Susan Elena Esquivel
Director / Owner
Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher & Certified Yoga Therapist
Director Susan-Elena Esquivel began her art and dance journey at age 5, sparking a lifelong passion for form, alignment, and the profound body/mind connection. With 20 years of dedicated Iyengar yoga study, she has achieved Level II Certification (CIYT), is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), and a Certified Yoga for Scoliosis Trainer. Her teachings are enriched by a decade-long apprenticeship with spinal health expert Elise Browning Miller, transformative studies with Geeta Iyengar in India, and current studies with renowned therapeutic experts Lois Steinberg and Stephanie Quirk.
From 2015 to 2020, Susan-Elena was on the Iyengar faculty in Boston, where she studied under Senior Iyengar Teacher Peentz Dubble. Her mentorship with Advanced Senior Teacher Patricia Walden spanned eight years, from 2015 to 2023. Susan-Elena regularly travels to India to deepen her practice with the Iyengars, Senior RIMYI teachers Gulnaaz Dashti, and Uday Bhosale.
Her classes are celebrated for their playful approach, skillful sequencing, and adaptability, making her instruction accessible and inspiring for all levels of practitioners.
“Susan Elena has assisted me with my Yoga for Back Care and Yoga for Scoliosis Workshops for many years. She has become a highly qualified and dedicated Iyengar teacher with a specialty in addressing yoga for scoliosis and other back issues in classes, workshops, and with private students. I highly recommend Susan Elena to shed light to students from all walks of life. – Elise Browning Miller, January 2018
“Susan-Elena is an exceptional, multi-talented Iyengar teacher that I feel we want to have to carry out the name and lineage of Iyengar Yoga…I have been extremely impressed with her teaching ability in general as well as expertise and knowledge of how to address different back issues in classes.” – Patricia Walden, October 2018
Chris Beach
Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher
Chris Beach is a Level III Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher with 40 years of practice and 28 years of teaching experience. He has studied in India six times with the Iyengar family. He has served as the President of IYNAUS and is now a member of the IYNAUS Assessment Committee. Chris began his teaching journey while earning a PhD in English Literature.
In his classes, Chris uses detailed and progressively refined instruction to achieve greater flexibility, strength, and physical awareness, as well as mental and emotional stability.
Anne O’Connor
Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher
Anne completed her teacher training with Patricia Walden in Boston and earned her certification as an Intro I/II Iyengar Yoga teacher in 2016. She has been practicing yoga in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar since 1995. She has studied with Kevin Gardiner and Lara Warren at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York, as well as with Elizabeth Brass at the Iyengar Yoga Zentrum Berlin. A Williamstown native, Anne spent years living in Europe before returning to the U.S. in 2013. Anne has deep appreciation for the transformative impact of Iyengar yoga on her life, and is eager to share the gift of Iyengar yoga with beginning and practicing students. Iyengar yoga is alignment-based and makes extensive use of props to help students reach a fuller expression of each pose through attentive adjustments. As B.K.S. Iyengar wrote, “Yoga is firstly for individual growth, but through the individual, society and community develop.” As a teacher, Anne brings a commitment to practicing Iyengar Yoga for healing and collective liberation; to promoting self-awareness to create a more just, discerning, and compassionate society; and to aligning our values with the ethics of yoga. Anne has found yoga practice to be a source of equilibrium and resilience in the face of life’s ups and downs. In her teaching, she aspires to nurture this same profound and transformative experience of yoga for every student she meets.
Lisa Thompson
Certified Yoga Teacher / Iyengar Yoga Teacher-in-Training
Lisa Thompson has been teaching yoga in the Northampton community for over 25 years. She is a certified yoga instructor, receiving her primary teacher training with certified Iyengar teacher Peentz Dubble. Lisa taught students and faculty/staff at Smith College from 1998 – 2020, continuing through the pandemic online. She continues to study and practice under the mentorship of Susan Elena Esquivel. She is working towards Iyengar certification and continues her studies with her mentors Peentz Dubble and Susan Elena Esquivel. She brings a joyful presence to her classes with clear instructions helping each student reach their maximum potential.
Sarah Leboeuf
Studio Administrator
Sarah has been with IYCWM since January of 2020, beginning as the Administrative Assistant and then taking on the role of Studio Administrator in February 2022. Sarah brings to her position strong organizational skills, a great understanding of Iyengar yoga and the ability to keep the studio running smoothly. One of her greatest skills is connecting with our wide range of students and assisting them in finding a way to incorporate yoga into their daily lives.
Sarah states, “I am deeply honored to have the position of Studio Administrator at IYCWM where it is a joy to connect with others and grow through yoga. Each day I look forward to supporting the center’s efforts in making Iyengar yoga accessible to all by fostering an environment that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive.”
If you have any questions about deepening your practice with private lessons, or applying for yoga scholarships, or becoming and Iyengar teacher you can reach her at studioadmin@iycwm.com.
Amy Testa
Studio Assistant
Originally from New Jersey, Amy moved to Masschusetts to pursue a bachelors degree in Communication, graduating in 2025. With a background in meditation and pilates, Amy brings a sense of curiosity and adventure to her new-found Iyengar yoga practice.
If you have any questions about classes and special events or how to start a practice of Iyengar yoga, you can reach her at frontdesk@iycwm.com.
