The Yoga House
The Yoga House was founded in Kingston, New York in 2011 with a foundational belief that the practice of yoga should be enjoyable and foster community. A belief that has carried over through a change of ownership, a global pandemic, new locations and in our hope for the future.
Creating and maintaining a fully inclusive space is at the forefront of The 'House ethos. Joyce is originally from Queens, NY and is first-generation Filipino-American. Amy currently resides in Kingston and is a proud wife and mother of a queer family. Being a BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ owned business provides us a lens through which we strive to program a wide variety of classes, contribute to the community, and provide access to teachers who are diverse and welcoming to all.
We know that folks come to the practice of yoga for different reasons.
For Joyce, coming to the mat helped to take life down a notch, which led to sleeping better, and being less reactive.
For Amy, yoga offered healing from heartbreak and athletic injury, and that led to a deep dive and commitment to the practice.
We continue to educate ourselves so that we can offer an expanding wealth of care for others - from learning to more articulately acknowledge the deep roots of yoga philosophy and history, to staying abreast of the most cutting-edge biomechanical and anatomical principles.
The Yoga House Teachers at Uplift
Amy Reed
B.K.S. Iyengar wrote that health “is a state of complete equilibrium of body, mind and spirit.” With this intention, Amy bases her yoga and wellness offerings.
Understanding the importance of integrating all aspects of oneself to achieve true wellness, Amy’s classes, retreats, and workshops are highly customized, dynamic, and comprehensive–students can choose from a variety of yoga options, including free-style vinyasa, yin, restorative, gentle, beginner, and pair each with meditation, pranayama, biomechanical and postural alignment assessments, and integrative wellness coaching. Amy’s passion lies in making wellness universal and rooted in deepening, both oneself and within one’s community. The result: A rich and invigorating experience designed to maximize holistic health and endure long after the student leaves class.
But what is most compelling about Amy is her warmth and sincerity. With a near-tangible appetite for self-study and a gentle sense of humor, Amy immediately makes those around her feel welcomed, valued, and inspired to action. She is as accessible to her students as are her classes. This fosters a safe and encouraging environment where students are moved to approach their individual practices with a light-hearted and self-accepting point of view.
Joyce San Pedro
How you do anything is how you do everything.
Yoga has helped me approach anything and everything with a calmer spirit, a more open heart, and a quieter mind. I’ve been practicing for almost 20 years, having found yoga while on vacation. The seed was planted, and as soon as I returned home I immediately started studying as much as possible, with as many different teachers I could find. I completed my RYT 200-hour training in 2017 at Hudson River Yoga and my 500-hour with Heart & Bones Yoga in 2022.
I firmly believe that change is not only good, but necessary. My practice has changed a lot over the years. I used to enjoy a rigorous practice, but my body now enjoys slower, thoughtful movement. As my practice has changed, so has my perspective, and that change is reflected in how I teach. I teach for all levels, all ages and a variety of classes: Beginner, Ashtanga Primary, Yin & Restorative, Chair Yoga, Yoga Sculpt, Yoga for Seniors, and Pilates.
Yoga should be accessible for anyone and everyone who wants to practice. It’s as simple as - if you can breathe, you can practice. Yoga is for every body, and while I may not be the teacher for everybody, I hope that you find the practice for yourself, and yourself in your practice.
Alex Tse
Alex Tse (she/they) is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Lymph Drainage Therapist, Yoga teacher, Reiki and sound practitioner. Born, raised and currently based in the Hudson Valley, residing on Munsee Lenape land. As a graduate of Pacific College of Health and Science, Alex incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine wisdom with Western science, along with their studies of Ayurveda, community herbalism and aromatherapy. Alex teaches Pilates and various styles of Yoga that include Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin and pre/postnatal.
Alex's background is rooted in dance, martial arts, music and theater, which is where she draws much of her inspiration from. They love horses, bodies of water, poetry and stringed instruments.
Jenny Papo
Jenny started practicing yoga in 2018, when she enrolled in a month-long Intro to Yoga course at the Sivananda Vedanta Center in NYC, and she has enjoyed deepening her practice ever since! She completed her first 200-hour YTT with Lila Flow in 2020 and completed a Yoga and Social Justice course with Shanna Small in 2021. Jenny’s yoga practice on and off the mat has helped her find joy in her life, and she aims to provide a joyful experience for her students. She loves connecting with and learning from new people, and is so happy to be a part of The Yoga House community!