The Heart of Small World Yoga

Become a Teacher
Become a Teacher

Meet Our Teachers

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  • Akiko Schooley was introduced to yoga by a friend in 2014. As she practiced more, she began to understand the true meaning of yoga and decided to deepen her passion by enrolling in yoga teacher training. Akiko received her RYT 200 in 2016. Her meaning of yoga has transformed from “my hobby” to “my life”.                                   

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  • Brooke graduated with her 200-hour RYT in 2025 from Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville and started working at Small World Yoga shortly after. She’s been practicing yoga for 15 years and discovered the true mind and spiritual healing yoga can offer when a new studio opened near her home a few years ago. Whether you’re new to yoga or deepening your practice, Brooke welcomes you exactly as you are and encourages you to meet yourself there, again and again.

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  • Meghan fell in love with yoga in 2015. Yoga began affecting her daily life: making her more patient and increasing her mindfulness regarding perceptions of herself and others. This culminated in completing her RYT 200-hr training through EmPower School of Yoga in March 2018. Meghan teaches at Hume Fogg High School during the school year and  at the SWY Community Studio.

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  • Lou Alice Rogers received her yoga teacher certification in 2024 with Small World Yoga. She began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. She loves the physical expression of the poses and how they move us to a deeper connection between our bodies and our core being.

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  • Reggie Ford was introduced to yoga in 2016 by Hot Yoga of East Nashville after experiencing nagging aches from his days of playing college football at Vanderbilt University. After finding SWY, Reggie completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training through Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville as one of our first TEJAS scholarship recipients. Reggie served on the SWY board from 2021 to 2025 after falling in love with the mission and larger community.

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  • MontieAnn Swafford realized one of her lifelong dreams of completing her yoga teacher certification in July 2023 with Small World Yoga, after a lifetime of practicing yoga. She started teaching yoga to private students immediately thereafter and began teaching with Small World Yoga in August 2023. What MontieAnn enjoys most about teaching yoga is showing others how they too can claim the health benefits of the discipline.

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  • After graduating and starting a family, Kristin discovered yoga and fell in love with its ability to transform the mind, body, and soul. She very quickly realized she had to share this powerful practice with others and became a certified yoga instructor through the esteemed Asheville Yoga Center. She has been teaching ever since, utilizing yoga to help her students lead more fulfilled lives.

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  • Carly loves yoga for the sense of connectedness it brings. She’s been practicing yoga for sixteen years and has only just scratched the surface of this ancient practice. After completing her 200-hour YTT at Hola Yoga in early 2024, she’s excited to guide classes in connecting breath to movement, exploring the edge of our abilities, and balancing the effort we put forth with an equal sense of ease.

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  • In 2016, Alyssa became a Yoga Alliance 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher and moved to Tennessee. Since 2019, Alyssa has been teaching yoga to community members and MNPS students through Small World Yoga. She loves sharing about the anatomy behind movement and poses and creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for all people.

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  • Sarah Grace has been passionately teaching yoga since receiving her certification in Hatha Yoga in 2017 from Rishikesh, India. Her teaching style is ever-evolving, adapting to the unique needs of her students to provide a fulfilling experience for all ages. She has discovered a deep passion for teaching children’s yoga, offering her guidance in schools across Los Angeles and now Nashville.

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  • Sarah completed her 200 hr teacher training with Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in March 2020. From there she started teaching classes for friends and family on Zoom. She continues to teach and learn new ways to expand her practice!

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  • Josh received his yoga teacher certification in 2023 with YogaRenew. He started teaching yoga in 2023 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2025. He loves yoga because it offers a path back to presence and inner strength, no matter what life brings. What Josh enjoys most about teaching yoga is helping people feel more at home in their bodies and more connected to their breath.

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  • Elise received her yoga teacher certification in 2022 with Fahrenheit Yoga. She began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2023. She loves teaching yoga to help others find self-love and healing through meditation and breathwork.

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  • Kimberly began teaching with SWY in October of 2018. She has taught at the Nashville Recovery Center and other outreach locations. Her favorite part of teaching at these outreach locations is bringing yoga to a community that might not normally have access to it. She tries to teach her students to show themselves grace and patience on and off the mat.

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  • Leeza completed her yoga teacher training in Ubud, Bali in 2022. She teaches mindful, breath-focused vinyasa flow classes that focus on alignment and awareness and gentle yin classes. She is currently working towards her 300-Hour certification to deepen her knowledge and teaching methodology.

