Healing Arts Practitioners
Derek Helvey
Derek has been practicing sound healing, energy work, and meditation practices for the last 8 years. He brings a holistic approach to healing, blending a peaceful setting with beautiful vibrations and balanced energy to encourage bodies to rest and reset.
He is well versed with instruments, including the handpan, tong drum, crystal bowls, Native American flute and drums, ocean drums, kalimba, chimes and more, that when combined create a beautiful sound immersion experience and journey.
“Through the practice of sound and vibration we have the opportunity to reset our nervous system, become open to healing, bring awareness to the present moment, and live a more balanced life.”
Follow Derek on Instagram @spiritbearrevival
Loretta Kennedy
Loretta’s journey into massage therapy began with a deep interest in how the body responds to touch and relaxation. She was pregnant with her son and seeking relief for her physical body, as well as her mental health. Loretta was a teacher for 15 years before deciding to enter the massage therapy field. She was inspired by how her own body, mind, and spirit responded to the massage she received and felt called to provide that for others.
Loretta received her massage therapy education at Roane State where she was taught and nurtured by an amazing teacher and mentor. She continually updates her skills with the latest techniques. Loretta has big plans for her future continuing education endeavors and cannot wait to try as many modalities as she can. This dedication ensures that her clients receive the most effective and personalized care possible.
Her approach to massage therapy is grounded in a holistic philosophy, focusing on the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and spirit. Loretta believes in creating a serene and nurturing environment where clients can unwind, alleviate stress, and achieve their wellness goals. She takes pride in her ability to listen to her clients, hold a safe space, and adapt her techniques to provide the most beneficial and customized experience.
Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain, stress reduction, or simply a moment of relaxation, Loretta is dedicated to supporting your journey to optimal health and well-being.
Follow Loretta on Instagram @lorettaklmt
Becky Maze
After acquiring a B.S. in Health Education, Becky has worked as a dental hygienist for many years. She finds it fascinating that each tooth is also related to a reflex in the body.
In 2013, she completed a 200 hour lyengar yoga training and finished her 500 hour yoga training in Subtle (trauma informed) yoga in 2015. She teaches a gentle flow yoga as well as yin, restorative and lyengar styles of yoga. She is also a Reiki Master and Arch Angelic Light Master/Teacher.
It is her belief that individuals must become an advocate for their own health and treat the whole body as a temple–a housing for the soul. “The body is divinely created and should be treated with respect by the individuals and practitioners.” Reflexology and energy work will develop more awareness of oneself and aid in bringing balance into a healthy lifestyle.
Follow Becky on Instagram @reflexologyknoxville
Teacher Training Faculty
Dr. Sarah Fields
Sarah offers instruction on injury prevention and management for Glowing Body Teacher Training. Sarah guides trainees through techniques to improve the body’s response to stress, to reduce chronic systemic inflammation, as well as address or avoid common aches and pains that might affect yoga practitioners.
Marrying a passion for treating the whole person (not just symptoms) and a diverse skill set, Sarah loves to integrate her experience and expertise to develop a treatment plans that help her clients have lasting change and help them to lead productive lives. Along with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Sarah has certifications and experience in teaching yoga, yoga therapy, massage therapy, and health coaching.
Jennifer Beyt Coffin
Jennifer has a 30+ year hatha yoga practice and draws her inspiration from a blend of the essential aspects of Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Forrest, Iyengar, and Yin Yoga practices. Since teaching her first class 22 years ago, Jennifer has committed to make her classes welcoming, challenging, and safe.
It is Jennifer’s goal as a teacher to encourage you to find the therapeutic benefits of your practice, be it vigorous or more passive, so that it may be a life long endeavor.
Follow her on Instagram @coreexplore
Kim Lomonaco
Kim believes movement practices and bodywork are means to being in a deliberate relationship with oneself. Sessions are tailored to address clients’ needs, including the holistic perspective that body, mind, and spirit are inseparable. Expect her to create a session that addresses aches and pains, with suggestions on how to carry over new movement and breathing patterns through day-to-day life. Kim will use her understanding of movement and mindfulness in the therapeutic sessions she offers and will empower you to live better in your body.
