Yovana Yoga In Downtown Calhoun GA! Your 1st month of unlimited classes is only $59!
Sarah DeFoor is Yovana's Founder
Sarah DeFoor MBA, E-RYT 500, & YACEP
Sarah is a highly experienced yoga educator and teacher trainer with more than 1,500 hours of advanced study with internationally respected instructors. Her approach is rooted in both personal healing and extensive training in yoga.
Her journey into teaching began after using yoga to recover from a knee injury, building on earlier success in relieving chronic back pain. Prior to practicing yoga, persistent back discomfort was a daily challenge. With consistent practice pain was significantly reduced and ultimately resolved. This transformation shaped her commitment to helping others move and feel better in their bodies.
Sarah completed her 500-hour teacher training with Susan Hopkins (E-RYT 500, I-AYT). She is also is certified as a Level 2 Relax and Renew® Restorative Yoga teacher by Judith Hanson Lasater (E-RYT 500, PT, PhD). She has completed 110 hours of Yin Yoga training with Bernie Clark and Sarah Powers. Additional certifications include Yoga for Osteoporosis and Yoga for Back Pain with Loren Fishman, a leader in clinical research on yoga as medicine. She further expanded her expertise in back care and pelvic health through training with Lillah Schwartz, author of Healing Our Backs with Yoga.
Her teaching integrates alignment-based yoga, therapeutic back care, Yin Yoga, restorative yoga, and both supported and active chair yoga. Classes are designed to be accessible, effective, and adaptable, with an emphasis on helping students leave feeling better than when they arrived.
Sarah is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). She also serves as Training Director for the Yovana Yoga Teacher Training program, mentoring and educating future instructors.
Originally from Calhoun, Sarah has lived and worked around the world, including nine years in Australia, Italy, and England. She holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Tennessee and an MBA in Global Management earned while living abroad. She now resides in Ranger, where she continues to support the health and well-being of her local community.
Denise Cass RYT-200
In 1976, Denise discovered Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan. As a young mother with an infant and no time or money for studio classes, she taught herself basic poses from the book — and quickly fell in love. Yoga made her feel restored, relaxed, and energized.
Over the years, Denise continued to practice off and on, depending on the demands of work and life. But in 2023, she returned to the mat with a new intention: restoration. She was experiencing pain in both knees and one hip and was determined to avoid surgery.
With a consistent practice, transformation came quickly. The aches and pains vanished. Sleep became restful. Mood swings eased. Mental clarity returned. It was life-changing.
She discovered that the benefits of regular yoga practice are truly immeasurable.
Inspired by this powerful shift, Denise took a leap in January 2025 and enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program. She graduated in September 2025 — and now, she’s ready to share the gift of yoga with others.
Kim Holland RYT-200
After experiencing back & neck pain, Kim sought help from a local chiropractor as well as a spine surgery center. She was trying to avoid surgery and sought out more holistic ways to heal from her pain. Yoga was highly recommended. When Yovana moved into downtown Sarah went around to all the merchants to invite them to the studio. Kim owned the Rusty Zipper on Court St. Kim told Sarah about her 5 herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and pinched nerves. Sarah accepted the challenge and Kim's love of yoga began. So far, yoga has fixed her spinal stenosis, released her nerves and her back & neck pain is much less. Kim completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2022 at Yovana Yoga. Now she is ready to share this healing practice as a teacher as well as continue her learning journey as a student.
Kim did advanced teacher training in yoga for back care with Lillah Schwartz E-RYT 500 and I-AYT who authored the book, “Healing Our Backs with Yoga”. Shs has also completed both levels of Restorative Yoga training with Judith Hanson Lasater.
Kim lives in Resaca with her husband Zip. She has sold her stores and is now focused on ways to help her body age better.
Amy Quarles M.Ed, LPC, RYT-500, CCYT, & TCTSY-F
Just before turning 50, Amy decided to make some changes in her life. She saw the Yovana Yoga sign and decided to give yoga a try. Although she had tried some yoga on her own, she had never taken a studio class. Once she took a class, she fell in love with the way it made her body feel. She became a regular student at Yovana, and then became interested in developing her practice further.
Amy completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in June 2021 at Yovana Yoga under Sarah DeFoor, E-RYT 500 and Grace Stephen E-RYT 500 & Professional Yoga Therapist. She has completed the 95 hour Grounded Kids Yoga Training with Amy Haysman & Sedef Dion. This makes her a certified Children's Yoga teacher. She did her restorative teacher training in 2022 under Sarah DeFoor E-RYT 500 and Certified Rest and Renew Restorative Trainer. Amy studied yoga for back care with Lillah Schwartz E-RYT 500 and I-AYT. In 2024 Amy completed her 300 hour trauma informed yoga therapist training under David Emerson E-RYT & Jenn Turner, LMHC. They Co-direct the Center for Trauma and Embodiment. Amy is the only Trauma Certified Yoga teacher in North Georgia. Amy is only the 6th person in Georgia and the only person in North Georgia to become a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F). TCTSY is the only scientifically validated, yoga based treatment for complex trauma and PTSD.
Amy is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice working with children, adolescents and adults. She has lived in Calhoun since 1999 with her husband, Patrick, and 2 sons, Brian and Connor. In addition to yoga, she enjoys gardening, reading, and hiking.
Melody Parker RYT-200
In 2008 Melody began experiencing lower back pain, after visiting a chiropractor she found that she had two slipped discs, a pinched nerve & scoliosis. After many adjustments she began to heal & with the nudging of her big sister, decided to give Yoga a try. After just a few classes she fell in love and wanted to learn more and completed her 200 hour certification with Aura Wellness Center, along with mentoring coach Rhonda Shannon of Stretch & Breathe Yoga.
