Our Teachers
Crystal Cordoba grew up on the coast of Downeast Maine but has called South Carolina home for nearly a decade. After placing third for the state at Yoga Regional Asana Competition in January 2014, Crystal decided to become a certified Bikram Yoga teacher in Los Angeles, California during the spring of that year. Bikram is a ninety-minute Hatha series consisting of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, all done in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. After relocating to teach this style of yoga in the Hamptons and throughout Long Island, New York, Crystal became enamored of Vinyasa flow, which can be taught in a heated or unheated setting. She soon realized that yoga is for EVERY body but the heat is not, and decided to become certified in this flow style class. Vinyasa's body-breath connection make this style of yoga practice not only beautiful and dynamic, but also readily available to practitioners of many different levels. Crystal has been a teacher and manager at a number of studios across New York State and throughout the southeast. She is happy to call Hilton Head Island home, and as the new owner of Island Yoga, she will work diligently to impact the wellness community of this special place in a meaningful, authentic way.
Kelley Leigh Duffy was introduced to yoga almost a decade ago and has been gracefully evolving ever since. Integrating a consistent and pragmatic practice into her life, Kelley has grown into a stronger, more courageous and flexible person both on and off the mat. Yoga inspires her to live each moment and life-transition more intentionally, more compassionately and more vivaciously. Kelley completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, MA. She was attracted to this lineage of yoga due to the compassionate, kind and multifaceted journey to self-discovery the Kripalu-style offers. She is a life-long learner of the practice and is grateful to have studied under the incredible faculty at Kripalu, including Devarshi Steve Hartman and Jovinna Chan. Kelley has participated in intensives led by the likes of Dharma Mittra, Baron Baptise, Rolfe Gates, and Ame Wren. In addition to offering yoga to the general public, Kelley has also taught classes to special populations including individuals with eating disorders, in active addiction, in recovery and at-risk youth. Within her classes, Kelley loves to combine conscious breathing, mindful movements, useful props and creative sequences to help practitioners find home within their bodies.
Betty Melkon has studied nutrition and practiced yoga for the past 30 years, beginning at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and The Kushi Institute, in 1986. She earned her 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certificate in 2010 (RYT200), and has been teaching classes on a regular basis since then. Her approach to yoga emphasizes breathing, duration and transition of poses, and self-care. Her classes are designed to calm the mind, while connecting to the body. Conscious engagement with the breath connects you with the intelligence and power of the life force within you. Betty incorporates healing of the internal organs into her practice as she believes that the practice of yoga and the food we eat are our medicine. Betty is Board Certified as a Health Counselor with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She received extensive training at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying over 100 different dietary theories, many modalities of holistic healing, and incorporating lifestyle changes to improve one's overall health. She supports clients who want to live a healthy lifestyle or who may be experiencing certain chronic diseases. www.bettymelkon.com.
Gayle Caporale, a long time resident of Hilton Head Island, began her yoga journey more than 25 years ago. Fulfilling a long time passion, she completed her 200 hour Certificate of study in the tradition of Hatha Yoga in 2010 at the College of Yoga Studies in Bluffton, SC and is a Registered Yoga Alliance instructor. In June of 2012 she completed her certification as a Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga Teacher. She has attended numerous workshops with Doug Keller, Tias and Surya Little and has studied Kundalini Yoga here and at Yoga Santa Fe in New Mexico. She continues to participate in workshops to increase her knowledge of yoga as therapy and to expand her teaching skills. Gayle has been teaching Yoga since 2010. In addition to her classes at Island Yoga, Gayle teaches Gentle Yoga and Chair Yoga at Hilton Head Plantation and Chair Yoga at The Cypress, Memory Matters and NHC. She continues to broaden her knowledge of yoga by attending various workshops. Gayle teaches with an emphasis on alignment and breath and enjoys the mindfulness and awareness available through yoga as much as the physical experience of the practice. Classes are dedicated to achieving a balance between body, mind and breath.
