Teachers

Tina Starkey

Tina Starkey is a dynamic yoga teacher with a passion for helping students grow as they flow.

Her love of yoga began in 2012, after discovering yoga as a way to support her physical fitness, specifically distance running. With continued practice, she learned that yoga was so much deeper than the physical asanas! It helped her balance mind and body while juggling a fast-paced career and an active lifestyle. She found the practice to be a powerful tool for grounding, resilience, and presence on and off the mat. In 2024, she completed her RYT-200 certification at Lucky Elephant Yoga & Wellness, and began teaching intermediate level and hot power yoga classes at studios in Apex and Raleigh. Her teaching is focused on empowering participants to be their own best guide, by teaching the “why” behind the postures and breathing practices.

Originally from Maryland, Tina moved to the Triangle in 2019 with her husband, Scott, and their son, Max. They now live in Apex with their mischievous lab-shepherd mix, Finn. Off the mat, you might find Tina listening to a podcast or audiobook, tinkering in her garden, obsessing over creating the perfect playlist, or searching for tickets to her next concert or show.

In Tina’s classes, you can expect to explore strength, flexibility, and mind-body connection, all while finding joy in movement. She teaches with warmth, clarity, and a passion for connection, and hopes students leave feeling supported and eager to come back for more!

Frank Lech

After 4 years in the Marine Corps and a career in strength and conditioning, Frank was already in excellent shape but completely unsatisfied with his strength and appearance – constantly chasing the next milestone. He relied on his physical appearance as the primary source of his self-worth. Yoga finally shifted this perspective, and in 2015 he completed his RYT-200 yoga teacher training with Susan Jackson, of InnerLight Yoga School, in Cary. 

He often says: exercise can help you move better, look better, and feel stronger. Yoga helps you become more content with who you already are.

You hear it all the time in yoga that “it’s not about the pose,” but for Frank, actually achieving many of the goals he thought would bring happiness (physically, professionally, and socially) was what finally made him realize these things alone could not provide it.

“I teach to introduce people to the world of yoga and to show there’s another way to navigate life besides constant grind. My classes are designed to help students pursue physical improvement without losing themselves in the process, and to challenge themselves appropriately while also learning to appreciate where they already are.”

Julie Franklin

Julie teaches yoga in a space where your authentic self is welcomed and all students can experience the benefits of yoga.  Her classes incorporate a thoughtful music selection to energize and motivate, and she teaches with a focus on safe alignment, light hands-on assists and a deep connection to breath.  Julie is a runner, rower and former competitive swimmer, with an appreciation for cross-training and the balance yoga provides.

Her yoga credentials include RYT-200 Hour (Republic of Yoga, Cary NC), RYT-300 Hour (Republic of Yoga, Cary NC) and RYT-200 Hour under Richard Freeman in Ashtanga Yoga (The Yoga Workshop, Boulder CO).  Julie began her study of yoga in New York in 2002, where she owned and operated two yoga studios, teaching a combination of traditional Ashtanga and Vinyasa style yoga classes. Julie has obtained experience through additional study at numerous workshops, training with teachers in San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto, Boulder, Washington, DC, including Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, founder of Ashtanga yoga in NYC. 

All ages and experience levels are invited to challenge themselves in a peaceful and inspiring environment.

Laura Vanatta

Laura’s interest in yoga began at the age of nine. Originally from Colorado, she carries a special appreciation for the connection to nature and integrated life philosophy that yoga provides. Her classes provide students with a deeper awareness and understanding of the physical and its interwovenness with all aspects of our being, emotionally, energetically, mentally and spiritually. Her interests in the physical manifestations of stress, trauma, grief and injury deepened during the decade she spent working and teaching yoga abroad. These experiences lead her to further study the therapeutic applications of yoga and to found Balanced Yoga.

