Teachers

Sarla Nichols

Sarla is the founder and director of Midtown Yoga. The studio has flourished since she opened the doors in May 2001. Yoga students from all corners of Shelby County and the surrounding area can be found practicing there on any given day.

Sarla’s love for yoga and commitment to her students permeate the studio and keep it humming. Her commitment to the community is reflected by the large staff of certified teachers at Midtown Yoga and the nearly 50 classes offered there each week.

Sarla has been practicing yoga for 25 years and teaching for 14. Her instruction is clear, confident and compassionate. Her passion for yoga and for teaching is almost palpable, “I love this practice and credit it in no small part with saving my life. I consider the seat of the teacher a place of honor and responsibility. I hope that through my teaching I can pass on to others what my teacher, Rod Stryker, has given me.”

Sarla's classes:

Monday: 05:30pm - 06:40pm Vinyasa and Meditation - Level I and II studio a
Wednesday: 05:30pm - 06:45pm Vinyasa, Pranayama and Meditation, level I & II studio a
Saturday: 10:00am - 11:15am Vinyasa for Beginners - level I studio a; 11:30am - 01:00pm Vinyasa, Pranayama & Meditation, all levels studio a
Sunday: 09:00am - 10:15am Gentle Vinyasa, Mantra and Mantra Meditation, pay what you can studio a

Kathy Fish

A financial planner, business owner, wife and mother, Kathy Fish is also a devoted yogini who relishes her early morning classes at Midtown Yoga. Her students are equally enthusiastic about their practice with Kathy.

“Yoga has helped me bring balance to a very hectic life. I know about multi-tasking, and am so grateful for yoga – and for the opportunity to share something I love with others.”

Kathy teaches with humor, compassion and grace. Her attention to the subtleties of correct alignment helps her students to both deepen and refine their yoga practices.

Kathy's classes:

Monday: 07:00am - 08:00am Rise and Shine - All Levels studio a
Wednesday: 07:00am - 08:00am Rise and Shine - All Levels studio a

Yolandrea Clark

From her first yoga class, Yolandrea felt an instant shift in her total awareness and considers yoga to be perfect for simultaneous nourishment of the mind, body and spirit. She enjoys sharing her passion for yoga with others and employs a three-dimensional approach to teaching, by incorporating breath awareness, physical alignment and yogic philosophy in each class.

She has attended workshops with Rodney Yee, Cyndi Lee, Jennifer Brilliant, Richard Freeman, Chris Coniaris, Hart Lazer and Shiva Rea. She has studied with Sarla Nichols since 2002.

When not on the mat, Yolandrea navigates through the world of finance as both an investment professional and an adjunct college professor. During less taxing times, Clark can be found reading or poring over a game of Scrabble.

Yolandrea's classes:

Monday: 06:45pm - 07:45pm Yoga for the Buddha Body - All Levels - Pay What You Can studio b
Wednesday: 08:15pm - 09:30pm Good Vibrations - All Levels - Pay What You Can studio a
Friday: 07:15pm - 08:30pm TGIF Happy Hour - All Levels - Pay What You Can studio a
Saturday: 10:45am - 11:45am Yoga for the Buddha Body - All Levels - Pay What You Can studio b

Shantih Smythe

Knowledge, experience and commitment distinguish Shantih’s teaching. Her calm, down-to-earth demeanor endears her to Midtown Yoga students. Her classes are grounded in her ongoing study of anatomy and inspired by her love of movement.

“I believe that flexibility of the body brings flexibility of the mind, and that strength of the body builds confidence and creates courage both within the yoga practice and out in the world.”

Shantih’s ability to clearly relay fundamentals of the asana practice and to maintain a compassionate and supportive environment results in students that are among the most loyal at Midtown Yoga.

Shantih's classes:

Monday: 10:30am - 11:45am Alignment Based Yoga - Level I studio a
Tuesday: 05:30pm - 06:30pm Alignment Based Yoga - Level I studio a
Wednesday: 10:30am - 11:30am Alignment Based Yoga - Levels I and II studio a
Friday: 10:30am - 11:30am Alignment Based Yoga - Levels I and II studio a
Sunday: 07:30pm - 08:30pm Vinyasa - Level I and II main

Debbie Denny

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded! -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Debbie walked away from a 10 year career in gaming hospitality to teach yoga. The quote from Emerson summarizes her approach to teaching, “As we practice yoga, we learn about ourselves through the breath.” Debbie’s personal practice includes traditional asana, meditation, and breath awareness. This enriches her classes and gives her students the opportunity to deepen their own individual practices. Debbie’s classes are challenging and humorous, a true reflection of life off the mat.