Kim has been teaching yoga since 2007 and successfully completed two 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training, as well as hundreds of hours of continuing education and independent study in the areas of anatomy/physiology, therapeutic application of yoga, breath science, philosophy, meditation, and Thai Yoga Massage. Kim has taught yoga at The Glowing Body since the studio opened in 2008, served as studio manager for several years, and became owner in 2017. She completed her certification in massage therapy at Asheville School of Massage & Yoga in September 2018. She currently teaches to groups and individuals, as well as practices massage with private clients at The Glowing Body.
Further, Kim earned a Masters of Science in 2010, and has worked as a Speech Language Pathologist in hospitals ever since. Her ongoing experience in healthcare lends balance to understanding the many ways we may influence our health.
The Glowing Body has become an integral part of her development as a person and a professional, and she takes great pride in facilitating the continued success of the studio.
Like on Facebook, follow her on Instagram @bend.breathe.be, or visit her website.
Thai Yoga Massage Therapists
Jayme Hanna
From Missouri to Tennessee I’m a licensed esthetician, reiki master and herbalist, and I am bringing my holistic talents to my new home in Knoxville, TN. As small business owner since 2010 creating artisanal skincare, I have a passion for creating products and services for my clientele. I’ve devoted countless hours to learning about our natural environments and the magnificent things it has to offer our well-beings. As a holistic esthetician, I find balance and insight when I learn how we connect with plants medicinally and energetically. I built my dream spa, an organic spa in Missouri from the ground up to help clients come into alignment with their natural energy path. I have since sold that business to scale down to be with family. Now living in Knoxville, TN I decided to bring my top services that focus on healing from within with an emphasis on seasonal living. I truly believe that the energy we put into our mind and body reflects the results of our skin. Life should be simple and natural. My next chapter in life is expanding on this concept I created in the spa and bringing my nature knowledge to our communities and homes for more people to learn and create on their own.
On a personal note, I’m a mother, wife and a lover for all nature activities. I’m an outdoor adventurist that loves an exhilarating hike or a challenging paddle trip! For a number of years I’ve volunteered for the Missouri Department of Conservation as a Master Naturalist. Now, I have the pleasure of getting to teach my son all about nature! I’ve also studied herbalism when I owned my own natural skincare line, Black Birch. The other piece of my business relies heavily on energy work. I truly believe in the effects our energies play in our personal growth and health.
Visit Jayme’s web site or follow her on instagram.
Katie Hunt
Katie received her initial massage education at the Tennessee school of Therapeutic massage in 2016. Since then, she has continued to study, learning myofascial work, clinical massage, trigger point therapy, deep tissue, hot stone therapy and received her Thai yoga practitioner certification from Kelly Scott in 2022 after completing 18 months of coursework and practice.
Katie grew up in West Tennessee and moved here in 2013 to attend the University of Tennessee. She received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology with focus in cultural and medical anthropology. Her studies helped shape the intentions she holds in her practice, to always be attentive and proceed with care.
Her first teacher was her mother, who does physical therapy in west Tennessee and to whom she gives credit for her strong hands and even stronger desire to be a healing presence for others. It is Katie’s goal to create safe spaces for people to rest and heal from their chronic stress and the many ways it can manifest in our bodies and in our minds.
Katie offers Thai massage on the mat or the table. During your Thai session she can offer abdominal work, pre-natal & post-natal massage, heat therapy, or stretching. She believes in customizing each session to the client each individualized session. As the body inevitably changes and varies, so will your sessions and the approach used that address the client’s needs.
Katie also offers Integrated table massage. This massage uses all of the therapists training and tools to create a customized treatment. This would include a combination of myofascial work, hot stones, hot towels, cold stones, aromatherapy, Thai stretching, cupping, abdominal work, deep tissue, and trigger point therapy. These tools and techniques are used as needed so be sure to inform your therapists of any technique preferences you may have.
