Our Front Desk Crew
Our front desk crew is fantastic!
They provide a welcoming experience through a warm check-in process and support each yogi’s questions about membership, access, and studio flow.
Want to join the front desk crew?
Front desk yogis may volunteer to support the studio 3 hours per week in exchange for unlimited classes, discounts on workshops and special events, discounts on merchandise, and participation in events.
Duties include checking yogis into class, signing new yogis into Up Dog, light studio cleaning (sweeping, vacuuming, counter wiping, mirror cleaning, etc.).
We ask that yogis maintain a 6-month commitment.
Shahnaz Ghahremani
Favorite Yoga Posture: Bhujangasana (Cobra)
Off the Mat: She enjoys anything outdoorsy, active, and creative. She's usually off hiking, biking, playing volleyball, cooking, or buying another plant to add to her collection.
What's Up: She loves traveling around the world and getting to know new cultures and new ethnic foods.
Trip to Yoga: Shahnaz has been practicing yoga on and off for about 8 years. She loves to get her sweat on, clear her mind through movement, and connect with other fellow yogis!
Karla Arango
Favorite Yoga Posture: Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon)
Off the Mat: Karla works for Maryland State government! She loves to find different ways to explore different cities and can be your plus one to any music festivals or concerts because she loves live music.
What’s Up: Karla is an adrenaline lover! She enjoys doing new things that push her out of her comfort zone.
Trip to Yoga: Karla discovered yoga in high school when she was looking for holistic methods to improve mental and physical health. After a break in practice, she found herself wanting to find a community and practice that was going to fill her cup and mind with good energy.
Emily Garvey
Favorite Yoga Posture: Natarajasana (Dancer) - It's nostalgic to her Cheerleading days
Off the Mat: She works in consulting, loves to cook, travel, enjoy concerts, and lounge with her Great Dane mutt, Harper.
What's Up: She loves music and is always looking to be put on to something or someone new!
Trip to Yoga: Emily has been practicing on and off for 10 years. Rediscovering yoga's mental and physical benefits have allowed Emily to fall in love with it again. It keeps her sane! She is consistently bewildered about how different her balance really can be at 6AM vs. 6PM!
Ruby Davis
Favorite Yoga Posture: Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero)
Off the Mat: Ruby loves reading, hiking, running and watercolor painting.
What's Up: Ruby loves performing mediocre karaoke with friends!
Trip to Yoga: Ruby started her yoga journey 3 years ago after taking a job in a new city where she didn't know anyone. She met great yogis and teachers who have become lifelong friends. She hopes to continue to meet new friends and help others feel welcome in the community.
Hannah Zafar
Favorite Yoga Pose: Ardha Utkatasana (Half Chair Pose)
Off the Mat: Studying Earth Science at NASA 🤓 When not at work, she usually is building legos, trying new restaurants, or reading at a park!
What's Up: She has an orange cat named Pumpkin, who keeps getting rounder and more pumpkin-like everyday.
Trip to Yoga: Hannah has been an on-and-off yogi since high school but is finally getting consistent with her practice as a "real adult". She loves the peace and reflectiveness it brings to her life and how it helps her manage stress and anxiety. Hannah particularly has found UDYC to be a great space to practice and build community!
Emalee Mountain
Favorite Yoga Posture: Utthita Tadasana (Star) and Uttanasana (Forward Fold)
Off the Mat: She can be found walking around DC with her pup, Porter, but also enjoys snowboarding, going to music festivals, and traveling.
What's Up: Emalee is am currently in the process of revamping the apartment she has lived in for the last five years!
Trip to Yoga: Emalee went to her first hot yoga class one summer in between college semesters and was immediately hooked. After completing her teacher training in 2017, she taught vinyasa style yoga for 2.5 years while living and working in Pittsburgh, PA. She love the community that yoga creates and is eager to grow with the Up Dog community.
Sidney Dyer
Favorite Yoga Posture: Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)
Off the Mat: Off the mat Sidney can either be found traveling a new city, at a sport event or at the dog park with a dog she’s caring for that week!
What's Up: In every new city Sidney travels to she must take a ghost tour!
Trip to Yoga: Sidney was lured into a 90 minutes Hot Yoga class in high school with the promise of brunch afterwords. A decade later it is still a grounding and guiding practice for her. She loves that’s showing up to the mat is the most important step.
Isobel Getchell
Favorite Yoga Posture: Virabhadrasana C (Warrior 3)
Off the Mat: Isobel works in government consulting, but spends most of her free time reading, writing, or trying out new restaurants with friends.
What's Up: She is an avid traveler - her mum is from the UK so travel was instilled in her from a young age.
Trip to Yoga: She started yoga when she was in high school, though she did not start consistently practicing until I joined UDYC. She feels like her best self when she is practicing yoga. She feels her strongest when she can hold a balancing pose. And she love the community this studio brings!
Roisin Casey
Favorite Yoga Posture: Bhujangasana (Cobra)
Off the Mat: Roisin enjoys baking for her friends and is always look for a new recipe to try!
What's Up: Roisin recently got her feet moving and took a beginner tap dance class. Spirits high!
Trip to Yoga: Roisin began practicing mindfulness in high school, which eventually led her to her first yoga class. While practicing on and off since then, she has always loved the community and grounding yoga brings her and is very excited to have joined UDYC!
Ellory Thill
Favorite Yoga Posture: Virabhadrasana C (Warrior 3)
Off the Mat: Ellory spends most days as a 1st grade teacher but also trying out new recipes & restaurants, working on a craft or watching Love Island.
What’s Up: She loves her film camera!! The camera comes with her almost everywhere in case a moment needs to be captured.
Trip to Yoga: Ellory was in a movement rut for a bit, but after exploring yoga, realized it was the perfect way to move and great for her mind. After a move from Michigan to DC, she started to explore different studios & Up Dog was one she kept coming back to because of the friendly people and amazing classes.
Audrey Porter
Favorite Yoga Pose: Natarajasana (Dancer)
Off the Mat: Audrey loves discovering DC, trying new restaurants, and a weekly show night with her friends.
What’s Up: Audrey is originally from the West Coast, and grew up hiking and exploring natural lakes outside Seattle. She always loves an excuse to be outdoors.
Trip to Yoga: Audrey played competitive sports for most of her life and was reintroduced to yoga last year. She immediately fell in love with the community and mindfulness that yoga provides, and was eager to find a new yogi community in DC!
Stephanie Karl
Favorite Yoga Pose: Bhujangasana (Cobra)
Off the Mat: Steph is a grad student at American University. She just moved to DC in August and loves anything and everything about politics and policy.
What’s Up: She loves listening to music, matcha, and romance books!
Trip to Yoga: Steph joined a yoga club her junior year of college and fell in love with how relaxing it was. She appreciates how grounded she feels after a yoga class especially in a high-stress field.