AJ Hiskey (RYT-200) teaches a variety of classes from tots to trapeze. Always a kid at heart, she connects easily with children and loves sharing her passions of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Born and raised in the DC area, AJ completed her Yoga-Alliance certified training in 2018 with plans to teach adults, but fell in love with teaching children young and old!

When she’s not on the mat, AJ loves being outdoors. She enjoys hiking, camping, swimming, or reading a good book in the sunshine. If she’s indoors, she’s probably rooting for a DC sports team (whether they’re winning or losing!) A life-long cheerleader for not only her favorite teams but also her friends, family, and students, she loves supporting others and helping them to be their best in body, mind, and spirit.

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Carly teaches yoga, pilates and swimming. After years of practicing, she decided to become a certified yoga teacher during lockdown. She has been teaching yoga to both adults and children since 2021. Her classes focus on the mind-body connection through kriya, asana, and pranayama and typically end with meditation. More recently, she decided to add Pilates to her repertoire and has been teaching mat Pilates since 2022. Through her knowledge of yoga, movement, and the body she hopes to help people of all ages become more accepting of themselves in order to heal and transform both inside and out.

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Jen teaches many Breathing Space classes – Baby Yoga & Play classes, Tot, Toddler and Little Families Yoga, afterschool yoga, all-levels yoga (adults), and prenatal, and directs day-off and summer camps . . . in addition to doing a bunch of behind-the-scenes stuff to keep it all running.

Like so many, Jen first came to the yoga mat because of an injury, seeking nothing more than to feel better and balance her body for running. She comes back to the mat because yoga invites her to embrace her body and mind with all its imperfections and then to look beyond them to the greater Self.  Jen’s practice became a source of strength and connection during the significant life changes of becoming a parent, eventually leading her to found Breathing Space to create a vibrant community hub for family yoga on Capitol Hill.

Jen is a Yoga Alliance® Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RTY 200), Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCTY) and Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT).  She has since trained with Budding Yogis, ChildLight Yoga, Yoga 4 Classrooms, and YoKid to offer classes to families and children of all ages. Jen’s work with children inspired her to complete adult yoga teacher training at Willow Street Yoga in 2010 and train in Prenatal Yoga with Janice Clarfield and Dolphin Yoga. She is also a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) through Infant Massage USA and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). When she’s not teaching or playing at Breathing Space, you may find her working with families through the Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington DC or traveling the world with her partner and teen daughter.

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Jessica LaGarde has been teaching creative movement in the metro area since 2005 and is passionate about helping children discover and explore their bodies and the world around them. She was trained by Joye Newman, MA to teach preschool creative movement for Kids’ Moving Company, a Bethesda-based creative movement studio. In 2017, she completed her Baby, Toddler, and Children’s Yoga Teacher Training through Childlight Yoga and has worked with Breathing Space Family Yoga ever since. Jessica teaches classes for infants-tweens, directs BSFY yoga camps, and does much of the behind the scenes business administration.

In addition to working with children, Jessica is a registered massage practitioner and is trained in infant massage instruction. She has practiced massage since 2006 and taught massage as part of Potomac Massage Training Institute’s professional training program. She maintains a private massage practice through Shine Massage & Wellness in College Park, MD. Outside of the movement space and massage room, she enjoys cooking, knitting, gardening, coffee, reading non-fiction, and exploring the outdoors with her daughter.

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Kathy Foltin teaches All Levels Yoga (Adults) at Breathing Space Family Yoga.  What Kathy loves about yoga is that there is a practice for everyone. Since 2000, she has been exploring yoga’s rich traditions, from vigorous to restorative, discovering that in yoga we can find what we need and uncover our best selves. Kathy shares her love of yoga with others in encouraging, playful alignment-based vinyasa classes that allow students to gain confidence and feel comfortable exploring poses, mindfulness, and linking breath with movement in a safe, inviting environment. She received her 200 hour certification in 2012, and her 500 hour certification in 2018.

Lili Wilson is a native Washingtonian and product of DC public schools. Lili graduated with a BA in Sociology from Spelman College in 2000. She went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. In April 2015, Lili initiated The Beautiful Dawn LLC, a lifestyle brand that primarily inspires young ladies and women to live genuine, bold, passionate lives.

