Ridgely Retreat's Team
Voted Best Yoga Studio From What's Up Magazine
Learn More About Our Team at Ridgely Retreat
Aimee Seal
Aimee Seal, ERYT500 has been teaching breath centered alignment based yoga classes for 16 years. She trained in the Amrit Method of advanced Yoga Nidra and teaches all levels of yoga, from beginner to advanced, from chair and gentle yoga to vinyasa flow. Her passion for yoga has blossomed over the years and she brings warmth, humor and compassion into her practices.
Ally Wiley
Reiki Master/Teacher
E-RYT 200
Reflexology
Sound Healing
Classes are performed at a slower pace, in less intense positions designed to improve body awareness and range of motion. These gentle floor-based sequences, designed for everyone, use bolsters, blankets, and straps which support the practitioner to relax and slow down. Movements are gentle with long holds.
Andrea Lichtenstein
Andrea Lawrance-Lichtenstein, RN, RYT E 500
Creator and Director of Ridgely Retreat
Andie teaches her yoga classes with a focus on alignment, and expanding awareness in her students practices.
She offers private yoga sessions for special populations and also group classes in Aerial yoga and Yoga Therapy on our monthly schedule. The yoga therapy components of her instruction is based on her license as a Rheumatology Nurse, Not derived from her status as an RYT with Yoga Alliance Registry.
" Whatever you do, however hard the challenge, always look for the light. Use all your strengths. Draw on your reserves. Never concede. Have a go."
- Gandhi
Billy Greer
Within a few minutes of speaking with Shifu Billy, it becomes clear that he is passionate about what he does and determined to help others succeed. His background as a scientist, his studies in biology, his experience teaching and his pursuit of studying martial arts provide him with unique skills as an instructor. Not only can he demonstrate a movement and explain its purpose, he can analyze it and break it down to a step-by-step process that makes it easier for others to learn. His holistic approach to instruction helps ensure students understand movements combining mind, body and spirit.
He has given presentations for hospitals, schools, colleges, government agencies, churches, business groups, scouts and more. He has appeared on the Diane Rehm Show, the Marc Steiner Show, the DC Cupcakes episode "So You Think You Can Lion Dance", and has been featured in the New York Times, Baltimore Sun, and Washington Post as well as local papers such as the Capital, and Severna Park Voice. Shifu Billy has had a long career of competing and teaching. Here are some dates for the start of his training, competing, and teaching:
1973 - began training and competing in the martial sport of folkstyle wrestling (to 1981 when he finished college)
1976 - began first teaching job - teaching gymnastics to children 5 to 16 for the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation
1987 - began studying Traditional Chinese Martial Arts (Tai Chi and Tian Shan Pai Kung Fu)
Shifu Billy also gained valuable coaching experience as the team captain of his high school Cross Country, Wrestling and Gymnastic teams as well as his college Cross Country and Wrestling teams. During his laboratory career, he trained new employees locally, and also provided training for other locations nationally and internationally. In addition, he has taught credit and non-credit courses for Anne Arundel Community College including martial arts and tai chi. He also has over 15 years’ experience working with the developmentally disabled for Bello Machre and the ARC of the Chesapeake. He was also officially recognized with a citation for heroism by the Maryland State General Assembly for going into a pond to rescue an accident victim whose vehicle was sinking.
Shifu Billy is also fortunate to study Tai Chi directly under Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei in the US and in China. Grandmaster Chen, who has officially been recognized as one of the top 10 living martial artists of China and is a descendent of the person who originally created tai chi, invited Shifu Billy to become his indoor student and he underwent a traditional BaiShi ceremony to become an Indoor Disciple and a 12th generation inheritor of Chen Family TaiJiQuan. Shifu Billy has visited the birthplace of TaiJi in Chen Village and studied at the Chen Village training Center. He has also participated in many intensive training camps that Grandmaster Chen holds specifically for his disciples. In 2018, GM Chen celebrated his 70th birthday, the 40th anniversary of his Chen ZhengLei TaiJi Association, and the opening of his new training and exhibition center. During the celebration, Shifu Billy was recognized with an award as an Outstanding International Teacher for his work in helping to share Chen Tai Chi. In a special disciple pledging ceremony, GM Chen accepted his first ever In-Chamber Disciples (his highest level) from the USA. Shifu Billy joined YiJiao Hong of Seattle, Washington and Jimmy Dong of Greenville, South Carolina for this special honor and was the only one not born in China and the first foreigner to undergo the In-Chamber BaiShi ceremony in China! He is currently the director of the East USA Division of the Chen ZhengLei Federation, and a certified International Instructor Examiner.
Shifu Billy has won numerous gold medals in forms, weapons, sparring, tai chi and push hands at local, regional, national and international competitions. He is one of those rare competitors who can win gold with a soft tai chi form, or a dynamic kung fu form, and then apply the principles against another person to win push hands and free sparring - all in the same tournament. He has also been on the other side of the competition ring serving as a judge. A few highlights include:
2005 Grand Champion of the USA National Open Martial Arts Tournament winning gold in sparring, tai chi, and forms
2009 USA WKF National Champion in advanced sparring and advanced Chen Style Tai Chi
30th Anniversary Capitol Classics China Open - Head Judge, Internal Division
2014 USAWKF Traditional Team Trial - Head Judge, selecting US representatives for the 6th World Traditional Championship in China.
2017 International Wushu Elite Competition winning gold for tai chi form and tai chi sword.
Shifu Billy and his wife were married in 1982 and are the owners of the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi which opened in 2000. He and Nancy have worked hard to be active in the local community. Through the Jing Ying Institute, they have raised over $80,000 for local charity, donated thousands of pounds of food, and received numerous awards for having the best martial arts program.
Chris Rodano
Chris began his yoga journey here at Ridgely Retreat about a decade ago. His passion for yoga has only grown since then, pursuing several different practices over the years in conjunction with mindfulness, meditation, and sound healing. In 2019, he took his 200-hour YTT with Ridgely Retreat. Combining this yoga training and his love for aerial yoga, Chris is now one of our instructors.
Chris has become an advocate for 'healing with movement' alongside his interests in yoga, the outdoors, hiking, and rock climbing. Aligned with building inner awareness, he creates a fun environment for healing, growth, and expansion for individuals of all levels.
Ellen Quinn
Ellen Quinn- RYT-500/E-RYT200
Ellen began practicing yoga over 25 years ago for help with a medical issue, but soon recognized that healing can happen on many different levels. When Ellen realized she didn’t want to “do” yoga, but to “be” yoga, she found diverse teachers and further trainings to both deepen her own practice and be able to share the healing, peace, energy movement, flexibility, and joy of yoga and meditation with others as an instructor. Ellen enjoys continuing to learn about the many facets of yoga philosophy and practice whenever possible.
Ellen is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an RYT 500, is certified by the Himalayan Institute as an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist, and certified by the Amrit Yoga Institute as an Advanced Facilitator for the Amrit method of Yoga Nidra. When appropriate, she incorporates into her yoga classes her skills and training as a therapeutic riding instructor, and especially loves teaching yoga to equestrians in order to enhance/improve the students’ alignment and balance, and improve their communication with their horses. She is also grateful to be able to share healing in others as a Reiki Master.
Ellen is honored and excited to join the staff of Ridgely Retreat and share her practice.

