Our Staff
In addition to yoga and meditation, our team of teachers and assistants bring varied experiences as educators, social workers, mindfulness coaches, and youth recreation leaders. They come to us with a variety of backgrounds, like fine arts and science. Our yogis provide instruction to youth and support staff, promoting self-care and the benefits of yoga and mindfulness. Each class is staffed with a lead teacher and and assistant; all of our staff have experience and training in youth yoga, racial equity, and trauma-aware and healing-focused yoga methods.
Our Organization
We recognize the power dynamics inherent in all systems and strive to be equitable at all levels of our organization. This is why we are choosing to organize as an interdependent nesting circular system rather than hierarchical structure where each team member is valued and recognized as being just as significant as every other team member. Every voice is significant and open, feedback, transparency and mobility is a critical part of our organizational structure. We provide ongoing training and development for our staff to support growth, self-care and community. It is our ultimate goal that this organization be staffed in the future by the youth leaders in our programs
MEET OUR STAFF
Emilia A.
Yoga Teacher
Director of Learning & Operations
Emilia is a multilingual, skilled educator with expertise in public health and youth development.
As an alignment-focused Hatha yoga teacher and Yamuna® Body Rolling instructor, she enjoys helping others to reconnect to Self and break down barriers to the free flow of energy.
James B.
Yoga Assistant
Curriculum Development
Meditation Teacher
James is a New Orleans native and local group meditation host. His passion is for people, and for implementing, sharing, and experiencing various ways to deeply enjoy life.
Allison C.
Yoga Teacher
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Allison is a poet and yoga instructor who enjoys exploring the ways in which language, movement, and breath can bring people into stronger contact with self and paradoxically greater connection with others.
Lynell F.
Teacher Training Curriculum Development
Lynell is a New Orleanian, international educator and student who enjoys bridging communities and cultures on and off the mat all around the world. Lynell leads yoga teacher trainings for adults who wish to share the practice with children in a developmentally appropriate and trauma sensitive way.
Lee L.
Yoga Teacher
Lee, born and raised in New Orleans, is full of passion and enthusiasm and as a yoga teacher focuses on accessibility, personal expression, and freedom so that students can grow at their own pace and in their own way.
Betsy W.
Yoga Teacher
Betsy is an educator, social worker, certified yoga instructor, and media artist. She teaches media production and studies at Tulane University. Her media work and research focus on social, human, and community issues in New Orleans and on a global level.
Raegan R.
n
Director of Programs & Yoga Teacher
n
Raegan Robinson is a teaching artist and yoga instructor that focuses on creating gentle and accessible classes for all skill levels.
Nicole R.
Director of Strategic Partnerships
& Yoga Teacher
Nicole, LMSW, CIHC is a long-time yogi with extensive professional experience as a social worker in the criminal justice system. She is 200 hr- RYT certified and is a music, nature and justice enthusiast!
Christian R.
Yoga Teacher/ Educator
Christian Ryan is an environmental educator, sustainabilista, a 200hr - RYT yoga teacher, and soon to be a 95 hour Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher – Trauma-Informed Focus. She and her hound dog, Grace, have recently realized their dream of making New Orleans home.
Diana S.
Yoga Teacher
Diana is a performing artist, writer, director, producer and arts educator. She is a certified Kripalu Yoga instructor with a focus on trauma recovery. She has had both specialized training and experience working with incarcerated youth, homeless youth, veterans, the elderly and students of the Arts.
Diana T.
Yoga Teacher
Diana has been a practitioner of yoga for over a decade and teaching for 2+ years. She received a 200 hr power vinyasa certificate from Yoga to the People in NYC. She is an advocate for the wellness that can be attained through yoga and is passionate about sharing this with a youth community.
Steve K.
Yoga Teacher
Steven is a yoga instructor, musician, and loves being in nature. He is a volunteer at a local hospital co-hosting a Wellness Group program. Steven gratefully shares music therapy, meditation and chair yoga. He has a passion for sharing his practice to help others feel a sense of peace and reconnect to Self.
