Meet Amy, whose yoga journey began as a triathlete, when she discovered that yoga was her secret weapon. This revelation led her to dive headfirst into yoga, a practice she has consistently embraced for over 20 years. Amy continues to compete as an Ironman triathlete and adventure racer and credits yoga for keeping her injury-free and resilient.

Amy's experiences as a former personal trainer, researcher, and Professor at the University of Alabama are woven into her teaching style. She aims to demystify tricky poses and make even the most complex concepts as easy as child's pose. She aims for every class to include creative sequences, alignment tips, modifications, and a breath work focus that will leave you feeling like a zen master.

Balancing her professional life, athletic pursuits, and motherhood, Amy's greatest skill is persisting through challenging situations without taking herself too seriously. She brings these qualities to her yoga instruction, approaching each class with empathy and patience.

Amy firmly believes in the transformative power of yoga to build strength, flexibility, and the ability to keep calm and carry on. Join Amy for a class in a supportive and inclusive community where students can flourish.

Lida is a student at the University of Alabama studying Psychology. She first began to practice yoga before high school for the physical benefits as an athlete, and she quickly discovered the positive effects yoga has on the mind. She loves the way yoga helps her feel both mentally and physically every time she practices, and she views yoga as a way to strengthen and take care of the body, calm the mind, and manage stress.

Since the field of Psychology and yoga complement one another well, Lida got her 200 hour yoga teacher certification (RYT 200) the summer of 2024 to be able to share the benefits of yoga with others and to deepen her practice. Try Lida’s classes for a fun, supportive environment where you will always leave feeling better about yourself!

Yoga has been a major force in Dianne’s personal and professional development. She is interested in mental health, and the relationship between contemporary neural science nd ancient yogic knowledge.

In her own words, “Yoga helps me know and remember who I really am, regardless of others’ expectations and demands. Yoga has taught me to be grounded and content. Like everyone else, I’ve had ups and downs, perceived failures and successes, life challenges and crises. No matter the surface waves, I find stillness and peace through yoga practice.”

Dianne wants to share this life-changing gift with others. No matter where you are on the yoga journey, there is welcoming place for you in her classes and in her heart.

Dianne’s resume includes a personal yoga practice since 1966 and she became a certified yoga instructor in 2016. She is registered w th Yoga Alliance (RYT 500, eRYT200, RPYT, Prenatal Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra). She earned a doctorate in psychological education, with an emphasis in self-knowledge development. Dianne and her husband share yoga and “grand parenting” and are avid gardeners.

Steph has been a practicing yogi for over 20 years. She attended her first intensive meditation retreat in 2009, where she fell in love with the yoga community and quiet contemplation. She became more serious about her yin practice in 2017 when her chronic illness became tougher to manage. In 2019, she earned her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification with HereNowYoga in Birmingham, Alabama.

Yoga has been a transformative experience for Steph and an integral element of her chronic pain management. She is passionate about bringing peace and comfort to others through gentle movement and breathwork, and firmly believes that every body can benefit from a sustainable, accessible yoga practice.

Steph holds a PhD in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, an MFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and a BA in English from Western Michigan University. She has been teaching creative writing, literature, and composition classes at various colleges and universities since 2008, and currently serves as an English instructor at the University of Alabama. She is working toward an MLIS in library and information science and an MFA in book arts from the University of Alabama.

Madison is an actor who is pursuing an MFA in Acting at The University of Alabama. She views yoga as an exceptional method for staying grounded, present, and embodied, which is a perfect companion to the craft of acting.

Madison enjoys teaching yoga as a means of encouraging others to find creative and playful ways to move within their bodies. She was first introduced to yoga through a ballet class in high school and, after years of practicing on her own, decided to become certified (200 HR-RYT) in 2020. Since then, Madison has taught at various studios and gyms in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Alabama.

Madison holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Samford University and enjoys rock climbing and running. She’s also a dog mom and excited to marry her fiancé in August 2024!

Sierra is a passionate Mental Performance Coach and athlete dedicated to breaking mental and physical barriers and supporting others to be the best they can be. She first developed her own yoga and meditation practice while playing semi-professional rugby, and soon felt the benefits of the low-impact training and mindfulness on her performance. Transitioning out of her rugby career and into running, yoga and meditation prove to be essential to Sierra's training plans. Whether she's training for her next marathon or trail race, yoga and meditation help her enjoy every step of the way, staying injury-free and present-focused.

With a Master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology and training as a Master Resilience Trainer, Sierra is focused on highlighting mental skills and techniques crucial to optimal performance. She hopes to bridge the gap between physical and mental performance with self-awareness and mindfulness practices in the studio or with you out on the roads and trails.

Shawn didn’t begin yoga until the age of 50, being encouraged by his sister (a yoga teacher in Atlanta), to try it for my lower back pain, which quickly got better. He soon learned that yoga was more than physical exercises. By connecting movement to breath, he was taken into a journey that built on his earlier meditation practices, from the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, of interior prayer.

In Shawn’s words: I was trained in the Kundalini and Ashtanga yoga traditions at Birmingham Yoga by Akasha Ellis, who studied Kundalini yoga under Yogi Bhajan, and Ashtanga Yoga, in India under Viswanatha (nephew of Sri Pattabhi Jois).

Shawn is a retired High School teacher / librarian / coach. He teaches online in the graduate school Library Media Program at the University of West Alabama. He enjoy stillness, family, hiking, Alabama football, and he’s hopelessly addicted to dark chocolate.

Leslie has been practicing yoga since the early 1990's and it has been part of her journey of healing from anxiety. She became a certified Baptiste Yoga instructor in 2018 while living in Nashville, TN. Leslie is a naturopathic doctor focusing on the total person - mind, body and spirit. She recommends yoga to her clients for stress management, strengthening and overall wellness!

Silke is a German-born yoga teacher. She was born in the 70s, grew up in the wild 80s, and, in the following years, worked, studied marketing, and started a family. Her love for yoga started after her 3rd child was born and she wanted something to relax her body and mind.

In 2010 she and her family moved to Kecskemét, Hungary. Since it was nearly impossible to follow along in a yoga class in Hungarian, she decided to learn everything about yoga herself and took part in her first yoga training. That was in 2012, and since then her love for yoga has never left. In 2015 she moved to the US and was lucky enough to study with many great teachers. That´s when she found her love for Restorative Yoga and when she moved back to Germany in 2021 she started to assist her teachers (Judith Hanson Lasater and Lizzie Lasater) at their trainings.

Now back in Tuscaloosa, you´ll find her on the mat sharing what she loves most, Restorative Yoga, a style of yoga to rejuvenate and heal the body. Further, she loves her “massage balls” either the little ones for Myofascial Release or the big Yamuna ones to stimulate the bone and help the body into a better alignment. Not to forget her love for the energy body, where you can explore ways to free up stuck energy to feel better.

RELAX, ROLL, and FREE UP YOUR ENERGY while practicing with Silke!

Justice was born and raised here in Tuscaloosa. Before she was introduced to yoga, she fell in love with meditating. She enjoys reading, running with her dog, going to the gym, and being around loved ones.

Emma Grace Cullop is a junior at the University of Alabama (UA) studying Nutrition. She earned her 200-hour RYT certification nearly four years ago, and yoga has been a significant part of her life ever since. Emma's goal is to guide her students towards strength, flexibility, and balance both on and off the mat. Her classes are known for being challenging, blending elements of heat, power, and dynamic movement. With her high-energy flows, she empowers students to push beyond their physical and mental limits. Emma is excited to share her practice with others.