Our Instructors

 

Mary June Thompson, RYT-500

Mary June is a dedicated long-time practitioner who believes in the ability of yoga to connect and balance body, mind, emotions, energy, and spirit; relieve stress, tension, and anxiety; and improve overall health and quality of life at any age. She loves teaching yoga in an accessible way that helps others understand and receive these benefits. Mary June also loves to share her vast knowledge about the positive ways yoga affects our various bodily systems and promotes radiant health, and she incorporates this into all of her classes.

Mary June has completed both 200-hour and 300-hour Advanced yoga trainings, as well as additional certifications in multiple yoga disciplines. She is also a Level II Reiki practitioner and a Certified Sound Healer–Expert Level. Off the mat, she is also a chef; herbalist; avid gardener and plant enthusiast; maker of organic health, home, and beauty products; and a holistic health and wellness expert who enjoys spending time with her husband and fur babies and soaking up the sun on a beach whenever possible.

Mary June has also spent the last several years studying Ayurveda and is currently studying to become a Wisdom Traditions Wellness Coach, which focuses heavily on Ayurvedic wisdom, so that she may add this modality to her health and wellness offerings.

Connect with Mary June via email: maryjunethompson@hotmail.com

 


Jill Bartine, M.M., RYT

Jill Bartine has been a teacher for more than half of her life. As a classically trained flutist who performs with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, her first outlet for her teaching passion was music, and yoga was a natural addition to her teaching repertoire with the completion of her training in 2011. Professional musical performance employs controlled breath, body awareness, energy, creativity, rhythmic flow, and harmony — all qualities of a successful yoga practice. Jill draws upon these elements in her classes, helping her students to feel in tune with their bodies and spirit, and those around them.

Contact Jill:  flutistyogini.com

 

 


 

Ron Felix, RYT, E-RYT

Ron Felix opened Knoxville’s first commercial yoga studio, the Knoxville Yoga Center in 1991. Initially, Ron taught Bikram’s (hot yoga) which he learned while living in Key West, Florida. In 1992 Ron was introduced to the Iyengar method of yoga which is known for its attention paid to precision and alignment.

After 25 years of studying and teaching the Iyengar method, participating in over 50 workshops and/or teachers’ trainings, Ron’s classes are a reflection of the love and appreciation he has for the myriad of effects yoga can have on the total “self”.

Ron is registered as an RYT and an E-RYT with Yoga Alliance at the 500 hour level and has thousands of hours teaching experience having regularly taught 15-16 classes a week.

Connect with Ron via email: ron_felix@bellsouth.net


Sarah Fraser, RYT-200

Sarah is a neurodivergent woman with a passion for mindful movement. As a young adult navigating trauma and mental health struggles, she found yoga to be pivotal in her journey of healing and finding herself. Now, she loves to share with others what a holistic approach to yoga can do for your mind, body, and spirit. Her practice is one of inclusivity, authenticity, and curiosity. She aims to create a space where all kinds of people with different abilities and backgrounds can be themselves and find peace through breath, movement, and community.
Sarah has been practicing yoga for 6 years and received her 200hr certification from The Glowing Body in 2023. She has a special interest in supporting the neurodivergent, lgbtq+, disabled, and elderly communities. Sarah is trauma informed and leads all of her classes in a trauma sensitive manner.
When Sarah is not practicing or teaching, you’ll find her with her nose in a book and a coffee in her hand, swooning over nature, or cozy at home with her girlfriend.
Connect with Sarah via Instagram @sarahtoninyoga or email: bush.sarah.e@gmail.com

 


 

 

Rachel Golden, RYT-200

Rachel has been a dedicated student of yoga since 2019, including practicing in Ashtanga, Hatha, Power, Sivananda, and Vinyasa styles. In summer 2022, she completed her yoga teaching certification at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in New York’s Catskill mountains. She values yoga’s unique ability to enrich physical, emotional, and intellectual aspects of life in interconnected ways, and found these benefits especially meaningful in navigating challenges brought by the pandemic.

Rachel looks forward to sharing her love for yoga with others as part of the Breezeway community. She is also an enthusiastic writer, educator, musician, reader, dog lover, and student of the Sanskrit language and classical yogic texts.

Connect with Rachel at luxrefulget@gmail.com

 


Claire Hyrka, RYT-200

Claire is a native Knoxvillian, mother of four grown children and one precious grandchild. She works as a realtor and office manager/bookkeeper for a local general contractor. She has recently rehabbed two houses, and may have found her next passion in addition to yoga! 

Claire started practicing yoga during 20+ years in Memphis, but really began her yoga journey in earnest upon return to hometown in 2008.

She completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training with Cindy Dollar through The Glowing Body in May 2015 and has been teaching regularly since then at The GB as well as the Y and a Friday 6:00 am class at Provision Wellness.

Connect with Claire via email: clairehyrka@gmail.com

 


 

Caroline Munday, RYT, LMT, EEMCLP, RMT

 

Caroline has been practicing yoga for the past 25 years. She received her 200-hour RYT at the Asheville Yoga Center in March 2018. She believes in the power of yoga to heal the body, mind and spirit on all levels…. physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Yoga has become a way of life for Caroline and she infuses that with her passion for health and well-being in her healing practice. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Eden Energy Medicine Clinical Practitioner, Authorized
Teacher of Eden Energy Medicine 101/102, and Reiki Master/Teacher. Caroline is passionate about her work with both Energy Medicine and yoga and loves working in partnership with her students, to achieve greater energy, vitality and balance in all aspects of their lives. She believes that our bodies can heal naturally through these practices and wishes to help empower students to get on the mat and experience the healing power of Energy Medicine and yoga.

Connect with Caroline via email: carolinemunday@gmail.com


Cheri Pollack, RYT-200

Cheri has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She’s taught for almost a decade and believes that yoga is truly a gift. She discovered it when her children were young and she cherishes yoga now that she has embarked on her sixth decade of life!
Cheri loves to keep active through biking, camping, skiing and walking her precious pup Indie Girl. She can be found blissing-out in her home art studio!
Connect with Cheri at: functionalfunk@gmail.com

 

 


 

Karen Rodgers

Karen started on her fitness journey more than 30 years ago: Body Building, Aerobics, Tennis, Personal Training, Spin, Pilates and finally YOGA. Encouraged by her instructors, she began training and became a certified teacher in group fitness, including most of the disciplines noted above.

She has completed three 200 hour RYT sessions to date, with an emphasis in Hatha, Karma, Jnana and Bhakti Yoga. Karen is motivated to continue teaching and learning in order to help her clients live their lives with confidence and self empowerment.

Connect with Karen via email: rodgerskm@aol.com 

 

 


Wayne Stagg, RYT-200

Wayne is retired from UT after 32 years in communications. He discovered Yoga through Hari Bhajan Kaur (HBK), a certified Kundalini instructor, and student of Yogi Bhajan and a founding member of his ashram in Espanola, NM.He has been teaching Yoga at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church for 12 years. He and his wife, Heather, enjoy music and share their home with two remarkable cats. 

Connect with Wayne via email: yogaway249@gmail.com

 

 


Russell Sauls

Russell has practiced Qigong & Tai Chi for 38 years. He has taught hundreds of Knoxvillians these arts, & he is delighted to now be a part of the “Breezeway experience”. Russell’s Tai Chi classes are excellent therapies for those individuals who in high-stress life situations and are likely to enhance athletic performance in other day-to-day activities & sports. Russell is a past United States Chinese Martial Arts Council national champion for Tai Chi & Ba Gua Zhang (an sister art of Tai Chi)

Connect with Russell: whirlingstillness@gmail.com

 


 

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