Amy Andrews
Amy Andrews is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper and Katie Serino. Amy is completing her Kunga Yoga 500 Hour Teacher Training certification, and her Kunga Yoga Mentoring Program under Heather Lilly, and Kristin Cooper. Amy is a trained and certified 5Elements Flow teacher. Amy’s background as a nurse informs her teaching and Amy teaches Gentle, Hot Detox & Hold, Rockin’ Flow, and Core Power Yoga classes.
Brittany Butcher
Britt came to yoga in 2001 seeking freedom from injuries as a collegiate athlete. The asana practice was a natural fit for her having spent more than a decade of her youth as a competitive gymnast. As Britt’s practice evolved, so did her appreciation for her improved health and her newfound emotional and spiritual awareness. Britt received her certification from Pure Yoga NYC in 2010 and teaches a variety of classes, including alignment, power and yin yoga. Britt’s classes are challenging yet playful, and guide practitioners toward establishing a subtle strength, inside and out. She loves sharing music that inspires her and aims to lift spirits through sound. Her intention for each class is to hold the space for her students to find whatever it is they are seeking in their practice and to enlighten them with new possibilities. She has the deepest gratitude for her teachers, namely Kristin Cooper-Gulak, Erica Mather, Kay Kay Clivio, Adam Vitolo and Yogi Charu.
Carly LaBruno
Carly Rickard is registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200hr level. After taking her first yoga class in 2005 she was hooked. Soon after, she completed her 220hr teacher training at the Wilmington Yoga Center. Her intention is to help others find the inner peace, strength and confidence that yoga has brought her.She truly enjoys sharing her love of yoga and music with her students through her vinyasa based classes. In her classes you will be encouraged to challenge yourself, listen to your own body and have FUN! She believes that every body, no matter what size, age or gender can enjoy the practice of yoga. Truly grateful for her family and friends, Carly would also like to thank her beautiful yoga teachers, Kristin Cooper-Gulak and Larry Hobbs for their continued inspiration.
Catherine Clement
Cat is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper. More info coming soon for Cat!
Donna Gardner
Donna Gardner has been practicing yoga and Insight Meditation for over 20 years and is an experienced teacher. She holds a Masters Degree in Dance from New York University, and is an ACE certified personal trainer. In addition, she attended the Graduate School of Social Work at Boston University and recently completed Level I certification in Thai Yoga Bodywork. Whether you are new to practice, returning to it, or enjoying an ongoing practice, please join Donna for classes in which you will receive personal attention to your specific needs and abilities.
Elizabeth Cramond
Elizabeth was first introduced to yoga by her uncle at age 16 while spending a summer in Italy with her mother. Upon arrival back to the states, Elizabeth and her mother began practicing together. A former competitive swimmer through the collegiate level, Elizabeth enjoyed the non-competitive aspect of her yoga practice, and found that it brought balance to her life. Her mother was also her inspiration for becoming a yoga teacher. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of NC-Wilmington, with a double major in International Business and Spanish. She completed the 200- hour teacher training program at the Wilmington Yoga Center in 2007. She also served as an assistant in 220- hour program in 2008. Elizabeth has also had opportunities to study with Shiva Rea and Kathryn Budhig. Elizabeth hopes to inspire her students to find the beautiful balance of strength, flexibility, and sense of humor in their practice.
Heather Lilly, RYT500
Heather Lilly (goes by“Lilly”) received her 500hr ISHTA Yoga certification in2003. After teaching over a 1000hrs of group classes, private sessions, and yoga festivals in NYC, Pennsylvania, and Raleighshe joined the Wilmington Yoga Center family in December of 2009. Lilly comes with a background in dance, movement, and theatre that all inform her teaching.Lilly was drawn to yoga after September 11. Her journey began in the aftermath of a tragic event as an act of service to self; however the path has taken her to a place of peace, joy, and desire to serve others. Her intention is to spread this spirit of yoga as service to help inspire healingthroughout the world.Lilly is incredibly grateful to the many wonderful teachers with whom she has hadthe privilege to study.
Heather Metzler
As a Special Education teacher for many years, Heather started looking for a way to alleviate stress and create a healthier lifestyle for herself. She took her first yoga class 13 years ago at a local gym, and was soon in love with the way it made her feel. She found the Wilmington Yoga Center where she started to deepen her practice through the love and teachings of Kristin, Larry and Donna. After the birth of her first daughter in 2006 she took the Prenatal Teacher Training offered at WYC, followed shortly after with the Kunga Vinyasa Teacher Training. In 2009 during her second pregnancy, she completed the 220 hour Kunga Yoga Teacher Training. She feels blessed to have her family and students in her life everyday, supporting her growth as an individual and as a teacher. She is currently working towards her 500 hour certification, to deepen her practice and experiences while serving others in her classes.
