Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre

I found Hot Yoga in DC in 2001 as a New Year's resolution. It changed the entire trajectory of my life.

Totally inspired, I ran off to LA to get certified with Bikram in 2003. Immersing myself in teaching and connecting with students, I discovered what has become my life’s work: living, learning, teaching, and practicing Yoga, Qigong, and Taoist Healing Arts. I have been blessed to meet and work with many great teachers, mentors, and students along my journey.

In 2007, I founded what has become Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre. Now with my love, John Yanni Alexiou, we share in the mission of creating a space for wellness through community and a community through wellness, in Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre.

With the encouragement of my students, I published my first book Become the Architect of your Body, Mind, and Soul, in 2017. Based on my TEDx Talk of the same name, here I put some of my favorite lessons into print. The book was translated and published in Geek in 2021 by Athenian Science Publishers and now has even greater reach. It's available on Amazon and I would love for you to check it out!

For every student who walks through our doors, I hope for you to fall in love with yourself and this practice as much as I did, and to allow SHY to become a best part of your day!

My training includes:

Bikram Yoga, 2003

Level 2/3 Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa 2008, 2014, 2020

500 Hour Zen Wellness Zen Yoga and Medical Qigong, 2015

10,000 Hour Doh Yi Masters Council, 2018

500 Hour Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa, 2020

SUP Yoga Center 2021

Welcome to my biography page! My name is Stephanie Chapman Waters. On January 10, 2012 one of my closest friends said to me, “Do you want to try yoga, it’s Hot Yoga… I hear it’s all the rage!” I thought, “it’s yoga it can’t be that hard… That sounds fun!” Off we went to our first yoga class. I was wrong, Hot Yoga was hard for me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. But, that first class changed my life! I have been practicing weekly ever since! 

I work in a stressful environment. However, I thought I was fine working day in and day out in this environment! It wasn’t until I found SHY that I learned that the burdens that I carry are not normal to carry. This is where I learned about self-care. And if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of my family, friends, or my loved ones! 

Outside of the yoga room I am a licensed social worker and my full-time job is a drug treatment specialist at a federal prison. I like to have fun, laugh, and joke with you! I thank you for joining me both on and off the mat in this beautiful journey we call life.

My training includes:

26 & 2, 200 Hour YTT through SHY and Jimmy Barkan, 2019

Level II/III Barkan Hot Yoga Vinyasa through SHY and Jimmy Barkan, 2020

Zen Barre, 2020

SUP Yoga Center, 2021

In 2009, I began my yoga journey at SHY. That one class many years ago changed the path of my life forever. Since then, I have become an instructor at SHY and love to share my passion for yoga with my students. I found my love for the hot yoga lineage as it has helped be overcome lower back injuries while strengthening my mind, body, and spirit.  

Yoga changed my life, and taught me more about myself than I ever thought possible. It led me to the path of self-realization.

I wish to share a gem of wisdom from the lineage of this practice:

“Do not continue to live in the same old way.  Make up your mind to do something to improve your life, and then do it.  Change your consciousness; that is all that is necessary.”       Paramahansa Yogananda

My training includes:

200 hour YTT Master’s Path and Certified Zen Yoga Instructor through SHY, 2016

 Level 2/3 Barkan Hot Yoga Vinyasa with Jimmy Barkan in 2019, 2020, and upcoming Spring 2021.  

 Zen Barre, 2018

SUP Yoga Center 2021

After practicing yoga for 12 years at SHY, I was inspired to go deeper and completed my 200 hour teacher training in 2019.  I knew that yoga could boost my strength and flexibility. What I didn’t realize was that the breath work and emphasis on quieting your mind even for an hour can have such a positive effect on your life off of your mat. The supportive community at SHY has allowed me the space to grow and learn more about myself through my practice.

As an instructor, I hope to offer the same support and space for growth for you in my classes. 

My training includes:

Hot 26&2 with Lara Alexiou and Jimmy Barkan, 2019

Barkan Method Level 2/3 Hot Vinyasa, 2020

Zen Barre, 2020

I started Hot Yoga at SHY on a hot July day in 2009! I am now a 200 Hour Register Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and completed the Hot Vinyasa Teacher Training Level II & III with Jimmy Barkan/SHY in the Fall of 2020.

