Teachers

I love yoga because it’s for everybody.  Maybe you can’t touch your toes; maybe you just finished your seventh marathon; maybe you’ve been doing yoga for 30 years.  To yoga, we are all the same.  We arrive at the mat, whether it’s our 3,000th time or our very first, and make the most of our practice – moving with the breath, increasing our flexibility and strength, on top of bettering our self-awareness. Yoga is all-inclusive in every way.  It improves every aspect of our lives, from physical health to mental, emotional, and spiritual health.  Yoga steers us toward our healthiest weight and also removes clutter and debris from the mind and spirit.  Yoga helps us sleep more soundly; it brings awareness to our breath, enabling us to live more peacefully;  and it make us better in all of our relationships, from being a better friend to being a more productive employee.  Along the path of yoga, we become better individuals, which eventually betters the world. I officially began my yoga journey at age nineteen, though I can remember doing yoga as a child – from sitting quietly and breathing while listening to classical music, to playfully performing handstands in... Read More ››

I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years. I have spent most of my adult life involved in some type of physical activity whether running marathons or riding centuries I have always explored the solitude and calming effects of allowing a mind/body connection. I came to yoga as a means of healing various sports related injuries and found my home in the mindful meditation of yoga. Eventually, the yoga practice became more of a fulfilling experience than any of the other activities that I was involved with and I want to share this connection with others.   I considered opening a yoga studio  in her community but realized that I needed to be on the other side of the teacher/student relationship in order to be truly committed to teachers as well as students so I began a Yoga Alliance 200 hour certification at North Shore Yoga in Chattanooga with Dolly Stavros in 2009 . This Vinyasa yoga teacher training was taught with loving attention and deep spirituality that literally turned my yoga world upside-down. I now want to teach as much as possible and share the gift of yoga to to any and all.   I have also... Read More ››

Although I practiced martial arts for 7 years prior, I began teaching from the Western world of fitness.  Back in 1997 I received my BS degree in Exercise Science and Wellness and was certified as a ACE Personal Trainer,  after that Pilates, Spinning, Snow Skiing, and Intrinsic Coach. My emphasis has always been using exercise as a tool to manage stress, even snow skiing. After two years in the industry, I decided to learn more by taking a Yoga teacher training which was 13 years ago already!  Half way through the class I realized this is it, this is all I need!  I soon converted all my clients I could and let the others go, and dedicated myself to continuous personal and professional growth in the field of yoga. I even took another teacher training right away because I was kind of like a yoga junkie and wanted more!  It’s been a wonderful choice and journey. Blessed, I was hired at a growing Community College to teach several credited yoga classes. It was the first offering of yoga there and I felt responsible to teach the full spectrum of yoga, and just as importantly, to help grow the community... Read More ››

I started practicing yoga as therapy to recover from my “real” work outs and to increase my flexibility. Over time something happened, yoga principles sank in, it was the absence of something not motivated by selfish or personal gains. A transformation had started without my consent or knowledge and know I am here. I teach a hot, dynamic flowing class that incorporates breath, philosophy, strength and fun. My class is for the young at heart and those who do not take themselves too seriously. If you want to defy reason and fly, even for a second, then fall gracefully, my class is for you. I only teach what I have experienced and know myself.         Read More ››

Jennifer has been involved in fitness for over 15 years. She grew up a classically trained ballerina with The School of Fine Arts and then went on to dance in college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham Southern College. Around the age of twenty Jennifer decided it was time to give ballet a rest. She became a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor during her college years. Jennifer graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham with a BA in communication studies and a minor in Spanish. With a desire to try something different Jennifer began practicing Bikram and Ashtanga yoga in 2000. She was drawn to yoga instantly because it offered a great workout but also offered something more meaningful, a chance to connect with the mind, body, and spirit. In 2001 Jennifer began teaching a vinyasa style yoga class at Spa Moksha and has been teaching yoga ever since. She is certified in Ashtanga yoga by David Swenson. Some of her favorite yogis are Baron Baptiste, Bryan Kest, and Sean Tebor. Jennifer is married with 3 children. She is also an artist working in acrylic and oil and loves to paint anything that... Read More ››

