Tulsa

Jill has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. With the completion of a 200 hour yoga teacher training she has deepened her Vinyasa practice and knowledge of yogic philosophy and enjoys sharing her experiences with others. In addition to her 200 hour teacher training, Jill has trained in trauma sensitive yoga, yoga for anxiety and stress, restorative yoga and yoga for the aging population. She incorporates elements of each to create classes that are accessible to every body, mind and spirit. Her classes are focused on proper alignment, pranayama breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Modifications and advanced options are made available so all participants feel comfortable and welcome to experience each yoga class in their own way. 

Certified through YogaWorks 200 RYT—a vinyasa/alignment based teaching program. Kennady enjoys providing a Palo Santo snug and safe environment. She began teaching in the summer of 2018, cultivating a passion for yoga since 2014. Yoga’s ability to improve resilience while promoting a softer conversation with oneself, has kept Kennady on the mat. She often integrates tactile cues as well as props, to allow a deeper understanding of postures. Music depends on the mood and the flow follows suite. Organic movement is encouraged but breathing is required. 

Zachary has been a massage therapist, acupuncturist, and yoga instructor since 2010. He teaches beginner-friendly classes that combine postures, breath, and meditation. With more than 500 hours of yoga teacher training, Zachary is certified to teach a number of different styles of yoga, including Hatha, Bihar, Yin, Restorative, and Kundalini. When you attend one of his classes, you can expect a mindful, slow-paced sequence that will focus heavily on relaxation and stress reduction.

Alfie started practicing as a way to recover from a weight lifting regimen and to destress from working retail management. He soon realized that Yoga started giving him something much deeper; he found higher self-esteem, self-love, and empowerment he never found from just working out in a gym. After a year and a half of practicing, he received his RYT-200 from ViraVinyasa Yoga School in April 2018. Other training Alfie has received include 15 hours of Yin Yoga with Melissa Christensen and 17 hours of Pranayama with Mark Stephens.

Alife teaches Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation in public classes and workshops as well on his Youtube channel, “Fully Inspired: Yoga by Alfie” and on the Insight Timer Meditation App. Beyond the physical aspects, Alfie believes compassion, vulnerability, transparency, and heartfelt playfulness are key aspects in attaining true strength and empowerment. The heart of Alfie’s teaching comes from the connection between his practice and life experiences; and his intention is to inspire his students to connect their movement and breath on the mat to how they move and breathe through life off the mat.

My name is Liz Graham, I was born and raised here in Tulsa, Ok. I have always had a love for movement, self-care, and yoga since I was about 14 years old. I heard the mountains calling me seven years ago and left Tulsa to head to Colorado Springs, Co where I decided to fully commit to my yoga practice and got my 200-hour certification from my favorite studio in town, and started teaching immediately. I teach Power Vinyasa, Vinyasa and later received training for yin yoga. I met my husband in Colorado and decided to join him and his family and focus on his family sanctuary full time. We decided to move the farm to Washington state where we lived in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. I managed a coffee shop in town and continued teaching yoga. We were married and soon were expecting our first precious gift, Wesley. With us knowing we wanted to continue growing our family and continuing our love of the farm/sanctuary life we decided to go full circle and come home to Tulsa. I am so excited to start settling and teaching in my hometown.

Katy came to yoga initially for exercise & stress relief but over her 8 years of practice it has become much much more. realizing that there were so many facets to discover, ranging from fitness, to neuroscience, to spiritual exploration and everything in between, she went through teacher training in 2020 & is looking forward to a life long journey of learning to take yoga Off of the mat and into her everyday life. in her classes you can expect strengthening to help create stability, movement to help create space within and a focus on breath to create presence and connection.

Shayla started her yoga practice at a very young age as a means for back pain relief, but she truly accredits the last 5 years to deepening her understanding and genuine appreciation for yoga. As the world battled through Covid-19 these past years, Shayla found her light within the darkness. Whilst completing her nursing BSN program she took the leap to go for her 200 hour yoga teacher training with My Vinyasa Practice. Shayla is coming to us with both diplomas in hand and even her own business/brand P.O.I.S.E. LLC. Her brand’s acronym stands for Person of Internal Self Elevation...which is exactly what Shayla plans to guide her students into becoming.

