweetest ass kicking ever".

She is dedicated to embracing all beings & all aspects of being for a full celebration of life, including courageously facing death.

An artist, designer, and business owner, Jillian’s sense of creativity and dedication to deep listening all inform how she inspires, leads, and operates in her day to day life. She’s been a vinyasa teacher for 15 years, has led multiple teacher trainings, conducted yoga retreats all over the world, and guided the now transformed Jewel City Yoga through 2020 with the introduction of live online yoga classes. In 2022, she reimagined JCY, and founded Arise Yoga in two new and beautiful locations in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Oakland. 2023 saw the addition of an Arise Yoga studio in San Francisco, and Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. She hires teachers for each studio with heart, builds community intentionally, and finds joy and meaning in teaching yoga with her two year old baby, River, by her side.

In the 2025 yoga training, Jillian teaches Nonviolent Communication, Dharma Talks, and Uncovering Your Authentic Voice. She’s excited to help shape and support a new wave of compassionate, creative, and beautifully diverse yoga teachers, and she looks forward to working with her fellow teachers to deliver a fulfilling and enriching experience for all students in the program.

Alexandra has been practicing yoga for 13+ years and teaching for the past 10 years.

In addition to teaching yoga, Alex is a professional dancer and choreographer. She also teaches Pilates, dance, strength and conditioning. Alex believes that yoga is for everyone no matter where you are in your yoga or fitness journey. Alex brings a fun and inviting energy to all of her classes which are focused on alignment and body awareness.