Stephen Fletcher, Director and Principal Teacher, graduated Bikram’s 9-week teacher training course in Los Angeles in November, 2002, and has been teaching yoga ever since. He recently attended a 200 hour Kundalini teacher training in Asheville, NC. Stephen has a love for all styles of yoga and encourages students to be aware that they are all connected. He has practiced and studied with Akasha Ellis, Sean Tabor, Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, and Brian Kest. Stephen’s class is inevitably spiritual in nature and pulls from every yoga and discipline that exists. He will help you see the inherent oneness of all things as his physical instructions emerge as a philosophy. Stephen will emphasize that good yoga lies in perception and reception. His background is in music and massage, both of which help expand his view of the body and mind and their ultimate union. Your Yoga philosophy: Make room for all the paradox. Everything is symbiotic and ultimately one, so follow no set path as a living truth is always changing. Style of yoga: Hot, Kundalini Favorite Yoga Quote right now: Nothing need define you, only shape you. Favorite Yoga Pose right now: 5 min Plank Pose Read More ››

Gabriela Pomplova first began her yogic journey intuitively, “When I was tired and needed to rejuvenate, I always went into a strange pose. My body especially liked to curl into KARNAPIDASANA (knee-to-ear pose). I had no clue I was practicing one of the yoga asanas.” From 1995-2001 “I was going through a very emotional and painful period of my life. I only knew The Five Tibetans’ exercise (which is a derived sequence of yoga poses, practiced in repetitions). The Tibetans kept me afloat in my thoughts and developed a new awareness of my body in the meantime.” In 1999 a friend lent her a book about yoga as the old adage says “when the time is right, a teacher appears.” She was ready to come out of her ignorance. “I was determined to learn more about yoga, not only through performing postures but through every aspect of my being, acting, and doing. Working on my breath became an important everyday task. My abilities enhanced. My artwork took a different, a more meaningful direction. I began to work with new mediums. Now, in addition to painting and mosaics, I also enjoy designing yoga clothing.” In 2005 I completed my first... Read More ››

Melissa Scott attended her first yoga class while in college in 2002 and has been hooked on yoga ever since. She came to the practice with a strong background in dance and pilates, and has studied under teachers of Iyengar, Anusara, and Vinyasa traditions. Melissa completed her teacher training in 2008 under acclaimed Power Vinyasa teacher Dolly Stavros. She has continued her training with and gains inspiration from teachers such as Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Sadie Nardini, and Simon Park. Melissa is also a mental health counselor in private practice, specializing in working with women of all ages. She draws on her counseling training to infuse her classes with a sense of wellness and self-care. Melissa’s Vinyasa Flow-style classes are fun and light-hearted, while still grounded in a spiritual approach. She challenges her students with creative flows, encourages them to find their own unique practice, and inspires them to incorporate yoga into all aspects of their lives. The central message of all her teaching is, “Be kind to yourself and others.” She believes yoga gives us the tools to better ourselves in mind, body, and spirit, so we—in turn—can better the world. Melissa proudly serves as an ambassador for... Read More ››

After the first time practicing yoga in 2002, Shannon fell in love with her mat and felt like she had come home to her true self. She became a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher in 2007 after completing her training at the Tallapoosa Center for Inner Arts in Carrollton, GA. There she studied an eclectic style of Yoga and Tai Chi with Karen Sifton and Roger Hornsby. She has experience teaching prenatal and mom & baby yoga. She is also a freelance graphic designer, artist and aspiring musician. Shannon currently teaches Sacred Flow (a soulful heated vinyasa) and Sacred Dance (a unique yoga dance flow) at The Yoga Circle. Her classes are open to all levels, but come prepared to sweat! She believes the more you let go and allow for your own authentic movement to evolve, the more you will awaken the freedom in your body and your life. She incorporates bhakti yoga into her classes with meditation and song. She encourages you to smile through your practice, befriend your body, let your intuition guide you to a new awareness, and enjoy the gift of presence. Shannon is the founder of the Birmingham Kirtan group which meets monthly... Read More ››

