Teachers
deAnna Anderson - Dallas
Ever since childhood, deAnna has been interested in how things work. Always a student, she practiced violin since age 9, was an avid bookworm and eventually went on to study Physics, Philosophy and Mathematics at NYU. Before discovering the practice of yoga in 1994, her search for freedom and deeper understanding was frequently more like a roller coaster ride and often confused with a need for a wide variety of experiences and sensations. After enough highs, lows, twists and turns, she eventually but inevitably found yoga. During a time in life when it felt like she had been there, done that and was enjoying an exciting and stressful career as a fashion editor in NYC, she found herself laying on the floor in her first yoga class crying for no reason. Something stirred in her soul that she wanted to learn more about. Her curiosity was ignited. The asana practice felt very natural to the former international nightclub dancer who had been dancing since childhood and she soon committed to a daily practice at the Jivamukti Yoga Center. For a long time, deAnna’s practice was an integral part of her life as she changed careers and relocated from Dallas to L.A. and back. At the urging of a few friends, she got a basic certification and began teaching in 2001. Although she enjoyed other styles of yoga, her first love has always been Jivamukti and she finally made her way back to participate in the first month-long Jivamukti Residential teacher training program in May 2003.
Thanks to the early experiences provided by her family who gave her a wonderful arts and science education and the grace of her teachers Sharon and David, she has connected with a time-tested framework for discovering freedom and understanding that has proven to bring the pieces of life’s puzzle together and manifest ever increasing feelings of happiness, gratitude and purposefulness. deAnna is eternally grateful to her family and her partner, Steven, Sharon and David for all their love, guidance and support and to Dharma Mittra for appearing in her life to reassure her that “all is within” and “you are not the doer”.
deAnna is known for her spunky wisdom and compassionate humor, encouraging teaching style and generous hands on assists as well as her eclectic mix of music and DJ skills. She has taught internationally, is the Founding Teacher of Karmany Yoga, one of the first donation-based studios in Texas and is a Lululemon Ambassador. deAnna is very grateful to all of her students, past and present for the wide variety of experiences and lessons that have brought her to where she is right now and will continue to provide insight and wisdom for the future.
Rebecca Butler - Ft Worth
I fell in love with yoga in 1999 doing Bikram yoga at Yoga Vida in Austin, TX. I continued a consistent practice until after my pregnancy in 2002 and then became an Ashtangi, studying under Sharon Moon and occasionally with David Swenson. It was not until 2007 that I even considered teaching. I was a single mother slaving away in the corporate environment so that I could pay day care bills. I couldn't help but notice that my loved ones really wanted me to go to yoga... everyday if possible. It seemed I was much more fun to be around after a good yoga session, no matter what style. I would enter class a stress case and leave peaceful and happy.
I began to consider that perhaps there was a better life out there for me beyond corporate America, and in 2008, I attended Baptiste Power Vinyasa Flow teacher training. From there, I quickly realized my dream of becoming a yoga teacher. In my first year of teaching, I taught almost 1000 hours of classes and more than 7000 students. I enjoy sampling and experiencing all types of yoga and has done workshops with Sharon Gannon, David Life, Johnny Kest, Doug Swenson, Dharma Mittra, Ray Long, deAnna Anderson, Brooke Hinkle, and Simon Park, among others. My most influential teachers have been Baron Baptiste and Ana Forrest.
I first discovered Ana Forrest via a video on YouTube in 2007 and was blown away. I found myself yearning to learn from the amazing, acrobatic yogi, so, in 2009, I decided to attend Ana Forrest's Forrest Yoga Foundations Training. This was a 24-day commitment away from home and family. Here, I began my study of the art of sequencing, the beauty of energetic work and healing arts, and the importance of mending the Hoop of the People, Ana's self-proclaimed life mission which entails compassion, respect and love used to heal the community. In 2010, I continued my training in Forrest Yoga, attending a 10-day Advanced Teacher Training.
In my teaching, I manifest the love and joy I feel for yoga. Yoga has been my guiding light as I have weathered tragedy, embarked upon layer after layer of self discovery, and learned to trust the universe. My mantra is no worry, no stress, only peace. I share this passion unabashedly with great enthusiasm and without fear. My classes will leave you physically satiated, emotionally cleansed, and spiritually uplifted. I encourage and empower every student in my class, believing wholeheartedly that this encouragement and empowerment will affect their daily lives both on and off the mat. Rebecca is blessed to have a happy, healthy family including a new husband and a fabulous little boy.