In 2016, Lili was trained in children’s yoga and mindfulness at Circle Yoga. For the past several years, she’s taught yoga and mindfulness to children. In Summer of 2020, Lili completed 200 (RYT) hours with Be Here Now Yoga and Wellness. In Spring 2021, Lili received a certificate in teaching mindfulness to children with the Interdependence Project.

In addition to self-care, Lili’s passion is singing and songwriting. She has been touring and recording with gospel, pop, and RnB artists since the age of 15. In Fall 2019, Lili’s talents landed her the tour of her life, Hans Zimmer Live, with movie composer Hans Zimmer. Lili’s desire is to encourage self-care and self-love, by incorporating her gifts of music, intuitive mediumship, and healing. She is the proud mother of one daughter, Alaia Mary.

Karen has always had a passion for play, creativity and trying new things. She discovered yoga at age 18 and has practiced on and off ever since. Karen has been working with children most of her life, spending her childhood and teen summers helping her mom care for the little ones in her home daycare and babysitting on weekends. She has always loved doing arts and crafts, and sharing projects with the children she cared for.

As an adult, Karen stepped away from childcare to manage a small neurology office for 9 years. When she became a mom in 2012, she left the office and began working again as a childcare provider, both as a nanny and for neighborhood children in her own home. Since 2019 she has been working as a substitute and teaching assistant at a Montessori school in Washington, DC.

Karen has completed AMI Montessori 12-18 Orientation to work with adolescents in the Montessori setting and holds ABAR (Anti-bias, Anti-racist) certification. She has also completed assistant trainings for both Montessori Primary and Atrium settings.  

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Rachel is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher with focused training in Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, and a professional background rooted in psychology and child development. She has spent years working closely with children and families, shaping a teaching style that is nurturing, creative, and welcoming to all.

In her kids yoga classes, Rachel blends movement, music, mindfulness, and imaginative play to create an environment where children can explore, express, and enjoy themselves. She naturally weaves in social-emotional learning, sensory experiences, and body awareness, helping young yogis build confidence, curiosity, and connection. Her sessions often incorporate stories, props, and familiar songs, making yoga approachable even for the littlest participants. Caregivers are always invited to join in a way that strengthens their bond with their child.

With a calm, steady presence and a playful sense of humor, Rachel supports children in learning to listen to their bodies, understand their emotions, and practice simple tools for focus and self-regulation. Whether the group is moving like animals, stretching like trees, or settling into quiet breathwork, Rachel creates a space where kids feel seen, safe, and supported.

Rachel teaches from a place of genuine care and joy, and is grateful for every opportunity to be part of a child’s journey toward confidence, resilience, and inner calm.

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Dira Hansen is a passionate running coach and longtime runner who turned to yoga for the physical elements, but fell in love with the philosophical teachings and spiritual growth. Following a 30-Day yoga challenge in 2016, Dira began to grow her practice exploring various types of yoga and finding an Iyengar class and teacher to study under. Though life brought distance between her times on the mat, Dira’s passion for learning the philosophical teachings of yoga and sharing the empowerment she felt on the mat with others remained.

As she sought for her way to make an impact in the birthwork space, yoga became her answer. Dira enrolled in 200hr yoga teacher training at Yoga District in DC and followed it up with an 85hr prenatal teacher training with Trinatal Yoga School. Wishing to balance her athleticism with her nurturing and introspective nature, Dira’s classes explore the pairing of effort with ease. Her slow flows focus on reconnecting with one’s softer nature and learning to feel at home in one’s body, by increasing self-awareness through breathwork, meditation, and movement.

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Rachel has been dedicated to the world of Early Childhood Care and Education since 2009. With a Master’s degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education and certification as a postpartum doula, she brings both expertise and heart to the families she supports.

She’s passionate about helping young children thrive and guiding caregivers in understanding their child’s needs with confidence and clarity. Outside of her work, Rachel can usually be found training in circus arts, spending time outdoors, or hanging out with her cat, Turnip.

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