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Melissa Johnson

Yoga Ananda is born with love from Melissa Johnson, a native of Jacksonville, FL. Melissa has studied the philosophy of yoga for years and has recently decided to offer the yoga that has changed her life to the loved ones of Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill, Lake Shore  and downtown areas.

Melissa studied under the guidance of her beloved Yoga Master, Naader Shagagi, President of the California Yoga Teachers Association, in Pasadena, CA. The study included training in Naader Shagagi's, CURATIVE YOGA™ under his classical Hatha style of yoga: Yoga of Mystics™ (www.yogakingdom.com). She has also trained locally at Bliss Yoga for Vinyasa certification as well as obtaining Children’s Yoga Certifications  through the Radiant Child Yoga Program, Yoga Kids: Tools for Schools and Child Play (Gurudass Kaur).

Liz Little

Elizabeth Little RYT, a native Texan, was introduced to the practice of yoga in the Anusara tradition, or “heart-centered” yoga in 1998.  While her transient life as a Navy spouse has taken her around the world, she has always found her home in her yoga practice. Elizabeth sees yoga as a way to find stillness and balance within the self, encouraging students in her classes to practice with a healing intention focused on the breath, which she sees as the gateway to self-discovery.  Elizabeth enjoys teaching a wide range of strengthening asana expanding from her breath-centered practice, allowing students in her classes to find their unique paths, both on the mat and beyond.  She is currently furthering her studies in the Himalayan Ashtanga Hatha yoga and meditation systems with Yogarishi Deolal Mahabir to deepen the spiritual side of her yoga practice, an aspect which she continues to fuse into her offerings to others.  Having worked professionally and voluntarily in serving individuals with developmental and physical disabilities since an early age, Elizabeth offers individualized instruction and group classes through her Yogabilities™ program welcoming students and caregivers to practice together!

Victoria Faulkner

Victoria has been practicing yoga for years and received her 200 hour instructor certificate from yoga alliance recognized Two Suns Rising Yoga. This spiritual practice has brought peace into her life and she hopes students will leave her class feeling that same peace. Victoria encourages students to take what they gain on the mat and apply to their daily lives. She has worked as a childbirth educator and labor partner. During her pregnancy her interest was piqued to offer prenatal, mommy and me and children’s yoga. Victoria is also certified by Radiant Child to teach children’s yoga. Victoria continues to study yoga independently and through her personal practice. This keeps things fresh and allows her to bring new material to the classroom. She can teach gentle classes or offer challenging workouts. Victoria recognizes that students take yoga for a variety of reasons and hopes that her students will find what they are looking for when they attend her classes.

Catherine Eddins

Catherine’s first experience with yoga was during college.  However, several years passed before life’s challenges brought her back to yoga.  In 2000, she was certified to teach vinyasa yoga at the White Lotus Foundation, under the guidance of Ganga White and Tracy Rich.  A teacher at heart, she knew that she had found her calling.  In 2005, she completed the 200 hour certification in Amrit Yoga (hatha practice developed by Yogi Amrit Desai).  With Amrit Yoga, what at first had been a tool for exercise and stress management, became a laboratory for self discovery.  Catherine sees her corporate job as an extension of her yoga mat, providing limitless opportunities to carry her practice into life.  As Indira Gandhi said, “You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and be vibrantly alive in repose.”  Catherine uses inward focus, yogic teachings, energy awareness and alignment in class to help students develop a sense of equilibrium both on and off the mat.  Catherine teaches hatha and flow yoga and pursues interests in the complimentary disciplines of yoga nidra and ayurveda.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams is a certified Yoga teacher that received her 200HR Yoga Teacher Training from Didier Razon's Yoga Alliance registered school, "Two Suns Rising Yoga". Prenatal and Kid's Yoga was included in her 200 hrs. Yoga has been a tremendous gift to her and she now has a strong desire to share this gift with others.  Her Prenatal Classes will work on reducing daily stress, awaken your mind/body harmony and help relieve many discomforts of pregnancy as they release tension throughout your body.  Come and discover yoga, it will help you to listen to your body, your needs and the needs of your unborn baby. Currently teaching Mommy & Me Yoga and Prenatal Yoga.
 

Nitin Gill

Nitin has been teaching yoga, meditation, Reiki, and Ayurvedic Healing in the spiritual city of McLeod Ganj, India for the past 13 years at his center Rishi Yoga. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Dhauladhar mountain range, Rishi Yoga Center has serviced hundreds of travelers from all over the world who come to learn ancient healing practices, retreat and visit this city, home of the Dalai Lama in exile.

In childhood, Nitin’s thirst for knowledge first took him to meet his guru, Shri Shri 108 Baba Dhuni Nath, or BABAJI who has spent 35 years of his life in a state of super consciousness in the Himalayas. Nitin developed his passion for yoga and healing throughout the years by learning from his guru at Babaji’s ashram on numerous yearly retreats in the Himalayas.

Nitin’s devotion to the continuous study and practice of yoga healing led him to the father City of Yoga, Rishikesh, India where he studied at the Trust for Health Care, Education, Research & Development Institute: The Aham Brahmasmi Yog Mandir Trust.