Debbie's classes:

Thursday: 07:00am - 08:00am Alignment Based Vinyasa - Level I and II studio a

Maggie Reese

Maggie has been practicing yoga for 15 years and teaching yoga in Memphis for almost a decade. Her yoga training was an extensive certification program from OM Yoga of New York City, which is certified by the Yoga Alliance. Her class pace is a balanced combination of semi-slow and semi-fast which also include breathing exercises and relaxation. Her instructions are purposeful and are designed to open and strengthen even the most resistant bodies. She is currently a student at University of Tennessee Health Science Center (class of 2011) pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Her long time practice, education and training, knowledge of the body, and teaching experience makes her classes a quality experience.

Visit my website: www.maggiereese.com

Maggie's classes:

Thursday: 07:00pm - 08:15pm Vinyasa - Level I and II studio a
Sunday: 04:00pm - 05:15pm Vinyasa - Level I and II studio a

Jimmy Lewis

Jimmy Lewis currently studies with Rod Stryker, having completed eight of Para Yoga’s nine modules of master training. Additionally, Jimmy has trained with a variety of teachers, including Rodney Yee, John Friend, David Swensen, Cyndi Lee, Shiva Rea, and Hart Lazer. Jimmy’s teaching style is accessible while challenging.

Jimmy's classes:

Monday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Vinyasa - All Levels studio a
Sunday: 10:30am - 12:15pm Vinyasa, Pranayama & Meditation, all levels studio a

Caroline Schmidt

Caroline is a natural vinyasa teacher, and effortlessly imparts her enthusiasm and affection for yoga. She favors creative transitions and deep opening. Her style is reminiscent of Shiva Rea, but her spirit is all her own. She is a bright light and you know it when you meet her. You’ll feel it when you come to her class.

Caroline's classes:

Monday: 07:00pm - 08:15pm Vinyasa - All Levels studio a
Tuesday: 07:00pm - 08:15pm Vinyasa - All Levels - Pay What You Can studio a
Thursday: 10:00am - 11:00am Gentle Yoga - All Levels studio a; 05:30pm - 06:30pm Yoga Sculpt - All Levels studio a
Friday: 05:30pm - 06:45pm Restorative - All Levels studio a
Sunday: 05:45pm - 07:00pm Vinyasa - All Levels - Community studio a

Sarah Ledbetter

Sarah is a dancer, filmmaker, writer, and performer. For Sarah, the practice of yoga is the most powerful means of coming home to the present, the body, the community, and the higher self. She began practicing yoga in the late 80’s and began teaching in 2001, completing further studies with Sarla in 2007. She brings both curiosity and years of experience to her ongoing teaching practice.

Sarah's classes:

Friday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Yoga Flow - Level I and II - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown

Gary Edge

Cultivated by years of practice in Structural Integration (blessings to Ida Rolf) and Massage Therapy, Gary brings a deep understanding of anatomy and movement to his teaching. Intrigued with the changes yoga was bringing to his SI and Massage practice, Gary decided to take his study of yoga to the next level, completing his RYT200 certification and uniting decades of sports specific stretching, transcendental meditation, and the breath. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Gary’s integrated approach is evident in his teaching and resonates with his students.

Gary's classes:

Tuesday: 08:30am - 09:45am Kundalini studio a

Erin D. H. Williams

Erin’s classes are rooted in alignment, breath awareness and paying close attention to the subtle movements of the body and enjoying how great they can be. Erin’s journey into yoga began while pursuing her degree in Modern Dance. Also an equestrian enthusiast, her practice of yoga has helped to calm her nerves and loosen muscle tension when riding, the horses have greatly appreciated this.

She teaches Physical Education at Madonna Learning Center and loves helping her students find their movement. Erin feels that it is one of her life’s missions to help people reconnect with their body, the home of the mind and spirit.

Erin D. H.'s classes:

Friday: 04:15pm - 05:15pm Form and Flow - Level I studio a

Lacy Apperson

Lacy began practicing yoga to balance the hustle and bustle of city life while living in New York. She quickly realized that the obstacles we meet on the mat are metaphors for the challenges we face in our everyday lives. If we can tap into what we learn in our practice, we are better able to stay present and calm, even during trying or uncertain times.

Yoga is the study of balance, and Lacy believes the breath is the key to finding this balance between effort and ease. Allowing the breath to lead the physical practice encourages us to stay in the precious present – after all, this moment is all we have.

Lacy completed her 200-hour certification with Sarla Nichols at Midtown Yoga, but will always consider herself a student first and foremost. For her, yoga is a lifelong journey that brings us full circle – not to a new self but rather, back to our true nature.