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  • Elena has been practicing yoga for over a decade and is passionate about teaching asana and breathwork as it connects to exploring the deeper layers of self and divine alignment. She loves many forms of yoga and practiced a wide variety over the years including: vinyasa, yin yoga, acro yoga, and meditation. You can find Elena on a nature hike, paddle boarding, or in her kitchen experimenting with baking sourdough bread!

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  • Originally from North Carolina, Sarah moved to Nashville in 2017 and found her new home with the Small World Yoga community. She received her 200-hour teacher training certification through Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in 2018. Over the years, Sarah has taught a wide variety of students, supporting Small World’s mission that yoga is for every body. She received her 500-hour certification in 2020 with Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville

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  • Small World Yoga had been the home to Cody’s journey and he strongly identifies with the mission that it serves. When the opportunity came to take the 200-hr YTT in Winter 2021, he couldn’t pass it up. Since certification, he is actively engaged in the work of Small World, as well as trying to get yoga to as many people as possible in his life. He is excited to share what he has learned with others and help them reap the same benefits that he got through his own practice.

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  • Teresa passionately supports the mission of Small World Yoga, understanding personally the life-changing benefits of yoga she experienced following the unexpected death of her husband in 2003. She has practiced yoga consistently inconsistent for almost two decades. She’s a student of all types of yoga including power vinyasa, hot 26, restorative and Iyengar. She loves to try out classes at studios across the world in her travels as well as with her dog and cat at home.

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  • Courtney completed her 200-hour YTT in 2022 at Hot Spot Power Yoga in Jacksonville, FL and now shares yoga as a tool for resilience, healing, and self-discovery. She found yoga in 2015 during her senior year of college and leaned on it to stay grounded while working as an ICU nurse. Courtney’s classes focus on mindful movement and making practice accessible to all bodies. Off the mat, she enjoys running, reading, baking, and relaxing at home with her husband and cat, Beau.

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  • Sabrina began practicing yoga in earnest almost three years ago, after more than two decades of intermittent practice. She is RYS 200-hour certified and is eager to share the gift of yoga with others.

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  • Laura received her yoga teacher certification in 2024 with YogaUnion Bali. She started teaching yoga in 2024 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. She loves yoga because it creates opportunities for physical, mental, and spiritual exploration. What Laura enjoys most about teaching yoga is helping students find a bit more space in their body and mind. Outside of yoga, Laura enjoys studying medicine, weightlifting, running, and spending time with animals.

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  • Ashley came to the physical practice of yoga through her meditation practice as a way to deepen connection with herself and her community. She completed her 200-hour YTT in 2022 at Fahrenheit Yoga in Nashville, TN. In 2023, she did a 100-hour internship at Flying Tree Yoga in Medellín, Colombia. Working with Small World Yoga gives her a space to unite all of her passions in a meaningful and purposeful way.

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  • Alexis’s journey to yoga began after the birth of her first born when she was trying to balance being a mom, ICU nurse, and living far from family. Now a mom of 4, she sees yoga as essential to body and mind wholeness. The offering of both challenge and grace every moment on the mat has created a love to share this deep transformation with others. She believes in the inherent dignity of all people and wants to awaken them to their beauty, strength, and value.

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  • Kimberly began teaching with SWY in October of 2018. She has taught at the Nashville Recovery Center and other outreach locations. Her favorite part of teaching at these outreach locations is bringing yoga to a community that might not normally have access to it. She tries to teach her students to show themselves grace and patience on and off the mat.

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  • Yoga inspired Lisa to see what is possible on and off her mat, and the practice taught her compassion for not only herself but also others. Lisa completed her 200-hr teacher training in the Spring of 2018 through EmPower School of Yoga. She serves on the volunteer committee for Small World Yoga. She also rotate teaches the Sunday 10:30 AM class at the SWY Community Studio, and she teaches an outreach class at Hillsboro High School.

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  • Yoga makes Kakki feel strong. Her yoga practice gives her space to breathe, to be still, and to challenge herself. She feels strong in the flow and her hope would be that her students do too. Kakki teaches at 4:13 Strong, a nonprofit that provides job training and placement for at-risk men.

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  • Kristen is a Vinyasa-focused yoga instructor who creates grounding, breath-led classes designed to help students build strength, find balance, and connect more deeply to themselves. With over 15 years of personal practice and a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification from Sanctuary Yoga in Nashville, she guides students through intentional flows that honor both movement and stillness.

