The team

Meet The Team

The Practice Yoga teaching team is a group of individuals who are passionate about life and embody the tools they have gained through yoga. They will guide you through a physical practice leaving you inspired and uplifted.  Practice Yoga will offer a wide variety of classes appropriate for all levels, including Power Vinyasa, Align, and Yin. The studio also offers regular workshops and teacher trainings. If you are interested in being a part of the Practice Yoga Teaching Team - you must take our 200hr Teacher Training Program.

 studio owner

  • Debi Grilo has been the driving force in the creation and building of South Florida’s yoga community since 1997 as a teacher and leader. She was first introduced to yoga in 1986 and has been a committed yogi ever since. As the lead instructor of both 200 and 500 hour Yoga Alliance approved trainings, she has trained hundreds of yoga teachers, and has a solid foundation in both alignment and vinyasa styles of yoga, as well as her masters degree in Clinical Social Work. Her depth of knowledge in traditional yoga asana and philosophy, combined with her understanding of how the body and mind work, make her classes and trainings a complete experience for the practitioner.

    As a student in Debi’s class, expect a physical practice where you will be challenged, educated, and empowered. She masterfully creates a class that incorporates clear powerful instruction, demonstration and physical assists that will land you in your body and breathe, so that you have an embodied experience of your yoga practice. Debi is deeply connected to the beauty of life that is manifested through both sorrow and joy, and creates a conversation while teaching using what is present as a metaphor for universal truth and inspiration.

    “It is my purpose to raise the consciousness of the planet. To offer tools that give access to the unlimited possibility of each individual to manifest their deepest desires, and allow them to be their Greatest Self.”

    Debi is committed to having a positive impact on the community and supports many non-profit organizations both locally and globally through fundraising and awareness. Please see our Seva page for details.

 studio manager

  • Alexa has been practicing yoga since 2017. She practiced multiple types of dance throughout school and always appreciated the art of body movement. The joy dance brought her she was able to find as soon as she stepped on her mat. Bringing breath to movement is one of her favorite aspects of yoga, as it taps into “Stop. Slow Down. Breathe”, a key mantra she uses in her everyday life. She enjoys nothing more than sharing her passions with others, and teaches to inspire students on their mat. In Alexa’s class you can expect to be motivated and supported through linking breath to movement. Alexa approaches her yoga classes with ease and gratitude and inspires students to really make their practice their own. Alexa completed her 200-hour teacher training at Practice Yoga in 2022. She also is a Holistic Health Coach with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Alexa approaches life from a holistic lens, working to find balance in all aspects.

front desk studio manager

  • Brittany Price first stepped on her yoga mat in 2014 during her college years and has been passionate about the practice ever since. Yoga helped Brittany discover what was next for her life during a period of time where she felt a loss of direction. The tools she gained through yoga have given her access to living an empowered life that is filled with purpose and gratitude. She is always a student of yoga, and is grateful to share the gifts of yoga with others. The practice of yoga has moved her from going through the motions of life, to living life openly and fully alive.

    Brittany creates a space in her classes where students can show up and be in full natural self expression. She welcomes her students to show up just as they are, creating a space where students of all levels feel supported and safe. Brittany delivers a class that is both powerful and light hearted, as she uses inspiration and tools from her own life to create opportunity for her students to discover their own inner strength both on and off their mat.

    Brittany completed her first RYT 200 hour training in 2016 led by Debi Grilo and completed her second RYT 200 hour training with Debi in 2019. She has worked with using yoga as a tool in the recovery community, has taught yoga to local sports teams, as well as privates and open classes. She is fiercely committed to uplifting those around her and is in awe of witnessing the moments in life where people discover their greatness. Brittany enjoys spending her days practicing yoga and being outside with her baby and her dog, nights laughing and connecting with friends and family, and has a never ending love for learning and growth.

  • hristina loves that her yoga practice has opened her up to such deep connections with a community of people rich in love, life, friendships, support and accountability. She has always been very active and enjoys the physicalness of yoga, in addition to the emotional growth she has experienced through her practice, discovering that we are all so much more alike than different and that there are many right answers.

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    "In this moment, I am more grounded, accepting, patient than I’ve ever been. That said…I teach and practice w/ the intention to share, and pay forward what I’ve become so passionate about. That is yoga!”

    Students can count on Christina to guide them through a challenging physical practice with clear alignment, while they laugh and have fun. Christina shows up authentically in and out of the studio, has a big personality and uses it to motivate her students and bring them to their edge.

