With nearly twenty years of experience in the fitness industry, Shomari is passionate about helping clients transform their health, boost their energy, build strength, and grow their confidence both inside and out of the gym. He joins us with a strong background in sports, having specialized in basketball and boxing, which gives him a unique perspective on performance and training.

Shomari is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer with CPR/AED certifications. His training has made him passionate about guiding clients through workouts that are not only effective but also enjoyable. His goal is to make fitness approachable, motivating, and sustainable for every client he works with.

Deirdre is our Thai Massage Therapist on staff!

Originally from Ireland, Deirdre first came to yoga to help rehabilitate a back injury. While the original draw to yoga was physical, it soon became so much more. Yoga provided the sense of home and belonging that was integral to finally settling into her new environment in NY. In 2005, Deirdre completed the first of many Thai Yoga Bodywork trainings with Lotus Palm, a dynamic body-work therapy based upon yoga and Ayurvedic practices, therapeutic for both recipient and practitioner.

Thai work uses a combination of rhythmic rocking, pulling, stretching, acupressure, and yoga-type postures to find length and release throughout the body. Deirdre O’Connor uses hands, elbows, knees, or feet to compress the tissue and create healthy friction. Benefits of Thai Massage include balance in the body, improved range of motion, stimulated circulation, boosted energy, and lowered stress!

Lisa is our functional fitness instructor at North End Fitness & Training, and joined our staff this year! After dabbling with yoga in her 20s, Lisa immersed herself into the study of anatomy, philosophy, and meditation through her 200-hour teacher training in 2012. She continues to delve into yogic study and has since completed further certifications in trauma-informed and restorative yoga.

“I want you to feel welcome and fulfilled practicing yoga with me. I encourage you to explore your body with curiosity, an open mind, and a kind heart.”

Lisa’s open-level class provides a slow, full, stretchy warm up followed by poses for strength and balance. She offers options and modifications so you can tailor the class to your own body in any given moment. Her classes move the entire body, and each week there will be a different emphasis such as stretching/strengthening the hips, twisting or backbending.