Nielah Burnett

Nielah is a 500-hour RYT, owner and founder of InnerG Juice & Yoga, and dedicated mom to a bundle of three.  She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, but moved to Nashville in 2011 after graduating with her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia.  Nielah opened InnerG Juice & Yoga in 2021, after spending many years in Nashville craving a wellness space that centered the specific diet and lifestyle needs of underserved communities.  She has been a personal beneficiary of the healing power of yoga, and hopes to continue to be a resource to empower those seeking belonging and community on their journeys to living their best lives.

Weston Cowden

Weston was born in Nashville and raised in the suburbs of Hendersonville and Laguardo. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville before attending the University of Denver where he received an undergraduate degree in Business Management, BSBA, and a Master of Accountancy, MAcc.  After college and working in an office environment, Weston discovered the physical benefits of yoga, during his wife’s teacher training. After several years of practice, Weston completed his 200 hour teacher training with Empower School of Yoga. For Weston, yoga has evolved into a way of being. He leans on his practice on and off the mat to show up the best he can each day, making decisions out of love not fear.  Weston strongly believes in Small World Yoga’s mission of making yoga approachable and accessible, empowering individuals through self-inquiry and self-understanding.   

Weston owns and operates several family businesses, including Santosha Yoga in Hendersonville with his wife, Kelly.  Weston has a young son, enjoys being outdoors, and loves sharing food with family and friends. 

Kristin Gore

Kristin grew up in Lake of the Ozarks, MO and is happiest when a boat and sunshine are involved!  She moved to Nashville in 2002 to pursue a music business degree at Belmont University.  After graduating, she discovered yoga and fell in love with its ability to transform the mind, body, and soul.

She went on to become RYT 500, E-RYT 200, and has been a huge supporter of Small World Yoga’s mission since the beginning of her teaching career. In addition to teaching yoga, she also offers sound baths, reiki energy work, and international yoga retreats.  When not working she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing music, and traveling.

Maddy Kelly

Maddy Kelly is a public health professional who enjoys connecting people, ideas, and resources to create positive community impact. She is especially interested in leadership development, facilitation, and building partnerships that support healthier, more resilient communities. She is also a 200-hour certified yoga teacher with a deep passion for mental health, trauma-informed systems, and empowering individuals with tools for self-regulation believing that healing-centered practices can truly change the world.

Tessa Lemos Del Pino

Tessa is the child of migrant farmworkers. She pursued law school with the mission to be an advocate for migrants, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington Foster School of Business and a juris doctorate at the University of Washington School of Law. Tessa practiced law in Washington and subsequently held administrative roles at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and the Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women.

In 2020, Tessa was named executive director of Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors. Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors provides affordable, high-quality immigration legal services, educates the public about immigration-related issues, and advocates for immigrant rights. Since taking over, Tessa has moved the organization from being a tiny, financially unstable nonprofit to being the largest nonprofit immigration law office in Nashville. She grew staff, secured multi-year funding, and stabilized the organization’s
financial reserves resulting in a healthy, thriving organization.

Steve Ryan

Steve Ryan is a native of Franklin, Tennessee and has worked for HCA in Capital Asset Management for over 27 years.  He discovered yoga around 10 years ago through classes offered at work and enjoys both its physical and mindfulness aspects.  Steve enjoys travel, working out, and building furniture in his shop when he can find the time.

Dennis Skarvan

Dennis Skarvan retired as Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for Caterpillar Inc.  During his 25 year career at Caterpillar,  Dennis also held positions as General Counsel for Caterpillar’s  Solar Turbines subsidiary in San Diego, and as International Counsel for Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation in Nashville and Singapore.

Dennis is past president of the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel and served on the Board of Directors for the Intellectual Property Owners Association.  Dennis represented Caterpillar on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform in support of Congress and the Executive Branch, and he has testified on patent demand letters in the House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Dennis is married to Kari with three adult children, Jennifer, Kate and Todd. Dennis enjoys the practice of yoga and has completed his RYT 200 hour yoga teacher training certification. Dennis also enjoys boating, tennis, and classic autos.