About Us
Kelly Mateja is a 500-hour certified yoga teacher who has practiced in New York’s Capital Region for over 20 years.
Trained at the prestigious Yoga Vidya Academy, Kelly’s classes focus on breathwork, alignment, community, and compassion.
Yoga has been a throughline in Kelly’s life. She was first introduced to yoga in the early 2000’s, during a period of stressful infertility treatments, when she was delighted to discover how relaxing and calming the practice is. She returned to yoga for her second pregnancy, when she joined a Kripalu prenatal class and found a community of friends in her fellow expecting mothers.
After having three kids in two years, Kelly turned to distance running as a way of coping with the stress of raising three babies, completing three marathons and over a dozen 24-hour running relays - and yoga turned into an episodic injury recovery practice. However, after the 2016 election, Kelly returned to a regular yoga practice as a way to manage depression and anxiety in an increasingly uncertain and stressful world.
In 2022, Kelly completed the intensive 200-hour yoga teacher certification program from the Yoga Vidya Academy, under the direction of Meghan Hogan, Amber Stephens & Lauren Toolin, and completed her Reiki II Certification. In 2024, Kelly graduated with her 300-hour yoga teacher certification from the Yoga Vidya Academy, taking intensive modules on Tantra Yoga, Ayurveda, and Yoga Therapy.
“I was nervous to jump back into a yoga practice after having two kids and a worldwide pandemic, but my first class with Kelly was awesome. She made the class very approachable and brought us back to the basics with a wonderful knowledge of alignment and fundamental yoga techniques. She makes everyone feel comfortable regardless of skill level and has a calming presence. I’ll definitely be back!”
— Brittney P.