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  • Mikka is a 200hr Baptiste trained yoga teacher. She got certified with Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in March 2020. She has practiced yoga for 3 years and became interested in being a teacher in 2019 after attending several outreach classes from Small World Yoga at Edmondson Pike library and yoga in the park  at Mill Ridge Park and The Richland Farmers market.

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  • Quoya Flack received her yoga teacher certification in 2024 with the Small World Yoga Organization. She was introduced to yoga by her father at the tender age of two years old. She loves yoga because she feels most connected to her higher self, mother earth, and how incorporating yoga has improved her focus and quality of life.

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  • Annie Kate graduated from Belmont in 2021 with her doctorate in OT. She chose to complete SWY’s 200-hour training in March of 2021 just before graduation.She chose to complete SWY’s teacher training to be able to incorporate the benefits of movement, mindfulness, and meditation to her patients and fellow workers in the hospital system.

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  • Sammie is a creative yoga teacher with a passion for encouraging movement through music. When she’s not teaching yoga, Sammie is a video producer and photographer. She loves reading, writing, cooking and fashion.

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  • Kelsey received her yoga teacher certification in 2023 from Fahrenheit Yoga Studio in Nashville. She began teaching with Small World Yoga outreach programs in 2024. What Kelsey loves most about teaching yoga is witnessing others surpass their self-limiting beliefs (physical and mental).

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  • Yoga slowly became a pillar of Savanna’s life when she moved to Nashville in 2016 to attend graduate school at Vanderbilt. Wanting to share those feelings of gratitude with others, she completed her RYT 300-hour training through Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in October 2021. She teaches in the Small World Yoga studio and at the Behavioral Care Center in downtown Nashville. 

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  • Having been in love with the practice of yoga since 21, Jessica has enjoyed yoga in many states including, but not limited, one of the most Zen places on earth, Hawaii. She now teaches yoga in Tennessee. Having been a military wife of ten years and raising three special needs children, yoga has become the center Jessica’s mind and body. She now focuses her energy in educating others in the practice of yoga.

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  • Sarah started her yoga journey in the early 2000s while doing P90X workouts on DVD in her living room. She fell in love with the feeling of strength, peace, and serenity that followed each flow and started going to yoga studios to deepen her practice. In 2025, Sarah decided to take another step on her journey and completed the 200-hour RYT certification with Deep Roots Yoga School. She started teaching yoga at Hot Yoga of East Nashville and Small World Yoga right after receiving her certificate.

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  • Katie was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, but has lived in Kentucky, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Texas. She practiced yoga on and off for several years until she discovered the amazing Baptiste yoga community in Louisville, KY. The practice sparked a deep appreciation for the physical and mental benefits of yoga that she wanted to explore. Katie studied under Laura Spalding at Yoga East in Louisville and received her 200-hour teacher certification in January 2020.

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  • Chesney is new to the yoga teaching world and she cannot wait to share her love for yoga within the Nashville community. She is a licensed massage therapist and a local DJ in town! Chesney can point you to the best wellness spots and any musical related event in the city! She looks forward to seeing you!

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  • Echo received her yoga teacher certification in 2020 with Yoga One. She started teaching yoga in 2020 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2023. She loves yoga as a centuries-old healing and embodiment practice that centers her in a safe, calming, accepting space to connect with others and her inner, authentic self. What Echo enjoys most about teaching yoga is helping others experience improved health and quality of life by fostering clarity, balance, and wholeness in body and mind.

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  • Anita has been practicing yoga for the better part of the last 20 years, which led her to teacher training in January 2023 at Small World Yoga to deepen her practice on the mat and expand herself off the mat. Anita’s excited to teach for Small World and hopes to see you on the mat!

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  • Alexandra’s yoga journey began in her childhood, when during summer breaks in Romania she would meditate alongside her aunt. She later immersed herself in the yogic path with over 10 years of study and teaching various communities since 2010. She co-designs and facilitates yoga trainings and workshops, specializing in yogic breathwork.

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  • Upon discovering Inner Light Yoga (formerly in Nashville) in 2017, Libby’s practice found a steady rhythm. She went through her 200-hour teacher training with Inner Light Yoga in 2020. She added a 30-hour certificate program for accessible yoga via the Accessible Yoga School with Jivana Heyman in late 2020. When she learned about Small World Yoga she knew she had to pursue becoming a SWY teacher. She started teaching through SWY in Summer 2020. 

