2025 TEACHERS
Pendora L.
Pendora Lundy is a Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor and Sound Healer who brings holistic healing through yoga and sound baths. Specializing in chakra-focused yoga, she guides participants through practices that align and balance the body’s energy centers—promoting emotional release, mental clarity, and physical well-being. With a commitment to creating safe, supportive spaces, Pendora blends her knowledge of trauma informed care with holistic practices to empower others on their wellness journey.
Christa C.
Christa C. is a local yoga teacher in the RDU area. As a yoga teacher and therapist, she enjoys helping people experience the practices of yoga in a way that is accessible and empowering. She likes to teach others how to embrace yoga in ways that promote health in well-being both on and off the yoga mat. As a teacher, she hopes to foster loving-kindness, curiosity, and presence to all those who come to a yoga practice.
Marla H.
Marla Dobbs Hawkins has been practicing yoga for 13 years and teaching for 5 years after completing 200 hour training and trauma informed yoga certification. As an arts educator and mental health counselor in training, she connects the physical practice of yoga with mindfulness and expressive arts. She has taught yoga workshops with the North Carolina Museum of Art, The NC Association of Arts Educators, with high school students and staff, and with other community groups. She teaches gentle Hatha style yoga and asana that is inclusive of all body types, abilities and ages. She owns Cultivate Creative Cafe, an arts and wellness focused tea gathering space in Durham NC.
Jaime W.
Jaime completed her RYT200 hour yoga teacher training in March 2018 at Asura Yoga Academy (RYS) in Cary, NC. She studied under Jennie Wise, E-RYT500, YACEP Specialty in Yoga Psychology, and Master of Health Science (MHS). Jaime completed her RYT300 hour Mindful Muse Advanced Yoga Teacher Training in September 2019. She studies under her Guru and mentor, Dharma Richards from Yoga Garden School of Yoga (RYS) in Apex, NC. She is recognized as a Yoga Warriors International Teacher. Jaime is a Usui/Tibetan Holy Fire®III Karuna Reiki® Master Teacher, and studies with Deborah Dixon of Subtle Wellness in Durham, NC. She is a member with the International Center for Reiki Training. She recently studied under Nikki Meyers and is a trained Y12SR Peer Support Guide for Yoga and 12-step recovery. She completed her Level 1 Kundalini Teacher Training in August 2024 under Keval Kaur Khalsa.
marlin r.
Practicing asanas for over 10 years, Marlins yoga journey heightened when he began to meditate and practice stillness during 2020. During this time mindfulness was critical to his wellbeing and yoga was his outlet. Fast forward 4 years he completed his 200 Hour YTT after moving to Durham, NC from Detroit, MI. Today his wellness philosophy is “listen to your body, the body tells you everything you need to know”.
sarah C.
Dr. Sarah Cavrak is a cognitive scientist, yoga teacher, reiki master, and environmental activist. She has spent the last 25 years studying human cognition, behavior, and spirituality through both psychological and yogic lenses, and completed her PhD and 200-hour Hatha yoga teacher certification in 2013. She has been teaching public yoga classes, workshops, and leading international retreats ever since. Her classes are a playful blend of detailed alignment, mindful stretch, and gentle reflection. When Sarah isn’t moving around on her yoga mat, you can find her playing amongst the sand and the waves with her joyful pup, Moonstar.
Samario k.
Samario King is a North Carolina native that became interested in Yoga more than a decade ago. He initially became interested in the community aspect of Yoga and the physical benefits that it offers. Eventually he saw the holistic and spiritual progress he was making and wanted to spread this to the rest of the community. He became certified in Power Yoga in 2019 and began using it for workouts and movement. He visited Egypt in 2019 and became fascinated with the yoga poses he saw on the walls of the Valley of the Kings and received a second certification in Kemetic Yoga in 2022. Today his focus is on using these yoga tools to elevate the physical, mental and spiritual state of our community.
victoria M.
Victoria Ward-Moody is an E-RYT200 & RYT500 certified yoga instructor, and the owner of Victorious Yoga. With over 11 years in the health and wellness industry Victoria specializes in Christ centered yoga, Prana Vinyasa, Kids & Family Yoga, and Holistic Wellness coaching. Victoria is a wife and mother of three. Outside of raising her young family and running a small business, Victoria is also a professionally trained actress. Whether guiding fellow yogis or transforming into a character Victoria enjoys connecting with others on a spiritual level. “Everyone deserves to feel seen, heard and valued. As a storyteller and wellness guide I hope to uplift and empower others to be a light in this world and fervently pursue God’s will for their lives.” To find out more about Victoria’s uplifting practices go to www.victoriousyoga.com
Mars B.
Mars, a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), meditation guide, and Reiki Master, offers transformative experiences designed to bring peace and healing. Mars also serves as a corporate facilitator, bringing mindfulness and balance into the workplace. Join Mars on Sunday at 5:00 PM at the Bull City Yoga Festival studio in Durham, NC, via Zoom for meditation sessions tailored to elevate your spirit and calm your mind.
mike w.
Mike R. is a certified yoga instructor and mental health/wellness professional currently based in the Raleigh-Durham area. He is passionate about increasing the representation of black men in mental health, education, and yoga, as well as improving health outcomes for people of color. He highlights the relationship between mental and physical health, with his yoga practice integrating mindfulness, breathwork, mobility, and functional strength. In addition to offering pop-up classes, he also hosts a monthly Men’s yoga class, cultivating a safe space for men to be introduced to and explore yoga. For more information on future classes and other community events, follow him on Instagram: MindfulMysteray
Laura p.
Laura Phoenix (she/they) is passionate about helping people tap into the body’s role in how we feel and how we heal. As the founder of Warrior Pose Yoga & Healing, Laura has guided thousands of people to discover new ways of feeling better, safer, and more able to grow alongside the trauma they carry. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), certified yoga teacher, and healing professional for more than 10 years, she emphatically welcomes humans of all shapes, races, and genders to her practice. In addition to her deep professional experience, Laura is also an abuse and trauma survivor who trusts in healing yoga and bodywork to guide herself forward. Personally, she comes to this work as a cis, queer, white, able-bodied, neurodivergent human – honored to hold space and learn from the diverse perspectives of the folks she serves. Rooted in Durham, NC, Laura finds caring for others in a difficult world to be powerful and beautiful.
shonda a.
Shonda, an esteemed wellness luminary, blending grace and purpose in every breath. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology as her foundation, she has embarked on a transformative journey through yoga and wellness. It led her to the serene shores of Santa Barbara, CA, where she completed her first yoga teacher training, igniting her passion for holistic well-being. From teaching classes in the vibrant streets of LA to the serene landscapes of Virginia, she continues to adorn countless lives with her teachings, seamlessly blending her academia with the spiritual wisdom of yoga. As a 250-hour certified yoga instructor, her classes transcend mere physical practice, becoming sacred spaces for self-discovery and empowerment. As a devoted mother, she embodies balance, nurturing her family while inspiring countless souls on their wellness odysseys. Beyond the mat, she is a visionary entrepreneur, curating immersive workshops and transformative yoga classes, nurturing community and connection.