Our Team
Lauren Maples, Bija Kids Director
Lauren is the founder, director and head of development at Bija Kids. Her background includes extensive
yoga training in the west and India and more then ten years of experience working with children in various
settings. Her interest in creating Bija Kids stemmed from the profound change that children experienced from
even the most brief yoga practice. Thus began her journey to create a program for children that incorporated
not just asana and yoga games, but tools that students can take out into the world. Lauren has been
fortunate to work with many wonderful teachers along her path (too many to count!) but ultimately she
considers the children she works with the greatest teachers of all. In 2008 Lauren received her ISO
Certified Ayurvedic License while studying in Coonoor, India. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts
and has created and successfully sold two other Brooklyn businesses.
Kristen Bower, Bija Kids Assistant Director
Kristen has been supporting women and their families through pregnancy, birth and parenting for nearly a
decade. While going through a difficult time, Kristen found yoga to be a safe haven. She began to
recognize how yoga relates to every aspect of life and felt compelled to share it with others. Kristen
completed Om Yoga teacher training, Ma Yoga Prenatal training with Mia Borgatta and Eden Fromberg and
was the first certified Bija Kids instructor. Kristen oversees Bija's prenatal, postpartum and birthing programs.
Lindsay Sullivan, Bija Kids Instructor
Lindsay is a graduate of the Conquering Lion Teacher Training program and a student of Kelly Morris. She
has also studied alignment with Angela, Stephanie and Christina at Mala Yoga as well as Yoga, Buddhism
and Meditation with Kimberley Theresa at Yoga Studies Institute. Lindsay loves teaching kids yoga because
it's fun! In addition to her work as a yoga teacher and practitioner Lindsay is a singer and songwriter and
plays music with her band Clair. Lindsay was certified to teach children through Bija Kids in 2010.
Paige Hinton, Bija Kids Instructor
Paige is a certified yoga instructor trained at Laughing Lotus School of Yoga in NYC. She loves witnessing
the ultimate joy children embody while in creating different shapes with their bodies and embracing all the
creative fun yoga has to offer. She says, "When your with children you can't stop from smiling and
laughing." Paige has been practicing yoga for the past 13 years, has had en extensive career as a
professional dancer on Broadway and is a trained holistic health counselor. She was certified to teach
children's yoga at Bija Kids in 2010.
Carly Jacobs, Bija Kids Instructor
Carly first started practicing yoga in 1995 during a year-long study abroad trip in India. Since moving to
Brooklyn in 2004, she has studied primarily with Carla Stangenberg Sara Lewis at Jaya Yoga. Carly has
always felt that yoga is best practiced with a sense of humor and a willingness to play. She thinks it's
particularly for city kids to learn (and enjoy!) how to calm down, slow down and breathe. Off the mat, she is
a documentary filmmaker and television producer, an avid traveler, and most importantly, mother to inspiring
and amazing toddler who loves to bark while doing downward-facing dog.
Shenaaz Jetha, Bija Kids Instructor
Shenaaz's favorite part about teaching is seeing that look of pure joy on kids faces when they are doing
something they really enjoy, liking jumping on the parachute, dancing to a song that inspires them, or listening
to a great story. In addition to working with Bija Kids, Shenaaz is currently completing her adult teacher
training certification at OM Yoga with Cyndi Lee, and has also completed Part I Foundation Training with Tias
Little. She's completed master classes with Shiva Rea, Dharma Mittra, Sean Corn and Gurmaukh Kaur
Khalsa. Shenaaz loves to cook, grow herbs and is a music enthusiast.
Sasha Slocombe, Prenatal/Mommy Baby Instructor
Sasha has been teaching yoga for eleven years. She teaches in the vinyasa style with a focus on
alienment and breath. Her Prenatal and Mommy Baby classes stress the importance of self awareness and
compassion for the changes that accompany pregnancy and parenthood. She is the proud mama of tow
daughters, Xela (10) and Tusli (7).
