Our Teachers

Yoga teacher. Yoga Therapist. Ayurvedic Health Counselor. Breath guide. Nature lover. Wellness advocate. Space Holder. Loving force. As Founder of Pawling Yoga & Wellness, Gabrielle is committed to sharing the wisdom of the healing sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda. Her primary intention in her work  is to connect with each individual, to hold the space for healing, and offer guidance that honors and embraces where one is on his/her own path. The innate healing wisdom of the elements resides within; Gabrielle’s gift is offering means to access this wisdom.   

A graduate of Rutgers University with a BS in Exercise Physiology, Gabrielle moved on to yoga to broaden her understanding of movement and the body-mind complex. Her training began with Amy Pearce-Hayden for 200-Hour Teacher Training certification at The RajaHatha School of Yoga in 2006, and four years later traveled the path of the 500-Hour Teacher Training with certification in 2011. 

Inspired by her students, and with a commitment to learning and devotion to service, Gabrielle continues to dive deeper in search of a broader understanding of the healing process. She has studied the therapeutic aspects of breath practices with Leslie Kaminoff at The Breathing Project in New York City, and  currently has the privilege of studying Ayurvedic Medicine with Dr. Somesh Kaushik at his Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Clinic in Cross River, NY.

Terry Ariano has had an involvement with yoga since discovering it during her high school years. In 1998, she started practicing regularly, and in 2005 met teacher Amy Pearce Hayden in Holmes, NY. Terry immediately felt a shift in her approach to yoga, attempting to go further with her physical practice than she had ever thought possible for her body. Physical obstacles began to release, and she felt an expansive growth in her physical abilities, an increased stamina and pleasure in doing a more strenuous practice.

Following an illness, she enrolled in teacher training with Pearce Hayden, when “the spiritual aspects of yoga became relevant in my life. Yoga is really responsible for keeping me sane throughout the whole ordeal. Once I came through it and felt my energy level returning, I decided to continue that spiritual exploration by enrolling in teacher training, as a sort of immersion recovery vehicle.” She received her 200 hour certification in 2006. She has taught since then at many yoga studios and locations throughout the Hudson Valley.

”Yoga as a physical and spiritual practice has enriched and grounded my life. I have come to recognize the interconnectedness of all Beings. I can recognize yoga as present in every aspect of daily life, and am a continual student in learning to integrate yoga philosophy on and off the mat. Yoga has allowed me to improve my attitude and outlook in life, and filled me with a purposeful goal to accept the unchangeable in my life, and to work at expanding my level of consciousness.

In my classes, I strive to impart a sense of possibility to those who come to practice, to allow people to develop in their individual ways, and provide positive feedback while students find what works for them. I enjoy working with people who would not normally choose yoga as a physical practice, and help them understand how it can help them deal with aging and physical infirmity. As spirit and nature are very important in my life, I try to integrate these elements into classes, and encourage students to draw inspiration from the beauty and magic in the world around them.

A Midwest native, Robert's exploration of yoga began during his college years in Indianapolis, where an unlikely blend of influences sparked his interest in the practice. After decades in the visual arts, he felt a desire for a more balanced life, leading him to seek an exchange - trading the isolation and stress of the art studio for the practices of connection and well-being found in the yoga studio.

As a 500hr Kripalu Certified Yoga teacher, Robert is passionate about guiding students towards the cultivation of meditative experiences through mindful movement, breathwork, and self-observation without judgment. His classes prioritize creating a safe and supportive foundation for exploration, encouraging self-discovery, and empowering students on their unique paths.

For Danielle, cultivating a deep yoga practice was a natural extension of her lifelong study of dance and was the perfect way to integrate movement and the mind. Danielle completed her Dance and Psychology Degree at Hunter College and shortly after received her yoga certification from Laughing Lotus in 2008.

Danielle received her Masters in Social Work at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2014. She works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice and utilizes her yoga and meditation practices to serve and empower communities throughout New York City. Danielle has worked as a clinician in both hospital and clinic settings. She has completed two trainings from the Trauma Conscious Yoga Institute along with attending mental health conferences and workshops specific to trauma and integrating yoga into the mental health system. Danielle’s yoga teaching is inspired both by her integrative background of her clinical practice and her vinyasa practice. Her classes emphasize alignment of the body with a moveable flow while maintaining connection to the breath. She incorporates all elements of the practice – physical, mental, and spiritual—to create a strong foundation for her students. `

Dawn was introduced to yoga at the age of 48. Her first yoga teacher was very encouraging and kind. Dawn started to consider the possibility of becoming a yoga teacher after her youngest daughter went to high school.

She found Inner Balance Studio and decided to take the 200 hour teacher training course with Gabrielle Semel. The process was a life changing experience and she is grateful to Gabrielle for sharing her knowledge and craft.

Dawn is currently teaching yoga classes from her home and she is honored to be one of the teachers at the Pawling Yoga and Wellness. Her goal as a teacher is to create a relaxed environment that is encouraging and peaceful for all.

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kristen is a certified Pilates instructor and pre/post natal

certified too. She pursued her passion for dance at a very young age and received

a BFA from SUNY Purchase. She was inspired by Pilates when she discovered its

endless benefits, managed her sciatica and transformed her body. She believes

consistency and positivity in your Pilates practice allows for both mental and

physical benefits. Her knowledge of the body and movement brings precision and

creativity to her practice. Kristen focuses to help others obtain a healthier,

stronger and happier body. She’s now a new mother and currently lives here in

Pawling. She is looking forward to sharing her love for Pilates with her new

community.

I discovered yoga during my years living in Spain, where I explored the practice and developed a deep appreciation for its ability to create balance and calm. It wasn’t until 2022, after moving back to the States, that I truly fell in love with yoga as a transformative way of life.

Encouraged by the physical, mental, and spiritual growth yoga brought to my life, I completed my teacher training with the inspiring Gabrielle Semel in 2024. This journey deepened not only my knowledge of yoga but also my gratitude for the vibrant and welcoming community I’ve found here in Pawling.

Teaching yoga has become a way for me to give back to the community I cherish so much. I aim to create a space where everyone feels supported, connected, and empowered to explore their own practice—on and off the mat.