hello! i’m Gretchen
Owner of Bee Yoga Fusion,
Health & Life coach, Pilates & Yoga Instructor, Personal Trainer
I strongly believe in fostering a safe and nurturing environment for my clients, whether in the yoga studio or in my coaching practice. I prefer to connect with my students on a personal level, teaching from a place of authenticity. You can often hear me sharing the knowledge I’ve gained from overcoming my addiction to alcohol (12 years sober), parenting a child with special needs on the Autism Spectrum, or dealing with the diagnosis of a rare breast tumor that resulted in a partial mastectomy. I encourage clients to sit in the seat of observation within themselves to learn how to listen to that voice of truth that resides within them.
Incorporating my love of yoga and dance into each class brings balance, flexibility, and strength into focus. Students love that each class is unique, with a diverse sequencing of poses, exercises, and modifications, allowing every student to feel fulfilled regardless of physical ability.
I opened my boutique yoga studio, Bee Yoga Fusion, in 2009 in Greenbelt, MD. I’m a certified Health and Life Coach accredited by the International Coach Federation, certified yoga instructor (E-RYT 500 HR), continued education provider for Yoga Alliance, Pilates instructor, and functional fitness personal trainer. My life before yoga involved a full resume of acting and playwriting credits and a B.A in Musical Theatre with a Dance minor from Point Park University (Pittsburgh, PA).
Naomi Reed
Flow Yoga Instructor
Naomi discovered yoga after a spinal injury nearly left her paralyzed. She fell in love with yoga when she realized that it wasn’t just healing her body but also her mind and soul. She is an award-winning author with a Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She was formerly an English professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and while a professor, decided to pursue a law degree. She traded the Ivory Tower for the mean streets of Manhattan, starting her legal career as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. After several years of Law & Order life, she headed south to D.C. for a federal government job. Naomi earned her 200-hour RYT at Bee Yoga Fusion with Gretchen Schock, and she’s thrilled to be bringing her passion for teaching to the studio that has been and remains her yoga home.
When she isn’t on the yoga mat, Naomi enjoys listening to some good music while trying to steal back her socks from her adorable rescue dog, Max.
Matthew Lyons
Yin Yoga Instructor
Matthew’s hypnotic voice and calm energy create the perfect environment to let go of the busyness of your life and find the space in the body for it to open. For 26 years, he worked in the political and government relations arena in Washington DC, bringing with him a degree in law. Unfortunately, the work was not a source of joy, so he sought fulfillment by teaching yoga and meditation.
Matthew is a certified 200-hour RYT and holds additional certifications in Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Restorative Yoga.
When he isn’t on the yoga mat, you can find Matthew with a library book in hand, possibly on the hunt for good paper and pen to write a note to a friend, or somewhere around the DMV on his road bike. He loves music, traveling with his wife, spending time with his adult son, board games, and jigsaw puzzles.
Chelsea Stein
Flow Yoga Instructor
Chelsea’s journey with yoga began over 15 years ago when she found herself struggling with anxiety and depression. She turned to yoga as a natural way to help ease her worries, reduce stress, and tame the ever-racing “monkey mind.” She strives to bring peace and relaxation into her students’ lives.
Chelsea is a certified 200hr RYT, lives in Media, PA, a suburb outside of Philadelphia, and teaches classes virtually for Bee Yoga Fusion.
When she isn’t on the yoga mat, Chelsea is caring for her preschool-aged son and their new baby boy. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their extended family. She is an avid runner and is currently training for her first marathon.
Rob Parry
Yin Yoga & Flow Instructor
Running has always been a form of meditation for Rob. He’s completed several endurance races like a 50K and 50-mile trail run, marathons, and the Chesapeake Bay Swim. He started practicing yoga to gain more flexibility and further explore the connection between the body and the mind. As his yoga practice strengthened, he found yoga to be an expression of kindness and self-acceptance towards himself and others.
Rob completed his 200-hour RYT at Bee Yoga Fusion with Gretchen Schock. He is passionate about guiding others to discover yoga as an avenue of listening to their body.
When he isn’t on the yoga mat, Rob works for a USDA research lab doing IT support work and has been doing it for over 30 years! You can also find Rob running on trails, swimming, or bicycling. He enjoys live music and traveling with his wife to visit his adult daughters and new grandchild.
Jessica Homer
Flow Yoga Instructor
Having struggled with body image for much of her life, Jess didn’t feel at home in her own skin until she discovered yoga. After years of dipping her toes into practice, she finally fell in love with yoga in Louisville, KY, drawn equally by the physical benefits and the mental clarity it provided during law school.
After moving to Flordia, she completed not one but two 200-hour yoga teacher training certifications! She initially approached yoga as a form of exercise, but she quickly became captivated by the deeper philosophical teachings of the practice. She was intrigued by combining the insights from two diverse training styles. This wide-ranging experience shapes her unique teaching style, which she is thrilled to share at Bee Yoga Fusion. Jess is also a Usui and Tibetan Reiki Master and a Holy Fire Advanced Reiki practitioner, blending energy work with her yoga offerings.
When Jess isn’t on the mat, she wears many hats: compliance attorney, college and law school instructor, and co-host of The Smelltest Podcast, where she explores the ethical, cultural, and humorous dimensions of films. At home, you’ll find her enjoying sci-fi and comedy shows with her husband and their dog. She also loves spending time outdoors, trying to convince her nieces and nephews to trade screen time for tree-hugging adventures in the woods.
Tynika Strayhorn
Gentle Instructor
Tynika has over 25 years of experience in public education, dedicating her career to serving some of the most underserved children in Virginia and Maryland.
As someone over 50, she understands how our bodies change with time—waking up to new tweaks and tingles reminding her of the importance of staying active and flexible.
Tynika’s yoga teaching journey began in 2019 when she completed her 200-hour Vinyasa certification at a studio in southern Maryland where she previously resided. In 2021, she completed a Yin Yoga certification through the Online Yoga School Yoga & Ayurveda Center. Most recently, she earned a Stretch Coach certification from YOGABODY®. Obviously, Tynika is a lifelong learner and incorporates all of her skills into her classes.
When Tynika isn’t on the yoga mat, she enjoys time with her two incredible daughters and three amazing grandchildren.