The Heart of Small World Yoga

Become a Teacher

Meet Our Teachers

Woman in black tank top and white pants performing a yoga pose on a gray floor against a gray wall.

  • Akiko Schooley was introduced to yoga by a friend in 2014.  At first, she wanted to try yoga for exercise but immediately became enthralled by all the cool yoga poses. This led to her practicing yoga on a regular basis. 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. Through the teacher training and dedicated yoga practice, her meaning of yoga has transformed from “my hobby” to “my life”.                                   

     Akiko was born and raised in Japan. Since she was a little girl, she always dreamed of becoming a global person who would be a mediator between communities and people all over the world. Teaching yoga has given her the opportunity to connect and contribute to multiple communities. She has been able to connect people who have different backgrounds, different ages and even different nationalities.  She truly believes that when yoga is practiced together, everyone speaks the same language and we all become one.

A young man with short dark hair and a beard smiling outside, wearing a blue polo shirt with yellow accents and a black backpack, surrounded by green trees and water.

  • Camerun discovered yoga during an outdoor Saturday class in college, but it wasn't until the pandemic that he truly embraced the practice as a tool for self-care and stress management. He found his studio home in Greenville, South Carolina, under the guidance of Marsha Thompson at her inclusive, Black and woman-owned studio. He completed his 200-hour teacher training with Baptiste Power Yoga in 2026 and recently moved to Nashville to deepen his commitment to community education and outreach — work that is central to both his full-time role and yoga practice.

    In a Camerun power flow class, expect to move. He'll guide you through breath cues that actually make you breathe, offer variations that keep your practice interesting and challenging, and hold you in poses long enough to find your edge. Bend, stretch, twist, and stay. Whether you're a beginner or deepening an established practice, Camerun meets you where you are with encouragement, a smile, and genuine care. He is grateful to share yoga with all ages and abilities.

    When not on the mat, Camerun enjoys traveling/culture, watching TV, being in nature, and dancing to good music. His passion for community and connection fuels his commitment to making yoga accessible to every body.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes smiling outdoors with trees and a wooden fence in the background.

  • Meghan fell in love with yoga in 2015. Yoga was something she had always had interest in, but never explored. After her first experience on the mat, she discovered yoga was more than just a physical practice. Yoga began affecting her daily life: making her more patient and increasing her mindfulness regarding perceptions of herself and others. This change Meghan saw in herself led to encouraging others to begin practicing yoga.  This culminated in completing her RYT 200-hour training through Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in 2018.

    Her full time career is teaching high school English at Hume Fogg High School in East Nashville. There, she is the organizer of the yoga club sponsored by Small World Yoga. She loves introducing students to the many benefits yoga offers teenagers who deal with so much in their daily lives.

    Meghan teaches at Hume Fogg High School during the school year and  at the SWY Community Studio.

A woman with long dark wavy hair, brown skin, wearing large gold hoop earrings, smiling while sitting in a vehicle with a blue patterned top, and the background shows green foliage.

  • Jessica is a passionate yoga teacher who views the practice as a powerful tool for connection—especially the deep, grounding connection we cultivate within ourselves. Certified through Small World Yoga in February 2025, she brings warmth, calm strength, and a heart-centered approach to every class, creating space for students to move, breathe, and reconnect with their inner world.

Close-up of a smiling woman with long, wavy black hair, wearing earrings, a necklace, and a black top, against a plain neutral background.

  • Kaprice graduated from Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in 2025 and loves to make yoga accessible.

Smiling woman with long blonde hair and a cross necklace, outdoors with trees and a fence behind her.

  • MontieAnn 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. She loves yoga because it helps her with pain management, emotional regulation, and mindfulness. What MontieAnn enjoys most about teaching yoga is showing others how they too can claim the health benefits of the discipline. Outside of yoga, MontieAnn enjoys hiking, kayaking, bicycling, rollerblading, and spending time on her five-acre horse farm in Spring Hill.

A smiling woman with blonde wavy hair, wearing hoop earrings and a cream-colored knitted sweater, sitting outdoors during sunset with a blurred background of trees and warm light

  • Kristin grew up in Lake of the Ozarks, MO and is happiest outside in nature…especially when a boat and sunshine are involved. Her childhood consisted of all things dance and music, and she moved to Nashville in 2002 to pursue a music business degree at Belmont University. After graduating and starting a family, she 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, empowered, and loving lives, on and off the mat.

A woman with shoulder-length, wavy, light brown hair with blonde highlights, wearing a tan long-sleeved shirt, sitting at a wooden table indoors. She has light blue eyes and a subtle smile. In the background, there is a gray wall with a colorful framed painting, and a corner of the room with white trim.

  • Carly loves yoga for the sense of connectedness it brings—connecting the individual body and mind, as well as the individual self to world around us. 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.

  • Libby received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2026 through Fahrenheit Yoga. She started teaching yoga in 2026 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2026. Libby loves yoga because it has been a grounding part of her life since middle school, helping her feel more connected to both her mind and body through movement and breath. What she enjoys most about teaching yoga is creating a welcoming space where students of all experience levels can feel supported, present, and empowered in their practice.

    Outside of yoga, Libby enjoys playing tennis and golf, exploring Nashville, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

A woman in winter clothing poses with a yoga pose on the snow in a forest with tall trees and snow-covered ground.

  • 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. Her purpose in teaching is to share practices that cultivate a harmonious mind-body connection as the ultimate goal.

A young woman with brown hair in a ponytail smiling at the camera, standing in front of a colorful mandala artwork on a wall.

