Meet Our Vibrant Life Artists

Christopher Wilkes

It was 2006 and I had just broken up with my college sweetheart.  As I delved deeper into my stage of reflection and introspection, it was during this time that I began to question my limiting beliefs. 
I came across a book by Russell Simmons called "Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success." The keen insights he offered in the book ignited my curiosity about yoga and meditation.
Around the same time I also began feeling "old" at a very young age and was experiencing debilitating back pain!  I took my first yoga "lesson" one morning by watching a tv show called "Namaste Yoga."  It was only a 30 minute show, but I felt better than I had ever felt in a long time after I was finished, and I even noticed that my back pain had greatly diminished!
 I have been hooked ever since and have dived deeply down the rabbit hole of yogic philosophy and self actualization through the practice!    
It is my immense honor and pleasure to share my labor of love with you!
Namaste

Chandler Collins

​Chandler has been a Kundalini Yoga and Meditation teacher since 2009.  After her first Kundalini class, Chandler experienced the healing potential of this yogic technology and decided to train in Rheshikesh India with master teachers Tej Kaur of Nine Treasure Yoga and  Gurumuhk Kaur Khalsa of Golden Bridge.  Since then, she has shared the teachings of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan throughout the Eastern United States and  Calgary, Canada.  In her classes, you will experience the sensation of balancing the nervous system, the glandular system and circulatory systems to awaken a more balanced and empowered version of yourself.  ​

Erika Bloodworth

My mind, body and spirit journey began when, as a nationally ranked gymnast, I was first introduced to and utilized the mindfulness technique of visualization to enhance performance. I learned that, along with a disciplined work ethic, visualizing my best performance moved me towards manifestation.
As the child of a recovering alcoholic, I learned about the grip of addiction and the healing power of twelve step programs and supportive communities. During my college years, as I moved away from my family of origin and pursued a degree in dance, I began to notice obstacles, patterns and habits that were keeping me from living a happy, connected, radiant life. Through the practice of mindfulness meditation and dance performance, some of these blocks started to loosen their grip on my life. 
After earning an MA in school counseling and the credential of National Certified Counselor, I worked for eight years as a licensed, national board certified school counselor. During that time I witnessed the debilitating effects of stress, trauma and other mental health challenges on the mind, body and spirit. As a result, I became increasingly committed to the healing power of mind/body practices, such as yoga, movement, and mindfulness based stress reduction. I am a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance and am certified as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher through Yoga International. 

Claudia Smith 

Claudia Sotoj-Smith is native from Guatemala, Mayan Quiche, father heritage. She learned all the traditional Mayan rituals and culture from her grandmother; in addition she combines Energetics therapy on treatments with different ways in her clinical aesthetician private practice. She earned her Masters in Art History from Universidad de San Carlos De Guatemala. This opened the doors to teach in the College in Guatemala and work with International organizations like Unesco and Plan International. She also Co- funded an art school of theatre, and the Center of Human development in Guatemala City. Additionally, she offers workshops in Guatemala for different organizations and teaches the Hatha Yoga discipline that she learned in the 90's with La Gran Fraternidad Universal Guatemala. She has lived and taught in Spain, Guatemala, and the US.

Judy Barnett 

Yoga has been part of my life for 18 years. After spinal surgery in 2001, I started practicing at Art of Yoga to deal with continuing neck pain. When I retired from my job as a Nurse Anesthetist, I completed a 200 hour teacher training at Tallapoosa Center for Inner Arts in Carrollton, Ga.
In my gentle yoga classes, I combine breath work, meditation, and asanas to help nurture body, mind and spirit. These classes are free to cancer survivors. My hope is that my students step off their mat feeling relaxed, nourished, and balanced.

Sue Tomkiewicz

Musician and professor by day, yoga teacher by night (or something along those lines), Sue (a.k.a. Dr. T) has been a music professor for over 15 years, the last 10 at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. Since teaching is part of what she lives and breathes on a daily basis, making the transition from yoga student to yoga teacher was a natural progression. She completed her 200 RYT training in August of 2018 at Yogafly in Auburn, Alabama with Nicole Agostino and teaches Yoga for Performers at Columbus State University. Sue also teaches at Art of Yoga where she has been a dedicated student for the last 9 years. Sue’s specific yoga interests are yoga for the health and well-being of musicians, alignment, connecting with breath and meditation. You can follow her journeys of music, yoga, chickens, bees and life on her facebook page and personal website. https://www.facebook.com/susan.tomkiewicz  http://susantomkiewicz.wixsite.com/home

Elise Feinberg

Elise has been practicing yoga for over 15 years, attending classes at several local studios. For three years she studied with Sarah Nordin, a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. Elise has attended yoga workshops with Eddy Marks, Mary Obendorfer and Livia Shapiro-Cohen. In February 2017 at the age of 70, Elise completed her 200-hour teacher certification at Yogafly in Auburn, Alabama. Practicing and teaching yoga is one of her life passions. Elise and Bob, her husband of 54 years, own Feinberg Center for Well-Being since 1982. Their passion is to teach people to live a balanced lifestyle and eat healthfully. They have two children and five grandchildren. Elise believes you can do yoga and benefit at any age.

Yogi Aftab

​​Yogi Aftab is an eRYT-500 teacher specializing in Kundalini Yoga. His teaching career spans for more than 46 years of inspiring students to go pass their limitations in Europe, Australia, South America, the US and the Caribbean.
At eleven years old he discovered Yoga, and under the guidance of Yogi Bhajan he completed his teacher training in 1972 at one of his Ashrams in Arizona. He is a strict vegetarian, likes to make herbal tinctures, does energetic healing, enjoys chanting, and loves cold showers.
He is here now with us in Columbus, and is looking forward to meeting you!