Instructors & Therapists
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OwnerKathy Tabb is a 500hr Yoga Alliance certified teacher and owner of Navarre Living Yoga and Health Center. She began teaching yoga after 12 years of personal practice. Her teachers include: Jacqueline Heisel of Frog Lotus Yoga, Paul Gallagan of Centered Yoga of Thailand, Dr. Ganasan of the Himalayan Institute Hospital and Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati of the Abhyasa Ashram. In 2008, Kathy had the honor of spending nine weeks at Swami Rama’s ashram, Sadhana Mandir, in Rishikesh India, immersed in the yogic traditions of the Himalayan Masters.
Kathy believes in creating an asana flow that can be both invigorating and relaxing, with a major emphasis on the breath and modifying poses to meet all students’ needs. Her current focus is on developing, and teaching, workshops based upon the 8-limb path, meditation practices, diaphragmatic breathing and yoga nidra. Her teaching includes gentle and vigorous asanas, pranayamas, and meditation techniques, all with a focus on helping students cultivate their own yoga practice, including meditation. Kathy is also a licensed massage therapist who specializes in both holistic and therapeutic massage. Her passion for healing the body through yoga led her to study massage therapy in 2006. She now combines both modalities to help a client be nurtured and whole in body, breath, mind and spirit. Continuing to follow her passion for holistic healing, Kathy is currently a student of ayurveda at the California College of Aryuveda. |
Willow Conolly
Willow Conolly fell in love with yoga when she became a stay at home mom in 2007. She discovered yoga gave her strength and patience to nurture herself and her children throughout each day. Willow has been a yoga student for 5 years and in January of 2012, she completed the Yoga Teacher Training Program at Dragon Fly Yoga, receiving her 200-hour RYT.
Willow is also a licensed massage therapist, specializing in Swedish massage, therapeutic massage, pre-natal and sports massage. Her intuitive and nurturing style ensures your body will get the kind of healing it needs.
And if that is not enough, Willow is also a Reiki Master. She has been a Reiki practitioner for over a year and has witnessed healing on many levels. Energy work is her true passion. She uses her knowledge of chakras and the Reiki energy to help balance her clients physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Willow is also a licensed massage therapist, specializing in Swedish massage, therapeutic massage, pre-natal and sports massage. Her intuitive and nurturing style ensures your body will get the kind of healing it needs.
And if that is not enough, Willow is also a Reiki Master. She has been a Reiki practitioner for over a year and has witnessed healing on many levels. Energy work is her true passion. She uses her knowledge of chakras and the Reiki energy to help balance her clients physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Kaylen Simmons
Kaylen Simmons began her yoga journey as a teenager and was instantly captivated! Through the years, she has continued to learn and grow on her yogic path with many beautiful teachers and self study along the way. She is currently wrapping up her 200hr YRT certification through Dragonfly Yoga Studies and is thrilled and honored to be part of the teaching community at Navarre Living Yoga. She is also a licensed massage therapist who is passionate about anatomy. Through her instruction of yoga asana, breath and philosophy she hopes to bring her knowledge and nurturing to the mat to share with all of her students.
Marilyn Gusky
Marilyn Gusky began her Yoga practice in 2001 while living in Honolulu. Already an avid boogie-boarder, hiker, Jazzerciser and West Coast Swing dancer she thought Yoga would add stretching and relaxation. She quickly realized there was much more to the practice and in 2013 received her 200-hour RYT certification under the tutelage of Kathy Tabb at Navarre Living Yoga.
Teaching Yoga 101, Yin, Restorative, Gentle, Foundation and Energize Lite at NLY has deepened her understanding of Yoga and her own personal practice. Marilyn invites you to bring Yoga into your life-long-journey of learning and experience the impact it will have on your body, mind and spirit.
Teaching Yoga 101, Yin, Restorative, Gentle, Foundation and Energize Lite at NLY has deepened her understanding of Yoga and her own personal practice. Marilyn invites you to bring Yoga into your life-long-journey of learning and experience the impact it will have on your body, mind and spirit.
