Margaret Richards, ERYT-500 – Being a Yoga Alliance Advanced Registered Yoga Teacher, Margaret incorporates a Classical Hatha-Raja style of teaching which encourages organic movement and an open heart as she routinely leads students through nurturing practices of pranayama/breathwork, asana/physical postures, and dhyana/meditation.  Margaret’s studies continue at the North Carolina School of Yoga with her beloved teacher Chandra Om, senior disciple of Sri Dharma Mittra, and has also studied with seasoned teachers including Seane Corn, Sharon Gannon, Angela Farmer, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Jenny Sauer Klein (AcroYoga), Andrey Lappa and Stephanie Keach.  Her certifications also include Prenatal, Children’s, Yin, and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.  Margaret is also a certified Reiki practitioner and continues studies in Thai Massage (Nuad Boran).  For detailed information, see Margaret’s Personal Website and Yoga and Meditation Videos.

David Richards, YT – David began his yoga practice in order to compliment his dedicated exercise routine and quickly received numerous other benefits through his yoga practice.  Wanting to encourage and teach others about this mind/body  connection, he received his teacher training through YogaFit and is currently immersing himself in the study of Anusara yoga.   David continues his studies with senior Anusara teachers and has also trained with advanced teachers including Sarah Powers and Jenny Sauer Klein.

Doreen Baum, YT – Having always been interested in health and healing, Doreen has studied extensively in the fields of Physical Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Ergonomics and Biomechanics of movement. She began yoga over 15 years ago as another form of personal fitness. It was a great adjunct to aerobics and weight training. Deciding to change her fitness routine, Doreen practiced and concentrated on Pilates and Yoga and found that yoga helped her to ground the spirit within. After focusing her personal study, she realized a deeper connection to the true science of yoga. As well as having had the pleasure to study with world renowned teachers including Stephanie Keach, Shala Worsley, Hardarshan Khalsa and Bob Hadad (Nuad Boran/Thai Massage), Doreen continues her studies with Margaret Richards. She enjoys incorporating a variety of yoga principals into her teaching practice. From breath work and flexibility to flow and meditation, you can expect basic body adjustments in your poses and stretches, as well as discovering what your body can do when you are in touch with your soul. Doreen’s goal for her students is to gather a better understanding of their individual body as it moves through space and acceptance of what its capabilities are in the present moment. Strength, peace and knowledge lie within, we just need to listen.


Doreen is also a Reiki II certified and is a regular Reiki practitioner at Yoga Garden of Apex.

Michelle Corey, RYT - Michelle has taught all manners of fitness classes since 1987; her passion now is yoga. She absolutely loves the transformational power that a consistent yoga practice offers, and delights in sharing this with her students. A registered RYT since 2001, she has studied under many yoga luminaries including Eric Shiffman, Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rea and John Friend. All, who share a deep abide for, as Eric Shiffman says, ‘moving into the stillness’, for it is in the stillness that you will find the Light and Peace of Love. Currently, Michelle is on her way to becoming Anusara-Inspired. She loves the attention to alignment and the message of acceptance and love in all things that the Anusara practice offers. You can look forward to a celebration of heart, while practicing asana with Michelle. Visit her blog page currentsofgraceyoga.blogspot.com.

Shana Dumont, RYT – Shana approaches life with the mantra ‘all is practice.’ A yoga practitioner for over ten years, she received Level 1 training form the Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Institute in 2009. She has practiced a wide range of styles and now teaches a blend of power vinyasa, Ashtanga and hatha yoga. She taught at the Spirit-Wellness Center in Salem, MA and at an Painting & Yoga retreat in Vieques, Puerto Rico. She has practiced with master teachers including Gregor Singleton and Elizabeth Huntsman. Shana's approach to teaching is clear, personal, and responsive to the class.

Brittney Powell, RYT – Also a graduate of the North Carolina School of Yoga, Brittney offers a genuine, nurturing spirit to her classes.  A school teacher specializing in instructing children with autism, Brittney shares her kind heart and special skills with everyone in whom she comes into contact.  She allows for relaxed effort in her teachings and gently and lovingly challenges students of many levels.  Brittney is also holds certifications in Mini Yogis for children at both the foundations and advanced levels, Yin and Restorative Yoga..  A compassionate and beautiful soul, Brittney continues to blossom as a truly gifted and fully dedicated teacher.

Loretta Jo Schlatzer, RYT - A Yoga practitioner for many years, Loretta Jo earned her Yoga Alliance® Certification (RYT - 220) under the guidance and instruction of Lisa Clark and David Beadle of EmbodiYoga™ , Chapel Hill, NC.   Loretta Jo has attended workshops with Seane Corn, Gabriel Halpern, Sarah Powers, Matthew Sweeney and others.   In addition to Yoga, Loretta Jo is certified in Pilates® and BodyFlow™.    Loretta’s classes feature creative sequencing of standing and seated asanas, twists, backbends, inversions and more.  Physically challenging and mentally engaging, each flow has a unique focus and theme – designed to provide students an opportunity to seek a balance of mind, body and spirit.

Brenda Schnable, RYT500 - Brenda started yoga in 1992 just as another "exercise" routine to lose weight. What she discovered was so much more. And yes, the weight did come off as her yoga journey deepened and continues to this day. She became certified in 2003 at the 200-hour level by the Living Yoga Program and in 2007 she obtained her 500-hour Professional Yoga Teacher and Therapist certification with the Integrative Yoga Therapy Program. Her teaching style and methods integrates and infuses many different styles of yoga (Viniyoga, Kundalini, Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, etc). Her goal as a yoga teacher is to help people—help them relax, destress, and breathe while building strength, flexibility, confidence, and self-acceptance while her goal as a yoga therapist is to help people on their healing journey or coping with a permanent condition using various yoga and Ayurveda principles and techniques.

Stacy Smith, ERYT - Stacy has a life long relationship with fitness. She was a competitive cheerleader and swimmer and a professional dancer. She owned 4 dance studios in New Hampshire, where she also taught fitness classes including Yoga and Pilates. Stacy has been teaching in the fitness industry for 26 years and yoga for 15 years. She is a Yoga Alliance ERYT (experienced registered yoga teacher). She travels teaching yoga as a presenter for the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America, (the number one instructor certification company in the United States) and at resorts, all over the word, (through NRGTOGO, Inc.). She has training in Vinyasa, Asthanga, Bikram, Trance Dance, Chakra Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Seniors Yoga, Yoga Therapy and Kids Yoga. She has taken workshops with Baron Baptiste, Shiva Rae and Rodney Yee. Stacy’s love of yoga and of people shines in her teaching style.  Outside of fitness and yoga, Stacy is a professional writer and artist. She lives in Apex with her husband Jeff and their two daughters Alexandra and Savannah.