  • Sarah started adding yoga to her routine when she was in graduate school. She enjoyed getting her body moving in new ways and connected to the flow of the sequence. When she moved to Nashville, she slowly connected to the yoga community through classes at the community center and Metro Parks. In cooler months, she came to enjoy hot yoga and began her practice at the Small World Yoga studio. She continued going to grow her personal practice and the community fostered by Small World Yoga is infectious!

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

Black and white photo of a woman sitting at a table, smiling, with her hands clasped in front of her. She has long dark hair, and is wearing a short-sleeve shirt and apron. The background shows a wall with vertical paneling.

  • Selene received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2026 with East + West in Bali, Indonesia. She began teaching with Small World Yoga in June 2026 and is passionate about making yoga accessible to everyone and every body. Yoga has been an important grounding practice throughout her life. She loves yoga for the way it brings grounding and mindfulness into her everyday. Her favorite part of teaching is creating an inclusive space where students can move, breathe, and reconnect with themselves. Outside of yoga, she enjoys traveling, being in nature, and spending time with family and friends.

  • Eboni received her yoga teacher certification in 2025 with Small World Yoga. Outside of yoga, Eboni is a full time bodyworker. When she is not working, Eboni enjoys being in nature and exploring Nashville.

A woman performing a yoga backbend with her hands and feet on the ground, in front of a graffiti wall.

  • 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.

A woman practicing yoga outdoors on a colorful blanket on a rocky surface in a forested area, balancing on one leg in a tree pose with arms extended upward, wearing sunglasses, a gray crop top, and light green shorts.

  • Sydney received their yoga teacher certification in 2025 with Heart of Wisdom. They began teaching yoga in 2025 and started teaching with Small World Yoga in 2026. Sydney loves yoga because it has been a life-changing practice that helped her reconnect with themselves during difficult seasons and build strength, resilience, and compassion both on and off the mat.

    What Sydney enjoys most about teaching yoga is sharing the love for a practice that has helped her through tough times and creating a supportive, welcoming space for others. Outside of yoga, Sydney enjoys any adventure, being outdoors, paddleboarding, going on walks with her dog, reading, and hiking.

Close-up of a woman smiling, with long dark hair, wearing a light-colored, striped button-up shirt, standing in front of a red brick wall.

  • A proud member of the Nashville community for eight years and a 200-hour certified yoga teacher, Natalie is deeply aligned with Small World Yoga’s mission of bringing yoga to everyone. Her heritage from both Colombia and the Philippines has shaped her belief that yoga is a universal language of connection. Natalie is committed to making this practice accessible, just as it has been for her, serving as a powerful tool to connect body and mind and prioritize well-being. Her classes are a welcoming space for you to find balance, build strength, and foster a deeper connection to yourself.

A woman with shoulder-length light brown and blonde hair, blue eyes, and a subtle smile, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background, wearing a light blue tank top and a delicate necklace.

  • Sarah began practicing yoga at the fitness center in college after a background of dance and cheerleading, thinking she would be “good” at it. She learned very quickly that there is no “good at yoga.” And that’s what made Sarah fall in love with the practice—she was no longer performing for others but instead focusing on her own wellbeing.

    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, from kindergartners to 90-year-old seniors, and in a variety of styles, including power, gentle, chair, and kids’ yoga, supporting Small World’s mission that yoga is for every body. She received her 500-hour certification in 2020 with Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville.

    Outside of yoga, Sarah writes young adult novels and plays too many video games.

A young man kayaking on a lake during fall with trees and cabins in the background.

  • Cody took his first studio yoga class at Small World Yoga in 2018 after accidentally wandering into a yoga workshop at Bonnaroo earlier that year. At first, he was interested in the challenge and physicality of the practice, since before he started he couldn’t touch his toes. Soon it became more than that, as he discovered the connectedness it gave him to his body that no other form of exercise had before. 60 minutes to simply breathe and be with your body. He then began to realize he could use the same yoga techniques off the mat to regulate breathing and reduce anxiety.

    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.

A black and white photo of a man with short, curly hair, wearing a light-colored athletic shirt, stretching with arms outstretched in a gym or fitness studio.

  • Steve received his 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2025 with Fahrenheit Yoga. He started teaching yoga in 2025 and began teaching at Small World Yoga in 2026. He loves practicing yoga because it keeps him grounded, strong, and present, on and off the mat, while building mental and physical strength. What Steve enjoys most about teaching yoga is creating a welcoming space where people can show up as they are and leave feeling better than when they arrived. Outside of yoga, Steve enjoys walking his dogs, running, and trying new restaurants with his wife.

A woman with long wavy hair smiling at sunset near the ocean with palm trees and lush greenery in the background.

  • 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.

    She loves yoga because it encompasses the whole self. It is not just about the movement on your mat, but how you react and live your life. Throughout her yoga journey, she has found herself being more compassionate towards herself and others. Additionally, she has become more in tuned to her body and mental health. What Lauren enjoys most about teaching yoga is allowing everyone to show up authentically and making it available for everyone.

    Outside of yoga, she enjoys crocheting, reading, run clubs, and travel. She lives in East Nashville with her husband, Dustin, and two sweet cats, Benny and Earl Grey.

A woman with long red hair smiling outdoors, with green hills and a clear sky in the background.

  • Lisa has been devoted to her yoga practice for more than ten years and completed her 200-hour training in 2025 at Asheville Yoga Center. What started as a way to move her body evolved into a source of grounding through seasons of change, growth, and reflection.

    She teaches mixed-level Vinyasa with Yoga on the Deck through Friends of Beaman Park, where the outdoor setting inspires a deeper connection to breath, movement, and the rhythms of nature. In a culture that constantly asks us to rush and perform, Lisa is passionate about creating space to slow down and tune in. She believes yoga is an invitation to return to ourselves with curiosity and kindness — building both strength and softness, on and off the mat.

