About Us
Meet the Yoga@Play Family!
Ofrit Gal Barash - Founder and Teacher
Ofrit is a passionate and experienced Yoga teacher, specializing in kids programs. She is certified in Hatha Yoga (Yoga on Main, Manayunk), Kids Yoga (Karma Kids Yoga, NY), Yoga Mom Buddha Baby with Jyothi Larson, Brain Gym 101 with Mari Miyoshi, and Yoga for Special Needs by Every Kid’s Yoga. Her background is diverse and led her to find her true passion. She worked for many years as a statistician and a stock broker who transitioned into business development and project management. Following her family move from Canada to the US in 2012, she decided to focus on what she is truly passionate about- yoga and kids. Her mission is to share and encourage an early practice of yoga that can grow with children into adulthood and lead them on a path towards a calm and balanced mind and body.
“Children are born yoginis” (Shari Vilchez-Blatt – Karma Kids Yoga)
They practice yoga asanas and mindfulness naturally as part of their development. Ofrit believes it’s important to provide a fun and non-competitive environment for children to express themselves and explore their mind and body, one pose, one breath at a time.
Bonnie has been practicing yoga for over thirteen years. She completed a 200 hr Vinyasa Yoga teacher under Arianne Green at the Zen Den in NJ, and the Kids Yoga teacher training at Karma Kids Yoga in NY. Additionally she completed a prenatal yoga teacher training under Jacci Gruninger. Bonnie is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and started her career in Internet marketing. Through different jobs and life transitions, the one constant has been yoga, which has been incredibly helpful to her for staying strong mentally and physically.
Her greatest teacher for kids yoga has been her own kids, and she is excited to share her passion to more children through Yoga@Play.
Bonnie Schwartz - Teacher
Caitlyn Loman - Teacher
Caitlin has been practicing and studying yoga for nearly 20 years.
Her pursuit of a healthy mind and body led her to acquire a B.A. in Eastern Religions, to study yoga in India, and to complete over 300 hours of yoga teacher training for both children and adults.
Before becoming a mother, Caitlin worked in preschools and elementary schools teaching art and assisting in various classrooms. She is a writer and storyteller at heart, and loves to combine a narrative adventure in each of her classes.
Having her students co-create these yoga stories is one of her greatest joys. Her class might take you deep into the jungle, to the bottom of the sea, or up above the clouds. Wherever she guides you, your mind, body, breath, and imagination will be fully nurtured and engaged.
Virginia Jennings is a local children’s musician and mother of 2 kiddos, ages tween and teen.
Virginia graduated from Penn State and pursued a career in Higher Education for 10 years, before making the switch to at-home parent. During that time, she rediscovered her love of music and yoga and leading both music time and yoga time for her kids.
Now in “phase three” of her path, Virginia has shared music circle time with thousands of children and their families.
She is excited to now add Teaching Yoga to her path, having completed her certification with Yoga@play!!
Virginia Jennings - Teacher
Amy Erlbaum - Teacher
Amy earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan, a Certificate in Jewish Education with a special needs focus from Gratz College, a master’s degree in education with a Certification in Special Education from La Salle University, and completed two teacher-training programs in children’s yoga, one from Yoga Child and one from Yoga@Play.
Amy taught middle school language arts at the Benchmark School and also teaches lower school students in their summer language arts program. Amy loves interacting and working with children and adolescents of all ages, especially her own!
Tamar Diamond - Teacher
Tamar has worked with children her entire career. After graduating with a degree in social science from Florida Atlantic University, she moved to Tel Aviv, where she ignited her love of teaching ESL and language to children. She received a teaching certificate in TESOL from Columbia University in 2012 and returned to Israel to teach young children in elementary schools, preschools , and community centers.
Lauren Montemuro - Teacher
Lauren has worked with children, teens and families throughout her professional career as a social worker in schools, hospitals and community settings. She has been practicing yoga for about 15 years and feels passionately about the mind/body connection. She is a mother of three young children and loves practicing yoga and mindfulness techniques with them.
Lauren is an avid runner and feels movement to be important in overall well-being. After completing the Teacher Training and Mentoring with Yoga@Play, Lauren is looking forward to sharing her love of yoga, laughter and positive energy with children and families in the community.
Diana Mulroy - Teacher
Diana Mulroy has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She completed her 200-hour Teacher Training certification from Aim High Studio and her Kid’s Yoga Teaching certifications from Kidding Around Yoga and Yoga @ Play.
After graduating from Drexel University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, Diana started a career in the travel industry where she worked for over 25 years. When her son was born, Diana switched her attentions to motherhood and to her volunteer work. Through it all, yoga was a constant in her life.
Today, Diana is blessed to blend all her passions together. She volunteers at her son’s school, runs a non-profit thrift shop, travels in her RV, and shares her love for yoga with people of all ages.
Melody Heath - Teacher