Our Philosophy
Inspired by the play-based education philosophy of Reggio-Emilia, the Responsive Classroom and the musical pedagogy of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze and Zoltán Kodály, Yo Re Mi seeks to encourage individuality and communication between children as active collaborators in their learning environment.
We sing through yoga poses and discover rhythm, pitch, tone and tempo with our bodies. Through multiple sensory inputs we engage children at all levels, areas of interest and attention. We nurture a non-competitive environment where creative ideas are welcome and children may influence the direction of our learning.
The Story of Yo Re Mi
Rachel Costello and Dan Costello created Yo Re Mi while teaching after-school classes in NYC. Dan was a music teacher incorporating a lot of dance and physical movement. Meanwhile, Rachel was singing through her entire kids yoga class.
One day, they combined their classes, wrote some originals songs for their yoga sequences and Yo Re Mi was born. Children were instantly engaged by the new material and loved sharing their own ideas for adventures that would take them to outer space, the jungle, other countries or their own backyard.
Dan and Rachel continued writing and developing, and now there are hundreds of Yo Re Mi songs, videos, and lesson plans which are customized to the needs of individual classrooms. From a small after-school class, Yo Re Mi has grown to serving dozens of schools.
Yo Re Mi offers school-day, after-school and summer programs for children in NYC, as well as Denver, LA, New Jersey, Upstate New York and Vermont. Zoom classes are available, and videos and songs are streaming everywhere via the Yo Re Mi App. Yo Re Mi also provides professional development workshops for teachers, and a 30-hour online children’s yoga teacher training.
The Yo Re Mi Team
Yo Re Mi teachers are professional musicians and certified yoga instructors with extensive experience in early childhood education.
Our Founders
Rachel Costello,
Executive Director (she/her)
Rachel Costello is a certified Yoga Therapist and a Yoga Alliance registered teacher (ERYT500, RCYT, RPYT, YACEP) specializing in hatha, vinyasa, prenatal, postpartum, as well as yoga for labor and delivery. She’s also a professional touring musician. Through Yo Re Mi, Rachel brings musical yoga enrichment to children all over NYC. As a mom of two young children, she sees the benefit of Yo Re Mi’s creative mindfulness practices in her own family.
Rachel provides professional development for adults that want to share yoga with children, pre-teens, teens and special needs youth. Rachel has been teaching both adults and children since 2005 and believes yoga is a perfect way to harness our innate energy to increase self-awareness, confidence, health, positivity and balance, while having FUN!
Dan Costello,
Creative Director (he/him)
Dan Costello is a professional musician, storyteller, actor, music educator and certified Children's Yoga Instructor (KAY) specializing in early and elementary education. As a music teacher for ten years, deeply rooted in play-based and emergent methods, Dan develops music education curriculum which combines movement-based activities, joyful sing-alongs and songwriting. He leads workshops on mindful language and how to support a creative learning environment.
Dan plays piano, guitar, clarinet, drums, ukulele, and just about anything he can find. He has written hundreds of songs, many available on streaming services or in concert. His favorite songs are the ones we sing together! His proudest recent achievement is being a Dad who can get dinner on the table before bedtime.
Teaching Artists
Lauren Kelly Benson, Founding Teaching Artist (they/themme)
Lauren Kelly Benson is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher who has taught with Yo Re Mi since the beginning. They received their 200-hour yoga teaching certification in Vinyasa flow from Sacred Brooklyn in 2013. They then deepened their study and education through a 300-hour intensive specialty training with Rainbow Kids Yoga in 2015. Teaching all ages from baby through high school, Lauren Kelly has volunteered teaching yoga to incarcerated youth on Riker’s Island, facilitates a Mommy and Me yoga group, offers one-on-one private sessions, develops a wholly integrative yoga curriculum in schools, and teaches at various studios. In their free time, Lauren Kelly is a singer/songwriter, activist, teaching artist, and founder of Aditi Flow and Creative Wellness. Bringing yoga, meditation, and music education to black and brown youth and schools, activists, and artists, Aditi Flow is designed to expand access to the healing modalities that Lauren Kelly loves.
Luna Britt,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Luna is an early childhood educator, musician, dog-parent, sculptor, and photographer with a passion for building creativity-centered spaces. Residing in Brooklyn, Luna spends her time day-dreaming, reading, and playing fetch with her puppy, Rosie, in Prospect Park. Luna is currently working as a preschool teacher.
LaChrisha Brown,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
LaChrisha Brown has taught children’s yoga for over 6 years. Certified with FLY Yoga and YoReMi, she has taught throughout the boroughs extensively at The School of Columbia, Honey Tree Forest School and Partnership with Children. Fun Fact: LaChrisha has her MFA in theater performance, and she loves to sing harmony!
Alexia Christopher,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Alexia is a certified 200 hr yoga teacher as well as a certified children yoga instructor. She is a passionate about making mindfulness and wellness fun and creative. Teaching dance and Zumba are other fun ways that she likes to bring movement into the mix.
