Yovana Yoga In Calhoun & Dalton, GA! Your 1st month of unlimited classes is only $59!
Sarah DeFoor is Yovana's Founder
Sarah DeFoor MBA, E-RYT 500, & YACEP
Sarah decided to deepen her knowledge of yoga and become an instructor once she experienced how yoga helped her recover from a knee injury. She had already seen the transforming effects of yoga on her back pain. Before starting yoga, Sarah experienced back pain almost all the time. Several months into her yoga practice she realized the pain was lessened and at some point, it went away entirely. She has taken more than 300 hours of yoga for back care.
Sarah completed her 500-hour teacher training with Susan Hopkins E-RYT 500 and I-AYT. She is certified by Judith Hanson Lasater E-RYT- 500, PT, and PHD as a level 2 Relax and Renew Restorative teacher. Sarah has studied Yin with both Bernie Clark & Sarah Powers for a total of 110 hours. She is certified in Yoga for Osteoporosis & Yoga for Back Pain by Dr. Loren Fishman MD who continues to do clinical trials on yoga as medicine and wrote the book "Yoga for Osteoporosis". Sarah enhanced her knowledge of Yoga for back care and the "Happy Pelvis" by training with Lillah Schwartz E-RYT 500 and I-AYT who authored the book, “Healing Our Backs with Yoga”. Sarah brings this knowledge and experience to help her community in Calhoun and the surrounding area.
Sarah teaches alignment based yoga, yoga for back care, yin yoga, supported chair yoga, active chair yoga and restorative yoga. Sarah’s goal is to have her students walk away from class feeling better than when they came in the door. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). Sarah is also the training director for the Yovana Yoga Teacher training program.
Sarah is originally from Calhoun, but has lived all over the country and the world. Chasing her career around the world she lived overseas for nine years in Australia, Italy and England. Sarah has a BS from the University of Tennessee and an MBA in Global Management that she received while living in Australia. She is now settled back in Gordon County. She lives in a 120 year old house in Ranger.
Stacia Dickson PTA, LSVT Big & RYT-200
Stacia started her yoga practice in 2012 as a compliment to her running and strength training. Yoga helped improve her muscle length and flexibility. Then backbends changed her life. The addition of back bending into her regular practice has created more space in her spine and her back feels better than ever. Stacia is a physical therapist and is using yoga to help her clients move better. Stacia loves the physical benefits of yoga. She also loves how yoga slows her down and calms her mind.
She is a 2022 graduate of the Yovana Yoga teacher training program. Her physical therapy background married with her own athletic ability gives her the amazing ability to truly teach yoga to anyone. However. she naturally teaches a more athletic practice because that is who she is.
Stacia lives in Dalton with her husband, Vaughn, and son, Ryder.
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 RYT-500
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-200, RYT-500, and YACEP
Crystal is an ERYT-200, RYT-500, 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.
Leighanne Fulmer E-RYT 500 & C-IAYT
Leighanne Fulmer’s love for yoga began over four decades ago, nurtured by a deep-rooted family tradition of holistic wellness and meditation. Her journey into the world of yoga started when she attended a 6-week meditation training with her mother and grandmother at the Maharishi Ayurvedic Center. After completing a BS in Biology at UTK and becoming a mother of two little boys she found yoga to be a crucial part to living a balanced life. In 1998 her yoga teacher, Robbie Williams, asked her to begin assisting in yoga classes. Inspired by these experiences, she embarked on a deep exploration of yoga, studying with various Iyengar and Ashtanga instructors in Nashville then later with renowned teachers like Erich Schiffmann, Donna Farhi, and Judith Hanson Lasater. Her journey continued with Juliann Cunningham completing a 500 hour certification and later assisting her in teacher trainings and workshops.
Over the years, Leighanne has attended numerous trainings and workshops refining her understanding of asana, pranayama, and meditation. An interest in pain management led her to become a C-IAYT Yoga Therapist. She co-owned Bloom Yoga Studio where she led teacher trainings and built a yoga rope wall to better assist her students with back pain. After several years of studying yoga for back care with Deborah Wolk and Cassie O'Sullivan she completed two Yoga for Scoliosis Trainings with Elise Browning Miller. This expertise allows her to offer personalized guidance to students with specific needs. Her ability to combine therapeutic techniques with mindfulness practices creates a supportive and healing environment.
Her commitment to spreading the benefits of yoga is evident in her dedication to her students and the community. Currently, she serves as the Associate Director of The Art of Life - Mindful Resiliency Program at Cumberland University and as the President of the Yoga Society of Nashville.
A native of Tennessee, she recently moved to Chatsworth, Georgia in 2024 to be closer to the mountains and whitewater rivers in the southeast. When not guiding others on their yoga journeys, Leighanne can often be found exploring the beauty of nature, hiking to waterfalls, gardening, or whitewater kayaking with her husband Allan. Her love for the outdoors reflects her deep connection to the present moment and the natural world.
Her classes emphasize alignment, breath awareness, and meditation, creating a holistic yoga experience. With over two decades of teaching experience and a keen eye for alignment she guides students of all levels to deepen their practice.
Leighanne loves to teach: Chair Yoga, Yoga for Back Care, Yoga for Scoliosis, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Vinyasa, Gentle, AcroYoga, Partner Yoga, Thai Yoga, Kids Yoga, TeenYoga, Yoga for Women, and Trauma Sensitive Yoga.
Betsy Childers M. Ed. & RYT-200
Betsy graduated from the Yovana Yoga 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program in 2024. She is excited to share her passion for yoga and help others find strength and balance on the mat. Her journey into yoga began after a major snow skiing accident, and she has since experienced firsthand the transformative power it brings to both body and mind.
With 23 years in education, Betsy has taught students from Pre-K through Fourth Grade and is dedicated to fostering a love of learning while incorporating yoga into her classroom. She truly cherishes the opportunity to inspire young minds, and teaching has always been a blessing for her. Betsy carries that same enthusiasm into her yoga practice, creating a nurturing environment for her students. In addition to her teaching career, Betsy has judged GHSA cheerleading for the past 25 years, combining her love for education and athletics.
Outside of teaching, Betsy is happily married to Aaron, and together they love spoiling their two nieces and two nephews. They are avid travelers, hikers, fly-fishers, and kayakers, and enjoy catching Braves games, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, and attending concerts. Montana holds a special place in their hearts, and they dream of retiring there someday. Until they get to Montana, they will soon reside in Tunnel Hill where they are building their new home.
Join Betsy in class to explore the life-changing benefits of yoga and embark on your own journey of self-discovery and wellness through yoga!
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 for a Registered Yoga School (RYS). If you are interested in training to become a Yoga teacher inquire about our next 200 hour training.