Jessica began her wellness journey in her early 20s. Using yoga to find relief from headaches and enjoying the camaraderie of group classes she cultivated her personal practice for several years. While still teaching preschool, Jessica sought her first group fitness certification with Zumba Fitness. She continued her fitness education gaining specialized Zumba training, yoga/meditation certification, as well as, personal training certificate. Opening Body Karma Studio in 2013, Jessica hoped to help educate the community about the benefits of yoga, mindfulness, and a healthy lifestyle. Since opening Jessica has had the opportunity to work with people of all ages and abilities in the studio, including leading 2 classes a week designed for members of Vista Life Innovations. Also hosting off site classes for school groups, churches, festivals, and summer yoga classes at Hammonasset to benefit Friends of Hammonasset. Jessica is now seeking to educate future yoga instructors with a comprehensive 200 hour yoga instructor training that expands the Body Karma Studio yoga community. In 2015 Jessica was given the opportunity to host Half Hour Wellness on ICRV Radio, she enjoys inviting experts on various health and wellness topics to educate listeners on the benefits of a health, holistic lifestyle. In addition, Jessica volunteers for many organizations in the community such as Families Helping Families, Pretty Committee, Walk 4 Good, and Clinton Art Society. She served on the board of directors for the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and assisted in the planning of events such as Christmas in Clinton and Clinton Summer Fest and Fireworks. In 2016 Jessica was honored by the Clinton Chamber of Commerce with the Citizen of the Year Award for her volunteer efforts. In her spare time Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband Joel, step-daughters Emma and Abby, as well as, her wheaten terrier puppy Sully.

Jessica Demers

Owner, Zumba & Yoga Instructor

Martha began her yoga practice over 15 years ago at the insistence of her mother, who was already well aware of the benefits of a regular yoga practice.  Unconvinced, Martha attended her first class with the sole intention of appeasing her mom.  However, she left the session enamored and extremely eager to return.  This prompted her development of a regular weekly practice. Over the years, Martha joined a multitude of classes and fell more deeply smitten with yoga.  While the physical component counteracted hours trapped at a desk, the spiritual aspect reminded her of, and granted the permission to, be a tad selfish by taking the time she needed on her mat in order to obtain balance in an all too hectic world.  Convinced by Jess, the owner of Body Karma Studio in Clinton, and her parents, Martha recently completed her 200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructor Training at Body Karma Studio. Eager to share her love of the journey, and taking inspiration from all of her previous and current instructors, Martha aims for classes that flow, develop strength and flexibility while supporting proper breathing and alignment.  Her objective is to provide, and foster, a non-judgmental environment where students feel safe to explore their potential, free from comparison to any other individual and the only limitation(s) placed on them is that of their own creation.

“Yoga is a powerful vehicle for change.  As you build strength, you start to believe in your own potential.”  -Tanya Cruikshank

“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees,:  – B.K. S. Iyengar

Martha Smith

Yoga Instructor

Kris has been in the Fitness and Wellness field for over 15 years, beginning as a personal trainer and fitness instructor, and eventually concentrating on inner core strength,  balance, flexibility and centering. She believes in maintaining the connection of Body, Mind and Spirit, and designs her classes in such a way as to promote this connection through movement and breathing. In addition to her work here at Body Karma, Kris does wellness coaching and teaches Zumba in the Old Saybrook community. In her classes and counseling, Kris helps her cients develop core strength through inner intensity, working from the "inside out". She also loves to dance, and is currently studying tap and ballet.

Kris Reaske

Pilates, Zumba &

Restorative Yoga Instructor

Tristin fell in love with Zumba when she started attending class at Body Karma in early 2016. With huge support from Owner, Jess, she became a licensed instructor in August 2016. Wishing to push herself a little further she began taking yoga fitness classes too. Tristin quickly decided to take the Body Karma 200 hour training 2016-2017 and became a yoga instructor as well. She is Looking forward to starting a new journey with Zumba and Yoga, helping people reach their fitness goals!

Tristin Dunn-Bianca

Zumba & Yoga Instructor

Johnny C, affectionately known as “Swami Johnny”, began his yoga journey about 10 years ago at a time when he was struggling to navigate major life changes, both emotionally and physically. Searching for a way to heal from an injury which left him with a mobility deficit and chronic pain, he began to practice regularly. Within a year he was walking tall and was turning to yoga, rather alcohol as a way to reduce anxiety and stress. He realized the lessons he learned on the mat allowed him to develop strong coping strategies off the mat and he began living life rather than just “surviving it”.
John works full time in construction but continues to practice daily. As a father of two, he has introduced the benefits of yoga to his children, and they occasionally join him when participating in Kirtans and other community events.
John graduated from the Body Karma 200 hour YTT in 2019. He enjoys sharing his love of Hatha flow, integrating strength, flexibility, meditative grace and yes, at times a sense of humor into each practice. In his own words” open your heart and let love and light shine”.

Johnny Cochrane

Yoga Instructor

Tracy Crosby has been practicing yoga for several years and began her journey as a teacher in 2017.  Yoga has played a vital role in all aspects of her life – as a daughter, wife, mother, and friend.  With yoga, she has embraced the changes and challenges that life brings (stretch marks, grey hair, etc), and she strives to share the many benefits of yoga as she encourages others along the path of progress, not perfection.

Tracy Crosby

Yoga Instructor

Teri Stanwix completed the Yoga Instructor training in 2018 after practicing for a few years under the guidance of Jessica Demers. Teri’s life journey brought her to yoga by way of the recommendation of a physical therapist. The wellness from the connection of mind and body in the practice of yoga has kept her on the mat! Teri sees the practice of yoga as an enhancement to the journey of life. It has offered her the opportunity to reconnect mind, body and soul and she in turn offers that to her students. We are all at different points in our journey of life and that is true of our yoga journey as well. Yoga offers us a path to connectedness-this is something to embrace!

Teri Stanwix

Yoga Instructor

Kate has been a fitness professional for 20 years, the last six of which she has spent at the Valley Shore YMCA as the Group Exercise/Wellness Director, instructor and Personal Trainer. For the last 3 years, She has been working as an instructor for Prive Swiss Fitness as well as teaching for various Senior Centers in the Shoreline area. Kate began her professional fitness career shortly after her children were born, in Boston, MA with Healthworks Fitness Centers for Women, a large urban fitness center with 4 locations throughout the Metro-Boston area. She began working for them as a part time instructor before very quickly taking over full-time as the Group Fitness Director for two of their busiest locations, Porter Square, Cambridge and Boston’s Back Bay. Kate spent the next 5 years learning the business by managing the Group Exercise Program for these two locations before she and her family decided to relocate back to her native CT. “I absolutely LOVE what I do. My goal as an instructor is to always deliver classes that are safe and effective, challenging and fun, but which also meet each participant where they are on their fitness journey at the moment with the hopes of helping them reach their
goals. Making Fitness a part of your daily routine is hard work and it takes a strong drive. If I can make fitness challenging AND fun, I can help people commit to a healthier lifestyle. “In 2017 Kate was accepted as a Master Trainer for Savvier Fitness in their Tabata
Bootcamp and Tabata GX programs. Other certifications include: AFAA for group fitness, NASM for Personal Training, Yoga YTT 200 hours, Peak Pilates Mat 1, Tai Ji Quan - Moving for Better Balance (Tai Chi), Barre Above, Yoga 1 and 2, Les Mills Body Pump, MOSSA Group Strength, Urban Rebounding and many more.

Kate Perez

Yoga Instructor