Meet Archie, our four-legged teacher of joy! You’ll find him lounging on his favorite mat, greeting yogis, or offering free cuddles during class.
His calm presence and loving energy remind us that connection and comfort are beautiful forms of healing.

 Teachers

Alicia Trebus

Before I met yoga, I had become completely out of touch with my body’s natural rhythms. I worked at a feverish pace, wearing myself down physically and emotionally in order to please others. My inability to slow down constantly fed my nervous system a diet of threat after threat after threat. I knew my exhaustion levels were astronomical, but when left with any semblance of stillness or quiet, I felt anxious and even guilty to be “doing nothing.” All of this shifted when I took my first Restorative yoga class in 2015. The wave of relief I felt wash over me in this class brought me to tears. I had finally found a space where rest, non-doing, undoing, and even sleeping were encouraged. I realized how much my body and mind were suffering from my obsession with productivity, and from then on, I sought out the medicine of rest and ways to share it with the world.

I studied with Joy Page and Jill Dunlap in their inaugural 200-hour teacher training in 2017, received my 30-hour Yoga Nidra teacher certification through the ShivaShakti School of Yoga and Healing Arts in 2018, became attuned as a traditional Usui Reiki practitioner in 2019, and studied under Jillian Pransky for her 80-hour Restorative Yoga teacher training in 2021. When I'm not teaching in the studio, I'm sharing the magic of relaxation through my platform, Slow & Steady Yoga, in private sessions and retreats, or in workshops as an E-RYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher) and YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider).

Rachel Roberts

I began my yoga practice in 2010 in an effort to focus on my health. I fell in love straight away and slowly built up my practice exploring different types of yoga. I am a glam nomad that has spent the past few years, traveling, learning and having adventures.

Traveling through Asia and the pacific, yoga was always a constant. I received my yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India from the Vinyasa Yoga School in 2015.

I spent time at yoga retreats in Thailand and Nepal, took many styles of classes in South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand. After spending so much time exploring I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to share all of the benefits yoga has brought to my life with others.

Sheila Pride

I am a licensed clinical social worker and practice as a holistic therapist in the St. Louis area. I hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work and integrate Eastern and Western practices into my private practice.

 I am also a Bhakti yoga teacher, cranial sacral therapist and licensed massage therapist. I am passionate about teaching others self care practices and helping individuals restore their health, maintain balance and connect with their own internal power and wisdom.

My yoga classes emphasize reclaiming ones power, opening the heart and healing the body/mind through ancient practices, loving kindness and meaningful connections.

Katie Lumpkin

My Yoga journey began in 2018 when I received a yoga mat and a 5 class membership pass to a local studio as a gift. At the time, I was struggling with the effects of stress and burnout from working as an ICU nurse while also balancing life as a wife and mom to young kids.

Through yoga, I developed a consistent practice to help me find the peace I needed, and what came along with it has been a beautiful journey into the depths of my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

All of the answers I needed were found when I turned inward and reconnected with my body and soul.

By practicing yoga, breathwork, and meditation, we invite in the spaciousness to explore our inner landscapes. From there, we begin to unravel the layers of conditioning and reconnect with the body, reaching deeper into our truest state of being: joy, bliss, peacefulness, and abundance. My intention as a yoga teacher is to guide others to find this on their mat, so that we may all act and serve from our truest and best selves in our everyday lives. My classes emphasize breath, mindfulness and functional alignment to keep you present and engaged. I’m beyond grateful to be of service to you on your own journey of mind, body, and spirit connection.

In 2022 I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Joy Page (Joy of Yoga) and Jill Dunlap (Wildwood Yoga & Wellness). I have received additional training as a Reiki Level 1 Practitioner and completed my Pause Breathwork Facilitator certification.

Charity Ragain

Charity Ragain is a heart-led coach, energy healer, and guide for women seeking deep, lasting transformation. With a grounded presence and intuitive wisdom, she creates a safe space for healing, remembrance, and reconnection to one’s inner truth.

At Joy of Yoga, Charity offers a unique blend of somatic coaching, trauma-informed support, sound healing, Reiki, and energy work—all attuned to the needs of each individual. Her sessions are especially supportive for Highly Sensitive People and women navigating life transitions, grief, and spiritual awakenings.