Lauren Lauver
Lauren Lauver's yoga journey began 5 years ago while at college in her home state of Maryland. Since then Lauren has taken a deep personal interest in eastern philosophy and finding ways to practice yoga on and off the mat. She seized the opportunity to become a yoga instructor knowing that as a military wife, she has the ability to share her knowledge and love of yoga with others across the country.
She received her 200 hr certification at CorePower Yoga in Colorado Springs in 2011. Lauren teaches power vinyasa (breath synchronized/flow) yoga—assured to leave you feeling energized and centered. One thing is certain to her; she believes yoga has the power to balance and improve lives. Lauren sees serving others through yoga is her path and she is looking forward to inspiring others to find their paths as well.
She received her 200 hr certification at CorePower Yoga in Colorado Springs in 2011. Lauren teaches power vinyasa (breath synchronized/flow) yoga—assured to leave you feeling energized and centered. One thing is certain to her; she believes yoga has the power to balance and improve lives. Lauren sees serving others through yoga is her path and she is looking forward to inspiring others to find their paths as well.
Mae McDonnell
Mae McDonnell discovered and fell in love with her yoga practice in 2004. At a time in her life when all things seemingly made no sense, she discovered her practice through Laura Tyree in FWB. Her first yoga class offered her something physical while at the same time something much more, something much deeper. This is where her true spiritual journey began. She is particularly drawn to Buddhist and Yogic philosophy. Yoga for her begins with the material – the breath, the body, and then transcends further into the inner self. For her yoga is a journey of the Self. Mae encourages her students to explore the deeper realms of the self through the physical body, most importantly the BREATH! She pairs movement with breath in an effort to allow students to experience the sensation of integration of mind, body and breath. Mae is also a student of Reiki and Massage Therapy.
Melissa Shalongo
Melissa Shalongo is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance certified teacher with over 1000 hours of teaching experience. Hailing from Atlanta, GA where she had a private practice working with children as young as 3 months to adults well into their 70's, she prides herself on making yoga accessible to everyone. She earned her teaching credentials from the Nosara Yoga Institute of Costa Rica where her teachers Don and Amba Stapleton where instrumental in forging her unique, experiential style of yoga.
Maintaining that personal experience is the ultimate authority in yoga (and life), her intention as a teacher is to help others develop and maintain their own personal practice. A perpetual student, Melissa approaches yoga like life, with an insatiable curiosity and an open mind and heart. She holds space for the miraculous and meets students where they are. Please join her for a playful, creative vinyasa where she combines her love of music with her yogic philosophy for a class which is at once joyful and sacred.
Maintaining that personal experience is the ultimate authority in yoga (and life), her intention as a teacher is to help others develop and maintain their own personal practice. A perpetual student, Melissa approaches yoga like life, with an insatiable curiosity and an open mind and heart. She holds space for the miraculous and meets students where they are. Please join her for a playful, creative vinyasa where she combines her love of music with her yogic philosophy for a class which is at once joyful and sacred.
Nicole Graves
Nicole Graves began taking yoga classes at a rock climbing gym and health studio as a supplement to her fitness regiment. When she joined the Air Force and came to the Emerald Coast, Nicole was drawn to yoga as a way to find strength, flexibility, and peace. She quickly found herself at Balance Health Studio completing her 200hr YTT. This life-changing experience encouraged her to begin teaching Vinyasa Yoga to share this powerful practice with others. As she finally learned the importance of slowing down and resting, her teaching evolved to include a beautiful restorative practice as well.
Nicole is an enthusiastic student and is now delving deeper into the world of health and wellness with her 300 hour teacher training. Nicole believes yoga is for everyone, and loves to share her experiences and knowledge!
