Dr. Raelynn Deaton Haynes - Owner and Manager, Yoga (Ashtanga, Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Rocket, Yin) & Pilates Teacher (Mat levels I, II, III)

Raelynn is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. She is trained to teach Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, Hot Yoga, Rocket Yoga (progressive ashtanga) & mat Pilates Levels I, II and III. In addition, she has training in Yoga Assisting and Adjusting, and Yoga Massage. She holds both a masters and PhD (Biology and Zoology) and has taught in academia for over 12 years. Before purchasing Willow Gardens Yoga Studio, she left her full time academic position to pursue her yoga and nutrition career, to explore her entrepreneurial spirit and start a juice company (JUL- JuiceULove). She holds adjunct faculty status at Texas State University in San Marcos, does yoga therapy with memory care patients and teens, and is a holistic health consultant.

As a former athlete, her practice centers on power, alignment, and the mind-body connection. She began practicing yoga seriously nearly 12 years ago as she transitioned from running and weight training. She has had a serious yoga practicer since, and loves all forms of yoga, meditation and mindfulness. She received her 200 hour training from Black Swan Yoga, her Ashtanga training from David Swenson through Yoga Yoga, her Hot Yoga training from Ashley Chandler, and her Pilates training from the Pilates Sports Center out of California [with Pilates South Austin].

A native of Eastern Kentucky, and resident of Buda, she integrates yoga into her life and into her college classroom as much as possible. Her motto is to live life to its fullest, while trying to maintain balance and overall health (through diet, exercise and meditation). She believes that yoga should be accessible to everyone and every body, and works within the community through various avenues to make this possible. See more HERE in Rae’s Photo Gallery.

Tara Poenie - Yoga (Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin) & Pilates Teacher (Mat level I, II, III, Reformer, Chair, Barrels, Cadillac). Yoga Therapist

Tara has an extensive movement background, which began with her love of gymnastics and running. Just after college, she discovered yoga as a way to complement and expand her own evolution. Tara is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) with the International Association of Yoga Therapy. She is also a Yoga Teacher at the E-RYT 500 level. She will complete her Comprehensive Pilates certification through Balanced Body in the spring of 2020. Her own practice continues to evolve, unfold, uplift, and inspire. Tara’s heart-felt intention is to share this healing practice with her students on their path of self-discovery. Her sessions are fluid, creative, and soothing. See more HERE in Tara’s photo gallery.

Christine De La Torre - Yoga Teacher (Vinyasa, Power, Yin)

Christine began her journey with yoga when she was in high school, practicing Bikram. As Christine went on to college she lost her practice, but when she moved to Austin in 2011 she found her practice again and has not stopped since. She completed her 200 hour RYT certified training with Black Swan Yoga and is now a proud Buda resident. Christine’s teaching philosophy is centered around making yoga accessible for all by focusing on having fun and offering modifications throughout class. Christine hopes to share her love of yoga with each of her students. Off her mat, you can find Christine cooking, crafting malas, and getting outside with her dog. Or in the classroom where she is a high school chemistry teacher! See more HERE in Christine’s photo gallery.

Stacy Clayton - Yoga (Hot-26) & Pilates Teacher (Mat Level I, II, III)

Yoga changed Stacy’s life and she believes it can change yours too! In 2016, after several knee surgeries rendered her stiff, inflexible and in chronic pain, she began searching for a new way to challenge my mind and body. At the age of 52, she took my first hot yoga class and she have never looked back. In 2018, she took another leap of faith and travelled to Boulder to earn a Bikram styled hot yoga certificate with Esak Garcia. She enjoyed teaching and sharing my passion for yoga so much, she embarked on another journey under Jeanette Lewis and will complete an additional 200-hour hot yoga certification in December 2019. To round out her repertoire, she is also now a certified Pilates instructor. When she am not teaching in the studio, she work as a dental hygienist in Buda and has formed a 20 year bond with the Kyle-Buda-San Marcos community. She also loves to travel, entertain friends and spend time with her husband and three adult children who are ALL (!!) in college and or law school. Soon, she will be the proud Mom to an attorney, a chemist and a wildlife conservationist. See more HERE in Stacy’s photo gallery.