Ayla McCarthy Combes, Teaching Artist (they/them)
Ayla McCarthy Combes is a yoga teacher (200 HR RYT, Yoga to the People). Beyond their ever-evolving love and study of yogic philosophy (stemming from their own childhood love of movement), their interests cover a wide array of mediums including (but not limited to!) performance art, singing, experimental music, zine-making, poetry, energetic healing, tarot reading, working with clay, video and sound art, and indoor gardening.
Ayla seeks to cultivate spaces that foster a deepening of self-awareness, creative intelligence, and empathy for people of all ages and backgrounds & looks forward to learning and growing alongside their Yo Re Mi students through adventures in the classroom.
Zachary David Hills-Bonczyk, Teaching Artist (he/him)
Best known as a rapper, founder, and front-person in Brooklyn-based NOLA-funk/hip-hop band, Big Village Little City, Forefeather (Zac Hills-Bonczyk) is a musical entertainer, presenter, and unapologetic bliss enthusiast.
The youngest in a family of four Kripalu-certified yoga teacher and a student of hip-hop since childhood, Forefeather believes the key to a fulfilling life is unrestrained immersion in the present moment, whether, through music, yoga, dance or otherwise, Featured on the Wanderlust Summer Tour of 2017 to offer a series of unique workshops that fused beatboxing with yogic breathing techniques, Forefeather has been working bridge gaps between ancient and contemporary practice since 2011.
Forefeather has coordinated and taught at numerous yoga teaching trainings, developed transformational workshops, and led international retreats. He hosted a Dubuque Yoga Festival in 2016, and was featured at Yoga Journal Live! NYC in 2015 as a musical guest and emcee. Forefeather spent a year in residence at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health for an in-depth personal study of yoga. He has co-taught with internationally renowned yoga teacher Sadie Nardini, and assisted teacher training with Coby Kozlowski, Yogaland Michael Caroll, and many more.
Sara Haider,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Sara is a Disney princess/teaching artist with a Master's from Juilliard! 🎭 Picture this: joyful movement, silly clown, and sooo much singing- I'm all about making learning an adventure. Beyond the classroom, I dive into acting on TV, performing in Broadway musicals, and teaching acting workshops to adults! Let's bring breath, laughter, and a sprinkle of magic into the classroom - together!
Wahnita King,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Wahnita, the founder of Elephant Jungle Inc. has been teaching yoga, and fitness for over 10 years! Certified in Yoga, Autism Fitness, Reiki, and Medical Intuition. Wahnita has worked with all body types, and abilities, from all over the world.
Every session aims to improve health, wellbeing, encourage stimulate and strengthen self regulatory skills, hand eye coordination and confidence, through wellness.
Sabrina Kalman, Teaching Artist (she/her)
Sabrina is a proud multi-hyphenated Actor, Dancer, Singer, Director/ Choreographer, and Teaching Artist. She has performed and taught all across the country (and China!). Some career highlights include touring nationally and internationally with The Wizard of Oz, choreographing at John W. Engeman's studio, teaching dance at NYC Title One schools, and performing with one of New York's premiere Commedia D'el Arte companies. Outside of her work in performance and teaching, Sabrina has worked as a political activist, is a devoted animal lover, and dreams of one day running the NYC Marathon!
Anika Kulander, Teaching Artist (she/her/hers)
Anika holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from Macalester College and has been teaching since 2015 in diverse settings, including private music lessons, Montessori schools, and after-school programs. She is passionate about combining music, yoga, and theater to create fun and enriching learning experiences. In her spare time, Anika pursues acting and hosts sound-baths for her friends. Anika is excited to be working with Yo Re Mi to further expand her skills and share her love for music and movement with young children!
Ni Marqueti,
Teaching Artist & Videographer (they/them)
Ni is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist living in Brooklyn, New York. As a born poet and philosopher, they have always been enthusiastic about understanding nature and human relationships, and how art and movement can transform people, spaces, and build bridges for learning and healing.
A certified Yo Re Mi Teaching Artist who loves creating tunes on their ukulele, Ni has more than ten years of experience working in theater, storytelling, education, and entertainment for children. They also work as a video editor and production assistant, making Yo Re Mi videos and musical yoga adventures, with their current favorite adventure being Galápagos and Space!
Ni believes in Yo Re Mi’s inspiring mission and is thrilled to be working with such an amazing group of artists and teachers.
