Our Tribe
Get to know your instructors.
Danielle Marconi
LPC, LMT, RYT-E 500Hr, Reiki Master
As founder of BEND; Mind, body, spirit inter-connectedness and the quality of life are the themes of Danielle’s life. She has 25 years of experience as both a personal trainer and fitness instructor. She has been trained in yoga, meditation and energy matrix alignment to complement her practice. Her studies and practice in spirituality continue to be her lifelong passion. Her objectives are simple: touch, motivate, and inspire.
Having dedicated two decades to the practice and teaching of yoga, Danielle brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to her classes. Her classes are a unique blend of intelligence, mindfulness, and invigorating energy. Danielle's classes offer a space for self-discovery and growth. Expect to leave her sessions feeling not just exhausted, but also rejuvenated and inspired to embrace the transformative power of yoga in your life. Join Danielle on the mat for a journey of self-awareness, strength, and holistic well-being.
Jean Marconi
LPC, Usui Reiki / Karuna Reiki Master, Meditation Instructor
Jean is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 35 years experience working with a variety of different clients. Her approach is holistic and systemic, looking at the person in their environment and seeking alternative solutions. Jean has been a Reiki Master for 40 years. Her studies are extensive in energetic healing and aromatherapy. She teaches Reiki initiation workshops throughout the year. She also offers a donation based meditation at Re:mind Wellness Boutique n Mondays and Thursdays. She is a true healer.
Debra Saracino
Debra started taking ballet classes at the age of 6 loved it, and never stopped.
She has Advanced Training and Certifications in: ISHTA Yoga, STOTT Pilates, (both Mat and Reformer,) Ballet Barre, Ayurveda Nutrition and Rehabilitation. She continues her education every chance she gets.
All her classes are fun and upbeat no matter what your level is.
Bre bauer
Bre Bauer, a vibrant force in the world of yoga, whose passion for the practice is as contagious as the heat in a hot yoga studio. With years of experience and a unique blend of expertise, Bre has become a guiding light for enthusiasts seeking a harmonious balance between fitness, music and mindfulness. Specializing in the invigorating practice of power yoga, Bre brings an unparalleled energy to each class - a perfect bend of intensity and joy infused with a deep understanding of the human body. What truly sets Bre apart is her love for incorporating fun and vibrant music into every class. With carefully curated playlists that turn each class into a rhythmic journey, seamlessly syncing movement with beats.
sally head
Sally started as a bilingual elementary education teacher. Following a 4-year assignment with the Peace Corps teaching preschool and elementary education in Paraguay, South America, Sally taught for several years in the New York City public school system in the South Bronx.
However, dance has never been far from Sally’s heart. She studied modern dance at Boston University, and while overseas she used her dance background to engage the young girls of her local village, creating workshops where the girls could learn to express themselves and then show off their skills to local friends and family members. Many years later, Sally is still using dance, but this time teaching adults and the older population the benefits of movement, strength, flexibility, and balance.
In her free time, you can find Sally relaxing with her two daughters, her husband Dan, and their dog Faith. Together they like to go hiking, biking, skiing or out to watch the latest Marvel movie. Sally also loves to cook, paint, and be creative. Her favorite saying is “keep on moving!”
erienne murphy
Erienne's yoga asana practice began 18 years ago as a means to reduce stress and increase strength. It wasn't until a few years ago that she took the plunge and committed to Yoga Teacher Training to dive deeper into the history and philosophy of this 5,000 year old practice. After earning her RYT200 at Bend Yoga & Wellness with Danielle Marconi in 2021, she rather unwittingly began teaching. Her goal was to always be a student, but she soon realized how incredible it is to share something she cares so deeply about with other like-minded people.
Erienne specializes in a level 2/3 vinyasa class that can be both physically and mentally challenging, but it will have an upbeat and eclectic music playlist to help get you through.
wendy bien-aime
For years, yoga classes served as a safe space for Wendy to cultivate the connection of mind, body, and spirit. She believes the best yoga teachers help people find the room to explore their practice and deepen their awareness. She meets students of all levels where they are by embracing each as an individual. Her goal as a yoga instructor is to be a guide in helping people discover what they need within themselves.
