Our Teachers

	Graham Fowler, founder and director of Peachtree Yoga Center, began teaching meditation under the guidance of an Indian guru in 1978. He has practiced the yogic arts of asana, pranayama, and meditation for 30 years. A Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, he has mentored for Phoenix Rising, trained in Gestalt, Shen Physio-Emotional Release, Integrative Yoga Therapy, Kundalini Tantra (with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D.), and completed various yoga teacher training programs. He loves to help people discover the wonders of their deepest selves through the mirror of nature, poetry, and meditation. Return to top
	For Elizabeth "Ursula" Nix , yoga is her passion and a blueprint for living, and she loves nothing more than sharing this with others. She has studied many different forms of yoga, and respects each and every tradition, but for her the practice of Yoga transcends any one style. More than anything else, it is a way of connecting with Spirit and cultivating the most life-affirming qualities of compassion, balance and trust. In her classes, which are infused with joy and deep insight, expect the dance of vinyasa flow, the focus of held posture, and the stillness and sweet surrender of shavasana. Ursula offers her gratitude to those who have guided her and walked with her on this path, who have all graced her with the wisdom of this practice. A special thanks to her very first teacher, Graham Fowler, who she continues to learn from and with - both on and off the yoga mat. Also, blessings for both Erich Schiffmann and Rodney Yee, who have deeply influenced both her practice and her teaching. Return to top
	Gina Minyard is a certified Anusara Yoga teacher. She has practiced, studied and taught yoga since 1999. She received her certification through Atlanta Yoga Fellowship in 2000 under the guidance of Graham Fowler and Ursula Nix. In 2001, she met John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. His teachings illuminated her heart and swept her up into a magical flow. For Gina, yoga is the opportunity to engage life; to be truly empowered, joyful and free. Her classes flow playfully and philosophically with the harmonizing Universal Principles of Alignment, uniting body, mind and heart with the intention to awaken. It is her deepest joy to watch her students blossom with insight into the luster and delight of who they truly are. Return to top
	Siri Kirtan Fluck has been studying Kundalini Yoga since 1969 and teaching yoga in the Kundalini tradition since 1975. Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, is a repeatable, reliable technology which supports the integration of the personality - pulling together the scattered parts of our being into a united whole. The practices (including asana, pranayama / breathwork, mantra / chanting and meditation) are designed to raise the Kundalini energy, which is the creative inner fire of consciousness and awareness. This practice facilitates a deeper alignment with Self. Through the experience of Kundalini Yoga, we realize the fullness of our being time and time again. As a reflection of her interest in yoga as the basis of a wholistic lifestyle, Siri is also a Certified Nutritionist. "Kundalini Yoga is a continual source of inspiration - it is the foundation of my life. Sat Nam - I humbly address the Infinite within you." Return to top
	Elizabeth Yates came to yoga a decade ago from the stress of corporate life. Realizing it’s healing potential when she discovered the stress she was holding in her body was resulting in pain, she began a study that has become a way of life. She shares therapeutic techniques for individual therapy and makes her classes fun for a variety of levels. She combines her extensive training with her own flowing style for a practice that flows from her heart. Her teacher trainings include Ananda Ashram with a strong meditative focus, Peachtree Yoga Center with a strong vinyasa flair, Restorative Yoga with Judith Lasater and Yoga Therapy at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai , India . Her knowledge of alignment and energy principles guides students through a safe & supportive practice of deep stretching using the breath as a pathway to release pent up tension. Releasing tension becomes the first step to clearing blockages so that life-enriching prana can flow freely to heal the body. She currently practices Thai Yoga Massage and continues study with her master, Pichet Boonthamme In Chiang Mai, Thailand. Return to top
	Marta Gazman was introduced to yoga by her parents, over twenty years ago. She is a Yoga Alliance certified teacher through the Peachtree Yoga Center. Her classes incorporate sensory guidance, a challenging flow of sun salutations and encourage students to witness their own experience of yoga without judgment. “The practice of yoga gives me a sense of being grounded in the present moment, an experience of openness and willingness to really engage life. This is what I’m inspired to share when I teach. There can be peace even in the busyness of life.” Return to top