She teaches both meditation and vinyasa style classes. Shayla has recently started offering neck & back chair massages as well in order to provide more comfort to our students. Shayla’s goal is to create a space that will not only help practitioners  grow stronger as an individual physically and mentally, but also help you acknowledge who you are, where you currently are, and who you are growing to be inside and out all from their own safe haven on and off the mat.

With over 20 years of practicing yoga, Sue is a passionate and devoted instructor of yoga, who is proficient in the art of movement. She is excited to incorporate her dance background into the traditional elements of yoga to present a fun and healthy learning experience for students of all levels. 

Sue has been an athlete all her life; dancing and tumbling starting at 5 years old then transitioning to team sports in middle and high school. When not practicing or studying yoga, she enjoys hiking,  kayaking, circuit training, and gardening. 

Certifications:  

• RYT 200 hr training through Everyone Yoga School 
• Trauma-Informed Yoga Training Levels I and II, Sundara Yoga School 
• Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher Training, School of Positive Transformation 

Forever a student of yoga, there is much more she still aspires to learn. She believes through the connection of mind, body, and breath, we can live happier and healthier lives.

An adventurer in adult life for many years, I understand what it’s like to compete in intense, exciting industries, and to feel pulled in different directions by career, art, spirituality, family, and fun. Finding the right balance in the endeavor of adulting can be a hard thing to pull off.  Adulting, like medicine and yoga, is a practice.  Early in life, I was drawn towards the cerebral aspects of raja yoga, yet it was many years before I experienced the physical vinyasa and then many more before I felt called to share the gift of yoga with others through Yoga Teacher Training with Life Power Yoga. 

Like all others on the path of life, I needed a way to calm down, slow down, and enjoy life more fully. There was a nagging, yearning undercurrent of emptiness anchored to my striving. I needed to connect with something deep and heartfelt, a source of meaning and joy.

The practice of yoga and meditation has provided me with the insight that everything I need is within, (understanding, patience, love, and peace) waiting to be called upon.  Yoga provides me the opportunities to find physical stillness and internal quiet, both of which have been not only extremely difficult to acquire but are extremely beneficial to my ability to recharge, to re-set, to combobulate if you will. Yoga is not a panacea that fixes all problems; however, yoga can provide opportunities for individuals to listen to the whispers of the mind, body, environment, and energy, thus allowing more appropriate action to take place. Yoga helps make my life more vibrant, peaceful, and easier to handle day by day.

The simple techniques I guide you towards can help you do that too. A sincere yoga and meditation practice can energize your creative endeavors while also keeping you regulated, even at the center of the storm.  Who knows you might even get a good stretch if you are ready?

I hope you will allow me to guide you on your journey to a more meaningful lifestyle.

I first discovered my love for yoga with a Rodney Yee VHS yoga video at age 12. That discovery has continued to guide me through the constant vinyasa of life with over 26 years of practicing and over 12 years of teaching. I have studied many forms of yoga with leading teachers in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York but while living in LA, I found my teacher; Mark Whitwell, founder of The Heart of Yoga. Rooted in the teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya, the Heart of Yoga principles hit home with me more than anything else. Studying with Mark for over 4 years in LA, I received my 500 hour teacher certification on a spiritual pilgrimage and training in India. Since then, I have been traveling and teaching with Mark Whitwell, as his assistant and guest teacher at places like Esalen, Bali Spirit Fest, Omega Institute, Kripalu, Telluride Yoga Festival and many more. Upon moving back to Tulsa, I have taught yoga classes and workshops at Be Love, The Yoga Room, I AM Yoga, Everyone Yoga School and Salt Yoga. Yoga is many things but its essence is simply the relaxation and participation in our own life, and the yoga practice helps us relax and integrate into our bodies so that we can fully show up and participate in our life.  My approach to teaching starts with the heart, is centered around the breath, giving each student a full mind/body/spirit experience. Tapping into the hidden emotions and stagnant energy stuck in the body, in class we have an opportunity to become our own alchemist and transform what does not serve us into energy that does. I welcome all to my class, from beginners to advanced and especially the skeptical! I do not teach a 'cookie cutter yoga' or an 'instagram pose' yoga type of class. No fancy yoga pants required and you don't have to touch your toes. Come as you are and let's create a space for you to find your own practice that is specific to where and who you are.

My name is Chanista Karns. 

I have been practicing yoga for 8 years and have been teaching for 6 years. 