Wendy completed her 200 Hour YTT at Bend Yoga. She regularly teaches level 1/2 flow classes during the week.
michelle pagliarella
Knowing that yoga is a marriage between body and mind/spirit, Michelle expresses this union in a Vinyasa flow that encapsulates softness and strength. Her philosophy is that you need to be soft in order to be strong; echoing the ancient saying “you need to be like bamboo, firmly rooted, yet flexible”. Students have expressed that watching Michelle teach is like watching an underwater dance. Her belief is that the linking of breath with movement, as in traditional Vinyasa flow, allows the student to tap into their own wellspring of creativity and power. It is from this place where Michelle’s strength as a teacher becomes apparent. She has the unique, disarming quality that commands trust from her devotees, while remaining a fierce companion to her students in their exploration of untapped potential.
A Registered E-200-hour and 300-hour (yoga therapy) Yoga Teacher, along with 1500 hours of teaching, Michelle has trained with many Eastern healers in Seattle, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Providence, RI, NYC and CT. She is also a 100-hour Certified Meditation Teacher, a Reiki 2 Practitioner, has a B.S in psychology, lives a cruelty-free lifestyle, is an accomplished vegan chef and is Buddhist.
michele cerino
For the last 31 years, Michele served public school students in Connecticut as a teacher, administrator, and advocate for social-emotional learning and mindfulness. She believes that “Educating the mind without educating the heart, is no education at all.” (Aristotle). Michele earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Master of Science in education and a 6th year certificate in school administration. In spring of 2023, she completed 200 YTT at Bend Yoga. She is finding peace and happiness living at the beach, spending time with her grandsons, and pursuing her passion for yoga.
meg geschwind
Meg discovered the transformative power of yoga early in life. Engaged in competitive sports throughout her youth, she initially embraced yoga as a means of cross-training and injury prevention. Over time, Meg has woven her practice into a journey of self-celebration, shedding judgments towards herself and others, and uncovering inner peace on the yoga mat.
Having earned her 200 RYT certification from Bend in 2022, Meg is passionately dedicated to sharing the benefits of yoga with individuals of all ages, skill levels, and body types. Her commitment lies in creating inclusive opportunities for others to experience the impact of yoga on both the body and the mind.
Ellen Lenson
Ellen Lenson, RYT, began practicing yoga regularly in 1999, while living in New York City. Her practice quickly became was a place of refuse and joy. She began teaching in 2008 and has done so continually ever since. Currently teaching Yin and Restorative yoga, she has also taught Forrest Yoga and alignment/anatomy-based classes. Her current classes are deeply influenced by her study and practice of craniosacral work and finds it is in the stillness and quiet that we can truly hear and heal ourselves.
haley goldblatt
Haley loves yoga- she started practicing regularly in 2015 and earned her RYT 200 from Bend Yoga in 2022. She's certified in Reiki level 1 and pursuing her level 2 & 3 with the renowned healer Jean Marconi. She treats yoga as a somatic healing experience that can help heal the mind and strengthen body through breath and movement. Haley teaches an inclusive class that caters to all skill levels and all body types. She gains inspiration from teachers like Elena Brower and the Underbelly Yoga. She tries to incorporate pranayama and poetry in her classes. Yoga has become a very important part of her life and she feels so grateful to have found the strong community of Bend Yoga in Milford. When she's not teaching or practicing yoga, she's can be found gardening, hiking, or spending time with her beloved cat at home.
Kimmarie credidio
Yoga has had such a profound effect on my life and continually shapes how I live and my interactions and relationship with myself and others. I’ve been teaching yoga for over 16 years and my passion for it continually grows. I’ve taught Girl Scouts, middle schoolers, cancer patients, war veterans, domestic abuse survivors, and yogis of all shapes and sizes, from beginners to advanced. My ultimate happy place is somewhere with palm trees and ocean, bad cell service, and no A/C, where I’d go barefoot, garden, do lots of yoga, and walk everywhere. My husband and fur baby Shanti would be there too.
When I’m not teaching yoga or doing my own practice, I can be found hosting various workshops that support the yoga and wellness lifestyle.
Yoga reminds me to take life in stride, to accept things I can’t control, to not judge- myself or others, to lead with kindness and a loving heart, and to breathe.