Elyse Calhoun - Ft Worth
I came to yoga by chance a few months after I graduated from college. My sister invited me to a power yoga class at her gym, and after my first experience with it, I was hooked. I joined the gym that day and went regularly to classes. At first, I chose to go mainly because of its physical benefits, but over time, began to see deep spiritual and mental changes in myself. I discovered that yoga kept me grounded, peaceful, and more connected to those around me. After a year of practicing yoga, I decided that I wanted to deepen my practice and become a yoga instructor.
I became certified in Costa Rica over a three week intensive training. During this course, I deepened my knowledge of yoga by studying its roots, the sutras, meditation, and the asanas. Surrounded by the beauty of the rainforest, I became immersed in the yoga way of life. I returned home with a deeper understanding of what yoga truly embodies, and have loved having the privilege of sharing it with others.
Gabrielle Douglas - Ft Worth
I have been practicing yoga for 12 years and meditation for five years. I began studying with my first yoga instructor, Jeff Farrell, in Dallas, TX, in 1999. Since then, I have continued to study intensely with instructors Piper Petrie (Iyengar), Emily Garrett (Kripalu), Deb Neubauer (Anusara), and Jill Satterfield (Vajra Yoga). I obtained my teacher certification in Vajra Yoga from Jill Satterfield, founder of Vajra Yoga and School for Compassionate Action based in New York City.
I have also written and played music for 18 years and recorded music for 15 years. I began practicing yoga to help with the stress of a full-time career as a hair stylist and the related physical effects of repetitive movement. I found that yoga and meditation helped me heal on a deeper level physically and emotionally. Like music, yoga resonates within my mind, heart and spirit.
I created the class “Slow Flow Yoga” when I began teaching at Burlington Yoga four years ago. Slow Flow is the practice of observing your own natural rhythm of breath and movement with the body, while moving slowly from one pose to another. This helps us to see how we are getting into and how we are holding the pose. In this way, we are more mindful of our alignment and listen to our practice. We can carry our practice of “Slow Flow” into our everyday lives. It will help us to be more mindful, grounded, and balanced in everything we do.
After living in Burlington, VT, for more than nine years and teaching Slow Flow and Vajra Yoga at Burlington Yoga and On Track Fitness for four years, I recently moved back to Texas where I was born and raised. I reside in Ft. Worth with my husband, and our sweet ferret, and continue to seek musical endeavors with one another and our band, The Cush. Now, with my certification in Vajra Yoga, I focus on teaching Vajra Yoga, Slow Flow and Flow Yoga. For more information on Vajra Yoga, go to www.vajrayoga.com
Sally Jekel - Dallas
Sally is certified in the Iyengar tradition as an Intermediate Junior I. She has practiced yoga since 1998 and has been teaching since 2004. She has studied with many senior Iyengar instructors. Her approach to teaching is clear and concise yet she coaxes the best out of her students with respect and warmth.
Amy Johnson - Dallas
The first time I stepped on a yoga mat was in 2001 for reasons other than getting physically fit. At the time I was working 12-15 hour days teaching high school band (along with assisting in visual design and writing work for the color guard and winter guard programs) for a successful music program in Richardson, TX. Teaching movement classes, being an avid swimmer and dancing for as long as I can remember, I always considered myself to be in shape, but when I started teaching high school in 1996 it was the stress that took its toll on my physical being. Being the Head Band Director at a 5A high school in Oklahoma without an assistant and doing everything from arranging music to writing marching drill, I developed severe stomach problems and was only 22! After spending a few years ignoring and “masking” these issues, I knew something had to change on a much deeper level—I was too young to feel that way.
My first yoga class (which was not power yoga) was a bit intimidating and left me wondering if yoga was right for me. But after doing a little research and learning about a multitude of yoga styles, I thought I should give it another try—and Power Yoga it was. I was hooked from the beginning and felt indescribable after. All my life music has been my passion, but as I delve deeper into my yoga practice things started to shift, I felt like I was figuring out who I was and coming into my own. As cliché as it sounds, it made me whole. And it was after one of my students said, “Ms. Johnson, you sure have been nice lately” that I decided I wanted to share this amazing practice with anyone who would listen.