Jann Boyer began practicing yoga in 2000, initially to help heal a repetitive strain injury and to better handle the physical and mental stresses of the workplace. Soon thereafter she was introduced to Iyengar yoga, and was immediately drawn to the discipline and depth of the practice. After retiring from her first career as a geologist, she began teaching yoga in 2005. In 2011, Jann achieved certification at the Introductory II level in the Iyengar system. Jann’s goal is to share with others the mental, spiritual and physical benefits of a regular yoga practice. Her classes focus on helping each practitioner experience extension and alignment in the asanas (postures). As is characteristic of Iyengar yoga, students learn how to modify and support poses for their individual situations. Jann regularly participates in workshops with senior Iyengar teachers, and is furthering her studies under the mentorship of Randy Just, director of the BKS Iyengar Center of Dallas. Jann leads the Iyenger Level 1 and Level 2 classes. www.jannboyeryoga.com.
Karen Verechia came to the island more than 23 years ago from New Jersey. Certified through the Asheville Yoga Center, Karen is known for her passionate and inspirational style of teaching, she blends the invigorating hatha flow with concise alignment and provides individualized attention with specific exercise modifications. Integrating her love of the outdoors with teaching yoga classes, she leads classes on the beach, by the lagoons and in the parks both on and off the island. She teaches with love, laughter and acceptance, emphasizing breath, alignment and body awareness. Karen's teaching style is fun, laid-back and challenging, yet accessible to all. Karen leads the Gentle Yoga and Slow Flow classes.
Marty Crocker, a Michigan native, has been a Hilton Head legend since 1997. Marty is a licensed massage therapist, and although he was first trained in Thai massage, he covers the entire spectrum of bodywork including myofascial release and primal reflex response therapy. His extensive bodywork background makes him not only anatomically knowledgeable, but deeply intuitive.
Marty’s healing touch coupled with his background as a restorative and Ashtanga yoga teacher make him a veritable powerhouse of awesome. His epiphanic sensibilities have the power to release unwanted memories and invoke dolphins to surface from the ocean. His love for bodywork was inspired by teaching yoga and delivering the best assists. He learned the most from yoga teachers who taught through touch, and he is committed to helping you find your Zen in class by achieving a beautiful mind-body meditation balance.
Marty has a donation-based giftivism philosophy, whereby the energetic exchange between giver and receiver is unique and embodies the universal law of endless supply and enough for all. Not only does he harness the energy of unity and abundance, his easy demeanor and empathic manner are a double duo of magical rainbows and shooting stars.
When he is not teaching yoga and healing bodies, he is coaching, watching or playing beach volleyball. He spends his free time mentoring young adults and collaborating with friends. His gilded reputation is only exceeded by his actual presence, and his Reset & Restore series will leave you walking on air.
Marty’s healing touch coupled with his background as a restorative and Ashtanga yoga teacher make him a veritable powerhouse of awesome. His epiphanic sensibilities have the power to release unwanted memories and invoke dolphins to surface from the ocean. His love for bodywork was inspired by teaching yoga and delivering the best assists. He learned the most from yoga teachers who taught through touch, and he is committed to helping you find your Zen in class by achieving a beautiful mind-body meditation balance.
Marty has a donation-based giftivism philosophy, whereby the energetic exchange between giver and receiver is unique and embodies the universal law of endless supply and enough for all. Not only does he harness the energy of unity and abundance, his easy demeanor and empathic manner are a double duo of magical rainbows and shooting stars.
When he is not teaching yoga and healing bodies, he is coaching, watching or playing beach volleyball. He spends his free time mentoring young adults and collaborating with friends. His gilded reputation is only exceeded by his actual presence, and his Reset & Restore series will leave you walking on air.
Jennifer Brewer combines subtle physical postures, breath awareness and sense of humor to create a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection. Classes provide insight and inspiration aimed to take this understanding to create empowerment off the mat. Jennifer is an RYT-500 in Yoga Therapy from Subtle Yoga in Charlotte, NC and an RYT-200 from Asheville Community Yoga in Asheville, NC. Over the last 15 years she has practiced a variety of yoga styles but believes one should practice what feels good today.
Interested in teaching? We are always looking for awesome people to join the Island Yoga studio! Please call or e-mail Crystal with questions!
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ISLAND YOGA
1012 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
803-420-2829
hhislandyoga@gmail.com