Personal Euphoria Instructors & Team Members

The Personal Euphoria instructors agree that teaching class is the best part of our day. We want to make it the best part of your day too. Our instructors are trained to modify moves to work with all different bodies and goals. We can modify for your needs. If you have something going on in your body, let your instructor know. In our classes we work as a team to make your body feel better.

Our Instructors

Maggie
MaggieOwner
Maggie Downie is a Pilates Instructor and the owner of Personal Euphoria. She has a B.A in history from Eastern Connecticut State
University and has studied Pilates since 2002. She is certified in Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Mat Pilates through STOTT Pilates. Maggie has trained in Pilates for breast cancer rehabilitation and Pilates for pre and post-natal clients, Pilates Equipment as well as injuries and special populations. She has also taken classes and trained under Pilates Elders Mary Bowen, Ron Fletcher, Jay Grimes, and Lolita San Miguel. She thinks it is a privilege to work with different bodies- whether athletes or someone doing post rehab. She has been a guest on NPR and Better CT to share and discuss her knowledge of fitness. Her enthusiastic, upbeat personality is effective in helping students become energized about health and wellness.
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Jeannine
JeannineInstructor
Jeannine has been studying Pilates as an instructor since 2005 and longer than that as a dancer. She has a background in dance and
studied under dance pioneer Truda Kaschmann, contemporary of Joseph Pilates. She is certified through the School of the Hartford Ballet and PEAK Pilates. Jeannine has taught in a variety of venues to a number of different age groups. She has the most traditional style of Pilates on the Personal Euphoria team. She is a proud mother of two with a huge smile and a great laugh. Her healthy choices concerning wellness are sure to rub off.
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Rob
RobInstructor
Rob is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) who completed 450 hours of teacher training for Polestar Pilates and has been teaching Pilates and strength classes for over 8 years in studios and online.
He has a great deal of sporting and movement experience that includes golf, cycling, running, basketball, speed skating, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and cross country and alpine skiing. Rob is a longtime alpine ski instructor and certified member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). In his classes Rob likes to emphasize breathing; core control; spine articulation; organization of the head, neck, & shoulders; proper alignment; and movement integration.
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Sonia
SoniaInstructor
Sonia Tulyani comes from a family of yoga instructors — her father and grandfather were both yoga instructors in India.
She has been practicing yoga for twenty years and completed her 200 hour certification at Sacred Rivers Yoga in 2011. The ability of yoga to calm the body and mind is what initially attracted her to yoga, but through her studies she has learned so much more. Sonia is a research scientist by day and brings her inquisitive nature into her yoga practice. She hopes to share the wonder of self-discovery with her students.
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Rachel
RachelInstructor
Rachel is a Yoga Instructor, Vegetarian Chef, and Herbalist. She
obtained her 200 HR yoga teaching certification
from Sacred Rivers in Glastonbury, and is also certified in Energy Medicine Yoga and Yin Yoga. She was first inspired to help bodies move and be healthier by the example set by her grandmother, who was a well known instructor for senior fitness and taught around the country into her 80’s. Rachel loves working with beginners and seniors alike. She brings a wealth of experience, empathy, passion and positivity with her to each class that she teaches. Expect to breathe deeply, move with intention, laugh together and leave feeling relaxed and joyful.
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Mary W.
Mary W.Instructor
Mary took her first Zumba class 15 years ago and has never looked back. She immediately became hooked on the music and dance moves that make working out a party in disguise!!!
She became a certified instructor in 2010 and has taught 4 to 6 classes a week ever since. She is currently 62 years old and has never felt better!
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Mary L.
Mary L.Instructor
Mary began her yoga journey in 2009 after completing a 200-hour, all styles YTT, at Ganesh College of Yoga. Shortly after, Mary studied at Newington Yoga Center, diving into Embodyoga and Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans.
She went on to complete an additional 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certification at Be.Yoga, in 2022, as well as a certificate for Trauma Informed Yoga at WHY. Mary holds an AromaTouch Technique Certification with doTERRA and has recently been dabbling in Yogic Nutrition. Continuing education is a foundation of who Mary is. It is important to be open-minded and always learning. This allows her to be a valuable resource for her clients. 

Finding a passion for giving back, Mary teaches children’s programs at several schools throughout CT. She loves how all her students, of all ages and abilities, bring their own energies to the practice, creating a space of acceptance and good energy to the universe. “We should embrace our qualities and differences and share them with the world. Be kind to one another.”

In addition to yoga, Mary is a Wellness Advocate with doTERRA. She assists in educating her clients with healthy options and alternatives to pharmaceuticals. Giving them the freedom to make choices for themselves and their families.

In her spare time, Mary enjoys spending time with family, especially her son Ryan. She loves traveling, being outdoors, reading a good book and writing. She has a love for trying new foods and cooking. Mary finds enjoyment in meeting new people and building community. She believes a smile can change everything. 

