Molly Masaoka, a woman with brown wavy hair, blue eyes, and a light skin tone, smiling, wearing a turquoise sleeveless top and a delicate necklace, standing against a plain white wall who is a Hilo Hawaii Yoga Instructor and Lagree Teacher.

  • ERYT-500
    Owner of Yoga Centered | Certified Lagree Instructor

    Perceptive, wildly passionate, and deeply rooted in presence, Molly brings a rare blend of determination, joy, and authenticity to everything she teaches. As the owner of Yoga Centered, she has spent more than two decades honing a teaching style that is both focused and intuitive—an alchemy of effort and surrender that helps students access their deepest layers of awareness, strength, and ease.

    While the core of Molly’s teaching has long been alignment-based flow and restorative yoga, her work is guided by a profound therapeutic intelligence that infuses all she offers—from public classes and workshops to private sessions and her renowned teacher training programs. Ultimately, she considers herself a lifelong student, continually drawing inspiration from nature, from the world around her, and especially from her son, Reef.

    In 2025, Molly unexpectedly stepped into a Lagree class on Oʻahu, and everything changed. It was love at first elevator lunge. Her body felt stronger, more supported, and more capable than ever before. She immediately knew Lagree belonged at Yoga Centered—its slow, controlled, precise, breath-guided method a perfect complement to yoga and the embodiment of mindful strength.

    Having “done all the things” over the years—CrossFit, HIIT, Barre, Pilates, TRX, running—Molly had never experienced anything like Lagree. The practice gave her sustainable weight loss, major muscle gains, profound recovery, relief from chronic pain, and a level of empowerment and resilience that ripples into every part of her life. Lagree became her ritual, her reset, and her reminder that she can do hard things.

    Today, Molly trains six days a week and is proudly certified under Master Trainer Haley Speier, whose mentorship reshaped her understanding of strength, alignment, and intentional movement. She now brings the same care, intelligence, humor, and heart to every Lagree class she teaches at Yoga Centered.

    Molly is honored to guide others through practices that have transformed her life—body, mind, and spirit. Whether on the mat or the microformer, her deepest hope is to inspire others to discover their own capacity for presence, power, and joy.

Amanda Skoda, a woman with shoulder-length wavy hair and a tattoo of a bird on her upper arm, wearing a light blue sleeveless top, smiling against a plain white wall who is a Hilo Hawaii Lagree Teacher.

  • Born and raised on Big Island, Amanda is a surfer, mama, and lifelong wellness enthusiast who has dedicated many years to fitness and community care. Her journey in the wellness industry has always been about helping others feel strong, supported, inspired and helping people succeed with their personal health and wellness goals through building ones confidence and self esteem. When she discovered Lagree, it lit a new fire in her, bringing her clarity, passion, and purpose both on and off the machine. Amanda is excited to share the practice with you and hopes it empowers you the same way it has empowered her.

Smiling person with shoulder-length hair, wearing a sleeveless top, with a tattoo on the left arm, standing in front of a white background.

  • A brilliant sequencer, a master of her craft and drawing from her experience as an athletic trainer and yogi, in Amy’s class expect to sweat, laugh a little, and learn more about the body you have and the life you live in it. Amy came to yoga through a workplace wellness program and never looked back. She very quickly saw the many ways that yoga could help the high school students she works with as a certified athletic trainer in her primary occupation and jumped headfirst into teacher training. After introducing yoga to a variety of high school sports teams, she realized how much she enjoyed teaching yoga philosophies and practices to groups that maybe normally wouldn’t seek out yoga on their own, like football players, “at risk” populations and the occasional weekend warriors. One of her favorite things about yoga is how the physical practice of yoga uses your body as a tool to teach you lessons about life, emotions and how strong you can be when you look inside.

Colleen Sullivan a Yoga Teacher with long black hair, smiling, wearing a black sleeveless top, standing against a plain white wall, showing her tattooed arm.

  • Colleen’s classes will safely guide you through an all levels asana practice, breath awareness & deep relaxation. Colleen strives to create an environment where all students can connect with their innermost self and strengthen their mind-body awareness.

