YogaFaith Director, YF-D
Our Directors have excelled in leadership skills, teaching abilities, and shown great enthusiasm for God and people through their Ambassadorship.
YF Director, Jody Thomae | Ashland, OH
R-YFT, TSYF, R-YFMT 500 hr, Relax & Renew®, C-IAYT
Director and Ambassador Jody Thomae is an author, worship leader, and teacher of embodied prayer and creative worship. She has been involved in worship arts ministries since 1997 and is the author of “God’s Creative Gift” and “The Creator’s Healing Power.”
Her passion is for the revelation of God to be made real through the prophetic and creative portrayal of the message of Christ’s unfailing love, in order to help sustain the hearts of the broken and weary. She is particularly interested in how God uses creativity and embodied movement (including yoga) in the formative and healing process. She is a graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary and a team member with Healing Care Ministries.
She has taught yoga for close to two decades and leads gently challenging Vinyasa flow (or slow, energizing flow) yoga classes that are ROOTED (grounded in form, alignment, intention) and REACHING (stretching towards personal goals, dreams, destiny). She is a YogaFaith Director, a Registered YogaFaith Master Trainer (R-YFMT), a Christian Yoga Association Master Trainer and Continuing Education Provider. She is also a Relax & Renew RYT. Jody is currently pursuing her certification as a Spiritual Director through Healing Care Ministries. See www.jodythomae.com for more information on her ministry activities. See Rooted and Reaching here.
YF Director, Monette Benjamin-George | London, Ontario Canada
200 R-YFT, YF-A
Monette has been practicing yoga since 2014 when she wanted some exercise and a study break. As she went to classes, she realized that the time on her mat was very meaningful as it became a great time to connect with God. She began to notice so many principles of yoga reflect God, and his desire for us to be whole in body, soul and spirit. Thus began Monette’s search for Christian Yoga and thankfully she found YogaFaith!
Monette believes connecting Christian faith with yoga is a piece of the puzzle of life. Monette currently works as an Addiction Counselor at a long-term residential treatment center for alcohol and drugs as well as teaches yoga classes at a local yoga studio. These two positions remind Monette daily that: “life is sometimes so beautiful, and life is sometimes so brutal! Living with the tension of these realities, I desire to live being grateful for all that God has given me. I am so thankful to be able to share this gift of YogaFaith; it is a precious treasure to share Jesus through the practice of yoga!”
Connect with Monette at JoyYogaFaith.com, YogaFaith’s online modules or her annual Canada Teacher Training in London, Ontario!
YogaFaith Ambassador, YF-A
A YogaFaith Ambassador is one who wants to move from being a spectator to being a participator. One who captures the vision and wants to take God’s light into a dark world. We value and honor our Ambassadors being the hands and feet of God, reaching all four corners of this Earth. Going and making disciples in His name.
MaryAnn Sander | Wisconsin
Appointed Lead Master Trainer, YF-LMT, YF Yoga Therapy Administrator
CONGRATULATIONS AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR 2022-2023
I am a “cheesehead” and have lived in the Milwaukee area my entire life. I am a home church pastor and mentor through Brew City Church. I greet God every morning by thanking Him for another day to be alive, saved by His grace, healthy, safe and free. I also hold forever gratitude for my two amazing grown sons and their beautiful gals, my incredible family and my sweet intimate best friendships.
God – Teaching – Serving
I have had a heart and passion for God, for teaching and for serving my entire life. In addition to being a current YogaFaith trainer, I have also taught and served in the fields of public education, hairdressing and theatre/dance. I believe it is our spirit, prompted by the Holy Spirit, which comes at some point in our lives, to recognize the giftings we have been given…then it is up to us to do something about it!!
1 Peter 4:10 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
Hills and Valleys
I have been blessed to live on many spiritual hilltops throughout my life. Like most of us, my life did not always have that mountain top view. After going through a very long life season down in the valley ( almost 20 years), I began taking yoga classes 7 years ago as part of my movement back into health and wholeness. I remember going through a flow one evening – at some point, I tuned out the instructor and began breathing, moving, praising, and meditating on Jesus. I just knew I was being led by the Holy Spirit! On my drive home I kept thinking – wow, that felt like such a natural extension of my connection to You God….it seems like something David would do!!
YogaFaith
Of course, it was by the continued leading of the Spirit that my journey intersected with YogaFaith. I completed my first YogaFaith 200hr training in 2017 and have not looked back since! I currently hold certifications as a YogaFaith yoga Instructor, Master Trainer, Lead Trainer, Meditation/Nidra Instructor, Trauma Sensitive Instructor and Sozo/Somatics Instructor. I am on staff with YogaFaith working in the area of student support services. I am also a curriculum writer currently writing for YogaFaith’s new Yoga Therapy program! My heart and spirit completely align with YogaFaith philosophy “to train, equip, resource and empower the body of Christ to fulfill their unique God given purpose; and to live successful Christian lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
MaryAnn recently became the first and only YogaFaith Master Lead Trainer, YF-MLT, she is so incredible that we created this position for her, or she created the position for us, whichever it is…we can’t wait for you to learn from her!