I love teaching because I get to see new students experience the excitement of their first class but also I love watching the long time members grow and deepen their practice. My practice differs everyday and has changed over the years which has been the most surprising and enlightening experience. I always come in with an open mind and heart no matter if I am teaching or practicing.

The SHY community is always expanding which brings me such joy! Watching how the studio welcomes new members and seeing how are long time members have changed and grown in their practice has been the most rewarding experience of all!

My training includes:

Hot 26&2 with Lara Alexiou and Jimmy Barkan, 2019

Barkan Method Level 2/3 Hot Vinyasa, 2020

Zen Barre, 2020

SUP Yoga Center, 2021

I found Hot Yoga in DC in 2001 as a New Year's resolution. It changed the entire trajectory of my life.

Totally inspired, I ran off to LA to get certified with Bikram in 2003. Immersing myself in teaching and connecting with students, I discovered what has become my life’s work: living, learning, teaching, and practicing Yoga, Qigong, and Taoist Healing Arts. I have been blessed with many great teachers, mentors, and students as on my journey.

In 2007, I founded what has become Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre. Now with my love, John Yanni Alexiou, we share in the mission of creating a space for wellness through community and a community through wellness, in Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre.

For every student who walks through our doors, I hope for you to fall in love with yourself and this practice as much as I did, and to allow SHY to become a best part of your day!

My training includes:

Bikram Yoga, 2003

Level 2/3 Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa 2008, 2014, 2020

500 Hour Zen Wellness Zen Yoga and Medical Qigong, 2015

10,000 Hour Doh Yi Masters Council, 2018

500 Hour Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa, 2020

Recognizing how I've grown in my own practice over time, I strive to guide my students to discover their own potential both on and off the mat.

I love watching students evolve what usually begins as a strictly physical practice into a more deliberate connection of body and breath, then ultimately into an immersion of their whole being into their practice. The transformation is awesome. 

In my own practice, I enjoy walking the edge where I'm striving for that next level in a posture, but never struggling. I find my yoga practice humbling at times, so a little smile and love for myself goes a long way! Enjoy the journey! 

When I attend any of the classes or events at SHY, I always feel like I'm at home. There's a beautiful supportive energy at the studio. It fills me up when I walk in the door, and like a mirror, I radiate that joyful energy inward and outward! It absolutely is the best part of my day!

The first benefit i noticed when I began Hot Yoga was the intense peace I felt at the end of each class. As an instructor, I hope to give that gift to my students by helping them grow the connection of mind, body and breath through clear direction, so that each student need only listen, follow along, and breath to get the most out of their class. And an occasional giggle doesn't hurt either!

My training includes:

200 hr 26x2 teacher training at SHY, 2016

100hr Yin yoga and Restorative, 2019

Level 2/3 Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa, 2019

Zen Barre, 2020

Hi, my name is Tara Pagotto. I am so excited and honored to be teaching Zen Barre classes at Steamtown Hot Yoga! I’ve been a student of SHY since June 2009 when a friend (L.L.) and I decided to try this crazy thing called hot yoga. Like many of you, we were hooked from day ONE! Each time I’m on my mat practicing, the world melts away and I find myself looking forward to when I can practice again! Yoga calms my mind, allows me to breathe deep, and eases my aches and pains! 

My background is very different than the other SHY instructors. I don’t have yoga training but I do have over 40 years of classical ballet training; ballet is in my blood (and TAP too). I had been teaching ballet and barre classes informally but wanted to deepen my understanding and officially become certified. So, I jumped at the opportunity to become a certified Zen Barre instructor in 2020. 

I love teaching Zen Barre!! It’s such a great combination of my ballet background and what I’ve learned during my 12 years practicing yoga. My focus is on guiding students to have proper body alignment and use small but strong and effective movements for toning, lengthening, and strengthening muscles. 

I can’t wait to see you at the BARRE! I promise smiles, good posture, and tired muscles! 

Head up, chest up, belly in, tailbone tucked, shoulders relaxed, long strong arms……smile! 

My training includes:

Classical ballet, Russian ballet, Vaganova style and Cecchetti style ballet, age 4 to present 

Zen Barre, 2020