Ellen is a graduate of Wild Lotus Yoga's Soul School of New Orleans.  Yoga helped her discover her voice letting her life flow from a deeper, truer place. She is inspired by movement approaches including Ashtanga, Jivamukti, and Iyengar methods giving variety to all of her students. Her classes provide space for individuals to explore classic yoga postures with the inclusion of free form movement. She loves to teach all level classes ranging from strong Vinyasa Flow to Gentle Restorative styles that are all set to thoughtful music enhancing everyones experience.  Expect to get elements from the yoga paths of Bhakti (devotion), Hatha (physical postures+breath work), Rasa (meditation), Karma (service), and Jnana (wisdom) and Tantra (union through ritual) in all of her classes. Also a visual artist, Ellen holds a B.A. from Tulane University in New Orleans.

She most recently is certified in Lorin Roche and Camille Maurine’s 200 hour Intuitive Meditation® technique. She is thankful for all of her teachers and looks forward to sharing her love of yoga and meditation with you.

Like so many others, Ellen came to yoga for healing and is the basis for her practice and teaching.  Heartfelt and playful, her classes foster environments of acceptance wherein participants learn to practice compassion for themselves and ultimately the world at large.   

Hannah is a graduate of Dragonfly Yoga School (RYT-200) & Yoga Farm Ithaca (RYT-300). She draws from a wide range of yogic traditions including Kundalini, Ashtanga and Vinyasa- and encourages her students to experiment with and observe the effects of their yoga practice on their bodies, breath, and energy flow. Nothing brings her more joy than looking out during class and seeing each of the students intuitively moving in a way that uniquely suits their body and spirit that day. In each class her main intention is to hold a space that inspires students to come to their yoga with compassion and move toward what feels nourishing in their bodies, hearts, and souls. In addition to yoga, she is also influenced by the study of Ayurveda, and has taken courses on the Yoga of Ayurveda with Donna Papania, as well as studied the subtle-energy body in a Marma Immersion course with Dr. Vasant Lad through the Ayurveda Institute. She has also studied meditation with James Baraz, co-founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Most recently she completed a 100-hr Prenatal Yoga Training centered on Hatha, Kundalini and Ayurvedic practices to support healthy & peaceful pregnancies. She is a licensed massage therapist, Reiki practitioner and owner of Mahabhuta Massage, located next door to Downtown Yoga. She holds a liberal arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting & Drawing from the University of Washington.

Elizabeth has been with Downtown Yoga for three years. The principles of yoga have been instilled within her since a young age, as a tendency towards the healing arts runs in her family.  She began her yogic journey deep inside the costal mountains of the Redwood Forest in Northern California, lead daily by family elders in asana, meditation, lifestyle, spiritual, dietary, and farming practices. She continued her journey through college where she studied both Yoga and Pilates earning a degree with honors in Sociology as well as in the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences with an emphasis on Philosophy. She established herself as a successful Landscape, Nature, and Portrait Photographer in Washington state, where she has relocated from. Elizabeth earned her 200 Hour RYT at Seven Springs of the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains through the Kula Collective, as well as her Reiki II level certification. She is a wife, a mother of three, an artist, a musician, and an eternal optimist. She believes in the power of positivity, devotion, and intention.  Her classes offer an accessible challenge coupled with the opportunity to cultivate growth and to develop strength within a nurturing and tranquil atmosphere.

Reann Parker is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) with Yoga Alliance. She is trained in vinyasa yoga, restorative yoga, and yin yoga. Reann began her yoga practice in 2016 while looking for an outlet to help her strengthen her mental health and to practice mindfulness. Reann’s classes focus on helping others connect with the inner selves, and to find freedom through their breathe and movement. Her classes always open and close with a small quote or message to bring encouragement and to help all the students she encounters know that they are loved, and that space is being held for them.

