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!

Wanderlust, crafter and nature lover, Teila has always been interested in expressing her creativity through movement.

“For me, yoga as a wellness tool, keeps the mind, body and spirit in balance. Yoga is a way to renew the breath that flows through us.”

She is passionate about, nurturing the soul, healing the body and helping you show up as your greatest version. She looks forward to meeting you all and building beautiful memories together.

Pranayoga is where I discovered a more holistic and gentle approach to yoga that goes beyond the physical. The classes are gentle yet dynamic and purposeful.

The physical practice of yoga is what I was originally drawn to, of being physically flexible and going into poses with ease. During my 200-hour certification classes, the other layers of what yoga offered unfolded. The mind and body connection and living yoga artfully off the mat too.

I am currently working on my 300-hour Sattva Vinyasa certification. Ayurveda and Ayurveda for Women is my passion.

Beyond yoga, I also enjoy reading and writing. When I’m not teaching, I love creating meals. My husband and I are foodies, and our tastes range from Ayurvedic-inspired meals to French stews and colorful Charcuterie Boards. My husband is a musician, so in addition to food, music is a big part of our lives.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Megan has been practicing yoga for over 8 years, beginning as a fun way to connect with friends during college. Over time, the practice evolved into a vital tool for managing mental and physical stress, helping to cultivate inner balance during life's transitions. In recent years, it has deepened into a spiritual practice, offering space to slow down, reflect, and connect with both the self and the divine.

Driven by the belief that life is meant to be enjoyed, Megan is passionate about empowering others to unlock their own potential. Her mission is to create an environment where her students can safely explore physical vitality, inner peace, or deeper spiritual connection.

Beyond the mat, Megan is dedicated to personal development and spiritual growth, with a love for exploring universal laws, intuition, and the expansive nature of the self.

I had struggled with clinical depression and anxiety, not to mention an eating disorder as a teen and most of my adult life. I had therapist recommend trying a multitude of things such as journaling, meditation, and yoga. But I never really considered yoga or meditation. I did hard cardio and weights, so didn’t think yoga would be for me. I met Dani through a mutual friend on FB, and that’s all it took! I followed her posts for Pranayoga and she encouraged me to look further into the 200hr teacher training program. I hadn’t really practiced yoga, consistently, just an occasional dvd of it, until I signed up for the program.

I fell in love with everything about yoga!! I love how Dani shares her love and knowledge!! She’s so positive and such a beautiful soul. The Pranayoga community is such a beautiful family and I love being a part of it!

My goal in teaching is to share with every body, the amazing benefits I have gained by practicing yoga and all it encompasses.

Founder of PranaYoga, Creator of Somatic Vinyasa Yoga Therapy, Author, Yoga Therapist, and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor

Tara began thinking about yoga years before beginning to practice. Always one to try new fitness and healing pathways, upon taking her first class in 2018, she felt a sense of finally coming home. After completing her Sattva Hatha 200hr teacher training in 2021, she immediately began pursuing a path to become a Yoga Therapist. In early 2024, Tara will finish her 1000hr Yoga Therapy training and start working through clinicals to obtain her IAYT license. Throughout this time, Tara completed a 500hr RYT, 80hr RPT in the Pre/Postnatal space, and a 100hr Ayurveda and Yoga Certification.

I found myself in a constant tug-of-war with my mind in constant motion. A moment of clarity came when sitting in meditation on October 22, 2018. Little did I know I was practicing yoga and so my journey began. Before, I struggled with childhood trauma, anxiety, and depression from loss of loved ones to addiction. The blood-and-tears and unhealthy lifestyles inhabited me. I knowingly began practicing yoga two years ago when I was entered into an Ayurveda program, yoga's sister science of Avar and Vihar, diet and lifestyle. I never knew what it was like to have structure, routine, and steadiness in my life, so I started practicing Ayurvedic yoga to balance the body, mind, and spirit. I graduated the 200hr yoga teacher training in April 2024. While continuing my education I've learned life is physically and mentally demanding, and you don't have to hurry or worry to get through it because life will always be a rollercoaster ride. The question is how fast and stressful you want to get through it. Using Ayurveda and yoga as my essential tools for life. Now you'll find me enjoying each moment with my dog, family, and friends, adventuring mountain paths, and camping in forest trails, or enjoying the freedom riding on the back of my husband's motorcycle.

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.