Jax Ader Schott

Founder & Instructor/Operations

Jax’s gift has always been meeting people from different backgrounds and helping them find what makes them feel both empowered and grounded . This ability has been a constant throughout her life: starting with her 12-year career in the fashion industry; shining through during her seven years serving expectant mothers of NYC as a doula; and fully realized when she became a yoga and barre teacher in 2006.

Over the last 12 years she has been privileged to provide spec wellness classes to the Roosevelt Island community, while raising her two beautiful girls with her partner. The opening of Island Om is a dream realized — she is excited to now have a physical space to offer wellness classes and opportunities, on a regular basis, to the RI community — and beyond!

As a yoga and barre instructor, Jax teaches the healing properties of yoga by using dynamic movement and encouraging an opening of the body. This allows her students to develop their practice and to find their inner teacher. She humbly teaches from her own mistakes, and past experiences. Jax brings a lot of heart, inspiration and creativity, sprinkled with a good dose of humor, to her classes.

 Whether it’s yoga or barre, Jax believes that what happens on the mat during a committed practice inevitably carries into a person’s life off the mat. Her philosophy is BE Yoga, not just DO Yoga. As she says, “When we put our energy, intention and heart into something, there is no faking it!”

Lauren Blankstein

I began my yogic journey in 2005. My primary intention as a teacher is to help safely guide students into a state of balance so they can experience the transformative effects of the practice. I teach an even-paced Hatha yoga class that is appropriate for all levels, integrating elements of Vinyasa, Kundalini, pranayama (breath work) and meditation. I’m also certified to teach the Roll Model® Method and ELDOA (Étirements Longitudinaux avec Decoaptation OsteoArticulaire), a ground breaking spine realigning technique developed by the renowned French osteopath Guy Voyer DO.

I’m also a writer, artist, advocate and mom, happy to share the beautiful practice of yoga in her community of Roosevelt Island.

Haley Ostir

Haley began training at Shelley Shearer School of Dance at the age of 6 in Winnipeg, MB Canada. It was through Dance that Haley found a passion for fitness. Whether she is training for a marathon, taking a yoga class or dancing, working out has become a part of Haley’s lifestyle.  She made the move to NYC shortly after graduating from The Boston Conservatory, with a BFA in Musical Theatre.  After a few weeks having moved to NYC, she began teaching Tap and Ballet at Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance. It was through MST&DA that Haley discovered Jax’s classes and became hooked. 

Haley has performed across the United States and recently sailed across the Caribbean with Norwegian Cruise Lines. She enjoys holding onto what she learns along the way from fellow fitness fanatics and dancers and incorporating them into her classes to keep things fresh!

As a Trainer, Haley's goal is to help her clients feel confident and excited to move their bodies, while emphasizing proper form to ensure a long lasting & healthy body AND MIND.

CHARMAINE Trotman-Shumantov

Charmaine is a former Dancer  who danced for the NJ Nets; Hot 97, and one of the Lead Dancers for Latin pop star Thalia. She has appeared as a personal trainer for the competitors on "Making the Band" & "Bridezilla".

For over 20 years, Charmaine has been teaching Pilates, Dance Aerobics, Stretch and Total Body Conditioning. She has been a group exercise coordinator, trainer, and fitness instructor at New York Sports Club.

Charmaine lives on Roosevelt Island with her family, and is currently a Medical Student at the University of Medicine & Health Sciences. Her passion for science and dance has enabled her to developa clear understanding of the body's biomechanics. Through Pilates, she simplifies the development and strengthening of the core so that one can achieve stability and confidence in three-dimensional movements.

TONYA WATHEN

Tonya began her yoga journey in a quest for a better way to care for her dancer’s body. She found a real passion for it and received her 200 hr. Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Certification at NYC’s Sonic Yoga. While there, she discovered children’s yoga and fell in love all over again. A few years later, she obtained her Children’s Yoga Teacher Certification at Karma Kids Yoga and has continued her training at Little Flower Yoga, also in NYC. She has been teaching in schools and studios throughout the city for the last 7 years.

