Instructors & Therapists

Owner

Kathy 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. 
Jessica Cuadra was born in Mallorca, Spain where she found Yoga in 2006 looking for relaxation whilst working in the corporate world.  After moving to the US in 2009, she returned to Yoga in search for balance and inner peace.  Currently studying under Laura Tyree (Dragonfly Yoga, FWB) and Ed Dailey, Jessica is drawn to the beauty of simplicity and the use of Yoga as a vessel to improve our lives with its benefits.  
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Kaylen Simmons
Kaylen Simmons is an NCBTMB certified massage therapist and has been a Florida State Licensed Massage Therapist since 2009. She is intent upon providing whole body wellness through her integrated massages utilizing classic Swedish, Sports, Trigger Point Therapy and Aromatherapy techniques. She is also very excited to now be offering Thai Yoga Massage. An energizing and rejuvenating massage, this modality uses stretching and compression to bring the body back into a state of balance. She is also a member in good standing with the Florida State Massage Therapy Association: Emerald Coast Chapter.
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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.
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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. 
PictureLeah Lewis

 Leah Lewis began her yoga journey in 2006, in 2013 she completed her 200 hour teacher training certification at CorePower Yoga in Colorado Springs. Drawn to the physical and emotional healing yoga has to offer, Leah's personal growth she has experienced through her yoga practice inspired her to become a yoga teacher.  Graduating from the University of Louisville with her Bachelor's Degree in Communication with an emphasis in Diversity Studies, Leah has mostly worked in the non-profit sector over the years serving the communities in which she lived. Leah, her husband of ten years, and her two sons moved to the Navarre area in September 2013 and she is thrilled to serve our community. Her other interests in addition to yoga include painting, crocheting, bird watching, hiking, cooking, and spending time at the beach with her family. 

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Photo coming! Lyissa O'Conner
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. 
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Melanie Summers
Melanie Summers ~ After years of working in fashion and trying her hand in writing, Melanie Summers took her first yoga class in 2008, beginning her yogic journey which soon led to a RYT 200hr training program at Dragonfly Yoga School with Laura Tyree in Fort Walton Beach in 2010. Having found her true calling, she will be continuing her training with JJ Gormely and Laura Tyree at the 500hr level in 2011.

As well as being a registered yoga teacher, Melanie is a licensed massage therapist. Her journey towards becoming a massage therapist began with her yoga studies in 2007 and her Reiki training in 2010.  As she learned more about the Eastern body, she wanted to serve other by providing health care that linked the East and West.  She began her studies in massage therapy at The Source Institute in 2012 completing her certification in 2013.  Melanie uses her knowledge of yoga, Reiki, Thai bodywork and Western massage techniques, such as trigger point therapy, in every massage she gives, creating a unique holistic experience for each of her clients.

Melanie blends her love for vinyasa and energy work with her passion for music in all her classes while introducing the ideals of yogic philosophy. Her interests include yoga therapy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Chakra Healing, film, writing, and spending time at the beach with her son.
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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.
PictureMarilyn 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. 
PictureCarnley Proud
Carnley Proud began her yoga journey at Navarre Living Yoga in 2011. She quickly realized that the yoga community was a place where she thrived.  She   attended NLY's very first 200 hour teacher training with Kathy Tabb.  Recently she participated in a 55 hour prenatal yoga teacher training with Katie Wise and Kirsten Warner and is currently working toward her 85 hour  RPYT certification.  She also has advanced training in Mommy and Me yoga.  Carnley is the owner of Wonderfully Made Birth and has been providing labor doula and childbirth education services to families in Northwest Florida since 2010.  She is a CAPPA certified childbirth educator and labor doula and is proud to be a part of  the CAPPA labor doula faculty.   Carnley is married to Stephen, who is active duty Air Force.  She is continuously inspired by her daughter Catherine, who lives life with a passion for everything and everyone around her.
PictureHeather Linville
Heather Linville - Heather’s journey to finding the true meaning of yoga began in 2009. In 2012 she moved to Navarre and discovered a place to nurture and grow her personal practice. In 2013 she embarked on a deeper journey and completed her 200 HR RYT at Navarre Living Yoga with Kathy Tabb. She is entirely thankful for her family, peers and teachers for their guidance, support and encouragement. Heather is compassionate about helping others. Her goal is to help others thrive in life by nurturing the mind, body and spirit. Her wish for her students is for them to leave their mat feeling refreshed, nourished and balanced. Heather enjoys teaching the slower paced classes like Yoga 101, Gentle, Chair and Restorative. Honoring your body and where it is at that moment is the focus for each of her classes.  Her interests include living a holistic life, teaching yoga, cooking, being outside and spending time with her beautiful family.
PictureNancy 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.