Instructors

Scotta Brady, E-RYT 500 is a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher who began her formal yoga studies in 1996 after graduating from Auburn University with a B.A. in Philosophy. Blessed with the opportunity to study with many inspiring teachers around the world, she is full of immense gratitude for and admiration of each one. She is especially grateful to Anusara Yoga founder John Friend, who has been the greatest influence on her personal transformation and transition from law school student to full-time yoga student and teacher.

Tara Blumenthal, RYT, says that going upside down for the first time in yoga was like "traveling to Narnia and back. Time stood still and I can't recall what exactly went through my head, but it certainly gave me a new perspective." Tara has come a long way since her initial introduction to yoga five years ago. Working through a number of physical limitations has been at times very challenging -- but also very rewarding. "I had no idea that I had scoliosis until I came to yoga...and the joints in my body were hyper-flexible, but the muscles themselves were extremely tight and very weak.

Chris Timmins started practicing yoga in the spring of 2005 in search of a physical workout that also challenged his mind and spirit. After a few months of effort and some excellent teaching and encouragement by the staff at Butterfly Yoga, Chris began to realize the transformative nature of Anusara yoga. He never looked back. Today he teaches yoga, passing along the wisdom and encouragement that have been so helpful to him, both on the mat and off. Chris has completed a 200-hour Anusara Yoga Teacher Training course with Scotta Brady, founder of Butterfly Yoga.

Katie happened upon a yoga studio near her apartment in Birmingham just as the stresses of starting law school began to overwhelm her life. She found that her weekly practice was a great release from both the physical and mental pressures of being a student. After graduation, Katie moved to Jackson and was immediately welcomed by the Butterfly Yoga community. Finding that she had much more time to devote to yoga than she had during school, Katie decided to take part in the teacher training program under Scotta's direction at Butterfly.

Deirdra is a wearer of many (silly) hats, but her yoga practice keeps her balanced as she juggles writing, web design, activism and art. She completed her first teacher training program in 2006, and developed her playful, exuberant style teaching Vinyasa classes. A perpetual student, Deirdra began attending classes at Butterfly Yoga to broaden her perspective. She soon fell in love with the "open-hearted, geeky precision" of Anusara Yoga, particularly its philosophy of intrinsic goodness and worth regardless of size or ability.

Kristina Kelly, RYT, loves what she does. Her life changed several years ago when she began to practice yoga regularly and realized that the direction of her life was not as it should be.

"I honestly believe it was yoga that helped me see my job was killing me (literally) and my family life. So I made big changes and I am so much happier for it." Kristina not only teaches yoga classes at Butterfly Yoga, but is also the bellydancing instructor.

"I knew after my first Anusara yoga class that this was for me," says Ronni Mott. "I hate exercise for the sake of exercise, but Anusara combines the best of a good work out with the balance, grace and concentration of dance. Plus, there's a spiritual and philosophical aspect to yoga that I haven't found with anything else. My practice grounds and sustains me."

Kimberly Purnell, RYT 200, has been an avid student at Butterfly Yoga since 2005, recently completing Scotta Brady's Anusara Immersion and Teacher Training. She credits Butterfly's heart-oriented teachers with having inspired her to follow yoga down an ever deepening path. Originally led to yoga in 2001 by the need for therapy after sustaining a back injury, she soon realized yoga's even greater potential to go beyond healing the physical body to healing our emotional and spiritual bodies.

Jaclyn is a yoga teacher having completed an Anusara Yoga Immersion Series and currently enrolled in a Yoga Alliance accredited 200 hr. teacher training program with experience teaching in the Jackson yoga community. She grew up in Ohio and came to Jackson as a mechanical engineer. Her zest for the life affirming drew her deeper into an existing yoga practice and to teaching. She loves to open the gift of yoga to her students and let them explore the rich connection between their minds, bodies, and spirits.

Dennis Holmes is a practitioner of Chinese medicine and a Tai Chi instructor. We welcome him to Butterfly Yoga.

Ivory "Magia" Harris directs the Capoeira Angola Besouro group in Mississippi. Ivory Harris is a graduate of Tougaloo College where he majored and obtained a degree in philosophy and religion. He is a member of JPD and has served as a Conservation Officer for the State Of MS and Youth Coordinator for MS Families As Allies.

Matthew is a sixth generation instructor of traditional Lung Shou Pai (Dragon Claw Style) Chinese kung fu. His experience includes self defense training, empty hand fighting techniques and forms, animal styles, and nearly a dozen classical weapons. After attaining a black sash ranking under Sifu Trey Crake and Sigung Norman Pedalahore, Matthew spent three years as an assistant instructor at the Academy of Kung Fu in Ridgeland. He now teaches with the blessings of his martial lineage.