 A musical theatre performer, Tonya’s energetic, imaginative style brings magic to any class she teaches. As a dancer, she has a unique understanding of body awareness, movement, and storytelling.  Her children’s classes are light-hearted and silly, as she believes kids learn best through play.  Her adult classes are thoughtful and grounded, sequenced to warm up the body efficiently to be ready for more challenging poses. For Tonya, the health and well-being of the body and mind are always the priority.

ASHLEIGH HERNDON

Ashleigh Herndon is a performer and fitness professional. After several years dancing professionally, she learned other forms of fitness could complement her dance career.

She's an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, AFAA Group Fitness Instructor, and Women's Fitness Specialist (including Pre- and Post-Natal fitness). Ashleigh also holds individual certifications in Yoga (500 RYT), Pilates, Barre (Barre Above Program Specialist), and BollyX.

Ashleigh is also a Certified Vocal Health First Aider and an advocate of healthy vocal habits for group fitness instructors. Recently, Ashleigh founded Take the Stage Fitness. a company that blends her love for fitness and performing to help other group fitness instructors grow. She's passionate about helping people find a form of fitness they love, vocal health, hiking, all things musical theatre, and training her cat, Tobias,to go hiking with her.

YING WANG

We are so excited to welcome Ying Wang as part of the Island Om family!

Ying has built connections on Roosevelt Island thru her classes in Sportspark and Senior Center.

Ying’s class blends “Iyengar-inspired” alignment into the thoughtfully sequenced flow, which brings you clear attention in action, and feels good from inside out.

NATASHA SOROKINA

Natasha has always been in love with the natural elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. Finding support, wisdom and fun in working with nature, she cultivated her own relationships with each element, learning how to use it for physical health and mental clarity.

A few years ago Natasha fell in love with Kundalini Yoga that changed her life. It brought about a very deep understanding that Life is the most precious gift, our Physical Body is our best teacher and our Mind is the brightest shining diamond. Now Natasha shares this knowledge and wisdom with all who want to know and experience the power of Kundalini energy that we all have. Through physical exercise of the Body, Breath work, Meditation, Sound Healing and working with Chakras Natashatransforms pain and sadness into health, acceptance, prosperity and joy. 

Her spiritual name is Geet Sangat, which means “the one who sings in a congregation.” Natasha teaches how to connect to the power of your own voice through mantra work, hear your voice, love it and manifest it into the world. 

Natasha is a certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor practicing in New York City, happy to connect, create healing space and energy for all to share.

AMANDA FULLER

After practicing yoga for over 20 years, Amanda decided the time was right to deepen her practice by enrolling in Teacher Training. Having completed Ishta Yoga’s 200 hour certification program, she is now enrolled in their 300 hour program, where she will take a deeper dive into manual adjustments, more complex asana, and meditation. She teaches classes that begin with a short pranayama, or breathing exercise, an energetic flow that will center around a theme, and a restorative wind-down that will bring the beneficial effects of yoga into the rest of your day.

MICHELLE STRAH

Michelle Strah (RYT200) loves empowering others to build toolkits for emotional and physical resilience in their own lives. Michelle believes yoga is for every body and enjoys creating inclusive and accessible classes that promote active recovery and healthy aging. Props and mobility aids are welcome!

A severely disabled post 9/11 USNR and US Army veteran, Michelle has been practicing asana, pranayama and meditation for over 20 years. She completed Mindful Resilience Yoga Teacher Training through Veterans Yoga Project, as well as additional training in trauma-informed meditation and breathwork.

GINGER MERRITT

In the middle of practicing a headstand, it dawned on Ginger that she just had to teach yoga! She wanted to help others discover that same sense of empowerment and inner strength that she felt in her own practice.

She is certified in Hatha/Vinyasa instruction, Mom and Baby, Prenatal, and Kids Yoga. Ginger has been teaching yoga since 2010 and loves how it helps her students find more peace and ease in their lives. She can’t wait to share this truly transformative practice with the students at Island OM!

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Extended Team:

Catherine Conrad-Saydah (copy)
Mara Postigo (photography)
Martin Schott (design)