Meet the dope instructors of EYL.

Nicole (She/her)

I believe that teaching yoga is so much more than calling out poses. It's the establishment of a spiritual and emotional connection between teacher and student. My ultimate goal is to create an all around yoga experience that will be remembered. From carefully crafted and engaging playlists to intelligent sequencing and positive affirmations, the experience you'll receive will be like no other.

I have always been a passionate athlete… From playing basketball and running track in high school in Texas, to being a scholarship hurdler at Texas Tech University. I first found yoga in 2010 as a way to relieve chronic back and neck pain. From the time I walked into my first vinyasa class, I was obsessed with the emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of this practice.

I received my 200 hour teacher certification from Karmany Yoga-Dallas (Dallas’ #1 yoga studio, as voted by D Magazine) and am currently pursing my Yoga Medicine 500 hour advanced yoga certification with Tiffany Cruikshank specializing in yoga therapy for athletes, the spine, and shoulder. I am a lululemon Summit Ambassador, a Garmin ambassador, have been featured in Yoga Journal, and hold a Doctorate degree in molecular biology. I’m also a social media influencer, an avid half-marathoner and a passionate world-traveler.

Favorite song to flow to: “Alien Superstar” by Beyonce.

SADIE (she/her)

Sadie Virginia has a Master’s in Sociology and is a 500hr EYT and has been teaching since 2013. To put it simply, yoga makes her happy and she teaches to inspire others to find their happiness. Her classes are challenging, intelligently sequenced, filled with great music, spiritually infused with healing hands on assists.

Favorite song to flow to: “Meg’s Piano” By Megan Thee Stallion

Jennifer Nicole (she/her)

I’m constantly learning within my own personal practice to just breathe and be. It’s in those moments I’m in my own space, my own time, relinquished of worry from every outside force, I feel the most centered physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Most days we all are on “go, and quite frankly life can be hard sometimes! Having me time to break up at what feels like the mundane is essential. A friend suggested yoga as a counter to, yet benefit from my traditional workout regimen while addressing some flexibility concerns. From the first class, the energy, the mindfulness, the poses, SAVASANA- I was hooked!
The transformation I was experiencing within my own practice, led towards the decision for me to teach. I wanted everyone to have this experience. I received my 200 hour teacher certification from EYL- Fayetteville, AR. with Nicole Calhoun. My intent is for every student to leave class feeling empowered, capable, and strong- mentally and physically. I’ll constantly encourage the release of any inhibitions, judgments and, doubt, for I believe it is in that space, amazing things can happen…. I’ll see you on your mat. Cheers!

Favorite song to flow to: “Desperado” by Rihanna

Logan (he/him)

Yoga is all about seperating yourself from the anxiety and stress that we experience in every day life in order to just exist. As a teacher, my goal for every class is to create a space where students can find a reprieve from the hustle of everyday life, experience physical and mental transformation, and explore all the benefits yoga has to offer. You can expect thoughtful meditation, powerful sequences, and lots of sweat from my classes! I initially came to yoga seeking an engaging form of exercise as a person who hated physical activity. I had no idea that yoga was so much more than exercise and quickly developed a passion for it. This passion for yoga resulted in me obtaining my 200 Hr Teacher Certification from Nicole Calhoun at Elxr Yoga Lounge. Outside of yoga, I'm a music education student at the University of Arkansas with aspirations for a PhD in Music, an amateur photographer, and an avid coffee consumer. Hope to see you in the hot box soon!

Favorite song to flow to: “Montero” by Lil Nas X

Christina (she/her)

After more than 15 years in the corporate world managing advertising projects, I retired from The Walt Disney Company and am now teaching yoga and practicing massage therapy.  I took my first ever yoga class in 2008, not really sure what I was looking for or what to expect.  It wasn’t until I moved to Northwest Arkansas did I commit myself to the practice.  What I have discovered in consistently showing up on my mat is how truly healing yoga can be, if you allow the practice to transform you - on the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional levels.

Originally from the west coast, I sought a diverse and inclusive yoga studio, one where I could connect with instructors who would help me grow in my own practice.  I found all of this when I landed at EYL, which is where I also received my 200 hour yoga teaching certification in 2021.

My intention as a yoga teacher is to help create space for an integrative experience both on and off the mat.  By cultivating the body-breath-mind connection through this moving meditation, my focus is to safely guide you to explore body awareness, build strength and flexibility, embody peace, and ultimately empower you to live your best authentic life. 

I invite you to arrive to this practice with grace, compassion, and presence.  Yoga is absolutely accessible to everyone, and if you’re wondering how to start: you can begin right where you are with what you have.  See you on your mat!