    Christina has been in the fitness industry since 1989, with certifications in group classes & personal training. Christina completing her first 200hr Teacher Training in 2012 and 200 hours of her 500 hour certification with Debi Grilo and several additional workshops. Yoga, teaching and practice, are a commitment she embraces.

    "I am grateful to be a part of the Practice Yoga team & have the honor to be, live & work amongst my fellow teachers and yogis. This practice has given me joy and been a savior in dark challenges in my life.

    FEAR: Face Everything And Rise”

  • Why do you #PracticeYoga?
    I practice yoga because it is my purest form of self expression through the body. I practice to clear energetic blockages in the mind and body and to experience freedom.

    Why do you teach?
    I teach because I love sharing my passion for the practice and bearing witness to its transformational effects.

    What are your grateful for?
    I am grateful for the people in my life who are my mirror and inspire me to be my best self.

    What/Who inspires you?
    Witnessing personal growth whether mine or someone else’s.

    What can students expect from you as a teacher?
    Both a powerful and introspective practice. An invitation to use their mat as a mirror for growth. encouragement to be in direct experience of themselves, honoring the teacher within.

    Who are your teachers and what training have you completed? Certifications? Education? Other professions? Trainings: 200 hour from Bala Vinyasa, Baptiste Institute Art of Assisting, Yin Yoga and Fascia Release, Certified Leader Yoga for 12 Step Recovery by Nikki Myers. Teachers: Kiersten Mooney, Debi Grilo, Jacqueline Glasgow, Nikki Myers, Baron Baptiste, Eckhart Tolle and Adyashanti.

  • Gabrielle believes even a bad day is still a luxury. Yoga is Gabrielle’s passport to her serenity, her edge, and her deepest connection within herself. Every time she steps on her mat she’s faced with challenges pushing her mind and body to new limits.

    Walking into one of Gabrielle’s yoga classes, students can expect to be energized, challenged, and supported throughout a moving meditation. Gabrielle approaches each yoga class with a sense of appreciation and admiration. She believes there is always something to learn from any yogi she meets whether it’s their first time or an experienced yogi. One of her favorite aspects of teaching is witnessing new yogis fall in love with Vinyasa. It’s a unique style that can be tailored to anyone's capabilities.

    Gabrielle graduated her 200 hour RYT at The Yoga Shop located in her home state of Connecticut in June of 2021. Gabrielle is grateful for her amazing teachers Annie Q, Holly Zygiel, and Lisa Cozzi for pushing her to step into her true self. When Gabrielle is not on her mat you will likely find her at the beach, exploring hidden coffee shops, or cooking something unique.

  • Chronic back pain drove Joel to yoga over twenty years ago. After dabbling in various forms of practice, He discovered power yoga, and the ability to build intense heat without high impact activity. Through he practices mindfulness and cultivates presence. Learning to sit in and experience uncomfortable moments in yoga has taught him to do the same when life circumstances are challenging.

    Joel loves to teach students the yoga practice that has transformed his life. His classes will encourage students to use the tools of breath, focus and physicality to cultivate presence in a moving meditation. Encouraging students to let go of self limiting thoughts and ideas and being open to the possibility of something new. There are opportunities in each class for students to explore their growing edge, the place or moment in a pose that may be uncomfortable but provides an opportunity to break through and expand into places not imagined.

    Joel is a board certified dermatologist with bachelor degrees in biology and psychology. He studied yoga at the Baptiste Institute. Through understanding anatomy and physiology He incorporates his medical background into yoga teaching, understanding the physical limitations and capabilities of students.

    Joel and his family founded an annual community yoga event, YogaCAN that raises money for the Cancer Alliance of Naples.

  • Yoga first found Magge over 30 years ago when her dad attended yoga classes with a group of his tennis buddies every Tuesday night here in Naples. She recalled one Christmas holiday when her husband & 3 small children were down visiting Magge’s parents, her dad proudly stood up from the dinner table and showed off his well- balanced Tree Pose. Magge’s dad was doing yoga long before it was cool to practice yoga! Yoga found Magge again at 42 years old. Her family was living in Chicago and, at the time, she was a well known aerobics & spinning instructor. Magge felt a lump in the shower one morning and thought she had pulled a muscle. By the grace of God, she went to her annual gynecological exam - - one week later she found out that she had very serious & aggressive breast cancer. During Magge’s darker days of chemo treatments, a few close friends would come over to the Camuti basement and practice yoga from a Rodney Yee yoga DVD. Yoga saved her life back then, and every day since. Magge knew she needed to share yoga with others.

