Instructors

Welcome to Community Yoga!Yoga found me in the mountains of upstate New York when I took yoga for the first time with Rob Greenberg. As I walked away from that first class, my cells were floating. I had found home and have never left. Yoga started a conversation between my heart and soul, and it’s a conversation I have continued throughout my life and which has inspired and sustained me as I built and nurtured Community Yoga.I honor my other teachers who have inspired me on the path -- Brian Kest, Alan Finger, and Ashtanga instructor Amynthas Franco.I love sharing what it is like to be in your body, to experience each unique sensation, from the placement of your fingerpads on the mat for Ado Mukha Svasana to the extension of your arms in Virabradrasana. Yoga for me is much more than achieving the perfect Trikonasana. As we move past the physicality of yoga practice and unearth the sacred, emotional, personal and spiritual practice, we find the real beauty of yoga.As a teacher and studio owner, I strive for inclusivity. All ages, body types, yoga levels are invited and welcomed to the studio. I am a believer in celebrating our many similarities rather than counting our differences.

Mikki is a mother and full-time teacher who first acknowledged the benefits of yoga over a decade ago. She began a consistent practice while living in Washington State, connecting with an instructor who had roots in Asheville. Being a native North Carolinian, this inspired Mikki to keep returning to classes week after week, not only for the benefits of Hatha yoga, but also for a sense of home. Through the years, consistency has varied through life changes, but she has always found solitude when practicing yoga. It brings a sense of calm in the midst of everydayness, hurried lifestyles, and varied life experiences. Her goal in teaching is to share the benefits to everyone, regardless of their journey. Yoga requires you to put your intention forward through the use of postures, breath work, and meditation that help to strengthen and nurture the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga grounds Mikki in her daily intentions each time she shows up to create space on the mat. Whether it is Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Hatha, Yin, or Restorative, yoga is a gift to each and everyone one of us: our minds, our bodies, and our spirits.

Cristin is the owner of Wellbeing, a holistic health clinic in Cornelius, NC, and she is a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) in the state of North Carolina. She is board certified by the NCCAOM in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and she has a four-year Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM). She has studied Qi Gong for eleven years in the US, China, and Tibet through the Heron Institute and the National College of Natural Medicine. She has studied under the tutelage of Heiner Fruehauf, Master Wu Zhongxian, and Master Wang Qingyu. She is trained mainly in the Mt. Emei and JinJing Schools of Qigong. In her clinic, Cristin treats a wide variety of conditions such as pain, fertility, depression, anxiety, insomnia, digestive disorders, and cardiovascular health issues. Cristin uses a combination of Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Medical Qi Gong, Shiatsu Massage, natural supplements, and dietary counseling to offer her patients a holistic treatment that address the physical, spiritual, and environmental causes of illness. Cristin encourages her patients to participate in their own healing process and to work with her as a team to find their most optimal treatment strategy. Outside of work, Cristin enjoys taking her dog Kelsey to the local dog parks, participating in her book club, and learning how to prepare foods from around the world. She is an avid swimmer, Qi Gong junkie, and 'wannabe' potter.

Ann Hambright, RYT 200, completed Subtle Yoga teacher training in 2009 under the guidance of Kaoverii Weber. Ann was introduced to yoga in 2003 by a dear friend. The two decided to walk into their first yoga class almost on a whim; it turned out to be an Ashtanga inspired class that changed her life. She has been practicing regularly since that first class and almost exclusively at a place she calls home, Community Yoga Studio. Ann enjoys sharing her passion for both subtle yoga and vinyasa flow in her teaching method. She is originally from Charlotte, NC and currently lives in the Davidson area with her partner, three dogs and a cat.

Yvette began practicing yoga in 1997 in the basement of a Charlotte church, and she greatly values this early learning experience with Kripalu teacher Mary Lou Buck. Yvette quickly determined that yoga was a powerful way to enhance her physical workouts and to bring better life balance. She knew that the practice of yoga would become a permanent part of her world. As a student Yvette’s love for yoga grew through the influence of teacher Amy Schneider; and in 2004 Yvette was introduced to Anusara™yoga. Yvette finds the principal of alignment to fit well with her approach to life. Becoming a yoga teacher was a natural step for Yvette as she has been a business executive trainer by profession for over 15 years. Taking her teaching skills into the yoga discipline has enriched all facets of her life. Yvette is a 2009 graduate of Carolina Yoga, a 200-hour teacher training program offered by certified Anusara™ teachers, Kelley Gardner, Sarah Faircloth, and Stacey Millner-Collins. Yvette has a natural ability to assess her student’s needs. She physically challenges her students to explore their edge and to enjoy the moment. She also encourages the application of yogic principals to life off the mat as a vital nutrient to relationships and life challenges. Yvette loves to travel and finds herself practicing yoga in studios all over the country. In addition to Yvette’s regular yoga practice she recharges through reading and hiking, and spending every moment she can outdoors. Yvette has also published two children’s books. As a writer, Yvette is inspired to instill in children awareness in conservation, nature, and simplicity.

