Meet Our Friendly Staff :
Nicole Dobson, RYT
Nicole graduated from Breathe Yoga’s 200-hour teacher training program and is a Registered Yoga Teacher through the National Yoga Alliance. Nicole first stepped on her mat over 10 years ago when she took a class with her mom at a gym in Syracuse. She instantly fell in love with yoga and all the lessons she has been able to learn through her practice over the years. At first, the challenge of the physical asana is what brought her back week after week, but over time she has realized the power of meditation and relaxation as well.
Having primarily studied the Baptiste method, Nicole enjoys taking classes from the many inspirational instructors in the Rochester area to further her teaching as well as her own personal practice. She continues to share her passion for yoga through teaching and attending workshops and truly feels that when we are able to open our awareness through breath and movement in class and then take that off the mat into our daily lives is when we truly see the benefits that Yoga can provide.
Having primarily studied the Baptiste method, Nicole enjoys taking classes from the many inspirational instructors in the Rochester area to further her teaching as well as her own personal practice. She continues to share her passion for yoga through teaching and attending workshops and truly feels that when we are able to open our awareness through breath and movement in class and then take that off the mat into our daily lives is when we truly see the benefits that Yoga can provide.
Melanie Macdonald, RYT, RCYP
Melanie is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the National Yoga Alliance under the direction of internationally acclaimed yogi, Francois Raoult in the Iyengar Tradition of Hatha Yoga and also a "Radiant Child" Certified Children's Yoga Teacher under the direction of Shakta Khalsa, E-RYT500. Her studies include: Ayurveda with Sonam Targee and Dr. Robert Svoboda, Yoga history & philosophy with Douglas Brooks, PhD., and anatomy with Laura Allard, RIYT. Melanie is also a certified Level III Reiki Master through Natural Healing under the direction of Julie Chapus, MSW.
She is so grateful to have taught for so many amazing organizations, such as: Cool Kids!, The Girl Scouts of America, Camp Daydreams, and the Seneca Park Zoo Society. She has also taught for Trinity Montessori School, Brockport Central School, Spencerport BOCES, and SUNY Brockport.
Melanie came to yoga after the birth of her first child. In search of a healthier body, Melanie soon found not only a healthier body, but also a relaxed mental and emotional state. She has maintained a steady yoga practice for both herself and her family. She currently resides in Brockport with her husband and two lovely daughters.
Melanie's contagious energy and imagination fill her classes with a joyous sense of self discovery and laughter. Through her teachings Melanie strives to promote compassion and well-being for all.
She is so grateful to have taught for so many amazing organizations, such as: Cool Kids!, The Girl Scouts of America, Camp Daydreams, and the Seneca Park Zoo Society. She has also taught for Trinity Montessori School, Brockport Central School, Spencerport BOCES, and SUNY Brockport.
Melanie came to yoga after the birth of her first child. In search of a healthier body, Melanie soon found not only a healthier body, but also a relaxed mental and emotional state. She has maintained a steady yoga practice for both herself and her family. She currently resides in Brockport with her husband and two lovely daughters.
Melanie's contagious energy and imagination fill her classes with a joyous sense of self discovery and laughter. Through her teachings Melanie strives to promote compassion and well-being for all.
Melissa Kleehammer, RYT
Melissa is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the National Yoga Alliance under the direction of Jan Hauenstein and the TRY 4Life Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her 200 hour level Yoga Teacher Training Certificate in February of 2012. Melissa has been exploring many different avenues in yoga including, Yin, Restorative, Power, Vinyasa and more. She found yoga while struggling with her career path and seeking her true passion. With a personal background in gymnastics and fitness, she found a deep connection to yoga and the transition was clear. It did not take her long to experience yoga and understand it's philosophy as a new way to live and is enthusiastic and passionate about sharing this awareness with others.
After living in different cities for almost 15 years, living your yoga has truly been an inspiration to her and is what brought Melissa back home to Brockport.
After living in different cities for almost 15 years, living your yoga has truly been an inspiration to her and is what brought Melissa back home to Brockport.
Michelle Wilcox, NASM, CPT
Michelle is a graduate of the Beyond The Mat Teacher Training certification program under the direction of Stephanie Mortellaro, E-RYT. She is a certified Level I Mat Teacher in the Pilates Method of Physical Conditioning. Additionally she is an NASM-certified Personal Trainer. She has studied both Yoga & Running and Yoga for Athletes with Sage Rountree, RYT, a USA Triathlon and RRCA certified coach. Along with her classes at the studio, Michelle is a Wellness Instructor and Personal Trainer at The Rochester Institute of Technology.
In addition to Pilates, Michelle is an avid runner and participates in many local races. She has run both the New York City and Chicago Marathon for charity raising over $10,000.00 for the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center!
Michelle was born and raised in Brockport. After living in the DC area for more than 15 years she returned and now resides here with her husband and three children.
Michelle truly believes, as Joseph H. Pilates said, "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness." She looks forward to sharing her love and enthusiasm for Pilates and fitness with all of her students. In her own life Pilates has allowed her to find balance in body and mind as well as strength and recovery as a runner. She feels strongly that all athletes, and runners in particular, can benefit greatly from the addition of Pilates into their lives and hopes to pass this along through her teachings.
In addition to Pilates, Michelle is an avid runner and participates in many local races. She has run both the New York City and Chicago Marathon for charity raising over $10,000.00 for the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center!
Michelle was born and raised in Brockport. After living in the DC area for more than 15 years she returned and now resides here with her husband and three children.
Michelle truly believes, as Joseph H. Pilates said, "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness." She looks forward to sharing her love and enthusiasm for Pilates and fitness with all of her students. In her own life Pilates has allowed her to find balance in body and mind as well as strength and recovery as a runner. She feels strongly that all athletes, and runners in particular, can benefit greatly from the addition of Pilates into their lives and hopes to pass this along through her teachings.
Stephanie Mortellaro, E-RYT, CPT
Stephanie passionately believes in the body's ability to heal through movement, breath, meditation and peace in body and in mind. Her intention is to open a level of awareness in her students so they, too, can achieve this awakening. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the National Yoga Alliance and a certified Pilates Teacher. Stephanie has been studying movement most of her life, first as a dancer and then as a Pilates and Yoga enthusiast for nearly 20 years! She has completed Yoga Teacher Training with Francois Raoult, Pilates Teacher Training with Addison Heffernan, Judith Lasater's Basic and Advanced Restorative Yoga Trainings as well as Elise Browning Millers Yoga for Scoliosis and Back Care Training and is currently working towards her Pranayama Teaching Certificate under Francois Raoult.
Additionally: Anatomy with Laura Allard, RIYT. Kinesiology with Daniel Too, PhD. Yoga History & Philosophy with Douglas Brooks, PhD. and Edwin Bryant, PhD. Physiology with Roger Cole, PhD. Ayurvedic Medicine with Sonam Targee. She continues to take classes in the USA and abroad to keep herself informed for her students, currently with Patricia Walden. In December 2008 - January of 2009 she made her first pilgrimage to Mother India to immerse herself in yoga.
Stephanie opened Beyond Center for Yoga & Pilates in October of 2004 with a deep desire to bring awareness and integrity to the "West Side" Yoga and Pilates community. She is dedicated to the advancement of her own studies and that of her staff to help bring her students the very best in education for their health and well being. She is the creator of Beyond The Mat Teacher Training, providing teachers and advanced Pilates practitioners with the Level I Mat Certification in the Pilates Method. Along with the studio Stephanie has held / currently holds faculty positions at The Rochester Institute of Technology, The Chautauqua Institute, Open Sky Yoga Center and has done workshops for the SUNY Brockport Dance Department as well as other schools locally and throughout the USA.
Stephanie wishes to give great thanks and credit to her teachers, most especially her dear teacher, Francois Raoult, who helped her find her way back home to herself. She is forever grateful for the wisdom imparted on her which has shaped her into the teacher she is today. She wishes to dedicate her teachings to this lineage with sincere gratitude. Through her teaching, Stephanie strives to create a kind, healing atmosphere where students can bloom in their own glory of inner wisdom and health.
Additionally: Anatomy with Laura Allard, RIYT. Kinesiology with Daniel Too, PhD. Yoga History & Philosophy with Douglas Brooks, PhD. and Edwin Bryant, PhD. Physiology with Roger Cole, PhD. Ayurvedic Medicine with Sonam Targee. She continues to take classes in the USA and abroad to keep herself informed for her students, currently with Patricia Walden. In December 2008 - January of 2009 she made her first pilgrimage to Mother India to immerse herself in yoga.
Stephanie opened Beyond Center for Yoga & Pilates in October of 2004 with a deep desire to bring awareness and integrity to the "West Side" Yoga and Pilates community. She is dedicated to the advancement of her own studies and that of her staff to help bring her students the very best in education for their health and well being. She is the creator of Beyond The Mat Teacher Training, providing teachers and advanced Pilates practitioners with the Level I Mat Certification in the Pilates Method. Along with the studio Stephanie has held / currently holds faculty positions at The Rochester Institute of Technology, The Chautauqua Institute, Open Sky Yoga Center and has done workshops for the SUNY Brockport Dance Department as well as other schools locally and throughout the USA.
Stephanie wishes to give great thanks and credit to her teachers, most especially her dear teacher, Francois Raoult, who helped her find her way back home to herself. She is forever grateful for the wisdom imparted on her which has shaped her into the teacher she is today. She wishes to dedicate her teachings to this lineage with sincere gratitude. Through her teaching, Stephanie strives to create a kind, healing atmosphere where students can bloom in their own glory of inner wisdom and health.
Val Gaesser, MS, CPT
Val has been a student of Stephanie's prior to the conception of Beyond! She is a graduate of the Beyond The Mat Teacher Training under the direction of Stephanie Mortellaro, E-RYT. Val is a certified Level I Mat teacher in the Pilates Method of Physical Conditioning.
Along with her classes at Beyond, Val is also a 5th grade math teacher for the Kendall Elementary School. She received her undergraduate degree from Niagara University and her Masters in Elementary Education from SUNY Brockport. She is also the mother to five children ranging in ages 12-28 years of age and a new grandmother!
Val has a very strong and committed practice and lives a life dedicated to health and well being. She says her Pilates practice brings her increased energy, strength and a sense of well being. Val's calm and patient manner supports those who are new to Pilates and encourages others to reach new personal heights. Through her teaching Val hopes to help others of all ages and abilities to increase their energy, strength and peace of mind as well as to find balance in their daily lives.
Along with her classes at Beyond, Val is also a 5th grade math teacher for the Kendall Elementary School. She received her undergraduate degree from Niagara University and her Masters in Elementary Education from SUNY Brockport. She is also the mother to five children ranging in ages 12-28 years of age and a new grandmother!
Val has a very strong and committed practice and lives a life dedicated to health and well being. She says her Pilates practice brings her increased energy, strength and a sense of well being. Val's calm and patient manner supports those who are new to Pilates and encourages others to reach new personal heights. Through her teaching Val hopes to help others of all ages and abilities to increase their energy, strength and peace of mind as well as to find balance in their daily lives.
