Meet the Team

Owner/Yoga Instructor

Cheryl Van Sciver

Cheryl Van Sciver co-founded Balanced Planet Yoga with a belief yoga is for everyone and the goal of creating a safe space where people could peel off their labels and conditioning and reconnect with themselves.  She believes passionately in the benefits of yoga from the physical to the metaphysical and knows firsthand this cannot be taught or learned in any book.  Yoga is a direct experience – a process of self-investigation.  While a seemingly solitary endeavor, it is one that leads to the realization we are all so very connected.  To walk into the studio and see her students sharing, laughing, and holding space is a great joy and provides the inspiration to expanding BPY’s offerings.

She has been practicing yoga for decades and in many styles, initially coming to yoga for its physical benefits.  However, after committing to a regular practice, Cheryl began to incorporate yoga philosophy, meditation, ayurveda and other yogic teachings into her daily life and has seen firsthand the benefits this work brings.  Peace of mind, physical healing, and a sense connection have all been part of her journey.

Cheryl is an E-RYT® 200, E-RYT 500®, YACEP®  Yoga Alliance teacher.  She earned her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from the Bhakti Yoga South Jersey, a Yoga Alliance Certified School. Cheryl has also completed additional training at Budokon University in Miami, Florida with Cameron Shayne, and is certified Budokon Yoga teacher.  Cheryl also has attended Budokon Academy and earned her Budokon Red Belt.  She is further certified to teach Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra by Jennifer Reis and is a certified meditation teacher by Paul Jerard, Jr.  Additionally, Cheryl is Reiki I certified.  A life-long learner, Cheryl believes self-study and continuing education is a mandatory obligation of every yoga teacher.

Cheryl’s formal educational background is in Health Sciences, Business Management, and she also has a Masters in Business Administration. Cheryl is a life-long South Jersey resident and proud mother and grandmother. A strong believer in community service, Cheryl is the recipient of the prestigious NJ Commendation Medal for her volunteer efforts on behalf of military families. South Jersey Magazine also named her a South Jersey Superwoman.

CERTIFICATIONS

• 300 HOUR ELEVATING CONSCIOUSNESS
• 200 HOUR VINYASA YOGA
• 60 HOUR VIPASSANA MEDITATION
• 50 HOUR BUDOKON YOGA
• BUDOKON RED BELT
• 40 HOUR DIVINE SLEEP YOGA NIDRA
• REIKI LEVEL 1 + 2  CERTIFIED

SPECIALTY TRAININGS 

• GONG PRACTITIONER WITH YOGI MEHTAB
• PRIMORDIAL MANTRA MEDITATION
• TRAUMA-INFORMED YOGA
• BRAIN LONGEVITY SPECIALIST

OTHER EDUCATION

• ASSOCIATES IN APPLIED SCIENCE, RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE, 1996
• BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, 2007
• MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, 2009

Owner/Yoga Instructor

Jenna Kelly

Jenna’s philosophy about fitness revolves around the singular concept that every person is a unique individual. She has found that there is just no one-size-fits-all model that is capable of addressing her client’s goals, likes, dislikes, and motivation style. Just as her fitness journey has had successes and failures, Jenna’s clients also come to her with these exact stories. Part of Jenna’s ability to form lasting relationships with her clients is her ability to really hear what her clients are saying and craft a fitness plan that puts them on the path to their vision of health and wellness.

Jenna’s training style is a culmination of her diverse background in education, former military service, and life experiences. Her passion for yoga and functional aspects of strength and conditioning has led her to develop a unique blend of movements that not only deliver maximum results but also minimize the risk of injury and improve everyday life activities. This approach makes Jenna’s training accessible to individuals of all levels and ages.

Jenna holds her Personal Training Certificate through the American Counsel on Exercise (ACE) and a Functional Training Certificate from Perform Better.  Jenna is a 200HR E-RYT and 500HR RYT.  She is also a certified YBarre + Mat Pilates instructor.  Jenna also teaches mindfulness to inner-city youth as a certified Inner Strength Meditation Teacher.  Jenna is a Lead Trainer for many of BPY’s school offerings.  With this in-depth knowledge of mind + body, she also offers customized private yoga sessions, one-on-one and to groups, offering a unique experience that delivers results.

