Our team
Wendy
OWNER/FOUNDER
Meet Wendy – a City Islander, film and TV costume designer, mom, and Pilates and yoga enthusiast for over two decades. Inspired by the tenacious demands of work and the joyful chaos of motherhood, Wendy's mission to create The Pearl stems from a deep desire to offer a haven where people can get their bodies moving, building strength to navigate the ebb and flow of daily life.
The Pearl is Wendy's love letter to City Island and her physical practice. Her vision for the studio is rooted in the transformative power of movement. Wendy recognized the need for a beautiful and zen space prioritizing personal well-being while fostering a supportive and inclusive community. Built on the principles of Yin and Yang, The Pearl acknowledges the Yang energy of work, city life, and parenthood, while emphasizing the importance of adding some Yin to our lives – taking moments to catch our breath and do something just for ourselves. Wendy believes that incorporating low-impact and chill practices like yoga and Pilates can enhance our lives by promoting happiness and functional movement - if you can do a teaser, being on your feet at work all day is a breeze.
🌊🐚✨
EMMA
YOGA & MAT PILATES
Meet Emma! Emma started her yoga journey with Traditional Hot 26/2 as a teenager in her hometown of Yorktown, NY, flew out to LA, and took on her first 500-hour teacher training in 2014. Since then, Emma has explored different countries and cultures as a traveling yoga instructor, leading yoga retreats and teacher trainings. She has received her Sports Medicine Certification, HIIT Training, Yin & Vinyasa certifications since starting her teaching career. When you take Emma’s classes, you will experience a balance of power and serene energy - she works her yogis hard but also gives them the time to pause, let go, and soak up the benefits of this healing practice. Outside of yoga, she enjoys training in the gym, connecting with nature and getting a really good cup of coffee.
Emma is excited to meet you and hold space at The Pearl 🫶🏻
ANA MARIA
PILATES REFORMER, PILATES MAT, & COMMUNITY CLASSES
Meet Ana Maria - originally from Venezuela and now proudly calls New York City her home. Ana Maria received her Reformer certification in Venezuela and has studied Pilates, Yoga, and Sports Nutrition. She has over eight years of teaching experience.
Ana Maria comes to The Pearl excited to share her expertise and knowledge with you. ¡Get inspired and move/ Inspírate y muévete!
SIREENA
REFORMER PILATES
Meet Sireena! Sireena was introduced to Pilates fifteen years ago while rehabilitating a serious back injury made worse by a sedentary lifestyle courtesy of corporate finance. She fell in love with the mind-body connection in Pilates and its ability to help her to effectively reduce pain, manage and relieve stress.
Sireena received her Pilates Mat & Comprehensive Reformer certification through Equinox. She's also a certified Vinyasa Yoga instructor.
Sireena’s classes implement breathing techniques and focus on alignment with a deep emphasis on core and balance. She also loves to learn about the human body and is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for students of all levels.
STEPHANIE
YOGA & KIDS YOGA
Meet Stephanie! Stephanie received her 200 hour Registered Yoga Training from Absolute Yoga on Long Island, and has been teaching a refined-flow style of yoga since 2015. Her classes reflect a unique combination of Anusara - an alignment based practice and Prana Flow - an energetic, creative flow that moves with the breath. Additionally, Stephanie is a Yogi Beans certified children's yoga teacher so she's sure to bring the element of playfulness to all of her classes!
During her time teaching yoga, she became interested in diving deeper into the study of body mechanics, anatomical principles, and safe movements for all. In 2018, Stephanie earned her degree and became a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and soon began her career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 2022, she earned her title as a Senior PTA based on the depth of her clinical skills, her ability to provide the highest quality of care to her patients, and her ability to cover all services in the hospital including pediatrics, orthopedics, neurology, and transplant. Stephanie has a passion for working with both the adult and pediatric populations, always striving to find creative ways to integrate her yoga training into her PT sessions.
ANNIKA
BALLET
Meet Annika! Annika began her ballet training at age 7 in Spokane, Washington. At 15, she moved to Phoenix to train full time at the School of Ballet Arizona. Summer training included time spent at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Rock School for Dance Education, Boston Ballet School, Dutch National Ballet School, and the School of American Ballet on full scholarship. In 2016, Annika joined Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company and in 2018, she was promoted to Ballet Arizona’s professional company. As a company member, Annika worked with world-renowned choreographers and performed in both classical and contemporary ballets.
In 2022, Annika expanded her passion for dance by teaching ballet classes at several studios in the Phoenix area and as a dance instructor for Gonzaga University’s Junior Summer Dance Intensive. Annika is currently a full-time student at Fordham University in The Bronx, majoring in political science and is thrilled to continue her dance journey at The Pearl.
