André is an E-RYT 200 certified yoga instructor and STOTT Pilates apprentice based in Richmond, Virginia. Since 2018, André has taught over 3,000 hours of group & private classes, hosted workshops, and led teacher trainings modules throughout the greater Richmond area. He teaches a wide range of movement styles for all age and ability levels including Vinyasa, Power, Hatha, Yin, Meditation, STOTT Mat Pilates, Myo-fascial release & more.

Andre’s multidisciplinary movement background and education in physics & engineering lend him a unique perspective for approaching and guiding a sustainable movement practice. Layering different—and sometimes opposing—movement and mindfulness practices lies at the heart of his teaching, which aims to create balance in the body.

Yoga became a focal point for André in 2017 when he started working at an RVA based yoga studio as studio support staff. A hobby quickly transformed into a daily practice; within a year, he was teaching on a regular basis. Since earning his 200hr certification in 2018, André has taught at several studios in the greater Richmond area. Vinyasa, Hatha, and Power styles make up his favorite way to practice. André continued his movement education with a Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra trainings in 2019. Through Yin, connective tissue release and care was added to his toolbox.

Andre’s love for Pilates was born out of necessity. Competitive swimming is notoriously rough on the body, and —while fantastic— yoga can oftentimes exacerbate injuries by reinforcing existing muscular imbalances. Pilates principles of control, integration, and aligned initiation have been a game changer for Andre’s movement practice and pain management.

Intentional engagement of stabilizing muscles helps target the root cause of a lot of pain & tension in the body.

Andre’s movement and instruction journey began as a year-round competitive swimmer with SwimQuest in Midlothian, VA. After four years of swimming, he began sharing his learnings with younger swimmers through private lessons. As a high school sophomore, Andre went on to become the youngest assistant coach in the Chesterfield Aquatic League.

While studying physics at Morehouse, Andre served as a founding member, Coach, and Vice President for the AUC TigerSharks — a student-led swim club resurrecting the historic Morehouse College Swim Team that disbanded in 1975. Upon graduating, Andre went on the work with SwimRVA in Richmond as a group & private swim instructor, programming coordinator, meet engineer, and swim coach for the Rapids and Hammerheads.