Meet Your Practitioner
Caroline Munday – Co-Founder
CEEMP, RMT, CQTP
Offering Reiki, Eden Energy Medicine, Quantum-Touch®, Intuitive Healer, and Energy Medicine Dance. To schedule a private appointment call Caroline at (865) 274-8640.
Hometown
I grew up in Aurora, MO and have lived in Knoxville since 1985.
Who was I in my previous life?
I was a book broker and before that I was a loan processor and in the real estate world.
Why did I start teaching classes?
It lights up my radiant circuits! It is my second passion (my first passion is healing)! I have such fun teaching others the tools I have learned from my own life’s experiences to become happy, healthy and joyously alive!
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
A big heart and a loving and compassionate desire to guide and assist others in their journey towards wholeness.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
It makes me happy! I love being in community with all the lovely people who work here and those who come in for a class and/or a session. What an honor and blessing it is to be in such a beautiful place!
A fun fact about me?
I am a twin…so, there is another Caroline running around Knoxville!
Gina Michelle Baker – Co-Founder
LMT, RYT
Offering Massage Therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, Myofascial Therapy, Intuitive Healer, Yoga and Meditation. To schedule a private appointment call Gina at (865) 789-3535.
Hometown
Born in Corbin, KY, grew up in London, KY, Now in Knoxville, TN.
Who was I in a previous life?
I was a bank teller, administrative assistant, and aerobics instructor.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
What a wonderful way to share with others the joy of self-discovery and feeling good in their bodies.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
Believing in the deeper philosophical aspects of the practice of various healing modalities and using my abilities to help many others to discovery their true essence of who they are.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
It helps me lighten up and be my authentic self.
A fun fact about me?
I love spending time outdoors hiking with friends, family and chasing rainbows.
Betty Kalister
RYT
Offering Yoga and Pranayama. To schedule a private appointment click Appointments or email Betty.
Hometown
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Who was I in my previous life?
I worked as a business systems analyst, customizing and installing software in the medical field.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
I was in a yoga class where the teacher picked lint out of her toes while in a forward fold and I thought, the students around me were not getting as much from yoga as they could be getting.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda Yoga Center?
I love the alignment of yoga and how amazing you feel when things fall into place. I love to watch my student’s faces and see when my instructions move them into a position where they feel this amazing bliss.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
I love the people there. Can you imagine the joy of going into work everyday at a place where everyone is amazing?
A fun fact about me?
I’m addicted to ancestry.com. It’s like a big jigsaw puzzle, but with relatives.
What’s my training?
I first started practicing yoga in 1981 and I’ve taught for 7 years. I am a certified RYT(Registered Yoga Teacher) through Asheville Yoga Center at Clearspring Yoga in Chattanooga. I have additional training from alignment based teachers including Rodney Yee(200hrs), Roger Cole, Doug Keller, Ellise Miller, Judith Lasitor, Mary Paffard, Dr. Baxter Bell, Martin Kirk, Dean Learner.
Judson Nichols
RYT
Offering Yoga and Meditation Classes.
Hometown
I grew up in Franklin, Tennessee.
Who was I in my previous life?
In my other half of my life, I’m a self-employed computer programmer. Last century, I got as far as a Master’s degree in English literature from the University of Georgia. (I also have a BS in Psychology from Tennessee Tech!)
Why did I start teaching yoga?
I’ve long felt a vocation to teach — to work with others to become more self-aware. When I realized that teaching college English wasn’t my path after all, I turned toward teaching yoga. I feel that yoga has a lot to offer, and I get great joy in communicating those gifts to my students.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda Yoga Center?
I try to let others speak to that. Whatever my students take from me or find in me, I am happy with. As students, we all need a different teacher from time to time. As a teacher, I’m fortunate enough to have students who are feeling called toward me and my classes right now.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
My favorite thing about Aravinda is how much of a community it is — how willing students are to introduce themselves to each other and to get to know each other. It’s a beautiful thing to see my students making friends.
A fun fact about me?
I love my wife and my three cats. I’m a night owl; you’ll rarely see me before noon. And I’m something of a singularitarian, but not the kind you might think.
What’s my training?
I have my RYT from Stephanie Keach at Asheville Yoga Center.
Wayne Stagg
RYT
Offering Yoga Classes
Hometown
I was born in Nashville, TN and have lived in Knoxville since coming to UT in 1966.
Who was I in my previous life?
Worked as an Audio-Visual Specialist at UT’s College of Veterinary Medicine and am now retired.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
I experienced both the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of Yoga in my first encounter (at age 62) with my teacher, Hari Bajhan Kaur. When she moved to Florida she asked me to teach her classes. I have continued practice and training and have been teaching for about seven years.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
Above all, a sense of wonder and gratitude. Every class is an opening into the greater dimension of our being, offering the opportunity to experience the benefits of Yoga and meditation right-here-and-right-now.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
Everything says ‘welcome.’ I mean the space itself with its clean light, as well as the genuine warmth of the staff and teachers.