  • Beth completed her yoga teacher training with Heart of Wisdom and received her certification in 2025. Her practice is rooted in presence and the art of listening inward. Yoga has deepened her connection to herself and continues to be a guide toward growth, awareness, and intentional living both on and off the mat.

A woman with light skin smiling outside, wearing a blue top with puffed sleeves and a patterned design, standing in front of stone steps and trees.

  • 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.

Woman performing a downward dog yoga pose in front of a graffiti mural with cartoon characters and text.

  • 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.

Smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a navy blue tank top with yoga-themed text and designs, standing against a plain light background.

  • Lisa took her first yoga class in high school and began dabbling in and out of yoga for several years, always returning when life got stressful. After feeling stuck and desiring change in her life, she decided to fully commit to a yoga practice, getting on her mat three to four days a week in the fall of 2014. She felt empowered and connected to her community with this consistent yoga practice. Yoga inspired her 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

    Lisa 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.

A woman with blonde hair wearing a black quilted vest and black pants, smiling outdoors on a grassy area with trees and a road in the background during sunset.

  • 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.

A woman smiling outdoors, with brown hair and hoop earrings, holding a dog.

  • Karissa received her yoga teacher certification in 2026 with Hola Yoga School. She loves practicing yoga because of the internal space it creates for connection and compassion. What Karissa enjoys most about teaching yoga is holding space for students to be kind, curious, and grateful towards themselves. Outside of yoga, Karissa enjoys exploring the outdoors, goofing around with her dog, and dancing to records in her living room.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a maroon beanie and a beige sweater with the word 'Friends' on it, smiling and sitting in front of a wall with a large painted artwork of a sleeping cheetah surrounded by green and orange plants.

A woman with dark braided hair, wearing makeup with pink and glitter eyeshadow, a beige head wrap, and a white shirt with an open collar, standing in front of a green tropical leaf-patterned background.

  • Born and raised in Nashville TN, Mikka has always had a heart for community and movement. With a love for dance, gymnastics, and many other sports. Mikka was naturally drawn to yoga. She began her yoga Journey in 2017 and took her first group yoga class with Small World Yoga in 2018 at an outreach class at Mill Ridge Park. She now teaches at this exact outreach location, which is quite the full circle story. Mikka continued to practice with SWY for years and went on to take her 200-hour teacher training through SWY and Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville in March 2020.

    Before yoga, Mikka worked in childcare and owned a daycare for two years. She went on to work in the insurance industry before finding a love for yoga. Now she teaches at SWY and other local studios as well as privately. Mikka began working as an Outreach Manager for SWY in October 2022. As an outreach Manager she is part of an amazing outreach team within the leadership group that manages all of our teachers and community partners. In this role she connects with our partners to bring yoga into the community and outside the studio. With a passion for non-profit work, Mikka held a board position with the Atlanta based non-profit Blossoming Brown Girls from 2017–2019. She also currently holds a board seat with the Edgehill Neighborhood Partnership. 

    When not serving the community or teaching and practicing yoga, you can find Mikka somewhere outside exploring with her three daughters.

Young woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a black sleeveless top and a gold necklace, standing next to a brick wall with city or sidewalk steps visible in the background.

  • Keerthana received her yoga teacher certification with The Yoga Projekt in Peoria, IL. She started teaching yoga and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2025. She discovered yoga in college, and what began as a physical practice quickly became something much deeper — a way to reconnect with herself, find stillness in the chaos, and build strength from the inside out. That experience inspired her to become a teacher, so she could share this practice with others in a way that feels accessible, exciting, and real. Outside of yoga, Keerthana works as an engineer and enjoys traveling or hiking in her free time.

A woman holding a golden retriever puppy outdoors during daytime, smiling and laughing.

  • Annie Kate is an occupational therapist in Nashville, working primarily with adults with neurological dysfunction. She 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.

    Annie Kate found yoga in high school–deeming it the most mentally and physically challenging activity she had ever done. Usually attracted to fast moving sports and workouts, yoga was the one activity that kicked her out of her own head and allowed her to listen to her body. 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. She has found the principles of yoga can be applied to anyone and everyone she works with, which is why she has so much love for SWY’s mission and vision.

    Annie Kate loves being outside, playing sand volleyball, baking cookies, drinking way too much coffee, and doing everything with her dog Gus– who also loves yoga.

A woman with short dark hair and a snake print top sitting at a table in a fancy indoor restaurant, smiling with her head resting on her hand. The table has a tiered stand of scones, sandwiches, and desserts, along with a glass of iced coffee and some cups.

  • 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.

A smiling woman with long wavy blonde hair, wearing a black top, standing in a modern indoor setting.

  • 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. Kelsey is a Physician Assistant and specializing in aesthetics and regenerative. She believes yoga is a powerful tool in preventing and overcoming ailments for all individuals. What Kelsey loves most about teaching yoga is witnessing others surpass their self-limiting beliefs (physical and mental). Outside of yoga, Kelsey enjoys reading self-development books, international travel, scuba diving, exploring nature, lifting weights, visiting coffee shops, and attending concerts.

A woman sitting outdoors by a body of water, smiling, wearing glasses, a sleeveless black shirt with green writing, a long blue beaded necklace, and a watch.

  • Yoga slowly became a pillar of Savanna’s life when she moved to Nashville in 2016 to attend graduate school at Vanderbilt. It was a way to escape the endless swirl of thoughts about schoolwork and to instead focus on gratitude for being a whole and complete person.

    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. Her now full-time career is in classroom teaching in math and physics.  She loves sharing yoga with students of all ages.

