Angie Toman

PILATES | YOGA | YOGA ASSIST MASSAGE 

Owner of Living Balance Studios, Angie began her journey into body awareness and movement at the age of 5 when she put on her first pair of ballet slippers. She immediately felt at home in a studio where movement, discipline, and fitness for all ages were a priority, a way of life. Although her life (and head) tried to take her in other, more academic directions, her heart kept bringing her back to her calling- teaching and offering all that she has learned through many years of dance, fitness, yoga, and Pilates.

Angie’s 200 hour Yoga Alliance and STOTT Pilates Certifications are supplemented by certifications in Anatomy, Pre/Post Natal Yoga/Pilates, Kids Yoga, Senior Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yoga Assist Massage. Most importantly, Angie has dedicated herself to teaching a wide range of ages and abilities for the last 20 years. Angie truly believes she has found her purpose in life. She looks forward to being of service to an ever-expanding community.

Vicky Greene

PILATES INSTRUCTOR | YOGA TEACHER E-RYT 200 

Health and wellness were not always an interest for Vicky, but that all changed for her in 2007 when shesought help from a chiropractor for chronic neck pain. After a few months, Vicky’s chiropractor inspired her to learn about nutrition and holistic healing practices. Doing a small amount of research, Vicky slowly began making lifestyle changes, but when she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2011, she knew she needed to dig deeper and take her health into her own hands. Vicky began immersing herself in nutrition, reading book after book, researching and even working with a holistic practitioner who helped her make major dietary and lifestyle changes.  With lots of dedication and staying consistent, Vicky’s thyroid was back to functioning normally without the aid of medication within 1 ½ years. She felt the best she ever had!

With a desire to take her health to the next level, Vicky started doing yoga in 2014. She fell in love with the practice and in 2006 she began her journey to becoming a yoga teacher. Vicky earned her 200-hour yoga teacher certification through Embrace Yoga Studio in Fayetteville, NC. Yoga helped Vicky gain body awareness, which gave her a better understanding of how her body moves. Her yoga practice was more than just physical though, it was an emotional and spiritual journey as well. Vicky teaches many styles of yoga from Vinyasa flow, Beginners yoga, Prenatal, and Yin & Restorative Yoga, but she is most passionate about teaching Gentle Yoga. In Vicky’s yoga classes, you can expect to move slowly, connect to your breath and feel relaxed.

After teaching yoga for nearly 4 years and with a desire to learn more about physical fitness, in 2020 Vicky began her journey to become a Pilates Instructor. While a humbling experience at first, Vicky quickly fell in love and began immersing herself in all things Pilates!  She trained under Roxann Woods with Pilates Certification of North Carolina in Cary, NC, and is certified in Mat Pilates, the Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Ladder Barrel and Spine Corrector. Vicky continues to deepen her knowledge in Pilates by taking regular private classes from Roxann. In 2023, Vicky began training to become a Pilates Instructor Trainer and currently co-teaches Pilates Instructor Certifications at the same place where she trained and earned her certifications. If you take a Pilates class from Vicky, she will offer you a challenging workout by giving clear and precise instruction, helping you to deepen your body awareness, build strength, and reach your fitness goals. 

Melissa Aguirre

C-IAYT | ERYT 500 | YACEP | STRESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Author, Educator and Entrepreneur, Melissa Aguirre is an integrative mind body therapist directing, teaching and authoring therapeutic programs for special populations, mind body education and the military community. Owner of MelMarie Yoga, Boerne Yoga and founding director of nonprofit Trinity Healing Foundation, partner of USO and the Vogel Resiliency Center at Fort Sam Houston, military spouse, and chai enthusiast, Melissa Aguirre is passionate about empowering the community to advocate for individual wellbeing through self care, stress management and connection. For more about Melissa visit www.melmarieyoga.com 

Charla Suggs

YOGA | STRESS & TRAUMA RECOVERY | MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT

Charla has been with Living Balance Yoga Studios since 2015 and currently holds credentials as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, National Certified Counselor, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Registered Yoga Teacher, and Level 1 iRest Teacher. Areas of specialty include trauma recovery, stress inoculation, and psychological healing through integration. As a law enforcement wife of 23 years, Charla has developed a heart for professionals who have trauma embedded in their work as well as their underserved families. With a foundational belief that it is as important to be better as it is to feel better, Charla is passionate about sharing how the practice of yoga speaks beautifully and completely to both.

