Instructors

Caroline Felix E-RYT 500, E-RYT 200

Caroline is the owner of Shine Yoga and enjoys her time at the studio as an instructor and a student. During her study under Ursula Cox at the Inner Power Yoga 200hr Teacher Training, she cultivated a deeper love and respect for the ancient practice and its continual physical and mental benefits. In 2016, Caroline completed the 500 hour "Life of a Yogi" training with Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City and is honored to share what she learned under his direct instruction. Caroline believes that yoga should be accessible to all and strives to create a diverse yoga space through creative instructors and various classes. It is a true joy for her to share this passion with others.

Amy Gwinner E-RYT 200, RYT 500

Amy received her 200 hour yoga certification through Shiva Rea’s Prana Flow teacher training program in 2010. In 2016, Amy completed her 500 hour certification at Beloved Yoga. Amy’s love for yoga has shown her peace, love, balance, and a strong foundation to grow from. She believes yoga is a vehicle for change and growth. A way to create space within ourselves to find our strength, beauty, and abundance through the union of breath, body, and mind.

Gina Byrd

Gina Byrd was born and raised outside of Boston, where she completed her yoga teacher training in 2012. A lifelong dancer, she turned to yoga as a way to transition out of performing and quickly fell in love with the practice. Gina is passionate about sharing the joy of yoga and movement with students of all ages, especially children. She is deeply grateful for the incredible community at Shine and lives in Berryville with her husband and two sons.

Carolyn Gartner E-RYT 200 YACEP

Carolyn was born and raised in Baltimore, Md . She moved to Winchester to run a clinic for migrant farmworkers (a Long time ago) . A Physician Assistant for over thirty years, she has a deep understanding of the physical body and the need for balance in the body, mind, and spirit for authentic health. Carolyn first came to Yoga (with Caroline Felix ) to improve strength and flexibility. Quickly, she recognized the deeper inner practice that truly is “Yoga”. In 2015, she completed her 200 hour teacher training with Tiffany Combs. Carolyn has been a practicing Reiki Master since 2010, completing multiple trainings since that time. In 2017, she completed the Holy Fire II Karuna® Reiki Master training with William Rand (ICRT) in the U.K.This powerful experience of healing and grace ignited her passion for sharing this practice on an all new level. In addition to group Yoga classes, she offers Reiki Circles, and private Reiki/Yoga sessions .She is passionate about teaching others the healing practice of Yoga and Reiki -it makes EVERYTHING easier! In Fall 2017, she joined the first group of National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches . Carolyn brings an intentional blend of challenge, ease, rhythm, and deep relaxation to her Yoga classes which always include Reiki, an Extended Savasana, and lots of LOVE!

Stephanie McKinley LCSW RYT200

Stephanie has just moved to Winchester after spending the last year camping the US with her 9 year old daughter and is excited to share her yoga with you!! Stephanie was first introduced to yoga in her early teens and has practiced off and on since then. She was drawn into the practice by the asanas and quickly realized the healing benefits for her emotional and spiritual life. Stephanie became “busy” with a career in mental health, dedicating her time to creating a healing experience for individuals who experienced trauma in their lives. After finding a love for competitive CrossFit and building an in depth knowledge base of body mechanics and movement patterns she felt it was time to slow life down; a new dream was born. Stephanie saw the space to incorporate her 15 years of work in the mental health field with her love of movement in her yoga teaching and practice. She completed her 200 hour teacher training with Dashama Konah, founder of the Pranashama Yoga Institute, during a 30 day intensive in Bali and wants to continue her life’s passion to be of service to others and inspire living a life of bliss.

Carinne Smoot RYT 200

Carinne first practiced yoga during her college years at Virginia Tech. Since then she has practiced on and off at different studios and at home. Now as an avid weightlifter and runner she found the need for something else to help aid in recovery. Not only did adding yoga back into her life help with that but It also improved her flexibility, mobility and helped calm her mind. By completing her 200 hour teacher training at Shine Yoga with Caroline Felix and Amy Gwinner in March 2018, she can’t wait to share with others how yoga can help heal the body and mind. Join her for a fun and energetic class that is sure to leave you feeling refreshed and alive!

Cindia Stewart RYT 200

Cindia’s introduction to yoga began over ten years ago. She discovered the positive impact yoga has on life. Desiring to share her passion and practice with others, Cindia completed Shine’s YTT 200 hour with Caroline Felix and Amy Gwinner. Subsequently, Cindia completed Beloved’s Compassionate Senior Training Certification expanding her knowledge and skills to teach Senior Yoga with compassion for the aging process. Cindia’s calm and gentle manner is well-suited to inspiring students of all levels. She hopes her students will find balance—mentally, physically, and spiritually that they can embody in their daily lives off the mat.

Christina Rash RYT 200/500

Christina Rash found yoga at the perfect time. She had quit her job to homeschool her son in 2013. Yoga allowed her to find the ability to disconnect from stress and find a way to refresh her mind. Her love for the dynamic movement of power yoga mixed with a cardio workout led her to get her certification in Buti Yoga. She is the only Buti Yoga certified instructor in the Winchester area. Finding Shine Yoga, deepened her love and gave her a well balanced practice with a traditional vinyasa style. She completed her 200 hour Teacher Training with Caroline and Amy in 2020. Then in 2021 she completed her 500 hour training with Briohny Smyth of Aligned Yoga. She can’t wait to help you find your inner strength and peace.

Rachel Merle-Smith RYT 200

Rachel has been practicing and loving yoga for over a decade. She received her 200hr teacher training from Shine Yoga under the instruction of Caroline Felix and Amy Gwinner. Before delving into her training, she incorporated yoga into her Montessori elementary classroom, finding a connection with children and yoga. Rachel brings her Montessori teaching experience with her into the yoga studio and also uses music and the breath in her teaching style. When she’s not on her mat, you can find Rachel cooking, on a walk with her golden retriever, Gobi, and hanging out with her husband, Zander.

Yvette Carlucci (E-RYT-500)

Yvette took her first yoga class as a freshman in college. Over the years, the inspiration to return to the mat came from the internal transformation that began in that first class, and that inspiration continues to this day. Through the years yoga has provided an antidote to the rigors of long distance running and to the stressors of every day living, proving transformative both on and off the mat. Yvette received her 200hr RYT in 2008 and in Aug. 2012 completed her 500hr RYT training, both through Beloved Yoga in Reston, VA.

As an instructor, Yvette loves to share her enthusiasm for yoga and strives to provide her students a safe space to explore and grow, perhaps even to fall. In all of her classes, Yvette encourages her students to listen to the teacher within, to explore the transformative effects of the breath, and to be open to change in the body, mind and spirit.

Jessie Westman

Jes

Jessie is originally from Michigan and began practicing yoga as a student at Michigan State University. Over the years, her practice has remained a steady thread, shifting and evolving alongside different seasons of life. In 2022, she completed her 200 hr Teacher Training through Breathe for Change. Her teaching style is rooted in using asana to bring students into presence with their body and breath, helping them feel more at ease in their bodies. By day, Jessie is an elementary art teacher, weaving creativity, yoga and mindfulness into her classroom. When she is not teaching, you'll find her adventuring outside with her family or baking in the kitchen.