Jessie was born in the Bronx, NYC and raised there and in Dominican Republic.  Jessie’s spiritual Journey began at the age of 8.  He was seeking something but didn’t really know what.  He would go to different religious gatherings with family and friends, and would read books on the religions he had no contact with.   He had a religious studies teacher come tutor him twice a week.  He transferred to Catholic school at age 10 and was there up until High School.  Just before beginning High School, Jessie, his sister and mother moved to their home in Santiago, Dominican Republic he attended the La Zurza Private School, a Christian school.  While living in the D.R., Jessie was not only to learn more about himself by learning the history and fully learning the language of his parents' country of origin.  Jessie and his family moved back to New York in 1995 to prepare him for his college education in the U.S.  He attended William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx, NY enrolled in a full Honors Program and graduated with full Honors in the Top 5% Percentile of his graduating class.  Throughout those years he came to learn a lot about different religions and beliefs but he still felt incomplete, like something was missing.  But still having no clue what that was, he kept seeking.  He went on to spend a year at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY as a Computer Science major; leaving due to the fact that after a year of studies he knew that wasn’t his calling. After leaving college, He worked in the technical field for a year the decided to leave the position because he was feeling unfulfilled.

While looking for a new job he encountered an ad for a spa, he found it interesting and faxed his resume.  Then he waited for a call back.  Jivamukti Yoga Center was the spa he faxed.  He went in for the interview and as soon as he walked in, it felt like home.  Jessie’s experience to yoga was limited to a small book he had purchased at Barnes & Noble for about $10.  He loved the poses but that was as deep as that book took him.  He was hired by Carlos Menjivar for a position as a front desk operator.  He was required to attend a couple of classes before starting his next shift and he was extremely excited.  He felt a bit shy going into that first class, he didn’t know anyone in it and he hadn’t done this before.  But as soon as he sat down on his mat to hear the teacher talk, something clicked.  The deeper he got into his practice the more sense everything made.  He had stopped looking for that missing piece and then the piece found him, it was yoga. 

Jessie spent much of his life on a quest for something but didn’t know what.  Yoga made sense of things for him all those pieces he had been trying to piece together now just fell into place. Before yoga he was lost and now he knows exactly where he’s at.  You can’t get anywhere without knowing where you are now.

Jessie has been practicing Jivamukti Yoga for almost 8 years.  His life has changed in many good ways since he started practicing.  He hopes that through teaching yoga he is able to guide others on their path to enlightenment.  He is grateful for the many changes that yoga has brought to him, he believes that through constant practice we can all change the world and find liberation. Jessie completed the Jivamukti Yoga 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in May 2005.  Jessie has not stopped teaching since.  He was nominated for Exercise TV’s Top Trainer: Yoga Instructor and ranked 4th in the country.  Jessie is deeply grateful for the honor to be among the Top 5 Best Yoga Instructors of 2008 and will use this as motivation and inspiration to become an even better teacher and spiritual guide to his students.

Jessie would like to thank his gurus Sharon Gannon and David Life for all their support, guidance and for giving the world this method and their amazing teachings. Pranams to Russell Simmons because without him it would not have been possible.

"Our thinking minds deprive us of the happiness that comes when we are living fully in the moment." - Ram Dass