Lynn Slocomb  E-RYT® 500, YACEP® w/ Yoga Alliance
Lynn took her first yoga class in her mid twenties. At that time, she was the health and fitness director for the YWCA in Lancaster, PA and the quintessential gym rat, and had been teaching group exercise for almost a decade. Yoga was just too quiet, too slow, and too time consuming. Little did she know.

After battling stage III breast cancer, several surgeries, and significant weight gain, high-impact workouts and the “gym” atmosphere only led to chronic insecurity and pain. In addition, life became busier and busier as her family of two grew to seven when she married her husband, Christopher and they relocated to Landenberg. It was here where Lynn was introduced to The Light Within through Unite for Her. Lynn has been practicing consistently since 2012.

Lynn loves a slower, intentional practice. Her teaching style is informed by her personal practice, and her most favorite format to teach is a slower, intentional vinyasa. She believes your breath is your most valuable teacher and yoga should never hurt. Also, the guiding principle of yoga is “do no harm,” and when she purchased The Light Within in 2017, her intention was to continue to foster and nurture the wonderful commUNITY already created and continue to create a safe space for EVERYone and everyBODY.

Off the mat, you can catch Lynn in your local coffee shop, hanging out in the early morning listening to her collection of wind chimes, walking in the woods with friends or family, doing all things creative, getting lost on a back road with “her guy,” or loving on her family.

Julia Byrem  E-RYT® 500, YACEP® w/ Yoga Alliance
Julia found a deep personal resonance with the religious and spiritual philosophies of the East as an undergraduate student in 2002, and began practicing yoga in 2006 when she became pregnant with her first child. The synthesis of knowledge and experience immediately ignited what seemed to be a latent passion for the practice; it felt like “coming home.” Each day since has brought Julia the opportunity to experience the profound impact the practice has on body, mind and spirit, and she believes that Yoga is for everyone. The freedom that she is finding through her own practice informs her teaching and her studentship.

Julia completed her 200 hour training with Empowered Yoga and her 300 hour at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Ayurveda and Yoga. She has had the honor of studying with such teachers as Dr. Scott Blossom, Larissa Hall Carlson, Yogan and Michael Carrol, Dr. Rosie Mann, Dr. John Douillard, and Joseph LePage. In Julia’s classes, students can expect to find a simple and balanced yet motivating practice incorporating mantra, alignment, mudra, and meditation. Julia takes each day as an opportunity to live a balanced life, and is passionate about learning and sharing what she learns. Julia is one of the lead facilitators in the 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training here at The Light Within.

Tracey Eltringham E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500, YACEP® w/ Yoga Alliance Yoga has been a part of Tracey’s life for over 11 years. She felt an immediate connection in her first class. Her personal practice enables her to live with a greater sense of ease, a sense of mindfulness, and the ability to feel connected to others. She is a (R)egistered (Y)oga (T)eacher that has completed 500 hours of training. Tracey has additional training in teaching restorative yoga and teaching yoga to children, those over 50 and those with fuller bodies. Tracey is authentic and easy to relate to. Her motto is come as you are, with the hopes that you leave feeling empowered, encouraged, and more connected with yourself. She is enthusiastic about sharing her love of yoga and meditation. Off the mat, Tracey spends time with her family and their three dogs, and tries to slip into nature for a brisk walk as often as possible.

Patty Jacobs​  E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500, YACEP® w/ Yoga Alliance
Patricia has been a proud member of The Light Within Yoga "commUnity" since the studio opened in 2004. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Alison Donley in 2012 and finished her additional 300 hour training in December 2018. She feels blessed to be able to share yoga with others- especially the young and those with special needs. Patricia is a Special Education teacher, with over 25 years of experience and was awarded "Teacher of the Year" recognition in 2016 for the John G. Leach school. Patricia was first drawn into yoga, as a way to exercise when the cold winter weather dissuaded her from riding her mountain bike. But, since her very first class at The Light Within, she has been drawn even deeper into yoga, as a way of experiencing so much more than physical postures. Patricia appreciates all that yoga has brought into her life both on and off her favorite orange mat.

Highlights of Patricia’s yoga teaching journey include offering Family Yoga, as well as Gentle classes, and Yoga for Tweens classes.  She also created and shared a summer Yoga + Creativity camp for ten years.  In addition, she occasionally offers unique workshops such as "Yoga with Nature Walk", "Yoga and Knitting", and  "Mindfulness for Teachers and Parents".  Patricia also leads classes on "Yoga with Children" and "Yoga for Special Needs", as part of The Light Within Studio's 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program.  

Adults and children alike respond to her positivity, warm smile, and soothing spiritual energy. Known to family and friends as Patty, when not teaching or practicing yoga, she enjoys photography, gardening as well as spending time with her husband, family, friends and her 2 dogs.

Follow her on Instagram page- @Breatheandbea

Caitlin Reilly​  Caitlin Reilly E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500, YACEP® w/Yoga Alliance Caitlin has been teaching yoga since 2012 in the DE/ PA region. She earned her 200 certification with One-Yoga and later became 500 hour certified with The Light Within Yoga Studio. She enjoys teaching a variety of classes, including beginner yoga, slow flow, chair yoga, and teacher training workshops.