She is always learning and seeking new techniques and a deeper understanding of the human body. Joining the Glowing Body is a wonderful opportunity to further develop and grow her skills and find community with others who share in her desire to be a compassionate force in the world.
Follow Katie on Instagram @katie_huntlmt
Kristin “KAT” Toussaint
KAT’s Thai Sports Massage practice focuses on assisting your body’s innate ability to maintain optimal function, recover from active performance, and heal itself when injured. She brings great understanding to her therapeutic sessions from her lifelong active lifestyle as a swimmer, a cyclist, and a former triathlete. This compliments her customized training in the healing art of bodywork.
Once beginning her licensed massage therapy practice in 2017, KAT completed a 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training in 2018 and went on to study with Doug Keller. She combines these skillsets in her therapeutic work to help her clients learn to self-maintain between sessions and to further meet their personal goals.
Her studies continued with the whole body, integrated systems approach to therapeutic bodywork with Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk in trauma release through bodywork. In 2017 -18, she began her studies in Thai Yoga and OsteoThai Massage with Kelly Scott, LMT, RYT, and NCBTMB. She participated in a focused study in the Thai Yoga Practitioner Certification program in 2017. In 2019 she traveled and studied abroad in Thailand in the Thai Immersion Program, which increased her appreciation for the culture, history, and deeper understanding of this unique form of bodywork.
KAT works in private therapy practice and with the University of TN Athletic Department serving football, swimming, track and field, soccer, volleyball, and tennis teams. Her practice brings experience through working with high school and collegiate athletes and coaches, professional recruits and players, Olympians, and health-conscious weekend warriors. She has worked with ages sixteen to eighty-five and is pursuing further training to serve the young and early adolescent population.
KAT is excited to join the Glowing Body Healing Arts team and honored to be offered the opportunity to serve the greater community in Thai Sports Massage Bodywork.
Follow Kat on Instagram @shift_bodywork
Kim Lomonaco
Kim believes movement practices and bodywork are means to being in a deliberate relationship with oneself. Sessions are tailored to address clients’ needs, including the holistic perspective that body, mind, and spirit are inseparable. Expect her to create a session that addresses aches and pains, with suggestions on how to carry over new movement and breathing patterns through day-to-day life. Kim will use her understanding of movement and mindfulness in the therapeutic sessions she offers and will empower you to live better in your body.
Kim has been teaching yoga since 2007 and successfully completed two 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training, as well as hundreds of hours of continuing education and independent study in the areas of anatomy/physiology, therapeutic application of yoga, breath science, philosophy, meditation, and Thai Yoga Massage. Kim has taught yoga at The Glowing Body since the studio opened in 2008, served as studio manager for several years, and became owner in 2017. She completed her certification in massage therapy at Asheville School of Massage & Yoga in September 2018. She currently teaches to groups and individuals, as well as practices massage with private clients at The Glowing Body.
Further, Kim earned a Masters of Science in 2010, and has worked as a Speech Language Pathologist in hospitals ever since. Her ongoing experience in healthcare lends balance to understanding the many ways we may influence our health.
The Glowing Body has become an integral part of her development as a person and a professional, and she takes great pride in facilitating the continued success of the studio.
Like on Facebook, follow her on Instagram @bend.breathe.be, or visit her website.
Visiting Experts
Vishnu Dass
Vishnu shares an introduction to the art and science of Ayurveda, linking its wisdom and utility to Glowing Body Teacher Trainers’ exploration of a holistic yoga practice.
Vishnu is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) with two decades of clinical experience. He received his Ayurvedic training under the guidance of world-renowned Ayurvedic physician Dr. Vasant Lad and is a graduate of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque.
Vishnu is the owner and director of Blue Lotus Ayurveda, located in Asheville, NC, as well as the author of Ayurvedic Herbology East & West – A Practical Guide to Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine, and Vishnu’s Kitchen – A Practical Guide to Ayurvedic Cooking.
Vishnu Dass has been practicing and teaching Hatha Yoga and Yoga philosophy since 1992 in the tradition of his teacher Sri Baba Hari Dass. He also offers Jyotish, Vedic Astrology readings.