Jennifer Warnock

RYT 200 | YIN YOGA | CHAIR YOGA | REIKI | PRENATAL

Jennifer began practicing yoga in 2010 in Fayetteville, NC as part of physical therapy for a shoulder injury. After realizing the benefits of yoga in her personal life, Jennifer pursued her 200hr RYT certification in 2012 through The Yoga Connection in Smithfield, NC with focus on Hatha Yoga. Her studies continued with formal Yin training and she went on to complete Prenatal Yoga certification (RYPT) in 2013. In 2015, Jennifer completed Group Fitness certification through AFAA, Reiki level 1 and 2 training, as well as receiving restorative yoga training again through The Yoga Connection.

As a military spouse, Jennifer has an eclectic range of teaching experience. In addition to teaching Hatha Yoga, she has taught yoga to physical therapy patients in an office setting in Fayetteville, NC as well as hot yoga classes in both Fayetteville and Dunn, NC. While living in Northern Virginia, Jennifer owned Timeless Yoga LLC, which brought private and prenatal yoga instruction to military service members and their families.

Jennifer started Sunrise Yoga through The Red Cross at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, offering for the first time, classes for the hospital's Soldiers, Sailors and civilian employees. Jennifer moved to Kentucky, where she maintained her relationship with The Red Cross by volunteering to teach yoga through Fort Knox's Behavior Health Warrior Wellness Program. She taught yoga at NTouch Spa, renamed Karma Yoga in 2017, Gammon Gym on Fort Knox and for the VA. Jennifer returned to Northern Virginia in 2016, where she went back to teaching on Fort Belvoir and The Workhouse Art of Movement Studio.

Jennifer is now a certified Reiki Master and is pursuing her associate degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. Jennifer is a mom of three kids and finds yoga is a great way to bring peace and clarity to her life and at the same time helps her with her arthritis pain. She hopes to see you on the mat.

Brittany Moore

RYT 200 | GENTLE FLOW | YIN | MEDITATION

My love for yoga stemmed from my first yoga class as a young professional.  I was chronically stressed and turned to yoga as a way to cope.  It soon became a way of life, as I noticed lower levels of stress, mental clarity, improved digestion and more confidence.  Yoga became a vital part of my career as a school psychologist and certified holistic health coach.  I began practice as a certified holistic health coach in 2018 after graduating from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York, New York and my 200-hour RYT from Guiding Wellness Institute in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  At the end of the year, I will also be a
level 1 iRest teacher.   

I feel called to yoga and holistic health coaching as a way to support individuals to be their vibrant and authentic self, rather than stressed or worn out.  As a certified holistic health coach, I support women and busy professionals with balancing hormones, decreasing stress (as well as the many chronic health ailments that come along with it) and improving overall clarity.  Together we cultivate a plan that is supportive, effective and personalized.  

It is one of my greatest joys to get to serve the collective on the mat.  I enjoy teaching a wide range of classes, but love leading gentle flow, yin and meditation classes.  I believe that yoga is more than just holding a posture, it is about reconnecting with the breath, the body and ultimately the inner self.  
Can’t wait to meet you on the mat!

Callie Farmer

RYT 200 | HOT YOGA | VINYASA FLOW | POWER YOGA

Callie moved to Fayetteville, NC straight out of graduate school where she got her Masters Degree in Studio Art.  Callie has spent much of her life devoted to her creative practice, teaching, family, and her active healthy lifestyle.  In 2019 Farmer started her Yoga Teacher training in the 200 level and had been consistently practicing two years prior to that. Callie loves the connection that yoga creates between the physical, emotional, and mental self.  In her practice, Callie designs her flows to reflect the connection with the self and to strengthen the self in all aspects of life.

Tara Van Geons

RYT 500

Tara Van Geons has been practicing yoga for over twenty years. For Tara, yoga is both a physical and a spiritual practice, and it has been tremendously helpful for her in managing anxiety, depression, and trauma. 

Tara's yoga philosophy is centered on the belief that yoga is accessible for all. The true essence and heart of yoga is, by definition, unity. Unity of the mind, body, and spirit

Tara is known for her gregarious personality and her teaching style truly comes from the heart. "I truly believe in showing up for practice fully embracing this messiness called life. Sometimes our practice calls for laughter and joy, and sometimes our practice calls for healing and tears. It is my intent to show up authentically each and every time for my students." 

Tara is a 500hr Registered Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance (having studied with Hayat Hakim and Yoga Renew).  

Ashley Stone 

RYT 500 | PERSONAL TRAINER | DIETITIAN

Ashley began practicing yoga in 2009 while living in Colorado. At that time, it was the exploration of the body’s physical limitations, that drew her in. 