Note from Stacy: I want to encourage EVERYONE to try yoga. I am a living, walking, breathing testimony to the healing benefits of yoga and to the fact that ANY person, no matter the body type, level of flexibility or age can reap the enduring and life changing benefits of a dedicated yoga practice offers. No one ever regrets practicing yoga, only never trying!!

Belle Stewart - Yoga Teacher (Vinyasa, Yin, Power)

Belle has been practicing yoga since 2016. She has practiced Vinyasa, Hatha, Hot, Yin, Power, Restorative, Ashtanga, Power and Iyengar. She received her 200hr Yoga Teacher Certification - Vinyasa Track from Yoga Yoga in August of 2018. Belle has practiced yoga in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, California, Texas And North Carolina. She enjoys experiencing the incorporation of yoga in her daily life, whether it be through prayer, meditation, asana, pranayama or simply listening to and respecting herself and others. See more HERE in Belle’s photo gallery.

Megan Okonsky - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin)

Megan fell in love with yoga in college as a tool for cultivating mindfulness and a more positive relationship between her body and mind. She discovered she wanted to share that love while traveling through Europe and teaching classes to fellow backpackers. After getting her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2017 (with Raelynn and Christine!) she traveled the world for two years teaching at hostels and working at a yoga retreat in Sydney, Australia. Now she is back in her favorite city and excited to share her love of this practice with the wonderful community at Willow Gardens. See more HERE in Megan’s Photogallery.

David Collins - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa), Meditation Facilitator, Support Staff

David started his practice about 7 years ago, realizing that weight training did little for his balance and coordination. He found himself looking for a solution and dropped in to a yoga class and has been practicing ever since. Wanting to further his knowledge and help others. David took a 200 hour yoga alliance vinyasa flow training.

Come check out a flow class or a guided meditation!

Janine Kudelka - Yoga (Hatha, Vinyasa) & Pilates Teacher, Personal Trainer

Janine moved to Austin in 1998 to attend UT and received her Bachelors in Kinesiology in 2001. She is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and Peak Pilates Mat Instructor specializing in post-rehab work with clients who have had knee, hip and shoulder injuries. She works to improve their balance, strength, mobility and flexibility using a blend of yoga, pilates, and functional movements. Janine is a graduate of the Waking Yoga Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training. She is excited to bring this knowledge of yoga by teaching students how they can regulate their own nervous system through the breath, various self care techniques and finding a yoga practice they can call their own. 

Janine believes that we can all find Mindful Wellness~ a way to connect the mind to the body through movement. She teaches how to do this in her private & small group sessions along with yoga, pilates and functional strength classes.

Kerrie Kelsey - Yoga (Hatha, Rocket, Power, Vinyasa) & Pilates Teacher

Kerrie has always enjoyed an active lifestyle; running, soccer, boxing, and hiking. She found Hot Yoga in 2013 and loved the benefits it provided, both physically and mentally. Her practice has expanded over the last six years as she moved across the country from California to Florida and now Texas. She is constantly striving to challenge herself and enjoy how each type of yoga brings something different to her life. She recently discovered Ashtanga, thanks to Willow Gardens Studio, which has been such a great physical challenge for her. Finding Pilates however, has been the biggest game changer to her life. For several years she had been dealing with constant back pain. As an active person this was frustrating and discouraging. Pilates helped her find not only the relief she needed, but taught her how to really take care of her spine health, balance her body to prevent further injury, and build the strength she need so she can continue doing the things she loves.

She completed her training from the Pilates Sports Center (based in California) through Pilates of South Austin in 2019. She can not wait to help others explore the Pilates discipline and to guide them in their journey to life long health.

Ruth Kearley - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Ashtanga)

Ruth first fell in love with yoga while taking a summer camp at Willow Gardens in 2018 with Raelynn Haynes. She then went on to practice with Raelynn in a homeschool class.  Through that class she learned Ashtanga yoga and that has become her favorite practice. Ruth has taken a variety of classes at Willow Gardens and has taught Farmer’s Market Kids yoga at the Downtown Buda Farmer’s market. She has also taught Kid to Kid yoga at Willow Gardens. Ruth loves that yoga helps her follow her breath, focus, and be a part of the Willow Gardens Community.   

Jay Geenburg- Yoga Teacher (Hot 26)

James Ratliff - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin), Meditation Facilitator

Yoga is many things to James. It is a vehicle that can aid you on the journey Home. Deep within each individual is an ocean of infinite love and deep within your heart there is no room for judgement, doubt, worry, anxiety or fear. When the mind becomes silent, we cleanse the mirror within us that reflects our inner light and compassion flows out into the world around us. This inner peace is not something that can be understood nor can it be learned. It can only be experienced. Once you experience this peace and love you realize its all you have ever wanted and the cosmic joke is you have had it since the beginning. It is HERE, NOW! James has come to the point in his yoga journey where my only desire is to help guide others to the NOW. So James says “thank you for being Here and [he] looks forward sharing this beautiful experience with "You".

Tania Dymkowski - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa, Hot Fusion, Power Flow)

Tania started practicing yoga over 15 years ago in hatha and bikrim yoga. Being an avid trail runner, yoga helps balance out and contribute to the long distance running that she does. It has proven to help with recovery time, and the joints and muscles involved in running. 

Along with being a yoga teacher Tania has been in education for over 25 years and is currently an elementary assistant principal. Tania attended Breathe for Change educator training which included 200 RYT yoga training, social emotional learning, meditation, and special workshops for educators. This training was transformational and life changing. Tania understands the importance of strong social emotional support not only for students but for educators. She incorporates these qualities and methods with students, in classrooms, and with her teachers/staff. She likes to provide an atmosphere in her yoga classes where students can find that space for themselves to take care of social emotional needs as well as build stamina and strength. She hopes all her students find the love of yoga and challenge themselves to try new things and leave with a peaceful heart. Her goal is to continue to always be a student as well as a teacher of yoga, attending workshops and growing and evolving, learning new techniques, and challenging herself. 

Kristin Harris - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin)

Yoga came into Kristin’s life in 2017, and truly changed her life for the better. It took her awhile to build a consistent practice and maintain that connection, but over time she kept coming back to the mat and it eventually grew into the practice that she has today. Yoga has helped Kristin immensely in developing a true loving relationship with herself. It helped bring alive her connection with love, with spirit, and with God. It inspires her everyday to live a life full of compassion, kindness, and gratitude.  In her classes, she combines a healthy balance of playfulness and stillness throughout the sequences to help you leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. But most importantly, in these practices she strives to help you blossom in the connection and relationship you have with your breath, your mind, your body, and your spirit.

Maressa Sledge - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa, Hot Fusion), Women’s Circle Facilitator

Maressa finds gratitude in the opportunity to share my passion for yoga, the power of breath, self love, and quieting the mind. She offers the magic of breath and alignment in her classes, along with some unique jams. She inspires you to come out of my class feeling strong and feeling a sense of peace. She believes yoga is a beautiful way to stay in the present moment, challenge yourself, and to strengthen your body, and that yoga is for every-body. Maressa feels that it is your yoga journey and no one else's. She is a single mama to a wild little boy - Sawyer, her inspiration. He loves holding onto her back during certain poses, or practicing right next to her.

Maressa fell in love with yoga when she lived in San Antonio in 2009 She went to a class with a friend and never stopped going. The more classes she experienced, the more she fell in love with yoga. The grounding and gratitude she felt after a class was incredible. She went to a few yoga festivals and loved the union of yoga, the community, the togetherness. Her favorite place to do yoga would have to be outside, feeling the wind and sunshine - there’s no feeling like it. She wanted to get her yoga teaching certification for quite some time and finally committed to it while living in Jersey City, NJ in 2015. She has studied under Anton Mackey, learning his vinyasa flow sequencing, and is currently studying Ayurveda at Maharishi University of Management. She his passionate about Vinyasa, Tantra, and Kundalini. Maressa is passionate about teaching self love and living life with passion. She currently leads women’s circles at Willow Gardens.

Note from Maressa: Yoga is the flow between the breath and the body. I am here to help you find that connection, to guide you. A sense of freedom is found through yoga, letting go of the ego, and staying in the present moment; on and off the mat. In my classes, I hope you can find that sense of peace within yourself and carry it with you even after class. I look forward to sharing space with you 🕉️

Laura Gale -Yoga Teacher (Yin, Vinyasa)

Laura has found yoga multiple times throughout her adult life but became serious about it in 2015. Practicing yoga has helped her work through past trauma and with personal health challenges. Laura is a mom of two amazing girls and a zany husband. She is a certified educator with nine years of teaching experience in a classroom setting, experience coaching Cross-Fit, after earning her Level 1 certification, and is a Yoga Alliance 200 RYT with over 500 yoga teaching hours. Laura’s teaching background combined with her passion for yoga, drew her toward the Breathe for Change yoga certification program in 2018. Immediately after this training, she began teaching Vinyasa, Hatha & Yin Yoga. Laura has taught yoga and mindfulness at several local elementary schools. She has fallen in love with Yin and has devoted much of her continuing education toward Yin and Meditation. Yin yoga has truly taught her to slow down, be present in the moment, and stay calm during times of stress. She infuses humor into her classes, as she believes laughter is the best medicine. Laura loves sharing what she has learned to help others surrender and find peace within themselves.

Gil Perez - Yoga Teacher (Ashtanga, Rocket, Vinyasa), Studio Collaborator

Gil started practicing Power Yoga in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico in 2009 at the age of 37. Even though he found it quite challenging, he continued to practice, which began an extensive journey of Yoga. In 2010, Gil took his first Hatha Yoga teacher training at the Rishikesh Yoga Peeth School in India the summer of 2010 for seven weeks. He was looking to more deeply understand the roots of Yoga. After returning to Puerto Rico he started teaching around the island, including  various maximum security prisons where he lead the yoga program for about two years. Teaching yoga there helped inmates reduce anxieties, the use of medications, as well as enhanced other aspects of life.

In 2012 Gil began practicing Progressive Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Rocket Vinyasa Yoga under the tutelage of David Kyle (founder of Progressive Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga). Gil deepened his practice by training with David (who is an advanced student of the late Larry Schultz, creator of Rocket Yoga System). After completing his training Gil began teaching at David’s studio, Ashtanga Yoga Puerto Rico, in San Juan. He is now certified to train yoga teachers in Rocket Yoga (progressive ashtanga) and teaches ashtanga primary and secondary series.

In 2016 he relocated to Austin, teaching in various local studios around the city. Gil continues to lead Rocket Workshops around Texas and other states, as well as provide various other opportunities for yoga practitioners to deepen their practice. He has 500 hours in teacher trainings, and thousands hours of teaching since 2010, and his philosophy strongly resides that the true learning it’s in the practice itself. He works with all levels of practitioners to find their own internal compass for bringing their Yoga practice to Life. Gil now leads Rocket Yoga Teacher Trainings and has a considerable online presence where he brings rocket and ashtanga classes to the world.

Kiana Ochoa - Yoga Teacher (Vinyasa, Hatha Raja, Hot Fusion), Studio Collaborator

Kiana found yoga in my early teen years as a way to compliment her athletic pursuits. Through the physical aspects that yoga offered her: flexibility, strength, and challenge, she soon fell in love with the Asana practice. Self curiosity opened her eyes and soul to deeper parts of Yoga, learning emotional and energetic peace and stability. Not only has this practice taught her how to slow down, re-center, and be present in the moment, it has also shown her inner strength.

She began teaching Yoga in 2017 after completing her first 200 hour yoga teacher training from the Tantric traditions of Sri Vidya and lineage of Swami Rama. Dedicated to expand her knowledge and share this sacred practice with others, she completed Practice Yoga Austin's 300 hour advanced yoga teacher training and more over the years. She currently has over 700 hours of certificated training and has taught over 800 hours of studio classes. She now lives in Colorado, and has her own YouTube Channel (Yoga with Kiana) where she shares her amazing wealth of yoga knowledge to the world. See more HERE in Kiana’s Photo Gallery.

Message from Kiana: This practice is truly a gift and I’m passionate about holding a space for others to let go, tune in, and experience the magic of their life through Yoga. I strive to teach each class in a way that brings a lighthearted and grounding energy to the space and a focus on self reflection, self love, mindful movement, alignment, and connection!