Other certifications: R-YFMT, TSYF, R-YFMN, R-YFSS
Melanie Gardner | Oregon
R-YFT 200, Director of Sales
Melanie’s passion is encouraging, empowering and equipping leaders to step into all God has called them to!
Melanie was introduced to Jesus as savior her Senior year of high school, this radically changed the course of her life. A few year later she was introduced to yoga while in college where she graduated with her degree in Psychology. The breath, movement and mindfulness of yoga helped her to focus on and deal with the chaos in her life and ultimately woke her up from a slumber of not actively walking with the Lord. She regularly met Jesus on the mat which helped her find her way back to all God and a holistic way of living. Melanie began teaching Yoga in 1993 for a couple years, she has mostly enjoyed classes and workshops as a student. She has been apart of the health and wellness industry in coaching, training, business and leadership for the past 30 + years.
Melanie earned her YogaFaith 200 hour teaching certificate in 2020 and has a number of other YogaFaith certifications she is working on. As the Sales Director with YogaFaith, Melanie can often be found in her home office offering guidance to YogaFaith students, graduates and potential students. She often sings the praises of her husband Stan whom she has been married to for 21 + years, asks for prayers for the 20 year old beautiful daughter whom attends the local community college and lives at home, can’t wait for the next time she gets to see her 26 year old son who launched into his career 6 hours away and walks her dog Glacier everyday to keep up with his energy and demanding nature! Melanie has a deep desire to build meaningful relationships, while also strengthen and building the kingdom of God which so graciously welcomed her in.
Melanie’s heart is ultimately for Jesus, her family, ministry, health and wellness, the beautiful outdoors and all things finding freedom in breath, life and movement…which all extends to YogaFaith.
Other certifications: YF Meditation and Nidra soon to be graduate.
Robin Bourdeau | Arlington, VA
R-YFYT, R-CYAMT 500, YF-CWR, NASM-CPT
CONGRATULATIONS AMBASSADOR HONOREE 2022-2023 and our first 1000 hour Yoga Therapist!
Robin currently resides in Arlington, VA, just outside DC. She grew up in gymnastics, competing as a youngster and coaching for roughly 20 years. After the birth of her beautiful daughter, she turned her attention to a more conventional profession. During this time, Robin went through a significant weight gain – weight loss journey, at the end if which she became a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT) and then an avid runner.
Having grown up in a baptist church, Robin was reluctant to try yoga, but after running friends convinced her to attend a free session she was hooked. She quickly signed up for teacher training to understand more about why yoga was changing her in ways beyond the physical. It was after she completed her 200 Hour training that she discovered YogaFaith. Keeping that on her radar, Robin left her profession to focus fully on serving, teaching, and encouraging others to fulfill their God-given potential. In addition to being a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor, Robin added Pilates and nutrition coaching to her skillset.
With the onset of COVID in 2020, Robin found herself with ample time to dive into Yoga Faith training, immersing herself in the YogaFaith Master’s program, YogaFaith Yin, and YogaFaith Meeting of Ancient Pathways with an eye toward yoga therapy. This opportunity has been a life-changing experience for her and one she desires deeply to share with others.
Robin is Founder and Owner of X4mation Fitness, LLC, transforming lives through the power of God and the practice of yoga. She teaches online and in person sessions for individuals, groups, special events, and retreats.
Kristi Hardy | Texas
R-YFT, YF-A
Kristi began her yoga journey in 2001 when she checked out a yoga video at her local library when she was looking for something to help her during a personal struggle. A studio opened in her hometown shortly after and the peace and connection to Christ she felt on her mat was deep from that point on.
She began formal teacher training but didn’t finish when she became pregnant with her first son in 2009. In 2019, she felt the call to teach again, began searching for a Christian yoga certification program and found YogaFaith. She enrolled and became a R-YFT 200 certified teacher in March 2021 through YogaFaith. She is also certified in yoga with weights through Xen Strength Yoga.
Aside from teaching yoga, Kristi teaches elementary music full time to over 550 kindergarteners. She lives in Crosby, Texas just outside of Houston with her two sons and husband of 15 years.
Connect with Kristi at TransformedWellness.org
Claire Williams | Georgia
R-YFT, YF-LT
Jesus.Yoga.Family.
I am a proud mother of two sweet boys, and I am married to a wonderful firefighter with a sweet mustache. LOL
We live in Winder, Georgia.
I fell in love with yoga at my local YMCA and began taking yoga as a way to combat muscle tightness from my scoliosis. Little did I know it would change my life. I was amazed at the body-mind awareness connection, and how I felt after each class. I would have never thought I would be leading people with yoga. I was scared of everything, and always stuck to my “comfort zone.” A friend of mine encouraged me to become a teacher, and I obtained an on-line certification. I knew eventually I wanted to obtain my 200hr certification. I stumbled upon Yogafaith and couldn’t believe it. Everything fell into place. I attended a 200hr immersion in March of 2019- and added another chapter to my story. I suffered with anxiety and depression after the birth of my second son, and felt so much guilt because of it. I was redeemed on my yoga mat during that immersion. God had plans for me. God has plans for you too!