Four years later she found herself sitting in a 200-hour yoga teacher training, hoping to physically “perfect” the postures. That didn’t happen - and not for lack of effort but rather because, as she quickly learned, that is not the purpose of yoga! She quickly fell in love with the magic of yoga to transform so much more than just the body.

Ashley has since completed various yoga and fitness trainings and holds certifications as a personal trainer and 500-hr RYT.
In Ashley's classes expect to be awakened to your anatomy as her cues focus strongly on encouraging new ways of observing the body. She also loves to use music to invigorate and guide the movements - so be prepared tofeel the music. She finds great joy in spreading her love for yoga through her intelligently sequenced all-levels-welcome classes. So come join Ashley on your mat for a nourishing, supportive, and self-driven experience.

Outside of the studio Ashley is a practicing dietitian who spends her weekends chasing dreams with her husband and 3 little boys.  

Kalei Phree

SOUND HEALING | LIFE COACH

 Kalei Phree, the founder and owner of Phreedom Healing, hashosted retreats throughout the year 2021, partnering with other businesses thatrepresent holistic healing. She holds Cosmic Bliss sound baths twice a monthand frequently travels when booked for a wide variety of events and privatesound healing sessions. Born in Atlanta, Ga and raised in North Carolina by hergrandparents, Kalei began her sound healing journey to find relief from her ownpersonal obstacles, present and past. As she transformed her life by using thevibrations of singing bowls to heal from anxiety disorders and depression, shefound her calling in ability to heal others. In 2019, Kalei Phree officiallybecame a Sound Healer and Self Awareness Life coach, and has since touched hundredsof lives in North Carolina, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia,Texas, South Carolina, Jamaica, and many more through her virtual soundhealings and on social media. Kalei is true inspiration, just being in herpresence is soothing to the soul. Her yoga classes are an inspiring blend ofsound vibrations and movement. Bringing awareness to the community and sharingher knowledge of alternative methods of healing is Kalei’s lifelong passion.With her crystal singing bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, Tingsha Tibetan bells,tuning forks, rain maker, and chimes, Kalei is excited to bring her soundhealing to yoga retreats, local and abroad.

Wendy Merritt

E-RYT200 | RYT 500 | CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER

In 2012, I had a realization that I wanted to know more about yoga.  My years of gym and studio practice, as well as reading about yoga in books, magazines, and online were only taking me so far.  So, when I saw YogaFit happened to be hosting a training close to home, I signed up.  Taking the first weekend training had me hooked!  I wanted to know more and more!  I continued to sign up for a variety of training opportunities over the next year.  Before long, I realized I was well on my way to completing my 200hr requirements.  I completed my 200hr teacher training program with YogaFit in April 2014. I finished my 500hr training in October 2017. I've completed an additional 100 hours of training for Yoga for Athletes to complement my personal training certification.

Now, I'm enjoying yoga more than ever!  Yoga has helped me find peace, strength, and flexibility - in my mind, body, and soul.  It truly has become a part of me and me a part of it!

Each class I facilitate with an attitude that it will be accessible to all who join.  Recognizing that our body's needs are constantly evolving, it's my hope that we can find the variations of any given asana (pose) that will benefit each individual in the moment.

Ashley Clayton

RYT 200 | KUNDALINI YOGA | MAT PILATES

Ashley began her yoga journey in 2005 as a means of recovering from the toll running and other sports had taken on her joints. Soon, the healing benefits extended beyond the physical and she began to experience positive shifts in her emotional energy and overall well-being. This revelation needed to be shared so, when the time was right, she completed her first 200-hour certification with Hayat Hakim in 2016. Forever a student, she slowly began to expand her studies over the next several years, including learning from Hope Petraza with Mat Pilates and Guru Singh and Brett Larkin with Kundalini Yoga. Ashley finds joy in sharing her learning with her students by incorporating various genres in her classes. Her students experience meditation, mindful breathwork, intention setting along with mantra and guided movement during the practice.

When she isn’t teaching or practicing, Ashley stays busy traveling and gardening with her husband, children, and many fur babies.

Michelle Green

PHYSICAL THERAPIST | YOGA INSTRUCTOR

A lifetime lover of movement, Michelle has spent the better part of the last 30 years instructing group fitness and yoga. Her yoga journey has included decades of sampling styles and teaching philosophies at studios across the country which has contributed to the development of her own unique approach. She is formally trained as a physical therapist with a specialty in Neuro rehabilitation where her understanding evolved of how alignment and optimized movement contributes to overall joy in this crazy life we live. Michelle is passionate about helping students find their most true and powerful selves on the mat, to live fuller off the mat. Join her for a playful and dynamically sequenced class. 

