Our Teachers & Therapists

My name is Mallorie and my journey into yoga began in 2014 after struggling with an eating disorder and mental illness. Yoga was used as a healing practice in the treatment center I attended. My very first thought of yoga was “GET ME OUT OF HERE”! For the first time in my life, someone was telling me to notice my toes and the sensations in my body. I was not comfortable with the practice at all! Over time, my instructor continued to work with me to overcome my fears and I fell in love and have been practicing ever since. When I’m not practicing yoga, I enjoy spending time with my dog and family. I love traveling and spending time outside under the sun. In 2018, I completed my 200 hour certification in Prana Vinyasa and have been teaching at Pranayoga since the beginning of 2019! I am currently enrolled in Prana’s Yoga Therapy program and am hoping to use the teachings I have learned to help others who struggle with mental illness and other health related issues. My mission as a teacher and future therapist is to be an open vessel for God to work through me so I can meet students where they are in each moment!

Kelli began her yoga journey in the Summer of 2016 after finding herself at a crossroads in life where her current lifestyle wasn’t serving her any longer. Working in the executive level of a corporation led to a life of stress, anxiety, and depression. Soon unhealthy coping mechanisms became a part of the every day routine, which made the ailments of life even more difficult to cope with. Trying to find the right path to “fix” herself led to seeking many sorts of treatment and therapy, but the growth was only ever temporary. Yoga became that missing pillar to keep positive growth a lifelong journey. It didn’t take long to realize that yoga wasn’t just a daily hobby, but also where her career was meant to be.

When you don’t see Kelli teaching a class, you will likely see her behind the front desk, where she serves as the Accounts Manager for Pranayoga.

She has a passion for helping others find their path in the world by using yoga as a tool to help them heal and grow. Whether it is through recovery from mental illness, addiction, or just trying to live life as their true self, she is eager to share with others her experience and yoga to help others recover as well. She has hopes to continue her training in the future. “It is important for me to share with my students that yoga isn’t just time spent on the mat, but the mat is where we train and practice a new set of skills that we can take with us off the mat and out into the world to help us through our every day stressors and anxieties.”

When she is not behind the desk or on the mat at Prana, you can find her with her 2 children, playing, learning, and exploring.

Ben has lead a very physically active life. He was involved in sports at a young age and accumulated more than a handful of injuries along his path. His yoga practice helps him stay active and healthy as the years continue. Not only are his joints stronger and more flexible than they were ten years ago, but more importantly his mind is also stronger. Yoga helps him concentrate on what is good for him, physically and mentally. Now he just want to share the joy he has found in yoga with everyone.

Claudia always loved a good stretch: the muscles, the schedule – just how much can one person fit into a day? Attending her first yoga course in 1996 just continued the stretching. However, the more she delved into the practice, the more was revealed that yoga is the space lacking in the hectic life she created for herself. Seeking to explore beyond just one branch in the yoga tree brought her to the doors of Pranayoga. Every step revealed the possibilities of incorporating these teachings into the very breath that carries us through the experiences of our lives, however small or overwhelming they may seem. Claudia’s message: to find yourself in the jumble – even if we start one class at a time, hoping it will expand and stretch across each aspect of life.

Founder, Creator Sattva Vinyasa and Sattva Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, Yoga Therapist, Prana Vinyasa 500

Dani “Vani” founder of pranayoga and the method of Sattva Vinyasa Yoga Therapy has practiced yoga for over 22 years and practiced yoga therapy since 2007. Her journey began as she was healing from an eating disorder and chronic pain. Learning Yoga and Ayurveda has helped her in healing and she wants to share this with others through yoga therapy, ayurveda wellness counseling, and her book.

Dani is author of The Path of Joyful Living a modern day approach to kriya yoga and the psychology of yoga. She is also dedicated to teaching yoga to people with cancer and chronic pain. She is a Yoga Therapist registered with the International Association of Yoga Therapists(IAYT) which has also accredited PranaYoga Institute in their 1000 hour yoga therapy diploma.

Yoga is moment to moment right action, Love that unifies. Dani’s goal is to bring a healing agenda-less space to anyone wanting to learn yoga and share with others.

Tara began thinking about yoga far before she called Pranayoga and signed up for their Premium Membership in August of 2018. She completed the Sattva Hatha 200hr teacher training in July of 2021 through Pranayoga, and enjoys the fluidity which comes with yoga practice. It has gifted her so much, and she enjoys sharing this gift with others in the community through her Balanced Flow classes.

Always one to enjoy an active lifestyle, paired with the peacefulness in nature, Tara quickly fell in love with how yoga helps one find themself amidst the more chaotic aspects of life. Her love for pairing movement with breath work flourished as she began to learn more, and the classes aim to provide a space where everyone can connect the two. Tara explains, “Your yoga mat is a place to practice and grow, without judgement or fear.” Her balanced flow class will help you feel both grounded and rejuvenated.

