Welcome to Baker Street Yoga in Maplewood, NJ.

People love our yoga studio for the community. We’re a group of laid-back, friendly wellness enthusiasts, and we love to have a good time.

We always offer safe, accessible and enjoyable yoga classes, but each of us teaches differently. Some of our yoga teachers are more fitness-oriented; others are more spiritual. Some classes are gentle; others are vigorous. We love to sweat, just not the small stuff.

Whether you want to work out with friends or check in with yourself, we welcome you to Baker Street Yoga. Reach out to us with any questions or requests.

Meet the owners of BSY

A little about our teachers

**Matthew Dwyer**

Matthew’s classes highlight some of the deeper teachings of yoga while keeping a strong intentional based foundation that allows for a curious playful embodiment practice, filling in gaps with presence, compassion, and always a little humor. He is inspired by many teachers like Amy Petty and Noah Maze, where he completed his RYT-200, and Jason Crandell and Adriana Rizzolo. He has done extensive inner yoga trainings with David Harshada Wagner with whom he’s invested thousands of hours of study on applied yoga philosophy. His sadhana has led him to India many times on pilgrimage and he was part of the 2018 Death Doula Training with Ram Dass, Bodhi Be, Deanna Cochran, and Amy Glenn Wright. He also uses his background as a musician to turn his practice to namasankirtan; singing the names of the divine. His hope is to guide his students to their inner love and spotlight their superpowers to be a servant of love.

**Jen Guarnieri**

Jen teaches creative breath-centered Vinyasa classes that weave together mindful alignment and strong creative sequencing. She has been teaching yoga in the New York/New Jersey area for 20 years, after having done her training back in 2005 at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center. Since then she has continued to develop her yoga practice and her teaching, having studied with Kula Yoga founder Schuyler Grant for 14 years and having completed advanced trainings with world-renowned teachers Ana Forrest, founder of Forrest Yoga, and Annie Carpenter, founder of SmartFLOW yoga. Jen has also completed the Physiyoga Global training, a training that applies anatomy, biomechanics, physiology, and kinesiology to yoga asana, thus merging physical therapy principles with yoga for a more integrative practice. She is also certified in Prenatal Yoga, and has worked with many women over the years as they experience the amazing journey of pregnancy.

**Rebecca Davis**

Rebecca began taking yoga classes over 10 years ago as an off-day workout. When life began to get harder, she dug deeper into her practice. She grew and learned so much through the power of breath. She wanted to take what she learned and share it with others. This came at a time in her life when she had to make a decision to better her life and live her purpose; she took a leap of faith and never looked back!

**Heather Tufaro**

Heather took her first yoga class over ten years ago. Initially, she was drawn to the physical aspects of the practice by working on flexibility and strength simultaneously. But what kept her coming back to her mat was the introspection, spirituality, and the connection the practice offered. Finally, in 2020, she received her 200-hour certification from Erica Stanzione at Flow Yoga in Ho Ho Kus, NJ. Her style stays true to a vinyasa flow, linking each movement with breath. Always teaching to all levels, she offers the space to challenge yourself if you want but is mindful that you know what your body needs best. Heather loves tailoring each class with a mindfully curated playlist to inspire movement and get deeper into those feels. While each class will have its own specific theme, Heather’s main intention is that you always leave class feeling better than when you walked in.

Katie Payne

Katie started practicing yoga over 20 years ago when she attended a class on a whim and never looked back. Turns out, yoga was the thing she didn’t know she needed. Over two decades later, this initial exploration has deepened into a committed practice, proving that the most fulfilling journeys often begin with a simple "why not?"

In 2023 Katie completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Baker Street Yoga. She believes that yoga is for everyone and there is no such thing as being “good (or bad) at yoga.” She offers a range of classes designed to challenge and uplift, and she strives to create a judgement-free, lighthearted space accommodating everyone from newbies to seasoned yogis.

Kristen Brunello

Kristen has been a yoga instructor (RYT500) since 2009. As a new teacher she primarily taught hot power yoga classes, but these days her favorite classes to teach are slow flows and beginner classes. Kristen’s classes are true to her motto, “slow and steady”. Her ultimate hope is that her students leave her classes feeling better in their bodies and similarly at ease in their heads and hearts. She is forever grateful to her mentor Coby Kozlowski.

Mark Rutledge

Mark found yoga through a friend more than 10 years ago and in practicing also found a space to explore, deepen and expand. He enjoys helping others find comfort and courage in forming their own unique relationship with the practice so that everyone feels at home in class. A tech consultant by day Mark also serves on non-profit boards and mentors startup founders. He believes in the power of sharing love, light and knowledge to bring about a better world through each interaction we have with one another.

**Lisa Breen**

I fell in love with yoga in 2009 after years of running. Yoga, more than running and other exercise, put me in touch with my body and my breath. I love the feel of moving and breathing in sync with the class. I credit yoga with keeping me balanced while lawyering full time and raising our family. As I became more immersed in the practice, I had a deep desire to share my yoga joy with others through teaching. In 2012 I completed my 200-hour training and have been teaching ever since. I teach alignment with a focus on breath while flowing through the poses, i.e., a vinyasa flow class. I outline the class in advance but modify it to meet the students present on that day. My goal is for the students to feel challenged and joy and to leave the studio feeling empowered, inquisitive, and refreshed. I feel so lucky to teach at Baker Street Yoga and to be part of its beautiful and loving community.

**Sumaya Villanueva**

I'm a vinyasa-inspired 500-hour RYT, and movement has been a lifelong passion. I've explored dance, cheerleading, circuit training, and weightlifting, all of which brought me physical benefits and satisfaction. But when I discovered yoga, something shifted. I found a unique stillness of mind, a deep sense of calm that transcended any other physical practice. I fell in love with yoga's ability to challenge, transform, and uplift, and I'm eager to share that experience with my students.

Mark Paczkowski

Mark was first drawn to the physical practice of yoga as a complement to his traditional workouts and participation in various sports. After embracing the deeper aspects of the practice, he saw great changes and recognized how yoga can permeate and enhance all areas of life: physical, mental and spiritual. Eager to share this gift with others, Mark completed his 200 hour teacher training at the American Yoga Academy with Claire Diab and his 300 hour training at Ohana Rising Yoga School and Even Flow Yoga with Lisa Brodrick and Christian Valeriani.

Mark is committed to continually deepening his knowledge through workshops, self-study and daily practice and holds several other nationally accredited certifications, incorporating yoga into his work as a personal trainer and health coach. With his knowledge of functional anatomy, Mark creates safe, effective classes that appropriately challenges each of his students.