Meet Our Instructors

I’m a registered dietitian, avid home cook and lover of food! I own my business, The Sprouting Kitchen, where we hold engaging cooking classes outside on local farms and virtually online. I grew up in New Jersey and have lived in Albuquerque for several years. I’ve taught virtual and in-person cooking classes for Presbyterian Community Health since 2019. Our classes focus on teaching participants how to create easy, accessible and delicious meals with lots of fruits and vegetables. Our recipes can fit any food preferences: vegetarian, carnivore, gluten-free, etc., as we always include substitutions. Best of all, we always have fun and include lots of culinary and nutrition tips! I teach the Sprouting Kitchen Virtual Dinner Series and in-person cooking classes on local farms.

I am a Licensed Master’s Social Worker, Wellness and Parenting Coach, and Therapeutic Yoga Instructor. I have been teaching yoga for the Community Health Resource Center since 2019. In addition to providing mental health therapy and wellness coaching, I’m a registered yoga teacher with certifications through Yoga for All, Pain Care Aware, Functional Yoga Therapy, SilverSneakers Flex, LoveYourBrain Yoga (for traumatic brain injury sufferers), MiniYogis, and I’m a Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher. I believe that movement and emotional well-being are crucial parts of any wellness journey I teach Yoga for Back Health, Gentle Flow Yoga for adults and Yoga for Kids and Families.

I have practiced yoga and have been a yoga student since age 15. In 2016, to formalize and deepen my knowledge of this ancient tradition, I obtained my first 200-hour-level Hatha yoga teachers’ certification. I have since logged over 1,000 hours studying and am certified in related fields including Ayurveda, meditation, yin yoga, senior and chair yoga. I’m an upbeat, approachable and positive teacher who believes it is essential to educate my students in body awareness, anatomy and mind-body connection. My goal is to support every person, at any age or stage in life, to become stronger, calmer, and clearer in any and all ways possible. I teach the Gentle Sunday Yoga with Meditation session and modified Chair Yoga classes.

I am a wife and a mother of four. I am also the owner and operator of Empowerment Personal Training in Albuquerque. I am a certified master trainer and weight loss specialist and have worked in the fitness industry for five years. My passion is educating and motivating people to invest in their overall health and wellness. My journey to empowerment began in 2018, when I went on my own journey to lose weight. I changed my eating habits and began working out six days per week. Within that year, I lost 73 pounds. I decided to become a certified personal trainer to help others like myself. In 2020, I was blessed with the opportunity to partner with Presbyterian to create the Warrior series programs. I have had the privilege to help many people improve their health, boost their self-confidence, and create good lifestyle habits for long-term benefits. I love what I do!

I’m a dietitian and I love food. I was born and raised in New Mexico, and I have a passion for teaching people how to live a healthy lifestyle. Join me at either a virtual or a hands-on cooking class to learn healthy new recipes and have fun! I teach Cooking for EveryBODY, Cooking Heart Healthy, Healthy Lifestyle Cooking Class, Virtual Grocery Store Tours, Prenatal Cooking Classes and Diabetes ReCHARGE.

I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who is passionate about teaching nutrition. I love to teach nutrition in my native language, Spanish, with a culturally relevant vocabulary. I believe nutrition knowledge is power, and learning nutrition together is vital to living healthier lives! I teach Ana Cocina con Propósito among other cooking and education classes for the community.

I am a Master Trainer and workshop leader for Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs, teaching in English and Spanish. I coordinate and am a certified trainer for the Community Health Workers and Promotores Certification Training through the New Mexico Department of Health. I’m also a national Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, I live in Rio Rancho, NM and am proud to be an American citizen. I teach Diabetes Self-Management and Manejo Peronsal de la Diabetes, Chronic Pain Self-Management and Programa de Manejo Personal del Dolor Crónico, and Chronic Disease Self-Management and Tomando Control de su Salud.

I am a dietitian and experienced cooking class instructor who emphasizes using food as medicine. There is an art and science to healthy cooking, and I lean toward the creative side of cooking to help build kitchen confidence for all levels and personal health needs. Whether you’re looking to build or refine your healthy cooking skills, join me at class to learn more about eating for enjoyment and nourishment.   I teach Healthy Lifestyle Cooking classes.

Cascade found Yoga in 2006 and it has changed her body, brain and life. She has been teaching since 2012 and completed her 500 hour Advanced Teacher Training with Sattva Yoga, studying with Ali Valdez, Liz Doyle and Andrey Lappa. Cascade teaches Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative and Meditation classes and designs unique sequences to work your body and mind. Cascade relocated to New Mexico in 2019 and has also lived in Spain, Costa Rica, Myanmar and Mexico. She studies and practices Yoga wherever she travels and lives. When she is not on her mat she enjoys obsessing over her tuxedo cat, reading, hiking, cooking vegan food and experiencing live music.

Kian Nydle (they/them) I’m a Midwest-born, New Mexico-raised project coordinator and educator with Community Health. I’m so excited to be using my years of experience as a nutrition educator for elementary students to make kitchen confidence and cooking skills accessible and fun for all ages - like Chef Gusteau, I believe anyone can cook, and it’s never too early (or too late) to start! I teach our Easy Eats online classes for Food Farmacy patients, as well as coordinate the Family Fresh Rx Produce Prescription program and co-facilitate the REACH Active Living Workgroup (among other things!) Outside of work, you can find me at the climbing gym, hiking with my dog, or playing tabletop games.