After 2 years of practicing, I decided to go through the training program at American Power Yoga. And in 2003, I received my 200-hour certification. Along with training at APY with Kurt Johnsen and Lyissa Trout, I have also had the opportunity to learn from Shiva Rea, Rod Stryker, Ana Forrest, Brian Kest, Beryl Bender Birch, Baron Baptiste, Dharma Mittra, Edward Clark, Tom Worley, Stephanie Young and Jessica Young. In 2010, I started working towards my 500 hr. certification with Shiva Rea and even though I’m only a few months in, it has been incredible!
Yoga has completely changed my perception on life, myself, and the world around me. It is the one of the few places you can truly be you—there are no egos, and no judgments. I believe it is a very raw and exposed practice where you learn to find, explore, and accept your true self: every strength, and every weakness. I once heard a teacher say that “if you want to get to know yourself, do a little yoga.” I have used that statement in my classes ever since—it cannot be said in simpler terms. In short, I went from conducting at the Meyerson to sweating on a mat. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Amber Kavehkar - Dallas
I believe the opportunity to inspire is within all of us, and the desire to do so has always been a strong part of me. Growing up, I basically taught myself how to play softball. It became my outlet. I became skilled enough to get a scholarship to college. It was here I became obsessed with Sports Psychology, how the mind works after my performance anxiety and physical injuries that plagued my career. I fell into coaching right after college and then after one year as a full-time junior college assistant coach, my life took a different path to Dallas, TX with some tough choices. It was here I found yoga for back pain at Karmany Dallas under the guidance of Amy Johnson. It was also here that I started looking deeper into why I coached. Ultimately, I discovered it was really to help those who may be struggling or hurt like me find a path.
In yoga I also was able to reconnect with my passion for music and found an easy outlet through DJ-ing. I found love mixing both the meditative movement of a yoga practice and my own compilation of meaningful music. I am a yoga DJ, DJSukha. I am also a certified Mental Trainer with Mental Training Inc. and write for Yoga Modern as their YMDJ. Teaching yoga seemed the next logical step. I am trained in the amazing 200 hour RYT Maha Shakti Vinyasa training program through Twist in Dallas. I like to keep it real, fresh, and FUN in classes. My style is exactly like me: real, evolving, corny, and from the heart. I do it for the inflexible, the seekers, and the deep thinkers. Myself included.
Mateo Marquez - Fort Worth
I began practicing in 2009 after reluctantly being dragged into the studio by my sister, Kelsey de la Torre, one of the area’s top power vinyasa yoga instructors. Two years later, in May of 2011, I completed teacher training with Baron Baptiste in Tulum, Mexico and have been teaching in Fort Worth ever since.
I am very much the “anti-yogi” in many ways, not cast from the traditional mold, and perhaps my greatest strength is in making yoga accessible to the non-yogi. My passion for music led me to craft my “Yoga Jam Sessions,” classes that fuse thematic musical scores with power flow.
I am an avid writer, blogger and speaker covering such diverse topics as relationships, parenting, addiction, yoga, sports, business, food, music & pop culture. At the core of my messaging in both my writing and teaching is the vitality of cultivating value creating reciprocal partnerships in all phases of life based on shared passions, values and goals.
I am a resident of Fort Worth's West 7th neighborhood with my daughter Gracyn. In addition to yoga and writing, I am a consultant in the staffing industry.
Teresita Mutis - Fort Worth
Dealing with my three children, with a wide range of ages, was the catalyst for me to begin searching for something to add clarity to my life and to discover a way to release stress, find peace and restructure my physical body. Early in 2001, I was invited to an advanced Ashtanga class, and I knew from that moment that I had found my true passion. My yoga journey began in that class and has been growing ever since.
I continued my own practice in different studios for the next three years until I felt certain that I wanted to share all the benefits and passion that I had received and felt for yoga with others. I have been teaching privately and publicly since April 2004 after attending the first 9-day Intensive at Barsana Dham in Austin, Texas. I completed my 200-hour level training through The Living Yoga Program and became a Certified and Register Yoga Instructor (CYT, RYT).
