INSTRUCTORS
HOLLIS CHURCH, OWNER
Hollis has been practicing yoga consistently for the last 8 years. She began taking classes at Knoxville Yoga Center with Ron Felix and later working with Jennifer Coffin at Side Crow Yoga. She has completed two teacher training courses in Asheville, NC with Cindy Dollar from One Center Yoga and then recently with Stephanie Keach at the Asheville Yoga Center .
In addition to the Glowing Body, Hollis runs Dega Catering, a company that provides full service catering in the entertainment industry.
PHILIP CLIFT
Philip Clift is a long-time practitioner and teacher of vinyasa yoga. A licensed massage therapist specializing in deep tissue work, Philip integrates 17 years of massage practice into his yoga instruction, intuitively guiding students through adept pose sequencing and body adjustments. He crafts high-energy power yoga classes for all levels, emphasizing core strength and alignment. He also teaches hot and yin yoga classes and a variety of specialty series and workshops.
Philip received his bachelor’s degree in nutrition from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of The Atlanta School of Massage. Now offering Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy. This barefoot massage style uses bodyweight and leverage to deliver “the deepest, most luxurious massage on the planet.” Philip is one of the first Knoxvillians to offer this rapidly growing style of bodywork.
JENNIFER BEYT COFFIN, RYT
Jennifer has a 10-year hatha yoga practice and draws her inspiration from a blend of the essential aspects of Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Forrest, Iyengar, and Yin Yoga practices. Since teaching her first class 6 years ago, Jennifer has strived to make her classes welcoming, challenging and safe.
It is Jennifer’s goal as a teacher to help you start your own journey of discovery and to get the greatest possible benefit from your yoga practice. Her teachers include Sean Johnson, Philip Clift, Doug Swenson, David Swenson, Stephanie Keach, Heather Tiddens and her son, Max.
To learn more about Jennifer, please visit her website.
Become her fan on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
Video of Jennifer’s Yinyasa class is available here online at yogavibes.com.
Sarah Crook
Sarah finished her 200-hr Yoga Alliance Teacher Training program at Neighborhood Yoga in Boone, NC in May 2010, and she began teaching her first yoga classes at the Glowing Body. Her intention for teacher training began only as a way to deepen her own practice, but through inspiration and support from her teachers – Kelly Golden and Valerie Midgett – her fellow trainees, and the Glowing Body, she began to listen to her inner teacher and embark on her journey as a lifetime yoga student and teacher.
Sarah teaches Vinyasa style yoga classes that incorporate awareness of breath, movement, and energetics. Each class explores an intention to practice in class, and she encourages her students to embody these experiences and take them off of their mat and into the world. Sarah teaches yoga so that she can share what she has learned through her yoga practice and help people find a more healthy and balanced life. She is currently teaching Sunrise Yoga and Moving Meditation.
Sarah will be attending the Asheville School of Massage and Yoga beginning in Fall 2010 to deepen her study of yoga and the art of healing.
Kelly Golden, E-RYT
Kelly has been a student of yoga for over 16 years and teaching for 8. She is a certified E-RYT with over a thousand hours of teaching experience, and will complete her 500 hour certification with Yogarupa Rod Stryker in the Para Yoga style in 2010. She is the director of the two teacher training programs at Glowing Body and co-facilitates a teacher training program in Boone, NC. She is also the assistant editor of yogabasics.com and leads yoga retreats all over the world. She teaches a non-traditional Tantric based Vinyasa Yoga style that incorporates a strong focus on energetic principles, prana, mantra and meditation in addition to dynamic asana. Her sense of humor and love of the mystery is expressed in every class she teaches.
BETTY KALISTER
Betty Kalister started her yoga training in the early 80’s and has attended numerous trainings since, including 130 hours of training under Rodney Yee, as well as 160 hours of additional training courses. She completed her 230 hour RYT certification through Stephanie Keach’s training program in Chattanooga, TN. Betty’s teaching style focuses on ensuring correct anatomical alignment in yoga poses. Her alignment-centered philosophy is fortified by the use of variations and modifications with props, which affords her students the opportunity to find ease in poses, and thus allows the mind to focus inwardly. Betty is currently in her sixth year of teaching and feels privileged to share her beliefs in the physical and emotional healing of yoga; she continues her asana and pranayama study and is amazed daily by how yoga works for everyone.