A fun fact about me?
I’m an amateur musician and play bass in a swing band, an Americana quartet, occasionally in Kundalini Kirtan with Ajeet Kaur Khalsa; and I love to ‘jam’ playing jazz standards.
What’s my training?
I have my RYT from Kelly Golden’s program at Glowing Body.
Nicole Fey
KRI, HHC
Offering Kundalini Yoga and Nutritional Counseling. To schedule a private consultation contact Nicole at (865) 548-8208.
Hometown
Morristown, NJ.
Who was I in my previous life?
A teen-age hippie, then a serious accountant, then a personal trainer, then an adult hippie, then a spa manager, then a sales & marketing executive.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
My Kundalini Yoga practice cured a life-long depression and anxiety disorder. I want to give the tools of Kundalini yoga to people so they can heal.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
A deep passion for the miraculous healing power of food.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
The high vibration of the place and the people at Aravinda is a testament to the purity of its intention to be a center for healing and inner expansion.
A fun fact about me?
I moved to Knoxville from New Jersey on a whim.
Kelly Crenshaw
RYT
Offering Tween Yoga and Yoga. To schedule a private appointment call Kelly at (865) 898-2877.
Hometown
I grew up in Wytheville Virginia and have lived in Knoxville since 1989.
Who was I in my previous life?
I was a visual/store environment supervisor at JCPenney.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
To bring the joy and balance of yoga to others.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
I enjoy sharing yoga with people of all ages. I also teach tween classes, and love to see how yoga helps them navigate through their teenage years.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
I love the feeling of calm and belonging you feel when you enter.
A fun fact about me?
I enjoy hiking, and being outdoors. I love spending time with my husband, four children, and five cats! My favorite place to be is the beach with my family!
What’s my training?
I have my RYT from Kelly Golden’s program at Glowing Body.
John Blackburn
Offering Meditation Classes
Hometown
Johnson City, Tennessee
Who was I in my previous life?
An English teacher, a designer of training programs for industry, a coordinator of non-credit courses, a mushroom farmer.
Why did I start teaching?
To share with others what has been life-changing for me.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
Curiosity. Though I have practiced meditation for nearly forty years, I feel I am still learning.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
The energy and enthusiasm of the teachers.
A fun fact about me?
In my retirement I read to elementary school children, volunteer with hospice, and serve on the board of directors of Southern Dharma Retreat Center.
What’s my training?
I have studied with teachers in the Zen, Shambala, Dzogchen, and Vipassana (Insight Meditation) traditions. I also practice yoga and Reiki.
Coral Turner
Offering Introduction to Gyrotonic® classes. To schedule a private Gyrotonic® appointment call Coral at (865) 548-8208.
Hometown
Grew up in Knoxville, left at 16 and moved back 16 years later.
Who was I in my previous life?
I have had many jobs that were art related.
Why did I start teaching classes?
Gyrotonic® has been an amazing tool for me to help avoid neck and back issues that I am prone to due to my scoliosis. I began teaching to try and provide for others the benefits that I have had for myself.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
I like helping people.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
The founders/owners and the space/house.
A fun fact about me?
I have a Bachelor of Fine Art in Sculpture and a Master of Fine Art in Fibers.
Sarah Crook
LMT, RYT
Offering Yoga Classes and Massage. To schedule a private appointment contact Sarah at (865) 806-7476.
Hometown
Born and raised in Knoxville, TN.
Who was I in my previous life?
Free-spirited psychology student and a health food store junkie.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
Encouragement from the people around me and inspiration from my teachers led me to step into my fear of teaching and offer the art and discipline of yoga. Practicing and teaching yoga has helped me cultivate more awareness and balance in my own life, and I want to offer this gift to the people around.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
When you step into my yoga class or treatment room for massage, I will meet you where you are on your path, honoring you and your intentions. With support of encouragement and accountability, I will offer what I have learned through self-study and experience to help you refine your goals and intentions towards better health. Together we can gain more awareness and wisdom.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
It is so sweet and nurturing. I feel the sweetness when I walk into the space, and I feel it when I am interacting with all the people that walk into the space.
A fun fact about me?
I love to travel! If I am not teaching yoga or giving a massage, I am most likely on the road…and often times to share the gifts of yoga and massage. I love to travel to see good music, visit new beautiful places, especially the mountains, and meet new smiling faces. I feel most free and alive when I am traveling.
What’s my training?
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Neighborhood Yoga in Boone, NC. 700-hour massage certificate from Asheville School of Massage and Yoga. Massage Therapy License through the State of Tennessee # 9074.
