Meet Our Tribe: Expert Yoga Instructors in Milford, CT

Smart, Supportive Teachers Serving the CT Coast

At Bend Yoga and Wellness, our diverse team blends deep anatomical knowledge with heartfelt compassion. From chiropractic physicians to trauma-informed counselors, our instructors prioritize your safe, holistic healing. We proudly guide students along the beautiful Connecticut coast toward strength, physical alignment, and mind-body connection.

Experts at Bend Yoga And Wellness in Milford, CT

Danielle Marconi

  • Role: Founder

  • Expertise: Fitness instruction, yoga, meditation, reiki, professional counseling.

  • Certifications: LPC, LMT, RYT-E 500Hr,  Reiki Master

  • Experience: 28 years in education, health and fitness; two decades dedicated to the practice and teaching of yoga.

Description: As founder of BEND; Mind, body, spirit inter-connectedness and the quality of life are the themes of Danielle’s life. She has 28 years of experience as both a personal trainer and fitness instructor. She has been trained in yoga, meditation and energy matrix alignment to complement her practice. Her studies and practice in spirituality continue to be her lifelong passion. Her objectives are simple: touch, motivate, and inspire.
Having dedicated two decades to the practice and teaching of yoga, Danielle brings a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to her classes. Her classes are a unique blend of intelligence, mindfulness, and invigorating energy. Danielle's classes offer a space for self-discovery and growth. Expect to leave her sessions feeling not just exhausted, but also rejuvenated and inspired to embrace the transformative power of yoga in your life. Join Danielle on the mat for a journey of self-awareness, strength, and holistic well-being.

Jean Marconi

  • Role: Meditation Instructor

  • Expertise: Holistic and systemic counseling, energetic healing, aromatherapy, Reiki initiation, and meditation.

  • Certifications: LPC, Usui Reiki / Karuna Reiki Master.

  • Experience: 45 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor; 40 years as a Reiki Master.

Description: Jean is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 45 years experience working with a variety of different clients. Her approach is holistic and systemic, looking at the person in their environment and seeking alternative solutions. Jean has been a Reiki Master for 40 years. Her studies are extensive in energetic healing and aromatherapy. She teaches Reiki initiation workshops throughout the year. She also offers meditation at Re:mind Wellness Boutique on Mondays and Thursdays. She is a true healer.

Michele Cerino

  • Role: Yoga Teacher

  • Expertise: Social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and yoga.

  • Certifications: 200 YTT (completed at Bend Yoga in Spring 2023), Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Science in education, 6th-year certificate in school administration.

  • Experience: 31 years serving public school students in Connecticut as a teacher, administrator, and advocate.

Description: For the last 31 years, Michele served public school students in Connecticut as a teacher, administrator, and advocate for social-emotional learning and mindfulness. She believes that “Educating the mind without educating the heart, is no education at all. (Aristotle). Michele earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Master of Science in education and a 6th year certificate in school administration. In spring of 2023, she completed 200 YTT at Bend Yoga. She is finding peace and happiness living at the beach, spending time with her grandsons, and pursuing her passion for yoga.

Ellen Lenson

  1. Role: Yoga Teacher

  2. Expertise: Yin yoga, Restorative yoga, Forrest Yoga, alignment/anatomy-based classes, and craniosacral work.

  3. Certifications: RYT.

  4. Experience: Has practiced yoga regularly since 1999; has been teaching continually since 2008.

Description: Ellen Lenson, RYT, began practicing yoga regularly in 1999, while living in New York City. Her practice quickly became was a place of refuge and joy. She began teaching in 2008 and has done so continually ever since. Currently teaching Yin and Restorative yoga, she has also taught Forrest Yoga and alignment/anatomy-based classes. Her current classes are deeply influenced by her study and practice of craniosacral work and finds it is in the stillness and quiet that we can truly hear and heal ourselves.

Sally Head

  • Role: Dance and Movement Instructor

  • Expertise: Dance, movement, strength, flexibility, and balance for adults and older populations.

  • Certifications: Bilingual elementary education teacher.

  • Experience: Taught preschool/elementary education in the Peace Corps (Paraguay) for 4 years; taught in the NYC public school system; studied modern dance at Boston University and led youth dance workshops overseas.

Description: Sally started as a bilingual elementary education teacher. Following a 4-year assignment with the Peace Corps teaching preschool and elementary education in Paraguay, South America, Sally taught for several years in the New York City public school system in the South Bronx.
However, dance has never been far from Sally’s heart. She studied modern dance at Boston University, and while overseas she used her dance background to engage the young girls of her local village, creating workshops where the girls could learn to express themselves and then show off their skills to local friends and family members. Many years later, Sally is still using dance, but this time teaching adults and the older population the benefits of movement, strength, flexibility, and balance.
In her free time, you can find Sally relaxing with her two daughters, her husband Dan, and their dog Faith. Together they like to go hiking, biking, skiing or out to watch the latest Marvel movie. Sally also loves to cook, paint, and be creative. Her favorite saying is “keep on moving!”

Loren Hager

  • Role: Chiropractic Physician

  • Expertise: Vinyasa, Kundalini, prenatal yoga, chiropractic care, functional medicine, and Reiki.