I have taught in many different places and have had so many wonderful experiences. I’ve been able to practice in different countries and attend classes in different languages. I have hundreds of hours of workshop and retreat training with teachers such as David Swenson, Bryan Kest, Edward Clark, and Ross Rayburn. I have truly been blessed with the opportunity to practice a multitude of branches of Hatha Yoga such as Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinyasa, Baptiste Yoga and many more. I will always have a yearning for acquiring knowledge as a student.
I teach at all levels, and I have experience in teaching Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa, Partner, Kids’, Power, Hot, Gentle and Restorative Yoga. I take the time to find out what each student is searching for and what is needed to create a fulfilling practice. I believe in joyful striving in yoga and every aspect of life. In addition to teaching in many different places, I have my own practice. I am an instructor at times, but I will forever be a student of Yoga. Yoga is my lifestyle and it affects everything that I do. Whether it is relieving stress or strengthening my mind, body and soul, yoga is forever present and assisting me in living each day, one at a time. Always in Practice, Searching for Mastery, Loving the Journey.
Marj Rash - Dallas
Marj Rash is an Intermediate Junior I Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor certified by IYNAUS. Having studied yoga for over 35 years, Marj was introduced to Iyengar yoga in 1996 and began teaching in 1998. She continues to travel to Pune, India to study with the Iyengar family. Marj’s sunny yet spiritually-centered focus of teaching is particularly in-tune with recovering and special needs students but can challenge the wants of the more advanced practitioner. Marj is also adept at teaching Pranayama and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. She continues to study around the USA with senior Iyengar teachers Laurie Blakeney, George Purvis, Manouso Manos and others. Marj has several apprentice teachers that she is mentoring though the IYNAUS assessment process. She has attended the Iyengar Yoga conventions in 2001, 2004 and 2007.
Marj held the positions of Membership Chair, Treasurer and Newsletter Editor of the Iyengar Yoga Association of the South Central United States (IYASCUS) from 2002 to 2009. Marj is CEO of YogamartUSA.com a Dallas based company that manufactures and sells yoga props worldwide that are in compliance with the specifications used at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India. During the 2007 convention in Las Vegas YogaMart bolsters were featured on stage during Geeta Iyengar’s classes and lectures. In honor of the teaching of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, 10% of the profits through the YogaMart website are annually donated to the Bellur Project which funds the construction of a hospital, schools in his boyhood town of Bellur.
Carah Ronan - Ft. Worth
Yoga to me is not just on the mat, but in everyone and everything around us. "Tada Drashtuhu Svarupe Avastanam- When we can really be free enough to recognize our true selves, then we live in yoga. Without the agitations and fluctuations of the mind obscuring our vision, we can see clearly that we are all One and the differences we perceive among each other are not real". - Yoga Sutra 1:3
I completed level 2 Maya Yoga Teacher Training with Nicki Donne and Eddie Modestini in April of 2009. In addition to the teachings of Nicki and Eddie, I have studied with Chris and Rebecca Bunting, Doug Swenson, Ray Long and continue to learn and grow on a daily basis with a wide net of amazing and inspiring teachers and students. I received my masters of fine arts from Montana State University in Science and Natural History Filmmaking in 2008 and continue to bring social issues to light through documentary filmmaking. When I am not practicing yoga I love to climb, bike, slackline, garden and travel.
Amber Shumake - Fort Worth
My yoga initiation began in college as a last-ditch effort before drugs to combat anxiety. Initially, I thought yoga was for the weak. I was a runner, and that was the perfect metaphor for my life. I soon realized that I could obtain the elusive runner’s high through yoga. Today, if someone told me I had to go back to running on a treadmill, I’d probably grit my teeth and bear it, but I wouldn’t like it, and people probably wouldn’t like me either. Eight years later, yoga is still my drug of choice.
As an English teacher, my colleagues always wanted to know where I practiced yoga and if I thought it would benefit them. “I’d love to try yoga,” they’d say, “but I have an injured … ” (i.e. shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, toenail, etc). Motivated to provide them with an option less intimidating and more affordable than a yoga studio, I got a basic certification and began teaching them in the gym after school. Witnessing their transformation both on their mats and in their classrooms revived me.