    After beginning a regular yoga practice to increase her own overall health, Colleen realized she would like to share the joy & knowledge of the 8 limbs of yoga with others. Colleen completed her 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training at Amrita Yoga and Wellness in Philadelphia where she taught heated vinyasa and yin. Colleen has also taught at Rancho Margot, a sustainable eco-lodge in the rainforest of Costa Rica. A realtor by day, a yogini by night, Colleen “gets it” and hopes yoga will bring a little more ease to your daily life, where it really counts.

Smiling person with glasses against a light background

  • Having lived with scoliosis most of her life, Catherine was well versed in the therapeutic aspects of the physical practice. "A spinal surgeon told me I would be fused from my head to tail." Through yoga, she has experienced pain relief, as have many people with back, hip and neck injuries. Catherine's slow, therapeutic style class provides a counter balance to our frenzied "go until you drop" society.

    Formerly a dancer, Catherine found yoga in 1993 as a holistic approach to pain relief. Realizing the importance of a daily physical practice for her health, she decided to teach. Beginning in 1997, Catherine studied Iyengar in Santa Monica, CA, and later Anusara in Hollywood, CA. She is generous with her knowledge and has a palpable passion for teaching. She provides the space to go slow and concentrate on each nuance and slight sensation. We highly recommend Catherine's classes for anyone dealing with an injury or limited mobility issues.

Smiling woman with hair in bun outdoors surrounded by plants.

  • Gloria Baraquio is the Lead Teacher and Director of Shivakali Yoga School. She and Serge Bandura founded Shivakali in 2015 and have taught over 20 yoga teacher trainings in California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Bali. Gloria began teaching yoga in Hilo in 2006 and left in 2010 to teach around the world. She returned to the Big Island in 2020, and she is so happy to serve her home community again.

A Hilo yoga instructor with short, wavy blonde hair smiling in a room with a door and window showing greenery outside, a purple exercise ball in the background.

  • Shannon believes that through focused attention on body and breath we become more adept at listening to what we need in the moment… honing in on the individual subtleties of our bodies and habits. She hopes to create an environment where students can learn how to be more present.

    She was certified at YogaWorks in Costa Mesa, CA in early 2010 while pregnant with her first child. Her classes are focused heavily on alignment and breath.

Person outdoors in a natural setting, wearing a white tank top and blue jeans, with tattoos on their arm, smiling while kneeling on the ground.

  • Heather has been training and certifying yoga teachers in East Hawaii for over a decade. She founded Balancing Monkey Yoga Center, Warrior Won School of Yoga, and most recently co-founded All Bodies Rise Yoga. She invites participants to dig deep into their personal relationship to self, to other, and to practice before taking the seat as a teacher. She ordained as a Buddhist Chaplain with Roshi Joan Halifax in 2014 and weaves the dharma into her teaching. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work with an emphasis on parental bereavement. She currently works full time as a Spiritual Counselor at Hospice of Hilo. Her primary practices are parenting and surfing.

Close-up of Erin Sakakibara a yoga instructor smiling, wearing a tie-dye shirt with purple text that is partially visible, standing against a plain white background.

  • Erin has been practicing mindful movement for years — from mat Pilates to reformer to yoga — and has always believed in slow, intentional strength. But the moment she found Lagree, she was sold. The challenge, the precision, the breath, the burn… it all clicked in a way nothing else had.

    While managing a chronic knee injury, Erin discovered that Lagree not only supported her healing but made her stronger than ever. The gains in her legs, hips, glutes, and core have been major — and the confidence she regained is priceless. Once told that “Lagree might not be for you,” she’s now driven to prove that Lagree is for everyone — every age, every injury, every background. Expect encouragement, detailed cues, deep core focus, and a whole lot of heart in every class.

    Erin’s love for mindful movement also shines through her yoga practice. As a mother of four daughters and a proud grandmother, she deeply understands the importance of nurturing both body and mind. She embraces yoga not just as a physical discipline but as a source of mental clarity, emotional grounding, and self-care. Having lived between the serene landscapes of Hawai‘i and the vibrant energy of Japan, Erin infuses her teaching with a rich cultural perspective and a sense of grounded presence.

    Since 2012, Erin has been part of the Yoga Centered ‘ohana and completed her 200-hour teacher training under Molly’s guidance in 2023. Whether you meet her on the Megaformer or the mat, Erin invites you into a transformative practice built on strength, grace, breath, and resilience.