	Betsy Blount began her journey into yoga in 1971 at which time she also became a student of meditation and Eastern philosophy. A teacher of body, mind and spirit for the past 20 years (with an emphasis on emotional release work and meditation), Betsy has also practiced massage therapy including neuromuscular technique and Reiki. She received her yoga certification from Peachtree Yoga under Graham Fowler, Ursula Nix and Sean Tebor. She has also studied under nationally acclaimed teachers Tias Little and Doug Keller. Betsy has the gift of inspiration and teaches from the heart. She brings a relaxed atmosphere of warmth, coziness and fun to her classes. While her flowing style can be challenging and energizing her hands on approach is supportive and soothing. Taking her students at their own level she encourages each to do their best in a non-competitive environment. Betsy inspires her students to reach for their dreams mentally, physically and spiritually. Return to top
	Mostly a student, Sally Maxwell shares her passion for yoga through teaching. After two decades of the physical injuries of running and the mental injuries of corporate sales, she was inspired by the sensitivity, compassion, sincerity and spirituality of Graham Fowler, Ursula Nix and Peachtree Yoga Center. A student since l994, teacher since 2001. Her intention as a teacher is to deliver yoga as a lifestyle of courage, moderation, awareness, abundance and creativity. She incorporates principles of Ashtanga, Anusara and Iyengar and believes in the cultivation of a telepathic relationship with students to offer what they need without a verbal expression. She completed her 500-hr Yoga Alliance certified teacher training in 2008 at Peachtree Yoga. She has also studied with and found inspiration through Tias Little, Shiva Rea and Doug Keller. In awe of the transformative powers of meditation, she strives to create a class environment that is safe in silence to access the infinite possibilities within each of us. She emphasizes the anatomical, postural, energetic elements of yoga to create a clear mind and intimacy with our bodies, our spirit and each other--where we find peace. Return to top
	Todd Delaune's path to yoga began in 2000 as a stretching and injury prevention mechanism for adventure race training. Years of athletic activity left him with almost no flexibility, and he was unable to even touch his toes. As his body, eyes, and heart opened to the depths to which yoga could take him, he eagerly dove in for more. Yoga soon became an integral part of his life; his desire to deepen his practice lead him to Peachtree Yoga's Teacher Training in 2002. After graduating, he continued his spiritual journey by traveling the country for 9 months, visiting yoga studios along the way, teaching yoga to the people he met, and experiencing the country's majestic National Parks. He brings the life lessons learned during this journey to the mat. Since returning to Atlanta his overwhelming desire has been to give back to the community by sharing these life lessons through the gift of yoga. With his varied background, Todd brings to his teaching a wealth of personal and professional experiences, inspiring his students' minds and bodies with his intuitive teaching style. He brings a warm nurturance, a sensitive touch, and the inspiration to achieve anything. "I honor the place in you where, when you are in that place, and I am in that place, there is only one of us." -Ghandi Return to top
	Elika Aird came to the path of yoga in 2000 by chance when she injured her back and was looking for physical relief. As a fitness instructor and trainer, she was amazed to find not only her body growing stronger, but her mental and spiritual connection deepening as a result of this practice. Through this period of rehabilitation Elika learned to be present in the midst of struggle and how to surrender finding the gift of santosha, contentment. Elika incorporates her studies of various styles of yoga including Anusara®, Yin and Iyengar with the fluidity of the Vinyasa system, to create an environment that allows each student freedom in each pose, while still emphasizing the therapeutic benefits of alignment. Her classes blend the strength of a flowing dance with insightful postures to restore and revitalize the entire body from the outer to the innermost levels. She is continually guided by the foundations of Vinyasa, which offer tools to stay buoyant despite the constant changes experienced as we float through the river of life. In 2005, Elika completed her 200-hr certification at Peachtree Yoga