Nitin and his brother Shivam, who now teaches in India and Paris, have had the opportunity of being in close proximity of their teacher Babaji and among the yogis who taught them the discipline of yoga and meditation from a young age. Nitin and brother Shivam both dedicated their lives to spreading the ancient knowledge of yoga and healing from the East to all seekers.

Mary Chattin

Mary has been practicing Yoga since 2000 and has been teaching since spring of 2006.  After two years with her teacher Nancy LaNasa, former manager and teacher of Jivamukti Yoga Center, she answered her calling to be a teacher of Yoga. Mary began her journey as a yoga teacher in spring of 2006 at the University of West Florida in an apprenticeship program sponsored by Dominique Cullen and John Harding. In January 2007 Mary followed in the footsteps of her teacher Nancy by traveling to Kerala, South India to receive her second teacher training. At the Sivananda Yoga and Vedanta Center in Neyyar Dam she was provided with a complete study of Yoga, along with students from around the world.  It was in India that she realized the importance of meditation and stillness of the mind.  Mary is a former manager and teacher at Abhaya Yoga Center, where she taught meditation, pranayama, and asana classes. Mary’s teaching style varies depending on her student base and how they feel on that particular day. She offers all levels of modifications. Her classes are fun with upbeat music from all over the world. Mary’s greatest inspirations include, Bob Marley, Julia Butterfly Hill, Swami Vishnu Devananda, the mountains, and most of all her daughter Lily Bloom. Mary enjoys rock climbing, hiking, the beach, and spiritual study. She has dedicated her life to the Yoga of motherhood, Karma Yoga, and is constantly seeking the Truth.

Reece Ingold

Reece has been interested in fitness his entire life. He became a competition swimmer at the age of 4. At 16 he started out as a long distance runner in high school, and began bodybuilding at the age of 21. After 15 years of this 'non-competition,' amateur weight training he became interested in the meditative qualities of yoga upon, among other reasons, reading about Bikram, a celebrated bodybuilder who also later became a yogi. He has been practicing yoga ever since, and at the age of 38, and 6 years of elementary education under his belt, decided to pursue a second career as a yoga instructor. He incorporates a broad range of disciplines, anywhere from a restorative 'hatha' yoga, to the more strenuous 'ashtanga' style. Please join him on his personal journey.
 

Gisela Morgan

Gisela’s first experience with yoga and Pilates was seven years ago during high school at the Balletheatre High School, a professional dance high school in the city of Porto, Portugal. After 17 years of dancing (Ballet/ Modern/ Contemporary dance techniques) she achieved professional level as a performer in Portugal. Gisela's experience continued with Yoga and Pilates when she attended college in London, England where she was studying dance and received her Professional Diploma in Dance Studies. Gisela came to the U.S. from her home country of Portugal to start a new life with her husband Glenn. Here in Jacksonville she continued her love for yoga by completing the 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher course recognized by Yoga Alliance, as well as completing a Spencer Pilates Certification from NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association). Gisela’s specialties are in Hatha Vinyasa flow: Mind~body and Sun Power yoga styles. She is also certified to teach Yoga for children from age 2 years old to teenagers. Her Pilate’s instruction includes mat work as well Pilates on the ball. Her knowledge of the body keeps her students feeling strong and motivated. Her passion for Yoga and Pilates is contagious. Please come and enjoy her sweet peace and source of energy!

Kathy Cooper

Kathy Cooper, RYT500 is a certified advanced level Kripalu instructor.  She has been practicing since 1996 when she discovered yoga while looking for a way to rehabilitate following a problematic knee surgery.  An active fitness instructor, she was looking for a kinder, gentler physical activity that would allow her to heal.  Immediately taken with the discipline, Kathy continued her practice and began her studies.  The gentle yet challenging aspects of Kripalu yoga – a meditation in motion – and its accessibility to everyone continue to her inspire her.  She earned her initial certification in 2002 and her level two certification in 2004.  Teaching yoga is her passion.  Her classes are very relaxed and open in nature and she encourages students to find balance in all aspects of their lives by listening to their bodies as a gateway to the knowing within.  Kathy is especially interested in offering yoga to seniors and those with physical challenges and holds a certification in an adaptive form, Yoga for the Rest of Us.  Considering herself a student of life, she also holds degrees in Spanish and International Studies and continues her study of yoga where she finds that the more you learn the more realize how much you don’t know.     

Kelly Key Duvall
   Belly Dancing

A native of Jacksonville, Kelly has been performing for the last few years as principal dancer in the Samadhi Alternative Dance Company.  Helping to promote the art of Tribal Belly Dance, she credits her love of belly dance to her first teacher Mindy Howarth, the founder of Samadhi.  Thru further instruction and performances with Amy Tucker and Leslie Faircloth, Kelly has performed at various venues locally and in South Florida to include ArtWalk,  Tribes 2007, Southern Women’s Show, POW Fundraisers,  UNF, cafes/restaurants,  private parties and weddings and often performs with local theatre groups as well.  As a mother of three (with young twin girls), she believes that tribal belly dance,  through its acceptance and appreciation of women of all ages and sizes allows us to express our natural sensuality, strength, beauty and most importantly our spirituality.  She recognizes the need in women to reconnect with the power of their own feminine energy and believes that learning the most ancient form of female dance will help one rediscover themselves at any stage in life.

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