I teach anyone and everyone. I’ve worked with beings aging from Pre-K to High school, 

from Special Needs to people who are homeless and dealing with addictions.

 I’ve studied with and am certified through

• Everyone Yoga School in Tulsa, Ok.

• IAM Kids Tulsa with Dana Morris in Tulsa, Ok.

• Sarah Klein's Ashtanga Mentorship Program in Durango, Co.

• Melissa Cameron's Vinyasa Program in Tulsa, Ok. 

 Currently I am teaching, learning, and creating new ways to help all generations unplug and tune in. I teach Kids Yoga, Slow Flow, Vinyasa, Power Yoga and Ashtanga-Inspired yoga. 

Yoga is a way of life and is available for anyone willing to try it.

I personally experience the benefits of managing stress through breathing, meditation, and healthy movement everyday!

 My passion is sharing these tools with you so you can learn to surf the waves of life with grace. 

See you on the mat and in the world. 

What can I let go of that no longer serves me? Mark answered that question by letting go of his addiction to alcohol, and his road to recovery took a positive turn when he first placed his mat down in the Be Love Tulsa studio in fall of ‘17. As his practice grew, so did his commitment to living a life of sobriety. One aspect that really helped him during this time was being introduced to Raven Yoga by Nicole Peltier. The support of his loving spouse & children led him to Everyone Yoga School Teacher Training, facilitated by Mandy Eubanks & Melissa Smith, and he completed his 200hr yoga teacher certification in March, 2020. Mark also completed the Earth Element- Trauma Infored Yoga Therapy Training in October, 2020. Mark has discovered a mindfulness & meditation practice, thanks to his teacher & mentor Dr. Steve Hoppes, which he includes in his daily ritual. The power & calming effect of the breath is not lost in Mark’s asana practice, but rather fully embraced. One quote you’ll hear him say in class is that “It’s a yoga practice...not yoga perfect”! Expect to settle in, clear your mind space, become present & breathe in Mark’s class. You will find him teaching soft & restorative and medium level classes, and he may even incorporate traditional Native American music & song being he was raised in a very traditional Cherokee upbringing. When Mark is the student, you’ll find him taking some power classes & also enjoying hot yoga! Mark is grateful for his Be Love family, some who have been right there supporting him on his Recovery journey. He is also very grateful for all the yoga teachers who have influenced & shaped him into the person he is today. He invites you into his class, where you will be greeted & welcomed w/an open heart & feel the support of Mother Earth as we honor the practice of yoga. Wado...(thank you in Cherokee)

My name is Melissa Martin. I am a 500HR Registered Yoga Teacher. My yoga journey began in 2015. I
was looking for something less strenuous on my muscles and joints and a way to increase my flexibility
from sitting at a desk all day.  I was introduced to Yoga, when a friend I’d been weight training with
invited me to try a Hot Yoga class. The class was challenging, but afterwards I had an overwhelming
feeling of relaxation.
After practicing yoga for about a year and falling in love with the way it made me feel, I decided to
become a yoga teacher so I could learn more about the history of yoga and to share what I loved with
others. I completed my RYT200 Hour Teacher Training in June 2017. I went on to complete an additional
300 Hour certification for my RYT500 in Vinyasa Focus Training in October 2019, with The Melting Spot
School of Yoga in Owasso, OK.
I began teaching hot Vinyasa flow and Power Flow classes immediately after completing training in
2017. In addition to my weekly classes, I taught flexibility training at a local sports facility for youth, lead
a series of Yoga classes for Teen Athletes, multiple workshops, and lead donation-based classes at a
dispensary located in Tulsa, OK.
In October 2019, I moved to Oahu, Hawaii. While living in Hawaii, I was offered the opportunity to teach
classes for a Local Café at a Beach Park in Waikiki. The classes varied from Gentle Flow, Power Vinyasa,
and Medium Flow w/Reggae Music themed classes. Unfortunately, Due to Covid the Parks closed and
we were no longer allowed to gather and practice. For a short time after, I lead complimentary online
live classes from home as a service to others who were locked down and couldn’t get to a practice in
studio. I moved back to Oklahoma in July 2020.
In addition to Yoga, I am a Karuna Reiki master. I received my Usui Reiki Master attunement in 2018 and
Karuna Reiki attunement in November 2020. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and
relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by laying hands on the client and is based on
the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's life
force energy is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more
capable of being happy and healthy. Reiki is a simple, natural, and safe method of spiritual healing and
self-improvement that everyone can use.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power"
and Ki which is "life force energy". So, Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." All therapies
are intended to be complimentary of all other medical treatments. They are not meant as a substitute
for medical or psychological diagnosis and treatment.
I am currently living in Salina, OK and I am excited for the opportunity to share my practice at BeLove
Yoga Studio, in Pryor. I am passionate about sharing the benefits of a yoga practice with others and want
to prove that it can be beneficial to everyone regardless of size, age, race, religion, or gender.
Practicing Yoga keeps me centered, strong, mindful, and has given me a more positive outlook on my
life. Its taught me to breathe, relax, and live in the present. I hope to bring an exciting new vibe to the
Pryor area and I’m looking forward to assisting with new workshops, classes, and events.