    Join Erin at Yoga Centered and discover what’s possible when you move with intention, heart, and an open mind.

Woman practicing yoga pose with interlocked hands and foot behind head, curly hair, indoor setting with plants.

  • Kassie Wylde 500RYT. Kassie began exploring yoga in her late teens. Just a few years later, she started to deepen and expand that exploration in response to her experience with chronic pain. Since then, the yogic practice of acknowledging discomfort as both a guide and a teacher has transformed her to her core. After nearly a decade of delving into a personal practice, Kassie took a 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training with Adrea Robles and Dave Robles of Liberation Yoga and Wellness Center followed by a 300 hour Advanced YTT with Johanna Bell of Illumina Yoga in the lineage of Sri Dharma Mittra. She also trained with Biff Mithoefer in the art of yin yoga and apprenticed with Adrea Robles in the craft of teaching Restorative Yoga.

    Kassie grounds her personal practice and teaching approach in the intentional release of self-judgment, the practice of self-compassion, the art of learning from discomfort, and the belief that yoga is a practice for any body, any mind, any soul. She encourages students to lovingly accept and work with their minds and bodies as they are in the present moment. In her classes she strives to create a container where people can be honest, vulnerable, and gentle with themselves, explore their edges, laugh with one another, and tap into a deep sense of community.

Jenn-Mize-best-lagree-teacher-in-hilo

  • After Jen’s 3rd son was born in 2006, a ruptured disc sidelined her, and the journey to escape chronic back pain began. Fast forward 19 years later, and she knows that a strong core, coupled with high intensity, low impact movement is the key to pain free living.  Her passion to share this journey led her to a new career as a fitness instructor, safely guiding people through proper alignment, thoughtful movement, and lots of challenges, she is certified in Pilates Reformer and Mat, Bodhi Suspension, TRX, and has been a certified Level Two, Advanced Lagree instructor since 2018. 

Leigh Knittle a Hilo yoga teacher with gray hair in a yellow top and red cardigan, standing inside near a window with a bouquet of red flowers nearby.

  • Leigh Knittle is a certified BodyAwake Yoga and RYT-200 Instructor with a strong background in alignment-based Iyengar Yoga. In her teaching, she helps people embody their magnificence by anchoring their consciousness in the core of their bodies. Through cultivating prana and breathing and focusing in specific ways in asana, we enliven tissues and areas of the body that have been closed off with high-frequency energy, allowing healing and transformation to happen more readily. Come in as the mind, and sit down as the soul.

    Leigh discovered yoga when it was not yet mainstream in the US. After more than a decade of dedicated practice, she completed a 6 month Iyengar Yoga teacher training in Portland, Oregon. More recently, after recovering from a near death experience and transforming her health and life on every level, she completed a year-long BodyAwake Yoga and RYT-200 teacher training. In the years before, she had moved herself from wheelchair, to walker, to not needing a walker, to vibrant health, and a more beautiful way of living while experiencing spiritual openings along the way. Yoga was and is an integral part of her transformative journey as she continues to awaken to and embody higher levels of consciousness and help others do the same. 

    After a sacred site trip to Egypt a few years ago, Leigh moved to the Big Island of Hawaii, founded Fleur-de-Leigh Wholeness Institute, and completed the BodyAwake Yoga and RYT-200 teacher training with the Morter Institute. She blends the alignment-based Iyengar Yoga with BodyAwake Yoga’s emphasis on cultivating essence and working with the energy. Whether in a therapeutic class or Vinyasa flow, her intention is to help people embody more fully and experience greater health, vitality, empowerment and grounded, loving presence as a result.  

A young woman Hilo yoga instructor with blonde hair, smiling joyfully, stands with her hands pressed together in a prayer-like gesture in front of a wall with the word 'CEREMNY' written on it.

  • Olha is a certified Hatha and Vinyasa yoga teacher with experience teaching in Los Angeles. Her classes focus on building body awareness, balancing the nervous system, and calming the mind through system, and calming the mind through breathwork and mindful movement. With a background in dance and wellness, Olha creates a supportive
    space where each student can move at their
    own pace and feel more grounded and centered after every
    practice. ✨

Srita Edgecomb, a smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a floral tank top and a layered necklace, standing against a white textured wall who is a Hilo Hawaii Lagree teacher.