Favorite song to flow to: “California Love” by 2Pac

Laine (she/her)

I am a Texas native turned Fayetteville local who fell in love with EYL at my first 108 Sun Salutation event in 2019. As a lifelong lover of rap music and movement, I was hooked from the first class. I knew from that event that EYL was a place where I could grow, not just as a yogi but as a person. EYL is truly a community of people committed to supporting each other's growth both on and off the mat. Yoga gives me the opportunity to find both a challenge and personal peace, which is why I decided to pursue my yoga certification to help bring that to others! I graduated from the EYL YTT-200 program in 2022 with Nicole Calhoun and I might be prouder of that than my master's degree (don't tell anyone, k?).

When I'm not on my mat, I'm probably reading a novel or finding new music! I completed my M.A. in Communication and did all my research on pop culture! I've written papers on my genres of music, from West Coast rap to 90s feminist punk. In my personal practice, I'm as likely to listen to Beyonce as I am to throw on Led Zepplin for my flow. You can probably find me around downtown Fayetteville at Puritan Coffee & Beer, enjoying a cocktail at Maxine's Taproom, or throwing a dinner party at home with my husband. If I don't see you around town, I will see you at the lounge for inspiring, energizing flows! 

Songs you'll hear on my playlists: "Gimme Some More" by Busta Rhymes, "Get Busy" by Sean Paul, & anything Beyonce. 

Favorite song to flow to: "Get Busy" by Sean Paul, & anything Beyonce. 

kelsey (she/her)

I reunited with my yoga practice in the summer of 2020 at Elxr Yoga Lounge. When I signed up for class, I had no idea that I was about to find my yoga home, but it was clear to me that I was there by the time I relaxed into Savasana in that first class. I started attending five days a week and never looked back! Yoga transformed me both physically and mentally and I wanted to share the strength and peace that I found in yoga, so I made the leap and received my 200 hour yoga teacher certification at my favorite studio, EYL with Nicole Calhoun. I am so excited to watch my students transform their lives on and off the mat. Come enjoy the journey with me!

Favorite song to flow to:

Gelynda (she/her/hers)

Trying to find exercise that I enjoyed doing, I began going to the weekly community yoga class at the public library in 2018. I met Nicole through NWA Fashion Week and she invited me to try out EYL. I took my first class at EYL in January 2019 and loved it. The community, culture, dope flows and tunes had me coming back, sometimes twice in a day! 

With a lot of encouragement, I did my 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training at ELXR Yoga Lounge with Nicole Calhoun.

My intention as a yoga teacher is to encourage and inspire students to explore their practice with non-judgement, to never give up, and to remind students that every body is a yoga body. 

When I am not teaching or practicing yoga, I model and currently make and sell jewelry and hair accessories with my business Nspired Attire. 

Favorite song to flow to: “It ain’t hard to tell” by Nas

Jes (she/her)

I was first introduced to yoga when I joined a yoga studio in 2015, primarily for their aerial silks classes. I started practicing yoga again in 2018 as a way to complement my CrossFit training at the time. After knee and low back injuries, I dove deeper into yoga to help prevent and manage injuries. I grew to love the physical challenge of practicing yoga as well as the peace of mind it offers. I received my 200 hour certification in 2020 to deepen my personal practice and offer classes to the community. Outside of yoga, I work for a consumer goods company, am an avid photographer, love roller skating and coffee!

My intention as a yoga instructor is to safely guide students through dynamic flows, build strength and flexibility for a healthy back, and to empower students to live their practice on and off the mat. I grew up dancing my entire life and hope to bring that grace and presence to your yoga practice.

Favorite song to flow to: “Focus” by H.E.R.

Tate McKay YT-200 (@tatertot_mckay)

Tate (he/him)

In yoga, there’s always another way to challenge the self, deepen a pose, or strengthen a posture. 

In 2015, my friend introduced me to a vinyasa flow yoga class. The playlists were fun and the sequences were invigorating. I didn’t notice the benefits the practice had until I took a short hiatus while I continued my normal running and weightlifting schedule. It took all of two weeks for me to realize a significant decrease in my body’s ability to move with ease and recover quickly. I decided the yoga would never stop!

After years of exploring self-led practice, I decided to obtain my YT-200 certification with Nicole through EYL in 2022. From breaking down complex sequences into digestible pieces to utilizing a strength-focused flow that builds muscle, expect to find challenge and positive reinforcement in my classes. You might be surprised at what you find yourself capable of!

Favorite song to flow to: “Swag surfin’” by F.L.Y.

Morgan Scholz, YT-200 (@morganinarkansass)

Morgan (she/her)

I always imagined myself to be the kind of person who did yoga, but after trying it in lots of different classes and contexts over the years, I decided that I wasn't destined to be a yogi. It felt too slow, too spiritual, and I didn't see a lot of people I could relate to in the yoga space. But after visiting a knitting workshop at EYL (yes, knitting at a yoga studio!), I was so excited by the strength, inspiration, power, and brilliance that was reflected in the people I met that I decided to give yoga another shot.

I'm so glad I did. I began practicing yoga daily in 2020 and earned my 200 hour teacher certification from Dr. Calhoun through Elxr Yoga Lounge in 2022. 

