Our Instructors

Sariah is a handstand loving Acro-Momma who will help you find your inner strength in the beautiful practice of Yoga, Acro and Free Body Movement.  Sariah teaches all levels and all bodies leading classes with a... playful spirit and open heart. She is the founder of The Handstand Nation and has certifications through Yoga Fit, AFFA, AcroYoga, Acro Revolution and Apprentice Bodywork through KnaluBalance. Sariah is constantly continuing her education. She says she has many teachers and tries to incorporate all the pieces that she loves into her practice.

Reno is a dynamic yoga instructor who has been teaching since 2007. His yoga style strikes a balance between meditative flows and powerful poses like arm balances and inversions. Balance, core strength, breath, concentration, and... stillness in flow are cornerstones in his classes. Expect a challenging but playful practice in his classes. Reno is also a certified Acro yoga instructor and part of The Handstand Nation!

A Pipeworks member since 2014, most of Erika’s career has included teaching others in a social work setting. Teaching cycling drew her because it gives people the chance to coordinate rhythm and movement while gaining... all the benefits from cardiovascular fitness. Erika is always interested in increasing her skills and knowledge, and hopes to bring joy to those that attend her class.

Benett is an experienced yoga teacher, intuitive bodyworker, avid musician, and adventurous traveler. His personal yoga practice spans over a decade. Benett has worked in many studios as a hands-on assistant and has trained in... Thai massage in Thailand. By joining his knowledge of movement arts with musical style Benett brings depth, awareness, and fun to his student’s practice.

Anna considers Pipeworks her “third place” and has been rock climbing for over a decade. After completing her 500 hour yoga teacher training certification, she couldn’t think of a better way to give back to... the Pipeworks community than by offering a weekly yoga class. In Anna’s class you can expect a slower flow with intentional sequences, long hold stretches, and plenty of modifications and props to make yoga accessible to all bodies. Outside of yoga and climbing, Anna is an avid mountain biker, sourdough bread baker, hula hooper, and lover of learning.

Susana has found refuge in yoga as a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual practice. Her teaching is informed by her bachelor’s in exercise biology as well as multiple yoga teacher trainings, Thai massage training, and... years of assisting heated vinyasa classes in Sacramento. A student first, she continues to practice with her teachers, and she is eager to share her insights with her students. Outside the yoga room, she loves climbing, backpacking, spending time in the sun, eating poke bowls, and geeking out over TV and film.

Kait teaches dynamic classes, incorporating feel-good music with high-intensity drills. She wants her students to improve their cardiovascular fitness and muscle endurance, but more importantly, leave class with an appreciation of their own hard work.... In her spare time, Kait enjoys climbing, yoga, snowboarding, paddle boarding, woodworking, and backpacking in the mountains with her dog. She’s been a Pipeworks member since 2012.

Courtney is a world-traveling, animal-loving, health-conscious single mom. In her spare time, she enjoys getting out into nature, plunging into the rivers, and climbing rocks. Her love for athletics began at 3 years old when... she started what turned out to be a lifelong dancing extravaganza! This of course has included a wide range of activities that she could sink her teeth into! During the pandemic, Courtney deepened her yoga practice exponentially which lead her to teach over the last couple of years. She is spunky, smiley, and loves to share her passions with the community.

I am a mountain biker, trail runner, and backpacker, and personally, I use cross training (TRX is my favorite) to stay fit and healthy for those activities. In turn, I try to focus the fitness... classes I teach on functional movements that build strength and promote success and injury-prevention in outdoor recreation. During my classes, I offer different options and variations on each exercise in order to create an inclusive environment for participants, while also providing a challenging workout. I aim to foster a supportive atmosphere, in which people can push themselves and encourage each other to reach their goals.

Hi, Mel here. I am a yoga teacher, and I have studied pranayama, meditation, dance, and embodiment. I serve those who want to drop into their bodies by moving the energy through and finding strength... in the pause. My biggest loves are nature, techno music, cooking, and my dog Mac. I am so grateful to be a member of this community and look forward to deepening relationships here.

Joel is passionate about personal development, growth, and leading oneself to being better than they were yesterday. He takes this same approach as a cycling instructor, helping his members to embrace being uncomfortable while having... fun. A dynamic playlist, focused intentions, and perseverance will have you leaving this class feeling energized, accomplished, and a little sweaty.

