REBECCA GALLA-JONES
Hive Owner and Yoga Teacher
Yoga has been a part of my life for over two decades now. I wandered into my first yoga class in the summer of 2000 and there was just something about it that made me feel good and that is still the case today, even after all these years. Being able to share the practice means everything.
After completing a 200-hour YTT certification in 2004 I began teaching straight away. Teaching and practicing have remained a constant in my life ever since. Each year has offered me the ability to learn more and give more which has also included training new teachers. In 2020 I updated my teaching credentials and completed another training to add a 500 hour advanced certification.
We often hear that the practice of Yoga is meant to meet us where we are and I certainly find that to be true.The thing is to just show up or unroll your mat and see what happens.
From my classes you can expect to find an uplifting message woven into the overall format. I enjoy teaching all levels and am comfortable guiding students though a rewarding and sustainable practice. Laughter is a big part of my teaching and I use it often to help create a lighthearted and playful atmosphere.
The Yoga Hive opened to share yoga and all that it does for us. It is delightful to have the opportunity to create a community based on well-being and acceptance. Come be a part of The Hive because life is complicated enough and yoga doesn't have to be. You Belong Here.
Kathy Koher
Yoga Teacher + Studio Manager
Kathy began practicing yoga in March of 2002. She came to yoga because of an ankle injury that led to some severe back problems. Her friends kept telling her yoga would heal what ailed her. Kathy fell in love with Ashtanga after her first practice. Having been an athlete her whole life, she was initially drawn to the physical aspect of yoga. Over time, she realized that there was so much more to this practice than the physical. There was this indescribable lightness she felt after practice; this was her introduction to the spiritual side of yoga which also led her to also develop a daily meditation and pranayama practice. She found what she didn't even know she was looking for. Yoga is a lifelong process.
Each day Kathy rolls out her mat she does her best with whatever she has to offer that day. She has learned over the years to practice acceptance with the ups and downs both on and off her mat. Growth is a constant, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually, as long as she remains open to it. Kathy hopes as a teacher she can pass on the same joy and peace she has found in her practice. She also hopes to show people that with a daily commitment to yourself and the practice, the possibilities are endless.
Kathy is also a health and wellness coach. She helps busy people create sustainable habits so they can stress less, find more energy, and make their health a priority without feeling guilty or selfish. Kathy Koher Wellness
Chelsea Blackstock
Yoga Teacher
Chelsea Blackstock discovered yoga in college after many injuries, both physically and mentally. Coming back to her mat time and time again, she found that she was able to heal both her body and her soul during times of hard transition. She completed her 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training in 2017.
She strives to make yoga accessible to as many people as possible and believes that moving your body can help you find bliss. When she’s not teaching or practicing, Chelsea spends her time working in social and digital marketing, and takes every opportunity to enjoy a good cup of coffee, snuggle with her pup, or read a good book.
Susan Duffell
Yoga Teacher
Susan was born and raised in the Lakeside District of the Atlanta Metro area. She began dancing at an early age in a studio just around the corner from The Yoga Hive at Toco Hill. It was a natural progression for her to start practicing yoga in her mid-twenties; although, she did not have a consistent practice until 2016 when she discovered that yoga is so much more than the physical postures (asanas).
Susan developed an interest in teaching yoga during her work as a psychotherapist at an outpatient addiction treatment facility. She wanted to be able to offer patients a somatic form of therapy along with traditional psychotherapy. Susan first became certified in Y12SR (Yoga of 12 Step Recovery) in 2016. Shortly thereafter, in 2017, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification in Integrative Flow. In 2018, after being inspired during a Yin Yoga class, Susan became certified in Yin Yoga began her journey toward her 300-hour certification with Pranakriya School of Yoga Healing Arts. Susan completed this in 2020, thereby reaching her 500-hour Yoga Alliance teacher certification.
By integrating her caring and compassionate nature with her attention to alignment and the body in space, Susan welcomes the beginning student and those wishing to refine their practice. She teaches from an attitude of lightheartedness and spontaneity – as each one of us changes from moment to moment, so too will the flow in each of her classes. With a strong belief in the healing nature of yoga, Susan guides students to believe in and trust themselves. She encourages students to try new things without judgement and to laugh while doing so. When not teaching, you will most likely see Susan in a yoga class as she has experienced the value of daily practice in her own life, both physically, spiritually, and therapeutically.
Rebekah Gilliam
Pilates Teacher
Rebekah is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Psychology and an Ed.S in Counseling. She is currently an elementary school counselor by day and Pilates instructor by night/weekend. She studied ballet for 15 years and became a certified group exercise instructor through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America during college.