CERTIFICATIONS

• 300 HOUR FOUR PATHS OF YOGA
• 200 HOUR VINYASA YOGA
• REIKI LEVEL 1 + 2  CERTIFIED
• PERSONAL TRAINING

SPECIALTY TRAININGS 

• PRENATAL YOGA
• ADVANCED ASANA + PRANAYAMA
• INNER STRENGTH MEDITATION
• YBARRE
• MAT PILATES

Scholar in Residence

Robert Healey

Hi, I’m Bob Healey. If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering why you should listen to me about anything. I am certainly not your average yoga teacher who spends their days meditating and going on pilgrimage to India (though I do enjoy those things!). I’m really just an average guy who lives a yoga lifestyle in all the things I do: being a husband to my amazing wife, father to two small girls, executive in a large complex family business, a philanthropist who has worked on maternal health in west Africa, inner-city education, and character and ethics development for children, families and military personnel and politician who ran for Congress in 2022.

On the outside, you could say life is great, and it is! But even as a teenager, I was always seeking something deeper. Initially, that led me to being the frontman of a punk band called the Ghouls. Later, it drove me to my first yoga class. At first, I only wanted to perfect my handstand, but what I found was so much more. I found deep meaning, ancient teachings, and profound wisdom that has transformed my life.

So why would a former punk rock singer turned business executive and philanthropist want to teach me about yoga? Frankly, because those yogic practices changed my life for the better.

I’ve spent the last fifteen years learning that it’s not about me or the acquisition of material things, but, rather, it’s about being of service to others. Before yoga, I thought I was the center of everything. Now I know that you’ve got to take yourself out of the center if you want to lead a fulfilling and joyful life. The best way to get out of the center of your life? Be of service. This website, and my podcast, the social media snippets, all of them are my ways of being of service to anyone else trying to live a happier, healthier, and more centered life.

XO,

CREDENTIALS

• 200-Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training
• 200-Hour Empower & Evolve Teacher Training
• 300-Hour Supersoul Yoga Advanced Teacher Training & Bhakti Cultural Immersion
• 50-Hour Palo Santo Advanced Teacher Training
• 50-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training & Intensive w/ Bernie Clark
• 50-Hour Bhatki Center Pranayama Training w/ Alexandra Moga
• Divine Sleep© Yoga Nidra I & II
• Conscious Kirtan I, II, & III w/ Madhuri Galleli
• Practical Sanskrit for Yoga Teachers w/ Hari Kirtana Das

Yoga Instructor

Jannine Veasy

Jannine is a dedicated yoga instructor with four years of teaching experience guiding students toward physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Passionate about the transformative power of yoga, Jannine specializes in an all-levels style of vinyasa and yin yoga. Her classes emphasize connecting mind and body to movement and mediation to create a supportive and empowering environment for students of all levels. A certified Vinyasa instructor, Jannine continues to deepen her practice and knowledge through ongoing trainings and workshops.

Outside of the yoga studio, Jannine is a loving family member and a supportive friend. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, always reminding them to breathe and stay present in the moment.

Certifications:

• 200-Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training
• 50-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training
• 40-Hour Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra Training
• 20-Hour Anatomy Course
• 14-Hour YBarre Teacher Training

Yoga Instructor

Tracy Zuber-Kerr

Yoga is a passion that has changed my view of this life and has helped me to get in touch with the flow of my spirit.  Over the past 20 years, I have practiced Yoga and found profound joy and love for self.  This experience moved me to become a Yoga teacher, so I attended BPY’s 200 hour YTT 2020 and have the honor of leading a healing vinyasa class on Tuesday afternoons. In addition, I am a reiki practitioner, certified teacher of Yin Yoga, Tantric Numerology, and Intuitive Tarot readings.  Yoga philosophy and lifestyle have affected this life with such a powerful force, that I want to share and spread that satisfaction in the evolution of spirit.  Yoga is a place for Any and Every Body, and every soul; the journey is your personal magic to discover.  During the day, I am a Special Education teacher, and love it immensely.  My love of working this body, found me running many miles in both full and half marathons, as well as swimming, hiking and aerobics; (yep, aerobics!).  This community has supported my evolution and growth and I am humbled and thankful for this loving support.

Yoga Instructor

Kait Reeves

Kait Reeves is a graduate of BPY’s 200-Hour YTT program.  We knew from the second she taught her very first yoga class she was going to be a beloved teacher at Balanced Planet – and we were so right!  Kait exudes love and infuses her classes with this magic ingredient.   Kait teaches Vin to Yin classes every other Sunday [check MindBody] and is a regular sub on our schedule.