Lacy's classes:

Monday: 05:30pm - 06:45pm Yoga For Life - All Levels - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown
Tuesday: 10:30am - 11:45am Slow and Steady - Level I and II studio a
Wednesday: 08:30am - 10:00am Vinyasa - All Levels studio a; 12:00pm - 01:00pm Vinyasa - All Levels studio a

Kathleen Hall

Kathleen's classes:

Sunday: 07:00pm - 08:15pm Hot Yin Yoga - All Levels - Pay What You Can studio b

Lisa Nezwaski

Lisa's classes:

Wednesday: 07:00pm - 08:15pm Yoga for Cancer Patients and Caretakers - All Levels - FREE studio b

Grace Harwood

Poise and precision aptly describe Grace’s teaching style. A dancer for 21 years and a mother of three, she found that yoga filled the void dance left in her life and taught her how to slow down and breathe in the often chaotic routine of raising a family. Grace values the strength and beauty of Vinyasa Flow and encourages her students to find joy in their practice. Practicing with Grace (too good not to say!) is a treat not to be missed.

Grace's classes:

Tuesday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Flow with Grace - Level II and III studio a
Wednesday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Yoga Flow - Level I and II - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown
Thursday: 10:00am - 11:30am Aerial Yoga studio b; 05:30pm - 06:45pm Aerial Yoga studio b
Friday: 08:30am - 10:00am Flow with Grace - Level III studio a

Leslie Jones

Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Leslie began practicing yoga in earnest shortly after moving to Memphis in 2004. She has been teaching since completing the Midtown Yoga Teacher Training program in 2007. Her teaching style is compassionate and thoughtful, but can be challenging. In her classes Leslie encourages her students to explore both the physical power and the transformative potential of yoga. She endeavors to develop mindfulness, confidence, and compassion through an emphasis on the breath, heart, and body alignment.
A lifelong athlete, Leslie grew up riding horses and ran track at the University of Arizona. She continues growing as a teacher and yogini by attending advanced workshops with such teachers as Rod Stryker, Chris Coniaris, Brenna Geehan, and Jennifer Brilliant.

Leslie's classes:

Tuesday: 06:00pm - 07:10pm Yoga For Life - All Levels - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown
Saturday: 08:30am - 09:45am Yoga For Life - All Levels studio a

Geoff Bleech

Geoff began practicing yoga in 2005. He quickly realized the positive impact, both physically and emotionally a regular yoga practice can have in ones life. “Yoga continually clears my mind and helps to add balance in my life. It’s made me a better friend, partner, employee, and citizen. I’m a stronger person because of it.”

A Graduate of Midtown Yoga’s Teacher Training program in 2007, his flowing alignment based vinyasa classes contain something for all level of students.

Geoff's classes:

Monday: 08:30am - 10:00am Yoga Flow - Level II and III studio a; 12:00pm - 01:00pm Yoga Flow - Level I and II - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown

Stephen Black

In his personal practice and as a teacher, Steve takes a playful, exploratory approach to yoga, focusing closely on alignment while gracefully and dynamically linking poses to the breath. A graduate of the Asheville Yoga Center’s 500 hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Certification program, he has had the privilege of studying with a number of gifted teachers, including Stephanie Keach, Desiree Rumbaugh, Cora Wen, Doug Keller, David Keil, and Scott Blossom. A practitioner in the mindfulness tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Steve approaches yoga as a movement meditation that deepens our awareness of our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Stephen's classes:

Tuesday: 05:30pm - 07:00pm Hot Yin/Yang Yoga studio b

Arline Jernigan

A graduate of Memphis College of Art and a long-term physical fitness instructor before coming to yoga, Arline brings a unique blend of physicality and artfulness to her teaching. The yoga mat serves as a different kind of canvas for Arline, who continues to paint and exhibit her work in Memphis art galleries. Through her teaching as well as her art, she inspires others to feel more and move beyond preconceived notions of personal limitation.

She has been teaching for about 10 years, and keeps discovering new territory within her own practice.

She draws her teaching inspiration from several teachers, though Shiva Rea, had a great impact initial direction “Shiva opened my eyes to the beauty of flow, the freedom that personal power offers us, and the gateway to it on the yoga mat.”

Arline received her teaching certification through Yoga Alliance. She teaches both public and private classes, and takes students on yoga adventures around the world

Arline's classes:

Saturday: 08:30am - 09:45am Shakti Flow studio b

Ondine Geary

Ondine Geary is a performer and teacher of yoga, pilates and dance. She was certified in yoga by Cyndi Lee at Midtown Yoga (2001) and in pilates by Ellie Herman at Push Pilates (2005). She is fascinated by alignment and, through her teaching, hopes to impart a deeper awareness of and connection to one’s body.