After recurring lower back pain finally became unbearable, Rebekah sought out physical therapy, which happened to incorporate STOTT PILATES exercises. She loved the attention to detail and the results she got from this approach--being able to move again and live life without chronic pain was priceless! Rebekah was inspired to do her STOTT PILATES training in mat and reformer so that she could teach the approach to people of all abilities, whether they are brand new to Pilates or have been doing it for years.
Rebekah loves teaching and brings humor, laughter, and empathy to her clients and classes. You will have fun while feeling encouraged and empowered in your body. Many clients keep returning for her vivid imagery, varied exercises, and her supportive personality...and maybe a few jazz hands thrown in for good measure!
Sarah Soltan
Team Member
Sarah started practicing yoga at the age of eighteen, and since then, her practice has evolved into something she relies on daily. From quelling aches as a result of sitting at her desk or calming the mental storms, yoga has given her the gift of a peace and spirituality that she didn't expect to discover when she started.
She received her second 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2019 and loves Yin yoga for its focus on the mind-body connection along with the slowness it allows for in a world that is in high-gear almost 24/7. Sarah draws on her love of nature and yogic philosophies when teaching and practicing, and she loves to infuse her yoga with music and themes from all over the world that celebrate different cultures, approaches to life, and her own Arabic heritage. Though Sarah is not currently teaching classes, she tends to our website and you can find her around the studio nurturing her practice on her mat with us.
Outside of yoga, Sarah is a lifelong gamer and artist. She has her degree in game development from SCAD and dreams of contributing her art to a game that will inspire and promote the healing of others and the earth.
Jasmine Bradfield
Yoga Teacher
I am a certified yoga instructor, doula, and student midwife. Influenced by my teachers, students, and environment, for the last decade, I have dedicated my lifestyle to yoga and birthwork. I aim to guide others through their own. I bring my eclectic style to the traditional benefits of meditation, asana, and pranayama to the rhythm of hypnotic beats.
Michaela Osehobo
Yoga Teacher
Hello there! My name is Michaela Osehobo. I am a Mental Health Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher. I focus on the mind-body connection, as it is not uncommon to see psychological stress manifest physically. The practice of yoga is not only physical; it helps us turn inwards to understand the self in new ways. I practice and teach yoga as an additional tool for self-care and to navigate the process of recovery from life’s stressors. I utilize vinyasa, gentle, and restorative yoga modalities, alongside person-centered, strengths-based, and cognitive-behavioral therapy modalities in my mental health practice to help my clients discover their inner truth and become the best version of themselves.
Sabrina Isdell
Yoga Teacher
As a high school biology teacher, I first discovered yoga in 2008 looking for a way to de-stress and relax from the work day. Yoga taught me how to calm my mind through the power of the breath. Practicing the asanas with proper body alignment gave me strength and flexibility that I had never experienced before in any other movement-based practice. Regular yoga practice became my outlet for not only settling my mind and strengthening my body, but spiritually I felt lighter and more comfortable in my own skin. This body awareness opened the door to being more self-aware which has had a positive impact on how I interact and connect with other people. The more I practice, the more I am able to translate these lessons off the mat, allowing me to be more open-minded and grounded, more receptive and patient, and grateful for the gift of life experience.
As a yoga teacher, I will uphold the honor and respect for the excellent teachers I have had in the past as well as the teachings found in ancient yoga texts through the eight limbs. I promise to teach with honesty and integrity and guide my students safely on their own journey. My first teacher told me that if you can breathe, then you can practice yoga. I am compassionate about respecting and meeting my students where they are and in each of my classes I will invite students to use the practice as a way to investigate their body and mind with a main focus on the breath in a light-hearted way. Each time my students step on their mats, I will hold space for their self discovery and self-acceptance so that they can find peace within themselves. As a teacher this is one of the most beautiful reasons why I enjoy sharing this ancient art with my students.
I obtained my RYT200 yoga teacher certification in 2014 from Emme Yoga in Stockbridge, GA where I taught alignment-focused Hatha yoga and flow classes. From 2016-2020, I practiced the Ashtanga yoga method under the direction of Marsha McNeight and Kathy Koher and subsequently completed a second RYT200 yoga teacher certification in the Ashtanga method from Balance Yoga in 2019. From 2016-2022, I taught vinyasa flow and heated flow classes at Southern Lotus yoga in McDonough, GA.
My current yoga practice consists of a power flow heated vinyasa, meditation, pranayama, and chanting of the Yoga Sutras. I enjoy teaching students who are new to the practice and I also enjoy teaching students who want to learn vinyasa flow or are curious about vinyasa flow classes. Off the mat, you might find me at a music concert with my husband, camping or hiking, baking sweet vegan treats, or collecting vinyl records. I have a true passion for learning and consider myself a lifelong student. As a teacher by profession, I get super excited to share new things that I have discovered and I am elated and honored to be able to share the gift of yoga with my future students.
