Instructors - An extraordinary group, each with their own extraordinary practice and passion, committed to serving an extraordinary community.
Robert
Yoga sort of fell into my life… at the time I was ready to listen! Over the years, many friends had suggested yoga as a way to de-stress, become more physically fit and find some peace in life - but at the time I was too pre-occupied to stop long enough to give it a chance. In 2013 I actually needed something to focus on - and yoga surfaced to help provide that! I received my 200 hour training in Aug. - Sept. 2013 from Jimmy Barkan. It was the most rewarding experience of my life.
Cindy
Yoga has been a constant in my life for over 40 years.
My breath-based teaching style was originally designed for my personal journey to health and balance while recovering from breast cancer. The calming therapeutic benefits of linking purposeful breathing techniques with gentle flowing motion was very instrumental in relieving stress, tension, stiffness, and pain while allowing me to regain full range of motion. I am extremely passionate about this mission and I love teaching the art of pranayama!
Mandi
I was introduced to hot yoga in Winter 2010 and began teaching in Spring 2011. Yoga has taught me what it means to truly let go and connect with my inner self. Each practice brings me a step closer to a journey of self-discovery and healing. I am grateful for the opportunity to share yoga with others through the Hot Yoga Therapy studio.
LILIANA (atvara founder)
Liliana has always been drawn towards the active pursuit of a peaceful state of mind. Naturally, when she discovered yoga, she was in her element. Yoga facilitates her passion for physical and mental wellness. As a teacher, Liliana shares her gifts of knowledge, listening, caring, and wanting to serve others.
Liliana received her yoga teacher training certification in 2018 at Asheville Yoga Center. To compliment her yoga training, Liliana has studied psychology and has a master’s in Language Translation. She is an avid researcher and explorer of all things that can help people obtain wellness.
Liliana's goals are to create a space where teachers can deliver their individual gifts and strengths, where students can find breakthrough knowledge and practices to improve their lives, and where everyone can feel welcome and intentionally find peace.
Jeanette
ERYT-200 RYT-500 Integrated Yoga Instructor and YACEP, IAYT member, AFFA Group Fitness Instructor
My first yoga certification was a NETA Hatha Yoga certification in 2011. I taught for 6 years and decided I wanted to learn more. I trained at Ganesha’s Yoga and Wellness Center for my 200 hour certification and I knew I needed the year long program to absorb as much as possible. I finished it in February of 2018. My 200 hour training helped me personally so much, that I went right back to learn and got my 300 hour in August of 2019.
I believe yoga can be for everyone no matter age, race or size. There is always a style of yoga that can work for you. I like to help people overcome stress, increase mobility and balance, become stronger both mentally and physically. My personal favorite style is Vinyasa, but I can teach many other styles.
I have several other AFFA certifications in Yo-chi, Mat Pilates, and Barre. These are all great mind body practices as well. I also enjoy dancing, paddle boarding, and volleyball.
SANDRA
Sandra has been practicing yoga for 17 years and recently took on the role of yoga instructor.
She has 3 kids: a son who’s 22 and married with her only grandchild, a daughter who is 20 and attends UNCG and is also engaged to be married, and her youngest son who is 19 and attends ECU. Sandra’s husband of 27 years is a pilot for United Airlines.
Sandra’s passion is definitely Hot Yoga Power Flow as well as Strength and Conditioning weight training.
Sandra’s favorite season is summer she loves her hot temperatures but is also passionate about Christmas time and loves spending time with her precious family.
Andrew
MS, NBC-HWC, RYT-200
I began practicing yoga in the early 2000s with my fellow ultimate Frisbee teammates to gain flexibility and recover faster after competition. I started out with the hot 26 postures format then discovered Vinyasa flow. My love for yoga and wellness has helped guide me to a new career path in health coaching, group fitness, and teaching yoga. I love seeing people find strength, stillness, and peace of mind on their mats, and I love the challenge and expansion that practicing and teaching yoga offer me with each and every breath in the physical, mental, and metaphysical realms.
Becoming a yoga teacher was on my bucket list for a long time and I completed my RYT-200 training at Wildlight Wellness Collective in Winston-Salem in early 2022. I am a father of four kids and enjoy learning, writing, reading, travel, competing in sports, and finding my dharma in this everyday adventure we call life. I am so grateful and honored to be a part of and to share time, space, and this amazing practice of yoga with the atvara community.
CASIA
I am a health coach and Yoga Teacher. I have been health coaching for 4 years. It started with my personal journey to get healthy after almost losing my vision to high blood pressure.
After my success, I wanted to help others do the same. For me, yoga was a big part of that.
I got certified in Oct of 2023. I have been practicing myself for about 10 years. Once I started getting healthy, I committed to growing in my practice by doing yoga every day. Teaching is now a passion of mine.
The health of your body and mind is important to live an optimal life. I am looking forward to helping more people find freedom in their bodies!
TRAVIS
Travis is from Stokesdale, North Carolina.
He is a husband, a father, a US Air Force Firefighter Veteran, an avid fitness enthusiast, including hiking. He additionally enjoys foraging while hiking, also running a small farm on his property, and finding a balance of business and nature throughout his days.
Travis is certified in Power Yoga, certified as a YOGABODY Flexibility Coach, and certified as a Level 1 & 2 DDPY Instructor.
ABBEY
RYT-500
Yoga entered my life in my adolescent years as I was healing my relationship with my body. I practiced yoga on and off for years until I found hot yoga. I became totally obsessed with practicing in the heat, not only because it made me feel strong and capable, but also because the intensity of practicing in a hotter environment provided me with enough of a challenge to quiet my mind, which is often moving 100 miles a minute.
I have 200-hour yoga teacher certification and a 300-hour certification, both with Arrichion Hot Yoga and Circuit Training in Charlotte, NC.
I am committed to making yoga accessible to anyone willing to step on their mat. I firmly believe that it doesn’t matter what we look like in the poses, instead, it matters how we feel in our bodies. I feel grateful each day that I get to roll out my mat and share my love of yoga with those around me.