Shala Worsley
Shala joins Glowing Body Teacher Training to share sessions on energetic anatomy and the chakras.
Shala has been teaching yoga since 1999 and enjoys creating a space for people to release stress and tension, and tap into deep inner knowing, through yoga classes, workshops, and trainings, as well as private Ayurveda and Astrology sessions. She instructs with a style which blends intuitive flow and attention to detail, a combination informed by her background in Kripalu, Iyengar, Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, and bodywork. She incorporates pranayama, meditation, eclectic rhythms, therapeutic and yin yoga, as well as yoga philosophy into each class.
Shala is Founder of Asheville School of Massage & Yoga, a school for Massage & Ayurveda Certification Programs from 2005-2020; Lead Instructor for Asheville Yoga Center‘s 200-hour Teacher Training and 300-hour Advanced Training Programs.
Marcy Braverman Goldstein
In Glowing Body Teacher Training, Marcy teaches on the history and texts of yoga, illuminating the roots of yoga, tracking its passage into the West, and connecting the dots between past and modern approaches to practice.
Marcy Braverman Goldstein, Ph.D. earned her doctoral degree in Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Marcy has taught at UC Riverside, Davidson College, UNC Charlotte, and the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice. She is a core faculty member at Embodied Philosophy and is Coordinator of the Writing Mentorship for the Yoga Philosophy Certification.
As founder and director of Sanskrit Revolution, Marcy teaches Sanskrit, yoga history, ethical speech, and philosophy at studios, schools, and festivals nationally. She presents at professional conferences and has earned numerous fellowships and honors including the Professor Gerald James Larson Dissertation Award. Additionally, she participates in interfaith panels and offers diversity training at schools and corporations.
Drawing from her academic background and 25 years of practicing yoga, Marcy creates classes that illuminate the language and culture of yoga, deepen people’s knowledge, sharpen critical thinking skills, and inspire personal and community growth.
Yoga Instructors
Jessica Tezak
Jessica Tezak has been practicing yoga for over ten years and teaching for two. She received her Yoga teacher training from Blue Ridge Yoga, enjoys teaching Vinyasa flow and exploring other styles, such as ashtanga, yin and hatha yoga.
For Jessica, yoga is a way to stay in touch with herself and to experience community with others. She believes in the power of a personal practice, and its profound ability to bring about positive change in one’s life. Her classes are intended to give students a chance to go inward, challenge themselves and discover something new!
Ajeet Khalsa
Ajeet is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) who has taught and practiced yoga for over 30 years. She specializes in Svaroopa® yoga classes and mantra workshops. She is a Reiki master, and her style often helps you to become wonderfully relaxed and filled with deeper understanding of your true Self.
Follow her on Instagram @healwithajeet.
Claire Hyrka
Claire is a native Knoxvillian, mother of four grown children and one precious grandchild. She works as a realtor and office manager/bookkeeper for a local general contractor. She has recently rehabbed two houses, and may have found her next passion in addition to yoga!
Claire started practicing yoga 20+ years ago in Memphis, but really began her yoga journey in earnest upon return to hometown in 2008. She completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training with Cindy Dollar at The Glowing Body in May 2015 and has been teaching regularly since.
Follow Claire on Instagram @clairehyrka.
Kelly Smith Trimble
Kelly Smith Trimble is a writer, yogi and passionate gardener.
After practicing yoga casually for more than 20 years, Kelly’s interest in wellness and the mind-body-earth connection led her to complete her yoga teacher training under the direction of Kim Lomonaco at The Glowing Body in 2023 and become a Yoga Alliance 200-hour certified yoga teacher.
Finding a particular interest in how yoga affects the nervous system, Kelly has taken additional trainings in gentle flow and restorative yoga, and she is currently training with Jillian Pransky to become a certified restorative yoga teacher.
Her books, The Creative Vegetable Gardener and Vegetable Gardening Wisdom, are available at the studio.
