Denise began studying and practicing yoga in 1998. She came to yoga seeking refuge from injuries sustained in her dance career. She soon found herself immersed in the yoga culture and started to explore the various styles and philosophies offered.
Over time, Denise came to realize the style of yoga best suited to her needs is a blend of vinyasa and alignment. “Movement in stillness and stillness in movement with attention to equanimity in the body” has become her recent trademark.
Residing in New York City, she did her yoga training at one of New York’s premiere yoga studio networks – YogaWorks. She received her 500 hr RYT Certification in 2006 and has been, along with teaching dance for 25 years, actively teaching yoga ever since.
Denise’s classes have become a staple at several of YogaWorks’s Manhattan locations. Her teaching style and is very real and down to earth. Like a true teacher, she is able to help peel away the layers and help the students explore the inner workings of their own bodies.
Her blend of alignment and breath, along with emphasis on the balance of effort and surrender, allows the student to feel secure in their own personal journeys. She keeps the class focused and engaged as she weaves humor and philosophy throughout the lesson and relates the practice to everyday life.
Denise’s passion for yoga has inspired her to travel to places like India, Thailand, Australia, and Costa Rica to seek out some of the yoga world’s most gifted teachers including: Rodney Yee, John Friend, Sean Corne and David Life. Having been all over the planet also leading retreats and workshops, Denise deepens her practice and explores the many limbs of yoga including breath, meditation, and working with the chakras.
Prior to yoga, Denise was a professional dancer. As with her yoga practice, Denise soaked up every dance and choreography opportunity she could. Choreographer for the Washington Redskins football team, Denise received the Salute to the Arts Choreography Award. She’s worked as a guest artrist across the US in NYC, Nashville, Denver and LA. She did her graduate work in dance on full scholarship at The George Washington University and earned her Bachelor of Philosophy (self-designed degree) in dance from Penn State.
Invited to join The Creative Coalition by Alec Baldwin, Denise became an advocate for the arts helping to raise awareness and lobby on the Hill for the NEA and arts in education. She founded her own dance outreach non-profit organization, New Moves, Inc. and received a multitude of accolades and awards in the dance community including grants from Con Edison and the New York City Council Youth Program.
Denise brings to yoga her extensive knowledge of the anatomical and energetic human body, kinesiology, specialized movement techniques and numerous dance styles. She is currently preparing to bring new workshops to YogaWorks NYC studios while still holding her regular teaching schedule, and is available for private and corporate lessons.
To contact Denise, please e-mail her at DeniseDMcC@aol.com
I’m relatively new to yoga, and it’s true, my life is changing since Denise became my yoga instructor. I enjoy studying with her immensely. She brings a lot of energy and understanding to the studio classroom. Once she told me “your life will change with a simple yoga practice, and all you have to do is show up.” This I found out to be very true indeed. I like the person yoga is making me into already, and I’m happy I found a knowledgeable teacher with an extensive background. After looking over this bio I realize her dance training is what probes her to use some great imagery in explanations of postures and flow.
DL
I enjoy Denise’s yoga class immensely. i get a great workout that leaves me feeling balanced, centered and ready for anything the day dishes out. She’s very inspirational . . sharing personal experiences and funny anecdotes; her stories resonate with me. In just a few short months my body has lengthened, strengthened and i just feel so good. I look forward to my classes Denise. . . i hate to miss one!
She is “for real”, and true to her devotion to and philosophy of yoga. It is difficult not to be inspired by Denise when you are in her presence and she is leading a yoga practice. The energy is always just where it should be in the room.