A woman with long brown hair tied back, wearing a purple tank top and layered necklaces, taking a selfie in a bedroom with a bed and dresser in the background.

  • 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. As it is known, yoga must be studied, preferably shared and taught to others, but more importantly practiced. Jessica?s life path may have taken a different direction if her dental assistant career had evolved. 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.

    Originally from Southern California, Jessica now calls Tennessee home base. A single mother of three, raising and providing for them, found her calling after giving birth without medication and in a yogi squat. Now, the focus of her training is becoming a prenatal yoga instructor. Having already completed the Children?s Yoga Teacher Training Program, this Path of Mystica superstar is continually training and teaching for not just her own personal growth but for her clients, family, and friends.

    Jessica teaches toddlers to seniors and surely her exuberant personality will help you find your center. You will not be disappointed with the results!

A young woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a gray tank top with pink straps, a smartwatch, and jewelry, sitting in front of a colorful mural background.

  • Olivia is a graduate nursing student at Vanderbilt University with a deep passion for movement and holistic wellness. She loves any activity that encourages people to move their bodies with intention and care. Yoga has been a grounding practice for her, supporting both her physical health and mental well-being through the demands of graduate school. Olivia believes yoga is truly for everyone, regardless of experience, flexibility, or background. Her teaching focuses on creating a welcoming, supportive space where students can connect with their breath and bodies. Through yoga, she hopes to help others build strength, balance, and mindfulness both on and off the mat.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a striped black and white top and a small denim jacket with a shoulder pin, sits on a red leather seat, smiling at the camera.

  • 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.

    She discovered Small World Yoga after moving to Nashville in late 2019. Katie was drawn to their mission of making yoga accessible to all communities. She works full time for Mars Petcare and enjoys the Nashville food scene, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her dog, Gumbo.

A young woman sitting on grass at night, wearing a brown and red patterned top, pink and patterned skirt, and sneakers, with earrings, necklace, and makeup.

  • 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!

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, light-colored eyes, and a nose piercing, smiling slightly.

  • 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. Outside of yoga, Victoria enjoys cycling, curling up with a good book and a strong cup of coffee, and trying not to be the reason her team loses in trivia.

  • Doug is native to Nashville, TN. He began his yoga journey in his early 20’s through participating in the occasional power vinyasa class, as a way to incorporate more stretching and cardio into his fitness routine. After relishing the way he felt after a strong class, he gradually began to absorb the larger context of Yoga, as a holistic practice, and found that a Yoga could be a vehicle for not only being healthy physically, but could be a framework to incorporate meditation, mindfulness, personal philosophy, and connection, to the benefit of other forms of health. Yoga’s balanced and integrated approach to wellbeing really resonated with him. After lots of encouragement, and a bit of pushing, from some of the other Yogis in his life, he completed Yoga teacher training and began teaching at Small World Yoga in 2026. Doug is excited to share and grow the yoga practice and community that has meant so much and provided him with so many benefits. Outside of yoga, Doug is likely finding joy in traveling, hiking, and gardening; enjoying strategy games, puzzles or a good sci-fi story; spending time with his girlfriend and their sphinx cat; and learning as much as he can about the natural world and everything else.

A woman with long brown hair smiling, sitting outdoors near a hammock and a body of water.

  • Haydn came to yoga after dancing ballet professionally, carrying with her a strong foundation in alignment, discipline, and body awareness. That chapter also taught her the importance of creating environments that encourage restoration rather than burnout. Yoga became the space where she finally felt herself healing, both physically and emotionally, and that experience continues to guide how she shows up for others. She completed her 200-hour certification with Yoga East West in Bali, Indonesia, a deeply transformative experience. Outside of yoga, Haydn runs a small vintage furniture and design business in Nashville. In her free time she loves traveling to new places, art and Design, and spending time outside with her dog Beau.

A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, wearing a black shirt and a silver pendant necklace, posing against a dark background.

  • Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Judy has always had a passion for movement and good health. She understands that she is able to make choices that have a direct effect on her health. With that being said, as a former figure skater with a BS in physical education and a minor in dance education from Ohio State University and a 200-hour yoga certification, Judy lives out her passion and commitment to physical health and movement.

    When she had a hip replacement in 2014, Judy had to make adjustments to her physical exercise program while keeping true to her health and wellness routine. With aging comes change, but Judy believes beauty and grace accompanies it as well. It is her goal to guide and assist with movement that allows us to breathe and move with greater ease and freedom while understanding that the joy of the moment is the value derived from the experience not necessarily the results.
    Judy’s day job is helping people find their way around the globe as a travel advisor.

    Judy likes to travel herself, having recently returned from Tanzania, where she climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and went on a safari. Some other recent destinations are South America, China, Israel, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

A smiling woman with short, gray hair wearing a dark denim jacket and a maroon top.

  • 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. Karen has been an early childhood educator for over 35 years and enjoys bringing yoga and SEL into her classroom and her school community. Her yoga practice has been an integral part of her self-care, helping her to stay grounded and bring balance into her life. She loves sharing yoga with others and helping them develop their mind-body connection.

    Karen is a native Nashvillian and mother of four now-grown children. When she is not practicing at the studio, she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and climbing, and spending time with her family—especially her grandson, Cruse!

A young man with glasses taking a selfie next to a large, black and brown bear costume with a tongue sticking out.

  • 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.

A woman wearing a light-colored cap and a pale green sweater standing outdoors in a lush, flowering landscape.

  • Tahreem discovered yoga during a season of corporate burnout and hasn’t looked back since. What started as a way to decompress became a practice that helped her realign her life with her values. She genuinely loves people, and her greatest joy in teaching is watching a room full of humans take a deep, real breath. Her classes are inviting, grounding, and designed to leave you feeling more like yourself.