Yoga Instructor

Heather Stapleton

Heather’s yoga journey began at BPY in 2015 when she took her first vinyasa class.  She has been a regular and prolific practitioner at the studio ever since– classes, workshops, retreats, she loves them all!  After years of watching so many of her fellow yogis become teachers, she finally decided it was her turn to give back to the community that has given her so much.  Heather’s certifications include 20 Hour YBarre (BPY, October 2021), 50 Hour Yin Yoga (BPY, July 2021) and a 200 Hour Vinyasa training (June 2022).

Yoga Instructor

Carly Egrie

Dr. Carly is a doctor of physical therapy, certified yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, and intuitive healer. Her healing journey has motivated her to share her gifts with others to inspire deeper healing and wellness in all of her students. She blends her knowledge of human anatomy with her mindfulness tools and yoga practice to create a safe, trauma-informed space for healing. Dr. Carly’s classes dive deep into the parasympathetic nervous system, vagus nerve, and lymphatic system to encourage holistic healing at the deepest root. Her goal is for all her students to learn practices they can incorporate into their daily lives to improve their overall wellness truly.

• Doctorate of Physical Therapy
• Certified Health & Wellness Coach
• 200-Hour YTT
• Developed & Led Anatomy and Physiology Curriculum for 200 Hour YTT at True Light Yoga
• Reiki Practitioner
• Specialties in Lymphatic Work, Vagus Nerve Techniques, Nervous System Regulation

Yoga Instructor

Katie Farinas

Yoga Instructor

Spencer Broad

Spencer Broad is a retired chiropractor and certified 200HR yoga teacher who has been practicing yoga since 2005 and teaching locally in NJ since 2017. He has had a regular meditation practice for more than ten years and is a certified meditation facilitator. His area of expertise is the functional anatomy of the spine and musculoskeletal system. As such, Spencer specializes in ensuring that all his students are performing yoga postures that fit within their own personal experience and ability. Spencer’s yoga classes combine yogic teachings, mindfulness, meditation, movement, and breathwork. He has been an onsite instructor at The Retreat Costa Rica in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Yoga Instructor

Anna Trezzi

Anna has been teaching yoga since 2006.  Prior to that, she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance in 1999.  While dancing, she began to notice how our bodies hold onto emotions.  That profound awareness inspired her to practice more yoga to further her healing, and eventually to leave her profession as a dancer to become a yoga teacher.  Anna holds certifications as a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga facilitator (TCTSY-F), in prenatal yoga and is a member of Yoga Alliance.

While teaching yoga, Anna became interested in the use of somatics with interoception.  This practice of gentle movement while noticing sensations in the body has been key in her regulation of her own personal stress responses, and those who practice yoga with her guidance express similar benefits.  “A felt sense of freedom” and “returning home to my body” are a couple of descriptions participants have expressed after practicing.  Since somatics with interoception are an element of the TCTSY model, its facilitation felt natural for Anna.

Anna offers yoga classes to groups and individuals, both virtually and in person.  She works with clients of many backgrounds, folks who are interested in growing their yoga practice, as well as those who’ve experienced complex trauma, PTSD, medical trauma, physical limitations, anxiety, and depression— some with and some without prior yoga experience.

She is happiest when furthering her education on the latest research in yoga and wellness, witnessing what she’s learned has a positive impact on her clients, and spending quality time with her husband and two children.

• 200 Hour Hatha Yoga
• Prenatal Yoga
• Restorative Yoga
• 300 Hour Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator
• B.F.A. Contemporary Dance

Yoga Instructor

Kristie Nixon

Kristie graduated from a 200 hour Deeper Studies of Meditation and Yoga Teacher Training program. She fell in love with yoga while exploring alternatives to help ease her anxiety disorder. It has been a huge part of her life ever since. During her yoga journey, Kristie’s practice changed when she became pregnant with her daughter, Olivia. With entering a new chapter in her life physically, she focused on creating a healthy prenatal and postnatal practice which helped her develop a deeper sense of body awareness. Over the past years, Kristie has created a spiritual connection with her body and mind. She hopes to bring this healing practice to her students on and off the mat as it has brought her.

Yoga Instructor

Shae Marcus

Shae Marcus, RYT 200

Shae’s path to becoming a yoga teacher grew from years of working in the wellness space and a deep desire to create meaningful spaces for healing, connection, and self-discovery. Through her 200-hour training at Balanced Planet Yoga, she expanded her understanding of yoga beyond the physical practice and found a deeper appreciation for breath, meditation, philosophy, and the lifelong practice of showing up with more awareness and compassion.