    From breast cancer began Magge’s lifelong journey and passion to teach & be a student of yoga. You will find her classes to be well organized, fun, inspirational and challenging. She always has a story to tell. Magge’s training allows her to teach the many formats we have at the studio - - power, align & flow, gentle & yin. These days she has a soft spot for teaching yin yoga - - the quieter & more reflective side of our lives. You will leave her classes feeling better than when you walked through the doors of Practice Yoga. Come practice with Magge!

    One of Magge’s core family values is to be a life long learner. She is fortunate enough to have several 200 E-RYT’s under her belt (ashtanga, vinyasa & yin focused) along with one 500 RYT. For Magge’s 50th birthday, she gave herself the gift of a weeklong trip to the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, studying with Beryl Bender Birch, well known author of the book entitled Power Yoga. Additionally, Magge completed her 200 RYT with Debi Grilo at PY. She loves to always be in the work of yoga because it makes her a better person. YAY YOGA!

  • Steve looks at every day as an opportunity for growth and new experiences. He started practicing yoga in 2015 and instantly felt he had found a new passion. Steve was a competitive gymnast throughout college and likes to focus on form and technique during his practice. His philosophy is to embrace discomfort and work to maintain a positive mindset when it comes to challenges. In his personal life, Steve maintains a daily mindfulness-based meditation practice that fosters emotional stability and enhances his ability to connect to others. Steve is a licensed psychologist and often incorporates themes of positive psychology and personal empowerment into his classes.

  • Meet Julia, a movement enthusiast with a deep love for the practice of yoga. Since 2010, she's found solace and strength on the mat, and since 2015, she's been sharing that journey with others as a yoga teacher.

    Her teaching path began after training with the Yandara Yoga Institute in 2015, followed by a deeper dive into her craft with a second 200-hour certification from Practice Yoga Naples in 2023. Alongside her formal trainings, Julia's hunger for knowledge led her to explore specialized areas like mindful, trauma-informed practices, Reiki, and anatomy studies, including myofascial release and connective tissue training.

    Beyond the studio walls, Julia's teachings have graced yoga festivals, expos, and communities nationwide. Her inclusive approach welcomes everyone, from seasoned practitioners to curious beginners. Whether guiding professional athletes or corporate executives, Julia's goal remains constant: to create a space where every yogi feels supported, empowered, and able to explore their practice freely.

    Julia's passion lies not in perfect poses, but in fostering connection, resilience, and self-discovery through yoga. With each class, she invites her students to embrace the journey of growth, both on and off the mat. In Julia's world, yoga isn't just about the poses—it's about finding inner strength, balance, and joy in every breath.

  • Colby has embraced yoga as a part of her weekly routine for more than a decade. As an avid runner and exercise enthusiast, Colby started incorporating yoga into her lifestyle to compliment her athletic training. However, she quickly learned that yoga was so much more than a “good stretch,” it was a shift in mindset she didn’t know she needed.

     

    In 2016, Colby completed her RYT 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grilo. It was in this training where she learned the power of living in the present moment. Once she realized yoga was a way to get out of her head and into her body there was no turning back. After graduation, she remained committed to her practice as a student. Colby credits yoga for helping her through her biggest life challenges. Yoga taught her that how she was showing up on her mat, was how she was showing up in life. “Wherever you go, there you are” is one of her favorite quotes. That saying transformed her yoga practice on her mat and her life off her mat.

     

    As a student in Colby’s class, you can expect a practice that is physically challenging and uplifting. As a teacher, she uses yoga to inspire students to let go of self-limiting beliefs, step out of their comfort zone and have fun! Colby joined the Practice Yoga team in 2020 as the Studio Manager and began teaching in 2021.

     

    Colby is originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Miami (FL) where she double majored in broadcast journalism and psychology. After a 7-year stint working as a TV reporter, Colby co-founded Wellfit Girls, a local non-profit with the mission to inspire, challenge and empower teen girls to climb high in all areas of life through transformational leadership programs.

  • Macy’s yoga journey started in 2021, when her older sister took her to her first power class at Practice Yoga. Immediately after starting, she was in love with the practice. As her practice deepened, she realized that not only did she love connecting with her body and mind, but she found an immense appreciation for the yoga community and connection to fellow yogis. 