    Your Yoga philosophy: Yoga connects us to our source and spirit, which we share with all beings. Yoga is a celebration of life and the gift of embodiment. Yoga helps make us more fit vessels to serve our communities and fulfill our roles in the cosmic order.   Style of yoga: Eclectic~ A blend of hot Vinyasa, Yin, and intuitive movement   Favorite Yoga Quote right now: “You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state” -Sharon Gannon Favorite Yoga Pose right now: Handstand : – O Read More ››

I turned to yoga eight years ago when my workouts weren’t “working” anymore. I would spend hours at the gym or take long, hilly runs to escape my stressful life, and I would end up feeling tired, ravenous and spent. I was drawn to vinyasa yoga, because I heard it was a vigorous workout. My first vinyasa classes were wonderfully sweaty, but they also left me feeling calm, refreshed and aware. I began to see my yoga practice as an opportunity to be in my body, to observe my thoughts and emotions, and to learn to breathe through the complex sensations that are the product of being alive and a part of this world. I have had the joy of training with Richard Freeman, Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea and Patty Townsend of the Yoga Center Amherst, where I completed a 200 hundred hour certification. I teach the type of class I love to take: warm, flowing, deep and surprising. My classes are open to all levels, ages and body types, and I believe that transformation is available to all of us through daily practice. Read More ››

Christine Marie Caiola is a native of Birmingham Alabama, with a strong foundation in dance and gymnastics. After graduating with a BA in Psychology in 2000, Christine returned to Birmingham and began studying Ashtanga Yoga under Akasha Ellis, who received his training in Bangalore, India. In March of 2002, Christine received her Ashtanga Yoga certification from David Swenson, a renowned American teacher and one of the first Westerners to learn the Ashtanga system under Master Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Since her certification, Christine spent six years teaching Ashtanga yoga in the Birmingham area. During that time, she developed her practice under many noteworthy Yoga masters, including Shiva Rea, Bryan Kest, Sharon Gannon and David Life. In 2008-2009, Christine lived and taught in England, where she not only received a teacher training in Shiva Rea’s Vinyasa Flow technique, but also practiced the Jivamukti method at Jivamukti Center, London on a regular basis. She continued teaching in 2009-2010 in the Republic of Palau an island nation in the Pacific Ocean where she spearheaded and organized the country’s first participation in the Global Mala for Peace. Most recently, in May 2011, Christine received a 300-hour Jivamukti teacher certification, conducted at the Omega... Read More ››

Melissa’s love for yoga began 10 years ago, when she started practicing yoga as a counterbalance to her workouts. However, she quickly noticed improvement in her strength, flexibility, and posture and found a sense of peace and purpose that deepened each time she returned to her mat. She also fell in love with the cardiovascular aspect of power yoga. In 2010, she started a new yoga chapter in her life when she completed her first teacher training with Baron Baptiste and began teaching vinyasa flow classes. Melissa is thankful to be able to share her journey and love for yoga through teaching, and combine her passion for music into each class. As a teacher and a student, it is her intention to share all the benefits of yoga with others and have fun with each practice. Read More ››

When you step onto your mat, be prepared to for anything. Yoga has a way of changing us from the inside out. The more we connect with our breath and bring awareness to our bodies, thoughts, and emotions- the more we open ourselves and make space for change to come in. In this way, Yoga truly does “make you flexible.” ‘ Katie McClung is an artist and arts teacher born and raised in Birmingham, AL with a love for surfing and traveling the world. She has studied and trained in Ashtanga Yoga with Akasha Ellis from Birmingham Yoga. (200hrs RYT) Katie also practices Kundalini and Vinyasa yoga, incorporating both styles into her classes, which are open to all levels. “Yoga is fun. And who doesn’t want to have more fun?” Read More ››