Yovana Yoga In Downtown Calhoun!
Sarah DeFoor is Yovana's Founder
Sarah DeFoor E-RYT 200, RYT- 500 & YECEP
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 200 hours of yoga for back care. Sarah completed her 500-hour teacher training with Susan Hopkins E-RYT 500 and I-AYT at Etowah Valley Yoga in Cartersville, GA. She is certified by Judith Hansen Lasater E-RYT- 500, PT, and PHD as a Relax and Renew Restorative Trainer. Sarah enhanced her knowledge of Yoga for back care by training with Lillah Schwartz E-RYT 500 and I-AYT who authored the book, “Healing Our Backs with Yoga”. Sarah has trained with many yoga teachers at the tops of their specialties like Marlysa Sullivan with yoga for chronic pain, Holle Black for Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Elizabeth Yates with yoga for Osteoporosis & Healthy ageing. 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 hasn't lived in Calhoun for many years. 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 118 year old house in Ranger.
Kate Johnson RYT-200
Kate's Yoga Journey
Kate’s yoga journey began when she discovered her mom’s Rodney Yee VHS tapes as a teen. As a college student at UGA, Kate took a few yoga classes but began seriously practicing yoga when she was pregnant with her daughter. Yoga helped her to prepare for childbirth and recover in the months after. Kate continued to practice yoga independently while pregnant with her second daughter.
Yoga became a bigger part of her life when a family friend encouraged her to get certified to teach Yoga. Kate trained under Sue Hopkins, E-RYT 500 and C-IAYT at Etowah Valley yoga. At Etowah Valley she found a deeper connection to yoga and a desire to share that connection with others.
Kate is a Calhoun native and lives close to downtown with her husband, Tim, her daughters, Maggie and Susanna and her two dogs. She is also an art teacher at CMS & CHS.
Anastasia Phalen RYT- 200
Anastasia's Yoga Journey
Anastasia grew up watching her father do yoga every morning, some of her earliest memories are playing on the yoga mat as a child. Although she did not start practicing yoga until she had a child of her own. As they learned together she watched her three year old practicing mindfulness, and calming techniques in other areas of his life, and it became clear that this was something she wanted more of.
Anastasia completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification through Etowah Valley Yoga in Cartersville in 2019 under Lisa Siniard. Anastasia teaches Hatha Flow, and hopes to continue her education to teach children about mindfulness and yoga. Anastasia lives with her son in Ranger Ga, she is building a tiny house, and also is a Art student at Georgia Highlands College.
Melody Parker CYT- 200
Melody's Yoga Journey
In 2008 Melody began experiencing lower back pain, after visiting an amazing chiropractor she found that she had two slipped discs, a pinched nerve & scoliosis. After many adjustments she began to feel better & 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 thru Aura Wellness Center along with mentoring coach Rhonda Shannon of Stretch & Breathe Yoga.
Melody teaches alignment based Hatha Yoga and Slow flow with focus on proper breathing.
Melody is a long time resident to of Calhoun and has been married to husband Randy for 24 years and has two beautiful children.