Jessica Bichler
Jess is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper. More info coming soon for Jess!
Jessica Hartmann
Jess is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper. More info coming soon for Jess!
Katelyn Cowen
Katelyn is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper. More info coming soon for Katelyn!
Keegan White
Keegan is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper. More info coming soon for Keegan!
Kristin Cooper, E-RYT500
Kristin Cooper ERYT500, is a registered 500hr Yoga Alliance teacher trainer. She began teaching full time in 1999, and training yoga teachers in 2003. Kristin is the founder and director of The Wilmington Yoga Center, Kunga Journeys Global Service Retreats & The 200/500hr Kunga Yoga School. Kunga Yoga is an open, service-based yoga practice that encourages students to integrate the service theme of the month off the mat, and all Kunga Yoga teachers teach free classes to needed populations and donate 5% of their proceeds from teaching to the Kunga Fund which supports underserved communities locally and globally. Kristin travels as a teaching assistant and percussionist for renowned yoga teacher Shiva Rea and is mentor for students in Shiva’s Prana Flow trainings. Kristin is the creator of Rhythmic Flow Yoga w/the Kunga Drummers, leading workshops fusing yoga and live music since 2000.Her personal practice has been inspired and guided by an extraordinary group of teachers to whom she is extremely grateful, including: Shiva Rea, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Bryan Kest, Jack Kornfield, Teresa Spanos, Beryll Berch, Gurumukh, Donna Gardner, and her loving family. She travels around the globe annually, guest teaching for various teacher trainings, and offering workshop and international retreats with her percussionist husband, Loren Gulak. Their greatest joy is fundraising and leading Kunga Journeys service retreats each year at orphanages in developing countries-all while having FUN! Travel teaching schedule can be found at www.kristinyoga.com
Lexi Paulos
Lexi Paulos is a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certified instructor and is trained in Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Core Strength Vinyasa, and Karma Kids Yoga. Lexi started her path to teaching in 2006 and trained with Sonic Yoga in New York City. She is infinitely grateful for her teachers Johanna Aldrich (my inspiration for poetry in motion), Lauren Hanna (who guided me to the subtle), Jonathan Fields (who taught me to embrace my western business mind and know my anatomy!), and Sadie Nardini (my teacher who taught me to dive to my core and teach from my heart.) Lexi continues to study and work toward her 500 hour certification with the Wilmington Yoga Center under the guidance of Kristin Cooper-Gulak and the Kunga Yoga method. Lexi believes yoga is a gift to be celebrated and shared- every moment in life is a chance to practice!
Mandy Nicolau
Mandy is a graduate of the Wilmington Yoga Center 220Hr Kunga Yoga & Lifestyle Teacher Training program with Kristin Cooper. More info coming soon for Mandy!
Nancy Hayes, RYT500
Nancy Hayes, RYT Nancy is a certified and Yoga Alliance Registered yoga teacher at the 500 hour level (RYT) with over 25 years teaching experience. Since 1984, her primary focus of study has been in the Iyengar method. Nancy’s study of yoga is ongoing and includes teacher training with internationally known Yoga instructors throughout the country and includes course work at The Iyengar Institute of San Francisco, The Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY and Unity Woods Yoga, Bethesda, MD. Nancy combines a gentle approach to Yoga with more vigorous methods of practice for physical and mental harmony. Classes are tailored to meet the needs of individuals enrolled and suitable for men and women of all ages. Come prepared to: stretch, strengthen, smile and relax.
Noelle Cavenaugh, RYT200
Noelle Cavenaugh, RYT Noelle is a Wilmington native with a background in classical dance. Her dance studies led her to the pursue other avenues of movement therapy. In college she began practicing Yoga as a reprieve from the strict discipline of dance and has been in love ever since. A graduate of the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, Noelle continues to be a constant student of Anusara Yoga and Vinyasas Yoga. Noelle also maintains Pilates Mat and Reformer certifications. Noelle continues to incorporate Pilates principals into her classes like Core Power Yoga and private client sessions. In her teachings, whether it be one on one or in a group session, Noelle loves empowering her students through movement meditations. She encourages students to let go and “dance like nobody is watching”. She is grateful to be able to travel the world and to enhance her teachings by serving and experiencing other cultures. This serves as a reminder to her that we all share this earth and we honor ourselves by treating it and each other well.