Christine Von de Veld has been practicing yoga since 2011 and teaching since 2017. She is a  certified 200hr yoga teacher from EveryOne Yoga School and is continuing her education there to become a 500hr certified yoga teacher. She is also certified in Trauma Informed Yoga Training & Devata: Yoga Philosophy. She loves teaching along with yoga’s sister science, Ayurveda. By teaching classes that go along with the seasons: summer classes will cool the body & winter classes will heat the body, to help balance out your Ayurveda doshas.

Christine teaches a little bit of everything: Restorative, Soft, Beginner, Medium & Power. In all of her classes you can expect: Meditation, Mantra, Mudra, Asana, Moving Mediation w/ the use of props and some laughs. 

To hold a space to offer rest to the weary and strength to the weak.

Her practice was a slow evolution but after having her daughter in 2014 and leaving the 100 hour corporate work weeks she found a new solace in yoga. Attending class after class to enjoy some quiet time she found an intimacy within herself unexperienced before. Her mentor opened her mind to focus on more than just completing each pose but stretching and strengthening her Spirit, Soul & Body; becoming intentional and patient with the changes. Not only could she settle her mind but returned to her family recharged and refreshed giving her the strength to enjoy every season of this crazy life.

Completely in love with the inner changes yoga made room for she completed 540 hour Masters in 2017 with Thai & Trauma sensitivity training as well, proving that she will always be a student first.

I believe that yoga is a journey and that the act of practicing together creates community. I have taught at several other facilities and organizations. Regardless if you practiced for one day or fifty years, I aim to create an environment that allows you to work towards the best version of yourself. While I provide guidance, it is up to you to encourage, push, and respect the boundaries of your own body. Through different periods in my life, yoga provided a space to push myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I hope that during my classes you experience your moments of personal enlightenment. Much Metta.

My intention for students who practice with me in class is to support  them in becoming their own best teacher and to learn from what wisdom arrives during their practice on the mat. I love to encourage you to find a balance between the structure of a yoga sequence and finding your own authentic, intuitive movement that leaves you feeling grounded, clear, and aligned. My cues and flows help you establish more connection and deeper understanding of yourself by encouraging introspection, creativity, and curiosity as you move and breathe. I am passionate about ensuring that all people can acquire access to practices that support wellbeing, because through yoga I understand how having a stronger, more loving connection to yourself leads you to have more capacity for the strong, loving connection to others that we need in order to co-create a more loving world. 

I began teaching yoga the same year I began teaching high school students. I quickly recognized a need within my students to have better mental and emotional wellbeing, but I also saw that need within myself. So, I signed up for my first yoga teacher training, and my yoga journey has truly been parallel to my teaching career ever since. Sharing knowledge and learning experiences with others is my passion, and although my yoga practice was for me it was also for me to share with my students. As the need for applied mental health techniques grew, I began to incorporate different aspects of yoga and mindfulness in my classroom as an English and creative writing teacher. My own learning, growth, and embodiment of this practice has beautifully played out through teaching the practice to others in what I learn from them. Observing the needs of my students informs me of what is needed within my classes, within the world, and within myself in order to thrive. What began by practicing nervous system regulation techniques to help reduce anxiety in the classroom then grew into offering yoga as a PE class and eventually working with groups across the school district. In addition to teaching yoga classes and offering sessions for high school groups, I now help other teachers and schools access grant funding for mental health programs, write and develop their own yoga curriculum, and teach them to implement applied mindfulness techniques into their own classrooms.