I am grateful that I can lead others. I always remind myself that God always choses ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. I feel privileged to share God’s love with others in such an amazing way. A Yogafaith class ignites and unites the spiritual mind, body and soul. Its an honor and privilege to be able to lead my students.
Connect with Claire at TheOasis, in our online Modules or at immersion!
Psalm 91:4
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.”
Rosy McCann | New Jersey
R-YFMT 500, Meditation/Nidra
Congratulations Ambassador of the Year Honoree 2021-2022
Rosy McCann is a Holistic Health Coach, Nutrition Educator, and Founding President of Empowering Women Thru Motion, a not-for-profit organization for women. She became a Yoga Faith instructor in 2017 in London Ontario and is the founder of Healthy4Life.
As a former event planner, Rosy’s passion is to bring women together in engaging retreats to learn firsthand how to create balance in mind, body and soul. The core tenets for her retreats are by unplugging and reconnecting with Jesus, eating a clean, healthy diet, and practicing meditation, prayer and yoga. Her goal is to provide women the tools they need to begin their journey back to or optimize their whole-body health and wellness.
I am honored to be a YogaFaith Ambassador and assist in bringing women closer to the Creator through yoga and education.
And we are also honored that God has brought such a gift in Rosy to us! We hope you get the chance to meet her or join one of her beautiful retreats!
Jessica Cunniff | S Carolina
R-YFT 200
Tanya Coggin | S Carolina
R-YFT, R-CYAT, R-YFYT
Tanya Coggin has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years. She is a Registered Yoga Trainer (200 hour) with YogaFaith, R-YFT and the Christian Yoga Association, R-CYAT. She completed her specialty training to become a Registered YogaFaith Yin Trainer in 2020, as well as a Registered Trauma informed Trainer in 2022 and all of her classes are taught from a trauma informed perspective. Her passion is holding space for all people who are curious about Christ centered yoga.
She teaches in upstate South Carolina. Tanya instructs weekly group classes for Whole Fitness and the Eastside Family YMCA. She hosts church ministry events and small group yoga sessions through her fitness ministry, Peace of Her Mind Yoga LLC. Tanya hosts 2 different quarterly workshops, Meditation on the Mountain in Marietta and Envision in Greer, SC. She teaches Christ centered yoga online, offering free resources to enhance and encourage home yoga practices through her Facebook group page. Tanya recently launched a new YouTube channel with offerings for yoga practice, soul care, scripture meditation, and breath prayers.
It’s her delight to share “prayer in motion” on the mat. To guide her students into places of peace, stillness, space, and surrender. To offer a practice which benefits mind, body, soul, and spirit. To make space for a time of worship and reflection on His goodness.
This is her “get to” in a world of “have to”
When she’s not teaching, Tanya is a yoga student. Christ centered yoga stills the turnings of her mind and brings her peace. Tanya also enjoys hiking, dancing, cooking, traveling, and caring for her family. She is a happy wife to Mike and a proud momma of two sons, one daughter, and a daughter-in-love. Her rescued fur babies complete their home.
Tanya is also a recent graduate of YogaFaith Trauma Informed Trainer!
You can connect more with Tanya at peaceofhermindyoga.com or https://linktr.ee/
Barbra Koehnlein | Maryland
R-YFT, R-YFYT
I came to YogaFaith after practicing yoga with a secular studio. I can recall feeling uneasy about aspects of the practice. One day I asked God, “Do Christians practice yoga? Surely there must be some Christians who practice and teach yoga.” I got off my mat and went directly to a google search. YogaFaith and another school popped up. I perused both schools and knew in my spirit, immediately, YogaFaith was what I was looking for. It turns out, YogaFaith was the community I was missing all my life. I signed up for the 200-hour teacher training and, in less than a year, I attended Immersion.
I lead, and LOVE, Yin, Nidra, and Restorative yoga. These modalities speak deeply to my body, mind, and spirit. I have experienced the healing power of yoga and breath work. It is my joy and privilege inviting others to a place of release, renewal, and rest.
I volunteer with the Christian Yoga Association in Member Services. I am blessed to meet with members, over the phone, and learn about their yoga journeys as both teachers and practitioners.
Now, this means that when we come together and are side by side, something wonderful will be released. We can expect to be co-encouraged and co-comforted by each other’s faith! Romans 1:12
Other certifications include: R-YFSS, R-TSYF, R-YFRT
Leah Lynn | Florida
R-YFT 200 hour
Leah grew up in the Tampa Bay area of Florida and relocated to Alabama the Beautiful in 2017 with her family. With a love for God and people, Leah is a pastor at heart with a passion for leading people to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ.
As an author, Leah is dedicated to writing inspired and prophetic works that help disciple her readers in their personal relationship with Christ. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a master’s degree in Human Services. Currently working toward her YogaFaith Yoga Therapy Certification, Leah looks forward to utilizing her education and skills in her yoga ministry as it continues to blossom.
