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FOUNDERS
Britni Serou, ERYT-500, YACEP
Brenna Barzenick, PT, DPT, CIDN, ERYT-500, YACEP
Brenna Barzenick, PT, DPT, CIDN, ERYT-500, YACEP
Britni's love for yoga began in college, and she has now been teaching in the local community for 20 years. She completed her 500-hour yoga teacher training certification with Annie Carpenter in California, studying SmartFLOW, a Vinyasa Flow style of yoga that focuses on safe alignment. In 2017, Britni became one of only five Certified SmartFLOW Teacher Trainers internationally, and has now led several 200-Hour Teacher Trainings, and created a 100-hour Mentorship Program. She has additional training in Pre/Post-Natal Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Restorative Yoga. Graduating from SLU with a BA in Visual Arts, Britni is a very creative person, light-hearted and fun, and she likes her yoga that way too! She believes in the power of a deeply transformative yoga practice and is inspired by taking lessons learned on the mat and applying them to everyday life.
Brenna Barzenick, PT, DPT, CIDN, ERYT-500, YACEP
Brenna Barzenick, PT, DPT, CIDN, ERYT-500, YACEP
Brenna Barzenick, PT, DPT, CIDN, ERYT-500, YACEP
Brenna is a graduate of LSU School of Allied Health Professions in New Orleans (1994) and is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (2016). She is certified in integrative dry needling (CIDN). Brenna trained in the SmartFLOW method with her teacher and mentor, Annie Carpenter and her business partner, Britni Serou. From 2014-2017, Brenna was an instructor of Anatomy and Kinesiology at Southeastern Louisiana University. In 2023, Brenna wrote, Integrating Yoga In Health Care, a 15 hour evidence based course that offers continuing education for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists. The course has been approved by the governing boards of PT and OT in Louisiana.
In addition to her professional career, she authored the book, Tsumommy! Riding the Wave of Motherhood.
She also serves on the Board for Land Trust for Louisiana.
OUR TEAM
Jo Ziller, RYT-200
Jo’s yoga journey began seven years ago in a quest to find relief from scoliosis and from stress. She fell in love with yoga in general and especially SmartFlow yoga. Its emphasis on alignment and breathing was exactly what she was looking for. Through yoga, she has realized healing in body and spirit. Her desire is that her classes enable each person to find what their bodies and spirits are seeking — and find joy and humor along the way. She has completed Annie Carpenter’s 200 hour SmartFlow yoga teacher training under the guidance of master teachers Britni Serou, E-RYT 500, YACEP and Janet Katz, E-RYT 500, YACEP. Off the mat, she is a weaver, photographer, baker, dabbles in all textile arts and finds humor in everything.
Morgan Somerville, RYT-200
Morgan is a certified 200-hour SmartFLOW and Hatha yoga instructor. She is currently working towards her 500-hour certification in the SmartFLOW method. She also has training in Yin yoga. Morgan you was introduced to yoga when she was 15 years old and plans to continue her practice for many years to come. For Morgan, yoga is an elegant way of balancing and unifying the mind and the body. The practice of yoga has granted her grace in even the most chaotic moments of life. Morgan has her Bachelor's in Psychology and works part-time at Northshore Autism Center in Mandeville. Morgan has plans to one day become an Ayurvedic practitioner and/or Yoga Therapist. Her ultimate goal is to integrate yoga and psychology within a wellness studio to help guide all ages of all types of people to realization and love of the inner self. She teaches several classes at the studio, including Basic Flow and All Levels Express. Morgan is available for private sessions upon request.
Alison Maraman, LMT
Alison became a licensed massage therapist in 2010. She received her diploma in massage therapy from Medical Training College in Baton Rouge, and holds a BA in Liberal Arts/Dance from SLU. Alison offers relaxation, deep tissue, prenatal, and a 'backwalking' massage where she applies deep, broad pressure with her feet. Alison loves the art and science of movement and dance, and became interested in massage after working as a choreographer for several musicals in Hammond. The cast would come to her with injuries, or muscular problems, and this set her upon the path to know more, and help others.
Geri O'Krepki, RYT-500
Geri starting practicing yoga five years ago to complement her many years of long distance running. She completed Annie Carpenter’s 200-hour SmartFLOW yoga teacher training certification with Tiffany Russo in 2018. She has also completed Yin Yoga teacher trainings with Paul Grilley, Bernie Clark and Sarah Powers. Geri graduated from SLU, likes to cook weird food for her family and take long walks with her dogs.