Ironically, lying on my mat, I had been hearing a voice that commanded, “You cannot teach next year.” I thought I was going crazy; I was good at teaching, and I liked it. That voice, once a whisper, only became louder and more persistent. At an Ana Forrest workshop, I picked up a flyer advertising her Foundational Teacher Training in Los Angeles. I told myself a million lies about why I couldn’t afford, didn’t deserve, and wouldn’t attend her training. Until that voice, the one I now know as my intuition, convinced me otherwise. In a leap of faith, I signed up for the training, resigned from the school district, and embraced a different kind of teaching.
On the mat, I encourage people to reframe their perceptions, to pursue their vitality, to live passionately – in short – to stop running from oneself. Off the mat, I’m currently working toward my M.Ed. in Counseling at TCU, dabbling in photography, and rewriting the script I thought was written.
Trish Voneiff - Dallas
I grew up in a very competitive and athletic family. Never quite excelling at any particular sport, I chose to stay active in the gym as simply a means to stay healthy. After years of cardio workouts and strength training, I found myself in a yoga class at my local gym. It immediately felt like I had found my place, yet, surprising to me, it wasn't in competition with anyone. After a few months, I found that yoga had become more than a physical exercise, but instead a passion that I knew I had to explore further. I joined a studio, based on the suggestion of a friend, and was immediately inspired by one of the teachers there. His energy and genuine love for life was contagious. I wanted to cultivate that joy and energy in my own life. I started a daily practice, and over time, yoga has become a part of who I am. It's a constant reminder to me to slow down and be grateful.
With a hectic daily job as a Fashion Buyer, my schedule can be very demanding and stressful. Yoga gives me the energy to balance my crazy work schedule with the other passions in my life. I feel blessed to have had many amazing teachers with a variety of yogic backgrounds, all which have inspired my practice and personal growth. I chose to continue my journey by studying with my teachers, Deanna Anderson and Jason Lobo. I received my 200-hour certification with Yoga Alliance by studying Vinyasa Yoga with Pure Yoga in Dallas, TX. I hope to help others find the joy within themselves and their everyday lives through the practice of yoga.
We all may find our path in unique ways at different times in our lives, but it is there all along just waiting to be discovered!
Lauren Syler Weedon - Dallas
A close family friend took me to my first yoga class when I was 19. From my first moment on the mat, I had an “ah, here it is…” feeling. I am not unique — many people have an “ah-ha” moment when they try yoga, but little did I know how much that feeling would change me.
On the mat, for the first time in my life I was able to quiet my mind and let everything else drop away. It’s amazing what revelations you can discover about yourself and how you want to approach life when you stop doing and just start being. As a type A personality who was always striving to move forward, the concept of trying to be where you are (no matter where that was) was a life changing experience. I have a teacher who likes to say, “It is a practice, not a perfect,” which to me sums up the concept of yoga and life in general.
Wanting to share my love of yoga and delve deeper into my own practice, I completed Baron Baptiste’s Level 1 & 2 teacher trainings. I am a Yoga Alliance RYT 200 hour certified teacher. My teaching style works to help students create a powerful mind and body, yet have compassion for themselves in their everyday lives and on their mats. In life and in yoga, just showing up is half the battle.
Lauren Wessinger - Fort Worth
Yoga has been a part of my life for over 15 years, starting in high school with whom I consider my guru, my mother. As a student for half my life I decided to take my practice further, leaving my fast paced job in fashion to deepen my practice both physically and philosophically. The training program I attended at Aledo Yoga led us to pull from past experience and current teachings to create our own version of what yoga means to us. We were given the freedom to create our classes pulling from our favorite pieces from many schools, while still learning anatomy, philosophy, asana and how to live yoga on a daily basis. I teach prenatal (semi-private and private) and challenging vinyasa flow classes (set to great music!).
My intention with my students is to lovingly challenge and liberate both body and mind. The goal in class is to have each student leave with an open heart, a calm mind and a strong body...all key elements in taking their yoga "off the mat" and into their daily lives, truly living their yoga.
My two babies and beautiful husband remind me to live my yoga every day.
Stephanie Young - Dallas
Light your candle and enjoy its flame— see the beauty.
Know the obstacles have been truly cleared— find the sweet things of life.
Celebrate the little things.
Be warm— always find comfort in your path.
Let time be your strength— if necessary, make changes as soon as possible.
Know that you are loved and I am here for your yoga journey today and always.
I have been trained by the renowned yoga instructor Baron Baptiste.