Rebecca C.
Teacher Training Curriculum Development
Rebecca is a teaching artist, professional musician, Movement Specialist, and a Yoga Alliance Certified E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500, YACEP® Yoga Instructor as well as the Founder of Yoga for Musicians and Roots of Movement. She specializes in alignment based, heart-centered instruction and roots both her work within the world of social impact.
Victoria C.
Yoga Teacher
Victoria, LMSW, is a Bay Area native with a passion for approaching mental health care from a holistic perspective. They enjoy photography, live music, and hanging out with their two cats, Huxley and Ozzy.
Julie H.
Yoga Teacher & Outreach
Julie CHLPN, 200 RYT, CTT, AA TV/MPP, is a dedicated Wellness & Fitness provider of 34+ years, she specializes in serving underserved populations For 34+ years, she has served as a Yoga Instructor and Nurse in the specialty of Hospice and Palliative, Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Breathcare, Mindfulness and Meditation. Certified in a variety of healing modalities and endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). Julie proudly served on the National Yoga Alliance Education Committee for 4 years and aims to create an environment of non-judgment and inviting space for all ages and stages as a self-care advocate and peaceful wellness activist.
MEET OUR BOARD
Lacey B.
Board Member
Lacey is an attorney with Mental Health and Child Advocacy Service serving Orleans Parish. She is a children's attorney who has worked extensively in matters involving child abuse and neglect. She has always believed strongly in the importance of advocating for the rights of children. Prior to practicing law, she was an administrator at a school designed specially for child with exceptionalities. She also has experience as a CASA volunteer.
She is a member of the American Bar Family Law Section, the Louisiana Bar Association, the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, and the Louis A Martinet Society. She earned her J.D. in 2013 from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, and her B.A. in 2010 from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho.
Camille B.
Co-Founder, Interim
Board Chair
Camille has been working with at-risk youth across the Gulf Coast since 1998, as an art teacher in K-12 classrooms, as a Literacy Consultant, and as a yoga teacher.
She is a 500Hr RYT YA-certified yoga teacher with trauma-informed and youth-yoga training. She earned her MA in Organization Design and Renewal from Seattle University and an MA in art from Texas Tech University.
Camille represented YEAY! YOGA as a Propeller Accelerator fellow, and as a member of the Laureus Sport for Good Coalition.
Sara Foster
Board member
Sara has a passion for health, wellness, and purpose driven work. She has over 10 years of marketing experience, specializing in the nonprofit and fundraising space at PayPal for over 5 years. She received her 200-YTT and believes there is power in movement as medicine and healing to be found when we connect with our bodies.
In her free time, you can find her exploring the mountains of western North Carolina or planning her next big adventure.
Bonita D.
Co-Founder, Board Member
Bonita received her BFA from LSU and an MFA from Tulane University. She is a certified Hatha yoga instructor, and also trained in Kundalini Yoga at Golden Bridge in India. Bonita has trained in Kundalini Yoga Therapy, youth yoga and trauma-informed yoga.
Bonita is a studio artist and a successful Real Estate Agent for the past 20 years, and is also studying to be a Jungian Life Coach .
Cameron D.
Board member
Cameron received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and focuses her efforts on Restorative Justice in her community. Her goal is to help others using her personal experience and knowledge to make her community a better place. Cameron is a Social Justice Adviocate with FFLIC and she is FFLIC's Youth Organizing Manager for Black Girls Rising, She is a Rastafarian Womban who loves music, shooting pool, and sight seeing.
Courtney S.
Board Member
Courtney has worked in juvenile law for 17 years. In 2013, she helped establish a yoga program at Rivarde Detention Center and has experienced first hand the positive effects of yoga on youth.
She graduated from Louisiana State University and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She lives in the Irish Channel with her rescue dog, Waffles. Her interests include juvenile, criminal and social justice, running, yoga, current events, and LSU and Saints football.