Dharma Richards, ERYT-500 – Being a Yoga Alliance Advanced Registered Yoga Teacher, Dharma 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.  Dharma hosts workshops, intensives, retreats and teacher trainings nationwide and in the Caribbean. Dharma’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, Judith Lasater, HarDarshan Khalsa, Doug Swenson, Angela Farmer, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Jenny Sauer Klein (AcroYoga), Andrey Lappa and Stephanie Keach.  Her certifications also include Core Strength Vinyasa, Prenatal, Children’s, Yin, and Yoga Warriors (for PTSD).  Dharma is also a certified Reiki practitioner and continues studies in  Kundalini Yoga & Thai Massage (Nuad Boran).  For detailed information, see Dharma’s Personal Website.

David Richards, CYT – 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, RYT – 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 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 completed Anusara Yoga Teacher Training in 2011 through the Triangle Anusara Yoga Institute and 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, RYT500 - A Yoga practitioner for many years, Loretta Jo trained with Lisa Clark and David Beadle of EmbodiYoga™, and Stephanie Keach, Asheville Yoga Center. 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 – what Loretta calls ‘Yoga-Mojo’ (www.yoga-mojo.com). In addition to Yoga, Loretta Jo is certified in Pilates® and BodyFlow.

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 Smith 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 28 years and yoga for 20 years. She is a Yoga Alliance ERYT (experienced registered yoga teacher). She travels teaching yoga as a national 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, Kunga Yoga, Thai Yoga Massage and Kids Yoga. She has taken workshops with Baron Baptiste, Kristen Cooper, Deon DeWet, Hilary Garivaltis, Judith Lasater, 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.

Stacy Ingham - Stacy Ingham has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1998, and has been teaching in the Triangle area since 2001. Certified with Yogafit, she has continued her studies in the Ashtanga tradition of yoga with David Swensen, Annie Pace, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezrati, and most recently with David Keil and Matthew Sweeney. She also studies on an ongoing basis with Fran Slavic and Kathy Hallen. Stacy also recently received her certification from Matthew Sweeney to teach his Moon Sequence - a complementary series to Ashtanga's Primary Series. Stacy's approach to Ashtanga Yoga is to educate students on the joy of a consistent Yoga practice, demonstrating how to pay attention to the details of form and philosophy, and making Yoga accessible for all levels.

Jenni Causey - As a trained classical and jazz pianist, Jenni was first drawn to yoga as a break from the music practice rooms in college. Jenni studied Ashtanga yoga with Nancy Thornton at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and became vegetarian at age nineteen. Continuing her yogic studies, Jenni trained at the North Carolina School of Yoga and certified with the Yoga Alliance in 2011. Jenni teaches traditional Hatha-Raja yoga and is also certified in Children’s yoga. She leads classes with a focus on compassion, joy, gratitude, and peace through asana, pranayam, and meditation. Jenni is grateful for the benefits of the science of Self-realization and her teachers Chandra Om (senior disciple of Sri Dharma Mittra), Lakshmi Om, Padma Om, Amanda Roop, and Leslie Blackwell. Jenni’s teaching is motivated by love, devotion and a sincere intention to serve all.

Molly McKinley, RYT - Molly was drawn to yoga after her children were born as a way to manage daily stress and to strengthen her body. She found that yoga provided so much more for her life and now wants to share her love of the practice and these benefits with others. A student of Dharma Richards, she incorporates a classic Hatha-Raja style of teaching including basic pranayama and guided meditation. Molly is also holds a Yoga Alliance Children's Yoga Certification.  A lover of the arts, Molly has also developed Art & Yoga Workshops to help students tap into their inner creativity. Through dedicated practice and fine tuning, we can learn to truly love ourselves and see the Divine in all things.

Zora Savage, RYT - Zora learned her first Sun Salutation in her teens in the Czech Republic where she spent the first 30 years of her life. As a life time fitness fanatic, runner and swimmer she rediscovered yoga to offset her high impact routine. Zora's dedication to yoga continued to grow and by 2007 it became her dominant physical practice. In 2009, she decided to study yoga more in depth and signed up for teacher training at Yoga Garden with Dharma Richards. After discovering amazing effects of yoga on her own body she wishes to share the healing and therapeutic powers with others.