I avoided practicing yoga until 2009 when it became glaringly obvious that it was meant to be part of my life. Like many people, I was too intimidated to walk into a yoga class not knowing what to expect. Luckily, the climbing gym I went to began having small yoga classes taught by instructors that made laughing as important as alignment. It started as a physical practice with vinyasa yoga and slowly became a transformative one. Yoga has taught me about patience and compassion, not only for others, but for myself. It has helped me calm my monkey mind and helped me to be present. In my personal practice, yoga has become a moving meditation. I find peace in sun salutations. I’ve also fallen in love with Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini, and Restorative yoga. There is so much to learn from each style. When I teach, my goal is to make yoga accessible for everyone, young and old. It can be modified to meet everyone where they are. Yoga brings me joy and I just want to share it. I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher certification in 2015 at Asheville Yoga Center with Kim Puryear, Stephanie Keach, Joe Taft, Michael Johnson, Sierra Hollister and Libby Hinsley. It was the most amazing experience of my life, and made me eager to learn more. I completed my 95 hour children’s yoga teacher certification with Amy Haysman through Grounded Kids Yoga and am currently pursuing my 500 hour certification through Asheville Yoga Center.

Yoga guided Meredith back to laughter and joy through learning to nurture her true self after her mother passed. Wanting to share the light and healing she learned through yoga, Meredith completed her 220 hour teacher training through The Bodhi Tree with Lesa Crocker in 2007. Wanting to share the light and healing she learned through yoga, Meredith completed her 220 hour teacher training through The Bodhi Tree with Lesa Crocker in 2007. The other joys in her life besides yoga are her husband and two small children. She enjoys taking family walks, dancing in the living room with her children, jewelry making, reading and watching college sports with her husband.

Although she didn’t know at the time, Amy’s life was forever changed in 1998. That was when she first started practicing yoga and meditation on a regular basis. That led to her insatiable desire for knowledge about health and wellness. Since then she spent years avidly studying and practicing a variety of healing arts – tai chi, qi gong, Reiki, Touch for Health, and nutrition to name a few. She consistently continued her yoga practice through two pregnancies and a debilitating back injury. These experiences are how she arrived at her revelation of most recent mission. She feels her purpose now is to share the message that anybody can use gentle movements to create physical and emotional well-being, no matter what their current physical condition. She believes that the mindfulness and self-awareness that gentle movement creates is as important as it’s physical health benefits. She promotes a practice that: reminds us to honor and respect the present needs of our bodies, discourages judgment, promotes mental clarity or spiritual connection, and teaches us how to lovingly accept our limitations.

Susi Sahlman has been a yoga student since 1999. In 2003 she completed a 300 hour teacher training certification program with the American Yoga Academy. The program covered postures, anatomy and physiology. Workshops at Studio Yoga in Madison, NJ included well known instructions like Roger Cole, Jenny Kapuler, and Rodney Yee. She enrolled in a comprehensive Iyengar teacher training program which qualified her to teach and adjust students on a beginner level in that style. She has worked at Studio Yoga, Madison, NJ; Medfit, teaching students on site in corporate studios; YMCA; and 8th Street Yoga, Charlotte.She first started practicing yoga after experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. The progress she made sold her on the benefits of yoga. Her goal has been to help others find and gain awareness, strength, energy and well being in their minds and bodies. Her Iyengar background guides students safely through postures with attention to alignment and steadiness of breath. -------------------Flow & SteadyWe are never in the same place everyday. Growth is all about change. Through movement and mindful holding of postures, this class seeks to bring inspiration for taking on the rest of the day. We will also focus on alignment and actions that will enhance the students practice.

Uni Smith is an Insurance Sales Professional and has worked in a Sales Organization for over 20 years. Her occupation was draining her physically, emotionally and mentally. She was seeking something to help ease the stress from my daily life. She was introduced to the Twin Hearts Meditation in March 2013. The difference it made in her life was immediate and simply incredible. She has been practicing Twin Hearts Meditation almost daily ever since.Since practicing the Twin Hearts Meditation, Uni has cultivated love, peace, joy, patience, balance, and good health and is still in Insurance Sales. The Twin Hearts Meditation has truly blessed Uni's life. In return, she decided she would like to be in and of service to others by teaching others how this simple guided meditation can bless them too.Meditation on twin hearts – is an advanced, guided meditation technique for individuals 16 years of age and older, with the focus on an act of service and loving-kindness to promote peace in the world.

Sharon Whalen, a doctor of pediatric physical therapy by trade and a homeschooling mom by choice, fills her days with as many outdoor activities as possible. She has extensive education to include yoga in her therapy practices with adults and children. In her personal practice, Sharon enjoys all types of yoga practice and meditation.