Hot Yoga and Fire Phiit Teachers

OUR TEACHERS ARE THE CORE OF OUR STUDIO

Our Teachers

Alexia Papadopoulos

Alexia Papadopoulos was born in the United States and spent her summers growing up in a small village in Greece. In March of 2002, she decided to move permanently to Greece and became a teacher for a private language institute. After living there for eight years doing work on the family farm, moonlighting as a radio DJ and teaching, Alexia came back to the United States full time. Having an interest in the medical field she began working for a radiology office and then finally a neurosurgery and orthopedic spine specialists.

Alexia started practicing Bikram yoga in 2010 after being introduced to the yoga by a friend. She started with just once a week and then slowly added twice into her schedule. It wasn’t long before she was indulging in a daily practice. While Alexia loved the yoga, it was her friends and family who started noticing a beneficial change. Then she noticed the physical changes. Better lean muscle mass and increased flexibility. There were emotional benefits as well. Alexia found herself better able to handle stress with ease. After approximately four years of a daily practice and discovering all the benefits, witnessing what many patients go through such as living with daily pain, subsequent pain management issues and surgical procedures. Alexia decided she wanted to help more. She decided it was time to take the next step and become a certified yoga instructor. She made the trip to Los Angeles, California to attend Bikram Yoga College of India in the spring of 2014 where she was awarded the “English Bulldog” award. After graduation, Alexia stayed in the LA area to teach her first few classes at Bikram Yoga International Headquarters. She returned home to teach mostly around the Connecticut area but in Hawaii and New York as well. As an instructor, Alexia is committed to helping heal others through yoga. She also enjoys spending time with her four-legged furry friend Baby as well as family and friends. You will find Alexia on the schedule on Monday evenings and subbing on the weekends. Stay tuned for more information

Larissa Santoro

Meet Larissa Santoro!!
Larissa is an International yoga teacher, spending time traveling and teaching in Europe, California and Connecticut. She has been practicing Bikram yoga for almost 10 years and you’ll often hear her say that this yoga has saved her life. She found peace and comfort in a regular practice and embraced the yogi lifestyle from the start. Always wanting to take the next step to teacher training, she finally got the chance in February 2018 with Evolation Yoga in Hawaii.

A believer that the teacher is always the student and the student is always the teacher, Larissa has expanded her yoga training since then, completing a Yin Yoga training in 2019 and a 200 hour Maha Hatha training in the intermediate series January of 2020.
Larissa has been described as ‘calming force’ and loves sharing her energy with students. She has a passion for travel & culture, and plans to spread her energy and yoga love around the world.
You can find Larissa @fullcirclehotyoga teaching Saturday morning 8am 26&2 music class!! She can’t wait to see you all there.

Dina Castelluccio

Dina Castelluccio began her dance training at a young age at Stratford Center for the Performing Arts in CT and CT Dance Conservatory. After graduating she made her way to NYC to train with the industry’s top teachers at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Dance New Amsterdam. In NYC, Dina was the co-founder and artistic director of Clarity in Motion, a contemporary company, producing Falling Awake and Glass Houses. Her work has also been seen The Joyce Theater NYC. Also, while in NYC, Castelluccio was given the opportunity to direct the musical theater show Broadway Babes. As a performer, she was a member of Millennium Dance Company, under the direction of Devin Pulls and performed in Broadway in the Park. Dina has traveled the country as a master teacher, choreographer and National Dance Competition Judge.

Dina discovered Bikram Yoga in 2004, while living in NYC; Instantly she was hooked. She loved how the heat and specific postures opened up her body, which was a huge benefit to her dance career. Immediately after her first class she looked up how to become an instructor; she knew it was in her cards! After 10 years of practicing she finally became a certified Bikram Yoga instructor, in 2012. While living in Los Angles Castelluccio began teaching at Bikram Yoga Manhattan Beach and Bikram Yoga Hermosa Beach. Her next journey gave her the opportunity to travel internationally, where she had the pleasure of teaching in Rome, Italy at Bikram Yoga Roma. Finally settling back in CT, Dina currently is the co-owner and director of CT Dance Conservatory. Her dancers and award winning choreography have been seen at various Regional Dance Competitions, The Phoenix Rising Shakespeare Festival, The AIM Invitational, LIVFree’s Winter Wonderland event and Stratford CT’s Pumpkin festival to name a few. She actively teaches the 26 &2 series, practices yoga in all styles and is a soon to be Mom!!
You can find Dina @fullcirclehotyoga when our doors open Thursday mornings at 6am teaching the 26&2 music class!!

Jackie Ryan

Jackie Ryan started her Bikram Yoga journey 12 years ago and never looked back. Jackie is a teacher, an artist, a health and life coach, a wilderness mentor, a traveler and a dancer, and she couldn’t be who she is today without yoga. Through this practice, Jackie was able to cure her asthma, allergies and eczema, say goodbye to depression, insomnia, and a binge eating disorder, and cultivate an empowered sense of self and compassion for others. After 7 years of dedicated practice, Jackie felt the call to become a teacher so that she could help other people to heal their own bodies and minds. She went through Bikram’s 9-week intensive training in the Spring of 2014 in Los Angeles and is humbled and grateful to be sharing this practice that has so deeply transformed her life.

