Amy Brown
After moving to Louisiana in 2016, Amy tried out the big designer gyms but got bored easily with the same workout routines and never felt quite at home at these gyms. After meeting fellow instructor Kaitey, Amy signed up for the 21 Day Challenge at Bayou Yoga and from there she was hooked. Amy quickly feel in love with Yoga Sculpt, a combination of yoga movements with weight incorporated and small burst of cardio. In July of 2019 Bayou Yoga became in need of Yoga Sculpt instructor. Amy took that as a sign to begin her next yogi adventure. In November of 2019, Amy completed 200 hour Registered Yoga Training. In January 2020, Amy began leading Yoga Sculpt with energizing music and plenty of jokes and laughter. Amy loves sharing Tuesday and Thursday night with her Sculpt Squad but when she’s not with her Bayou Yoga family you can find her as a dental hygienist by day, honing in her grill skills, whipping up tasty treats in the kitchen, snuggling with her dogs, and laughing with friends.
Ashlee Cooper
Brittany Sewell
From the time Brittany could walk, she was doing pliés, grand jetés, and pirouettes all over her house. She danced her way through grade school into college at Louisiana Tech University, where she became a part of the Regal Blues dance team. Once Brittany’s dance team years were finished, she struggled to find an activity that brought her as much joy as dancing once had. While pursuing her master’s degree in speech-language pathology, Brittany discovered yoga. Not only did yoga bring her happiness, it helped to alleviate stress. Four years later, her love for the practice has only deepened. Brittany recently obtained her 200hr RYT certification, and she has thoroughly enjoyed teaching yoga as much as she enjoys practicing it herself. She aims to create an inviting, comfortable space for people to explore yoga, push past their perceived limitations, and foster friendships with others in the community.
Brooke Pelligrini
Elizabeth Sconzert
With a yogi for a father, Elizabeth grew up in a house where “downward dog” was not reserved for canine discipline but rather spoken in everyday life. So, naturally, as any daughter would do, she did everything to fight it, including graduating from Loyola’s College of Law. Elizabeth quickly discovered that a life of lawyering could be hectic and stressful, depleting the body's energy. Yoga offered nourishment where dedicated workouts and a marathon or two failed. She is certified in power vinyasa yoga, but like many students of this discipline, Elizabeth's practice uses a hybrid of techniques to respond to the individual needs of each class. Elizabeth’s approach to yoga focuses on the whole, pulling us back to center with asanas integrating strength, movement, and of course, balance—all of which carry over into everyday life. Understanding life beyond the yoga mat brings enough seriousness of its own, Elizabeth believes yoga can bring physical and spiritual harmony to our daily lives.
John Johnston
Kaitey Kinchen
In 2004, while attending college and working as a photographer in Washington DC, Kaitey tried her first power yoga class. Although a regular practice wasn’t a part of her life at that point in time, the seed was planted. Yoga found its way back into Kaitey’s life after the sudden loss of her husband. On a trip out West in 2015, a friend reacquainted her with yoga, and that is where her true journey into healing and yoga began. Once she arrived home, Kaitey established a daily practice and found sanctuary. “My mat became my life raft— a safe space where I could show up as I was, to move and breathe, and just BE… without expectation or judgment. A time for self-reflection and introspection. Yoga helped shine a light on my darkened spirit and allowed me to connect with my strength of spirit.” Through regular practice, the lessons of presence, connection, equanimity and balance that we cultivate on the mat, begin to extend into daily life. Kaitey believes in the transformative power of yoga to nourish and heal the mind, body and spirit. She hopes her deep reverence and gratitude for this practice shines through in her teaching. When Kaitey is not in the studio, you can find her skateboarding her German Shepherd, paddleboarding, skydiving, backpacking, traveling as much as she can, and all around adventuring. Kaitey obtained her 200 hour RYT certification in 2017.
Karen Rewerts - Director of Client Care
Karen is Bayou Yoga's Director of Client Care, what she calls, "a fancy title for someone who loves people and loves Bayou Yoga!" Whether it is your first visit or your 100th, you can be sure that Karen will reach out to you to say hello and get to know you better. In her view, our yoga community, affectionately known as Tribe 985, thrives on the love and support we give each other on and off the mat, and this community is what Karen believes makes Bayou Yoga so special. She started practicing yoga in 2015 after multiple breast cancer surgeries and chemotherapy left her physically weak and emotionally spent. Her daughter, Lydia, (now a certified 200 hour RYT with a trauma-conscious certification,) found Bayou Yoga in 2017, and Karen and Lydia accepted the 21 Day Challenge together. Karen considers yoga the ultimate exercise of body, mind and spirit, making it a completely unique and individual effort. At the same time, she appreciates the beautiful choreography of our yoga community moving and breathing together. She credits her practice at Bayou Yoga with building strength, restoring mobility and giving her a deeper knowledge of herself and a desire to share that authenticity with others. Karen is the daughter of John and Lenell Davis of Slidell, Louisiana; sister of Chip, Scott and Dawn; wife of Carl Rewerts; mother of Glendon and Lydia Rewerts; and dog lover (currently loving on a toy poodle named Jack.) Her joys are her family and friends, her faith, music and performing arts, all nature (especially hot, sunny weather,) and of course, Bayou Yoga!