Recently, Melody completed her second 200 hour certification at Yovana Yoga under the direction of Sarah DeFoor E-RYT 500 & Grace Stephen E-RYT 500 & PYT. This allowed her to register with Yoga Alliance as an RYT-200. Melody has done advanced teacher training in Yoga for Back Care with Sue Hopkins & Lillah Schwartz both are E-RYT 500 & C-IAYT. She completed her restorative teacher training at Yovana Yoga in 2022 under Sarah DeFoor E-RYT 500 and Certified Rest and Renew Restorative Trainer. Melody teaches alignment based Yoga and Yin.
Melody has been teaching a yoga donation classes benefiting the hot meals program at the VAC for more than a decade. First at her church then at Yovana. Melody is a long time resident of Calhoun and has been married to husband Randy for 27 years, has two beautiful children, Tucker & Natalie, a lovely daughter-in law, Rachel and an adorable grandchild, Caroline, two cats, and a dog.
Crystal Robbins E-RYT 500 & YACEP
Crystal is an E-RYT500, and YACEP. Her personal yoga practice began in 2009, and as her practice evolved she felt pulled to share the gift of yoga through teaching. She obtained her 200 hour training at Yoga and Wellness of Blue Ridge in Blue Ridge, GA in 2019, and 500 hour training at Zen Den Yoga School in Boca Raton, FL in 2022. She is experienced in teaching Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Sivananda, Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, and even Partner Yoga. She truly believes that yoga is for everybody and every BODY! As a former surgical RN, she developed a unique understanding of the complexity and wisdom of the physical body. Crystal guides and serves with compassion, honesty, humor, and a nurturing tenderness. When she's not on her mat or working with clients, you can find her spending time with her family and pets, hiking, kayaking, reading, and gardening.
Heather Wheeless RYT-200
Becoming a yoga instructor wasn’t always part of the plan. After 25 years in a desk-based financial career, the physical strain began to take a toll. Occasional yoga classes had been part of a fitness routine, mainly to support running, but consistency didn’t come until a back injury made movement difficult and recovery slow. Traditional treatments alone weren’t restoring strength or confidence.
A simple, floor-based yoga practice focused on back care became the turning point. Gentle, accessible movements—combined with targeted shoulder work—helped rebuild strength, reduce pain, and create a sustainable routine. Over time, this evolved into a consistent practice done several times a week, improving mobility, stability, and overall well-being.
As the benefits became visible, friends and family grew curious and began asking for guidance. That curiosity revealed a gap: while the personal practice was effective, teaching it safely and adapting it for others required deeper knowledge. This led to formal yoga instructor training.
Now, as a certified instructor, the focus is on helping others build strength, ease pain, and develop a practice that meets them where they are—especially those dealing with stiffness, injury recovery, or long hours of sitting. Classes emphasize simple, supportive movements, clear instruction, and modifications so every student can participate comfortably and confidently.
Yoga didn’t start as a lifelong goal—but it became a powerful way to support both personal health and the well-being of others.
Laura Sparks RYT-200
Laura’s yoga journey began in the early 2000s when she and her then-boyfriend happened upon a flyer advertising a yoga class in East Point, Georgia. The class didn’t last long, but Laura and Bryan’s enjoyment of the practice did. They sought out yoga classes throughout the Atlanta area and even during vacations in other places, such as Durango, CO, and the Lake Eden Arts Festival outside Asheville, NC.
Fast-forward a couple of decades, and the not-so-newlyweds had a young son, and they had relocated to Chatsworth, Georgia, to care for Bryan’s mother. One day, while their son was in preschool, Laura finally tuned in to the little voice inside her body saying, “You really need some yoga!" She immediately pulled out her phone, Googled "Yoga classes near me" and found a little studio "where yoga and nirvana meet."
That first class in Yovana's Calhoun studio started Laura on a new branch of her yoga journey. Having cared for older family members, she was intrigued by the benefits of chair yoga for people who can't get down to the floor. She already believed that yoga is every body. After trying the class, she was amazed at how much she enjoyed it. She was able to access better alignment and more openness in many poses. She also found the energy and camaraderie of the chair yoga students infectious. Laura graduated from the Yovana Yoga 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2024 and is excited to share her passion for this powerful practice.
Kate Rice RYT-200
Kate's yoga journey started in college. She signed up for a class not really knowing what she was getting into. She had always been active, but that class surprised her (in a good way) with the challenge it offered to her body…and then came savasana, and she fell in love.
She casually followed video and online classes before practicing in Dalton. Once COVID closed the doors of many places, she reverted back to an occasional online practice. Her and her husband found Yovana through a friend and were reminded about how good it made their bodies feel. They began attending regularly and noticed an improvement with their flexibility and strength. She often had hip discomfort with high activity and noticed that was alleviated when she was able to routinely incorporate yoga. She believes in yoga as a compliment to her active lifestyle to stay healthy and balanced. Kate is a 2024 graduate of the Yovana Yoga 200 hour training program.
Kate works as a full time nurse in Dalton at Williams Plastic Surgery. She is happily married to Matt, and they have an amazing son, Sam. She enjoys painting, gardening, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Maybe You CYT-200
We are always looking for good yoga teachers to join our team. You should have at least a 200 hour training from a Registered Yoga School (RYS). If you are interested in training to become a Yoga teacher inquire about our next 200 hour training.