Tracy McDowell,
Teaching Artist (they/them)
Tracy, is a postmodern polymath with a passion for teaching, a decade of yoga practice, and a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certification. Tracy aims to master and share the art of zen, balance, and fun. As a former Integrative Art Teacher, they've got the moves – both artistic and on the yoga mat – to keep creativity flowing. Previously, Tracy designed innovative movement and music-based curricula, fostering creativity and self-expression in young minds. Their childhood training in opera and specialization in teaching piano to differently-abled students, particularly those on the autism spectrum and with dyslexia, exemplifies their dedication to inclusive arts and wellness education for everyone. In addition to Yo Re Mi, Tracy is a certified Digital Wellness Educator and consultant and leads talks about balanced technology use with the Digital Wellness Insitute and @digitalfengshui. Beyond their yogic and feng shui pursuits, Tracy enjoys cultivating their urban garden with their partner in Bushwick, delights in wave jumping, and showcases their creativity daily by crafting fun and sensory-friendly outfits. Tracy aims to blend art, education, wellness, and personal growth with fun, puns, and ease.
Megan Miles,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Megan is a 200 HR RYT Certified Yoga Instructor. Currently, she teaches vinyasa yoga classes to adults, as well as kids yoga classes. Megan has 10 years of improvisation experience, and has studied improv and sketch comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. In addition, she has six years of musical improv experience and loves to freestyle rap. In fact, she has competed in four freestyle rap battles. She loves using her imagination with children to create a world of wonder. Megan is very excited to join the Yo Re Mi Team!
Dale Novella,
Teaching Artist
(she/her)
A 200 Hr Registered Yoga Teacher and Teaching Artist with Community Word Project, The Dreamyard Project and Building Beats, Dale Novella uses her gifts and skills as a musician, singer and yogi to help people find peace, express and connect with themselves and the world around them. Whether through song, meditation, or movement Dale Novella’s goal is to bring the world together in rhythm, one beat at a time. Dale has traveled the US and the world as a singer/songwriter and poet. She hails from the South Carolina Lowcountry but is currently based in Brooklyn, NY.
John O’Mahoney,
Teaching Artist (he/him)
John's yoga practice started over 20 years ago while earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. He is a certified fitness and wellness educator as well as a Licensed Massage Therapist practicing for 13 years. In 2016, John began teaching yoga and dance for a local non-profit after-school program at a primary school in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
A father of three, John has a young daughter with significant physical challenges and has seen her and the special needs students he teaches benefit greatly from yoga-based activities. John is truly inspired by Yo Re Mi's mission to spread music, movement, mindfulness and imagination across the world!
Adaobi Opene,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Hi friends!! Adaobi is certified to teach kids yoga and is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher. Adaobi has 10 years of experience encouraging children to learn and grow. She loves the combination of music and mindfulness 🧘🏾♀️ 🎶 Adaobi can’t wait to see you and your kids in class this year!
Elizabeth Scariza,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Elizabeth has been teaching children’s Yoga for four years in person and virtually at both schools and private yoga studios. She is certified through Kidding Around Yoga, NYC and Yo Re Mi, NYC. Through songs, movements, games, postures, and breathing, children have fun while also improving their focus and flexibility.
Elizabeth is also a 200hr certified Yoga instructor through Costa Yoga. She especially enjoys teaching mediation and Vinyasa Flow. She loves yoga for stretching, strength, and finding peace. Elizabeth has a musical background. She sings and also plays the ukulele, saxophone, and harmonic. For her it is pure happiness when her students leave her classes feeling calm and energized. Her love for yoga shines through with the energy and joy she brings to each class. Elizabeth also holds an MA in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Angelina Valente,
Teaching Artist (she/her)
Angelina is a singer-songwriter out of Upstate New York. After graduating with a degree in Musical Theatre from Rider University, she came to the Capitol Region and began pursuing a career as a singer-songwriter. Along the way, she has taught voice lessons to students aged 5 to 50 and over. Angelina has always had some form of movement in her life, whether it be yoga or dance, and has always believed music and movement are better when put together. She has released one full-length album, two EPs, and four singles, recorded at the esteemed Village Studios in L.A., as well as the Atlantic Records Studio in New York. She was also the 2023 champion of Nippertown’s March Madness, a local music voting-based competition in Upstate New York. You can find Angelina out on a hiking trail, enjoying a great fantasy novel, or drinking a (usually decaf) latte.
Ocean White,
Teaching Artist (she/they)
Ocean is a passionate artist, dancer, teacher, and children’s yoga instructor with a deep love for movement and creative expression. They are also a clown and multifaceted circus artist. Drawing from their background as a dancer, they bring creativity and fluidity to each session, encouraging freedom of movement and self-expression. Their experience as a clown and circus artists allows them to create joyful, imaginative spaces where children feel safe to explore, learn, and grow. Through a blend of yoga, movement, and play, they aim to foster mindfulness, confidence, and a lifelong love of well-being in every child.
David Williams,
Teaching Artist (he/him)
David Williams is a Musician, Producer, DJ, MC and Teaching Artist specializing in wellness and music, with a talent for encouraging active learning through paradigm-shifting Holistic Hip Hop Yoga curricula. David’s interdisciplinary work includes positive lyrics, music, art, wellness support and alternative education that is bringing positive change to the world.
