Tidewater's Hot Yoga & Massage Studio

Edie Fischer, Owner, Certified Registered Yoga Teacher

Edie experienced her first hot yoga class in 1999 while on a business trip to San Francisco and became intrigued with this remarkably powerful and healing form of exercise. In 2003 a hot yoga studio opened in the Virginia Beach area, where she immediately developed a passion & love for yoga.  She initiated a disciplined regiment of four to six days a week. Within six months she could see demonstrated results, losing 35 pounds, as well as developing a new appreciation of life and sense of purpose. In the summer of 2006, Edie attended Jimmy Barkan’s Yoga teacher training program in Fort Lauderdale and received her Hot Yoga certification. Since gaining her certification she has redirected her passion toward teaching Yoga. After working retail management for over 20 years she decided to pursue her passion as a yoga teacher and open her own studio.

Edie encourages others to try hot yoga and experience benefits. In the classroom, she ensures the benefits of a conditioned body, quieting the chattering mind, and surrendering into the moment, creating a peaceful lifestyle both on and off the mat. Regardless of body type, skill level or age, everyone can benefit.  Edie loves to hear stories of how yoga changes people’s lives either by losing weight, increased flexibility or an overall sense of well being.  She believes in a gentle approach which allows modifications for every body type. As such, Edie has a strong desire to share her yoga experience with others and encourage them to discover their yogi within.

Edie was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia. She currently resides in Smithfield, Virginia with her husband, Bruce. Bruce retired from the Navy and currently owns a handy man business. She has a son who is a Marine, a son that graduated high school in 2007 and is now attending college, and a 16 year old daughter.

Felicia Briota, Certified Registered Yoga Teacher

Felicia has many interests including pets, family and music. An active childhood and a fondness for helping people led her to become a certified Yoga instructor. Her desire to synergize with her students is very fulfilling to her. During each class, Felicia wants to promote a deep understanding of Yoga, both on and off the mat. She is a classical Yogi, who practices at the studio almost daily, and sometimes twice a day. Felicia attended the Rolf Gates Teacher Training in Massachusetts to get her certification. To her: "It was the most amazing experience and something I will always have in my heart."

In addition to Yoga, Felicia is involved with music. She plays bass, electric guitar and even drums. Her desire is to return to taking drum lessons. Her outlook on life is to cherish family, complement play with hard work, and maintain steadfast commitment to mind/body coordination through Yoga. Felicia's favorite posture is camel and ustrasana, because it effectively opens the 7 chakras, with the benefits of liberation and letting go.

Felicia has been a practicing vegetarian since she was 14. Her favorite foods are Thai and Italian. She enjoys working in her yard and walking with her mother. She has 2 adorable cats and a cockatoo, who she calls "her babies" with warm affection.

Geneviève Okuma, Certified Registered Yoga Teacher

Geneviève Okuma is a 200 RYT certified at our sister studio Body Balance in Williamsburg, Virginia. Her philosophy behind teaching yoga has been enriched with her studies under Dr. Graham Schweig and Becky Crigger in Indian literature and philosophy. She is a native to the Virginia peninsula and has been practicing yoga for seven years. She started practicing with Beate Rose after she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Discovering alternative medicine more effective than pharmaceuticals or chiropractors, Geneviève is a dedicated advocate for the hot yoga method. Promoting the healing power of yoga, she teaches hot yoga, vinyasa, and pre-natal yoga. She is very excited to be joining our team here at the Hot Yoga and Massage Studi!o

Kasia Litwak, Certified Registered Yoga Teacher

Kasia Litwak believes that Hot Yoga holds a unique power because everyone can do it, and everyone benefits from it. Kasia studied Exercise Science at Old Dominion University. Her life was changed when her Father introduced her to Hot Yoga.  Seeing how yoga has transformed her Father’s life, she decided to give it a try, not knowing what to expect.  She immediately developed a very strong passion for the physical exercise as well as the mental and spiritual practice, and decided to change her course of life.  In the summer of 2007, Kasia attended Jimmy Barkan’s Yoga teacher training program in Fort Lauderdale and received her level I certification. Since gaining her certification she has redirected her passion toward teaching Yoga and imparting the physical, mental and spiritual harmony and subsequent rejuvenation the Yoga provides. In the classroom, she ensures the benefits of a conditioned body, quiets the chattering mind, and surrenders into the moment, creating a peaceful lifestyle both on and off the mat.  Kasia is very grateful for the opportunity she has been given to share her passion in the yoga studio.

Amber, Certified Registered Yoga Teacher

Amber believes that yoga is not only a path to physical well being but a path of total well being. Yoga offers the opportunity to integrate the mind and body in the process of healing the entire person. Yoga has been a catalyst to helping Amber heal herself and find peace in each moment. Her first introduction to yoga was not through the hatha (physical) yoga we all know so well but to pranayama (breath work) and meditation. These things came together full circle when she began the physical practice a few years later. As a dancer she has always found healing energy in movement but finally making the true mind-body connection has offered her the opportunity to truly experience healing. Although she originally began the registered yoga teacher training in an effort to deepen her own practice and understanding of yoga, Amber finds great joy in sharing what she has learned in order to help others heal themselves.

Amber received her 200-hour certificate from the Institute of Health and Healing in integral style yoga. She is currently training with Rolf Gates for a 500 hour certificate in vinyasa yoga expecting to finish in June 2011.