  • Lagree changed Srita’s life. After decades of dabbling in various exercises, money down the drain on pricey equipment, and aside from playing in the ocean and dancing, nothing stuck.

    At 48 years young, Lagree finally lit up her exercise soul! In addition to the immediate full body strengthening, she noticed unexpected brain boosting, mind-body benefits and loved the meditative aspect of the slow, controlled movements. She fully attributes her appreciation of Lagree to being under the guidance of highly skilled instructors at Yoga Centered, which inspired her to get certified.

    Raised in magical Kalapana, Srita loves Hawai’i with all her heart. She has operated her thriving aesthetics practice in Hilo since 2006 and continues to make others look and feel radiant inside and out. A dedicated mother to three amazing daughters, you’ll also find her at the beach, watching sunsets, travelling, or hanging with family and friends.

Woman doing yoga on a stand-up paddleboard in water, with city skyline and cloudy sky in the background.

  • Trisha's love for yoga began in 2020, and her journey quickly blossomed into a deep passion for both the practice and its transformative power. After dedicating herself to the study and discipline of yoga, she became a certified yoga teacher in 2023, completing her teacher training in both Guam and Indonesia. Trisha also holds certifications in Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga and Alchemy Crystal Sound Bowl Healing, expanding her skillset to bring a diverse and holistic approach to her teachings.

    Raised on the beautiful island of Guam as a military brat, Trisha’s life has been one of travel, adventure, and cultural exploration. After many years of moving around the world, she and her family have now planted roots in Hilo, Hawaii, where she continues her journey of self-discovery and mindfulness.

    When she isn’t on the mat, Trisha can be found at the beach, either above or below the water, as a certified Master Scuba Diver. Her love for the ocean mirrors her approach to yoga—deep, fluid, and expansive.

    A proud military veteran and mother of two, Trisha’s mission is to share the journey of mindfulness, peace, and connection that yoga offers. She welcomes all levels of practitioners, inviting each person to discover their own path on the mat. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced yogi, Trisha’s classes offer a space for growth, healing, and community.

Malia Holmes, a Hilo Yoga Teacher with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, smiling and with hands pressed together in a prayer-like gesture, inside a room with windows and neutral-colored walls.

  • Malia Holmes-Baker is a somatic movement guide, and dance-inspired facilitator based on the Big Island of Hawaii. Rooted in a deep love for expressive movement, she creates nourishing spaces where individuals are invited to reconnect with their bodies, awaken their senses, and move with authenticity.

    Drawing from  her BA in dance, Malia's unique approach focuses on intuition, sensory guidance, and diverse movement patterns to nurture both body and mind. Malia’s work encourages fluidity, emotional release, and embodied self-expression. Her approach honors the body as both a source of wisdom and a vessel for creativity—blending structure with freedom, and intention with flow.

    Inspired by the rhythms of nature and the spirit of island life, her offerings invite a soft return to self—where movement becomes both medicine and expression. Through her classes, workshops, and retreats, Malia guides others into a deeper sense of presence, connection, and inner harmony.

Cassidy McHugh with long blonde hair smiling and holding her hands together in a prayer position, standing outdoors near a large tree and lush greenery, wearing a cream-colored outfit and jewelry.

  • I began my Yoga journey at 18, discovering the profound connection between mind and body. Growing up in fast-paced Southern California, I was used to living through the mind and ego. Yoga helped me reconnect with my body and be guided by my heart. This transformation led me to complete my first 200-hour Vinyasa Flow training in 2017, and I’ve been teaching ever since. In 2025, I travelled India for a 300-hour training to deepen my knowledge of Yogic philosophy, Pranayama, and Kriya Yoga.



    In my classes, I guide students to cultivate a deeper connection to themselves and their surroundings. I prioritize strong foundational alignment alongside breath awareness, helping students deepen their practice. My classes aim to meet every student’s needs from restorative poses to powerful Kriya and āsana (postures), I hope to cultivate a safe space for students to drop within & peel back the layers so you they embody who you truly are.