Samantha Bondo, RYT - Samantha is a fitness professional with over 8 years of experience in the field. She graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Kinesiology and continued on to become an ACE certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. She is also a Power Pilates certified Pilates instructor and will complete her Yoga Alliance RYT training in spring 2011. Aside from teaching Yoga and Pilates, Samantha teaches water exercise, cardio aerobics, strength training, bootcamp, Power & Grace, cycle, TRX and running groups. She also offers personal training and sports conditioning. Samantha has a passion for teaching and enjoys the collective and unique energy that builds in every class. Samantha does not just teach, but strives to educate participants about their bodies. Her goal is to assist participants in becoming more aware of their personal and unique capabilities. A class with Samantha will not just work your body, but will also exercise your mind.

Anne Bequet, RYT - Anne has been a language teacher for many years. Exercise has always been essential to her physical and emotional wellbeing. As a child, Anne loved Ballet and as an adult, she studied Tap Dancing and Pilates. She is an outdoor enthusiast and has a passion for natural healing. In 2007, she started focusing more on Yoga practice. She discovered the benefits of pranayama and asana practices through her daily routine. Anne studied under Dharma Richards and became a RYT200 Graduate in May 2011 at the Yoga Garden of Apex School of Yoga. As part of her training, Anne became interested in Trauma Sensitive Yoga as taught by Crys Rivers in a pilot program that she was introduced to. Last July, she also participated in a workshop focusing on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Dave Emerson. His work includes scientific studies as well as direct experience in teaching yoga to people suffering from this debilitating condition. Through gentle flow yoga and restorative poses, Anne believes students will develop renewed body awareness and reduce their stress levels. She is currently teaching an ongoing monthly workshop with Melinda Hunt at the Yoga Garden.

Aimee Castro, RYT - Aimee attended her first yoga class 7 years ago and was instantly inspired, and since then, has made yoga part of her spiritual and physical practice. Her love for the practice comes from all the healing and energetic benefits associated with yoga. Her yoga classes are dynamic and they flow in a way that allows her students to explore their own bodies, and establish their own boundaries, while reaping the most benefits from living in the Now.

In 2009, Aimee completed her 200 RYT Yoga Training at the Yoga Garden under Dharma Richards. She has also studied Teaching Yoga to Athletes under Sage Roundtree. She is inspired by other great teachers such as Shive Rea and Seane Corn.

Melinda Hunt, RYT - Melinda is a longtime student of yoga and graduate of Dharma Richard's and the Yoga Garden teacher training program, and she is grateful to all her teachers for sharing this practice, their knowledge and support. Yoga was first a means of stress relief and escape, and then greater joy and freedom as she learned to listen to and inhabit her body, restoring a love of movement she hadn't experienced in years. Practicing self-inquiry, mindfulness, and compassion have added further challenges and sweetened the journey. Passionate about yoga's adaptive set of tools that meet each individual where they are, Melinda would love to share this practice and path with you. With fellow teacher Anne Bequet, Melinda currently leads a monthly karma (donation only) workshop, Cultivating Your Home Practice, providing a supportive community for students and their personal practice. Learn more about Melinda online.

Dr. Heather d'Ambrosi Cassese, RYT - Heather began teaching group fitness in 1998 at East Carolina University while studying for her Bachelor’s in Exercise Physiology. During that time she began to attend hatha yoga classes as a means to stay connected to her gymnastics background. After graduation she moved to Portland, OR where she continued her studies at Western States Chiropractic College and received her Doctorate in Chiropractic in 2005. During her time in Portland her love for yoga expanded exponentially as she began to practice Bikram, vinyasa, and Ashtanga forms. She attended her first yoga certification in 2002 and began teaching hatha yoga and BodyFlow© at the local gym where she taught aqua and group fitness classes. Throughout the years she began to gravitate more toward vinyasa as constant for her own home practice. Self-study and attending classes allowed her to deepen her knowledge and passion for more. She has always seen the connection of yoga and chiropractic in overall health and healing, and delivers that in her whole body approach to class and treatments. In 2010 she committed to a deeper level of understanding as she gained her RYT-200 at the Yoga Garden. Dr. Heather loves to challenge her students with powerful vinyasa flows, good humor, and how to break down difficult poses into the attainable. She also teaches gentle yoga, Pilates, and Yin Yoga. With a smile and a laugh, her positive energy can inspire and change those she contacts.

Dr. Heather lives near Jordan Lake with her husband, Jim, and her 2 labs, Reece and Bailey. In addition to yoga and chiropractic, she enjoys traveling, snow skiing, scuba diving, painting, gardening, and napping!