Melissa LeBlanc, RYT-200
Melissa began practicing Yoga in 2005 and fell in love with it during her first class. Immediately hooked on Yoga, Melissa has explored different techniques and lineages, learning to love something in each class or text. Ultimately, she found joy and self-care were common threads through every school of Yoga thought. Melissa teaches every class with a light heart and a smiling face, hoping to guide every student through the class to a sense of fulfillment. Melissa and her husband, Mark, have been married since 1997. They live in Madisonville, where they enjoy the outdoors, family, pets, and friends as much as much as possible. They have a love of animals, the arts, and travel. In 2018, Melissa completed Annie Carpenter's SmartFLOW 200 hour teacher training at Downtown Yoga and under the instruction of Britni Serou, E-RYT 500, YACEP. Melissa is also a licensed aesthetician.
Marc Settembrino, Ph.D, E-RYT200, YACEP (he/him or they/them)
Marc Settembrino, Ph.D, E-RYT200, YACEP (he/him or they/them)
For most of Marc’s life, movement and exercise were punishments for having eaten “too much” and being “lazy”. They accepted and even paid for shame and humiliation from family, friends, gym teachers, doctors, and personal trainers. Practicing yoga brought Marc back into their body and allowed them to find joy and freedom through movement.
Marc’s goal is to support people like him, who were always picked last or have experienced a lifetime of body shame get to reconnect with their bodies and have fun at the same time. Many of the people who practice with Marc are new to yoga or are returning to the practice after a long break, but he encourages everyone
When you practice with Marc, you can expect detailed instruction on how to practice each posture, explanations on how to adapt postures for your body, and accessible alternatives for when a pose isn’t right for you. Most of all, he encourages you to prioritize self-care, to truly make the practice your own, and not to hold yourself to other people’s expectations.
As a teacher, Marc acknowledges that he cannot give anyone yoga – it’s something that you have to find on your own. His goal is to support you through your asana (postures), pranayama, and meditation practice. However, these practices are simply tools through which we can reconnect with our humanity. In other words, the postures are not the point! At the end of the day, Marc believes that your value as a human being is not tied to your ability to do a handstand or any other posture. You are worthy of dignity, love, acceptance, and respect simply for being alive.
Marc holds a Ph.D. in Sociology, completed their 200hr SmartFlow Yoga Teacher Training at Downtown Yoga in 2017, and is a certified Accessible Yoga Teacher.
Terrey Scheuermann, RN, RYT-200
Terrey has practiced yoga off and on for 40+ years, and her love for yoga has continued to grow! She is a recent graduate of Annie Carpenter’s 200 hour SmartFlow yoga teacher training under the guidance of master teachers Britni Serou, E-RYT 500, YACEP and Janet Katz, E-RYT 500, YACEP. Additionally, she completed the Next Generation Yoga Kids' Training for Ages 8-13 years. She has a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from SLU, and has worked in Labor & Delivery, NICU and Pediatrics. She also spent over 10 years living in the Bahamas, and believes this exposure to diversity and international cultures has influenced her open-minded attitude. Her goal for Kids' Yoga (and all yoga) is to encourage a better connection of mind and body, and a positive sense of self.
Stephanie Schenck, PTA, RYT-200
Stephanie’s journey in yoga began eight years ago where her mission was to find balance and practice mindfulness in order to alleviate stress during college. As a former dancer, Stephanie fell in love with yoga, especially SmartFLOW Yoga, as the creative sequencing and anatomically sound foundation simulated the beauty and expression of movement as a mind, body and soul unit. In 2018, Stephanie graduated from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University as a Physical Therapist Assistant and recently completed Annie Carpenter’s 200-hour SmartFLOW yoga teacher training at Downtown Yoga under the instruction of Britni Serou, E-RYT 500, YACEP. Along with yoga, Stephanie enjoys being a mama, spending time with her family, brunch on the weekends and deepening her understanding of health and wellness.
Marley Bohning, Front Desk
Marley is a junior psychology student at Southeastern Louisiana University. She is from Ponchatoula and graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond. She started her own photography business while in high school. She continues to shoot portraits, families, and weddings. She also makes and sells antique spoon rings. Her goal is to get a master’s degree after she graduates and to continue to travel. She loves working at Downtown Yoga and greeting everyone in the mornings and afternoons! The community of men and women at Downtown Yoga lift her spirits.
Jean Genzale, DNP, ANP-C, RYT-200
Jean has been practicing yoga off and on for 15 years. In her journey to improve flexibility, mobility and mindfulness, she began practicing at Downtown Yoga in 2017. In 2018, Jean completed Annie Carpenter’s SmartFlow 200 hour teacher training at Downtown Yoga under the instruction of Britni Serou, E-RYT 500, YACEP. The 200 hour training solidified her desire to teach. Jean holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree (2015) and is a Nurse Practitioner (2008) board certified in Cardiology. Jean believes the combination of Yoga and medical training are valuable tools in the promotion of emotional balance, metabolic homeostasis and physical wellbeing. Along with Yoga, she enjoys CrossFit training, competing in Triathlons and sharing the benefits of a Ketogenic lifestyle.