Shortly after she started teaching yoga, Jackie studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and became a certified Holistic Health Coach. She now enjoys helping clients find balance in their lives both on and off the mat. She’s also gone on to study other forms of healing including yin and integral yoga, Thai massage and Reiki.
Jackie is a huge advocate for creativity and self-expression. She found Bikram Yoga while she was studying Studio Art at the University of Vermont. She feels that yoga is the foundation to get your problems out of the way so that you can truly shine in your unique way. She is an abstract painter whose vibrant work you can see at visionfaerie.com. She recently founded Ecstatic Dance Fairfield County, where people come to let loose and dance freely. She travels the world going to Contact Improv Jams, art festivals and meditation retreats... always bringing a spark of what she learned on her journey home to share with her community. She currently teaches workshops on yoga, mindfulness, nature connection, art and manifesting. Jackie’s next big adventure is hosting a Hot Yoga Beach Retreat in Mexico at Casa Om with fellow teacher and friend Alzbeta Peskova March 14-20, 2021!
You can find Jackie Wednesday evenings and Friday mornings teaching Bikram, Yin & our variation class

Candace Maisel

Meet Candace Maisel!
Candace began her yoga journey in 2012 after sustaining a series of injuries as an avid runner and dance fitness instructor. She found the intense heat and overall experience to be healing both physically and mentally. She feels it provides a balance where you’re able to listen to your body’s needs instead of feeling at odds with it’s limitations.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in trauma therapy, Candace has a deep appreciation for the mind body connection. After years of residential crisis work with all ages, she currently works at a private practice in Newtown, CT utilizing EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy).
In 2018, she became certified as a HIIT instructor and finds that motivating others keeps her motivated. Whether it’s in her therapy office or in the heated room, Candace is passionate about helping others thrive. If you step into her HIIT class, you will find compassion, enthusiasm, inner strength, as well as an incredible workout! Candace is excited and grateful to learn from and support others here on their journey for wellness!

Frank Rupp

Frank began his movement journey as a competitive Irish Dancer and Irish Dance teacher. He later found a sanctuary in yoga, instantly drawn to the power yoga held in connecting people not only to each other but also to themselves.
He received his 200-Hour teaching certification in Power Vinyasa from CorePower Yoga in 2019 and is passionate about exploring every healing avenue yoga has to offer, particularly its power in recovery from trauma and addiction.

Tonisha Cohen King

Meet Tonisha Cohen-King, LCSW, Certified Yoga Instructor.
Tonisha has completed over 200 hours of Yoga teacher training and is certified in Chair Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga, Yin Yoga, Reiki l, Reiki ll and is in the process of completing her 100 Meditation teacher training.
Tonisha teaches a Vinyasa style flow and connects mind, body, breath, and spirit into her Yoga practice by including the following:

Just let the leading instructor know and they can add in a posture or two to the class to help!

Jeff Bousquet

“Welcoming Jeff Bousquet to the FCHY family!

Aside being a badass Vinyasa instructor, Jeff is a personal trainer, a home improvement contractor, a Yin instructor and dedicates his life to helping others find the same solace he once needed as well.

With all of the noise of the outside world melting away the moment Jeff stepped on his mat, he knew he wanted to incorporate the study and practice of yoga into his life

After completing his vinyasa certification with Saraswati Yoga Joint in 2009, Jeff went on to continue his vinyasa education with Baron Baptiste in 2010 and more recently rounded out his yoga certifications with the study of Yin. Jeff follows the mindset that you are always a student of yoga and that’s the only way to teach.

Jeff’s versatile classes can flow anywhere from a power vinyasa to a more slow paced laid back vibe. You will inevitably leave Jeff’s class feeling stronger and more focused on your day.

You can find Jeff taking over the Friday 6pm time slot with a power vinyasa class starting November 26th!!

Come show your support and work off some of that turkey day indulgence. ”

Jessica Demelis

Jessica Demelis began practicing Bikram yoga after enduring multiple sports injuries and found herself 25 lbs over weight. She fell in love with how the practice seemingly healed her body from the inside out. Every organ, bone, joint and body function improved tremendously. Jessica found that a consistent yoga practice helped her overcome physical hurdles. The added benefit of a 90-minute meditation along with training one how to properly breathe through some of life’s most trying moments was invaluable. After just six months she decided it was time to teach. Her background in the medical field gave her a solid foundation and a deeper physiological understanding of how the postures connect with the human body. Teaching, to her, was a no brainer.

In 2007, Jessica was off to Oahu, Hawaii where she practiced the yoga she loves twice a day, 5 days a week and once on the 6th day. At the completion of a 9-week intensive teacher training, she returned a certified Bikram Yoga Instructor. Jessica loves teaching because in her words “It affords me the opportunity to see people from all walks of life, some that even feel a bit broken down, whether it be physically or emotionally, and help transform them into beautiful, healthy and more confident human beings.”
Jessica will be on our schedule, Wednesday’s at 9:30am for a 90 minute traditional Bikram class.

Aaron Urbain

This is Aaron. Aaron teaches and practices yoga. Aaron will likely address you as the color of your clothing in class. Aaron snowboards. Aaron skateboards. Aaron is a lucky guy, he's married to Jill. Aaron is a cool guy. We love Aaron. Do yoga, be like Aaron.
You can find Aaron teaching Bikram Thursdays at 7:30pm at @Fullcirclehotyoga

Margaret Walsh

Margaret Walsh comes to Full Circle Hot Yoga with a long and diverse background of wellness and fitness classes. With over 20 years in the fitness industry teaching many formats such as boot camp, spinning and Pilates, it was her distance running passion (and injuries) that led her to healing with yoga. Now she brings her passion for helping others achieve balance in their bodies and peace in their lives.

When not practicing yoga or running, you may find Margaret cheering on her three kids at swim meets and basketball games. She lives in Trumbull with her husband and three children.