Charity doesn’t position herself as a guru or expert—but as a loving mirror and companion. She gently guides others back to themselves, helping them reclaim their intuition, trust their discernment, and remember the wisdom that has always lived within them. Whether through emotional release, energetic clearing, or sacred stillness, she walks beside others as they journey home to who they truly are.

Her work is rooted in the belief that healing is not about fixing what’s broken—but about remembering the wholeness that has always been there.

Matthew Healey

Greetings. I’m Matthew, a Licensed Massage Therapist, yoga teacher, movement enthusiast and Reiki Master. My classes combine my passion for therapeutic bodywork with gently held stretches so that students can really begin to feel their body and their breath.

I’ve been teaching yoga since 2020 and love watching students depart after class feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Through a blend of self-massage using therapy balls, awareness of the breath and longer holds, I aim to help participants gently release the tension that gets stored up in the body. 

Aside from teaching a weekly yoga class, I offer therapeutic massage, reiki, teach quarterly massage therapy ball workshops and the occasional special series at Joy of Yoga.

Jeanne Kloeckner

Jeanne Kloeckner has 40 plus years experience as a pediatric Occupational Therapist, and has worked in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics as well as community and home based services. In the late 1990s, Jeanne began incorporating elements of “self-regulation” into her treatment sessions with clients who exhibited challenges with impulse control, task focus, emotional regulation and social skills.

The positive outcomes of the self-regulation intervention prompted Jeanne’s return to graduate school to earn her doctorate in occupational therapy. Following her 2010 graduation, Jeanne worked at Washington University, where she developed a comprehensive self-regulation program and began formal training in mindfulness.

Jeanne’s initial introduction to mindfulness was through yoga practice, which she began in the mid 1980s. The personal benefits she experienced led Jeanne to become a yoga teacher, an avocation she has sustained for over 25 years. Additionally, Jeanne is certified in Yogakids, and has been trained in a number of complementary medicine treatments including Cranialsacral Therapy, Myofascial Release and Healing Touch.

In 2015 Jeanne completed training through the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts to become a MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) teacher, and founded Mindful Solutions StL, her private practice. Jeanne is delighted to have her personal and professional life in such a place of integration with her 3-prong focus on mindfulness, self-regulation and yoga.

Crystal VanderKolb

As a teen and collegiate athlete, I was always searching for something to balance the competitive nature of the sport I loved. Yoga first found me in college—but it wasn’t until after the birth of my second child at age 38 that I felt truly ready for a lifestyle shift. I realized that how I was living in my 20s and early 30s no longer aligned with the kind of mom—or person—I wanted to be.

In 2021, I committed to a healthier, more intentional path, and that’s when the universe led me to Moon Yoga classes at Joy of Yoga. I've felt a deep connection to the moon since childhood, so it felt fitting that the moon would guide me back to yoga.

In 2022, I completed Reiki I and II training with Joy Page. That experience sparked a deep curiosity and passion for living a more expansive, conscious life. I had always wanted to explore the roots of yoga, and Reiki gave me the courage to dive in.

I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Jill Dunlap and Joy Page in 2023, followed by Reiki Master training with Joy later that year. In 2025, I completed sound healing training with Pati Pellerito at the Center of Sound.

My goal as a yoga instructor and Reiki & sound practitioner is to create a space where people can quiet the mind, awaken the spirit, and restore the soul. Through the practices of Reiki, sound, and yoga, I aim to offer a path for deeper self-discovery—empowering each person to connect with their true self and step into the fullest, most authentic version of who they’re meant to be in this lifetime.

Laura Klein

I believe movement that unites body, mind, and spirit is deeply human. Yoga is one of the most beautiful and effective movement practices that has been shared across history and geography. 

At first, I pursued yoga to find ease and be present in my body. With time and practice, I have become more familiar with the somatic and intuitive wisdom of the yoga tradition.

Through yoga, I have experienced a state of calm and connection that continues to fuel my energy and inspire my creativity as a practitioner. As a yoga teacher, I seek to help students and fellow practitioners access connection to self, community, and source while deepening and expanding my own practice.

