Copy of Our Story and Team - 11-8-23
Our Story
Llamaste was founded in 2014 in Brooklyn, New York by owner and founder, Bill Ades. Inspired by an afternoon with his children sketching out cartoons and fun characters, he came up with Llamaste. The brand was originally designed from a youthful perspective and to this day incorporates that same theme by creating classes and apparel for all ages. Our family yoga center is located centrally in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn on Court Street directly across from Carroll Park. Here we strive to generate an atmosphere of fun, while creating an awareness for health and well-being. Llamaste's goal is to bring families together, spread conscious lifestyles, and create community!Our Products
Our apparel and yoga gear are created from the very foundation of our brand-for family! We aim to provide safe, efficient, fun, and inclusive products for all ages. Almost all of our products are locally sourced from our home, right here in New York City! Our vision is to provide families with a brand that connects them straight to their practice and lifestyle. Our collections feature designs and gear for ages 2 - 100! Yoga is for everyone and Llamaste is here to make your practice as accessible and fun as possible!
Our Team
Leadership Team
Bill Ades, CEO, Teacher (E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500, RCYT®, YACEP®, CIHC (Certified International Health Coach))
Bill Ades, the founder of Llamaste, is a 500 Hour RYT, having received his teacher’s certification through The Kaivalya Yoga Method Teachers Training Program and the American Yoga Academy.
After opening up his studio, as both a father and an integrative health coach, Bill saw there was a need to bring yoga into the lives of adults, but children as well. In 2019, he received his 30 hour certification in kid's yoga from Karma Kids Yoga located in New York City, and in 2022 completed his 90 hours of training through Kidding Around Yoga, followed by his RCYT certification.
Bill teaches yoga to adults and children of all ages and in addition to that is an accomplished artist who has exhibited his work throughout New York City with a degree from New York University as well as a certified international health coach (CIHC) through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where he uses his innovative skills and creative approach to help people through all walks of life discover their callings and realize their goals.
As a dedicated entrepreneur, he realized there was a need for other yoga teachers and enthusiasts to be able to transport their mats and other gear with comfort and so, he created a product line designed for specifically for that purpose along with the mission to donate portion of his company's proceeds to charities that benefit children and their well-being.
He currently lives in Brooklyn and offers yoga sessions out of Llamaste Family Yoga Center, in which he gears his focus toward families and children alike!
"Bill helped me overcome smoking and live a happier lifestyle, showing me that the key was inside me all along."
-Thumbtack, Jack M. of Brooklyn
Take a FREE online class with Bill HERE on our Youtube Channel.
Anna Lee, Studio Director, Teacher (E-RYT® 200, RPYT®, YACEP®)
Anna is our studio director and teaches a wide array of classes, which offer creative and comfortable movements, a way to embrace yourself and facilitate learning the unity of mind and body. Her approaches enable to live peaceful and balanced lives.
Anna's yoga practice focuses on women’s health and brain longevity. She received her certification from Yogi Hari’s Ashram-Sampoorna Yoga in Florida, Prenatal Yoga certification at Arhanta Yoga Ashrams, and studied Brain Longevity at Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation (ARPF).
Prior to becoming a yoga teacher, she worked in marketing and public relations with multinational companies throughout Asia, America and Europe. She has also worked at tech startup companies in Silicon Valley.Outside of the studio, she works as a professional interpreter (Korean/English) in healthcare, education and advertising.
Topaz Aleah Davis, Creative Director (E-RYT® 200, YACEP®, 28hr Children's & Family Yoga, 25hr SUP Yoga, 14hr Meditation Guide)
Topaz is a former Llamaste studio manager and teacher, currently working remote as our Creative Director. She manages our social media, online yoga classes, and product development. As a former manager for Llamaste, her experience ranged from managing all aspects of the studio and brand, while also teaching and planning creative events and collaborations to help Llamaste grow in the local community.
Currently, she resides on Oahu in Hawaii where she runs Island Paddle Bliss, which is her own 'floating yoga studio' offering SUP Yoga classes for both kids and adults while helping us grow our presence and brand online. Her role here at Llamaste is to see the brand flourish in all aspects from studio to apparel worldwide.
Tashya Knight, Wellness Director, Teacher (CYT 200, Children's and Family Yoga, CHES, Certified Holistic Health Coach)
Tashya is a former educator with a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in Health Promotion. After finishing her degree, she became a certified health education specialist (CHES). Combining this with her health coaching certification she has created programs, curriculums, lessons, and experiences on the subject matters of mindfulness, yoga, wellness, SEL, self-care, and empowerment.
Enrolling in a yoga teacher training allowed Tashya to do the hard work of healing herself by applying yoga philosophy, meditation, and aspects of her wellness coaching. She removed herself from toxic behaviors and relationships. Using her own experiences, she has been able to create programs that empower women to thrive as their best selves.
After leaving the classroom, Tashya worked for several different non-profit organizations teaching kids cooking classes, nutrition education, social emotional learning skills, girl’s empowerment, yoga, mindfulness, and self-care practices. She is a professionally trained and certified health coach and yoga instructor.
Tashya is a passionate advocate for promoting wellness and empowering young people and adults to know their worth and practice self-care on a daily basis. She currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where she continues to teach yoga, coach clients, and write about various wellness topics.
Our Teaching Staff
Jennifer Roberts, Teacher (RYT® 200, Children's and Family Yoga)
Jennifer is a Harlem based yoga instructor, actor and educator. Since moving to the city in 2019, she’s had the opportunity to teach students of all different ages and experience levels. She earned her 200 hr teacher training through Uplifted Yoga in 2020. In 2021, she graduated from The New School with her BA in theater and dance.
As an instructor, she aims to cultivate a sense of shared belonging amongst her students. She wants her students to feel at home in both their body and mind. She focuses on building connection and community in each and every class. Jennifer is excited to join the Llamaste team!
Emma Schechter, Teacher (RYT® 200),
Taylre Duarte, Teacher (RYT® 200),
Netty Davit'ashvili, Teacher (RYT® 200),
“Yoga begins with listening. When we listen, we are giving space to what is.”
Halley Gerstel, Teacher (RYT® 200, Children's and Family Yoga)
Our Video Library
In addition to providing in person classes of all levels, Llamaste features an extensive video library which includes various styles of yoga, meditation and exciting yoga tips. Visit our channel and practice along with your favorite teachers both from our studio and abroad. Practice with us online HERE.
Opal Rose, Teacher (RYT® 200, Children's and Family Yoga)
She believes in the connection between the flow of music and yoga movement, which heavily influences her personal and teaching practice. She can’t wait to explore yoga movement with Llamaste yogis!
Her intention is to you guide you by honoring your body's boundaries, navigating your emotions through deep breathing, & showing up as the best version of yourself no matter what level practitioner you are.
Jenna Roth, Teacher (RYT® 200)
Jenna is a 200 Hour RYT. She recently spent two months in Bali to advance her yoga practice and teaching method, diving deep within in order to provide the best for her students. Jenna's mission as a teacher is to serve as a guide, inspiration, and resource. She motivate students to discover their full potentials by encouraging exploration of their personal journeys throughout communal or individual practice. She aims to create a safe environment which fosters students to find freedom, opportunity, choice, connection, and balance in each suggested movement. Jenna is dedicated to delivering well-planned, creative, and challenging, yet nurturing, sequences. She lives and teaches yoga as a life path and holistic journey; one which guides students to live a peaceful, happy, and fulfilled life. Jenna aspires to help her students evolve and grow on and off the mat by providing meditation for the mind, movement for the body, and love for the heart.