Helen Leonard
With degrees in computer science and health sciences, focusing in exercise, nutrition and fitness, Helen applies cutting-edge methods to maximize client health. Helen specializes in functional fitness, muscle release techniques, and stability training to assist with pain management, injury recovery and preventative care. Mrs. Leonard worked closely with a chiropractic and pain management clinic bringing an innovative and effective approach resulting in profound long-term improvement. Helen brings a wealth of experience and broad understanding of how to regain and improve health. She has worked as a licensed massage therapist, certified personal trainer, and functional fitness and pain management specialist, implementing customized recovery, nutritional consulting, balancing, and strengthening programs for each client. She provides muscle release training, health and wellness consulting, nutrition consulting, and functions as an Associate Instructor for the American Bowen Academy.

Jenny Otto
Jenny Otto, founder of Body Balance Yoga, is nationally known for her in-depth understanding of anatomy and therapeutics investigating the domains of functional rehabilitation, biomechanics and the nervous system. As an innovative and dedicated Yoga Teacher/Teacher Trainer she has been teaching wellness/exercise programs nationally since 1980.
Also a Structural Integration Practitioner, in 2007, Jenny began studying with Thomas Myers of Anatomy Trains and has participated in dissections of human cadavers with Myers to further her understanding of the body.
Jenny Otto, E-RYT500, C-IAYT
www.bodybalanceyoga.com
Certified Yoga Teacher
KMI Certified Structural Integrator
"Changing your life one pose at a time"

Jill Penaloza
Jill Penaloza, LCPAT, CGP, is an art psychotherapist in Annapolis, MD, with over 30 years of experience as an individual and group therapist. She is also a co-founder of 2XL Concepts, an advisory firm that trains CEOs and their teams in the art of heart-based leadership, aiming to create healthier, happier, and more sustainable work environments. Additionally, Jill is a certified Sheng Zhen Meditation teacher and serves as a faculty member at The Ferentz Institute in Baltimore, MD, where she trains mental health professionals in the use of trauma-sensitive embodiment practices.

Joan Livingston
Joan Livingston, E-RYT 200, RYT 500
Joan began studying yoga in 1999, and she fell in love with the physical and mental benefits it brought to her life. After practicing Kung Fu for many years, she found yoga to be a natural evolution from martial arts for her mind, body and spirit. Joan is nationally accredited at the E-RYT200 and RYT500 levels, has over 1,800 teaching hours and is certified in The Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra She brings humor and a lighthearted attitude to her classes and supports her students through hands-on assistance, with awareness and attentiveness to each student’s individual needs. She sees yoga as a sanctuary from the busy rhythms of life and hopes to share this gift with her students.

Linda Worcester
Valerie Barry
Valerie began practicing yoga more than 30 years ago and quickly found it essential to balancing her career, family, and personal wellness. As an empty nester, her passion for yoga grew, and she completed a 200-hour Yoga certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in 2018. She completed 40 hours of trauma-sensitive training with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment in 2022, and a 300-hour certification from the Heartwood Yoga Institute in 2023. She has a 500-hour certification registered with Yoga Alliance and certifications in Aerial Yoga and Restorative Yoga.
Since 2018, Valerie has taught a variety of yoga classes including aerial, gentle, vinyasa flow, restorative, and trauma-sensitive yoga, for beginners through intermediate levels. She led a weekend women’s yoga retreat in 2023 and developed a Gentle Core Strength and Balance class combining elements of yoga, barre, and Pilates. She is available for private yoga sessions.
Valerie is a retired government executive, has a BA in psychology, and lives in Annapolis with her husband, Kevin, and dog, Gracie. She has two grown children, Ashley and Andrew.

Guest Teacher
Our guest teachers offer workshops and classes that specialize in their area of expertise.

Share On: