I cannot say that I "found" yoga at a particular age or stage of life, because it feels so much more like yoga found me.

My passion for movement began at childhood. I led an active lifestyle through competitive gymnastics, recreational sports, and vigorous hiking expeditions. As a young adult, I developed an insatiable interest in all things philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, the abstract, and the esoteric. It was at this time that I began a personal meditation practice. For years I traveled extensively on a quest to understand more of the world, more of myself, and more of the relationship between the two. At different times, periods, and junctures of my personal growth and spiritual development, "yoga" appeared. In buildings, in books, in travels, and in conversations, "yoga" appeared. One by one, the stars aligned as if to say, "Here it is."

Yoga quickly revealed itself to me as the missing link between my body, my mind, and my soul. In my search to learn, I went to India. I studied in the city of Rishikesh, the birthplace of yoga. Nestled along the Ganges river at the foothills of the Himalayas, the scenery only reflected the light that I came to know inside myself, the same infinite light that resides within each of us and every moment we inhabit.

Through yoga, I've found that there is more to life and there is more to me. There's something brilliant, something ineffable, something intrinsically greater in the whole than in the individual pieces combined. As a teacher and a human being, I aim to help us all reconnect to it in some small way.

Shiv Om,

K

Sapha 500RYT is a yoga and meditation instructor as well as a writer, feminine embodiment relationship mentor, and all around lover of all things nerdy. She has been teaching for over 12 years and is strongly focused on the anatomical and bio-mechanical movement of her students' bodies so as to keep them safe, strong, and aware.

Her teachings revolve around the belief that in order to access creative change and powerful healing, one must first learn to ground down and open up- a paradigm that has lead her through many years of study and self-discovery, and which brings a unique voice and quality to each of her teachings.

Sapha is a firm believer in the importance of continual education and is constantly growing her knowledge of yoga, meditation, somatics, physiology, psychology, and much more. Her mission is to help people to develop and harness the tools they need to help them heal from the inside out by allowing them to truly get to know who they are and teaching them how to remain present to every moment so they can release, open, and create a life that is filled with joy, purpose, and peace.

Joseph Biache has been a certified RYT-200 yoga instructor since 2011 when he completed his training through the Asheville School of Yoga. Joseph began teaching yoga in Nashville, before journeying to Denver to teach for the next 4 1/2 years. During this time out West, Joseph began teaching in many different contexts - from yoga studios, gyms, and martial arts academies to retirement facilities, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. After moving from Denver in 2018, Joseph spent the next two years working throughout northeastern Ohio and Michigan, as well as his home state of Tennessee.

Joseph enjoys his work with the young, the elderly and everything in between. From the athletic to the arthritic, Joseph's passion to share yoga with others is evident in his classes. A graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School, Joseph has a Masters degree in theological studies and draws practical teaching points from both his formal education, as well as his lifelong dedication to independent learning, personal development, and transformation.

In 2015 Joseph became a certified practitioner of Human Interaction Technology through the Human Communications Institute. Since that time, he has been working as a motivational speaker - leading discussion groups, movement and motivation classes, and writing workshops.

Joseph welcomes beginners to his class, as well as all those wishing to expand and deepen their yoga practice. His down-to-earth approach makes yoga accessible and understandable for each student. His classes are fun and challenging, thought-provoking, and stress-reducing.

Hiiii! I’m Tina.  I’ve been teaching yoga since 2019, but movement has been part of my life long before that. I come from an athletic background and I know what it’s like to push, perform, and power through. I also know what it feels like to burn out, disconnect from your body, and realize that “doing more” isn’t always the answer.

Yoga found me during a season when my body needed listening, not fixing. What started as a physical practice quickly became a way to rebuild trust, strength, and presence, without losing my edge. That experience deeply shapes how I teach.

My classes blend Vinyasa style, mobility, and restorative work. I bring an athlete’s understanding of strength and structure, paired with a deep respect for recovery, nervous system balance, and sustainable movement. I care about how movement feels in real bodies, especially bodies that are tired, overworked, or carrying a lot.

I value discipline and devotion, but also softness, humor, and humanity. You won’t be pushed to perform or disappear into the background here. You’ll be invited to move honestly, build confidence, and meet yourself where you are.

Some days my classes are strong and energizing, other days slower and grounding. Most days, they’re a mix of both. My goal is simple, that you leave feeling more connected to your body, more capable in yourself, and a little more at home in your life.

Off the mat, I’m usually enjoying long walks or hiking with my husband and our dog, Guinness, traveling, reading, baking, or creating something just for the joy of it.

Hi guys! I am thinking of each of you with so much love. My heart is so full as I write this.

My mom introduced me to yoga in high school when my anxiety and depression was at an all-time high. As I grew, I began to realize that it offered so much more than just physical health. Yoga became a gateway to personal growth- helping me cultivate strength, flexibility, and fearlessness, in all aspects of life. I continued to practice on and off throughout the years, at home and around town with my daughter, Gracie.

In 2014, my husband Toy was involved in a catastrophic accident that changed the whole trajectory of our lives. It was at this time my love for yoga came back with a transformative power. I was learning so much about the body, the spinal cord, and the ways we can heal ourselves. Yoga became a vital part of my life as it helped me navigate the emotional and physical demands of his caregiving.

In 2024 I became a graduate of Lotus Rising’s first 200 hour teacher training. Now, I get to hold space as a teacher for beautiful people weekly. I am so, so excited! My hope is that I can help you cultivate mindfulness and find freedom in your bodies, enabling them to better serve you each time you leave my class. I hope to help you find some peace and kindness to take into this world. We can all be a little more kind. Remember: You are whole. You are worthy. You are loved. You are beautiful. 