Leah began her journey into yoga when she first came to Alabama, where she discovered the physical and mental restoration the practice brings. It wasn’t long before the Lord called her to become a student with YogaFaith, where she would discover a pure intimacy with the Heavenly Father unique to her practice.
Currently, Leah teaches YogaFaith classes locally in her community with a desire to one day open a YogaFaith studio that serves as her full-time ministry. As she puts it, Leah “has stepped out of the boat to walk on water toward the Savior.”
Meet Leah as she teaches at our April 200 hour Virtual Miracle Immersion!
Megan “Lizzie” Dillon | Virginia
R-TSYF, SUP+Aerial Yoga
Other certifications: Sound + Energy Healing Facilitator | Level 2 Aerial Yoga Teacher | Yoga Trapeze Teacher
Through her studies, training and own practice, Megan quickly found how healing and beneficial yoga was for an individual. Not only that, but she came to a deeper relationship with God within her practice. It sparked her passion and path to help others find healing and wholeness not only on a physical level, but on a mental, emotional, and spiritual one.
Megan has continued to deepen her knowledge towards this goal and has come to blend her training and different modalities to tailor one-on-one as well as group practices to meet client/student needs. Her current studies include: YOGAFAITH’s Dance and Embodiment Trainer Certification, Therapy Harp’s Certified Healthcare Musician Certification, and later this year International Doula Institutes’ Prenatal Yoga Instructor Certification. Her goal is to become a Yoga Therapist and to continue to learn more modalities that God may put on her path so she can shine the light and love of Jesus to help people from all walks of life and wherever they may be on their journey.
Megan loves many types of yoga including Yin, Restorative, Aerial, Bhakti, and Mindful Flow. Aside from yoga, she loves to illustrate, play music, sing, and read as well as spend time with her husband, two daughters, and their golden retriever.
Andrea Attivissimo | New York
R-YFM 500, R-YF12S, NASM-CPT
Born in Manhattan and raised on Long Island, New York, I consider myself an Island Girl. I learned about my faith from my grandfather. He used to take me to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NY. It is in those early years where I developed a strong desire and inquisitiveness about God. Throughout my life, my faith was very strong but I must admit, I left it dormant for a time. Fortunately, life circumstances brought me to re-evaluate where I am, who I am and what my WHY is. I learned listening to God was key for my survival.
My fitness career began out of necessity over 25 years ago as my health was being compromised due to being unfit, overweight, and depressed over getting divorced. My first marriage lasted 27 years and ended leaving much trauma on my three children and myself. It took years to work through it all but knowing God and giving my whole trust in His providence helped me, but I had to be willing and opened. I must admit, I did put up a little fight. I am truly blessed in so many ways and thankful for my second husband, Ben who is very supportive in my work.
I am a passionate artist of many mediums. As a fine artist and graphic designer, I create large scale paintings, drawings, and sculptures as well as print and web media designs. As a personal trainer I focus on the individual’s architectural structure through proper body mechanics, alignment and sculpting the body. My practice of yoga is an extension of my art as I see the yoga body as a beautiful form. Body alignment, creating shapes in space through flowing movements and breath work are the essentials of how I teach my students and to allow them to express themselves freely, with the hopes if helping them find their WHY.
I worked in the fitness industry for 25+ years at corporate facilities such as Equinox and LifeTime Athletic. I earned my LifePower 200 yoga certification in 2011 from LifeTime. The Lord had other plans for me during the pandemic. My husband and I are the founders and owners of You and Me Yoga Together and You and Me Fitness Together. We hold in-person and Zoom classes. The Pandemic was the season of opportunity, as I called it. Working with my church I earned the title of Missionary Disciple through the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, a two-year in-depth program as a follower of Christ. Simultaneously, I was searching for a Christian yoga certification and came across YogaFaith! Missionary Disciple and YogaFaith works hand in hand.
YogaFaith has taught me many things about life; humility, trust, serving others with tenderness, compassion, and mercy. Michelle Thielen has worked tirelessly to put these programs together to serve others in helping to create the best versions of self-according to the Divine plan. It is an honor, and I am most grateful to serve alongside all the amazing instructors from YogaFaith in bringing the Light into a very dark world.
My Mission Statement is:
To use my art, personal training and yoga skills to heal, to increase awareness of self through movement of the body, mind, and spirit. To achieve a sacred space, place of internal growth towards a truer self and vibrant individual. I wish to be a beacon of light and an instrument of healing towards my fellow human beings.
EDUCATION:
- MA, Computer Graphics, LIU C. W. Post College, Brookville, NY
- BFA, Graphic Design, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT
CERTIFICATIONS:
- C.H.E.K. Exercise Coach, Mat Pilates
- 200-Hr LifePower Yoga Teacher Training-Jonny Kest @ LifeTime
- C.H.E.K Program Design, Scientific Core Conditioning,
- TRX and Kettlebells Level I/II-Kettlebell Athletics
- Pre/Post Natal Care, AHA CPR/AED
- Self Myofacial Release, Active Isolated Stretching
- Missionary Discipleship Program
- 300-Hr Yoga Faith Teacher Training
- Yoga Faith 12 Step Program
- Yoga Faith Ancient Pathways-Certified in World Religions, YF-CWR
- Yoga Faith Trauma Sensitive Yoga-currently working on
Connect with Andrea at:
Megan Steele | Oregon
R-YFMT 500 hr
Megan lives in Salem, Oregon. She is married with 2 grown daughters and is a survivor of breast cancer. She loves the beauty of the Northwest and prefers to take her yoga practice outdoors… When the weather allows!