As a teacher, Shae brings warmth, humor, and a grounded, welcoming energy to the mat. Her classes are created for real life and real people—students who may arrive busy, overwhelmed, curious, brand new, or simply needing a place to exhale. She believes yoga does not ask us to be perfect; it invites us to show up, breathe, listen, and begin again. Her goal is to help students feel supported, encouraged, and connected to themselves.

Outside the studio, Shae is a proud mom of two teenagers, an animal lover, and works closely with a local animal rescue—often finding herself saying yes to “just one more” foster dog. She is also the publisher of Natural Awakenings Magazine, founder of the Holistic Health & Healing Expo, and creator of The 11:11 Experience Wellness RetreatsPeru.
For Shae, becoming a yoga teacher is not the finish line. It is the beginning of a lifelong journey as both student and teacher.

Yoga Instructor

Arianna Fiorini

Arianna is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Nidra guide, certified Pranic Healer, and lifelong student of the practice. She is passionate about creating an uplifting and supportive space for students of all levels.

Her classes blend mindful movement, breath awareness and opportunities to explore your edge while honoring your body. Throughout class, Arianna invites students to slow down, tune in, and connect with themselves through moments of self-reflection and presence.

Whether you’re looking to build strength, cultivate balance or simply take a pause from the busyness of everyday life, Arianna’s intention is to create a space where you feel supported, empowered and welcomed exactly as you are. Her hope is that each student leaves feeling lighter, more grounded and more connected to themselves than when they arrived.

Yoga Instructor

Nicole Sanchirico

Nicki first fell in love with yoga about ten years ago, right here at BPY. While she
initially signed up for her first class to cross-train for her college sport, she quickly
learned that the asanas (the physical postures) are only one component of this
ancient practice. She strives to create a welcoming and supportive space where
every student feels empowered in their own, incredibly unique journey—whether
they are seeking physical strength, greater mobility, self-healing, stress relief, or
simply a moment to breathe.

Nicki’s teaching style is shaped by a combination of her own life experiences
navigating this planet as an everyday person and the knowledge she gained
through her educational background. She earned her 200-hour Yoga Teaching
certification from BPY and her Reiki Level I & II certification from Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia. She also holds her Bachelor of Science in Exercise
Science with a concentration in Nutrition and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy,
both from the University of Scranton, where her education emphasized caring for
the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Her extensive background in exercise
physiology and movement helps her to create classes that are challenging, yet
safe and accessible to students of all levels. Her certifications in Reiki Levels I
and II bring an added layer of mindfulness, energy awareness, and holistic care
to her teaching practice. When creating a yoga flow, her goal is to help students
move and breathe, with safety, strength, and intention, cultivating a sense of
mindfulness that will extend beyond the end of class.

Outside the studio, you'll find her pouring her heart into her full-time profession as
a pediatric physical therapist, linking breath to movement on the water as a
rower, soaking up the sun at the beach with her family, sailing around barnegat
bay, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. These passions, much like
yoga itself, remind her of the importance of patience, curiosity, and finding joy in
the process. 

Yoga-Related Certifications
 200-Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Certification
 Reiki Level I
 Reiki Level II

Other Pertinent Degrees, Certifications, and Trainings
 Doctorate of Physical Therapy
 Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a Concentration in Nutrition
 LSVT BIG Certified
 Continuing Education in Breathing and Postural Control

Yoga Instructor

Maya Bareiszis

Maya discovered yoga during college, initially seeking a way to step away from the stress and demands of daily life. What she found was much more than an escape – it became a practice that helped her feel grounded, present, and connected to herself. Over the next five years, yoga became a constant source of balance and growth, eventually inspiring her to complete her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Balance Planet Yoga in 2026!

Maya’s classes offer a supportive space where students can move with intention, cultivate confidence in their practice, and deepen their connection to themselves. With a grounding presence and steady teaching style, she encourages students to approach their practice with curiosity, self-compassion, and trust in their own path.

When she’s not on her mat, Maya enjoys traveling, reading, being outdoors (especially the beach), and continuing to deepen her own practice as both a student and teacher.

Yoga Instructor

Kristin Caputo

Kristen has practiced yoga for decades and recently deepened her understanding of the ancient philosophy underlying the poses through BPY’s Yoga Teacher Training. Her journey began in college where she saw a sign for free yoga classes offered in her building. She enjoyed the physical benefits through the years and began to integrate the emotional and spiritual aspects with time. Kristen practiced prenatal yoga and “Mommy and Me” classes in her early years of motherhood and felt drawn to the commitment of a lifelong practice.

