Meet Our Team

OWNER

Stephanie Paolini is an E-RYT 200, Reiki 1 and Trauma-informed teaching certified and the owner of 3 Bridges Yoga serving the Seacoast communities.  She took her first yoga class in 2005 and knew it would be a practice she would have with her for the rest of her life.  Stephanie trained at the renowned Yoga Tree studio in San Francisco with the intent purely to learn more about the practice of yoga.  Upon completion of training, she felt called to share the practices, the light and the lineage with others.  She teaches a heart-based practice and truly believes that every single person can be a conduit for positive change when we move from a place of love and compassion.

STUDIO MANAGER & TEACHER

Caroline has been part of the Seacoast yoga community first as a student, and then as a yoga teacher for the last several years.  Caroline first discovered yoga in her early twenties when she was recovering from a back injury while competitive dancing. She instantly felt the connection of how yoga provided not only a safe way for her body to move, but for her mind to find an inner sense of peace. Caroline is passionate about the mind, body and spirit connection. She has her Master’s degree in Counseling, and has been working in the mental health field for the last eight years as a high school counselor and private coach. Caroline is a 200HR certified yoga teacher, mindfulness instructor and reiki level 1 certified. When she isn’t on the mat, Caroline can be found at the beach most likely with a new book in her hands, or spending time with loved ones.

TEACHER

Sara has been a devoted student of yoga since 2012 and a teacher since 2016. She’s completed two 200-hour yoga teacher trainings, multiple prenatal teacher trainings and has workshopped and practiced with various teachers, perspectives and styles across the country. Sara is committed to life and living through the lenses of yoga, wellness, mindfulness and nature. Her classes combine her varied experience and personal perspective into a breath-centered, alignment-based, mindful and potent practice to support wellness on all levels - mind, body and spirit. When not teaching or practicing, you’ll find her farming, hiking, or by the ocean! She looks forward to meeting you soon on your mat.

TEACHER

Katie has been a part of the Seacoast fitness and yoga community since 2000. After being brought to a yoga class by her friend, Katie knew she’d found a great way to strengthen her body, stay injury-free and find balance in her busy life. Katie is an avid runner and swimmer and a licensed massage therapist. Trained by Mimi Loureiro of O2 Yoga, her favorite part of teaching is seeing students progress in their own practices. Katie lives in New Hampshire with her husband, John and their daughter, Scarlett.

TEACHER

Jill discovered yoga in 2002.  A family nurse practitioner at the time, she fell in love with how yoga benefits the mind and body.  She had always been interested in the mind-body connection; she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology before attending graduate school for nursing.  In 2010, she completed the MBSR Teacher Practicum at the UMass Center for Mindfulness. She has taught stress reduction courses at homeless shelters, schools, community health centers, corporations and more.  Jill completed her RYT 200 in the Spring of 2018 through the Illumina program at 3 Bridges Yoga. She is thrilled to join this amazing community.

Jill leads challenging, safe classes in a positive environment that allows for full expression of one’s potential.  Her goal is to make yoga accessible to all, regardless of perceived obstacles to practicing.

In addition to yoga, Jill enjoys gardening, skiing, hiking and spending time with her family and dog, Coco.  She is a level II Reiki practitioner and is proud to serve on the board of SATYA (Seacoast Area Teachers of Yoga in Action)

TEACHER

Dan was first introduced to yoga through the music he found during his formative years and fortunately is still in love with today.  Bands such as the Bad Brains and the Cro-Mags established the idea that energy, mindfulness and yoga could improve emotional and physical well-being.  Although he found his practice throughout the seacoast area, it was the 3 Bridges community that solidified his path and interest in teaching yoga to the people that surround him.  Dan was an English major at the University of New Hampshire and also has continued education in wine with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.  Through his yoga practice, Dan has found a balance of physicality and mental well-being and is interested in sharing the practice through a simple view point and with plenty of good music.  Dan completed his RYT 200 with 3 Bridges Yoga in the spring of 2017.

TEACHER

Ankati has been practicing yoga since she was 19, and has been teaching since that fated day in 2012 when she hopped a plane to a training in Costa Rica and her entire “life plan” shifted dramatically. She is an eternal student of movement, music, poetry, Shamanism, and her insatiable curiosity. She believes that we are here on Earth to awaken our innate joy through play and exploration, so her classes are infused with exploration and a steady, strong flow.

SUBSITUTE TEACHER

At 15 years old, Troy took his first yoga class to impress his varsity basketball coach. For the next 10+ years, he maintained a regular practice, but strictly for exercise purposes. Then, when he moved to the Seacoast in 2023, he found a studio (ahem, 3BY) that not only made him feel at home in Portsmouth, but that opened his eyes to the magic of yoga beyond the asana.

