Balance Wellness Studio

Elaine Alexander has been a Practitioner of The Feldenkrais
Method® of Somatic Education since 2006. She was drawn to the
Method because of physical limitations and curiousness in the
plasticity of the brain. Having sustained significant injuries, she
sought relief from her limitations in something different,
something called The Feldenkrais Method®.
Experiencing immediate improvement sparked a desire to embark on an
extensive 1000-hour training in the Method spread out over a period
of 4 years giving way to a journey of immense self-discovery.
Experiencing profound improvement in all aspects - physically,
mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - gave her new
purpose.
Since 2006 Elaine has practiced privately in-home as well as
publicly to students ranging in age from 5 months to 92 with
varying degrees of limitation. She has helped with issues such as
cerebral palsy, spina bifida and scoliosis to balance, flexibility,
performance enhancement, and efficiency of movement. Elaine teaches
Feldenkrais® Awareness Through Movement® classes and series and
offers private Feldenkrais® Functional Integration® sessions.
Elaine Alexander, Guild Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner
(GCFP)
www.feldenkrais.com
912-223-7049

Neely Hunter is a licensed massage
therapist and level three Reiki Master Teacher. She is the owner of
Massage By Neely, a private practice operated since 2000, and
co-founder of Balance. Neely holds a Bachelor of Arts in English
& Social Science from Mississippi University for Women and in
2000 completed the 750-hour triple-certification program at The
Academy of Somatic Healing Arts (Georgia).
Her individual certifications include traditional Swedish massage,
clinical sports & deep tissue therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy,
Myofascial Release therapy, and Peri-natal therapy. She’s also
received additional training in visceral massage, hot stone
massage, hydrotherapy, Foundations in Myofascial Release, and
Yamuna Body Rolling® self-care techniques for massage therapists.
She began Reiki training in 2004 and completed her Reiki Master
Teacher training in 2008. She offers what she likes to call
integrated massage therapy to deliver the best combination of
techniques for each person.
Neely and Bonni Smith began working together in 2003 and formed
what is now Balance in 2011.
Neely W. Hunter, Licensed Massage Therapist
(LMT)
GA #MT004606 | www.MassageByNeely.com | 912-399-1919

Annie is the lead yoga instructor at Balance where she
implemented our Beginner's Yoga Series in 2013. Annie has been
teaching yoga in the St. Simons area for nearly a decade and
practicing for over 30 years. She began her yogic journey by
becoming a teacher of Transcendental Meditation after a six month
teacher training program in Europe under the guidance of Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi. After her training, she taught The T.M. Technique
extensively in New Orleans and the Atlanta area. In 2006 Annie
completed her 200-hour Teacher Training in Vinyasa Yoga at Bliss
Yoga Shala in Jacksonville, and in 2013, completed her 500-hour
Teacher Training (E-RYT). Her teaching style is Ashtanga-based and
she has attended workshops with Manju Jois, David Swenson, David
Williams, David Keil and Doug Swenson. Annie is also a Stand Up
Paddleboard Instructor certified by the World Paddle Association
and has combined that with her yoga training to offer SUP Yoga. She
is a full time Realtor on St. Simons and a licensed pilot who flies
with the Civil Air Patrol. Her philosophy is one of peace, love and
happiness and believes that it all starts with the individual. Her
yoga style reflects that in body, mind and spirit.
Annie Harper, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT)
912-222-4455

Pat is an energetic, spirited yoga teacher who is eager to
share her passion and love of yoga with others. She has practiced
yoga since 2006, completed her 200-
hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Program at Omcore Yoga and Body
in St. Simons Island, GA in 2015, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher
(RYT) with Yoga
Alliance. Pat is committed to a lifelong study of yoga and its
philosophies and has attended workshops lead by Christopher Baxter,
Max Strom, Kim Holton and Deva Parnell.
Pat offers fun, multi-level Vinyasa flow, restorative and gentle
yoga classes, for all bodies and ages in a safe and nurturing
environment. She gently guides students to develop awareness of the
body-breath-mind connection, encourages them to practice with
kindness and self-compassion as they explore, refine and
deepen
their yoga practice and cultivate a deeper understanding of yoga
philosophy and traditions.
Pat’s deepest joy is witnessing her students’ transformation as
they grow in their yoga practice, discover their authentic selves
and let their light shine!
Pat Heran, Register Yoga Teacher (RYT)
609-775-5806 patheran@att.net

Bitsy Moores is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). She joined
the team at Balance Wellness Studio in 2013 teaching both Gentle
Hatha and Yin Yoga classes. Bitsy’s journey from joyful student to
inspirational teacher was infused with both an extreme love of
anatomy as well as respect for the healing art of yoga.
“Unrolling yoga mat number one in college, I never imagined
yoga would be part of my daily life twenty-five years
later.”
This life-long journey brings many disciplines into her
classroom for the enrichment of her students. Bitsy's classes
include elements of Hatha yoga, Ashtanga, Powers and Thai Yoga
Massage. Bitsy offers classes that focus on stimulating the body's
immune system through yoga principles. Come experience Bitsy’s
personalized classes, structured to dynamically improve the
flexibility of both your body and your smile! Bitsy teaches weekly
classes as well as offering Private Sessions throughout the week by
appointment.
Bitsy Moores, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)
912-270-5394
 

Born in South Africa grew up in Johannesburg. Spent a lot of
time as a child and young adult in the bush of Botswana, camping
and living with wild animals. Studied Fine Art Majoring in Print
Making at the University of the Witwatersrand then went on to study
Ceramics At the University of Witwatersrand of South Africa. Worked
as a Artist and have exhibited in SA and the USA. Also studied yoga
in the USA have worked as a yoga teacher for the last 18 years and
as a art teacher for the last 10 years. Janita has two children
Acacia and Keeta and is married to Steve Moore. Certified in
Vinyasa Flow Yoga, from Asheville Yoga School in 1998 with a 200 hr
Yoga Alliance Certification, and currently working on 500hr
certification. She has completed workshop classes with Shiva Rae,
Bryan Kest, Doug Keller, Desiree Romberg, Stephine Keach and Shala
Worsly. Yin and Meditation with Sarah Power. Her specialties
include:Yoga Flow, Yin Yoga. She is passionate about giving people
a better understanding of yoga and the benefits of yoga practice;
helping to facilitate a happier, healthier more peaceful life
style.