Megan’s wellness journey began in 2008 when she became certified in Family Herbalism (FH) with the Franklin Institute of Wellness. She began integrating her love of God and nature with her desire for health for friends and family.
After spending most of her adult life in fight-or-flight mode, she decided to bravely try attending her first yoga class and was hooked! Wanting to bring the beauty of yoga to everyone she met, but with a Christ-centered approach, she found YogaFaith and immediately started the certification process in 2019… Which is the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Even with breast cancer now on her resume, she was able to receive her R-YFT 200 in October of 2020, and her Masters certification (R-YFMT 500) in July of 2021! She can now bring this magnificent practice to everyone she meets, including this special demographic God allowed her to be a part of. She calls this experience “Street Cred” and shares her practice and offers at Street Cred LLC.
Elizabeth Mixon Williams | N Carolina
R-YFT 200
Elizabeth has always had a passion for yoga and enjoyed its additional benefits but it wasn’t until she began to incorporated it into her personal quiet time did her passion for yoga really take off. She immediately felt the need to share that passion and help others deepen their relationship with Christ through yoga.
Currently, Elizabeth is the program director for Christian Recovery Houses, a ministry that provides transitional housing for those that are struggling with substance use disorder. She has been able to bring YogaFaith to the residents of that program and has received tremendous response. She is a certified yoga instructor (R-YFT) and is also trained in 12 step recovery (R-YF12S).
Elizabeth lives in Wilmington, North Carolina with her husband and two children.
Yogafaith is extremely honored and proud to have Elizabeth a part of the YogaFaith ministry and family.
Phil Vestal | Florida
R-YFT 200, YF-A, YF-LT
Phil is a Pastor, YogaFaith Instructor, and the Co-founder of Ruah Space, a ministry that helps people connect deeper with God, themselves, and others. He has a BA in Religion from Calvin College and an M.Div from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. He has lived in Israel, Malawi, and now resides in St. Petersburg, FL with his wife Erin, who is also a Registered YF Trainer, and his two boys.
Michelle Waugh Brinkley | Ohio
R-CYATH, C-Y4A, C-IAYT
I aim to teach people how to feel better in their bodies, heal from trauma, and accept God’s overwhelming goodness and grace. I help my students to acknowledge and correct poor alignment; use the breath to calm the nervous system; and stretch and strengthen the body and mind. My goal is for each student to find success in their yoga practice, regardless of their skill level, abilities, or age.
Yoga has strengthened my relationships with God, family, and myself. I began practicing to connect with myself in a positive way and gain balance. I have endured five concussions and traumatic relationships. Although I still occasionally battle with anxiety and depression, I have used yoga to develop good habits to recuperate much faster and have a healthier outlook of life overall.
I am not perfect. Not even close. I am a work in progress. This path Jesus placed me on will take a lifetime to complete, and I choose to approach it one breath at a time.
Other Certifications: R-TSYF
Amy Kuscsik | Ohio
R-YFMT 500, C-IAYT
Amy resides just outside of Perrysville, OH with her husband and three children. Yoga has been in and our of her life for nearly 20 years. In 2010, the Lord had other plans for her and brought yoga to the forefront of Amy’s life and that is when she began to embrace it as a form of personal worship. When she found YogaFaith, Amy knew this ministry was a divine match to her hearts longing to be an ambassador for Christ to people in need of healing. In 2017, she completed her teacher training with YogaFaith (R-YFT) and is also a certified restorative yoga instructor(R-R). These faithful steps are leading her to others to find wholeness and oneness with Christ.
Since 2012 she has taught primarily yoga in communities that are enveloped in the Mohican State Park in Loudonville, Ohio. Her practice has evolved into one that focuses on healing the body and spirit though body work, primarily through a gently flow and restorative practice, and soon trauma informed yoga to complement talk therapy. These modalities have forever shaped her testimony and personal ministry to help others get on a path of natural healing the way Christ intended.
Amy is also a YogaFaith Ambassador (YF-A), embodying Christ’s vision for this ministry and taking Jesus out into the world so others can find restoration in mind, body, spirit and soul.
She recently completed her R-YFMT 500-hour certification and Yoga Therapy Level 1 with YogaFaith!
You can keep up with Amy at AmyKuscsik.com
CONGRATULATIONS 2018-2019 AMBASSADOR HONORABLE MENTION and
Ambassador of the Year 2019-2020!
Cynthia Funderburk | College Station, Texas
R-YFMT 500, YF-A
A few years ago, I was approaching the “empty nesting” season of my life. I was led by the Holy Spirit to yoga teacher training. Though I had my own personal yoga practice for some time, I wanted to learn more for my own health. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to share the benefits of yoga with others.