Shanti Shanti Shanti, Peace Peace Peace

I teach yoga as a way to spread love and kindness in my community.

As a mom to a child with special needs, I’ve learned to see the world from different perspectives. My teaching style is what I call “friendly flow.” I’m not here for fancy handstands or intimidating poses—I’d rather guide students through creative, nature-inspired imagery that makes meditation and movement feel accessible and enjoyable. Stress management tools and body-positive affirmations often weave into my classes, and my neurodivergent personality adds a little (or a lot of) quirkiness too!

I began practicing yoga in the early 2010s, when long hours at a computer and a go-go-go mindset took a toll on my health. Through my 20s and 30s, yoga became an on-and-off companion, until I found a true yoga home at Lotus Rising. In 2025, I completed my 200-hour YTT certificate and was grateful to join the Lotus Rising teaching team.

My hope is to offer an inclusive, adaptive, and lighthearted practice where every mind and body feels at home. Come just as you are, even if that means wearing work clothes and borrowing a mat at the studio. I look forward to seeing you there!

Years ago as a very busy mom of 4 kids, 1 found myself craving yoga in all different forms, unaware of the reason why. Year after year I would find myself always returning to the mat, guilty of not doing high impact exercises...

I craved yoga. I realized that I desperately needed to slow down and to feel connection with myself, and yoga allowed me slivers of that connection even when I was unaware of it happening. I have always been drawn to yoga and was in a crossroads of life when Lotus Rising offered their first YTT. I knew I had to jump on the opportunity to learn more! It was during that time I understood why I had gone back to the mat year after year. I rarely gave myself time and permission to calm, meditate, breathe, and connect to myself. I finally understood why I loved it so much; and I want to help others give themselves the permission to slow down, feel calm, be present, and connect to themselves.

Yoga has been a guiding light for me; a reminder of the strength, clarity, and peace within. I’m so excited to share this beautiful practice with you!

After joining the corporate world and starting to see extrinsic success climbing the ladder, I assumed happiness and fulfillment would come along with it. Instead, I found myself living with an ‘I’ll be happy when…’ mentality that was only leading to anxiety, stress, and burnout. In 2015, I discovered yoga as a way to destress while building strength and flexibility. As my practice evolved, trivial problems were put into greater context and I was reunited with a deeper part of myself that always brought me back to love and truth. I was also seeing parallels between areas I studied years ago (cognitive science, philosophy, consciousness) and what I was experiencing in yoga. Curious and eager to put all the pieces together, in 2025, I completed my 200-hour teacher training with Lotus Rising.

My wish is to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable exploring their own truth. I’ve found that some seasons of life require more strength and movement, while others require a subtle softness, or inward melting. Whatever the season or style of yoga, through presence, meditation, breathwork, and education, I invite everyone to rekindle a relationship with themselves, and learn the deepest most sacred parts of their soul.

Looking forward to joining you on the journey!

Hi! My name is Penny Green.

I’m a native of Columbia, Tennessee. I became a nurse and a wife in 1994, then a CRNA and a mother in 1998. For most of my professional and home life, I’ve been rushing, perfecting, achieving—chasing the American Dream.

But sometimes life shifts overnight, and you suddenly realize that what mattered yesterday doesn’t matter in the same way today.

One day, while sitting in a doctor’s office, I saw a photo of a 90-year-old woman resting easily and confidently in Scale Pose. That single image sparked my yoga journey. I took my first class soon after, and I was instantly hooked. I hadn’t realized how long I’d been holding my breath or how stiff I had become—I could barely sit on the ground. I knew then that yoga needed to become a priority in my life.

Thankfully, I found Lotus Rising in 2021. Four years later, I’m completing my 200-hour teacher training and truly grateful for the path that brought me here.

I’m deeply thankful to be a yoga teacher, and I hope to always be a student. Yoga has taught me to breathe, to slow down, to walk barefoot, and—most importantly—to embrace life and the people in it. I try to honor what my body needs each day: sometimes that looks like a steady vinyasa flow, other days it’s gentle movement or quiet meditation. What matters most to me is that yoga holds no rush and no demand for perfection—it’s simply an invitation to be present in my body.

Right now, I’m especially passionate about teaching yoga to beginners, to older adults, and even to my grandson—he loves Down Dog. :)

When I’m not practicing or teaching yoga, I work as a CRNA and spend time with my family.

Yoga first found me in 2021 during a season of change. I was looking for something fun to fill my time when I first walked into Lotus Rising Yoga, which quickly became more than a hobby. It became a practice that taught me to slow down, breathe fully, and reconnect with myself.

Since then, yoga has become a steady presence in my life. While my practice hasn’t always been consistent, it has been enduring, supporting me physically and emotionally, helping me build strength, stability, and mobility. At the same time, breathwork became an essential tool for managing stress. Yoga reminded me that movement is a gift, one we often take for granted, and that stillness can be just as powerful.

In 2025, I completed my 200-hour teacher training with Lotus Rising Yoga. The experience deepened my appreciation for yoga, not just as a movement practice, but as a mindset. This is one of the reasons I love yoga so deeply and feel honored to teach in the space where my journey began. My teaching focuses on grounding, mobility, and self-awareness, blending strength with softness and challenge with compassion. I aim to help students reconnect with their bodies and leave feeling more attuned with themselves.