I began my teaching career informally at the age of 8 in Massachusetts, leading aerobics for my fellow 3rd graders in the school yard. My aunt had introduced me to a Denise Austin workout tape one day, and it fascinated me. The challenge was rather fun! I wanted to share what I learned about triceps, quads, and counting while you work them. This enthusiasm for fitness continued through the years with sports like swimming, soccer, track, and cross country.

I worked hard majoring in Writing for Film and Television at Emerson college, and almost moved to LA. Yet, a fast paced life in the city was not for me. I chose a simpler life in Delaware, where, a trip to the gym or a long run could always do the trick--until it didn't. Multiple injuries and chronic pain in 2010 called for physical therapy and rest. I needed some new tools for coping with stress. A beginner's yoga course opened my eyes to how a single movement could impact not only the body, but one's mind and ethics. Yoga helped to refresh my approach to health and everyday situations.

Suddenly the little 3rd grade Caitlin popped back up and said "Hey, cool -- let me share this..."

Now I love teaching yoga, and welcome people of all backgrounds to my class. I am not naturally super flexible, so don't worry if you aren't. The "Om" should never "Ow."

Off the mat, Caitlin is back in college studying Physical Therapy. For fun, she likes to paint, draw cartoons, play the piano, read, hike, have a good laugh, and experiment with new recipes. Her favorite thing is just walking around outside, especially with her husband or loved ones.

Heather Rice  RYT® 200 w/Yoga Alliance Heather was going through a difficult time in her life when her sister shared the gift of yoga with her. During their first practice together she offered the intention “I am enough”, bringing Heather to tears. Having been so mentally and emotionally moved by what she previously thought to be a purely physical practice gave Heather the push she needed to dive deeper into yoga…and then Covid shut everything down.

With the extra time quarantine afforded her, she embarked on a 100 day yoga challenge in which she practiced yoga for at least 15 minutes every day. The challenge resulted in 195 consecutive days of yoga. This daily practice showed Heather she could accomplish big things and motivated her to get her teaching certificate.

Heather completed her 200 YTT at The Light Within in West Grove, PA under the tutelage of Lynn Slocomb in 2022. Her passion for making yoga accessible to people of all shapes and sizes grew even greater with her training. She plans to follow in the footsteps of those before her (in bodies of various shapes, sizes and colors) that made her feel comfortable practicing in her own unique body and help you do the same.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of who I am, I receive what I need.” - Lao Tzu

Melanie Miers   RYT® 200 w/ Yoga Alliance
Starting her yoga journey in 2007, Melanie Miers is a 2021 YTT graduate of the Light Within. Being bilingual, and teaching Spanish at Avon Grove High, Melanie has traveled the world, seeking to better understand and get to know people of all backgrounds and walks of life. Yoga has been one of the bridges to greater self-awareness and compassion in this ever-evolving world in which we live. While Melanie’s yoga journey has included a primary focus on vinyasa practice, she enjoys gentle, GEL, intermediate and advanced practices. At the beginning of Melanie’s yoga path, she discovered what a fun challenge it was to make dynamic shapes with the body, only to fully realize the mind-body connection that the inward yoga journey had to offer. Melanie is excited to teach at the Light Within, and recalls vividly, her first class there in 2019, where she was so warmly welcomed and has been encouraged ever since. She is eager to contribute to the community of all practitioners, helping to partner in the beautiful practice of asana.

Jenny Wood   RYT® 200 w/ Yoga Alliance
Jenny tried her first yoga class at the age of 13. Since then, yoga has been woven in and out of her life through the years. Over time, her practice has changed from a results oriented physical focus to a way of being. Jenny completed the 85 hour Prenatal Yoga teacher training program in 2015 at Yoga Yoga in Austin TX, and the 200 hour Yoga teacher training at The Light Within in May 2017. She is happy to have found her community at The Light Within and enjoys taking classes there regularly.

Jenny has been teaching childbirth preparation classes since 2010 and is a certified Bradley Method Instructor and Dancing for Birth Instructor. Since 2002, Jenny has been studying, teaching, or performing belly dance and currently teaches several weekly classes. Yoga, dance, and birth all share the theme of being present in your body and awareness of breath - and seem to be beautifully complementary endeavors. Each experience presents the opportunity for individual growth and well being.

In her downtime, Jenny can be found trying to keep up with her two wild sons, exploring the forests, reading, creating wheel thrown pottery, making all sorts of things, and trying to remember her dreams.

Sarah Quigley  RYT® 200 w/ Yoga Alliance Sarah is a 2022 YTT graduate from the Light Within under the tutelage of Lynn Slocomb. Sarah’s first experience with yoga was in her high school gym class under the direction of Pam Walsh. Through the years she had an on and off the mat relationship with yoga until the Spring of 2017 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sarah used her vouchers through Unite For Her to take private yoga sessions with Alison Donley. Sarah says, “Some people see cancer as a bad thing, I used my cancer journey to rekindle my relationship with yoga and began to deepen my understanding of mindfulness.”

In Spring 2020, Sarah received her Applied Mindfulness Certification through WCU’s Contemplative Studies Program under the training of Dr. Donald McCown. Sarah is trained in MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction). Additionally, Sarah has taught for the past 23 years in a public school setting. She holds certifications in Elementary Education and Family and Consumer Science; currently she teaches Family and Consumer Science at FSEMS in the Avon Grove School District.

Sarah is excited to share what she has learned with you! She believes each of us is unique and brings something different to their yoga mat. Sarah’s classes are a judgment free zone. “As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than there is wrong.” (Jon Kabat-Zinn)