DEE
MEDITATION, YOGA, & SPECIALTY WORKSHOPS
Meet Dee, Bronx native, and the Co-founder and Health/Wellness Coordinator of Noble Alkhemy. With a master's degree in health education and promotion and over 15 years of experience in the health field, Dee is a dedicated health educator. Recognizing the limitations of Western medicine, Dee emphasizes the importance of holistic health, encompassing mental, social, financial, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Passionate about the natural world and practical alchemy, Dee offers a range of services to her community, including Wellness Coaching, Yoga, Meditation, Food Medicine, and Inner Child Healing Workshops with Laughter Meditation, all aimed at supporting a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Amy
YOGA & MAT PILATES
Amy is a group fitness instructor and certified yoga teacher who loves to share her passion for fitness with the world. She lives on City Island with her husband and two young boys. Motherhood inspired her to focus on personal wellness and adopt a more active lifestyle including yoga and pilates. Realizing the profound physical and mental health benefits generated by movement, she sought to deepen her understanding of the practice. She became a registered yoga instructor (RYT) with over 200 hours of accredited training, and has taught at several local fitness centers throughout the past six years. Her specialties include Hatha Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, mat Pilates and prenatal and childrens yoga. Her method of instruction consists of safely cued movement with modifications for all fitness levels. She hopes to make yoga accessible to all who seek personal growth and wellness & provide a haven for students from all walks of life. In her spare time, Amy also enjoys spending time in nature by hiking, rock climbing, and biking around the Orchard Beach trails.
It is with enthusiasm and excitement she begins teaching at The Pearl, in and for the community she loves dearly.
NICOLE
PERINATAL YOGA
Nicole, a mother of two, embodies a multifaceted role as a full spectrum community-based doula, lactation counselor, yoga instructor, and oral historian. Her approach is rooted in a calming, culturally informed, and humanistic ethos, providing unwavering support to individuals throughout the childbirth journey.
With ancestry hailing from both the Southern United States and the Caribbean, and firmly based in the Bronx, Nicole is dedicated to amplifying the borough's essence and elevating the Black experience within the realms of birth and social justice activism. As the co-founder of Sésé, Birthing Freedom, and as a co-founder of Bx (Re)Birth and Progress Collective, she spearheads transformative initiatives such as a community doula program, accessible wellness offerings, and mentorship among others.
Nicole's yoga teaching is a profound extension of her holistic approach to support. Through her practice, she channels tranquility and resilience, guiding individuals toward physical and emotional wellness. In her classes, she weaves together elements of mindfulness, cultural reverence, and social justice, creating a space for healing and empowerment. In every facet of her work, Nicole embodies a commitment to uplifting individuals and communities, ensuring that the journey through childbirth and beyond is one marked by dignity, agency, and belonging.
ADRIENE
PILATES
Adriene is a Second Generation Classical Pilates Instructor, Yoga Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Thai Bodywork Practitioner, Somatic Movement/Manual Therapist (SOMA), Stretching/Flexibility Instructor and Personal Trainer with over 20 years experience teaching Yoga, Pilates, Thai Massage, Yoga Therapy, Assisted Stretching, Movement Therapy and Personal Training. Adriene was privileged to study directly and extensively for several years with two protégées of Joseph Pilates: the late Romana Kryzanowska, and the late Kathleen Stanford Grant. Adriene holds six full Pilates certifications (3 classical and 3 contemporary) as well as specialty certifications in Pilates for Pregnancy, Scoliosis, Osteoporosis and Rehabilitation. As a Master Instructor, Personal Trainer and Movement Specialist, Adriene has presented Instructor Certifications, Masterclasses and Workshops in Classical Pilates, Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Functional/Resistance Training, Muscle Release Techniques, Stretching, Flexibility/ Mobility Training and Post-Rehabilitation throughout the United States and abroad for the past fifteen plus years. Adriene is currently studying Osteopathy and works closely with several Physicians, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, and Physical Therapists in New York City and Westchester, New York. In addition, Adriene works with a variety of Professional Athletes, including football (NFL) & baseball (MLB) players as well as several Hollywood Stars and Professional Musicians.
Adriene is also a Multi-certified Yoga Instructor and Yoga Therapist. She is certified in the Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga and Kripalu Styles of Yoga, and holds specialty certifications in Prenatal-postpartum Yoga, Yoga for Scoliosis, Yoga for Osteoporosis, Yoga for Heart Disease & Cancer, Seniors, Thai Yoga Bodywork and Yoga Therapy. Adriene has been extremely successful with hundreds of clients using several types of somatic, energetic, and other bodywork techniques which have been effective in alleviating chronic pain and injury as well as promoting health & wellness. Adriene's interest in, and extensive study of anatomy, biomechanics, yoga therapy, a variety of bodywork techniques and rehabilitation has led to her specializing in working with people with chronic pain and injuries, Seniors, Athletes, Prenatal/Postpartum, Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, Cancer and other special populations. Adriene worked as a Master Spinning Instructor for over four years certifying hundreds of Spinning Instructors throughout the United States. She was also a Master Instructor for Resistaball and Peak Pilates. Adriene is a NYC Marathoner, Competitive Cyclist, Avid Weight Lifter and Classical Pianist who lives in NYC.
MA, CPT, E-RYT 500, RPYT, SYT, RS, FMT2, CFSS, IMTC, RTP, ST, C-IAYT
JOANN
YOGA
Meet Joann! Joann is a kindergarten teacher and yoga instructor. Joann completed her 200-hour training in 2015 through Awakened Warrior Teacher Training. She is also trained in Kids yoga through Karma Kids. Her passion for yoga, teaching children, and playing the guitar brings so much joy and purpose to her life! She is so eager to join this beautiful community and continue to make wonderful memories.