Teacher Bios
(this page is in process - please return to read more about our teachers)
Meet the teachers:
Debi Lewis
Debi began studying yoga in 1985 with Janie Stickland and began to teach under her guidance at the Yoga Center of Jackson in 1992. She initially found yoga to be the solution to her back pain and depression, later realizing the total lifestyle benefit it offers. In the following years, she has studied many forms of yoga and has synthesized them into what she has named Joyflow. She is the owner, director and principle instuctor of Joyflow Yoga Studio and Joyflow Yoga Teacher Training.
In 1998 Debi became certified in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, an emotional-release body-work therapy. She currently studies regularly with master instructor Rod Stryker and is completing his certification in ParaYoga. The focus of this method is in customizing the practice for our individual needs, including transformational breathwork and meditation, grounded in a strong acknowledgment of Divine Presence in all of life.
For many years, Debi has been a student of the Enneagram, particularly in the Riso-Hudson training. The Enneagram is a tool for personal and spiritual growth, and She is beginning to combine this study of personality with the study of yoga to bring about healing and Self discovery. To learn more about this go to yoganineways.com.
Debi's life experiences, being the eldest daughter of a Methodist minister, being part of a Sufi spiritual family, and her lifelong interest and study (B.A. in Liberal Arts) in mysticism, psychology, art and music have enriched her ability to share Joyflow with you.
John Cartwright
John has been a dedicated student of Joyflow yoga for many years. He enjoys teaching flow classes. John worked formerly for MS Emergency Management Agency so he has a lot of practice helping stressed-out people get calm. His strong soothing voice can take you into those challenging postures and help you find your center. John received his RYT 200 training through Joyflow Yoga. We finally got a picture of him; here he is at Machu Pichu in a headstand.
Kate Nicodemus
Kate has been practicing yoga for the past 13 years. When she was a teenager she got diagnosed with scoliosis and doctors put her into a brace. For years she had tried to make her back problems better but nothing seemed to be successful. One day she went to a local studio, back then living in Prague, Czech Republic, for her first class and has been practicing since. For the past two years she has been trained by a most influential B.K.S. Iyengar inspired teacher, Ruth White, who lives in England and runs the Karuna Yoga Centre. Kate attended many workshops and a 3 week intensive training at the Greek island of Lesbos. Currently she is working towards her 500 RYT certificate. Her teaching is inspired by accuracy and detailed attention from Iyengar tradition in combination with her love and passion to teach people yoga and help them to gain not only flexibility, better posture and strength, but also to find inner calm and balance. She also has three little girls who love to practice yoga with her and who became her biggest fans and supporters.
Kimberly Lichte-Madakasira
Laura McCarthy
