A Little About Us
Here to Get You Fit - Body, Mind & Spirit
The Zen Den Inc knows what a good workout feels like, and we strive to provide opportunities for great workouts. Our classes and sessions make exercising more enjoyable and effective for each of our clients and guests. Whether you’re looking to take it easy with a few simple stretches, or really want to get your heart pumping, The Zen Den Inc provides a number of different workout programs for you to enjoy mind, body & spirit. Stop by today and see what we have to offer.
Who We Are - Meet the Team
Your Local Mind Body Experts
Kriss Young
Studio Owner & Pilates Instructor, Children's Yoga Instructor, Master Personal Trainer, Nutrition Consultant
Kriss has spent her life being involved with fitness and movement. She grew up dancing and always knew that a "normal" job just wasn't for her.
She completed her Master Personal Trainer & Nutrition Consultant Certifications with National Personal Training Institute in Orlando, FL in 2002, followed by Mat Science I Pilates and then completed Stott Pilates Reformer Certification in Las Vegas, NV in 2004. She has completed numerous continuing education courses including The Les Mills Body Flow, Children's Yoga Teacher Training thru Yogi Beans in NYC, Total Barre, Zen*ga, Halo Trainer and most recently Injured & Special Populations thru Merrithew Health & Fitness.
Kriss is also an Independent Consultant for Arbonne (a health and wellness company) and most importantly is a mother to her amazing daughter (perhaps slightly biased).
She love being able to help people become healthier, happier individuals by transforming their minds and bodies!
Cat Cardelus
Yoga Instructor
Yoga found Cat 20 years ago after an injury that prevented her from tree climbing (she studies the rainforest canopy as well). Yoga not only helped her injury, but also grounded her in her breath. She has taken yoga classes everywhere she goes, which has exposed her to many different teachers, styles, and spaces. She is happiest however, practicing Vinyasa Yoga as taught by her teacher, Steven Hinchliffe from Vinyasa Yoga in Wollongong Australia, who makes Pranayama and joy a part of every class. Deepening her yoga practice has been, and still is, a lovely journey and one that she hopes she can help others with.
Mary Kelly
Yoga Instructor
Mary has been practicing yoga since 2017. It has aided me insurmountably both mentally and physically. I was trained in hatha raja vinyasa yoga with Bamboomoves Yoga in 2020. There she was able to improve her physical practice as well as gain integral insight into yogic philosophy. Mary is currently a neuroscience and art history student at Colgate University; "I hope to share yoga with my community here. It brings me joy to bring movement and breath together for others."
Rose Porta
Yoga Instructor
Rose Porta is a rising sophomore at Smith College and a newly certified 200 hour yoga teacher through Yoga Farm Ithaca. Her primary intention in her yoga offerings is to serve individuals who are experiencing stress and holding tension in their bodies to learn to let go of expectation so that they can feel empowered in their bodies and experience a greater sense of inner peace. She holds the conviction that yoga can be for anyone and everyone and intends to remove as many barriers as possible preventing individuals from having access to this powerful healing practice. She has been practicing yoga at the Zen Den for about 5 years and is honored to be able to give back to the studio and community who has inspired and nurtured her passion for yoga for so many years. She also has a background in a variety of styles of competitive dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics, and she is continuing to pursue dance through college. She intends to major in Statistical and Data Sciences and potentially minor in dance. She also has a passion for involvement in community service and volunteer work.