Our Teachers

Donna Dyer, E-RYT 500 - An avid believer in the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, Donna brings a sense of lighthearted fun, compassion and spirituality to her popular classes.  She enjoys the opportunity to inspire and challenge students to be the best yogis they can be, both on and off the mat.  Her emphasis on internal awareness, alignment and use of the breath allows students to go inward and let go of the stresses of life.  Practicing yoga since 1996, Donna completed a 500-hour intensive teacher training course and continues to enrich her training by studying with her teachers Rodney Yee (Hatha), Tim Miller (Ashtanga) and Desiree Rumbaugh (Anusara).  She has also had the opportunity to experience the teachings of numerous other top teachers in the country.  After teaching in various locations throughout Pittsburgh, in 2002 Donna followed her dream and created Yoga H'om, a warm, friendly place to share her passion for yoga with all those interested.  She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and is a teacher trainer offering 200 and 500-hour Yoga Alliance approved teacher-training programs at Yoga H'om.  The mother of two grown children and proud grandmother, Donna resides in the area with her husband.

Margaret (Maggie), E-RYT 200, RYT 500 - has been practicing yoga since 2003.  She removed herself from the stress of the corporate world, used yoga to transform her own life and has been devoted to pursuing the life journey into Yoga full-time.   Maggie completed her 200-hour training in 2006 and her 500-hour certification in November 2010 with Donna Dyer at Yoga H'om.   She is passionate about sharing her knowledge of yoga and guiding others on their journey.  Her vinyasa flow style encourages her students to find peace by linking breath with body and mind on and off the mat.  Maggie continues to find inspiration through study with senior teachers such as Rodney Yee and Desiree Rumbaugh.  She also enjoys art, music, family, friends and spending time with her husband Phil in the great the outdoors.

 

Lori,  E-RYT 200, RYT 500 has been practicing yoga since 2001, where she learned from a wonderful group of teachers at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center.  Shortly after she moved to Pittsburgh in 2003, Lori found BYS.  Her passion for yoga became stronger and she was inspired to learn to teach.  Lori completed her RYT-200 in early 2006 with Donna Dyer at Yoga H’om and after over 1,000 hours of teaching experience she became registered as an E-RYT in 2008.  She earned her RYT-500 in late 2010 also at Yoga H’om and plans to continue along the path of gathering yoga knowledge for the foreseeable future.

Lori brings creativity and joy to her teachings.  As a true believer in the healing effects of yoga, she creates a safe and compassionate environment for students.  Her teaching style draws upon her intention to help students join their breath with their movement; building a moving meditation that stills the mind and brings students closer to connecting with their inner wisdom.

 

Patti, RYT 500, began her yoga career in response to some health problems 11 years ago. As her love of yoga grew, she decided to become a teacher to share her unique perspective on the benefits of yoga. She believes yoga can help just about everything and is passionate about learning all she can to help her students have the best possible yoga experience. After completing her 200 hour certification, she decided to pursue her 500 hour certification with Donna Dyer at Yoga H’om. Upon completion, she became certified with Yoga Alliance at the 500 hour level.

Patti has attended workshops with some of the yoga masters including Desiree Rumbaugh, Tim Miller, Master Paulie Zink and Leslie Kaminoff, She especially enjoys teaching Prenatal, Community, and beginner level yoga classes. When she is not teaching yoga, Patti is a diabetes researcher at the University of Pittsburgh.

 

Wes, RYT 200 - Way back in the fall of 2006 Wes began his journey on the path of yoga when he moved into an apartment that happened to be located three blocks from a yoga studio.  Little did he know how profoundly his life would be forever changed for the better with a regular asana practice. Over the last four years he has studied under, or at least taken a few classes from, a number of the many excellent instructors in the Pittsburgh area.  He also has had the opportunity to attend workshops lead by Edward Clark of Tripsichore, Desiree Rumbaugh, Paulie Zink, Tim Miller, and Leslie Kaminoff.  In 2009 Wes completed the 200-hour teacher training program at Yoga H'om under Donna Dyer.  Wes wholeheartedly believes that the journey is comprised of many paths, and that all styles of yoga can offer immeasurable benefits to those who are open to them.  His approach to teaching emphasizes the physically oriented aspects of breath, movement, and stillness.  It is his intent to humbly share with others the tidbits of yoga insight that he continues to discover along the way.

 

Jenny, RYT 200 -  has been a dedicated yogi for more than twenty years.   Initially drawn to the physical beauty and challenge of yoga, she later gained deeper appreciation for its philosophical and spiritual aspects through teacher training at Yoga H’om.   As a professional violinist in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, she has experienced the many benefits of yoga on her performing, and as a veteran marathoner, yoga has helped keep her running smooth and injury free.  Jenny has attended workshops with some of the great yoga masters including Desiree Rumbaugh, Tim Miller, Sri Dharma Mittra, Kino McGregor and Leslie Kaminoff, and international touring with the PSO has given her the opportunity to take yoga classes all over the world.  More than a strong asana practice, Jenny strives to bring yogic concepts to the mat that can be applied to daily life. Awareness, breath, focus, balance, strength and joy is what yoga is all about for her and sharing these ideas through teaching has been her greatest reward.

 

Lisa, RYT 200 - Yoga found Lisa in 2004.  Not only does she enjoy the physical challenges and benefits of her yoga practice, but she also embraces the spiritual and philosophical aspects that continually prove to be life changing.  Inspired to learn more from Donna Dyer and the community at Yoga H'om, Lisa completed the 200-hour RYT teacher training program in 2010.

When not practicing or teaching yoga, Lisa focuses on managing her human resource consulting business.  She loves to hike, travel and spend time with her husband and two beautiful children.

 

 

Jamie, RYT 200 - began practicing yoga in 1996.  After years of moving all over the world and raising 2 boys, she and her husband are settled in Pittsburgh where she is filling her empty nest with yoga.  Jamie completed her 200-hour certification at Yoga H’om in 2010, and is delighted to discover that her passion for yoga has blossomed into pure joy by sharing it with others through teaching. 

She has been privileged to attend workshops with master teachers Richard Freeman, Sharon Gannon and David Life, Desiree Rumbaugh, Rodney Yee and Tim Miller.  Jamie especially appreciates how the inner peace and harmony yoga creates on the mat permeates into your life off the mat, and can positively affect all those around you.  Aside from yoga she enjoys hiking, boating, knitting, reading and spending time at her cabin on Priest Lake in Idaho.

 

Bridget, RYT-200 - In October 2007 Bridget attended a yoga class at Yoga H'om. She had done yoga before but never on a regular basis. One class with Donna and she was hooked. After a year and a half of regular attendance, Bridget decided to expand her own practice by participating in Donna's 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2009. To her own surprise she discovered the she really enjoyed helping others learn and grow finding little hints can go a long way in taking someone that little bit deeper and farther into a pose.  Bringing confidence, balance and a sense of peace to her life, Bridget can honestly say that yoga has changed her life.

 

Monica, RYT 200 – Fitness has always been a part of Monica’s life. In 2002, Monica was introduced to yoga at the gym she was attending. At that moment, she knew she found much more than just another way to break a sweat. Desiring to learn more about this beautiful practice, Monica arrived at Donna Dyer’s Yoga H’om. It was there that the ‘yoga’ she had been practicing transformed from being just a physical exercise into a complete mind, body and life changing experience. Knowing how greatly this practice affected her life, Monica knew in her heart that she had to share this practice with others and enrolled into Donna’s 200-hour teacher training program in 2011.

Monica's intention is to uplift and send you on your way to a better day. Monica's yoga journey has been an amazing experience. She will continue to grow and expand her knowledge by studying under Max Strom, Desiree Rumbaugh (Anusara) and Kino MacGregor (Ashtanga) as well as many more senior yoga masters in the years to come!  When Monica isn’t practicing yoga she enjoys spending time with her husband, their dog Ruby, mountain biking, and jewelry making.

Melissa, RYT-200 – Yoga is a tremendous source of balance and healing for Melissa, a gift that has helped her overcome the life altering medical challenges of stroke and chronic migraines. Her philosophy is to inspire students to better understand themselves and to support them in discovering their true nature. In her practical approach to yoga, it is Melissa’s belief that one of the keys to enlightenment is to literally “lighten up,” so having fun is always a part of the process. Her sense of humor and commitment to non-judgment provide a safe place for students to explore, break boundaries, and release layers of physical and emotional weight. She believes that “one size does not fit all” when it comes to yoga, therefore she inspires and supports everyone in finding the path that is right for them.

She is a registered yoga teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance and received her 200-hour yoga certification from Donna Dyer at Yoga H’om. Melissa feels grateful for the grace she has received from the many talented teachers she has had so far for all their guidance, support and encouragement. Melissa continues to find inspiration through study with senior teachers such as Desiree Rumbaugh, Rodney Yee, Paul Grilley and Max Strom.  She also enjoys the great outdoors, art, hiking, biking, jewelry making, cooking, wine, family, friends, as well as spending time with Darryl and their family of four-legged furkids Bodhi, Utah and Gracie.

 

Katie, RYT 200 - Katie had an interest in yoga from a very early age, but always felt that she lacked the prerequisites of flexibility and strength to attend a class.  It wasn't until 2009, when she saw a sign for a Yoga class at her local gym that she felt she had a wealth of potential and Yoga might just unlock it.  During the course of the class Katie's enthusiasm grew until she knew with complete certainty that she wanted to fit yoga into her life.  After a year of practicing from books and videos, Katie, and her husband Joe, found Donna's Yoga H'om.  As her practice bloomed under the careful eye of her new teachers, Katie came to see the immense impact that yoga can have, not just on the physical self, but on all parts of daily life.  Katie found that she wanted to share this gift with other people, and set out on the course of teacher training with Donna and Maggie in 2011.

Through yoga Katie found so much more than physical exercise.  She has found confidence, humility, friendship, and passion for something bigger than herself.  In her classes she hopes to help others find similar blessings, heedless of their flexibility or lack there-of.  Besides yoga Katie is passionate about the environment and being outdoors.  She loves backpacking, hiking, travel...anything that will get her outside.  She also enjoys dabbling in crafts and is currently enthralled by stained glass.

Joe first became interested in yoga to reduce the risk of sports injury and become more flexible. Yet after each class his interest grew as did his desire to learn more about yoga in all of it's aspects. As his personal and studio practice progressed he saw teacher training as the next logical step and so enrolled in Donna's 2011 200 hour teacher training course.

During the course of training he ventured out to different studios that offered other various forms of yoga, as well as an intensive weekend workshop with Desiree Rumbaugh. All of which increased his desire to teach as well as deepen his personal practice. While yoga has become his chief interest he also enjoys hiking, backpacking, skiing, climbing, and travel with his wife Katie.