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  • Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Judy has always had a passion for movement and good health. With a 200-hour yoga certification, Judy lives out her passion and commitment to physical health and movement.


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  • Karen began practicing yoga in 2015 and has been part of the Small World community for many years. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher and SEL certification through Breathe for Change in 2024 and will complete her 300-hour training with Small World Yoga in July of 2025. She loves sharing yoga with others and helping them develop their mind-body connection.

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  • Cam began practicing yoga in 2020 after an injury kept him out of the gym. It quickly became an important and influential part of his life and he completed his 200-hour YTT in January of 2024. Cam believes in the power of yoga to bring unity to one’s mind, body, and spirit. His hope is for everyone to discover what that means for them through the development and discipline of a personal and meaningful yoga practice.

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  • In 2023 Lyndsey was invited to a gentle yoga class at a Small World Yoga outreach location. She was drawn to their mission and began volunteering at the Nashville studio. By the following year she had completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training. As a Summer 2024 SWY yoga student she was afforded an opportunity to attend a training retreat with Baron Baptiste, creator of Baptiste Power Yoga. Coupled with the SWY teacher training, the experience has been a highlight in her yoga journey.

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  • Valentina remembers how she felt when she practiced yoga for the first time, about ten years ago; a feeling of deep gratitude, mindfulness and happiness that she had not felt before. From that moment Valentina knew that yoga could be a channel for her to connect more deeply with her soul… But it was not until 2023 that Valentina decided to start her path as a teacher and she’s so glad she did it!! It has been a growing, challenging and wonderful experience.

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  • Lisa is a certified 200 hour RYS teacher with training in restorative and Yin yoga. She wants to teach others how to find inner peace through yin, restorative and gentle flow classes. She strives to incorporate yoga principles in her life and believes yoga is a lifelong process of evolving, growing and learning.

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  • Melissa found yoga again through Gilda’s Club and Small World Yoga while recovering from treatment. She fell in love and wanted to get better, so she got her 200-hour certification through Small World in 2024. Yoga helped her love movement again and keeps her moving through her active life!

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  • Ruth completed her 200hr YTT with EPIC Yoga studio in January 2021. She followed that with a few trainings in Yin Yoga, most notably a 50 hour online Yin Yoga training with Bernie Clark and Diana Batts through Yoga International. She started teaching yoga with CorePower Yoga in June 2022 and received a certification in Reiki Level I and 2 training and just completed a 300hr meditation coaching training.

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  • Emily loves teaching yoga because anyone can do it! Through yoga, Emily has found a community of climbers and people in recovery. When she isn’t in the studio, she can be found riding her bicycle, reading, or hanging out with her pet pigs and dogs.

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  • Nikki Lee received her yoga teacher certification in 2018 with the Amma Yanni Yoga Center and School, in Glenside, Pennsylvania. She started teaching yoga in 2018 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. She loves yoga because she needs flexibility in herself, and because breathwork is becoming increasingly important.

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  • Melissa Gordon received her yoga teacher certification in 2020 with Baptise Power Yoga School. She started teaching yoga in 2020 and began teaching with Small World in 2024. She loves yoga because in addition to supporting down regulation, it also builds mobility and strength. What Melissa enjoys most about teaching yoga is the opportunity to build community in a different way. Outside of yoga, Melissa enjoys nature and traveling.

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  • Monique Parrish, Mo in practice and studio, received her yoga teacher certification in 2024 with Small World Yoga’s Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville. She started teaching yoga in 2024 and began teaching with Small World Yoga within outreach in 2024. She loves yoga because it allows her to be her best and most authentic self on and off the mat and empower others to do the same. What Mo enjoys most about teaching yoga is being an eternal student and giving mind and body awareness and movement a platform.

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  • Lynn is a Vinyasa yoga instructor inspired by classical Hatha Yoga. She is also a BodyFlow instructor who instructs yoga moves which embrace the elements of Tai Chi and Pilates. She completed RYT 600 hours of Yoga teacher training. She aspires to make yoga accessible to all.

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  • Keegan has practiced yoga for over 10 years, and completed 200 hour RYT training in spring 2025 with Shakti Power Yoga in Nashville. In a world that severs our connection to ourselves—through trauma, overwork, and digital distraction—she loves how yoga helps us find our way back. She believes everyone can benefit from practicing yoga, and endeavors to teach in a way that makes the practice approachable and accessible to students of any level.

