Instructors

The Yoga Center

Connecting Mind and Body to Spirit ... Through the Breath

Meet Our Instructors

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April Michael Dempsey

April received her yoga certification at Kripalu, In Lenox, MA. She is a Yoga Therapist specializing in Pre-Natal Yoga, as well as, Pre-Natal Thai Yoga Massage and Watsu (Warm Water Massage). April is also licensed in MS as a Skin Care Therapist and received her Doula training and Pregnancy Belly-casting through B.A.B.Y. Inc, in White Bluff, TN. April is also a licensed Massage Therapist in Tennessee since 2000 and also has her license for massage therapy in Mississippi.

“I continue to study for the empowerment of Women for Birth!”

Catherine Crews

Catherine has been practicing yoga since 2002. She received her teacher training (200 hours) at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in 2005. She has enjoyed deepening her knowledge of yoga by regularly attending workshops with Shiva Rea, Erich Schiffmann, Rolf Gates, Doug Keller, as well as Martin Kirk, Desiree Rumbaugh, Bruce Bowditch, Laura Tyree and Scotta Brady.

“I will never forget the day I walked through the door of The Yoga Center in Tupelo, Mississippi and participated in my very first yoga class. It touched me deep in my soul. I knew I had found the spiritual, physical, intellectual and emotional path that I had been longing for. Now I have the joy and the privilege of sharing my love for yoga through teaching and I am grateful for it.” Catherine is married and has three children and is also an artist, specializing in painting and drawing.

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Evanna McCarter

Evanna, as an aspiring martial artist in Kung Fu San Soo, was led to the practice of yoga in 2000, completing her teacher training in Oct. 2006 at Yoga West in Austin.

"I often came out of San Soo bruised and tight. I felt a need to balance my San Soo with deep, intense stretching. I practiced Iyengar classes in 1999 and decided that yoga was the direction to follow. My principal experience in teaching yoga has come through my affiliation with The Yoga Center. I cherish the friendships, humor and good feelings (mentally and physically) that come from being a student and teaching yoga. Yoga has inspired me to take better care of myself, mentally, spiritually and physically. I hope to inspire others as well.”

Congratulations to Evanna who has completed her training and passed her Massage Therapy Exam. Her business Massage on Main is open and ready for you to call for an appointment. You may contact Evanna through the link listed above.

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Paul Tate

Paul completed his teacher training in 2005 at Dragonfly Yoga Studies in Fort Walton, FL and is a RYT-200 with the Yoga Alliance. Attending workshops with Doug Keller and assisting with Laura Tyree at workshops is how he is furthering his education in the practice of yoga. Since receiving his certification in yoga he has also become certified in Reiki.

A business owner, a talented musician, an excellent father … Paul is married and has three children.

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Sheree Lence

Sheree, as a professional musician, has been studying breathing and relaxation techniques for over 30 years. She joined The Yoga Center in 1999 and was certified through The Yoga Alliance, RYT 200 in 2003. Sheree has attended workshops with Erich Schiffmann, Laura Tyree (Dragonfly Yoga), and Scotta Brady (Butterfly Yoga) and has studied at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

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Robyn Loonan Gibson

Robyn completed her 200 hour Kripalu based teacher training in 2003 and is a registered teacher through The Yoga Alliance. Since completing the teacher training her continuing education has been workshops at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA., Shiva Rea, Saul Raye, Paul Grilley, Arturo Peal, Cheri Clampett, The Omega Institute, Laura Tyree, Anusara Yoga with Scotta Brady, and working extensively with Erich Schiffmann … recently completing his teacher training module. It is my opinion that there are three parts to a yoga practice. Meditation, pranayama (breath) and asana practice. Yoga is about balance and the flow of energy within our body … Yoga is not about how far you can get into any of the postures … it is all about how you get there.

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I was first introduced to yoga as a teenager and while it rang true to me then I went off on other paths. I came back to yoga when I discovered The Yoga Center of Tupelo in 2001. Studying with Betty Evans and April Michael was such a pleasure. I jumped on the chance to complete a 200 hour Kripalu based teacher training when offered by The Yoga Center. Since completing their program in 2003, my continuing studies have primarily been with Laura Tyree and Erich Schiffmann. I’ve had the good fortune to hang out and study with Laura two to three times a year since 2006. In May 2008 I completed a 10-day advanced study for yoga teachers with Erich. I’m a registered teacher through The Yoga Alliance and keep my “saw sharp” by attending workshops with a variety of teachers: Rodney Yee, Scotta Brady, Doug Keller, Joel Kramer, Arturo Peal, Cheri Clampett, and Saul Raye.

“People often ask me about yoga. They have this idea that yoga is gymnastics of a sort – a stretching and contorting of bodies or that we are secretly worshiping Buddha. That’s not it at all – no where close! Yoga is all about unity - learning to be happy and enjoy where you are NOW and Now and Now.”

Terri Johnston

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