OUR TEACHERS
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Kimberly Sickmen
Founder | Bishnu Ghosh | Hot 26
Christine Jones
Hot 26
E-RYT® 500, YACEP® Kimberly is an E-RYT® 500 certified yoga teacher who has owned and operated Rising Sol Yoga for over 13 years, where she has taught full-time and dedicated her life to the instruction and practice of yoga. She trained directly under Jim Ambrogi, who owned and operated the first hot yoga studio in all of Northern Virginia, for over 13 years, as well as Mary Jarvis, renowned for her life-changing Shape Shifting training. She credits her teachers for instilling her deep appreciation of yoga and yoga asana. Kimberly's focus is centered primarily in the Ghosh Lineage, as taught by her teachers. She often quotes her teacher Mary Jarvis in her instruction — "You don't have to do a lot, you just have to hold still" — which is her philosophy for practice. In addition to her teaching, Kimberly has competed at the state and national level through USA Yoga, placing 3rd in the state of Virginia in both 2013 and 2014.
In 2009, Christine took her first yoga class and from that point forward embarked on a journey that changed her life. In 2017, Christine completed her 200-hour teacher training and her Level I reiki certification. She completed her 500-hour certification in July 2021 and continues to explore movement within the body and mind by teaching, listening, and educating herself.
Chris Karrat
Power Flow
Chris's yoga journey began in 2012 as part of healing for a low back injury. A friend took him to a Baptiste yoga class and from that day forward he was hooked. In 2017, he completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training at Down Dog Yoga. When he’s not practicing yoga, Chris enjoys rock climbing , skateboarding , motorcycle riding, and hanging out with his dog Grizelda.
Janine Edelson
Hamstrings Hips + Spines
Janine is a certified Yoga Alliance RYT and completed her 200-hour teacher training as part of Rising Sol's inaugural class. Janine's yoga journey began as a way to find relief while she was competing as an amatuer fighter in Muay Thai kickboxing. Janine aspires to create an atmosphere where students feel comfortable to come as they are and practice yoga freely on (and off) their mats.
Amy Flynn
Hamstrings Hips + Spines | Tone + Stretch
Amy completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Zweet Sport Hot Yoga, a proud member of its inaugural class. After years of long distance running and competitive bodybuilding, she started practicing yoga in 2018 to regain functional mobility. Yoga has taught her to appreciate every millimeter of progress, and her goal is to help students recognize and celebrate the small victories.
Kelynn Giorno
Power | Warm Yin
Kelynn began her practice 14 years ago following a severe arm injury. Kelynn has taught since 2011 and is a Yoga Alliance 500 Hour CYT, E-RYT 200 and YACEP. She has studied with teachers including Janet Stone, Baron Baptiste, Biff Mithoefer, Karina Hahn, and Trace Sahaja Bonner. Kelynn creates a space for her students to find a connection between mind, body, and spirit in a compassionate, empowering way.
Christina Hong
Hot 26 | Vinyasa
Katie Hottel
Vinyasa | Hot 26 | Bishnu Ghosh
Christina is a certified 200-hour yoga teacher and developmental psychologist. After 14 years of studying Classical Chinese dance and ballet, she unrolled her mat for the first time and fell in love with yoga. Christina aims to inspire her students to feel empowered in their bodies, honor their boundaries, and enjoy the beauty of the peaks and valleys along the way. When she’s not on the mat, Christina enjoys hiking and foraging for mushrooms, tending to her many plant babies, baking sourdough bread, and playing with Peanut, her 2 year old pit bull.
Katie began practicing yoga in 2017 after walking into a 90-minute Bikram class looking for a "good stretch." Instead, her world was completely rocked, and she knew she needed to practice yoga for the rest of her life. She became a devoted yoga practitioner as she experienced how a consistent practice not only benefitted her physical body but also strengthened her relationship with herself, improved her mental well-being, and shifted how she showed up in life as a whole. Feeling called to share this therapeutic practice with others, she completed her 200 hr teacher training certification with Carol Ibex, learning how to teach both vinyasa and 26+2 style classes. Life brought her through Rising Sol's doors in 2022, where she met her teacher Kimberly Sickmen and trained under her to deepen her personal practice and to teach the Bishnu Ghosh Method. Katie brings a vibrant energy to her classes, leading with a desire to connect you more deeply to your body and the alignment of the yoga postures and to help you meet yourself with compassion and presence, all while infusing a healthy dose of both challenge and fun. If Katie isn't at the studio, you are bound to see her walking all around Old Town with her sweet pup, Cedar.