Matt is an outdoor cat. If he isn’t at Pipeworks pushing grade on scary lead climbs, you can find him on his mountain bike in the hills somewhere, battling the weekend warrior crowds at The... Emeralds, snowboarding on powder days (this last winter was EPIC), or with his face stuck in some fragrant blossom on a walk through Midtown’s various sidewalk flower gardens. On indoor days Matt loves to cook tasty plants, read about mushrooms and shadow work, get his homework done in pursuit of his BS in Psychology, or figure out how to play this infernal instrument called the violin. Matt brings a 500-hour yoga teacher training and three years of yoga instruction to Pipeworks, and is currently working on an NSCA personal training certificate to guide his fellow Pipeworks members through Hatha Yoga classes and the Functional Fitness sessions. Matt is excited to share his love for testing and pushing personal limits, staying strong, conquering fear, personal growth, and playing with friends with the members of the coolest bunch of dirtbags this side of the Sierras. If you see him around, say hi, introduce yourself, and tell him your favorite secret spot to escape it all in the mountains. He promises he won’t tell.

Melissa has been rock climbing and teaching yoga for over a decade. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, meaning she has background and training that allows her to instruct aspiring yoga instructors. Melissa continues... to guide yoga classes in an approachable and explorative way, if not an odd one. Her classes are welcoming and dynamic; offering healthy accessible movements and down to earth guidance.

Olivia has been a yogi since the young age of 5. Growing up in the Sierra foothills surrounded by a yoga community most of her life, Olivia landed on her mat with teacher training here... in Sacramento, CA. Guiding others in yoga restored a sense of balance in her life, and purpose that she is excited to share with our beautiful community here at Pipeworks! Outside of class, Olivia belly dances professionally, loves to travel, and studies energy and the power of the human body and spirit.

Jorden is a Radio Host, Actor and Comedian, However his first love is in Mixed Martial Arts specifically Wrestling/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kick Boxing. His goal is to bring the heavy hitting world of mma and... eclectic personality to class participants to help them develop strength and mental toughness/ exploring new ways to condition the body with unique and fun perspective for all to enjoy.

Kristen is a fitness fanatic! She loves all types of physical movement and is always looking to take on new challenges to stay active. She especially loves group exercise for the social connection and motivation... it provides. An ACE-certified personal trainer & fitness instructor and a STOTT-certified Pilates instructor, Kristen has worked part-time in the fitness industry for over 30 years. Those years of experience in fitness are evident in her classes where you’ll not only work hard but learn proper form and technique. Kristen is a Supervising Environmental Scientist for CAL FIRE and when she’s not working or working out loves to hike, explore, and spend time with her family and her cats

Aileen discovered both yoga and climbing over a decade ago as elective courses in college. After struggling with back pain for some time, she was surprised to find relief thanks to her yoga practice, and... has been hooked since. After many years deep in practice and over 500 hours of training, she was inspired by the insightful anatomy education provided by her advanced yoga teacher training to pursue her dream of becoming a physical therapist. Influenced through her training, her love of movement, and through the many women in science with whom she has been inspired by and has built friendships with at Pipeworks, she now attends a hybrid doctor of physical therapy program based in Hawaii. This has provided her with new insights on movement performance that has greatly influenced the way she teaches yoga, which she plans to continue to refine as a future physical therapist.

Liz Berger is a social science researcher by day and a fitness professional by night. Her journey into fitness began in 2006 as a competitive runner and swimmer, which she supplemented with resistance training and... Pilates. As a group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and Balanced Body Pilates instructor, Liz brings a diverse skill set to her classes. She has worked in the industry for ten years, and her experience spans several modalities, ranging from HIIT, Functional Fitness, and TRX to Pilates, Barre, and Aqua. Regardless of the modality, Liz is passionate about using exercise as a tool to help her students move better and stay injury free. Her classes are driven by the belief that “change happens through movement and movement heals!”

Jeff began rock climbing and practicing yoga at Sacramento Pipeworks over 25 years ago! Since committing to a daily sadhana seven years ago, Jeff has since retired from climbing regularly, practicing and teaching Ashtanga yoga,... vinyasa and meditation full time. He holds space as a Mysore instructor with Ashtanga Sacramento and the occasional Sunday led class at Pipeworks. Jeff’s study of Buddhism and his former career as an actor influences his work with a sense of mindfulness, play and creativity. He has studied with a variety of teachers from Europe to Nepal. Originally from California, Jeff shares his time both in California and in Oslo, Norway with his wife and child. With a deep curiosity, love for life and spiritual study, Jeff’s approach to yoga is both familiar and refreshing. E-RYT 200, YACEP, and ongoing study of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Method. www.jefffrieders.com IG: JFrieders