  • Certifications: E-RYT-500 Vinyasa yoga teacher, Level 2 certified Kundalini yoga teacher, Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, and Doctor of Chiropractic.

  • Experience: Practicing chiropractic physician and yoga teacher integrating yogic philosophy and intelligent asana into patient care and teaching.

Description: As a practicing chiropractic physician and yoga teacher, Loren guides her students to their optimal alignment of body, mind and spirit. She integrates the principals of yogic philosophy and intelligent asana into all aspects of her life, helping her patients, students, family and self live joyfully and healthfully. Her classes are thoughtful, inspiring and challenging with a touch of humor to guide you into finding a deeper connection with yourself.
Loren is a chiropractor and functional medicine doctor, E-RYT-500 Vinyasa yoga teacher, Level 2 certified Kundalini yoga teacher, Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher and reiki master. She lives in Fairfield with her husband, 2 children and their dog.

Haley Goldblatt

  • Role: Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher

  • Expertise: Trauma-informed/inclusive yoga, somatic healing, sensorimotor psychotherapy, breathwork, holistic health, and food-as-medicine philosophy.

  • Certifications: RYT 200 (earned from Bend Yoga in 2022), Reiki Level 2.

  • Experience: Over 3 years guiding trauma-informed yoga; started practicing regularly in 2015; currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Sacred Heart University.

Description: Haley loves yoga- she started practicing regularly in 2015 and earned her RYT 200 from Bend Yoga in 2022. Haley Goldblatt is a dedicated yoga teacher, clinical mental health counseling graduate student, and holistic wellness advocate based in Stratford, Connecticut. With over three years of experience guiding trauma-informed, inclusive yoga classes, Haley creates empowering spaces rooted in self-awareness, embodiment, and personal transformation.
Her approach draws from somatic healing, sensorimotor psychotherapy, and breathwork practices, integrating her Reiki Level 2 training to foster deeper energetic connection. Haley’s teaching is grounded in a belief that healing is relational—emerging from the dynamic interplay of mind, body, spirit, and community.
Currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Sacred Heart University, Haley is passionate about weaving movement and mindfulness into therapeutic practice. Her work is informed by person-centered and Gestalt therapy frameworks, as well as her academic background in holistic health, nutrition, and food-as-medicine philosophy.
Haley’s mission is to hold space for authentic connection, healing, and transformation—whether in the yoga studio, counseling room, or community gathering space.

Wendy Bien-Aim

  • Role: Yoga Instructor

  • Expertise: Level 1/2 flow classes, cultivating mind-body-spirit connection.

  • Certifications: 200 Hour YTT (completed at Bend Yoga).

  • Experience: Years of personal yoga practice before becoming an instructor.

Description: For years, yoga classes served as a safe space for Wendy to cultivate the connection between mind, body, and spirit. She believes the best yoga teachers help people find the room to explore their practice and deepen their awareness. She meets students of all levels where they are by embracing each as an individual. Her goal as a yoga instructor is to be a guide in helping people discover what they need within themselves.
Wendy completed her 200 Hour YTT at Bend Yoga. She regularly teaches level 1/2 flow classes during the week.

Erienne Murphy

  • Role: Yoga Instructor

  • Expertise: Level 2/3 Vinyasa classes (physically and mentally challenging with upbeat, eclectic music).

  • Certifications: RYT200 (earned at Bend Yoga & Wellness with Danielle Marconi in 2021).

  • Experience: 18 years of personal yoga asana practice; teaching since completing her training in 2021.

Description: Erienne's yoga asana practice began 18 years ago as a means to reduce stress and increase strength. It wasn't until a few years ago that she took the plunge and committed to Yoga Teacher Training to dive deeper into the history and philosophy of this 5,000 year old practice. After earning her RYT200 at Bend Yoga & Wellness with Danielle Marconi in 2021, she rather unwittingly began teaching. Her goal was to always be a student, but she soon realized how incredible it is to share something she cares so deeply about with other like-minded people.
Erienne specializes in a level 2/3 vinyasa class that can be both physically and mentally challenging, but it will have an upbeat and eclectic music playlist to help get you through.

Kimmarie Credidio

  • Role: Yoga Instructor

  • Expertise: Teaching yogis of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels (beginners to advanced), and hosting yoga and wellness lifestyle workshops.

  • Experience: Over 16 years teaching yoga to diverse populations, including Girl Scouts, middle schoolers, cancer patients, war veterans, and domestic abuse survivors.

Description: Yoga has had such a profound effect on my life and continually shapes how I live and my interactions and relationship with myself and others. I’ve been teaching yoga for over 16 years and my passion for it continually grows. I’ve taught Girl Scouts, middle schoolers, cancer patients, war veterans, domestic abuse survivors, and yogis of all shapes and sizes, from beginners to advanced. My ultimate happy place is somewhere with palm trees and ocean, bad cell service, and no A/C, where I’d go barefoot, garden, do lots of yoga, and walk everywhere. My husband and fur baby Shanti would be there too.
When I’m not teaching yoga or doing my own practice, I can be found hosting various workshops that support the yoga and wellness lifestyle.
Yoga reminds me to take life in stride, to accept things I can’t control, to not judge- myself or others, to lead with kindness and a loving heart, and to breathe.