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  • Raechel has been a yoga teacher since 2005. She has taught every age range, activity level, and many different styles that are incorporated into her classes. She once taught on a plane! She loves to help beginners fall in love with yoga. She’s from South Florida but has called Middle Tennessee home since 2010. She enjoys getting involved in the community through yoga, park cleanups, plantings, and parties, food projects, and more!

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  • Victoria received their yoga teacher certification in 2023 with Hot Yoga East Nashville. She fell in love with yoga when her sister (also an instructor) bullied her into taking her first class in 2008. What Victoria enjoys most about teaching yoga is sharing an incredibly powerful tool for healing, a tool that she credits with her survival during periods of grief and illness.

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  • David is an E RYT 200, RYT 500 and YACEP Yoga Alliance credentialed teacher. Through Small World Yoga, David’s outreach teaching includes chair yoga at Room In The Inn and vinyasa yoga at Rolling Hills Psychiatric Hospital. He also teaches in the SWY studio and taught chair yoga for 2 years at Park Center.

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  • Peter has been practicing yoga since 2010 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2018. He loves being a part of the community that aims to bring yoga to people who need it most. Peter has taught yoga at KIPP Collegiate High School and with various partners in our community.

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  • Tessa received their yoga teacher certification in 2025 with Small World Yoga. She started teaching yoga in 2025 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2026. She loves yoga because it helps reduce stress while increasing balance and flexibility. What Tessa enjoys most about teaching yoga is providing space for others to experience the benefits of yoga. Outside of yoga, Tessa enjoys playing with her pitbull, hiking, and learning.

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  • Kalie loves the aspect of meeting like-minded people through yoga and seeing each other grow and learn. She believes there is no better feeling than to see others growing in their practice. Kali has been doing yoga since 2014 and completed yoga teacher training in March 2023 at Santosha Yoga in Hendersonville.

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  • Gabe has been practicing yoga since 2010 after getting involved in the workout program P90X. After resuming a consistent practice in 2021, Gabe decided to apply to SWY’s DEIA scholarship and completed his 200-hour yoga training in the summer of 2023. As a plus-sized Afro-Latino/Pacific Islander man, Gabe has not found many people who look like him in the yoga teaching space and his goal is to share with others the joy and power he has gained from doing yoga!

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  • Taiana “TT” James received her yoga teacher certification in 2024 with Humble Haven Yoga in Richmond, Virginia and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. She loves yoga because the practice teaches self love, mind-body connection, and radical empathy towards others. What TT enjoys most about teaching yoga is meeting so many beautiful people.

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  • Sibyl has taught yoga since the summer of 2022 shortly after she received her yoga teacher certification from Small World Yoga. What Sibyl enjoys most about teaching yoga is watching how each person reacts and grows within their practice.

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  • Maria began teaching with SWY in April of 2018. She loves teaching with Small World Yoga because she enjoys being able to spread yoga to people who may have never had the opportunity to practice yoga otherwise. It has been awesome to teach adults and children yoga they can use not only during the yoga class but throughout their days. Maria teaches a free outreach class at the SafeHaven Family Shelter.

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  • While Lucy loves all things yoga, her passion is Baptiste style and power vinyasa. When she first stepped on her mat it was more about the amazing work out it provided. This “moving meditation” has alleviated her chronic back pain that she’s experienced since her mid-twenties due to a severe car accident. Yoga has changed her life in such a positive way. Lucy’s hope as an instructor is that she can create a positive impact or change for someone else.

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  • Meagan received her yoga teacher certification in 2024 through Heart of Wisdom Yoga in Nashville, TN. She began practicing yoga in high school and developed a consistent practice after moving to Nashville in 2014, eventually deciding to pursue teacher training to deepen her personal journey. Meagan loves yoga because it’s one of the rare times she can clear her head, feel grounded, and be fully present.

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  • Liz founded Small World Yoga in 2014 with the vision to grow yoga in outreach locations across Middle Tennessee. A year later she co-founded Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville, which is now the official teacher training school of Small World Yoga. Liz is a certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga instructor (E-RYT 500). She has completed both her 200- and 500-hour trainings under Baron Baptiste and now travels to assist Baptiste trainings and programs around the world.