    Fueled by her new passion, she started working the front desk at PY in April 2022 and immersed herself in the environment, getting to know the students who came in and simultaneously furthering her own self-discovery. Being surrounded by dedicated yogis who lived the principles of yoga, she decided to complete her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Debi Grilo in December 2023. 

    She starts her freshman year at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fall 2024 and is continuing her teaching career at PY. Macy strives for an inclusive space in her classes that encourages her students to practice playfulness and creativity, which is one of the main reasons she fell in love with yoga. Her goal is to create an environment where students foster connection with themselves as well as each other. 

  • The first time Sarah was introduced to yoga was at age 12 when her 7th grade English teacher, an experienced yogi, did a headstand during class. She remembers being completely enamored & thought ‘Wow! I want to do that!’ While at the time this experience seemed insignificant, it slowly cracked open the yoga-door &, unknowingly, that door never closed.

    Sarah started practicing in 2016 & finds particular interest in the mind/body connection as well as the communal aspect of yoga. One of her favorite elements of yoga is how the physicalpractice can spiritually unify people from varying walks of life.

    Sarah completed her 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grilo at Practice Yoga in 2023 & is excited to complete more trainingsin the future. Off her mat, Sarah is an alumni of West Virginia University (her home state) & works as an interior designer. She is passionate about blurring the lines between the wellness & design industries.  

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  • Teaching yoga has given Sue the ability to give back what she has learned through the practice of yoga, and also the opportunity to stretch and grow in her own life. Teaching students how to move, breathe and “be”, continuously reinforces that when we show up on our mats with an open mind/heart, anything is possible no matter what our circumstances are. Sue took her first yoga class in 2000, and immediately felt the mind/body connection that yoga offers. This has been a gamechanger for Sue, and it keeps her coming back to the mat.

    Yin, Yinyasa, Gentle, Align & Flow and Power are among the styles of yoga which Sue teaches at Practice Yoga Naples. When you take Sue’s classes, you can expect a very welcoming and supportive environment, with a lot of variety and opportunities to learn something new about your practice and yourself in a very powerful way. There is always room for laughter in Sue’s classes, and letting go of the need to be too serious.

    Sue became a RYT 200 (Yoga Alliance) yoga teacher in 2015, and has recently become E-RYT-200 certified. In 2019, Sue is working towards her RYT-500 Teacher Certification, as she is always looking for opportunities to expand her knowledge, and be “in the work” of this practice. When Sue is not teaching, working in the family business, or on her mat, you will find her spending time with family, getting together with friends, cooking, drinking coffee, reading, listening to personal development podcasts or finding a creative project to embark upon.

  • Aleks was introduced to yoga by his partner at the beginning of 2020. He was expecting it to be a walk in the park, but that did not end up being the case at all. Years of sitting at a desk came with a stiffness that was undeniably discouraging. Despite being daunted, he promised himself to stick to it for 30 days to give it a fair chance and confirm that it wasn't for him. By the end of the month, he was hooked, and the 30-day daily practice turned into a year and then another, until the way of self-love and acceptance grew into something that he was compelled to share.

    Trying something new and giving it a fair shot is a mindset that Aleks has been able to take from his yoga mat into his daily life. Above all, he emphasizes the playfulness and ease that yoga offers. He believes that learning to enjoy the journey rather than waiting to reach the destination makes liberation possible. Aleks delivers a practice that is welcoming to all and aims at giving his students an opportunity to embrace yoga as a way of being. He cherishes the sense of community that yoga brings with it and strives to cultivate connection.

    Aleks completed his 200-hour teacher training with Debi Grillo in 2022. He graduated from FGCU with a degree in Computer Information Systems. In his free time you will find him hanging out with his cat roommates, feeding the neighborhood chicken, reading, exploring new music or getting up to something with his friends.

  • Polly Wilder, a seasoned yoga practitioner for over two decades, draws inspiration and expertise from top-tier instructors. Known for her attentive teaching style, Polly prioritizes understanding her students' needs and postural patterns. With clear alignment cues and tailored modifications, she ensures a supportive environment for students of all levels. Offering a range of multi-level classes, including Vinyasa Flow, Gentle Flow, Yin Yoga, and more, Polly infuses her sessions with humor and a playful spirit. With over 900 hours of advanced yoga education and a background as a registered nurse, Polly brings a holistic approach to her teaching. Her personal journey with yoga has fostered strength, calmness, fearlessness, and mindfulness, qualities she strives to impart to her students. Through her guidance, Polly aims for her students to leave each session feeling refreshed, nourished, and balanced in mind, body, and spirit.