Linda Pickett
Offering Tai Chi Classes
Hometown
I grew up in Clarksville, TN and have live in Knoxville since 1971.
Who was I in my previous life?
I was a social worker in the child welfare system for 31 years.
Why did I start teaching tai chi?
To bring the peace and calm to others that tai chi gave to me. I also enjoy seeing the light go on when a student realizes they understand a move correctly.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
The joy of interacting and sharing with others.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
The people and feeling of tranquility in the physical space.
A fun fact about me?
My husband and I frequently teach together. We refer to these classes and other outings as “Bill and Linda’s excellent adventure”.
Bill Pickett
Offering Tai Chi
Hometown
I grew up in Stantonville, TN a small town in West TN. Moved to Oak Ridge in 1968 and then to Knoxville in 1975.
Who was I in my previous life?
I worked in the computer field in Oak Ridge at the Y-12 plant for 41 years.
Why did I start teaching Tai Chi?
I have been a teacher in both the university and private industry settings for the last 30 years and when I started doing tai chi I just knew some day I would teach.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
My excitement about sharing tai chi with others.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
The feeling of good energy when I first walked in.
A fun fact about me?
I like to garden and grow vegetables – especially greens.
Laura Bower
Offering Yoga Classes
Hometown
I’m an indigenous Knoxvillian.
Who was I in my previous life?
I’m currently living a double life – public relations/social media professional during the week and yogini on the weekends.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
Because I couldn’t find a power yoga class on the West Side. I enjoy the group dynamic and the studio community.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda Yoga Center?
Empathy for aging athletes and wounded warriors who have found their way to yoga at last. Abiding faith that life’s journey has meaning. Compassion for fellow practitioners who risk failure in order to grow.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
It’s a beautiful space filled with love and light.
A fun fact about me?
My car’s name is Joan Jetta.
Janel Harrell
LMT, RYT
Offering Yoga Classes and Massage.
Hometown
My hometown is New Tripoli PA.
Who was I in my previous life?
My lives run pretty concurrently. I am a deep tissue massage therapist, energy worker, painter, and writer.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
I started teaching yoga because I wanted to help other people experience the profound effects it could have on their lives as I’ve had it affect mine
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
I bring lots of humor and compassion.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
I love the light at Aravinda, the glow that suffuses the place is so warm and welcoming.
A fun fact about me?
I was born in Cuba.
What’s my training?
I’ve been practicing yoga for 15 years. I have my RYT200 from the Glowing Body Teacher Training.
David Morgan
Kripalu Certification
Offering Yoga Classes
Hometown
Powell, TN.
Who was I in my previous life?
Court jester, nomad, three-toed sloth, Sufi poet, sea otter, your mama. All at the same time.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
Initially, it was to earn a few bucks while sharing my love of yoga with others. I’m coming back to teaching after an accidental pilgrimage of sorts to keep challenging myself in my own practice, and also to help hold myself accountable for living a healthier lifestyle based on love of self and other. That, and because people keep asking me when I’m going to teach again. It’s time!
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda Yoga Center?
An irreverent, joyful, no-nonsense, edgy, nonjudgmental, reality-based approach to yoga and life.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
Being a former yoga studio owner, my favorite thing about Aravinda is I can teach without running the business! But seriously, the practice space just feels right, and it is attracting the kind of people I like to be around.
A fun fact about me?
The first time I did yoga nearly 20 years ago, I thought it was absolutely the most absurd thing I’d ever done and certainly never imagined it would become the way I stay out of my head and engaged with life. Plus it turned out to help with surfing and meeting amazing people.
What’s my training?
The best yoga training I’ve had comes straight out of life experience, namely pain, love, fear, faith, egotism, patience, and courage. I am a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher with over 1,500 hours of teaching experience. The Kripalu Yoga approach emphasizes nonjudgmental self awareness, which includes finding the right energetic alignment for your own body rather than arbitrary rules for how a pose is supposed to look. I have assisted in the training of 100 or more Kripalu Yoga Teachers, and my own hatha yoga teacher training program is modeled after the Kripalu approach.
DeeDee Ginder
YogaWorks Certification
Offering Yoga Fusion reiki and Feng Shui consulting. To schedule a private appointment, call DeeDee at (901) 262-7905
Hometown
Born in Corpus Christi, TX, grew up in Sodus Pt., NY, and now in Knoxville, TN.
Who was I in my previous life?
Stay at home Mom, Pampered Chef Kitchen Consultant, with odd jobs in retail occasionally along the way.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
To help empower others to feel connected — mind, body, & spirit.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda Yoga Center?
Healing knowledge, intuition, and an eye for adjusting alignment within the body’s structure for increased strength and stability and health.
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
Taking classes with the other teachers.
A fun fact about me?
I look younger than I am….
What’s my training?