Woman with long dark hair smiling outdoors during daytime, wearing a navy sleeveless top with ruffled details, standing in front of a blurred background of trees with autumn foliage.

  • Lyndsey is a Wisconsin native who spent her youth immersed in athletics and competition. She discovered yoga as a young adult, using it as a way to stay grounded and healthy. Over the years, her love for a variety of yoga styles and breath work has continued to grow.

    In 2023, Lyndsey attended a gentle yoga class at SWY outreach location and quickly connected with its mission. She began volunteering at their Nashville studio and went on to complete her 200-hour yoga teacher training the following year. In Summer 2024, she deepened her practice by attending a training retreat with Baron Baptiste, founder of Baptiste Power Yoga.

    Lyndsey teaches a strong, accessible practice focused on breath, relaxation, and building strength—inviting students to find balance in both body and mind.

A woman with dark hair and blue eyes smiling slightly, wearing a black sweatshirt with white text listing various words like Nashville and community, standing in front of a gray textured wall.

Woman practicing yoga on a sandy beach during sunset

  • Lisa is originally from Nashville and began practicing yoga in 2010. At that time, she was practicing law and raising two young children. She was drawn to yoga to escape her whirlwind lifestyle as it offered a quiet space and exercise while she was also competing in marathons and triathlons. Fast forward ten years and Yoga has now become a passion in her life as it is a mind, body and soul workout for her. She 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.

Smiling woman with short dark hair, wearing a black tank top that says "Realize Your Potential" in front of a colorful mural.

  • 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!

Smiling woman with glasses taking a selfie in an indoor setting with gray walls and modern ceiling fixtures.

  • Ruth completed her 200-hour 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. Ruth started teaching yoga with CorePower Yoga in June 2022 and is closing in on her 100th class! She also received a certification in Reiki Level I and 2 training and just completed a 300-hour meditation coaching training.

Woman taking a mirror selfie, wearing a black jacket, red top, and layered necklaces, with her hair styled in a large updo.

  • Vanessa Merriweather began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2026, where she received her yoga teacher certification earlier that year. She loves yoga because it reminds her not to take life too seriously. What Vanessa enjoys most about teaching yoga is that it allows her to offer others an escape from the mundane and explore what’s possible when moving their bodies. Outside of yoga, Vanessa enjoys crocheting, reading anything she can get her hands on, and sitting out in the sun.

A smiling woman with gray hair sitting at an office desk with various papers, office supplies, and a telephone behind her.

  • Nikki Lee received her yoga teacher certification in 2018 with theAmma 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. What Nikki enjoys most about teaching yoga is bringing new awareness and some peace to participants in her practice.

    Outside of yoga, Nikki enjoys her family, playing back-up rhythm guitar, her granddaughter and granddog, and being outside, either hiking or gardening.

Person doing a yoga pose in front of a colorful mural of a city skyline and a sun or moon.

  • Melissa 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.

A man practicing meditation in a seated yoga pose with eyes closed, wearing a black t-shirt and black pants against a yellow background.

  • What started as performance optimization became something far more valuable: a connection to the wisdom our ancestors preserved for us.

    Nathan completed his 200-hour certification in Yin, Restorative, Nidra, and Hatha/Vinyasa not to teach perfect poses or perfect meditation, but instead to share practical tools for self-mastery in everyday life. His classes are grounding and accessible, built for men dealing with the weight of daily responsibilities, though all are welcome.

    Nathan believes the practice isn't about flexibility or achievement. It's about not giving up on yourself. It's about breath, discipline, and remembering that controlling yourself—steadying your own mind—is the greatest feat there is.

  • Lily received their yoga teacher certification in 2026 with School of Yoga Institute in Mal Pais, Costa Rica. She loves yoga because it brings harmony between her brain, body, and soul. What Lily enjoys most about teaching yoga is fostering a love of yoga in others. Outside of yoga, Lily enjoys running, traveling, and trying new restaurants for her vegan food blog.

A woman with dark wavy hair, wearing large tortoiseshell glasses, a nose ring, multiple gold necklaces, and a dark green blazer, smiling at the camera.

  • 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.

Close-up of a woman with curly brown hair, wearing a white tank top, gold necklace, and smiling softly at the camera.

  • 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!

Smiling elderly man in sleeveless athletic shirt outdoors with trees in the background.

  • 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.

    He completed his 200-hour training at Epic Yoga in Brentwood, TN and his 300-hour training at Sanctuary for Yoga in Nashville. He has been to many advanced trainings including a 150-hour Ayurvedic Counseling program with James Baily of the Sevanti Institute.

    David’s mindfulness journey began in 1974 when he learned Transcendental Meditation™ and since then, he hasn’t had a single day without meditating. He is a life-long learner and adventure seeker who has been practicing yoga since 2000. He brings to his teaching his love and excitement for adventure and challenge. Off the mat, he has made over 2300 skydives, is a commercial hot air balloon, airplane pilot, as well as an avid flying trapeze flier.

    In his professional life, as a former psychotherapist and consultant, he has spent most of his life preventing violence by teaching people how to communicate in difficult and life-threatening situations, ranging from hostage negotiations and interviewing potential assassins to giving difficult workplace performance feedback. David is a Certified Threat Manager.

Close-up of a man with curly hair and a mustache drinking from a white mug outdoors.

  • 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.

A woman with gray hair and brown eyes smiling outdoors, wearing a red patterned blouse and a gold necklace, with a blurred background of trees, cars, and a fence.

  • Tessa received her 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.

