Our Teachers and Staff

Holly Lassila, DrPH, RPh.

Holly Lassila is the founder of Santosha Yoga Center and has studied and practiced yoga for 20 years. Her experience includes many forms of yoga including Iyengar, Vinyasa Flow and Ashtanga. Holly began teaching in 1996 while completing her DrPH in Epidemiology. In addition to her long experience with yoga, Holly is also a level 2 Reiki practitioner: a trained massage therapist; a practitioner of Thai Yoga Bodywork; and has been a student of several different martial arts. She is currently training for her black belt in Kung Fu. Holly's experience has led her to the belief that good health comes from balance in life. Holly practices that by combining her western training as a pharmacist, scientist, runner and triathlete with the eastern practices of yoga, reiki, and the martial arts. Her inspirations for opening the studio are her two son's, Joshua and Noah.

Matthew Imhof, M.Ed., C.P.T.

Matthew Imhof, co-founder of Santosha Yoga Center, began his experience with yoga in 1998 when he met his wife, Holly Lassila. Matt is a certified personal trainer and has received speciality training in flexibility exercise from East Side Sports Physical Therapy in New York City. Additionally, Matt is an award winning collegiate and high school track and cross country coach whose teams have won numerous championships and awards. Matt has been an active runner for over 20 years and coached over 200 recreational runners and walkers to their first marathon as head coach for the National Arthrisits Foundation's "Joints in Motion" marathon training program. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh from New Jersey, Matt ran his own personal training business, "Personal Best Running & Fitness", an in home personal training and elite coaching service. Matt uses an upbeat and encouraging attitude in combination with a variety of training modalities to meet the needs of his students and private clients.

Wendy (Gwendolyn) Hilger, Ph.D.), R.Y.T.

Wendy first tried yoga in the early 1990's and was excited to begin a consistent practice in 2000. She completed introductory teacher training in 2003 and began teaching in 2005. In 2006, Wendy earned her R.Y.T. through 3rd Street Yoga Studio with Joanne VandenHengel. Wendy continues to enjoy expanding her knowledge, personal practice, and training by attending local and national workshops. Outside the studio, Wendy works as Clinical and Neuropsychologist specializing in cognitive and personality assessment. Whether practicing or teaching, Wendy's style is always enthusiastic as she looks to share her love for yoga. Wendy teaches vinyasa style classes incorporating Sun Salutations, Warriors and other poses to create a flowing class. She also teaches workshops that instill wellbeing through the use of restorative poses, pranayama exercises and meditation.

Rita Lampe

Rita moved from Central Illinois to Pittsburgh in 1998 with her husband, David, a biology professor at Duquesne University, and her two children, Joe, 15, and Anna, 12. Rita and her family live in the North Hills. Rita is a licensed clinical social worker and works part-time in this profession as an individual and family therapist. She started taking yoga classes in 1999. In 2005 she started regularly practicing yoga and in 2006 decided to train as an instructor through Yoga Fit. She has taken Yoga Fit Levels I and III and hopes to take Level II soon. She believes her practice of yoga is helping her grow personally and spiritually. Yoga has become a very central part of her life and she is excited to share this gift with others. She presently teaches a yoga class at a fitness club in the North Hills and is a substitute instructor at Santosha and at other locations.

Maggi Lang, PTA, MT, R.Y.T.

Sharon Mitchell

Sharon has been a student of yoga for almost 30 years. Her yoga training began in Colorado where her early teachers were Iyengar trained, which continues to influence her teaching style. She began teaching yoga in 1997 and has been an ACE (American Council of Exercise) Certified Personal trainer since 1998. Sharon has been certified with the Himalayan Institute since 2001. She has found that yoga asanas continue to improve her posture, dramatically reduce neck pain and back pain, reduce anxiety and increase concentration.

Judy Coughlin

Judy is a trained massage therapist and has been building her experience in the healing arts over the last 13 years since leaving the corporate world where she functioned as an executive. Judy regularly continues her education and has received certifications in other healing modalities including Reiki. In the fall of 2005 Judy went on a Native American Vision Quest under the guidance of Shaman Emery Forest, Director of Spirit Hollow a center for Shamanism and Spiritual Ecology. Her 10 day vision quest included 4 days alone in the mountains of Vermont, fasting and seeking spiritual guidance. It was a life altering experience. It is Judy’s intention to combine her work in the healing arts with her massage therapy work. Judy also works at The Sage Center for Living Well in Allison Park, PA.

Classes Taught

Matt Imhof

• Cardio/Core Blast

• Fitness Boot Camp

• Fitness, Fun and Yoga for Kids

• Hatha 1

• Strengthen, Sculpt and Tone

• Vinyasa Flow

• Personal Training

Judy Coughlin

• Massage Therapist