Center and then went on to deepen her knowledge of prenatal yoga, by completing the Whole Birth® Yoga Teacher Training, which incorporates the practice of mindfulness and yoga to help bring greater well-being during the childbearing year. To more intimately share her love of the birthing process and her desire to support women on a more personal level, Elika became trained as a Birth Doula with Doulas of North America (DONA) in 2008. Along her path she has had the opportunity to study with many gifted teachers such as Shiva Rea, John Friend and Sarah Powers. Currently Elika is pursuing her 500-h4 Prana Vinyasa Teacher Certification with Shiva Rea. Elika feels blessed by all the wisdom her teachers have shared with her and savors every chance she has to pass these gifts on to others. Return to top
	While Seth Adams began his yoga journey at a nearby gym, he quickly became enthralled and knew that he wanted to dive deeper into this ancient practice. He continued to develop his practice and has received his 500-hour certification, under the guidance of Graham Fowler and Ursula Nix. Seth is an incredibly kind, openhearted teacher who enjoys having fun and exploring the many aspects of the yoga practice. He has a true understanding of the peace and happiness that yoga can bring, and his students respect him as a genuinely inspirational and caring teacher. The truth that has been revealed to him in the inner silence gained through a Yoga practice is what he now devotes his life to by sharing this with others. Knowing that there is something extraordinary in this life that is not taught in ordinary schools, Seth continues to grow and learn from the many spiritual teachers in his life, which he has now found out to include every human being on this earth. Return to top
	Lisa Jordan has been practicing yoga for the past six years. She believes we all have the ability to create space in our bodies and minds for healing, stillness, clarity, and joy. Lisa teaches vinyasa-style classes that incorporate breath-synchronized movement and focus on alignment. She received her training at Peachtree Yoga under the leadership of Graham Fowler and Ursula Nix and is registered nationally through Yoga Alliance at the 200- and 500-hour professional levels. Lisa is studying pranic healing, digging deeper into meditation and pranayama, and enjoys periodically infusing restorative and partner poses into her classes. Her classes range from gentle to more challenging and are always filled with music, poetry, and lots of hands-on support. Return to top
	Sonya Peedin Kuropatwa’s gentle guidance and loving touch extends from her fascination with the body as an instrument of spiritual and creative expression. Sonya came to yoga after more than 20 years as a classically trained dancer, teacher, and choreographer as a means to further understand the mysteries of the mind-body connection. She has witnessed and guided her students through the wonders of movement, self-awareness, and connection to the Universal. Her belief in the magic of touch as a means of healing and as a conduit for energy informs her teaching style, which relies strongly on imagery, humor, and hands-on interaction. She has completed both the 200-hour and 500-hour teacher training and certification courses through Peachtree Yoga Center under the nurturing guidance of Graham Fowler and Ursula Nix, beautifully enriched by study with Sean Tebor, David Kyle, Deborah Quibell, Dr. Michel Angot, and Bhagwan Awatramani. She sends blessings to the teachers, students, and community of artists who’ve so generously shared the knowledge and wisdom that informs her teaching and personal practice. Return to top
	Daniela Simina geared from competitive karate to yoga, seeking stress relief and recovery from injuries. The consistent asana, pranayama and meditation practice took her far beyond the initial goal. It became a life changing experience, a spiritual journey she embarked on with the decision to live yoga instead of just practicing it. With the utmost desire of passing along the gift of yoga as she received it from her teachers, Daniela completed the 200-hour certification program at Peachtree Yoga Center. Being a pranic healer has deepened her understanding of prana, life force, and enhanced greatly her own yoga practice and the classes she teaches. Daniela’s teaching style reflects the energy and precision she brought from karate, the graceful flow coming from a modern ballet background blending with a healing touch. Working for many years as a personal trainer taught her how to deal with people’s injuries and physical limitations, knowledge she uses in her classes and private sessions. She uses the synergetic work of yoga and pranic healing as a way to help people improve the quality of their lives at all levels, physical, mental, and spiritual. Return to top