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  • Kelsie received her yoga teacher certification in 2023 with Three Queens Yoga Studio in Philadelphia, PA. She started teaching yoga in 2023 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2025. She loves yoga because she believes yoga taps into a magical place of presence. What Kelsie enjoys most about teaching yoga is how yoga reflects our own liberation and has the power to expand to all beings. Outside of yoga, Kelsie enjoys dance, nature and travel.

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  • Jess received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2024 with Small World Yoga. She loves yoga because of its healing power and ability to create mind-body connection. What Jess enjoys most about teaching yoga is connecting with people and being able to spread the power of yoga.

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  • Jamia Wells-Palmer, more commonly known as Mimi the Motivator, host of the Get High On Motivation podcast, is a speaker and holistic leadership development expert. She has been teaching yoga since 2015 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. What Mimi enjoys most about teaching yoga is the opportunity to heal the collective pain-body of BIPOC communities.

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  • Carmen received her 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2023 with Yoga Farm Ithaca. She started teaching in 2023 and started with Small World Yoga in January 2024. She loves yoga because it has helped her heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Carmen enjoys teaching yoga because it gives her the opportunity to help others heal as well.

A man in a bright yellow shirt, black shorts, and sunglasses is standing on rocks by a lake, with mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background, balancing on one foot with arms raised in a yoga pose.

  • Zach received his yoga teacher certification in 2024 with Small World Yoga. He started teaching yoga in 2024 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. He loves yoga because it provides a great combination a physical and mental health benefits. What Zach enjoys most about teaching yoga is seeing students grow in their practice and the support of the yoga community. Outside of yoga, Zach enjoys running, hiking, traveling and baseball.

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  • Allyssa received her yoga teacher certification in 2022 with Yoga Renew. She started teaching yoga in 2023 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2023. She loves yoga because it makes her feel empowered in her body. What Allyssa enjoys most about teaching yoga is inspiring people to be the best version of themselves. Outside of yoga, Allyssa enjoys reading, baking, and hiking.

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A woman practicing yoga in a tree pose in front of a large, old tree outdoors, with green leaves and grass around.

  • Kelsey started benefiting from physical activities like yoga and hula-hoop dancing in 2015. After experiencing a significant decrease in stress, relief from chronic back pain, and newfound mental strength, she was hooked. Kelsey recently graduated from the 200-hr teacher training with EmPower School of Yoga. Now she is teaching and supporting Small World Yoga’s vision through the Connection Crew. Kelsey is grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow as a teacher.

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  • Olivia received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2025 at Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville and started teaching at Small World Yoga upon graduation. She loves the self-trust and mind-body connection that she is able to develop through the process of showing up on her mat day after day.

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  • Gilbert inconsistently practiced yoga for seven years before settling down and fostering a regular practice. Gilbert decided to dive deeper, completing a 200-hr yoga teacher training in 2015, and deeper still with an additional 300-hr yoga teacher training in 2017. His approach to yoga is accessible, light-hearted, and anchored in gratitude.

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  • Meghan Midgett began teaching with Small World Yoga in September 2018 after being a long-time student. She graduated from Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville’s 200-hour teacher training and wanted to share this practice with her community. Meghan currently teaches at outreach class at Lakeview Elementary. She also leads the 9:00 am Tuesday class at the SWY Community Studio!

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  • After years of suffering from various mental health issues, Maddie realized that yoga positively impacted her outlook on life. When she stumbled across Small World Yoga, she realized how deeply it aligned with what she wanted to do and is looking forward to teaching yoga in the Nashville community. Her favorite quote is, “as we become more aligned with ourselves, we realize our purpose.”

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  • Kat completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Small World Yoga in 2025 and began teaching shortly afterwards. What Kat enjoys most about teaching yoga is being able to help guide others as they connect with themselves, and move in ways that feel authentic to them.

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  • Caitlyn earned her 200-hour training at Mangala Yoga Studio in Maui, Hawaii in 2022. Having been a dancer since she was a child, her classes include upbeat and fun music, paired with a vinyasa flow focusing on power, strength, balance, and flexibility. She loves connecting with her students and forming community through her classes.

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  • While living in Los Angeles, Maria experienced an extreme health crisis and credits her faith and yoga for allowing her to trust her body again. She has received training in yin yoga from HOT 8 Yoga and her 200-hour teacher certification from Small World Yoga. Excited to help others find their inner strength, Maria is dedicated to seeing how yoga helps everyone grow from the inside out.

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  • Masa received her yoga teacher certification in 2025 with Small World Yoga. She started teaching yoga, including with Small World Yoga, in 2025. She loves yoga because it brings her a mental and physical workout, peace, focus, and the freedom to show up fully—on and off the mat.