YogaFaith was first introduced to me during my secular teacher training. I was immediately drawn to learn more about how to use yoga as a means to spread God’s love through the mind, body, and spirit.
YogaFaith has continued to bring me closer to God through each movement I take! In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” It is my personal belief that honoring the Father in all that I do is the roadmap to each step I take.
Through YogaFaith, I have been able to learn so much about connecting the Holy Spirit through yoga. It is my heart’s desire to continue growing spiritually and sharing my YogaFaith journey with others.
Britney Wyatt | New Mexico
R-YFMT 500, R-TSYF
I have battled health issues my entire life. When I found YogaFaith, my heart was broken from an unexpected loss.
The first time I watched a YogaFaith video, God said to me “this is what you need.” First you need to slow down and breathe. Second you need to heal your heart—remember it’s a process. Lastly, YogaFaith will fill the void missing in your worship.
It’s time for something new.
YogaFaith brought me out of depression and anxiety. It has been a long journey, not always easy. I desire to give back to the community and share the gifts God has honored me with. I have a deep desire to help bring healing to others through meditating on God’s Word and the power of being still; and the understanding that they are loved even in the darkest moments.
I have a passion to help young people know they are worthy and help their spiritual gifts thrive alongside their parents. I feel empowered by the Holy Spirit to plant and water the seeds that God has amazing plans for their life.
Psalm 40:2 “He pulled me out of the muck and more and set my feet upon the rock.”
Britney will graduate in October 2022 with her 800-hour YogaFaith Yoga Therapy Certification!
Jaclyn Fontaine | Massachusetts
R-YFT 200, R-YFCT
Starting her fitness and wellness career in college, Jackie has over 15 years experience personal training, managing, and teaching group exercise. Holding numerous academic and fitness related degrees and certifications, she has been a certified yoga instructor since 2007.
Jackie began practicing yoga at a young age to keep her body and mind healthy. Recently, Jackie was looking to deepen her knowledge as a qualified yoga teacher, and went on to complete her 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with YogaFaith. Having a past in gymnastics, and fitness competitions, Jackie gets most excited about inversions, arm balances, and acro yoga.
It was a defining moment when Jackie realized she could combine her love, education, and purpose for teaching with her love for Jesus and spreading the Good News. It is her ministry to bring yoga and its endless health benefits to others.
Jackie is married to the most amazingly supportive man and has two beautiful daughters who love the Lord. She relaxes by spending time with her kids, taking walks with her husband (and their dog, Siren), reading, and enjoys coaching her daughters youth soccer teams.
Certifications/Education:
-Master of Science in Kinesiology- University of Rhode Island
-Bachelor of Science in Health Education, minor in Nutrition- University of Massachusetts Lowell
-YogaFaith R-YFT, RYT
-American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer
-Les Mills Advanced Body Pump instructor, Les Mills RPM instructor, Les Mills GRIT
-Les Mills Born To Move trained
-SPINNING
Come learn from this beautiful soul at our upcoming Children’s Teacher Training!
Charmaine Vasquez | Georgia
R-YFT 200, YF-LT, R-YFMT 500
Charmaine Vazquez has a strong passion for being enthusiastic about sharing the love of Christ through health and wellness. After the joy of working in the medical field for close to 10 years, Charmaine felt called to go back to her first love of preventative care. Charmaine currently holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health and Wellness and her Master’s in Health Education. When she is not teaching in the classroom, she is sharing the love of Christ as a fitness coach, group fitness trainer, personal trainer, nutrition support specialist, and life style behavioral coach.
She feels very blessed that the Lord put her Yoga Faith Family in her path at a transitional time in her life. She is enthusiastic about how each training she has done with Yoga Faith encourages her to dig deeper in the Word and embrace healing, then in return, lead others on their journey of healing. She hopes to obtain all the trainings that YF has to offer and looks forward to being an educational support sister to the YF Family.
Her passion is to be a supportive vessel to women and young girls as they venture out on the journey to better health and healing. She believes in treating the whole client: mind, body, and spirit. Her motto is, “Living Inspired, Faithfully Expecting” (L.I.F.E.). Charmaine diligently seeks each opportunity to be an inspiration, and she faithfully expects positive changes for all those who truly want to see life-changing results.
We cannot wait for you to meet Charmaine, join her this year in either Atlanta or St. Petersburg Miracle Immersions!
Loreen Roney | Florida
R-YFT 200, YF-A
I fell back in love with Jesus while practicing yoga! It was on my mat where I could shut out the world, my negative self-talk and constant body bashing. I actually got still enough to hear HIS oh so quiet voice……calling me back into His loving arms.
After practicing yoga for 15 years, God stirred up in me the passion to bring His love through yoga! Shortly after, HE connected me to YogaFaith! Derek and Michelle Thielen welcomed me into the YogaFaith family and continue to encourage me every step of the way in my Jesus journey. I received my 200 hour certification in 2019.
My adventure continued with Trauma Informed and Guided Meditation/Nidra certifications.