Kristen believes yoga has something to offer everyone – all ages, all bodies, all minds. Yoga is sitting with yourself, listening to what feels right within you, and asking the body and the mind to be still, just for the moment. Kristen regularly uses and teaches mindfulness and breathing techniques in her role as a counselor at a local high school and would love to see more teens in yoga classes. She is a huge advocate for mental health initiatives in our schools and communities and values a trauma-informed approach to yoga and life.

Kristen feels most at peace in nature and she enjoys time camping, hiking and kayaking with family and friends. She loves music, books and travel and in time hopes to visit all of the National Parks.

Yoga Instructor

Jen Pontarelli

Group fitness transformed Jen’s life 20 years ago. She is passionate about paying it forward, helping others fall in love with movement and empowering them to make healthy lifestyle changes. In her classes, Jen is committed to creating outstanding experiences for participants of all experience and fitness levels. She is an ACE-certified personal trainer, a 200-hour Yoga teacher, and a Les Mills National Trainer, Assessor, and Presenter. Outside of fitness, Jen studied Psychology and School Leadership. She’s a mom of 4 with a full-time profession in school administration. Jen’s other interests include reading suspense novels, bike riding outdoors, and learning about mind-body connection, nutrition, and wellness.

Yoga Instructor

Zach Brown

       Zach firmly believes the Yogic path is not only accessible for everyone but a path that sits very near to those having  a sincere desire to learn to live more skillfully and at peace with the world around them. Zach’s journey has been a unique one and has strengthened his belief we have much more in common than appears at the surface.  The yogic path encourages each of us to dig deeper to find our common threads, and Zach is passionate about helping his students find their own tools to draw these lines of self-discovery.

         Zach received his 200-Hr Budokon Yoga Certificate in 2015 in Miami and his 200-Hr Hatha Yoga Certificate from Pilgrimage of the Heart in San Diego, California.  He is also a Budokon Red Belt.  His teaching approach is to see each person as a unique being, and through this lens to see each person’s journey as solely that of their own creation.  Yoga fundamentally is not a one size fits all proposition.  While you will certainly learn how to do many of the well-known postures in Zach’s classes, your time on the mat with him is also an open invitation to dive deeper and connect with your  own sensations and thoughts, which can be radically different day-to-day.  As a very recent cancer survivor, Zach credits his illness and recovery with refocusing his efforts on self-realization in this lifetime, and he believes passionately in helping to light this path for others to discover.  Zach continues to answer the call to share his experiences, knowledge, and grateful heart with those around him looking to elevate their human experience and expand their own mindfulness.

            You can expect to be challenged in his classes, as he holds the space for you to explore you own edge in a safe and welcoming environment that accepts humans from all backgrounds. Throw out the rulebook, because you may find yourself leaving the confines of your mat, a physical metaphor Zach uses to encourage a shift in perspective and to nudge you out of your comfort zone. It is Zach’s belief that we should never stop learning and always try to view life from a beginner’s point of view. Zach teaches beginners, all levels, advanced, and meditation classes; be sure to look out for his name on the schedule.

Yoga Instructor

Daria Tavana

Yoga Instructor

Jayme Phillips

In 2018, Jayme started taking yoga classes regularly and quickly realized the potency of the practice beyond the postures. She took her first 200-hour yoga teacher training at BPY in 2021 and opened herself to a life of 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖.

While much of her wisdom comes from her lived experiences traveling to sacred lands across the Americas and being a student of life, Jayme took her 300-hour yoga teacher training with BPY Elevating Consciousness and a second 200-hour yoga teacher training and somatic leadership immersion with Awaken Yoga School.

In addition to her yogic studies, Jayme is also an advanced gong practitioner, yoga nidra facilitator, reiki level two attuned, trauma-informed, and nervous system-aware somatic leader.

Jayme’s breathing class is not just a session; it’s an experience that moves you, guiding you to explore transformative both the inner and outer world.

Yoga Instructor

Michelle King

Michelle is a graduate of Balanced Planet Yoga’s 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program. She also holds a certification in Yin Yoga.

Yoga Instructor

Megan Miksitz

Megan has been practicing yoga for the last 10 years – she has experienced many different styles but her focus has been on Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra as these practices have been extremely beneficial in aiding Megan’s journey to healing her nervous system. She’s associated with a non-profit called Project Little Warriors whose mission is to educate students on the benefits of yoga and mindfulness practices. Megan is also Reiki II certified and intertwines this healing, Chakra balancing energy into all of her yoga classes.