Guiding lights:

“You are powerful beyond measure.” -Marianne Wilson

“How you do anything is how you do everything.” -Simon Hodge

“Be where your feet are.”

“You are okay.”

During the day, Reann is a middle school English teacher, and she also enjoys painting, listening to music, reading, cooking, and playing with dogs.

Rebecca Hall started practicing yoga in 2018 when she moved with her family back to the Gulf Coast after fifteen years in Texas, where she’d studied and taught literature.  She got a membership at Downtown Yoga for the physical benefits, but she fell in love with yoga because of the mental and emotional benefits of meditative movement and intentional breathing.  The philosophy of yoga appeals to her scholarly background and her personal values, and she loves to share her study of the human experience.  

Rebecca’s favorite classes offer an all-levels vinyasa flow that moves with the breath, strengthening and stretching the whole body, with lots of suggestions for everybody to do what feels good for them according to their own mobility and energy.  

She’s very grateful to share yoga with beginners of all ages, and also keeps the practice interesting for experienced yogis with surprising transitions and  interesting variations of familiar poses.  

Her approach to yoga balances a deep respect for the tradition with a playful exploration of what it means to operate a human body.  She holds space for all the profound thoughts and deep feelings that surface during a flow class and its deeply relaxing conclusion, celebrating the connection between the body and the mind.  She hopes you’ll join her soon.

“Hello! I’m Melody!
I have been practicing yoga on and off (mostly on now) for about 15 years and teaching full time for the last 7 years. I am a 500hrERYT, YCAP, and RCYT through Yoga Alliance.
I graduated with my 200hr RYT certification in 2015 from Boulevard Yoga in Kansas City MO and my 300hr RYT in 2020 through MY Vinyasa Practice in Austin TX. As an avid and passionate learner, I’ve also spent the last few years completing my Barre Above Certification in 2017, and my Yoga Sculpt Certification in 2021.

I recently moved to Ocean Springs MS with my husband, toddler, and cat and I am currently a Barre, Yoga, and Kid’s teacher at The YMCA and DownTown Yoga Ocean Springs. I also work remotely as the Assistant Manager/ Business Development Manager/ Event Coordinator for The Studio BE in Houston TX.

I’ve been fortunate enough to teach yoga in 5 states, 4 countries, and 2 continents working with festivals & conventions and leading retreats & workshops across the globe. I truly aspire to create yoga offerings that are accessible and available to all and I am so lucky to have found a small amount of success in doing so.

In my classes, I offer a mindful Vinyasa and Hatha practices that focus on meditation and movement. I strive to create a space where students feel encouraged and supported and I love being able to use yoga to create community and connection wherever I am.

I honestly love everything about my work and hope I get to see you in one or (or all) of my classes soon!

-MB”

Manda is an enthusiastic and dedicated yoga instructor who is deeply connected to the wonders of nature and a holistic approach to well-being. With a passion for vinyasa flow, she gracefully blends the art of movement with the serenity of the natural world. Manda's own healing and quest for balance led her to yoga, and now she's eager to share its transformative power with her students.

In her classes, Manda not only focuses on building physical strength and fitness but also on nurturing the mind and spirit. She draws inspiration from various holistic practices to create a comprehensive and enriching experience for her students, utilizing essential oils and aromatherapy and practicing yoga according to the seasons.  

When she's not guiding yoga sessions, Manda finds solace in the great outdoors. Exploring nature allows her to deepen her connection with its tranquility and healing energy, which she wholeheartedly incorporates into her teaching. Her aim is to inspire her students to find harmony within themselves and with the natural world.  Manda also loves cooking and brings nature into her culinary practice as well, utilizing produce and tastes to match the weather and nature's abundance.  

Whether you're a seasoned yogi or a newcomer to the practice, Manda invites you to join her classes for an invigorating journey of self-discovery and well-being. Embrace the flowing movements of vinyasa and allow yourself to be immersed in the beauty of nature as you explore the transformative potential of yoga with Manda.