David Breece

RYT 200

I started practicing after my mom signed me up for a continuing education class through FTCC as something fun for us to do together. I quickly fell in love after the first class and decided ultimately to pursue teacher certification to deepen my practice. I completed 200HR YTT with Embrace Yoga in Fayetteville in 2018 and have been teaching many variations of vinyasa style yoga ever since. I tend to focus heavily on breath control and fundamentals during my classes and like to offer plenty of variations to allow students to take their practice wherever suits them. Practicing yoga provides me with a level of clarity unlike anything I have come across, and I would like to share that possibility to as many others as I can.

Janea Bilal

THERPEUTIC YOGA TEACHER | RYT 200

Janea is a 200 HR RYT, with a special focus on Therapeutic practices. She's passionate about sharing her own journey, knowledge and love for yoga. Through her teachings, she encourages you to embody your own practice, embrace the present moment and cultivate a sense of inner calm and tranquility. She believes that every person is unique, and her approach is focused on finding the right fit for you, whether you're a seasoned yogi or just beginning. Janea loves teaching a variety of classes from Gentle flow, Relaxing Restorative, Mindful Yin to dynamic energizing Hot Vinyasa. Leave her classes feeling rejuvenated and balanced but also with the knowledge and tools to continue practicing on your own. Her past experiences with anxiety and depression have shown her that mental health and physical well-being are intertwined, and by taking care of our mind, body, and spirit, that we can flourish in every aspect of our life. She believes that every class is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery and that by living with intention, compassion, and commitment, we can support each other and our lives on and off the mat. Join her and restore your nervous system, cultivate balance, grace and harmony for a healthier, happier and more connected you.

Janea has gained experience in others practices like; Mindfulness & Meditation, Chair Yoga, Childrens Yoga, Prenatal, and leading classes in our Military and for our Veterans. Janea is currently pursuing her 300hr YTT and Warriors At Ease certifications, and learning to incorporate sound healing in her practice; When she's not teaching yoga she's a student of yoga, a homeschool teacher/mother to her two children,relaxing on a beach,off exploring on a hike , or enjoying a cup of tea.  

Elise Williams

RYT 200

My name is Elise Williams. I have beenpracticing yoga for over 10 years. After finishing graduate school and movingto Ohio, I decided to pursue my 200hr yoga teacher certification in 2019. Itaught yoga for two years in Ohio, and obtained a certification in yin andrestorative yoga. In 2021, I moved to San Francisco and took a break fromteaching and focus on my personal practice. I recently moved to Sanford to bewith my husband, who is stationed at Fort Bragg. I am very excited to get backinto teaching after taking a brief break. See you in class!

Jennifer Hancock

RYT 200

  After years of dabbling with the physical benefits of yoga, Jen began practicing with intention in2018. Seeking a method of healing from a series of difficult life events and long-ignored trauma,she dove head first into the principles and philosophy of yoga. Through practice she found innerpeace, joy, self-love, passion and purpose. She made the decision to complete her 200RYTtraining with Siddhi Yoga International in 2022 with the hope to spread the knowledge andquality of life she’s found through the practice of yoga with others.Jen believes anyone can achieve holistic health through yoga, no matter where they are in life’sjourney. Her intention is to provide love and healing energy to her students and be a steadyguide as they progress on their individual paths toward their personal goals. Her teaching styleincorporates asana, pranayama, and philosophy into creatively crafted practices to bringstudents peace, clarity, and energetically refresh the body and mind.Outside the studio, Jen loves going to concerts and adventuring with her wife and kids,coaching youth athletics, creating visual art, continued study of yoga and related fields, anddesperately trying to keep plants alive in her garden. She can’t wait to see you on the mat!

Emily Ruth Perry

RYT 200

Emily Ruth Perry found yoga back in 2010 at a cancer support center in Pittsburgh Pa. Over the years she had enjoyed everything from Gentle Yoga to Power Yoga, Vinyasa Flow and Yin Yoga, and much in between.
She started teaching yoga informally at a YMCA in a rural NC community. Then when moving to Fayetteville, she found Embrace Yoga studio. In 2017, she completed her YTT200 and taught at Embrace, along with children’s yoga at Bravery Kids Gym.
Emily Ruth is a wife and mother of two boys, and also works as the Director of Community Life at Veritas Church.
Yoga has been a wonderful part of her mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health, and she also enjoys walking, running, and hiking.