Woman practicing yoga in a yoga pose on a black mat with indoor plants and decorative wall hanging in the background.

  • Kali has a passion for sports and fitness, and how our bodies react, adapt, and work through the process of learning new skills and art forms. In her early sports career, Kali spent eight years as a competitive gymnast. During this tenure, she was taught to condition not only the physical aspects of our bodies through consistent stretching, strength training, and continued repetition, but also the mentality needed to push through the physical demands, visualize routines, and focus through any distractions that could arise. Through this strong-willed mindset, Kali was able to compete at the highest level, and win several competitions. Following her gymnastics career, Kali pursued several other artistic forms of sport, where body and mind connection were essential for success. Dance gave her the opportunity to continue the strengths she found in gymnastics, but without the harsh physical environments. As she progressed through middle school, she moved from dance to joining her high school swimming team, competing on the diving team with springboard diving as her focus.

    Kali was a gymnastics coach for fifteen years working with children of all ages and training them for competitive and non-competitive gymnastics. She later created a gymnastics program and owned her own company for seven of those years. She has always enjoyed working with children and teaching the sport that she loves to so many throughout the years. Yoga for her is a lot like gymnastics in that it takes lots of concentration, flexibility, and strength. She love the feeling of balancing her body, the feeling of moving her body as therapy, a way to de-stress from life’s troubles, and that feeling of peace, that release to let go of the negative and be more grateful for the things in her life.

    She loves the aspect of meeting like-minded people through yoga and seeing each other grow and learn, creating a practice that is something to look forward to each and every day. She believes there is no better feeling than to see others growing in their practice, with her guidance and knowledge spreading the love of daily yoga and meditation, helping to keep them motivated, to achieve their goals. Kali has been doing yoga since 2014 and completed yoga teacher training in March 2023 at Santosha Yoga in Hendersonville.

    Kali is originally from Dallas, Texas and currently resides in Hendersonville with her husband and teenage daughter where she enjoys boating, kayaking, hiking, camping, and doing yoga.

A man practicing yoga on a black mat outside on a porch, standing on one leg with arms raised, smiling, wearing a grey t-shirt, dark pants, and no shoes.

  • 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! Outside of yoga Gabe is a consistent powerlifter and a major fan of professional wrestling and reality television.

A woman smiling outdoors with sunlight behind her, causing sun glare and rainbow lens flare, wearing a dark top and having curly blonde hair.

  • Ashley is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher based in Nashville, TN. She teaches vinyasa, gentle, yin, and children’s yoga; with a focus on accessibility and helping students develop a practice that feels steady and sustainable. Ashley completed her teacher trainings through Fahrenheit Yoga and Small World Yoga, along with additional studies in yin and Spanish for yoga teachers. With a background in education and social work, she brings a trauma-informed lens to her classes and aims to create spaces where people feel comfortable and empowered showing up as they are- paired with the invitation to courageously try something new.
    Outside of yoga, Ashley loves planning retreats and language immersion trips that blend travel, culture, and movement. She’s happiest reading a good book, spending time outside, or exploring somewhere new with her husband and two pups. At the heart of it all, she values community, curiosity, and the chance to keep learning — both on and off the mat.

Woman smiling outdoors in a tropical garden with lush green plants and a small pond.

  • 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.

    Outside of yoga, Sibyl is a corporate attorney practicing in the digital health space, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, daughter, and pup.

A woman in white yoga clothes performing a yoga pose on a sandy beach, with the ocean and a cloudy sky in the background.

  • 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. She loves teaching a class and seeing the same people come back to it because yoga has now become something they really enjoy. It has become part of their routine. It has been awesome to teach adults and children yoga and mindfulness strategies they can use not only during the yoga class but throughout their days.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a coral top and necklace, smiling in front of a wooden wall.

A woman with curly brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a sleeveless black top against a dark blue background.

  • Lucy moved to Nashville in Spring of 2021. While she is a newer instructor, she’s a seasoned practitioner with eleven years under her belt including a variety of styles, both heated and non. While she loves all things yoga, her passion is Baptiste style and power vinyasa. She’s had the pleasure of practicing at a number of studios across the US including NYC, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. When she first stepped on her mat it was more about the amazing work out it provided. Eleven years later it’s still an amazing workout but it’s the feeling created on the mat that keeps her coming back, and the wonderful communities she’s built at each yoga studio she’s called home. Additionally 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 over the last years she can’t imagine where she’d be without it. Lucy’s hope as an instructor is that even if only for a brief moment she can create a positive impact or change for someone else.

A woman with blonde hair and sunglasses on her head taking a selfie on a rooftop with a cityscape background.

  • 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. She enjoys teaching as a way to help others find that same sense of clarity and calm. Outside of yoga, Meagan enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her two cats.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a yellow tank top, standing outdoors in front of green foliage.

  • A native Nashvillian, Liz is passionate about both the local and global yoga communities.

    In 2013 she was moved by the idea that “yoga can happen anywhere” while in Kenya with the Africa Yoga Project. Upon her return she believed that the Nashville community deserved the same access to yoga and its benefits that she saw under the hot Kenyan sun.

    A do-er by nature, 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, and has made a sustainable model of bringing yoga to the community by training more than 100 new teachers in the Nashville area and beyond. Two major events- Music City Yoga Festival and Nashville’s International Day of Yoga- bring together the local yoga community thanks to Liz’s leadership and organizational skills.

    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.

    She has also studied under Live Love Teach founders Philip Urso, Debbie Williamson and Stacy Dockins. She trains and certifies teachers in paddleboard yoga through her business, Nashville Paddle Co.

