at some point in your life, you will need to recover from something...

M.A., M.S., LPC, NCC, E-RYT

Angelica earned her M.S. in Addictions Counseling through Purdue University (2022), her M.A. in Arts Management from Goucher College (2012), and B.A. from Goucher in dance and psychology with concentrations in both arts administration and dance therapy (2009). She is a 500+ hour certified Yoga instructor through

M.A., M.S., LPC, NCC, E-RYT

Angelica earned her M.S. in Addictions Counseling through Purdue University (2022), her M.A. in Arts Management from Goucher College (2012), and B.A. from Goucher in dance and psychology with concentrations in both arts administration and dance therapy (2009). She is a 500+ hour certified Yoga instructor through Yoga Factory Teacher Training. Angelica teaches multiple styles of yoga and coordinates domestic and international retreats, trainings, and education programs. Angelica is certified in both the Usui and Jikiden Reiki methods and is an LPC in Pennsylvania. Angelica is also the co-owner of Yoga Factory and Yoga Hive and owner of Radiant Elle yoga apparel.

RYT, FORMER MILITARY

Sally Harney is a retired veteran and current professional in the Cyber Security field and has been practicing the Original Hot Yoga method for over 20 years. She is certified in Yoga Nidra and Original Hot Yoga. Using her Yoga Nidra capabilities, Sally assists those carrying physical and mental trauma. She is a mother

RYT, FORMER MILITARY

Sally Harney is a retired veteran and current professional in the Cyber Security field and has been practicing the Original Hot Yoga method for over 20 years. She is certified in Yoga Nidra and Original Hot Yoga. Using her Yoga Nidra capabilities, Sally assists those carrying physical and mental trauma. She is a mother of three grown boys from Colorado and has served on multiple Boards of Directors either as a member or as an Executive Director. Sally also holds a B.S. degree in Technical Communications from ASU and an Associate Degree in Health Care Management from the U.S. Air Force Community College.

Rebecca DiVerniero, Ph.D. is a board member of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh and the owner of Sattva Yoga & Wellness, a Pittsburgh-based practice focused on stress relief, nervous system support, and mindful movement. With a background in interpersonal communication and over two decades of experience in higher education, Rebecca brings a thoug

Rebecca DiVerniero, Ph.D. is a board member of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh and the owner of Sattva Yoga & Wellness, a Pittsburgh-based practice focused on stress relief, nervous system support, and mindful movement. With a background in interpersonal communication and over two decades of experience in higher education, Rebecca brings a thoughtful, trauma-informed perspective to her work in wellness and community support.

Rebecca’s professional training includes advanced yoga certification, Reiki Level II, assisted stretching, and mindfulness-based coaching. As a board member, Rebecca is passionate about supporting Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh’s mission through ethical outreach, clear communication, and long-term sustainability. She is honored to contribute her perspective to an organization dedicated to making holistic, recovery-centered support available to the broader community.

Frank Vitale is a chef, restaurateur, and dedicated yogi who has transformed his life through recovery. His culinary career, began at his grandmothers side on Sundays in Pittsburgh, Pa. At age 15, he started out as a dishwasher and worked his way up through the ranks to currently owning Cucina Vitale, which just celebrated 10 years of bus

Frank Vitale is a chef, restaurateur, and dedicated yogi who has transformed his life through recovery. His culinary career, began at his grandmothers side on Sundays in Pittsburgh, Pa. At age 15, he started out as a dishwasher and worked his way up through the ranks to currently owning Cucina Vitale, which just celebrated 10 years of business.

Beyond the kitchen, Vitale has found a deep sense of purpose in his yoga practice. He credits yoga and meditation with providing the mental and physical strength needed to navigate his journey of recovery from addiction and the day to day operations at Cucina Vitale. He is a passionate advocate for using holistic wellness as a tool for healing and self-discovery.

As a recovering addict, Vitale is an open and honest voice in the recovery community. He shares his story with a vulnerability that inspires others, demonstrating that it's possible to overcome immense challenges and build a fulfilling life. His journey is a testament to resilience, showing how past struggles can be channeled into a source of strength and creativity. Vitale’s life embodies a powerful fusion of culinary excellence, spiritual wellness, and a commitment to helping others find their own path to recovery.

Jennifer Hutson Vitale is a dedicated board member of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh and a proud co-owner of Cucina Vitale, the restaurant she runs alongside her husband, Frank. As a person in recovery, Jennifer brings both personal experience and passion to her role, drawing from the profound impact Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh has had on her own 

Jennifer Hutson Vitale is a dedicated board member of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh and a proud co-owner of Cucina Vitale, the restaurant she runs alongside her husband, Frank. As a person in recovery, Jennifer brings both personal experience and passion to her role, drawing from the profound impact Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh has had on her own journey. Through retreats, mindfulness classes, and reiki, she has found tools that continue to support her healing and growth.

