Team Members

Kate received her 200 hour yoga teaching certification from YogaWorks in 2010, a nationally recognized program with roots in both the ashtanga (flow) and iyengar (alignment) lineages. During this time Kate was also a founding staff member of the Lil Omm Yoga community in Washington DC, where she worked with a collective of teachers to bring the eight limbs of yoga to students throughout the life cycle. This shaped her belief that yoga is a practice for any age and stage in our lives, and she weaves this perspective into the classes and workshops she teaches. Kate is also certified to teach mindfulness through Mindfulness Matters, and has developed mindfulness programs for classrooms that include professional training for educators. In addition to her certifications, she has studied multiple modalities and perspectives through retreats and workshops including Zen Buddhist Meditation with Karen Maezen Miller, Insight Meditation with Tara Brach and Sharon Salzburg, restorative movement with Donna Farhi, prenatal/postnatal yoga with Pleasance Silicki and children’s yoga at the National Kids Yoga Conference. Kate holds a BA in History from Middlebury College. 

Kate is a true neighbor — she lives right around the corner in Ridgebury with her husband Mike and two children (one who literally spent her first five years in a yoga studio!). She serves on the Ridgefield Little League Board of Directors and is the Vice President of the Wooster School Parent’s Association. Along with her lab mix Stella, she also volunteers as a Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR) Therapy Dog Team. In her spare time she can be found cooking, hiking, trying to be a better gardener, cheering at her son’s baseball games, seeing her daughter’s plays and planning her next ski trip.

Fun Fact: Kate has an Advanced Certificate in Wine from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and has completed over eight wine education programs including the Windows on the World Wine School — all for research in her role as a writer for Wine Spectator magazine’s first wine education program.

For a more detailed professional background, visit her LinkedIn profile.

Her teaching style incorporates hatha, vinyasa, pranayama and meditation and invites students to a physical practice that is interesting, empowering and trauma-informed. Fanta is committed to expanding access to yoga to underexposed communities and provides vocal instructions and alignment cues during class to support focus and intuition in students’ practice, and build resilience.

With a background in event planning, Michelle combined her love of celebrations and passion for Connecticut by founding Celebrate Connecticut, LLC, helping others discover the hidden gems of the Nutmeg State. As a proud representative of Easton on the Western Connecticut Tourism District, she has long been committed to fostering community and finding joy in every moment.

At The Market, Michelle is excited to bring people together over good food and great coffee, creating a warm and welcoming space for connection. She looks forward to sharing her passion with the community and making The Market a place where friends gather, conversations flow, and celebrations come to life.

Fun fact: Michelle has the worst sense of direction, but loves driving wherever the road leads. Finding hidden gems along the way excites her, and knowing the GPS will eventually get her home makes her want to keep driving! She’s happiest when traveling with her pal, Easton, her adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

She has sung leading roles in operas, performed as a soloist with orchestras and choirs, and won awards in vocal competitions. Her educational background includes a Master of Music from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, where she studied vocal performance and musical theatre. Sara also studied at the Eastman School of Music during high school, competing in both voice and piano.

Sara’s varied career includes sabbatical teaching roles at Ithaca College and work in organizational development and training for corporations and nonprofits. These experiences shaped her understanding of the balance required to thrive as a working musician and creative professional. Today, she teaches voice, piano, acting, and presentation skills, writes and performs original music, and collaborates with her husband James in their duo, James&Sara. She also arranges ensemble performances and organizes concerts to give students, emerging artists, and professionals a platform to share their talents.

Sara believes music and words can illuminate life’s joys, soothe its sorrows, and inspire connection. Whether encouraging students, directing music programs, or performing, she creates spaces where creativity can flourish.

At home, Sara and James live creatively in their little yellow house in Connecticut, surrounded by wild gardens and three adopted cats.

Fun Fact: Sara has volunteered at local animal shelters, and would often go sing soft songs to the cats to keep them company.  One time, while she was singing Amazing Grace, a sweet little kitty tapped her on the shoulder as she sang the word “Grace.” She came home with Sara that day and of course, the kitten’s name became “Grace.”

Learn more about Sara on her studio’s website.

Candice believes that we are facing an epidemic of loneliness, and that authentic communication can lead to genuine connection and healing. Her work with The Meetinghouse is driven by her passion for community and belonging.

Candice has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum University, with focuses in Business and English, with postgraduate work in middle childhood education.

She and her partner currently reside in North Carolina with two dogs, Taylor and Gibson, and one cat, Calvin. 

Fun Fact: In her spare time, Candice enjoys a variety of activities, from gardening and knitting, to woodworking and playing video games.  She recently built a Windsor chair from log-split wood using only hand tools, and is entirely too attached to the villagers on her Animal Crossing: New Horizons island.

For more about Candice, visit her LinkedIn profile. 

Claire discovered yoga over 25 years ago while working in a demanding environment. The practice became a transformative tool, helping her navigate stress and grow into leadership roles at a young age. This experience inspired her shift toward a career in wellness, where she’s spent over a decade as a holistic coach and instructor, teaching yoga, Pilates, and barre.

Committed to continual learning, Claire holds a 500-hour RYT, along with certifications in prenatal/postpartum yoga, yin yoga, barre, and Pilates. She completed health coach training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where she studied dietary theories, coaching techniques, and lifestyle management strategies. Claire designs supportive and creative classes and collaborates on wellness initiatives at The Meetinghouse.

Her mission is to help individuals connect with their inner wisdom and reframe wellness as something they inherently deserve, rather than something earned through external validation.

Claire holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Northeastern University and a Bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of Vermont. She also studied abroad at the School for International Training in Ghana.

She lives in Connecticut with her husband, their two amazing (and wonderfully exhausting) children, and two equally energetic dogs.

Fun Fact: When Claire isn’t teaching she’s often coaching field hockey, driving her kids to practice, or running after her two dogs – often feeling like she’s doing them all at once!

For more about Claire, visit her LinkedIn profile. 

She believes that time spent in nature fosters a deeper appreciation for the environment, inspiring care and stewardship. Heather also values the mental and emotional benefits of outdoor experiences, which can reduce stress, clear the mind, and cultivate a sense of peace that extends to other parts of life.

With a Master’s in Environmental Studies from Southern Connecticut State University, Heather also holds a degree in education from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s in German from Allegheny College. She furthered her studies at the Goethe Institut in Staufen, Germany.

At The Meetinghouse, Heather is focused on creating welcoming outdoor spaces, including walking paths, gardens, and seating areas, while reducing the campus’s environmental footprint. She organizes environmental programming, invites guest speakers, and leads a study of native plant life in the wooded wetlands.

Her work integrates with wellness and wisdom initiatives, encouraging growth in body, mind, and soul.

Heather lives with her dog Elinor and enjoys baking, gardening, and traveling.

Fun Fact: Heather rode an ostrich when she was in South Africa!

For more about Heather, visit her LinkedIn profile. 

Her strong organizational skills play a key role in maintaining records, managing files, and coordinating event schedules. Carole oversees financial operations, including income processing, invoicing, and payroll, while ensuring the historic buildings are properly maintained to create a safe and welcoming space for the community. She also serves on the sexton team alongside Heather Thomas.

Carole holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Connecticut State University and spent a semester as an exchange student at West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Outside of work, she enjoys a variety of sports, including kickboxing, softball, and basketball. She treasures time spent with her partner, Heather, and their family and friends, especially her two great-nephews.

Fun Fact: Carole has been to 19 Women’s Basketball Final Fours since 2000, with UCONN Huskies winning 10 of them! Carole also officiated her niece’s wedding in 2022.