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  • Rina received her yoga teacher certification in 2021 with Austin-based yoga studio, My Vinyasa Practice. She started teaching yoga in 2021 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2023. She enjoys leading vinyasa and yin classes, with concentrations on mindfulness and breath awareness.

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  • Crystal’s love affair with yoga started in 2016 when she purchased a Groupon for ten yoga classes at a local studio. Crystal officially became a yoga teacher in the Spring of 2018. She was reluctant to begin teaching so she had to do some serious soul searching to figure that out. Three years later, she finally reached out to Small World Yoga for an opportunity to teach in their community outreach program. Crystal is so grateful to have the opportunity to share her love of this practice.

A woman practicing yoga outdoors in the snow, balancing on one leg while holding the other foot with her hand behind her back in a dancer pose, wearing a red knit hat, black sports bra, and black leggings.

  • Angela began her yoga journey in 2014 with a desire to be more physically fit and a curiosity as to what yoga offered. Soon she realized the positive effects this practice had with her depression and anxiety. She didn’t take her first in studio class until she moved to Nashville in 2016 at Shakti Power Yoga. The fire was ignited inside her and she quickly knew she wanted to teach and share what yoga had revealed inside herself.

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  • Jill Damer received her yoga teacher certification in 2019 with Living Waters Yoga. She started teaching yoga in 2019 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. She loves yoga because of the peace it brings to her. What Jill enjoys most about teaching yoga is that she finds it very rewarding to help students find that inner peace as well. Outside of yoga, she works in the banking industry. She enjoys nature and spending time with her dog, Mia.

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  • A lifelong student and a certified yoga teacher, Kamal’s love for yoga began at the age of 10, growing up in India and practicing at the ashram/school she attended. Kamal approaches yoga with a friendly style, gentle demeanor, and cultural perspective on mindfulness, striving to help students find a spiritual mind-body connection between their breath and movement. She is honored to partner with Small World Yoga as they strive to make yoga accessible to everyone.

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  • Jaime Toll received her yoga teaching certification in 2024 with Movement Wisdom School of Yoga. Yoga has changed her life by teaching her non-attachment and mindfulness. Jaime feels called to share yoga with others and loves introducing new students to the practice. Outside of yoga, Jaime enjoys working on her business @AngelPuff.Angelpuff, and making YouTube videos.

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  • Ashley completed her 200-hour certification at Shakti U in summer 2024. With over 20 years of experience coaching competitive gymnastics, she brings a strong foundation in body awareness, strength, and flexibility to her practice. Ashley’s teaching is influenced by her deep appreciation for the mental and meditative aspects of yoga. She believes they are essential for achieving balance on and off the mat. She also loves exploring a variety of yoga styles from aerial to acro and Ashtanga and everything in between.

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  • Leandra is a passionate and dedicated yoga instructor committed to guiding individuals on their journey to holistic well-being through the transformative practice of yoga. With a deep-rooted love for movement and mindfulness, Leandra discovered yoga as a path to self-discovery and inner peace. Her journey began as a student, captivated by the harmony of breath and movement within the practice.

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  • Emil Faison-Reeves, a New York City native currently living in Nashville, has practiced yoga since 2018. He noticed many underrepresented groups within the yoga community, especially Black men. This inspired him to complete his 200-hour yoga teacher training from Shakti Power Yoga in 2023. Upon completion of training, Emil vowed to provide diversity and inclusion within the yoga community.

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  • Lauren moved across the country throughout her adolescence to adult life, which contributed to a feeling of constant change and instability. For her, yoga brought peace and presence to her life. In 2017, she moved to Nashville and began deepening her yoga practice. She received her yoga teacher certification in 2025 with Hola Yoga (East Nashville). She started teaching yoga in 2025 and began teaching with Small World Yoga the same year.

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  • Ashley came to the physical practice of yoga through her meditation practice as a way to deepen connection with herself and her community. She completed her 200-hour YTT in 2022 at Fahrenheit Yoga in Nashville, TN. In 2023, she did a 100-hour internship at Flying Tree Yoga in Medellín, Colombia to strengthen her teaching practices and learn to teach yoga in Spanish. Her background in education and working with immigrants from around the world inspires her to continue investing in community. Working with Small World Yoga gives her a space to unite all of her passions in a meaningful and purposeful way.