Nicole Huret
Studio Manager
Vinyasa | Hot 26 | Bishnu Ghosh
Nicole began practicing yoga in 2016 and immediately fell in love with moving meditation. One of her lifelong passions is teaching and she graduated from Rising Sol’s 200-Hour Teacher Training in 2024. As a yoga teacher, Nicole hopes her students are inspired to find peace and levity not only in their practice, but in their whole lives.
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Meg Tierney
Power Flow | Tone + Stretch
Elena Velasco
Vinyasa
Meg graduated from Rising Sol Yoga School's 200-Hour Teacher Training in 2024.
Elena Velasco found yoga through her career as a choreographer, director, and physical theater performer and completed her 200-hour teacher certification at Rising Sol Yoga School. A member of Yoga Alliance, she believes that creativity and authentic connection results from the synthesis of the mind-body-consciousness and is passionate about holding space for a range of students with diverse identities and lived experiences. Along with her active professional life, she enjoys biking, hiking, and meditating, and is the proud mother of seven children, all who have various paths and passions.
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Stephanie Watson
Power Flow
Stephanie is a member of Rising Sol Yoga School's Teacher Training Class of 2024.
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Sarah Luetz
Hot 26
Kelly Mullen
Power Flow | Hamstrings Hips + Spines
Sarah received her 200 Hour Teaching Training and her Hot 26 certification through Rising Sol Yoga School.
Kelly is a lifelong fitness enthusiast and a Yoga Alliance 500-Hour RYT. She completed her 200-hour training at Dancing Mind Yoga, a Baptiste affiliate studio, and her 300-hour certification with Mark Stephens. Additionally, she is certified in Baptiste Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, and Meditation. As a teacher, her mission is to help others connect with their bodies, even in the presence of pain.
Abby Hurst
Hamstrings Hips + Spines
Abby is a registered yoga teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance and earned her 200 Hour certificate as part of Rising Sol Yoga School's Class of 2025. As a marathon runner, Abby loves to explore the many ways yoga can enhance mobility, strength, and mental focus. Abby seeks to create a sense of compassion and connection in every class.
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Emily Whalen
Power Flow | Tone + Stretch
Julie Wieland
Vinyasa
Emily is a member of Rising Sol Yoga School's Teacher Training Class of 2025.
Julie has practiced and studied a wide variety of yoga disciplines but considers the Ashtanga and Anusara traditions her greatest influences. In 2006, she completed her 200-hr certification at Tranquil Space in Washington, DC. Julie’s teaching style is grounded in tradition with the playfulness of vinyasa creating smart and intuitive sequences meant not only to challenge, but to be accessible to students of all levels. A scientist at heart, Julie has pursued her passion for the science of healing as a massage therapist and yoga guide for trauma, anxiety, self-regulation, and PTSD. Julie’s long-standing interests in human health combined with her academic studies in biochemistry drive her professional pursuits in global access to health care, reproductive health, and the empowerment of women and girls across cultures.
Nadia Aparicio
Power Flow
Nadia completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Rising Sol. She started practicing yoga for the mental benefits it provided, and to support her low back pain. Nadia believes yoga has made her mentally stronger in every way. Her goal as a teacher is to empower students to find their own strength both mentally and physically, while honoring their bodies and recognizing strength looks different everyday. Outside of the studio, Nadia enjoys staying active, reading, and cuddling with her orange tabby, Gatsby.
Amy Walter
Power Flow
Amy teaches fun, challenging and thought provoking classes. Students are encouraged to practice with sincerity and levity. Amy’s students’ work hard and laugh hard, often at the same time. As yoga practitioner since 1992, a Muscle System Specialist since 2003, and yoga teacher since 2010, Amy brings both experience and expertise to the class room. She is registered with Yoga Alliance as an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT-500). She has trained hundreds of new yoga teachers in Yoga Alliance compliant Teacher Training Programs across the US. Amy is committed to her own development and has completed over 1000 hours of yoga training and continuing education. Her yoga teachers include Baron Baptiste, Philip Urso, Deborah Williamson, Tiffany Cruickshank, Leslie Kaminoff, and Dr. Ray Long, MD. In her private practice as a Muscle System Specialist, Amy works with individuals to address joint pain and mechanical imbalances by teaching isometric exercise to retrain the muscular system. She has taken extensive training in biomechanics and the muscular system. These teachers include Greg Roskopf, Gary Gray, PT Dr. David Tiberio DPT, and Tom Purvis PT.
Tobi Kroskob
Power Flow
Tobi’s yoga journey began with a visit to her aunt's studio, where she fell in love with the community aspect of the practice. She earned her 200-hour teaching certification in 2022 and brings a supportive, grounding energy to her classes. Tobi’s philosophy is simple: meet yourself exactly where you are today. She loves helping her students discover how the strength and mindfulness built on the mat can translate into everyday life. When she’s not teaching, she loves knitting and hanging out with her nieces and nephew.