200 Hour Teacher Trained by YogaWorks in 2008, been practicing yoga since 2000. My teaching style is more classic Iyengar and Ashtanga. My ISHTA training is the core basis of work for me with aligning structure. I teach each student from where they are at personally in their journey on the mat.
Irina Diyankova
RYT
Offering Yoga Classes
Hometown
Chelyabinsk, Russia. I was born and raised in Russia. I came to the US in 2001 and have been living in the country since. I moved to Knoxville in 2008.
Who was I in my previous life?
All of my previous lives have been associated with psychotherapy. I started practicing psychology in Moscow, Russia in 1994. I am still psychotherapist, now in private practice both in Knoxville and Oak Ridge. You can learn more about me at www.dr-irina.com
Why did I start teaching?
I loved how yoga made me feel. I also credit my personal yoga practice for multiple growths and transformations I underwent since my first yoga class in 2001. In addition, working in the mental health field I noticed how much our minds and bodies affect each other. So I wanted to give my clients some additional holistic tools to use in their personal healing.
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda?
Openness to new things, as well as a different perspective. After all, I am an implant both in the US and Knoxville
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
I am new to Aravinda, but I definitely love the space and its energy.
A fun fact about me?
I have multiple hobbies, some of them go away quickly, and others stay for a long time. My longest one is writing (have been doing it since 15 or so); my newest one is ballroom dancing (have been doing it with my husband since February 2011).
What’s my training?
My formal yoga teacher training has been with Kaoverii Weber, founder of Subtle Yoga, in Asheville, NC. Before that I studied with multiple yoga teachers throughout the US. My first yoga workshop was in Des Moines, IA. I also took classes and workshops in Austin, TX, San Francisco, CA, Hilton Head Island, SC, and Asheville, NC among other places.
Rachel Tuck
RYT
Offering Yoga Classes particular to your needs.
To schedule a private appointment contact Rachel at 865.237.9432.
Hometown
Knoxville, TN
Who was I in my previous life?
A college student studying our natural environment, as well as a rock climber, and a wanderer.
Why did I start teaching yoga?
I started teaching yoga after finally finding an outlet for my heart. For me, practicing yoga gives me great nourishment… it’s a time to stop, reflect, be grateful, and replenish. I want to create a space for others to explore, breath, and give back to themselves!
What special quality do I bring to Aravinda Yoga Center?
An inviting and accepting outlook; we are all in this together, Let’s celebrate and be present!
My favorite thing about Aravinda?
It is a warm, heart-felt, and welcoming center for our community.
A fun fact about me?
I’ve traveled the world, climbed and hiked in amazing places, and experienced different cultures; from all of this I have learned that Life is what I make of it. Happiness is a product of my determination, and that home really is in the head and your heart! Namaste.
Barbara Rector
TN State Registered, Certified Reflexologist
Offering Reflexology sessions
Home town
I was born in Syracuse, NY but spent most of my childhood in a small town just northwest of Albany, NY.
Who was I in my previous life?
I have undergraduate degrees in Invertebrate Zoology & Earth Sciences and a Masters degree in Oceanography. Over the years I have worked as an environmental technician on an oceanographic research vessel, been an environmental regulator for the state of TN, and an environmental consultant for a few private companies. My last eight years of steady employment were with an elementary school where I ran a hands on science center for children in K – 4th grade.
Why did I start doing Reflexology?
My journey into Reflexology started with my love of Reiki. I met a wonderful Reiki master named Dana who peaked my interest in the field. She referred me to one of her Master students, Caroline Munday who I began my study under. After years of sharing reiki with friends & family I decided to “open shop” and expand my practice to the world. I loved working with the energy and seeing how it helped my clients. During several sessions I became aware at how naturally drawn I was to the energy of people’s feet. One thing led to another and I enrolled in Reflexology school to become a certified registered Reflexologist.
What Special Quality do I bring to Aravinda?
A deep desire to work with people who are invested in helping themselves come back to balance through the modalities offered in healing centers such as Aravinda. Added a good sense of humor, lots of passion and compassion.
Favorite thing about Aravinda?
I love stepping into the welcoming energy and grace of the home to the wonderful people of Aravinda. It just makes one step back, take a breath and relax.
Fun Fact about me?
Being outside in nature completes me. I have in my life time ridden a bicycle many thousands of miles, sailed, canoed, kayaked, rock climbed, hiked, swam hundred of miles, speed skated, curled (kind of like shuffle board on ice), downhill, water & cross country skied, played most team sports and walked miles on stilts. I also like to create things.
What is my training?
I graduated with a 4.0 from Healthflex School of Reflexology and am a Certified, Registered Reflexologist with the State of Tennessee and a member in good standing with the Tennessee Reflexology Association. I have taken additional training with Master Ko Tan from Atlanta, GA. In addition, I am an advanced Reiki practitioner (third level) under the Usui Shiki Ryoho System.
