PRANA Yoga Holly Springs

Angela teaches in the vinyasa style of yoga. She loves teaching all levels of practitioners from beginners to advanced students. Although her vinyasa classes focus on linking poses together and connecting the breath with movement, she also incorporates alignment and some anatomy in as well. Angela also teaches restorative yoga, meditation, kirtan, kids yoga and Sanskrit studies. She strives to bring a peaceful, yet uplifting energy to her classes and encourages her students to look inside themselves to connect with their inner beauty, strength and peace, during their practice both on and off the mat. 

Angela completed a 200-hour teacher training in 2010 and a 500-hour training in 2017, both at Blue Lotus in Raleigh. She has devoted a lot of time to the study of Sanskrit, the language of yoga, as well as the Yoga Sūtras. Meditation and bhakti yoga (yoga of devotion) are both important to Angela’s personal practice. She loves kirtan and sometimes plays her harmonium at the end of class in śavāsana.

Lesha fell in love with yoga, at age 15, after taking her first hot yoga class. She was hooked on the strength based aspects of the practice. It wasn’t until she hit her 30s, that she realized how much more yoga had to offer. In 2015, she completed her RYT 200 hour through Buti Yoga. She trained under Buti Yoga’s founder, Bizzie Gold. She holds certifications in Sculpt, HotCore, Yin and Restorative Yoga. In 2019, she completed her Level 2 Aerial Yoga training with Rebecca Drake, the creator of aerial yoga, at MomentOm Arts in Chapel Hill, NC. Lesha loves creating creative classes and flows, that are accessible to all levels of students. She is originally from Miami, but has called NC home since 2011. She lives in Fuquay Varina with her husband and two children.

Yoga found Dawn in 2011 and believes it was the practice of yoga that provided the balance of her life, mind and spirit. Dawn credits yoga with creating a space for self-identity, clarity and creativity. After practicing for several years, she completed her YTT in 2016 and is currently registered as an Experienced instructor with Yoga Alliance and has over 1000 teaching hours. A natural teacher at heart, Dawn teaches high school English and often uses the skill of weaving shared life experiences and narratives as a common theme in her yoga classes. When not teaching high schoolers or yoga, she enjoys spending time with her four children, hiking, walking, reading, being outdoors and connecting with her community.

Polina is the founder of PRANA Yoga. Polina started practicing yoga in 2012 and used the practice as a means to reconnect with her mind and body after having her first baby. Polina enjoys crafting fluid classes with creative sequencing aimed to build strength, leaving students feeling restored and energized. She believes in a functional approach to yoga. Her mantra is “your body, your yoga.” Polina completed her 200-hour certification with Bliss Body Yoga in 2019 and then furthered her studies in Yin Yoga with Bernie Clark in 2020.

Lyndsay’s love of yoga began in 2010 as an extension to her exercise routine, and has since grown into a deep appreciation of yoga philosophy and practice. She is passionate about serving others, and encouraging holistic wellness of the mind, body, and soul. She graduated with a Masters of Social Work degree from The University of Georgia in 2012 and completed her 200-hour certification at One Heart Yoga in 2019. She believes that yoga is for everyone, and hopes to encourage others in their practice both on and off the mat. Her interests include quality time with her husband and their two boys, staying active, and delicious, healthy food.

Christa Hogan teaches yoga flow or vinyasa. Her classes often incorporate meditative practices and the written word to help students connect mind, body, and spirit through a sense of wonder. She enjoys creating nurturing spaces for fledgling yogis and inspiring more experienced students' to reinvigorate their home practice. As a writer, Christa is especially interested in the role meditation and yoga play in building sustainable lives for creatives so they can offer the world their best work. When not at the keyboard or on the mat, Christa is with her husband of 25 years and their three boys. They enjoy traveling and exploring the outdoors through hiking, biking, skiing, boating, and camping.

Melissa's yoga journey began when Melissa and her husband settled in NC over twenty years ago. Her desire to then teach yoga began after the birth of her fourth child when she set a goal to complete several marathons and two Half-Ironmans in the same year. She witnessed the enormous benefits of her yoga practice on her intense training and busy life. After those accomplishments, she enrolled in her first 200hr Yoga Teacher Training (YTT). To date, Melissa has completed two 200hr YTTs and is currently working on her second 500hr YTT.  With over 10,000 hours of teaching, Melissa holds the credential of E-RYT 500 and has been honored by serving as the lead teacher in several Yoga Teacher Trainings. Melissa holds specialty certifications in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yoga for Athletes, Children’s Yoga, Yin, Restorative, Assists, Meditation, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, PTSD and Connected Warriors, Yoga for Cancer and more. Melissa believes that yoga is for everyone. In her classes, she incorporates yoga philosophy, in addition to some humor, with the goal of keeping her students in the present moment without judgement and meeting them wherever they are in their practice.  

Bridget Rawls Peterson, E-PRYT 500, began her yoga practice in college in NC as a compliment to her technical dance training. Bridget pursued her love of dance and yoga in New York City, where she gravitated toward vinyasa yoga because of its fluidity. Bridget completed her 200 hour yoga teacher certification program at Om Yoga Center, where she also began to delve into mediation and Buddhist spiritual studies. Bridget expanded her yoga teacher certifications prenatal before completing her 500 hour training, which included restorative and pranayama. She also holds a Yin certification, as well as Meditation and Kids Yoga. 

Bridget is proud to be a member of the United We Om non-profit organization which brings trauma informed yoga to underserved populations. Through her teaching she hopes to inspire her students to see the beauty and joy that is around them and within them through breath and movement.

Nancy Lehrer attained her 200-hour Yoga Training for personal growth in her own yoga practice and then went on to take an additional training for Aerial Yoga. When an opportunity arose to actually teach Aerial Yoga, she hesitated, even with 20 years of experience teaching in a school. But after teaching her first Aerial Yoga class, Nancy FELL IN LOVE! Nancy teaches to all of the different learning styles in her classes including visual, auditory and hands-on learners. She wants students to feel welcome, safe, and empowered, all while having fun!

Barbara believes yoga finds you when you need it most. Barabara's practice began ten years ago as a student, then six years ago as an instructor when she became certified as a Buti Yoga instructor. She continued on to obtain her RYT-200 and obtain additional <wbr />certifications in HotCore, willPower, Cardio Yoga, Yin and Restorative, Yoga for Weightlifters and Ashletes, Standup Paddle Board (SUP) Yoga, and PoleFitness. As an instructor, she's driven by her purpose to share the knowledge she has gained of the thousand-year-old yoga practice, combined with her love of community and movement to empower and spark inspiration within oneself. She believes you are stronger than you know and she can't wait to meet you on your mat! 

Kara took her first yoga class in high school but didn’t begin her full practice until right after college. After taking a hot yoga class, she was addicted! As the years went on, she wanted to deepen her knowledge of yoga. Kara is a Yoga Alliance certified 50-hour sculpt teacher, a 200-hour yoga teacher and has been teaching for 5 years. When taking her class, you can expect high intensity, cardio based sequences with a focus on inner core strength. When Kara is not teaching, you can find her on her mat, or enjoying a glass of wine outside with her husband, son and 2 Puggles.