Stephanie Sidnam - Yoga Teacher (Hatha, Vinyasa), Guest Teacher

Stephanie is a Registered Yoga Teacher and completed her 200-hour Hatha Flow training with Yoga Yoga in Austin. Upon moving to Texas in 2017, she was seeking a way to connect with the new community and to connect deeper within herself. Stephanie began her yoga journey when she discovered the beautiful and warm space at Willow Gardens. She fell in love with all types of  the practice and was motivated to spread the gift of yoga to others and to make it accessible to everyone. You can typically catch her in a Hot 26 class as she is passionate about the detoxification and purification it provides to our bodies and minds. Off the mat, Stephanie loves to be outdoors breathing in the fresh air and connecting to nature.

Ellie Boswick - Yoga Teacher (Hot-26, Rocket Yoga), Musician

Ellie started practicing hot yoga at the age of 15 while living in her hometown of Aiken South Carolina. In 2010 she moved to NYC to study fine arts and quickly discovered a Bikram yoga studio a few blocks from where she lived. It was Bikram yoga lower east side and from her first class there she knew right away it was a very powerful method. It wasn’t easy for Ellie to transition from a small town to a big city. It was overwhelming and if she wasn’t in school or making music and art, she would be at a Bikram studio. The practice became her sanctuary because of how the sequence stays the same and how it is such a powerful meditation. It also helps her get inspired creatively and helps her make better music. She went to Bikrams training in the fall of 2014 and started teaching in different studios in New York City. In 2016, she decided to move to Austin because of the great yoga and music community here.  New York was a great experience but Austin feels much more balanced to her because she really loves nature and breathing some fresh air! Ellie is an active musician and artist and you can check her out on Instagram to keep updated with her work @crystalvoyagervibes 

Note from Ellie: As you grow stronger doing yoga you start to realize more positive changes in your general thinking and well being. It helps me to simplify my mind and I really just think it is genius and life changing.

Sunshine- Yoga Teacher (Hot-26, Hatha, Vinyasa), Guest Teacher

Sunshine feels that yoga is the balance between the physical body, the mind and its thoughts, and the light that burns bright within. It is so much more than movement or sound, discipline, or breath. It is in all and part of everything. You can find it at the top of the most beautiful mountain or right there in your pinky toe. It’s in everything. She found yoga somewhere between her second pregnancy and the clinging years of her third baby boy. A few prenatal classes here and there and several months of yoga videos while every downdog was a human bridge for the children to climb on or crawl under. “Do what you can” is always her motto when trying to find a minute here or there to practice the movement of yoga. She found heated yoga in 2012 and haven’t looked back. The benefits that come from the heat are so incredibly amazing and addictive for Sunshine. As much as she loves the heat, she believes in balance and the healing that restorative yoga brings as well. With 5 years of teaching experience, she holds two 200 hour yoga certifications, one with an overall training of Hatha yoga, and the other concentrated on the 26 & 2 (Bikram) hot yoga sequence. Sunshine is a firm believer that Yoga is for every body, so “let’s do this” she says. She cannot wait to see you in her class!

Sat Nam

Karrie Sheehan - Percussion Artist & Support Staff

Born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, Karrie had an interest in music from a young age. One holiday she got a keyboard and started out playing around with different sounds and rhythms. She never had formal training, so would attempt to figure songs out “by ear.” Her biggest breakthrough came after college when she started playing drums so she could jam with her brother. She was hooked and wanted to learn all she could! She began taking lessons and continued doing that for several years. During this time she was asked to join several bands and she even taught drums one summer at the Salvation Army’s Music Conservatory.

Playing the djembe started as a means to reproduce a full band sound more acoustically. It was a great experience to listen to drum set music and imagine all of the sounds with a djembe, shaker, and tambourine! The djembe and Kerrie have been a part of weddings, house parties, coffee house shows, and now yoga classes!
Willow Gardens has been such an incredible enhancement to her life since moving to Buda, and she hopes that her drumming brings great peace and meditation to the community!

Janice Kearley - Support Staff

Janice became connected to Willow Gardens through her daughter Ruth’s love for yoga.  She enjoys the variety of classes Willow Gardens offers such as, Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Ashtanga, Pilates and Hot yoga. Janice works in the lobby on weekend mornings and helps with the website and other various tasks to support the teachers at Willow Gardens. When she is not at Willow Gardens Janice is homeschooling her daughter, working part-time as a Montessori school substitute, and volunteering with the Friends of the Buda Library, gardening, cooking and various handwork endeavors.