Meet our team of Yoga Instructors

Amy "Dechen" Zezulka
Senior Teacher, Studio Owner/Founder

Dechen is the founder and owner of the Mystic Yoga Shala and currently a grateful Baptiste Yoga Teacher and a Heartfulness Meditation Instructor who has been training and practicing since 1992 and teaching for over 22 years.  She got into yoga for anger management after taking on the job harassment literally into her own hands by slugging a co-worker in the jaw getting her immediately fired. She is a student first and continues her studies with the Baptiste Institute and practices meditation under the guidance of Kamlesh D. Patel, affectionately known as "Daaji," the president of the Heartfulness Organization. Her first teacher training was completed in 1996 at a Sivananda Ashram after studying yoga previously for four years at Jivamukti Yoga under the guidance of  Sharon Gannon and David Life in Manhattan. She started teaching in 1996 on the east end of Long Island while working on an organic farm. Soon after she opened up "The Studio" for the Arts and Education in Greenport, NY while also working for The Association for Resource Conservation-encouraging vineyards and farms to use organic methods of farming through on site composting. In 1997 she completed her first ten day silent Vipassana Meditation Retreat and in 1999 she lived, worked and studied at Pema Osel Ling in California, home of the Vajrayana Foundation and the late great Tibetan Rinpoche Lama Tharchin who gave her the name Dechen. She credits the success of her school to the support of her family, her teachers, the Baptiste Methodology and Institute,  and all of the dedicated people who work at the shala. Dechen was also the official yoga teacher for the WNBA Connecticut Sun Womens Basketball Team from 2009-2011. Her current favorite quotes are "Freedom comes from discipline”, and "Love grows through service", by her late teacher Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari.

Emma Sutphen
Teacher

Emma took her first Baptiste Yoga class in 2010 at the Mystic Yoga Shala while she was in high school and got hooked on the practice in college. Since then, she has become a 200-hour RYT and taken Baptiste Level One and Two, as well as the Baptiste Art of Assisting and Instructor courses, to become a certified Baptiste Yoga Teacher. Emma believes “your life is your message,” and lives her yoga daily by fostering connections between humans and nature as a farmer, beekeeper, and outdoor educator. She has experienced the ability of yoga to calm the central nervous system and remedy anxiety and depression first hand, and seeks to share the healing qualities of yoga with her students and others. When she isn’t on her mat, she is outside building community in the Mystic area, where she has lived since she was born.

Katie Smith
Teacher

Katie is a therapeutic massage and reflexology therapist in the Mystic/Stonington area. A student of yoga for 5 years, she discovered the Baptiste Yoga Community at the Mystic Yoga Shala 3 summers ago and immediately fell in love with the philosophy and science of the practice. A practice she believes got her in touch with her own personal strength, while maintaining focus and presence. A skill much appreciated in her career and personal life. Katie is a recent graduate of Recovery Yoga where she received her 200 RYT, a student of Baptiste Institute programs and is mentored by Dechen of the Shala. Katie is grateful to be able to share the many benefits of yoga with others.

Sue MacClain
Teacher

Sue believes that  a good day is any day she gets to step onto her mat. In describing her connection to yoga, she says, “Yoga is my peace, my inspiration, and my refuge. It has become part of who I am. It is my connection to earth and my space to be. It is infinitely patient, elegantly simple, and immeasurably expansive. My relationship with it is much like any other. It has seen highs and lows, has taught me patience and compassion, and continues to evolve, showing me that the more I give, the more I receive.” In 2010, Sue received her 200-hour certification through the Mystic Yoga Shala & Lifeline Power Yoga, and is now a certified Baptiste Teacher. “I teach because it shows me who I really am. Much of what I am learning about myself and how I move through life, I am learning on my yoga mat. Teaching, learning, and conveying the experiences of my own living yoga practice inspires me to inspire others.” Sue’s teaching style follows the principles of Baptiste yoga, incorporating alignment, mindfulness, flow and breath. 

Annie Chapman
Teacher

Annie is a Baptiste Educator and co-facilitator of Mystic Yoga Shala’s Yoga Teacher Trainings. Along with teaching, holding workshops, and practicing at the Shala, Annie manages the behind the scenes administration as Dechen’s “work wife.” Annie has 4 remarkable kids, 3 rescue dogs, and two cats residing in Mystic, CT.

Annie loves the Baptiste Methodology so much that she has participated in the 40 Days To Personal Revolution at the Mystic Yoga Shala over 10 times! In addition to her Baptiste training, Annie trained with Bo Forbes, Yoga for Emotional Balance at Kripalu and completed 300 hours in Recovery Yoga led by Elizabeth Johnstone. Annie practices Heartfulness Meditation.

Annie believes in an organic and vegan lifestyle for her and her family, she supports local farmers and producers of everyday goods. Annie is co-founder and incorporator of Fiddleheads Food Co-op in New London. Annie also loves to share the healing powers of Essential Oils as a distributor of Young Living Oils.

"When you walk into the Yoga Shala, it’s like coming home. Everyone is glad to see you. As soon as you walk through the door, the smiles and the warmth greet you in this safe and welcoming place. Come to Class!"

“Yoga is the Journey of the Self, through the self, to the Self.” Bhagavad Gita

Maggie J. Skinner
Teacher

Maggie started coming to class at the Mystic Yoga Shala when she was only 14 years old and became part of the Seva(work/study) team while still in high school. She moved to Manhattan when she was 17 to pursue a modeling career. Maggie is currently a professional model in NY and was most recently seen on "Project Runway" and walking the runway in multiple shows for NY Fashion Week.

While living in NY, Maggie worked at and was on the Assisting Team at Baptiste Affiliate, Lyons Den Power Yoga in Chelsea and Tribeca, NYC.

Maggie traveled to Kenya when she was 18 to be of service with Africa Yoga Project and received her 200HR YTT “Expand your Power” under Paige Elensen. Maggie an Ambassador for Africa Yoga Project and is currently raising $10,000 for this remarkable non-profit. In 2021, Maggie trained with Baron Baptiste and is a Level 1 Baptiste Certified Instructor.

Maggie is currently residing in Mystic, CT with her beloved dog, Mala & thrilled to be teaching and practicing yoga at the Mystic Yoga Shala.

Maggie also practices Heartfulness meditation, is a creative Vegan Chef, big sister, carpenter, organizer, interior designer, gardener, and loves to spend time on the water.

Dylan Gardner
Teacher

Dylan first discovered Yoga as a winter cross training activity when it was too snowy to ride his bicycle. He quickly discovered that there was much more to Yoga than just the physical aspect. The mindful, “meditation in motion” that Yoga provided was enough to hook him. He has been practicing regularly since 2006. Dylan received his 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification from Mystic Yoga Shala in May 2017. Dylan also holds a 2nd degree black belt in Renshinkai Aikido that he received while living in Tokyo, Japan.

Dylan’s classes will challenge you to do your best. You will find the space where you think your limits exist and push beyond them in a safe environment.

When I let go of who I am,
I become what I might be.
-Lao Tzu