Yoga helps us move towards balance in each moment of our lives, which looks different for everyone. It is her intent to help students find the practices that best serve them as they reconnect with inner strength, joy, and peace. She teaches many styles including gentle, yin, restorative, slow flow, hatha, power, vinyasa, ashtanga, and yoga nidra.  Her classes are founded on mindful connection, and incorporate somatic movement, mudra, pranayama, mantra and meditation as we reconnect with our wholeness.

She is a forever student who is grateful to have studied and trained under many lineages. At 16, she began formal yogic studies in the traditional means of one-on-one guidance under her first influential teacher, spending two years as an apprentice of a hybrid Ashtanga-Power Vinyasa approach tailored to the individual. She has been teaching yoga since 2007, and is registered as E-RYT 500, YACEP, Pain Care Aware provider, and currently a Yoga Therapist in training.

Cora-Ann started practicing Yoga occasionally just for fun, thinking that it was just mainly a way to recover from workouts and move, but it evolved into a more consistent and deeper practice for her when healing from injuries and back pain. Since then, Yoga has become a way to be more in tune with her body and mind, strengthening and challenging her both physically and mentally. As a teacher, Cora-Ann aims to create a welcoming atmosphere where you can explore all the facets of Yoga, in both an informative and playful way. As a movement professional with a Masters degree in Exercise Science and a background in Personal Training, she loves how Yoga can be an integral part of a holistic approach to fitness and health. Her classes are alignment focused and will always have lots of options for all skill levels. 

Wanting to truly understand the transformative and philosophical aspects of yoga, she enrolled in her 200-hour immersion teacher training in Raleigh, NC with Blue Lotus, finishing in 2019. She then completed her 300-hour teaching training at The Yoga Connection in Smithfield, NC in 2022. She loves that yoga offers endless opportunities to learn and live more intentionally, as well as connect spiritually. Originally from New Jersey, Cora-Ann met her husband in Indiana, and they moved to North Carolina together in 2017. They have a young daughter, 3 cats, and enjoy fitness, health, music, and going to concerts together. 

Susan Kluger

Susan’s first experience on the yoga mat was more than 25-years ago. She was juggling motherhood with a stressful legal career in Washington, DC. 

As a competitive athlete, she was skeptical when a work colleague dragged her along to an all-levels class. it seriously looked dull. They were barely moving. Yet, once she “caught on,” learning to link her breath with slow intentional movements, Susan began feeling more physically energized, emotionally relaxed and mentally settled. Although she continued to run, weight train and play sports, when time was tight, Susan opted for the yoga mat.

In 2011, Susan took time off work and immersed herself in a month-long residential teacher training at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in her home State of Massachusetts. Susan wanted to learn the “why.” Why did this ancient practice make her feel so good and help her respond more calmly when life felt like it was spiraling out of control?

Surrounded by a loving community and many master teachers, Susan learned how our physical, breath (energetic), mental, and emotional bodies are interconnected. So excited to spread the word, Susan began teaching at a local studio. When she and her family relocated to Cary in 2012, Susan continued teaching in heated and unheated spaces.

Her craving for more knowledge led her back to Kripalu many times. In addition to an advanced 300-hour teacher certification, Susan earned a 300-hour certification in Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science of healthy living. 

Knowing that yoga and its benefits are accessible to everyone, Susan wanted to learn how to address the needs of students with common injuries, conditions or diseases.

After retiring from practicing law in 2023, Susan enrolled in Kripalu’s School for Integrative Yoga Therapy. She graduated in 2024 with another 300-hour advanced certification in therapeutic yoga.

You will find Susan’s slow flow style challenging, but adaptable for all levels. To break habitual patterns, both physical and mental, Susan offers variety. She often offers themed classes, drawing from yoga philosophy and ayurvedic balancing principles. Susan uses clear language, physical modeling and light hands-on adjustments during class.

With her many years of training in various yoga disciplines, Susan is available for one-on-one sessions. Susan loves working with individuals new to yoga or in need of special attention.

John Barnes

Since 2013, I have immersed myself in the world of fitness and movement, training under various industry-leading coaches while working remotely as a Civil Engineer. This journey has gradually led me to become a full-time movement and fitness trainer.