Haley Sonnigsen, Childbirth Educator, Prenatal Yoga Teacher, and RYT-500 is dedicated to preserving women’s rights to a healthy and empowering birthing experience based on her innate ability to give birth. Every woman deserves to have a loving, nurturing, and supported birth environment based on her own needs and desires. Haley weaves ancient yogic traditions with modern scientific evidence to ensure each woman is supported with tools and practical information to support her in her motherhood.

“Because women have always been the guardians of life’s wholesome practices, when we strengthen our health and spiritual power, we also strengthen the health and wisdom of the men, children, and communities around us.” –Bri. Maya Tiwari

Jenny started yoga for her daughter in 2010 but stayed for herself. This is when powerful healing began to transform her body, mind, and spirit, not necessarily in that order. Through a regular asana and sitting practice, studying with phenomenal teachers and soaking in the love of the beautiful yoga community, she has begun to discover a quieter mind. She became RYT 200 certified through Prana School of Yoga and Health in 2012 as well as Thai Massage from Thai Body Work in 2012. She became ERYT 500 certified in 2015, and a Certified International Yoga Therapist in 2017. As a teacher, she sees each student as whole. She strives to create a supportive environment in which each student can safely experiment in uncovering the beauty and joy that reside within the heart of each of us. This support can include traditional yoga therapy, massage therapy, and a synergistic blend of the two. She is a perpetual student and is furthering her yogic and massage studies on the pelvic floor and myofascial release.

I came to yoga in search of something “more.” At the time, I was studying for my Bachelor’s in health and wellness but struggling mentally, emotionally, and physically. I was completely dissociated from my body, my mind, and my higher power. Through my yoga practice, both on and off the mat, I began the process of healing from the outside in and the inside out. The physical practice taught me how to mindfully move, sit with sensation, and to place purposefully. The higher limbs paved a way to my relationship with my higher power and an unburdening from anxiety, depression, addictions, and trauma. The community of Pranayoga gave me a spiritual family and a place to experience love and support free from expectation.

I received my Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness in 2019 and my 200 hr certification July 2020. In 2021, I received my Pranamomma’s Pre and Post Natal certificate and my 300 hr Sattva Vinyasa certificate. I currently work full time as a COO at a small nonprofit, teach and assist in other duties around Prana, and I welcomed my beautiful daughter, Omelia (Baby Om), into this world 7/2/21.

Today, my yoga practice is supporting me as a new mother through loving and honoring my body, present-moment awareness, and surrender to my higher power (ishvara pranidhana).

I’m a believer in we only keep what we have by sharing it with those around us, and I am so excited to share this healing and transformative space with you!

Amy took her first yoga class at the age of 36, with an invitation from her friends. She liked being part of a group, and the philosophy of yoga drew her in. 19 years later, this map of self study supports her daily life, as she continues being a student of yoga. Amy also works on an assembly line and practices sprint triathlons! Yoga balances out those repetitive movements in a practical way. She has also found the practice helps with focus and concentration. During the pandemic shutdown in 2020, Prana offered 15 minute, daily, guided meditation classes on zoom. That starting point, followed by discussions and practice in the 200hr and 300hr hour trainings, strengthened Amy's habit of sitting in stillness. She says this practice has strengthened knowing how to go inward, and be on purpose in returning her mind to a single-pointed focus. Other things Amy is interested in are books and podcasts about history, religion, politics, psychology and how these are all connected. She also enjoys spending time with friends eating, going for walks and talking, helping with little kids at church, and checking in with family. Amy has been teaching yoga since December 2021, and enjoys taking group classes and continuing her studies in Prana's Yoga Therapy Program.

Roxie Sweikar (Sri Devi), MSW, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is a Certified Yoga Therapist and Ayurveda Educator who teaches these sciences to a variety of people with different backgrounds and motivations. Her yoga practice began in college out of curiosity and soon developed into a lifestyle that has guided her through her work as a social worker, raising children, and now in Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda. Always a seeker of soul-moving experiences, it is the combination of Yoga and Ayurveda that has helped Roxie live her most authentic and balanced life.

Dawn has been practicing massage therapy since 2002. She holds a license in massage in NC, TN and IN and is a Board-Certified massage therapist. She is trained in various modalities of massage including, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular, Cranio-Sacral, Reiki, Holographic Health, and energy techniques. Dawn is passionate about health and wellness, education for massage therapists and continuing her own education in massage and other wellness platforms.

Amanda began her journey into yoga over a decade ago. It wasn't until 2020 that she became fully aware of the immense impact it could have on her life. She began practicing daily and knew this was the path for her after seeing the many benefits the practice was having on her physically, mentally and spiritually. She joined PranaYoga as a member in the fall of 2021 and knew she would take the necessary steps to grow her practice, to learn as much as possible, and ultimately take what she learned and share it with others. Amanda completed the 200HR Teacher Training with PranaYoga in September of 2022 and began teaching right away. She is looking forward to continuing her training at Prana and is enrolled in the 300 HR Level 1 Yoga Therapy program. Amanda is passionate about yoga, loves teaching, and will forever be a student.

Girish is an eclectic artist with roots in jazz, the world, and sacred music. His musical talents find expression in various instruments – including tablas, world percussion, guitar, harmonium, and voice.