Katrina Anderson
With a demanding lifestyle as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), mother and wife, Katrina discovered her love of yoga four years ago in a small garage with friends. Having always lead an active lifestyle, she grew to love yoga as a complement to her existing workouts. She utilizes the practice of yoga to relieve stress from her demanding job. She believes in the power of yoga so much so she was inspired to obtain her 200hr RYT certification in 2017. She enjoys sharing the physical aspects of the practice to calm the mind in order to let go of the stresses of life. She empowers her students to push themselves to their edge and discover their strength within that they didn't know they possessed. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and sons. She loves outdoors and hiking. She loves her baby boy schnauzer puppy, good wine, good yoga, and spending time with good friends!
Mac Barrient
Lover of life and the joy that each day brings. Believer in the power of yogic principles, especially pranayama. Yoga has change my life and it’s my hope that I can change the lives of others during the time that I teach. Namaste
Mary Beth Wise
Mary Beth is a Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. Her career in health and wellness spans 25+ years within physical therapy, athletic club, small studio and private in-home settings. With a lighthearted teaching style, she aims to educate students and clients, encouraging them to tune in deeply and move with intention. A native of Shreveport, she grew up barrel racing Quarter horses and running up and down basketball courts, ending her high school career with a State Championship. Now into her sixth decade on the earth, she is keenly attuned to the changes and challenges that come with age and remaining active and aspires to help others keep honing their practices and honoring their individual needs.
Melissa Barkemeyer
Nichol Moya
Nichol flirted with the idea of yoga for many years, trying out videos, books, etc. However, it wasn't until 2009 that she began a regular asana practice. She took particular interest in bhakti, vinyasa, and kundalini yoga. In 2011, Nichol followed her heart to New Orleans. She immediately found Wild Lotus Yoga, where she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training with the talented Sean Johnson and Mitchel Bleir. Although, Nichol entered in the training with the sole intention of self-healing and deepening her personal practice, the universe seemed to have another plan at play. Opportunity presented itself, and shortly after graduating in the Spring of 2013, she began to teach. Nichol is dedicated to exploring many different avenues of healing. She is not only a yoga teacher, but also practices massage and energetic therapies. Through each of these practices, she hopes to empower and uplift all who come into her life. She is a strong believer that what we need already exists within us. All the practices of yoga bring us to this knowing. In her classes, she explores connecting breath and movement, a great tool for developing awareness and presence. She focuses on the alignment principles of each asana (pose) so the student feels empowered in their body. She challenges each student to broaden their idea of what they think they are capable. "I see each pose as an opportunity to shed patterns that no longer serve our purpose, to find our strength, to open and trust the wisdom of our heart, to learn and explore our boundaries, and most of all, to embrace all that we are and all we have to offer to the world."
Nichol Moya
Nichol flirted with the idea of yoga for many years, trying out videos, books, etc. However, it wasn't until 2009 that she began a regular asana practice. She took particular interest in bhakti, vinyasa, and kundalini yoga. In 2011, Nichol followed her heart to New Orleans. She immediately found Wild Lotus Yoga, where she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training with the talented Sean Johnson and Mitchel Bleir. Although, Nichol entered in the training with the sole intention of self-healing and deepening her personal practice, the universe seemed to have another plan at play. Opportunity presented itself, and shortly after graduating in the Spring of 2013, she began to teach. Nichol is dedicated to exploring many different avenues of healing. She is not only a yoga teacher, but also practices massage and energetic therapies. Through each of these practices, she hopes to empower and uplift all who come into her life. She is a strong believer that what we need already exists within us. All the practices of yoga bring us to this knowing. In her classes, she explores connecting breath and movement, a great tool for developing awareness and presence. She focuses on the alignment principles of each asana (pose) so the student feels empowered in their body. She challenges each student to broaden their idea of what they think they are capable. "I see each pose as an opportunity to shed patterns that no longer serve our purpose, to find our strength, to open and trust the wisdom of our heart, to learn and explore our boundaries, and most of all, to embrace all that we are and all we have to offer to the world."