Nicole is an enthusiastic student and is now delving deeper into the world of health and wellness with her 300 hour teacher training. Nicole believes yoga is for everyone, and loves to share her experiences and knowledge!
Jill Shurling
Jill Shurling began practicing yoga in 2001 and immediately recognized the benefits to both her body and her peace of mind. Jill has been working as a hairdresser since 1993 and when she began her yoga journey she finally found relief to her back pain. Jill is a member of the Yoga Alliance and has been teaching yoga since 2008 after completing a 200 hour program at Peachtree Yoga Center in Atlanta, GA. She has studied different styles of yoga with many wonderful teachers like Doug Keller and Erich Schiffman and she integrates what she has learned from them into her classes. Her classes will challenge you and she encourages playfulness along with a sense of ease. She enjoys free time on the beach, spending time with her four poodles, cat and husband, practicing yoga, lifting weights and traveling.
Kelly Melville
Kelly Melville is a Green Belt Nia instructor, trained by Nia co-founder Carlos Rosas, and a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance. She has certifications through AFAA and the YMCA, and is trained in the Fletcher Pilates method, a program created by Ron Fletcher while he mentored with Joseph and Clara Pilates. Kelly has a passion for learning and has an AAS in American Sign Language interpretation and a BA in theatre arts.
It was actually in an acting class that she was first introduced to yoga in 1993, and after years of turning to yoga for healing, she decided she needed to share her passion. Her love for yoga led her to discover other forms of healing movement, including Nia and Pilates, and she has now been teaching a variety of movement formats for over 10 years. Kelly believes strongly in the healing power of breathing and the joy of movement, and each class is a journey to discover that joy. When she's not teaching, Kelly can be found dancing in her living room with her two small children.
It was actually in an acting class that she was first introduced to yoga in 1993, and after years of turning to yoga for healing, she decided she needed to share her passion. Her love for yoga led her to discover other forms of healing movement, including Nia and Pilates, and she has now been teaching a variety of movement formats for over 10 years. Kelly believes strongly in the healing power of breathing and the joy of movement, and each class is a journey to discover that joy. When she's not teaching, Kelly can be found dancing in her living room with her two small children.
Nancy Sandler
Nancy Sandler discovered yoga after she retired from the Air Force. She began her yoga journey in Navarre in 2007. In July 2014, she completed Kathy Tabb's 200 hour Yoga Alliance teacher training and began teaching at Navarre Living Yoga. She enjoys scuba diving and while traveling the world to enjoy this passion, she finds time to visit yoga studios in many different countries. Nancy believes the mental and physical balance of a yoga practice can benefit all ages and abilities. She enjoys teaching a variety of classes including Yoga 101, Chair Yoga, Gentle, and Energize Lite.
Jaime Graham
Jaime N. Graham MA, LPC, NCC is licensed in professional counseling with National Certification. She partners with families and children from birth to the teens at The Bindu Institute, a holistic mental health center and also works on base. Jaime recently developed and leads the Conscious Kids class at local yoga studios in Navarre, Mary Esther, and Niceville. She founded an online parenting support group called Conscious Parenting Consultation and Support, and has facilitated classes in Love and Logic, specializing in working with families of specially able children and over the past thirteen years. Yoga has become a focal point of her practice with children and families on the Emerald Coast. She has worked at residential treatment centers for teens, with the county board for developmental disabilities, a foster/adopt agency, the mental health center, and on base with military children and families. Most notably, Jaime is the mother of three amazing children under the age of ten and the wife of her college sweetheart.
Lyissa O'Connor calls upon 17 years of practice and 10 years of instructing yoga, Lyissa conveys the authenticity and beauty of yoga in an accessible and inviting way. She is firmly grounded in alignment principles and an avid fan of yoga philosophy. Her classes are moderately paced, light-hearted and friendly -- lessons in yoga, perhaps lessons in life. Always open to questions, she is able to tailor classes to students’ needs, and encourages acceptance of each moment as a necessary step along the path of well-being.