My current endeavors include 12 Step Recovery and Masters certifications. As long as I have breath, I will embrace learning about Jesus as a member of this beautiful family!! I am honored, privileged, and humbled to be an Ambassador for Jesus through YogaFaith! If I can serve you in any way, I invite you to reach out to me. May God bless you richly.
We CANNOT wait for you to be immensely blessed by the beautiful soul Loreen! You can connect with her at St. Petersburg Immersion later this year ~
Melissa Pfeiffer-Hermann | Florida
R-YFT, YF-A
Psalm 37:4… Christ worked on my injured defiant heart for many years before my eyes were open to the fact that I could trust Him to rescue me.
Fast forward twenty years and my successful “saved Christian life” was full of restored success. I got a college degree, was a middle school teacher for at-risk youth and taught social studies and drama arts and became the union president for my teachers’ union. I was a life-long advocate and loved the privilege of leading, serving, and being a voice for others. After having my 2nd daughter, I took a high stress job as a labor contract negotiator for the 10th largest school district in the nation and began to work myself sick. I gained over 50 pounds and felt my physical body spiraling with my loss of life balance. I found an answer in a community of friends who supported women in nutrition and fitness and found a deep love for yoga. Eventually, God granted me a path to leave my high-pressured job and work from home until Covid slowed my roll and brought me back to my quiet space needing Him to settle my confusion. That’s when YogaFaith was presented to me and suddenly I saw the desires of my heart begin to unfold.
Once I began my studies and realized how this ministry aligned with the faith that was already deeply planted in my heart, I wanted more… And I want to share this divine invitation with others. This is an invitation to be held, to be healed, to be freed, and to be empowered to be exactly who the Masterful God of the entire universe has designed you specifically to be.
Fran Pritchard | California
R-YFMT 500 hr, YF-LT
Through Yogafaith Christian Yoga School, God gifted me with exceedingly abundantly more than I could ask for or even imagine! The Yogafaith Family has encouraged me into areas of personal, professional, and spiritual growth beyond what I could have envisioned God had planned for me. What a blessing and an honor to further his kingdom.
I have a variety of certifications and offerings. I am available for private and group classes, events, workshops, retreats, and small group certification trainings. I invite you to explore where we can connect.
www.innerlandscapes.org / FB- Inner Landscape / IG-InnerlandscapeConnections
Ambassador & Lead Teacher Trainer R-YFT200, R-YFMN, R-TSYF, R-YFSS
Jessica McCarty | Texas
R-YFMT 500 hr, R-TSYF
Diana La | Georgia
R-YFMT, R-TSYF
Diana La lives in Acworth, Ga with her family. As a teenage ballerina and a former opera singer, yoga concepts were not foreign to her but it wasn’t until her mid 20’s where she really started to seek out the calm serenity of yoga. Her passion for yoga was born with her journey into motherhood. During her first pregnancy she started looking for something that would help her connect to her newly changing body and fell into yoga. By her second pregnancy, she knew that not only did she desire yoga in her life, but she wanted to spread the beautiful gift of yoga to the community around her.
Diana completed her 200-hr YTT through Be Yoga in Marietta, GA under Laurie Searle and Julie Eubanks in 2018. She began teaching immediately throughout the community and local studios but knew that there was so much more she was searching for. With so much gratitude towards her secular training, she knew she needed more of her Christian faith involved in her teachings. In 2019, Diana completed her 300-hr teaching certification through Yoga Faith under Michelle Thielen and Laura Burkhart. During her 300-hr training, Diana felt God’s call for her to dive further into Christian Yoga and has made it her mission to spread Yoga Faith to everyone God sends her way.
Diana is a Yoga Faith Ambassador with a 500-RYT, R-500-YFMT (YOGAFAITH Master Trainer), a Registered Christian Yoga Association Trainer Certification and an Aerial Yoga Certification. She teaches Yoga Faith, Vinyasa, Yin, and Aerial classes throughout her community under her LLC, Twisted Roots Yoga. See her YogaFaith Retreats here.
Suzanne Penn | Maryland
R-YFT, Med/Nidra
Suzanne has over 500 hours of Christian Yoga Training. She holds certificates in Yoga with weights, Chair/senior yoga, Yoga Touch, Yogalates, and Yin. She is also a Revelation Wellness Instructor, a facilitator for ‘The Wellness Revelation’ Wellness Program, and Trigger Point trained. Suzanne is a retired Registered Nurse Supervisor, whose specialty was Psychiatric Nursing.
Suzanne is legally blind, and wants her story to inspire and encourage others to never give up, while glorifying God always!
Suzanne has a heart for Outreach/Local Mission work , and ministering to women. Her desire is to encourage, inspire, and uplift adult women; helping them see their true identity and worth in Christ, and their God given purpose. Suzanne sees Christ Focused yoga as a tool to radiate God’s light and expand the Kingdom!
YogaFaith is honored to have such a radiant light as part of our ministry!
Kim Yamasaki | California
R-YFT, YF-A
Kim Yamasaki is a Christian wellness coach at Reclaiming Abundance. She supports her clients in cultivating space + stillness in the mind, body, and Spirit through collaborative processes of co-creation.