Caroline-Bolton-Lagree in Hilo experienced lagree teacher

  • For the last 7 years Caroline has taught thousands of people to shake, sculpt, plank, and breathe through the burn. Her classes are a place where strength meets softness and ambition meets presence.

    In her classes, you can expect thoughtful alignment, plenty of encouragement, and the occasional reminder you are your own biggest cheerleader in life.

    When she’s not teaching, Caroline is working with startups, running a wellness company, and convincing her friends to join her on sunrise hikes. She believes deeply in movement as medicine, community as a superpower, and the simple magic of showing up for yourself.

Sarah Goldman a Hilo Yoga Teacher with long, wavy blonde hair, smiling, wearing a red sleeveless top and a pendant necklace, standing against a plain white wall.

  • Sarah was born and raised on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. She has always found joy through movement. First as a gymnast, then as a dancer and now as a yogi.

    Gymnastics was her first love. Her childhood was devoted to practicing, competing in, and coaching gymnastics. While attending the University of Hawaii at Hilo, earning a BA in liberal studies, she studied; speech, English, dance and drama.

    At first resistant to yoga because she “already knew how to stretch”, Sarah finally attended her first yoga class in 2006 and was instantly hooked. She studied ashtanga yoga with Colee Garr, and received her 200 hour teacher training certificate from Heather Heintz. She is also certified in acroyoga. She has been sharing yoga with seniors through the County of Hawaii parks and recreation program for over a decade as well as having taught in several other locations on the East side of Hawai’i island. 

    Her favourite part of class is in the very beginning, when we settle in, set aside our worries, and to-dos, find our breath, and the present moment.

    When Sarah is not practicing or teaching yoga, you can find her enjoying time in nature, or with her family. Hopefully eating mangoes at the beach with her granddaughter. 

Woman with sunglasses and a running top smiling, holding a water bottle, near a metallic structure outdoors on a sunny day, with a blue sky and green landscape in the background. She is a new Big Island, Hilo Lagree instructor

  • Haley is a lifelong learner and lover of anything fitness. She was hooked after her first class of Lagree and believes it’s nothing like she’s tried before. She has never felt more strong, motivated, and challenged. Her favorite part of Lagree class is proving to herself that she can do it! (and maybe the cold towel after)

    When she isn’t teaching Lagree she is teaching 1st grade in Pahoa. Haley is very passionate about caring for her community. She is committed to creating an encouraging and welcoming environment where everyone gets to grow and feel stronger!

Larissa Figley a Hilo Yoga Centered with long brown hair and a bright smile, wearing a blue tank top and multiple gold bracelets, standing against a white background.

  • Larissa Figley, E-RYT, LMT is a yoga teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist with over 1,000 hours of training and teaching experience. She has been teaching since 2015 after her initial yoga teacher training in India and she trained with Molly Masaoka in 2018. 

    Larissa’s approach blends slow, intentional vinyasa with therapeutic principles, drawing from her education in bodywork and functional anatomy. Her classes focus on building sustainable strength, improving mobility, and supporting the nervous system. This all helps students feel stronger, more connected, and at home in their bodies.

    She works with students of all levels, offering a grounded, supportive space to reset, reconnect, and create lasting change in body, mind and spirit.

  • Jesse Grace believes yoga is a practice of coming home to yourself. Rooted in classical Hatha yoga, her classes weave together breathwork, meditation, yogic philosophy, and sometimes sound healing to create a practice that is both grounding and intentional. Jesse draws from a variety of traditions and also has experience teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa, and restorative yoga. She meets students where they are with presence, compassion, and the belief that every body and every stage of practice belongs, from those stepping onto the mat for the first time to lifelong practitioners.

    Originally from South Africa, Jesse's own path has taken her around the world to study yoga and contemplative traditions in India, Thailand, Bali, Portugal, and Colorado. She now lives in an off-grid intentional permaculture community in Pāhoa while also working remotely as a journalism professor at Colorado State University. For Jesse, yoga is not simply something she teaches - it is an integrated way of life that continues to shape how she lives, learns, and moves through the world.

    In addition to teaching yoga, Jesse offers Reiki, sound healing, women's circles, and spiritual mentorship. She hopes students leave class feeling a little more connected to themselves than when they arrived, carrying the practice with them long after they step off the mat.