AJEET KHALSA
Ajeet Khalsa is a highly gifted practitioner, doing her life’s work of yoga and healing. She provides clients (individuals and groups) with Kundalini yoga training and meditative techniques that promote sustained concentration, greater self-awareness, increased energy, deep relaxation, core strength, self- confidence, mindfulness, and focused attention through movement, meditation and breathing techniques. Clients love her warmth, wisdom and happy spirit. Her private yoga sessions, using classical Indian science of the Sacred, allows you to experience a deep peace and union within yourself. She has been certified in Kundalini Yoga since 1996 and incorporates her decade of Broadway dance and artistic expression into all her classes. Her Yoga and the Art of Healing, Classical Kundalini and Dancing Spider Yoga for kids and families will give you just what you need for increased vitality, and greater sense of the divine flow in life.
KIMBERLY LOMONACO, RYT
Kim began her study of yoga in 2004. After casually taking classes for the physical benefits, she recognized the immensity and necessity of the practice and jumped in whole-heartedly. She began teaching in 2006 and completed her first teacher training in 2008 at Neighborhood Yoga in Boone, NC, under the guidance of Kelly Golden, who leads Glowing Body’s 200 hour teacher training. She also draws inspiration from her ongoing studies with Yogarupa Rod Stryker.
Kim found herself at Glowing Body when she moved here for graduate school in 2008. Currently, Kim manages the Glowing Body, and assists Glowing Body’s teacher trainings while she continues to work toward an E-RYT certification. She also works as a Speech/Language Pathologist in nearby hospitals.
Kim’s classes are creative integrations of intention, breath and movement. Her primary goal is to create an environment in which students can develop their own unique practice while respecting their physical, mental, and emotional states.
Lauren Hughes, RYT
Lauren Hughes has been practicing yoga since 1998. After many years of practice, she felt led to share the benefits with others. She started a beginners class at her church on Yoga Day 2008, which has turned into a twice weekly regular class.
Lauren received her certification from New Day Yoga, taught by Dayna Gelinas. The program focuses on Iyengar based flow from a Christian perspective. Lauren’s influential teachers include Bryan Kest, Rebecca Hicks, Jennifer Beyt Coffin, David Swenson, Jason Crandell, the Yoga Slackers team, Tim Hughes, and G. Visit her website!
MOLLY MCCLELLAN
Molly has been practicing yoga since 2002. Molly finds the strength, balance, rhythm, and flexibility of yoga reflected in her daily activities. She became a yoga instructor to spread the wonderful fruits of yoga to others.
Molly studied Ashtanga yoga and massage therapy at the Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga. Molly was blessed with an inspirational yoga teacher, Jeff Tiebout. She also studied under Edward Clark. She teaches Ashtanga and Vinyasa style classes. She builds her yoga classes on breath, integrating it with structure, alignment and flow.
Molly is also a massage therapist. She incorporates Shiatsu,Thai-yoga, Myofascial Release, and trigger point therapy during her massage sessions. She is also a Reiki practitioner and a lover of hula hoop dance. She makes and sells hula hoops.
KATHY MCMILLAN, AAAI/ISMA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR
Kathy found yoga after going from being hale and hearty and running five miles a day, to a six-year downward health spiral due to Lyme disease. Her western medicine doctor recommended yoga to cleanse her nervous system and help her heal faster. She found her mentor, Philip Clift, three years ago and has been hooked on Vinyasa yoga ever since. Besides Philip, she is learning from Jennifer Coffin, Doug Swenson, Christa Schoenbrodt and Daphne Larkin.
Kathy, a pre-vet major in college, has immersed herself in the science of yoga and how each pose cleanses the autonomic nervous system. She stresses breathing, alignment and an economy of movement, but believes that, ultimately, yoga is about self-discovery. She is also a devout Catholic, who truly believes that God made the human body to heal itself and that Vinyasa yoga is one way to cleanse and heal our internal organs and joints.