As an instructor and a practitioner, I perceive yoga as a daily invitation to connect to the deep resources of peace, presence, power, and purpose that we each have inside of us. It is a sacred space for discovering individual awareness of strength and self that is sourced from within. It is also a place of safety and respect - for your own body, mind, and spirit as well as for those around you. And it's fucking fun! Come be curious about yourself and delight in discovering what you're capable of. 

Favorite Song to Flow to: (Damn! So many) Nice for What by Drake never fails. 

hunter (he/him)

My first experiences with Yoga started about 7 years ago after finally making the decision to take charge of my own health.I had tried weights. Running. Cycling. But Yoga is what really resonated with me. The mental clarity and physical ease I felt after those early Yoga classes is something I’ll never forget.

I found EYL not long after they opened in 2018 & havent looked back since. I had learned a lot about my Practice prior for sure, but the pace of the flows & the physicality of the classes at EYL were a great fit for what I wanted my practice to develop into. After many, many classes at the studio, I finally decided to enroll in Nicole’s YTT class of 2022 & it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I consider guiding others in their Yoga Practice an act of service & want to be able to empower all people to reach whatever goals they have in Yoga & beyond & I am truly truly grateful to have that opportunity.

Arkansas, born & raised. When I’m not practicing or teaching Yoga you can find me exploring our beautiful Ozark Mountains either by foot or from the saddle of my bicycle.

Favorite song to flow to: “Hypnotize” by Biggie Smalls!

dawn (she/her)

I began yoga 7 years ago after dealing with lower back pain from various other workouts. I immediately fell in love with it. The solace I felt on the mat and the way I felt after leaving the studio was like no other high I experienced after a workout. I’ve always been an avid fitness lover who loves challenging myself. I have ran 26.2 miles competing in marathons and 13.2 competing in half marathons, pushing and challenging myself each and every mile. I feel yoga does that each time I step on the mat.

Not only challenging myself but adding the physical and mental benefits. I’m hooked and my lower back pain is gone. I fell so in love with yoga that I challenged myself and stepped out of my comfort zone signing up and completing my 200-hour teacher training with Nicole Calhoun at ELXR. I earned my Teacher Certification. Along with my 200-hour teacher certification in Yoga, I have a bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis on Consumer Relations.

The high of Yoga is too good not to share…. I want to share that love and experience with each of my students in class. I want to push them, challenge them, and let them experience, for themselves, the benefits to the mind and body.

Favorite song to flow to: “Stronger” by Kanye West

Ali (she/her)

Yoga runs in the family, for me. My mom was a yoga teacher growing up. As a kid, I used to snooze in the back of her classes-sorry mom! Years later, I’ve grown to understand the positive impact that yoga has on people mentally, emotionally, and physically. In my personal practice, I have found inner peace and connectedness to the universe through breath work and the complex movement sequences yoga incorporates; I want to help people discover that too. I hold a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a Bachelors in Kinesiology. My career goal is to empower people with knowledge of the incredible things their bodies can do. I’m hoping to bridge the gap between chronic pain and yoga through my flows, workshops, and private sessions. I was formally trained for 200 hours at EYL with Nicole Calhoun and graduated the program in 2021!

Favorite song to flow to: “Freedom” by Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar

Danielle (she/her)

As someone who experiences chronic pain I strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I have always appreciated group fitness classes. It took sometime before I found a yoga class that I enjoyed. I have said time and time again that the more I learn about yoga, the more I realize there is to discover! After practicing yoga for over 10 years at various venues I took the leap and committed to EYL's 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Fall 2022.

Yoga has enabled me to find peace, healing and fortitude I never could have imagined. My hope is to facilitate the same transformation for students along with empowerment in an environment that is inclusive and honors diversity.

Off the mat, you'll find me running around with my 3 kiddos, hubby and dog- Oakley. I love spending time outdoors. My happy places are the lake and beach.

Favorite song to flow to: Anything Beyonce.

Jasmine (she/her)

Movement is a part of our human nature - and yoga is a beautiful expression for us to be free and be ourselves. I am passionate about not only the physical practice of yoga, but also its cultural roots and how yogic philosophy works to liberate us all. Growing up a dancer, I believe we are all creative and there are so many ways to create and meditate in our movement. Yoga expands us, and helps us remember who we are. 

I was honored to discover yoga shortly after I stopped dancing in college and it flipped the script on how I connect to myself and others! I was instantly hooked and curious to learn more and more, while each day I still crave more. I recently relocated from Kansas City, and was quickly drawn to the inclusive community at EYL. 

My class is a blend of diverse challenges, empowering messages, and a space that is not just safe to show up to but you will be able to thrive in. Oh, and some good music to flow to. Outside of the studio I am a full-time social worker/activist, strong reality tv fan, and hopefully brunching or doing quirky things in between.

I hope to meet you on your mat soon!  

Favorite song to flow to: PICK IT UP by A$AP Rocky