Our Teachers

Julie Brown

Studio & Yoga at School Instructor

  • Julie Brown started her yoga journey after spending many years as a group fitness instructor. Realizing that her inner body needed strengthening too, she began focusing on her own personal practice and that’s when the magic happened. The spirituality, the connection of breath and the movement, came full circle and she was hooked. She received her 200 hour RYT certification, and today Julie is a 500 hour RYT with Yoga Alliance.

    Julie uses her knowledge of both fitness and yoga to create a class that can be challenging for the physical body, yet very thoughtful and balanced to help you connect your heart, your mind and soul. What we learn about ourselves and cultivate on the mat we carry out into the world.

    As part of the Yoga West family, she teaches children yoga at a local school and enjoys watching the kids learn and practice.

    Her free time is spent at home with her family, Tony and her dogs Tia and Grizz. She enjoys being outside in the sunshine, taking walks and gardening. She loves to cook and try new recipes, and volunteer at the local animal shelter.

Tara Pagotto

Yoga at School Instructor

  • Tara has been dancing since the age of 3 starting with Mr. Jimmy Sutton and Mr. Alexi Ramov. She continued dancing tap, jazz, and classical ballet with Miss Lisa Becker Padula at Northeast Theatre Dance Academy (NTDA) then teaching at NTDA for 4 years. Her strong dance foundation allowed her to dance as an adult in Philadelphia in several productions of The Nutcracker with Valley Forge Dance Theater and other holiday and spring performances in the Philadelphia area.

    Tara hung up her pointe shoes once she started her family of four kids; Nicholas, Alex, Natalie, and Aaron with her husband, John but always ALWAYS kept dancing alive in her heart.

    Tara’s love for swing dancing blossomed into her business, Swingin’ in NEPA bringing east coast swing and Lindy hop to northeast PA with live band events, workshops, and classes from 2017 to present.

    She’s certified in Zen Barre, teaching at Steamtown Hot Yoga and Barre (SHY) in Scranton and hosting other classes in the area. She is currently studying for her 200 hour yoga teacher certification through The Himilayan Institute. Tara also teaches school aged yoga and mindfulness through Yoga West’s school based yoga program.

    Tara’s other love is her 28 years as a clinical Audiologist. She has her doctorate in Audiology and is currently working at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Gina Constantini

Studio Instructor

  • Gina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trained psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience. She earned her Master’s in Social Work at Marywood University. Gina has worked in a variety of settings helping people who struggle with anxiety, depression, or stress stemming from family and relationship issues. She helps individuals who are coping with significant medical issues, addiction, and those who have experienced loss or trauma. Gina has received additional training in several areas including Trauma therapy and Mental Health Nutrition.

    Along with her training and years as a clinician, Gina draws from her experience as a Yoga instructor and her knowledge of Ayurveda, the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. She believes that incorporating mindfulness techniques with clinical approaches can best help a person to heal, to achieve goals for self-improvement, or overcome barriers. 

Kailey Mellen

Yoga at School Instructor

Kelly Evans

Studio & Yoga at School Instructor

  • Kailey was first introduced to yoga as teen over a decade ago. She stumbled upon a class in a local studio with her aunt and has been practicing ever since.. The physical asana practice drew her in but she soon discovered the many health benefits of the practice, including helping to focus and reducing anxiety.

    Kailey is a certified Yin Yoga Teacher, completing her training with author and YinYoga.com creator, Bernie Clark. She also recently began studying under the instruction of her aunt, Kelly Evans at Yoga West, where she is working towards her 200-hour yoga teacher certification.

    Kailey is a Licensed Esthetician and feels passionate about working with her clients to help them feel and look amazing. In her free time she loves to travel, read, and spend time with friends.

    Kailey strives to create a safe and comfortable environment in her classes. And although she feels she will aways be a student, she is excited to share her knowledge and guidance as a teacher at Yoga West studio and as part of the Yoga West "Yoga in School" team.

  • Kelly is the founder and director of Yoga West. As a teacher Kelly encourages self-acceptance while helping her students strive to reach their personal best. Her conviction that yoga can spark health and fulfillment is at the heart of her teaching.

    She started her teaching journey in a weekend Yoga Fit training and quickly moved on to a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training receiving a certification from Always at Aum.

    Over the years Kelly completed the Alanna Kaivalya 500 Hour YTT in addition to the Himalyan Institute 300 Hour YTT.

    She eventually fell in love Yin Yoga and completed Bernie Clarks 50 Hour Yin YTT.

    Being pasionate about teaching children, Kelly became a RCYT (Registered Children Yoga Teacher) specializing in Trauma Informed Yoga for Children.

    She is also a certified Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist. Her AYS training was facilitated by Kathyrn Templeton through Yoga International.

    Kelly spent the summer of 2023 at Miami Life Center doing an Intensive 200 hour Immersion of Ashtanga Yoga with Kino MacGregor and Tim Feldmann.

    She is also a a certified Yoga Therapist and certified in Assisted Stretch & Yoga Therapy.

    Her classes can be physically challenging, but accessible. She is caring, insightful, and edgy as she leads each class with a sense of humility and playfulness.