Jonathan Ellis

When Sarla asked me to do this bio, I had no idea what to say, I started looking through some of my yoga publications and found a quote from Marlize Joubert, a yoga teacher I’d never heard of: “Why Yoga? The simplest answer I have come up with is that yoga makes you feel good; it’s relaxing energizing and strengthening all at the same time. Yoga enhances your experience of life. It changes your perspective on things and enables you to embrace a larger, more accurate conception of who you are, how life works and what forces exist in the Universe. As you practice more regularly, it helps clarify your deepest longings, motivations and aspirations.” Nice!

As my yoga practice has grown, seemingly random experiences have begun to happen at exactly the right time again and again. This has taught me to have faith and to be open to whatever the world offers without fear or expectation.

In terms of my teaching style, I teach Vinyasa flow infused with a heavy dose of Hatha. Our practice together will be physically demanding, in a supportive way, leaving you feeling challenged, alert, relaxed and, yet, energized.

Jonathan's classes:

Tuesday: 06:00am - 07:00am Rise and Shine - All Levels studio a
Sunday: 08:00am - 08:45am Hot Espresso Blend Yoga Flow studio b

Erin Jenkins

Erin's classes:

Thursday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Yoga Flow - Level I and II - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown
Friday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Vinyasa - Level I and II studio a

Leigh Ann Johnson

Leigh Ann came to her first yoga class to get back in shape after giving birth to her third child, and along the way discovered the beauty and benefits of yoga practice on and off the mat.

Though her family does not practice, she accredits the stress reducing aspects of yoga with saving their lives. (Because without yoga, she may have killed them.)

Since that first class, her practice has evolved into a life altering journey that has lead her to complete the Teacher Training Program with Sarla Nichols at Midtown Yoga.

Leigh Ann is a lighthearted, down to earth teacher excited about sharing the trans formative power of yoga. Join her for a fun and challenging class that will inspire you to connect with your body and spirit. So that you can better handle the stresses of everyday life.

Leigh Ann's classes:

Tuesday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Yoga Flow - Level I and II - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown
Saturday: 12:00pm - 01:15pm Prenatal Yoga - All Levels studio b

Rosemarie Montgomery

I started practicing yoga in 1999 after a running injury left my knees in terrible pain. Within in a year my yoga practice healed my knees. I fell in love with yoga because it was more than just a physical practice; it helped me to live my life off the mat with more joy, more peace, and more confidence.

In my own practice I use the many tools that yoga offers, including: asana, pranayama techniques, bandhas, mudras, mantras and meditation to clear away debris in my mind, body, and spirit so that I can find that sweet surrender of stillness that is inside just waiting to be remembered.

I teach yoga to give back what was so graciously given to me – an authentic yoga practice. I am so grateful to my teacher, Sarla Nichols, and to my teacher’s teacher Rod Stryker, for passing on the art of yoga~ that which brings wholeness to the body, mind and spirit.

Laree Rodriguez

Photographer, artist, and former dancer, Laree has found that yoga helps her to balance the challenges of her daily life. “Linking breath to movement as we practice yoga on-the-mat helps us to connect with all parts of ourselves – physical, emotional, spiritual. It helps us to feel whole, harmonious, and balanced.” Laree’s classes encourage students, wherever they are in their lives and their practices, to meet themselves with acceptance and loving kindness. “I am always looking for ways to connect what I learn on-the-mat to my life off-the-mat, and the goal of my classes is to help students do the same.

Kirsti Schermerhorn

Kirsti's classes:

Thursday: 12:00pm - 01:00pm Inner Journey Yoga studio a

Carey Bowen

Carey's classes:

Saturday: 05:15pm - 06:30pm Vinyasa - Level I and II - Pay What You Can studio a

Cate Plekon

Cate grew up on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and began practicing yoga there in 2003. She has been studying at Midtown Yoga since 2007. Cate is currently enrolled in Sarla’s 2010 Teacher Training Program and will complete this work in September. Through her studies of yoga and through personal experience, Cate has learned the value of maintaining a healthy practice both on and off the mat. She believes that yoga has had a profound influence on her life and she wishes to share that light with her students. Her intention is to incorporate strength-building techniques as well as nourishment, reflection and relaxation practices into her classes.

Cate's classes:

Wednesday: 05:30pm - 06:30pm Yoga For Life - All Levels - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown
Thursday: 08:30am - 09:45am Form and Flow - All Levels main

Carrie Muldavin

Carrie's classes:

Thursday: 06:00pm - 07:00pm Yoga For Life - All Levels - Downtown - 91 S. Front downtown