Art of Yoga Columbus Georgia

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Meet Our Artists

Christopher
​"Ukweli" Wilkes
a.k.a.
​"The Yoga Doctor"

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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 began reading philosophical books on my quest for knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and self-refinement.

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! I felt so great, that I wanted to share that feeling with the world around me!

Fast-forward to the present day and I am currently a father of 3 beautiful little ladies, an avid gardener, holistic-health enthusiast, Yogi Tea drinker and smoothie connoisseur, and the passionately proud owner of
Art of Yoga!

It is my immense honor and pleasure to share my labor of love with you and I look forward to helping you create your MasterPeace Within!

Namaste
---Christopher

Tracy Jennings-Hill

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Owner/Founder, ERYT 500, C-IAYT, YACEP, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Coach, Jyotish (Vedic Astrologer)"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
Tracy found her yoga practice over 20 years ago, as a way to heal after her husband was killed while on active duty. Her discovery came organically as she was searching for happiness without medications or stimulants. Yoga helped her begin to rebuild her life and as she was retiring from the US Air Force, she continued to practice. In addition to healing from her loss, she struggled with sciatica, refusing to take medications so as a way to help maintain a healthy and balanced mental and physical lifestyle she continued dabbling in different disciplines of yoga, discovering the Vinyasa style, finding her yoga home. As she grew to understand the value of the mind/body connection, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a fitness professional but more importantly a yoga teacher, embodying all aspects of both professions.
Subsequently, she attended her first yoga teacher training in April 2001 and became a Teacher trainer for YogaFit in 2007. Since then not only has she become a 500 ERYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher), but she has also completed her requirements as a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), awarded in October 2017. Tracy is the Ayurvedic program manager and one of the Faculty Mentors for the Yoga Therapy program for YogaFit where she leads over 20 yoga teacher trainings annually. Additionally, she is a certified CHEK Institute Holistic LifeCoach (Level 1) and had been a group fitness instructor for over 19 years, with a flourishing career, where she has focused on indoor cycling, muscle strength/ endurance training, with yoga being her love…it made her continue to go deeper in her practice. So on September 1st 2017, she left her corporate position as a Studio Manager, with Lifetime Athletic, to open LiveURYoga! In addition to her experience teaching Yoga and Ayurveda, she has completed her initial Jyotish Practitioner Training (300 HR) in June of 2019. This addition moves her expertise and understanding of these foundational aspects of both sciences to the next level as a teacher ,practitioner, facilitator and mentor. As a facilitator, she works with surviving spouses of active duty military members, teaching them the yogic life skills such as meditation, pranayama (breathwork) and healing movement, that changed her life forever.
As she has grown, LiveURYoga was born and has continued to organically grow. Her focus, vision and mission is about providing a platform for transformation, empowerment, and growth meeting each person where they are but more importantly giving them the tools to flourish. Using the basic principles of yoga entwining mind, body and spirit. This practice includes pranayama, kriya, meditation, movement, connected with the elements incorporating basic Ayurvedic principles to lead everyone to their bliss state, which is a place of true balance.
Finally, her teaching, practice, and mentoring have transformed, do to her extensive travels to Rishikesh, India, the birth place of Yoga. She has had the pleasure of being the guide for groups since November of 2007 and has consistently studied there on an annual basis since then. Thus, bringing this authentic aspect to her teachings with a modern day understanding and realistic approach to bringing these ancient teachings alive to be used in our daily lives.

Naomi Gogas

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Yoga for me is about the journey, not an end goal.  My journey has truly been life changing...hard to put into words honestly.  Body awareness, mindfulness, peacefulness, clarity are a few things that stand out...seeing all of the little things blossom into this amazing experience for me, is simply put...AWESOME.
 
I completed my 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training with Art of Yoga and registered for my RYT 200 in June 2019.
November 2019, I had my first ever MRI to hopefully discover what was causing a paralyzing sensation in my legs. In January 2020, I had spinal surgery to remove a large benign tumor from my L4 L5 vertebrae. The tumor had been with me for a while, and it changed the shape of my bone! I am so thankful to my yoga practice to help me understand something was not right with my body.  Recovery was an experience all in itself as well, and thankfully, I’m back to normal movements and getting stronger everyday. 
 
I encourage use of props and modifications to help encourage proper alignment allowing your body to get the most benefit from your practice. 
 
I love yoga and you might too...Join me!  I look forward to sharing my practice with you! 

Morgan Fleming

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Morgan’s yoga journey began in 2015 on a whim. Attending a free course offered by her college, the first thing she noticed about yoga was how it grew her inner grace and self-love, and thus how much easier it became to give grace and love to those around her.

She continued passively practicing asana until 2020, when one of her teachers encouraged her to become certified to share the practice. Through a three year journey, she became passionate about all
aspects of yoga and its role in humanity’s path to self-discovery.

You can expect transformational breath work, unique asana flows and intentional yin-based closings in Morgan’s classes. She believes in yoga as a holistic approach to both fitness and life, and is happy to not only guide students, but grow with them and meet their specific needs.

Morgan aims to guide her students toward the same inner light she found through yoga, supporting them in whatever flow is necessary for their growth.

​She lives by one phrase: “If
you’re not amazed most of the time, you’re not paying attention,” and hopes to bring this truth to others as well. In her spare time, Morgan can be found painting, cooking, and caring for animals.​

Jeffrey Oakman

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Jeffrey Oakman originates from Central Florida and has been making music since the age of nine.

After years spent performing classical music and musical theatre, he has since shifted his intention to helping others find peace and transformation. His sound experiences explore many instruments, both ancient and modern.

​He has invested his efforts into researching and experimenting with the consciousness-shifting power of sound, and how it can be used to bring healing to all people from all walks of life.

Brock Gallops

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Before the Covid-19 Pandemic hit, I was looking for something to reduce my stress I was enduring in a job. The stress had been persistent for three years at this time. At home I began doing things here and there but mainly focusing on stretches and easing the mind.

About two months into Covid, I wanted to begin practicing on a regular basis, but all the studios were closed and I wasn't receptive to online classes, mostly because I was still new to Yoga.  

It wasn't until I found Art of Yoga in 2022 that I began my love affair. I found my "vice" that helped me release. I began taking as many classes and styles as possible and taking teacher training as well. I wanted to learn more! The more I discovered and the better I felt in life, and I realized I needed to spread the word and show people how Yoga can make their lives so much better.

I'm an athlete and at the age of 40, I still play some sports. I noticed a major improvement in my level of play after practicing Yoga, and I aspire to work with athletes in the future to assist in recovery and core training.

My goal is to deliver outstanding instruction and deliver the Universe's greatest gift which I feel is Yoga.

Elise Feinberg

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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

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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.
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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!

Versandra Kennebrew

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Versandra Kennebrew, ICHC, discovered yoga twenty years ago during her massage therapy certification at Irene's Myomassology Institute in Detroit, Michigan.
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After providing massages for more than 2000 clients and receiving her health coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she returned to yoga in 2019 and studied at Kashi Atlanta Ashram for her 200-Hour CYTT.

Versandra is committed to sharing the message of healing and transformation through living a holistic lifestyle on stages and in studios big and small. She is the president of Optimal Living Education & Retreats.
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  • Home
    • New Students
    • About Us
  • Class Schedule
  • Class Packages and Specials
    • Upcoming Events
  • Teacher Training
  • Social Media
  • Contact
  • New Page