    Liz was a high school and college athlete and didn’t expect yoga was going to be the sport for her, but more than a decade later she still loves both the challenge of the physical practice and the deeper emotional benefits. In 2017, she returned in Kenya and is now a sponsor of Africa Yoga Project. She funds a new teachers’ career in Africa and she also helps host/sponsor teachers from Africa to come to America and teach.

    When not on the mat or in the SWY studio you can find Liz on a paddleboard, in the cookie kitchen with her husband, or looking for the best Mexican food in town.

Close-up of a woman with blonde curly hair smiling, wearing red lipstick, a black top, and a gold necklace with a key pendant, in a kitchen setting.

  • Morgan received her 200 hour yoga teaching certification in 2022 and her 500 hour teaching certification in 2023, both from Baptiste Power Yoga Nashville.  In addition, she holds a 50 hour aerial yoga teaching certificate from Om Factory in NYC.  She began teaching outreach for SWY in 2022 and joined the studio teaching team soon after.  She loves teaching yoga because it allows her to connect with people from all walks of life.  Outside of yoga, Morgan loves to read, crochet, quilt, and spend time with her mini-poodle, Luna Lovegood.

A young woman with long, dark wavy hair smiling outdoors with green trees and blurred background.

  • 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. She hopes through teaching she can encourage students to live authentically and free. Outside of yoga, Jess enjoys reading, traveling, and being outdoors.

Two women practicing yoga together in a gym, with one woman in a backbend and the other supporting her by holding her leg and back.

  • With a BS in exercise science and a MS in health education and promotion, it was only a matter of time before Maggie found her way to yoga. After earning her ACE Personal Trainer certification, Maggie began looking to group exercise. In 2016, Maggie completed her 200-hour teacher training through YogaFit. Maggie places great emphasis on bringing safe and biomechanically sound yoga practices to students. Her goal is to make yoga accessible to everybody and tailors her vinyasa-style classes to the needs and experience levels of her students.

    Maggie is originally from the DC metropolitan area and worked at several yoga studios and gyms in DC and Virginia. She moved to Nashville in the summer of 2019. She is excited to expand her teaching and yoga experiences in her new community. She currently teaches yoga in schools through Small World Yoga.

A young man with glasses, wearing a plaid shirt and a red and yellow striped scarf, standing outdoors with a landscape of trees and terraced fields in the background.

  • Noah Guthrie started doing yoga around 2016, and he subsequently received instruction from YouTubers, a Chilean yogi mom, his tuxedo cat, and finally the team at Small World Yoga. He got his teaching certification from Small World in March 2026, and he's excited to cultivate a space in the studio where all feel welcome, and where all can find external strength, internal resilience, and holistic peace.

    Aside from that, Noah is a Christ-follower and creative writer. He enjoys reading fantasy novels, practicing Spanish, and talking to furry creatures in his free time.

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.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a green top, smiling in front of a plain light gray background.

  • 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.

Close-up of a smiling woman with blonde hair, red lipstick, and a denim jacket in a casual indoor setting.

  • Susi received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2016 and her 300-hour certification in 2017 with Sanctuary for Yoga. She started teaching yoga in 2016 and began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2024. She loves yoga because of the movement between action and stillness. What Susi enjoys most about teaching yoga is creating a space for each person to be with themselves while in community. Outside of yoga, Susi enjoys reading, crafting and travel.

A young woman jumping with arms and legs spread wide on a beach, smiling, with ocean waves in the background during what appears to be dusk or twilight.

  • When Olivia first considered becoming a yoga teacher, it felt like a fantasy—she felt she lacked the necessary strength and skill to become an instructor. She took the leap anyway and jumped in with both feet. By the time graduation day rolled around, she was impassioned not only to continue her own yoga routine, but to share the power of the practice with others!

    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. Her favorite part of teaching is creating space for people to explore these relationships within themselves. Olivia has a special interest in the value of yoga in the process of trauma recovery, and she looks forward to furthering her education in this area of focus. Outside of yoga, Olivia enjoys playing the fiddle, reading, and hiking with her dog, Poppy.

A woman practicing yoga or meditation indoors, with her hands pressed together in front of her chest, smiling and wearing glasses and workout clothes.

  • Brittney is a certified yoga instructor and a Lead IT Financial Analyst, balancing a structured, analytical career with a passion for movement and mindfulness. Like many people, she was drawn to yoga during a time when she needed to slow down and find balance—and it quickly became a meaningful part of her life.

    Yoga has helped Brittney build both physical strength and mental resilience, and she loves sharing that with others. Her classes are designed to be approachable, supportive, and inclusive, creating a space where students can show up exactly as they are.

    Whether you’re looking to de-stress, build strength, or simply take time for yourself, Brittney hopes her classes give you the opportunity to pause, breathe, and reconnect. Her goal is for you to walk away feeling empowered, refreshed, and supported in your own journey.

A smiling man with glasses and facial hair standing outdoors against a gray stone wall with green foliage in the background.

  • Gilbert inconsistently practiced yoga for seven years before settling down and fostering a regular practice. Once he did, something clicked. 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. At the beginning he didn’t know if he wanted to teach, but he wanted to be able to consciously practice on his own, with or without a studio, finding home wherever he goes.

    As a teacher, Gilbert provides a space for the curious to explore and discover their inner strengths through mindful movement and breath. His approach to yoga is accessible, light-hearted, and anchored in gratitude. He still confuses his lefts and his rights and occasionally forgets the names of poses; he’s got room to grow, and like you, he’s still practicing too.

A smiling woman with long, dark, wavy hair stands in front of a white brick wall.