In 2019, while living in Hawaii, I started teaching my own classes and training a diverse client base. This included:

I’m looking forward to bringing my passions for Handstands, Soft Acrobatics, and Daoist-inspired practices to Soulful Strength! These classes might sound intimidating, but there is always a doable progression to make the class approachable for everyone.

• Private sessions and group classes for handstands for all ages and abilities.
• Private sessions for seniors ranging from 50-80 years old for strength and mobility.
• General strength training classes.
• Working as a Physical Therapy Aid implementing rehabilitation programs prescribed by the Physical Therapist.
• Learning and practicing Daoist cultivation practices since 2019. 
• Gained my Master of Science in Medical QiGong in January 2025. 

Jodi Avila

Jodi has been practicing yoga for 20 years and completed her first 200HR YTT certification in 2018, along with her Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) coaching and SUP yoga instruction certifications.  She has taught paddleboard yoga in both Florida and St. Louis, MO. 

Jodi moved to North Carolina in 2022 and completed her second 200HR YTT in 2024.  She has practiced many styles of yoga including Vinyasa flow, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Yin and Restorative.  Having trained with industry leader, Bernie Clark, one of her favorite styles to teach is Yin yoga.  She also has advanced training in myo-fascial release techniques for yoga and is currently working on her 500HR certification with Carolina Yoga Company.

When not on her mat, you can find her either on a paddleboard or hiking with her two precious Weimaraners, Vivienne and Atlas.

Yeong Chang

I graduated with double degree in Electrical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Boston University.  I worked as an Electrical Engineer for 7 years, but became very stressed because I realized that the engineering work did not bring me joy, but only stress.  By chance, after taking a yoga class in 2001, I realized that this was my path.  I completed my 200 Hr training in the Ashtanga tradition in 2001 in Massachusetts, before opening a studio in the small town of North Brookfield.

I became more curious about human body and movement, and in its ability of healing. I enrolled in a massage therapy program in 2004, completing 820+ Hr program at Bancroft School of Massage Therapy.  I attended numerous workshops in both yoga and massage therapy fields over the years, gaining understandings in human anatomy and physiology.  

I moved to North Carolina in 2014 because of my spouse’s job change.  It was a difficult time for me because I had to leave behind a community that I deeply cared for and who gave me much love and encouragement.  I was fortunate to be able to open another studio in Cary, NC in 2014.  I became very happy to be able to serve the community again with what I’ve learned to help them help themselves.

I worked in various settings with diverse group of clients, in studios, homes, churches, companies, and health clubs for yoga and massage therapy.  Until Covid.  I became grief stricken when I had to stop working and close my studios.  I became unwell and it took many years to heal myself with unconditional love from my family, friends and my students.  I am grateful to Alexis and Frank for giving me the opportunity to share yoga again.  

My teaching focuses on each students needs, and offering what could help them to feel better.  I give clear and concise instructions in restorative to vigorous yoga classes.  I guide my students with care with emphasis in breath work and body awareness.  I am grateful to have received much love and support from my students in North Carolina.  Thank you!  See you soon in class!

Zoey Kreuter

Zoey came to yoga through her love of running as a way to remain injury free. She was amazed to discover that not only did she notice improvements in flexibility and mobility but also gains in strength, balance and mental focus. The dream of one day obtaining a yoga teaching certification began to take shape.

2020 allowed her the time to obtain her first 200 YTT certification through Online Yoga School with Steph Ball-Mitchell. She then completed an in-studio 200 YTT certification at Republic of Yoga under the instruction of Nicole Nichols. She also holds a certification in Kids Yoga from Lucky Elephant.

Zoey teaches a flow-based yoga style that matches breath with movement while focusing on strength and alignment. She encourages students to be curious, cultivating the courage to explore new levels of possibility in body and mind. Her passion is to build a supportive space and sense of community through the practice of yoga both on and off the mat. Her motto – Life is short. Be Kind. Have Fun!