Through yoga and mindfulness practices, Kim empowers her clients to break through for their most abundant blessings and find themselves more calm, confident, and complete. She provides services that create space and stillness for deeper connection: spiritual wellness coaching for burnout, home organizing, and yoga. She likes to keep the focus on cultivating internal processes to explore the subtleties between being and doing. Her methods are affirming, grounding, and nurturing— all interlaced with playful creativity.
Kim’s work is grounded in a distinctly spiritual approach because of the fundamental motive that true transformational wellness includes a healthy relationship with the Divine oneness of the body of Christ. This emphasis places her clients towards a focus on purpose and worship and away from one of reward and work.
Kim is a native Angeleno with Japanese and Chinese roots. She absolutely loves Jesus and firmly believes that exercising self care and sustainability is artful resilience. Afterall, Jesus was a model of meditation, discipline, and took His restful Sabbaths seriously.
Her personal care + wellness plan includes: quality time with loved ones (puppies included), cooking, meditating, coloring, gardening, farming on Animal Crossing, and of course— yoga. In the spirit of trying new experiences, she is also in the process of learning dance and skateboarding.
- RYFT-200 YogaFaith
- Plus additional coursework and training in mindfulness, somatics, trauma-informed services
Djenane Santos | California
R-YFT 200, YF-A
Ever since Djenane was a child in her hometown of Goiânia, Brazil, she always dreamed of becoming a Brazilian diplomat, however, God had other plans: she was meant to become an ambassador for His Kingdom. After studying law both in Brazil and in the USA, God called her to children’s ministry in Pacifica, California. She then realized she had had more experience and love for teaching and leading at church than practicing law itself. As of May 2021, we will have Masters’s in Educational Leadership from Gateway Simonidean also loves stretching. She started doing yoga in the 90s, however, once she returned to Brazil in early 2000 she didn’t find any yoga practice she felt comfortable with so she took a yoga Sabbath, yet she would frequently do her devotionals on the mat. Back in the USA in 2015, she started looking for a Christ-centered practice. The search was over when she found YogaFaith! She feels honored to be a YogaFaith instructor and ambassador. She looks forward to sharing Jesus on the mat wherever God leads her to, including to Brazilians and the Portuguese-speaking community everywhere.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phi 2:14 NIV
Kattie Gutierrez-Rodriguez | Texas
R-YFMT 500
Kattie Gutierrez-Rodriguez found Yoga through a search for Christ and peace around the age of 16. With no idea it wasn’t a Christian practice she used Yoga to pray and walk with Jesus. She took her first public class at Foundry Church in and went on to teach her first classes there in 2013.
In 2020 she found YogaFaith and made it a goal to complete the Masters Training, goal accomplished (!) and now she’s working on Sozo and Somatics. She currently lives in Houston, TX with her 3 daughters and husband. She’s a school teacher, teaches YogaFaith at the Foundry , and ballet and Pilates at Ballet Center of Houston. She’s a busy Jesus loving lady!
Amy Cunninham | Illinois
R-YFT 200
My journey toward Christian yoga started many years ago when I began struggling with chronic illness. As a businesswoman with a long background in sales and marketing, I lived a life trying to balance my individual success and my time with family. I overworked myself, I had no sleep schedule, and I neglected my health. It wasn’t long before that all caught up to me, and I began dealing with a slew of autoimmune diseases, narcolepsy, and chronic fatigue. Wanting to escape the stressful environment of the business world, I decided to work with my local church as communications director. There I met many great people and grew in my faith, but my sickness only worsened over time. Even though I separated myself from my previous career, the consequences of my lifestyle kept returning.
It was then that God finally decided to tell me to slow me down. My chronic fatigue completely took me out. Most days, I couldn’t even leave my bed. Every doctor I went to told me the same thing – chronic fatigue is incurable. If there’s one thing you need to know about me, though, it’s that I am and will always be a fighter. It simply wasn’t an option for me to accept it and miss out on my life and the lives of my kids.
Through yoga, eating better, and seeking out holistic doctors, I finally began to feel like myself. I developed a love for the practice of yoga, and I sought out official instruction with YogaFaith to start my path towards forming this service. I can’t wait to share with you all that I’ve learned so that it can have a positive impact on your health, faith, and mindset!
Connect with Amy at one of her YogaFaith classes, retreats, or at Beside Still Waters.
Trish McCall | North Carolina
R-YFT 200, RN, BSN, C-YF Yoga Therapist
As a 20+ year RN, a former collegiate and adult athlete, and a survivor of multiple medical and childhood-young adult traumas, Trish knows all too well that high performance, chronic stress (dis-ease) leads to chronic diseases when “the body keeps the score” (which, in her case, meant a 3-inch thick medical chart with 19 diagnoses). Now, as an overcoming thriver, a YogaFaith Yoga Therapist, and Holistic Nurse Coach, she empowers other survivors by bridging the gap between spirituality and science. Trish implements practical, integrative, evidence-based solutions to relieve dis-ease, while bringing Hope and Healing so they CAN love their body back to life and live an abundant, fruitful life.