Johnathan Patterson

RYT 200

Yoga is my passion. I found out first through a gym class. I've always been active, so it was a beautiful gift to discover a practice of mindful movement mixed with spirituality.

 On my journey I began to explore different types of yoga, starting with Bikram, Vinyasa, and Kundalini for about 7 years, until I finally took my first yoga teacher training in Bali with the sacred fig school, a month long intensive that changed my life. After I came back to Boston, and worked with Karma Yoga studio and Gym as well as Harvard Design School. 

I remain a student first, continually refreshing my knowledge by taking new courses, listening to podcasts or reading about yoga and meditation.  It is my hope in my classes that people feel challenged physically but also gain hope and inspiration to move in life as their best selves both on and off the mat.

Joyce Raymond

Certified Yoga Teacher 200 hr

Joyce has been guiding group fitness classes since 2017 and finds joy in witnessing her students' achievements and personal growth. Her journey into fitness began as an adult, and she soon discovered yoga as a transformative tool to navigate life’s waves with grace and balance.What started as a way to complement her fitness routine evolved into a deep exploration of the connection between body, mind, and spirit. With a decade of dedicated practice, and having navigated a brief hiatus for back surgery in 2022, Joyce has found yoga to be a profound source of inner peace and balance.In May 2024, she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Living Balance Studios, fulfilling a long-time aspiration to deepen her practice. Joyce is eager to share her passion for yoga and help others find their own path to harmony and self-discovery on the mat.  

Chelsey Peters

Certified Yoga Teacher 200 hr

Chelsey was first introduced to yoga as a child in 1999 while accompanying her Nana to weekly yoga classes, but her personal practice didn't begin until 2017. From 2019 through 2022, Chelsey had to take a pause from yoga. During this time, she noticed the physical, mental, and emotional affects along with the feeling of being in constant fight or flight from not having yoga in her daily life. Her personal practice started again in 2023 and shortly after she began her 200hr YTT with Living Balance Studios. Having graduated in May 2024, she has offered her time guiding apprenticeship classes at Living Balance Studios, focused on self love, gratitude for all our body does for us, and feeling our strength while calming our minds. When she's not on her mat, you can find Chelsey in her salon suite, or cuddled up with a good book and her pup Hera, or kayaking on the lake.   

Ivory Rose

Certified Yoga Teacher | Holistic Health Coach

Ivory Rose is a dedicated advocate for holistic health and wellness. She earned her 200hr Yoga Certification under the guidance of Catherine Ashton at Younique Yoga in 2014, and her Health Coach Certification through Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2020. She specializes in Vinyasa Yoga, a style of yoga that is practiced linking conscious breath with fluid movement. Beyond physical fitness and nutrition, Ivory believes in the importance of cultivating a balanced lifestyle. Her approach integrates personalized yoga instruction with health coaching to empower individuals to achieve their wellness goals. Through her teachings, Ivory Rose is committed to promoting mindfulness, stress management, and overall well-being.

Justine Hanway

Certified Yoga Teacher 200hr

My yoga story began in Bend Oregon where I grew up a wild child in the mountains. I started going to yoga classes with friends for fun and to supplement athletics. Ever since then I have found a profound grounding and peace that I wish to carry with me throughout life. Following that calling I trained to teach yoga with Living Balance Studios in 2024 so that I could share with others. I want to hold space for everyone to fall into themselves with love, compassion and true curiosity.

I currently serve as an active member of the US Army. I have 3+ years of experience in the coffee industry and I consider myself a DIY pro. I love being outside. From forest and mountains to the ocean, that is where I feel at home. When I am not on my mat I am usually creating or adventuring. 

My favorite classes to teach are come-back-to-yourself classes. I love guiding a gentle and intentional restorative class with grounding breathwork where you can come into deeper alignment with yourself.

My hope for my students is that they will grow. We all have different bodies, I have had 3 knee surgeries, and I want to provide an experience where you come to know yourself; what feels good for you and what does not. Come as you are, I would be honored to have you in my class!

Carolyne Zapf

Having been an athlete my whole life, I’ve always loved exploring different ways to stay active and challenge my body. Yoga, for me, is the perfect blend of physicality and mindfulness—it’s where my breath meets my movement and my mind finds its calm.  

Outside of teaching, I’m likely making sourdough, playing beach volleyball, weightlifting, diving into a good book, or making up --yet another-- song about my dog. I find joy in the little things and believe that embracing what brings us happiness is key to overall well-being.

Yoga is a powerful tool for cultivating balance, releasing stress, and reconnecting with ourselves. I’m excited to share this practice with others and help them find their own sense of harmony—both on and off the mat.