She took her first yoga class in 1999 and her first certification in 2002, completing her 200 hour teacher training in 2006 at Discovery Yoga in Saint Augustine.

Having fallen in love with the mechanics and science of yoga, she wanted to practice and study yoga exclusively.

Joyce has had opportunities to study with some yoga masters such as John Friend, Desiree Rumbaugh,Jason Crandell,Elena Brower,Sabine Vera and many more. She has much gratitude to these incredible teachers.

Joyce is also a licensed massage therapist with 22 years experience. She can be found in the village at the Greenhouse and teaching classes at several other yoga studios around the island.

Skinology by Candice
Candice began her journey into the world of esthetics with her
initial training at The International School of Skin and Nail Care
in Atlanta, Georgia in 2003. Following graduation in 2004, she
returned home and began her career as a Licensed Esthetician at the
5 star rated Sea Island Spa on Sea Island, Ga.
In addition to her esthetician training, Candice is also a
Registered Nurse, graduating from College of Coastal Georgia in
2013 with her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her most recent
background includes working in plastic surgery as a cosmetic nurse
with both invasive and non-invasive procedures.
She has achieved numerous certifications and extensive
training in pharmaceutical grade chemical peels, laser treatments,
microneedling and microdermabrasion.
Whether the concern is pigmentation, redness, acne or aging
skin, Candice is passionate and dedicated to customizing a skin
care treatment plan for you. She offers custom facials, chemical
exfoliation, dermablading, facial and body waxing, eyelash and brow
tinting.

Lindsey Adkison has always had a passion for movement. With a
background in dance and Tae Kwon Do, she discovered yoga more than
15 years ago. She took time to explore other fitness regimens
including marathon training but returned to yoga while living in
Miami in 2013. There, she received her first yoga teaching
certification through the American Fitness Professionals
Association (AFPA). Upon returning to the Golden Isles, she began
teaching at The Club, Omcore Yoga, Wynnever Fitness and various
other locations.
In 2016, Lindsey served as an assistant to OmCore's owner Patricia
Ploeger and completed her Yoga Alliance certified training at
OmCore. She currently teaches around the Golden Isles while
maintaining her own practice, one primarily based in the Ashtanga
tradition.
In addition to yoga, Lindsey holds bachelor's and master's degrees
in English literature and education, respectively. She has worked
as a journalist for The Brunswick News for 10 years. Lindsey also
writes articles and columns for its sister publication, Golden
Isles Magazine. When not covering her beat or hitting her mat,
Lindsey can be found enjoying time with family and friends,
including her husband of nine years, Josh, and their dogs, Byron
and Tennyson.

Laura is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with National Yoga
Alliance. She started taking yoga classes in 1996 in New York City.
After experiencing various styles,
she found Alan Finger, founder of ISHTA Yoga. She completed her 500
hour ISHTA teacher training in NYC with then Yoga Zone in April
2002. It is Alan’s teachings of
simplicity, joy, compassion, and humor that inspire Laura to teach
yoga.
Laura has been in Nursing as a Registered Nurse and Certified
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner since 1990. Laura enjoys integrating
her knowledge of the body and mind
from her years of nursing with her teaching of yoga. She enjoys
teaching a variety of yoga classes, mat classes, aqua yoga, chair
yoga and privates for all levels of students.
Laura currently teaches Chair Yoga throughout SW Florida. Laura has
taught in NYC, Lebanon, NH, Vermont, Saint Simons Island, GA,
Colorado and SW Florida.
Laura is grateful to the communities of yoga she has been a part of
and the teachers and
students who inspire her every day. Laura is excited to return to
The Golden Isles and continue her path of yoga by sharing her
passion of yoga through asana, pranayama, meditative practices and
spiritual readings. Her favorite quote from Alan Finger, “the
brilliance of an asana practice lies in its mindful execution, not
how far you can go in each pose. Each posture requires harnessing
together the mind, body and breath.”
 
Laura Brennan, Registered Yoga Teacher
(RYT)
912-222-2688
ISHTA Yoga
ISHTA stands for the Integrated Sciences of Hatha, Tantra and
Ayurveda. The practice
of ISHTA yoga is designed to balance the polarities in each
individual. ISHTA also
evokes the Sanskrit word “ishta”, which means, “individual” or
“personalized.”
Underlying ISHTA yoga is the belief that every person who practices
yoga needs an
individualized daily practice to keep happy and healthy. This
practice is called ishta
sadhana, or “individual means of realization.” In the yoga sutras,
verse 2.44 states
“svadhyaya istadevate samprayogah.” This means that through self
study one discovers
one’s individual path to spiritual enlightment.

Carson first started her journey with the practice of yoga at age 19. Originally her goal was focused around the physical practice but after participating in her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 the expansiveness of the yoga practice was revealed to her - opening the flood gates of exploration. Since completing her training, Carson has taught onthe high seas, teaching her fellow crew members on board Holland American Line. During her extensive travels she developed a new understanding of the world which is evident in her teaching.