His teaching style embraces the extraordinary capabilities of our bodies, but stops at pushing past the body's limits. As a new Type 1 diabetic, he believes in listening to the body and respecting its wishes.

TEACHER

Whitney started her yoga journey in 2009 at the University of Maine where she was studying to be part mermaid with a Bachelors in Marine Biology. Her junior year she signed up for Yoga 101 – what started out as a “sure A” elective immediately transformed into the foundation of a deep connection between mind and body. It was love at first savasana.

Cut to nine years later, after many studios and classes throughout America, Whitney was persuaded by her sister and tagged along to complete a 200hr teacher training immersion in Costa Rica through Gyspea Yoga School. And yet again – what started as only an extension to her practice resulted in a passion for teaching and sharing with the yoga community. Later that year she also received her 50hr Yin yoga certificate though Summers School of Yin. 

Inspired by the natural world, Whitney is an avid gardener and house plant enthusiast. She loves creating whether it’s painting, jewelry making, cooking, the list of hobbies are endless.

TEACHER

Sheila is deeply committed to cultivating community through mind-body-soul connection. She invites her students to step onto their mats to explore not only shapes & poses, but also their innate creativity and strength. You can expect to leave class feeling uplifted, proud, and curious. Whether you are coming to class to support other athletic pursuits, deepen your yoga practice, or build self confidence, you are welcome here. Sheila is a 200hr yoga instructor, Professional Certified Coach, Trauma-Informed Certified Coach, and Reiki practitioner.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

Sarah was introduced to yoga at a young age when her mother brought her along to yoga and meditation classes in their hometown studio in Newburyport, MA. 

An active runner and athlete, she has kept a daily practice for over the years, diving into many different types of yoga. Sarah completed her 200 hour Vinyasa Flow Teacher certification with Frog Lotus Yoga International in Bali, Indonesia in 2015, training and teaching alongside some of the best instructors in the world. She also completed her Childlight teacher training, and is certified to teach ages 2-18. Sarah is also OM births certified to teach expecting mothers. In 2017, Sarah ventured to Bali again to complete her 300 hour YTT with Zuna Yoga, to further advance her skills and knowledge. 

Traveling and teaching all over the world has  allowed Sarah to be constantly inspired by nature, spirituality, and the elements, linking movement, breath and life through the graceful practice. Classes combine kirtan, mantras, mudras, pranyama, and asana… deepening the full yoga experience.

TEACHER

Holly’s focus is bringing attention to the miraculous within the mundane. In her classes, you will have the opportunity to fully embody this life in the here and now because that is a sacred opportunity that she believes is best approached through weaving mind, body, and soul together consciously, and compassionately. She holds Yoga close to her heart as a map with the potential to guide anyone to a space of safety and peace within themselves.

She offers a grounded, earthly spirituality and a diverse history of knowledge and experiences to her classes. She is a 200HR RYT, an herbalist, surfer, dancer, singer, philosopher, and devotee to the divine. Holly has a B.S. in Psychology and passion for integrative holistic health. Her offerings are intuitively led and influenced by several styles of yoga.

TEACHER

Erin has a background in Education, Non-Profit Work, and Social Work. Her passion for helping others and her experiences in these prior fields led her to explore the benefits of yoga and energy healing. Erin is 200Hr Illumina Vinyasa Yoga certified and Reiki Level 1 & 2 certified. She’s a lover of the outdoors, health & wellness, animals, spirituality, adventures, live music, and delicious food. Erin can’t wait to see you on the mat!

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

Sheila’s yoga journey began in 1999 with a prenatal class in Seattle while she was

pregnant with her first daughter. Though she practiced for over a decade, her move to

India in 2012, where she lived and immersed herself in yoga, transformed it into a way

of life. In India, she shed her Western perspective and deepened her understanding of

the practice, experiencing yoga as both a physical and spiritual journey.

Back in the U.S., Sheila completed her 200-hour RYT at 3 Bridges Yoga in Portsmouth,

NH, in 2019 and has been teaching ever since. Seeking deeper training connected to

the subtle body, she returned to India in 2024 to study Embodied Movement with

Praveen Nair, completing her 300-hour RYT in Rishikesh.

Sheila approaches yoga with humility and reverence, honoring each student's journey

and healing through movement. She is passionate about expressing her true self

through yoga, teaching from her heart, and sharing the embodied movement she

studied in India. She offers hands-on assists that support and guide students back

home to their hearts. And always, laughter. Her infectious warmth and creative spirit

shine through in all she does.

Originally from Massachusetts, Sheila has lived in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and

now resides in Kittery, Maine, with her family. She has spent her professional career

working for nonprofit organizations and in schools dedicated to positive social impact in

the arts, education, health, and community wellness. She earned her BFA from the

University of Denver and her master’s in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University.

With too many hobbies to count, she feels most alive traveling, working with clay,

playing pickleball, and taking care of her family.