I believe that by first connecting to the body, one can cultivate a sense of grounding, thus providing a stable foundation for unity with spirit.

I completed my 200 hour yoga training in 2019 and love to teach gentle forms of yoga such as slow flow or chair yoga. In 2022 I became BUTI® Yoga certified and infused my passion for other types of movement such as dance along with yoga.

Amy Rush

Amy Rush is certified death doula, Reiki practitioner, and medium.

She helps humans better understand, plan for, and navigate the practical and philosophical concerns that surround dying and death — all with the intention of decreasing fear and increasing peace.

Nichole Carpenter

Nichole has a deep passion for health and wellness. Her passion began when she found herself suffering from autoimmune issues and desired to heal herself naturally. This is when she discovered yoga and instantly fell in love.

Yoga and meditation quickly became a way of life for Nichole, healing her body and changing all aspects of her life.

Sarah Hubach

Sarah first discovered yoga in the early 2000s and fell in love with both the physical and mental benefits.

After spending decades as a hairstylist, she found herself called back to the practice to heal work related injuries.

It has not only improved her physical strength and flexibility, but has been a tool to support her mental health journey. Sarah realized her love for teaching as a haircutting educator.

She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences.

In 2023, she decided to combine her love for yoga and passion for teaching, completing her 200 hour YTT through Joy of Yoga/Wildwood Yoga and Wellness.

With her compassionate approach to client relationships, she shares yoga as a resource for better physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

She wishes to offer her students a safe place to be seen and heard, as well as help them be connected to mind, body, and spirit. Sarah truly believes that yoga is for every body.

Brooke Brasfield

Valeri Topel

Hi, I'm Valeri! I'm a Reiki practitioner, yoga instructor, and sound healing enthusiast with a passion for holistic wellness. In 2023, I earned my Master level Reiki certification at Joy of Yoga, where I love practicing in the center's warm, welcoming space. Reiki, for me, is a gentle yet powerful way to relieve stress, release tension, and promote overall well-being. You can find my Reiki schedule on the Joy of Yoga website.

I’ve been practicing yoga for over 30 years and have explored many styles, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, 26x2, and Bikram Hot. After years of running, cycling, and pushing my body in demanding ways, I realized the importance of self-care. Yoga became the answer. I earned my Hatha teaching certificate in 2016 and my Yin certification in 2020, and I’ve been teaching students of all levels ever since.

In my classes, I focus on mindful breathing, slow movements, and the release of tension from the body and mind. I believe yoga is for every body—being flexible is not required! A regular mantra in my class is “Tune in to your body, and tune out all else.”

In 2023, I discovered sound healing through sound baths, and I quickly became captivated by its power. I began training with Pati Pellerito of the Center of Sound and now incorporate crystal singing bowls into my classes to deepen the healing experience. I’m grateful to be able to share these practices with others and I'd love to help guide you on your journey toward greater balance and a slower pace.

Jody Capdeboscq

Hi! I'm Jody, and my passion is guiding students to connect deeply with themselves through movement and breathwork. I also love to provide hands on assists to help students deepen their awareness and expression of the postures. I believe in yoga's transformative power to nurture the mind, body, and soul.

My yoga journey began 15 years ago when I sought a new workout for my fitness routine. It quickly became clear that yoga was far more than just exercise. Through dedicated practice, I’ve learned to synchronize my breath with movement, cultivating a profound sense of presence and connection.

In 2018, I earned my yoga teaching certification, building on my group fitness certification from 2015. I also owned and operated a yoga studio for four years.

When I'm not teaching, I'm busy with my three children and three Yellow Labradors. I enjoy the outdoors, traveling, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Claire Birchenough

Claire is a certified Kundalini teacher, writer, book doula, and creative catalyst with a passion for turning everyday moments into magical, embodied experiences.

With over a decade of teaching experience, she delights in guiding others through creative, somatic explorations involving movement and energy work.

Claire brings a playful, earth-rooted spirit to everything she does—whether she’s dancing barefoot in the garden, wrangling her gang of feral cats, or holding space for others to birth their stories.

Her workshops weave together mantra, breath, and meditation to awaken the creative life force and help participants reconnect with their wild, wondrous selves.