Naomie Gutekunst
Yoga Teacher
Naomie is a 200 HR YTT Atlanta native teaching vinyasa, yin, and prenatal yoga. In addition, Naomie is Reiki 1 attuned and is training to become a certified birth and post partum doula.
She found yoga in a time when she needed a lot of healing after spending more than half her life as a competitive swimmer. Her yoga practice brought her in touch with her divine feminine (something she realized she was very removed from as an athlete). It taught her how to slow down and be introspective. As she heals everyday she is able to align more with her true spiritual self.
Naomie’s personal practice and teaching is strongly influenced by Rocket, Tantra Yoga, and flexibility training. She uses creative sequencing and music in her class to help her students come into their bodies and focus on the present moment. Before teaching yoga, Naomie was a middle school science teacher in Los Angeles.
Liudmila Wilhelm
Yoga Teacher + Pilates Instructor
I discovered yoga in early childhood, and it remained near and dear to my heart, even though I have not practiced it seriously for many years. It came into my life not from a studio (they did not exist at that time where I grew up), not from a TV screen or a YouTube channel, but from a book I found in my dad’s library. Lotus pose became my favorite TV-watching or self-reflection position and a wheel was a fun way to stretch after sitting down. However, it was not until many years later when the whirlwind of life somewhat settled down to allow me more time for myself that I was able to join a studio and discover how much more yoga can bring into one’s life.
At that point I knew that I needed to share this transformative experience with others and help them with their journey of self-discovery. I finished my YTT 200 in August 2022 and began teaching vinyasa power flow right away. There isn’t a type of yoga that I do not like, and I really enjoy teaching different variations of vinyasa flow from beginner to advanced. Thus, adding pilates to my training repertoire felt natural and empowering. While different in intensity and origins, both pilates and yoga bring out the best in me in their own ways.
My inspiration for classes comes from studying yoga philosophy, anatomical sequencing, and rules of alignment. My classes are focused on compassion, inclusion, and empowerment to discover the balance of body and mind and find internal harmony.
Jabria Parker
Yoga Teacher
During a period of profound healing and self-reconnection, I, like many, discovered the profound solace and transformative power of yoga. Through this sacred practice, I uncovered a deep union of mind, body, and spirit—an unexplored realm of harmony and authenticity. My intention is to extend this knowledge to fellow seekers on their personal journeys of self-discovery, through the power of music, asanas, mindfulness, poetry, and insights drawn from my own life experiences.
Yoga became a space of deep healing and introspection with the Divine that inspired me to complete my 200 Yoga Certification in Mal Pais, Costa Rica with the School of Yoga Institute in July of 2023, igniting a fire within me to share this transformative journey with others.
Kathleen Prengaman
Yoga Teacher
Kathleen has always had an interest in self-awareness practices and what it means to know oneself. When she discovered yoga asana, she was excited to learn a new way to be in her body, and even more curious about the teachings of yoga philosophy centering around union by integrating mind, body, and spirit. This curiosity led her on an ever-unfolding journey to get acquainted with the infinite nature of consciousness and inspired her to share byway of teaching. She received her 200 HR YTT in 2020 and has continued education training in yin, restorative, and trauma-informed yoga. Kathleen loves self-expression through somatic movement. In a class with her you can expect creative transitions, self-inquiry, and encouragement to follow your intuitive urges.
Danielle Jones
Yoga Teacher
Danielle Marie Jones (she/her) is a weaver of somatic, liberatory and Earth-based practices. She has been practicing yoga since 2014 and in 2019 completed 300hrs of yoga teacher training from the Bhakti Yoga Movement Center in Portland, OR. She believes yoga to be a powerful pathway towards regulating our body systems and reimagining beliefs, practices, and cultures that center equity and healing. Danielle loves teaching yoga foundation, restorative, and slow flow classes. She uses a trauma-informed approach when teaching and often infuses curiosity and play into her offerings.
Danielle hails from Little Rock, AR and moved to Decatur in winter 2023 with her partner Courtney after nine years in Portland, OR. When she is not teaching yoga she works in the environmental justice field, as a process facilitator and curriculum designer. Her two cats Xena and Bagheera provide an abundance of fuzzy love, and when the world feels overwhelming she finds solace on her mat, in the garden, and watching her favorite KDramas.
You can learn more about Danielle on her website, or check out her modest library of meditations on Insight Timer.