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Melissa N.
Melissa N.Instructor
“Yoga has been in my life for quite some time and is the foundation of my evolution. My practice has given me the permission I “needed” to search for and reconnect with my soul and truth.
I structure every class uniquely to incorporate ancient traditions and theory with modern readings and music. All bodies are welcome in all of my classes”.

Melissa Nadeau holds her B.A. in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a 200hr registered yoga teacher from LivFree yoga teacher school; currently pursuing graduate studies in yoga therapy at the Heartwood Yoga Institute. She has extensive experience with first responders, trauma survivors, PTSD/C-PTSD and eating disorder warriors. Melissa, an inclusive teacher, has experience with restorative, power and vinyasa yoga, as well as meditation. Melissa lives in Ellington, where she grew up, with her husband and three children.  

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Our Sub Instructors

Kathleen
KathleenSub Instructor
Kathleen started studying yoga around 2007 to help improve her physical and mental strength. She has completed her 200 hour teacher
training at Sacred Rivers Yoga. Kathleen also has an associates degree in Health Science as an Occupational Therapy Assistant from Manchester Community College. She incorporates the use of pranayama, mantras, mudras, and postures into her classes to best suite the needs of her students. She will gently guide you through poses to help ease the mind and body with years of experience helping individuals of all abilities.
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Allison
AllisonSub Instructor
Allison McClain Merrill is a barre teacher, a musician, and an academic. She fell in love with barre because it is empowering and accessible, and it reminded her of growing up as a dancer.
Allison earned her teacher certification in April 2017 under Tetyana Boyeva, owner of Everbalance Wellness Studio in Jacksonville, Florida. Allison also holds bachelor’s degrees from Jacksonville University in music education and English, and she completed her master’s degree in religion and the arts in May 2019 at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Allison enjoys learning new things, singing and playing music, spending time with friends and family, and watching television shows with her husband, Jack.
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Melissa
MelissaSub Instructor
Melissa Wooldridge Breton is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, with a Masters Degree in Nursing and concentration in Community Public Health, Reiki Master, Trauma Healer, EFT Practitioner, and YTT200 YOGA Certified Instructor.

Melissa is currently pursuing a dual-certification as a Holistic Nurse and Nurse Coach. A super learner Melissa values her education as an investment in herself and as a model of lifetime learning for her children.

Melissa aspires to become more aligned with her purpose devoted to living her best life personally and professionally. Melissa shares her own healing journey story both on and off the YOGA mat! Energized by the magnetism of the universe expanding her consciousness to become fully into her being and receive her highest wisdom Melissa is raising her vibration through YOGA!

Melissa resides in New England, USA with her husband and two teenage sons.

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Diane
DianeSub Instructor
Diane is a 500-Hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Movement Mentor, 300-Hour Ayurvedic Advisor, Workshop Guide, Inspirational Speaker, and the founder of Evolve Wellness and Yoga.
She’s also a founding member of The Yoga Thread Collective.

Diane is passionate about living your best one life; a life fully aligned and resonate with your heart and soul’s calling. Her soul mission is to inspire her students to tap into their inner truth and lead a heart-centered life, sooner rather than later.

When she’s not inspiring women, she’s contemplating life on her yoga mat, walking in nature, hiking new terrain, seeking sunrises and sunsets, and advocating for the healing power of following an Ayurvedic lifestyle.

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Our Administrative Staff

Maureen
MaureenBookkeeper
Maureen has more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. Her career began, Continue Reading
by working at small private companies streamlining processes and procedures to ensure accuracy and accountability. Later, her career path took her to the field of Public Accounting. In that role, Maureen worked with numerous business entities providing instruction and advice on financial planning, record keeping, auditing and tax preparation.

After working Public Accounting Maureen settled back into the private sector. She met Maggie through her client, and it was decided that she could assist Maggie in her business. That was approximately wonderful 10 years ago. In her present role, a bookkeeper, Maureen is responsible for all financial activities accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, and financial reporting. You can find Maureen walking the beach when she’s not crunching numbers.

Isabella
IsabellaAdministrative Assistant
Isabelle has been working behind the scenes at Personal Euphoria for over 10 years, Continue Reading
gathering data from clients, keeping track of contact information, and sending out postcards. She enjoys traveling back to her country of origin – France, hiking with her husband and 2 children, and taking as many PE classes as she can!
Helen
HelenAdministrative Manager
Helen has been working as the Administrative Manger at Personal Euphoria since 2017. Continue Reading
She assists with scheduling, marketing, social media, and various other tasks. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three little boys, organizing, and all things Disney.
Bianca
BiancaAdministrative Assistant
Bianca is an Administrative Assistant for Personal Euphoria. She just graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a degree in Geography and Film Studies. Continue Reading
She spends the summer working at her local ice cream shop in addition to Personal Euphoria, and she enjoys yoga, dance, and all things cinema.