JUDSON NICHOLS, RYT
Judson began his yoga practice in 1998 under a group of Integral yogis in Georgia at the Athens Yoga Center during a search for a spiritual community. After waiting far too long, he did his teacher training under Stephanie Keach at the Asheville Yoga Center in 2007 and has loved every minute of teaching since then.
Judson’s classes include Mindful Hatha Yoga, a gently-paced class focusing on unifying your mind and body while strengthening both, as well as a repeating six-week series for absolute beginners. He enjoys teaching karmic (pay-what-you-can) classes because it opens participation up to all sorts of people who might not otherwise experience yoga. All his classes are beginner-friendly by design, and he enjoys answering questions during class.
RYOKO SUZUKI, MS, ATC, CSCS, LMT, RYT
Ryoko (“Lyo-ko”) completed her first yoga teacher training and became a registered Yoga teacher in 2002. Originally from Japan, Ryoko grew up with traditional Buddhism philosophy and has continued to study, practice and share those ideals through teaching and studying different forms of Yoga. In 2005, she deepened her meditation with Vipassana Meditation and Yoga practice under the guidance of Swami Samarpanananda Saraswati in India.
Ryoko has her B.S. degree in Athletic Training, Magna Cum Laude, (minor in Psychology), and her M.S. degree in Sports Medicine & Biomechanics. She is also a licensed massage therapist, STOTT Pilates/Qigong (Ancient Chinese healing modality/moving form of meditation) instructor, certified Strength & Conditioning specialist, and Reiki (a Japanese form of stress reduction & relaxation that also promotes healing) practitioner. In addition to different Eastern healing modalities and Western osteopathic manual therapy techniques, Ryoko also has used Yoga as an integral part of rehabilitation with great success in Orthopedic Physical Therapy settings.
After her extensive and thoughtful study of Western medicine, Kripalu, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Anusara, Iyengar, Yin, Acu-Yoga, and Qigong, Ryoko discovered the most benefit (physical, mental and emotional transformation) and true teaching of Yoga in her study and teaching of Svaroopa® Yoga, which focuses on releasing deep layers of spinal tension. Under the guidance of Swami Nirmalaananda Saraswati (formerly Ram Berch, the originator of Svaroopa® Yoga), Ryoko travels to study Svaroopa® Yoga, Yoga therapy, and meditation through the Master Yoga Foundation in Malvern, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Ryoko’s passion for teaching and extensive therapist experience makes her classes truly unique, warm, joyful, peaceful, meditative, and therapeutic as well as providing a safe environment for learning.
Ryoko brings over 10 years of clinical manual therapist experience, treating and educating patients of all ages and athletes from all levels (Olympian gold medalist, professional to youth football leagues), with orthopedic injuries, repetitive use conditions, automobile accident injuries, and spine disorders. Ryoko’s Integrated Manual Therapy & Holistic Healing includes Yoga Therapy, Embodyment®, Craniosacral Therapy, Strain Counterstrain, Neuromuscular, Medical Massage, Mobilization, Muscle Energy Technique, Shiatsu, Reiki, and Prenatal Massage.
Ryoko is available for one-on-one healing sessions and private/semi-private yoga classes in Knoxville and Nashville TN. While continuing her spiritual journey and practice, during her free time, Ryoko enjoys Ayurveda cooking, gardening, traveling, reading, listening to music, and playing her piano & harmonium.
To read more about Ryoko’s Integrated Manual Therapy & Holistic Healing, go to our massage page.
To learn more about Ryoko, please visit her website.
Become a fan of “HealingSpirit” on Facebook to get the latest class/workshop update, weekly contemplation, and great deals on Massage & Bodywork!
Don tritt
Don began practicing Kundalini Yoga with Ajeet Khalsa three years ago after being diagnosed with progressive osteoarthritis in his hands, elbows and lower spine. The osteoarthritis had progressed to the point of Don being declared 100% disabled. The regular practice of Kundalini Yoga has eliminated the painful affliction of arthritis without medications, as well as alleviating the need for blood pressure medication. The profound impact of Kundalini Yoga in Don’s life has led to his pursuit of studying and teaching the healing art of Kundalini Yoga.