Beyond her professional and board work, Jennifer is an active member of her 12-step homegroup, where she has served in an elected position for nearly two years. She is deeply committed to service work and remains actively engaged in the broader recovery community. Jennifer’s lived experience and dedication to wellness bring a meaningful perspective to the mission of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh.

 Meet Haley Jane Jenkins — a visionary entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, mother, and healer. As Founder and Director of Pittsburgh Women's Wellness Drum Circle, she leads a nonprofit offering free wellness programs to the community through music, mindfulness, and collective healing. Haley is the power house behind Build With HER, a co

 Meet Haley Jane Jenkins — a visionary entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, mother, and healer. As Founder and Director of Pittsburgh Women's Wellness Drum Circle, she leads a nonprofit offering free wellness programs to the community through music, mindfulness, and collective healing. Haley is the power house behind Build With HER, a construction management firm overseeing more than $50M annually, building for the Veterans of our country. Through Steel Moon Studios, Haley and her team produced award winning independent films and film compositions, while her personal creative music expression comes alive through Hazyjane, her inner artist brand. Having overcome addiction, physical and mental illness with mindfulness, yoga, energy work and more, she integrates over a decade of healing experience with studies in more than ten esoteric theories resulting  in multiple certifications including as a Human Design Specialist. A devoted supporter of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh, she continues to share her energy to uplift others on their paths of recovery, creativity, and transformation, while making a lasting impact on the community around her. 

RYT

Charissa read yoga books and practiced with videos as a child, but her teaching journey began in 2018 in Spokane, WA, as a therapeutic response to health issues from a 20-year tattoo career. Inspired by yoga’s healing power, Charissa pursued extensive training to teach a variety of styles of yoga. Her teaching emphasizes breath and bod

RYT

Charissa read yoga books and practiced with videos as a child, but her teaching journey began in 2018 in Spokane, WA, as a therapeutic response to health issues from a 20-year tattoo career. Inspired by yoga’s healing power, Charissa pursued extensive training to teach a variety of styles of yoga. Her teaching emphasizes breath and body awareness. She also studied Holy Fire Reiki Levels 1 & 2 and has held a master-level Usui Reiki attunement since 2002.

Ashley Clare Parr, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and a dedicated Original Hot Yoga practitioner for over 15 years. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Queen’s University in Canada, and transitioned to Pittsburgh in 2018 to study how youth experiences shape brain development and 

Ashley Clare Parr, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and a dedicated Original Hot Yoga practitioner for over 15 years. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Queen’s University in Canada, and transitioned to Pittsburgh in 2018 to study how youth experiences shape brain development and influence long-term outcomes like substance use. Her research focuses on understanding how the brain changes in response to both risk and resilience, giving her a deep appreciation for how positive experiences can support healing and growth. This scientific perspective naturally connects with her personal passion for yoga, which she has experienced firsthand as a powerful tool for well-being and growth. Ashley merges these two worlds through her volunteer work with Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh. Her unique combination of neuroscience research and long-term yoga practice has shaped her evidence-informed, compassionate perspective on how practices like yoga can support individuals navigating recovery and life challenges. 

Isaac, originally from Miami, Florida, developed a connection to movement through playing tennis with his dad at the age of three. That curiosity evolved into strength training and a deeper interest in how the body adapts over time. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon (B.S. Decision Science, 2018), where studying psychology and human behavi

Isaac, originally from Miami, Florida, developed a connection to movement through playing tennis with his dad at the age of three. That curiosity evolved into strength training and a deeper interest in how the body adapts over time. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon (B.S. Decision Science, 2018), where studying psychology and human behavior continues to shape how he approaches movement and long-term change.

After a bicycle accident in 2022, his perspective shifted from chasing performance to building resilience—focusing on spinal health, mobility, and strength that supports everyday life. Isaac works in strength and conditioning, blending mobility, stability, and performance training, and enjoys connecting others with resources that help them move and feel better. Outside of this, he’s a proud cat dad to Bean and Olive.

A creative soul by nature, Raeanne is passionate about storytelling and meaningful connection. Through social media and digital marketing, she helps bring the mission of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh to life—sharing its heart, its healing, and its impact with the community. She loves creating content that inspires, uplifts, and gently invites 

A creative soul by nature, Raeanne is passionate about storytelling and meaningful connection. Through social media and digital marketing, she helps bring the mission of Yoga Recovery Pittsburgh to life—sharing its heart, its healing, and its impact with the community. She loves creating content that inspires, uplifts, and gently invites others into a space of growth and recovery.

When she’s not working her magic behind the laptop, you’ll find her on, in, or near the water—boating, soaking up the sun and fresh air, connecting with the underwater marine world, and making new fin-tastic friends along the way.