Lauren Maples, Bija Kids Director
Lauren is the founder, director and head of development at Bija Kids. Her background includes extensive
yoga training in the west and India and more then ten years of experience working with children in various
settings. Her interest in creating Bija Kids stemmed from the profound change that children experienced from
even the most brief yoga practice. Thus began her journey to create a program for children that incorporated
not just asana and yoga games, but tools that students can take out into the world. Lauren has been
fortunate to work with many wonderful teachers along her path (too many to count!) but ultimately she
considers the children she works with the greatest teachers of all. In 2008 Lauren received her ISO
Certified Ayurvedic License while studying in Coonoor, India. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts
and has created and successfully sold two other Brooklyn businesses.
Kristen Bower, Bija Kids Assistant Director
Kristen has been supporting women and their families through pregnancy, birth and parenting for nearly a
decade. While going through a difficult time, Kristen found yoga to be a safe haven. She began to
recognize how yoga relates to every aspect of life and felt compelled to share it with others. Kristen
completed Om Yoga teacher training, Ma Yoga Prenatal training with Mia Borgatta and Eden Fromberg and
was the first certified Bija Kids instructor. Kristen oversees Bija's prenatal, postpartum and birthing programs.
Lindsay Sullivan, Bija Kids Instructor
Lindsay is a graduate of the Conquering Lion Teacher Training program and a student of Kelly Morris. She
has also studied alignment with Angela, Stephanie and Christina at Mala Yoga as well as Yoga, Buddhism
and Meditation with Kimberley Theresa at Yoga Studies Institute. Lindsay loves teaching kids yoga because
it's fun! In addition to her work as a yoga teacher and practitioner Lindsay is a singer and songwriter and
plays music with her band Clair. Lindsay was certified to teach children through Bija Kids in 2010.
Paige Hinton, Bija Kids Instructor
Paige is a certified yoga instructor trained at Laughing Lotus School of Yoga in NYC. She loves witnessing
the ultimate joy children embody while in creating different shapes with their bodies and embracing all the
creative fun yoga has to offer. She says, "When your with children you can't stop from smiling and
laughing." Paige has been practicing yoga for the past 13 years, has had en extensive career as a
professional dancer on Broadway and is a trained holistic health counselor. She was certified to teach
children's yoga at Bija Kids in 2010.
Carly Jacobs, Bija Kids Instructor
Carly first started practicing yoga in 1995 during a year-long study abroad trip in India. Since moving to
Brooklyn in 2004, she has studied primarily with Carla Stangenberg Sara Lewis at Jaya Yoga. Carly has
always felt that yoga is best practiced with a sense of humor and a willingness to play. She thinks it's
particularly for city kids to learn (and enjoy!) how to calm down, slow down and breathe. Off the mat, she is
a documentary filmmaker and television producer, an avid traveler, and most importantly, mother to inspiring
and amazing toddler who loves to bark while doing downward-facing dog.
Shenaaz Jetha, Bija Kids Instructor
Shenaaz's favorite part about teaching is seeing that look of pure joy on kids faces when they are doing
something they really enjoy, liking jumping on the parachute, dancing to a song that inspires them, or listening
to a great story. In addition to working with Bija Kids, Shenaaz is currently completing her adult teacher
training certification at OM Yoga with Cyndi Lee, and has also completed Part I Foundation Training with Tias
Little. She's completed master classes with Shiva Rea, Dharma Mittra, Sean Corn and Gurmaukh Kaur
Khalsa. Shenaaz loves to cook, grow herbs and is a music enthusiast.
Sasha Slocombe, Prenatal/Mommy Baby Instructor
Sasha has been teaching yoga for eleven years. She teaches in the vinyasa style with a focus on
alienment and breath. Her Prenatal and Mommy Baby classes stress the importance of self awareness and
compassion for the changes that accompany pregnancy and parenthood. She is the proud mama of tow
daughters, Xela (10) and Tusli (7).
