Purple Blossom Yoga Studio

Emily is originally from Pennsylvania and isa  graduate of Slippery Rock University where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography where she was given the opportunity to complete her 200 RYT through yoga alliance. Emily is currently a full time graduate student, focused on early childhood education. She is a Pisces who enjoys napping, reading, eating new food and traveling. Emily looks after two cats, Beyonce and Paisley. Emily first began her Yoga journey as part of a required class for her dance degree. She received her 200 hour training from Slippery Rock University through Yoga Alliance. Emily also has  completed her cycling certification in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through her experiences in dance, yoga and spinning Emily enjoys incorporating her practices within each other to achieve a well-rounded practice.

Emily is originally from the little island town of Winona, Minnesota on the northern stretch of the Mississippi River. A Taurus, Yoga is right at the top of her hobby list, but one can otherwise find her lost in lots of forms of art, card/envelope making, sewing projects, spinning poi, reading books, enjoying nature, reading tarot cards, moon cycle rituals... all things energy work really! Emily has a wonderful child named Paxton who will be 6 this summer.

Her yoga journey began when she was in high school, but stalled when she moved to NC (the first time!) at the age of 21. Years and one child later, after some serious life turns, she turned back into her yoga practice. She believes feeling the asana has always been something she does naturally but really diving deep into the Philosophy has been nothing but a breath of fresh air for her. The practice resonates with her on a variety of levels. Creating a life that is based around this philosophy is something her soul has been called to do! 

Emily took her RYT200 at Muddy Waters Yoga School in Winona, MN 2018-2019. She feels so blessed to have this style of training as it allowed her the space to learn how to incorporate the lessons into her day to day lifestyle. The class was small so the intimacy that was shared has only turned into lifelong bonds. Being included in a sacred circle that allowed the release of tramas and emotions was a gift she plans to cultivate for others in her future communities. 

Her dear friend and great Yogi Nicolle Jensen, based out of Santa Fe, NM, has by far been her biggest personal influence. With over 15 years of deep immersion studies she has reminded Emily about the tapas that is ever growing inside of us all. Nicolle also being a talented musician, Emily has had the honor of leading classes while she filled the room with beautiful tones.  

Emily’s  life long goal is owning her own Healing House on an island somewhere!

“Each breath is a chance for a new action.” 

“There is no need to worry about the past or hope for the future. Simply focus on the breath in the present and life will always unfold before you in a beautiful mysterious way you have yet to dream of. I am honored and grateful to start this new adventure of working with Purple Blossom Yoga Studio and the community of Greenville. I hold you all in my heart and look forward to seeing you on the mat each week for a moment of self love. Namaste.”

Janelle is a Physical Therapist by trade and is  originally from sunny St. Petersburg, FL. She is a Taurus who enjoys anything and everything great outdoors! She enjoys running, cycling, hiking, and backpacking as well as reading and traveling and generally enjoys spending quality time with quality people. Janelle began her practice in her Freshman year in college; her friend invited her to a three hour outdoor yoga class in a park. She was hooked instantly.  She feels that the opportunity to allow her mind a breather and to feel embodied was such a gift, and that for her, Yoga is meditation in movement. Janelle received her 200 hour training from Todos Santos in Baja California, Mexico in 2009 where she slept in her tent, practiced in an outdoor pagoda, walked the beach, and swam in the waves daily, feeling it was pure magic. Janelle holds certifications in Prenatal and Kids Yoga, was a DPT volunteer for two seasons at the Omega Institute and a camp counselor for many summers at Camp Yogaville, and is anticipating her 500 hour training in November. She has taken classes/ workshops with David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Dharma Mittra, and Sean Corn to name a few. Janelle feels that the more she learns, the more she realizes there is to learn. 