  • Before becoming a yoga instructor, Meghan worked in retail for a while in high school and college and has spent most of her professional life teaching small children. She worked in a couple of preschools, spent two years teaching Kindergarten, and nannied for several families. Now her major responsibilities include scheduling continuing education workshops for instructors, offering monthly challenges to the studio team and outreach teachers, and providing regular support and feedback. Meghan also co-facilitates our 200-hour teacher training program and works closely with students throughout the application process. She started teaching in the Small World Community studio in the summer of 2018, facilitating programs in January of 2020, took on instructor development responsibilities in November of 2021.

    Like many of our instructors, Meghan finds yoga to be supportive, grounding, and ultimately transformative. She chose to work with Small World because she’s committed to sharing the practice with any and every body, especially in her hometown of Nashville. She started practicing consistently when her personal life felt too tumultuous to handle on her own. She found a lot of space in being able to feel uncomfortable sensations without judgment or attachment. Meghan teaches heated power flow and would describe her class as challenging with space to modify and create variations as it serves students. She tries to incorporate a bit of lightness and will always leave time at the end for rest.

    Meghan’s husband works as a chef, and they have a daughter and an extremely ornery cat. When they aren’t practicing yoga, they love to be outside—working or playing and enjoy traveling, eating, and being around friends and family.

A smiling young woman with blonde hair wearing a white beanie hat and a black jacket, in a desert landscape with red rocks and distant mountains at sunset.

  • Maddy began her yoga journey back in 2018 as a junior at Michigan State University. After years of suffering from various mental health issues, she realized that yoga positively impacted her outlook on life. 

    Maddy is currently getting her master’s of education in Community Development and Action at Vanderbilt University. She’s focusing on youth empowerment through mental health engagement and advocacy using mindfulness. The program’s goal is to combine interdisciplinary human development studies to create community changes. She’s hoping to use her knowledge of yoga within the program to develop an impactful difference in the lives of youth. 

    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.”

A woman with curly black hair, wearing a black dress and a white lace shawl, standing in a room with beige curtains and dark wood walls, smiling at the camera.

  • Kat completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Small World Yoga in 2025 and began teaching shortly afterwards. She loves practicing yoga because it helps her connect with her inner light and encourages her to be purely in the present moment. 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.

    Outside of teaching yoga, Kat enjoys singing, songwriting, spending time in nature and cooking for loved ones!

Smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing pearl earrings and a dark green top, outdoors with blurred trees in the background.

  • Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started practicing yoga when she went away to college in New York City in 2018, and quickly found that a yoga mat can make you feel at home no matter where you are in the world. When she moved to Nashville in 2024, she practiced at various studios before finding a home in the community at Small World Yoga, where she completed her 200-hour teacher certification.

A woman with glasses and pearl earrings sitting in a car, smiling at the camera, with greenery visible outside the window.

  • Born and raised in Nashville, Maria was first introduced to yoga in middle school, and it was love at first sun salutation. Practicing throughout high school and college, her appreciation for the practice grew, but really cemented itself as part of her lifestyle post-pandemic. While living in Los Angeles, she experienced an extreme health crisis and credits her faith and yoga for allowing her to trust her body again. This pushed her to want to learn more about the intentions of the practice and share all its wonderful benefits with others. Maria 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.

A young woman with long dark hair taking a selfie against a red wall, smiling softly, wearing a necklace and a beige sleeveless top.

  • 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. What Masa enjoys most about teaching yoga is it allows her to extend the peace and focus it brings her while empowering others to connect with themselves through the practice and get what they need out of it for their own lives. Outside of yoga, Masa enjoys singing, self-development, watching TV, and hanging out with loved ones.

A smiling woman with a nose ring, long black hair, wearing a green beanie and a gray sweater, outdoors in a field with trees and hills in the background.

  • 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.

    What she enjoys most about teaching is being able to see participants express themselves through their own practice, in their own unique bodies, carrying their own experiences. In her class, you will find her giving students space to adopt any modifications, use props and move at a pace and rhythm that speaks to them.

    Outside of yoga, Rina freelance writes, reads, crashes cars with her son (toy cars) and avoids overthinking.

A woman with long, wavy brown hair smiling while sitting on a couch in a room with a large mirror on the wall behind her.

  • Lucy McKay (she/her) received her yoga teacher certification in 2026 with Small World Yoga. She began teaching with Small World Yoga in 2026 following the completion of her training. She loves yoga because of the mind-body-movement connection and peace it brings her. What Lucy enjoys most about teaching yoga is building community. Outside of yoga, Lucy enjoys reading, playing with her dog and spending time with her family and friends.

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.

    When she found Small World Yoga she immediately knew she wanted to be a part of this organization that gave back to the community. Her desire is to share with the public the same positive impact yoga had with her and her life, and to give back to the community.

A woman with long, wavy hair smiling while sitting in front of window blinds, wearing a red T-shirt.

  • 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.

A woman with curly brown hair smiling in front of a plain gray wall, wearing a black blazer over a red top, a pearl necklace, and pearl earrings.

  • 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. Outside of yoga, Echo is a rescue mom to several fur babies and enjoys dancing, music, travel, and spending time in nature.

Young woman smiling with a yoga mat over her shoulder, standing in front of colorful background.

  • 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.

A woman in a red crop top and matching skirt posing in front of a decorative, patterned tapestry with intricate designs.

  • Originally from West Tennessee, Ashley has called Nashville home since 2007. She 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. Outside of yoga, Ashley enjoys hiking and spending time in nature. Her goal is to help students cultivate a practice that supports both their body and mind.

A woman with dark, twisted dreadlocks, glasses, and a big smile, wearing a blue t-shirt with white text, against a plain white background.

  • 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.

A smiling man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a black shirt and layered necklaces, leaning against a grey brick wall.

  • 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.