Kathleen Davis

I have been a Spiritual Companion for thirteen years, to people of many faith traditions, beliefs and shattered beliefs. I also lead retreats and workshops on a wide range of spiritual topics, my favorites being the Mystics and the Divine Feminine! In my practice, I meet people where they are and listen for what’s wanting to be heard, and what invitations Spirit may be offering.

I know through being with my own Spiritual Companion for the past twenty years, how vital this space is for navigating life firmly rooted in Truth. As a people, we are coming into a new age and wisdom is imperative!

A trusted companion who helps evoke our own profound wisdom is a gift not only for ourselves, but for the whole.

Katie Wedding

Katie Wedding’s work centers on restorative yoga and nervous system healing. Through gentle movement, breath, and intentional rest, she offers a calm and steady space for students to soften, regulate, and meet themselves with compassion.

Informed by her background in education, counseling, and grief support, Katie brings a grounded, therapeutic presence that helps students navigate life’s transitions and return to their own inner steadiness.

Shelly Chostner

With over 15 years of personal practice, I’ve experienced the transformative power of yoga firsthand. My journey has equipped me with invaluable insights into the transformative power of movement, breath, and mindfulness.

I earned my RYT 200 certification through Joy Page (Joy of Yoga) and Jill Dunlap (Wildwood Yoga).

My approach to teaching is rooted in the belief that yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or ability. I strive to create a safe, inclusive space where students can explore their bodies and minds. I emphasize the connection between breath and movement, helping students cultivate awareness and presence on the mat.

I love sharing the many ways yoga can enhance your life. Join me on the mat, and let’s discover the joy and balance that yoga can bring!

Autumn Smith

I was first introduced to yoga back in 2011. However, my yoga journey had a slow start. There never seemed to be enough time to cultivate a regular practice. However, the longer I worked in healthcare, the more I realized something was missing from our western view of medicine and health. I began to make more time for yoga to help me recover physically from running and mentally from the job. Having a regular practice strengthen me physically, while providing an emotional and spiritual release. It gave me the support I needed, as I spent the next few post-pandemic years traveling around the country providing nursing care. Finally I’ve come home, hoping to share yoga with the community I love.

In 2024, I completed my 200hr yoga teacher training with Joy and Jill at Joy of Yoga and Wildwood Yoga and Wellness. In my free time I love running marathons and weight training. I believe in both a strong physical practice as well as continual inner exploration toward one’s true self. I strive to support my students as they connect with their bodies and find their inner strength.

Liz McCandless

Liz is a passionate and dedicated yoga instructor who completed her yoga teacher training in 2024. Certified as a sound bath practitioner, Liz brings a holistic approach to her teaching, integrating sound healing into her yoga practice.

Having begun her yoga journey in 2009 as an extension of her personal fitness routine, Liz has since developed a profound appreciation for the mind/body connection. This connection has become a cornerstone of her practice and life philosophy, guiding her journey of working to become the best version of herself for both her own well-being, as well as for her loved ones.

With a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of yoga, Liz strives to cultivate an environment of growth, self-discovery, and holistic healing, helping others to connect deeply with themselves and find their own path to wellness. Liz enjoys and teaches a variety of yoga styles, including vinyasa, slow flow, restorative, yoga nidra, pranayama, and meditation, creating a diverse and enriching experience for her students.

Della Thompson

Della began her yoga journey in 2014 when she was looking for a healthy way to practice movement and to gain more strength and flexibility. She started with classes at the local rec center until she found Wildwood Yoga and Wellness Studio in 2017.

As her practice grew, she became sure that yoga was more than just simple exercise. Her desire to deepen her practice and understanding of yoga led to becoming a 200 hour RYT yoga instructor under the tutelage of Jill Dunlap and Joy Page in 2023. At the same time, Della retired from a 32 year career as a public high school teacher and started her second act as a yoga instructor. Her skills as an educator help to make her classes accessible and thoughtful.

She enjoys a gentle flow to deepen the mind-body connection with the goal of bringing the benefits of a healthy and self-loving practice of yoga to all. When she is not on her mat, you can find her hiking or walking on a trail with her husband or daughter.