Originally from Northern Virginia, Lauren stayed in Greenville after graduating from ECU and marrying an Eastern North Carolinian. Lauren and her husband have two yorkies, Buddy and Lilly, and a toddler son, Asher, who loves yoga as much as his toy cars. She worked in public education for seven years, but is currently working in the fire/rescue service. Lauren is a Libra and enjoys weight training and running, beach bumming, crafting, reading, and spending time with family. Lauren has a diverse athletic background and practiced yoga at home and in gyms for years before discovering yoga studios. After her first class at Purple Blossom she was hooked; shortly thereafter, she decided to pursue yoga teacher training to not only enrich her personal practice and help maintain a healthy lifestyle, but to also learn how to share the gift of yoga with others to influence mind-body-spirit connections, self-reflection and discovery, strength and compassion, and sense of community. She completed her YTT-200 in August 2019 at Purple Blossom Yoga through Longwave Yoga with Mary Glackmeyer and Logan Wagenseller.

Liza is a pediatric occupational therapist whose yoga journey began many years ago in her birthplace of South Africa. She moved to Greenville 23 years ago and has practiced at Purple Blossom since it's first daays. She recently became an early-nester and was able to achive her goal of becoming a yoga instructor. She trained with Mary & Logan of Longawaveand is thrilled to combine her passions of development, movement, and growth as she joins Purple Blossom's instructors.  

Rachel is a Ballet/Contemporary Dance Teach originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. Rachel is a Leo that currently spends most of her time at home with her three children and enjoys spending time outdoors, bicycling, reading, interior design, and home organization. She started out as a professional dancer, and subsequent teacher, so movement has always been a major part of her life. She took a few Yoga classes in college but didn’t start consistent practice until after she had retired from performing. She then trained for several years under the direction of her mother in an Ashtanga based method. Rachel completed her 200 hour training through Longwave Yoga in 2019 along with a few other wonderful Purple Blossom teachers. Rachel feels that Yoga is a path of discovery and transformation physically, mentally and spiritually and is a path anyone can travel. She is grateful to be able to share her experience and love of Yoga with others - to learn, grow, evolve, and transform together.

Sean is originally from Arizona, but has called Eastern NC home since being stationed at Cherry Point in 2004. A former Marine, mechanic, and Animal Control Officer, Sean currently helps Jess, Jack, and the other teachers take care of the studio and administrative tasks while attending graduate school. He is a Virgo who enjoys reading, yoga, puzzles, generally spending time with family and the 2 dogs: Doodle and Lady, 4 cats: Clover, Kovu, Arden, Elsa and continuous flow of four legged fosters that he and his fiance care for. Sean began his practice right here at Purple Blossom following a desperate need to find a healthy and practical way of improving his mental and physical health. Sean has not yet attended any teacher training but plans to in 2020. While excited about the prospect of sharing his journey, knowledge, and future training with everyone, he would like to focus much of  his future teaching around fellow veterans, with the hopes that his journey will illustrate the transformative impact of yoga, hopefully drawing in more veterans and possible lost souls.

Wendy is a geologist who grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY. She enjoys downhill skiing, hiking, gardening, beekeeping, traveling, cooking, home renovating (her own!). She enjoys the company of their two cats Beija & Bala. Along with three daughters that now spread along the eastern coast (from NYC to VA), she hosted a Portuguese exchange student (who named the cats).  

Wendy came to the asana limb of yoga through a somewhat backward trajectory via dhyana (meditation). About 15 years ago she was going through a rough patch in her life and a dear friend suggested meditation. She says “It was a slippery slope from there.” She attended Sarvaguna Yoga Dhaama (which focused on Hatha and Vinyasa yoga) in Goa, India in November 2018. She has also attended the KORU (mindfulness) training workshop.  

Specifically, she is interested in sharing a merging of her two lives: as a Geologist and as a Yogi. Wendy would like to encourage others to wonder, to observe, and to marvel at the forces at work that are larger than we. By understanding the basic processes and natural beauty of the earth she believes we can understand our place within that larger system, and understand how, as a part of that system we are subject to the same processes of change, equilibrium and resilience.