Follow her on Instagram @kellysmithtrimble
Niki Myers
Niki has been a lover of yoga since her first class in her home while pregnant with her son over 20 years ago. In addition to being a yoga teacher, she is also a hair stylist at Oddities Hair Parlour. She feels the two professions go hand in hand, and the longevity of her 11+ year hair career is connected to her yoga practice and several other therapeutic modalities. The awareness and stability learned through applying yogic principles proves to be a solid anchor throughout her career and life and is always growing and evolving. Yoga is woven into every aspect of her daily life, and she’s happy she gets to share the philosophies and benefits with others.
She received her 200 hour teacher certification in 2024 with Kula Collective at Seven Springs retreats. She currently continues her education by working with a mentor and taking classes and workshops locally and through the American Viniyoga Institute. Niki is fascinated with anatomy and how understanding the body’s structure enhances the yoga practice. With her holistic approach and focus on accessibility, her classes are great for beginners or advanced students with an emphasis on slow gentle movement, alignment and breath awareness. Because of her experience as a hair stylist in a radically inclusive salon, she is committed to creating a welcoming, accessible and inclusive atmosphere for all students of all levels to deepen their practice in a supportive nurturing space.
Follow Niki on Instagram @mountainmoonhair
Kristin Samples
Kristin has been practicing yoga for almost half her life, since 2011. She was originally lured in by the promise of a free t-shirt at a yoga event at her college. Many years later, Kristin depends on her regular yoga practice to calm her anxious mind. She considers the predictability and rituals of yoga to be a balm for the unsteadiness that life can bring.
Kristin has been a long-time student at Glowing Body, and she completed her 200 hour YTT under the direction of Kim Lomanaco in 2023. Kristin’s classes reflect her background as an elementary school teacher. Her classes, regardless of style, are conversational and playful. She welcomes all to experience a sense of nurturing and curiosity. Kristin believes in the use of props to help each practitioner find their personal expression of each pose, and she enjoys working with beginners.
Follow Kristin on Instagram @kristinlynell
Ben Willis-Becker
Ben was born in Knoxville and began to explore yoga as he started to focus on a career in with a culinary focus. It started as a physical practice but over the years became a mind body experience. He completed 200 hour yoga teacher training with Cindy Dollar in 2014 at The Glowing Body.
During his yoga teacher training, he dove deeper into pranayama and meditation. It opened a door into a different aspect of yoga that he likes to incorporate into the classes he teaches. He is grateful to be teaching in the community he grew up in.
Follow Ben on Instagram @benw.b.
Annie Blanton
Annie began practicing yoga in 2009 and graduated from The Glowing Body Teacher Training in 2023. A Michigan native and former collegiate athlete, she turned to group fitness for stress management and fitness during graduate school. With over ten years of teaching experience, Annie is certified in yoga, Lagree Pilates, and barre. She is passionate about helping others discover movement that can support them throughout their lives. Annie currently teaches power and slow flow yoga at The Glowing Body and also teaches undergraduate yoga courses at the University of Tennessee.
Follow her on Instagram @kirkanna
Carra Simpson
Carra began practicing Vipassana meditation in 2009. She has spent over 120 days (non-consecutive!) in silent retreat and served for a year as residential staff at Cloud Mountain Retreat Center in Castle Rock, WA. She is a graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, guided by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. She is also a very proud graduate of the 2023 Glowing Body Teacher Training. Carra lives in rural Knoxville, is a proud chicken mom, and in is her first year of acupuncture study at Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine.
Alison Saville
Alison Saville, a native of western North Carolina, has called many places home, from Texas to California to Colorado. In 2013, she and her husband settled in Knoxville with their son, where they’ve now established their roots. Alison adeptly balances her role as a research project manager for an academic institution with her passion for teaching yoga.
In the heart of her 40s, amidst the 2020 pandemic, Alison immersed herself in daily yoga practice, an experience that profoundly changed her life. Inspired by this transformation, she pursued her yoga teacher training certification in 2023 at Glowing Body. Today, her yoga practice complements her busy life, bringing a fresh perspective to her vinyasa-style classes.
Alison’s deep life experiences infuse her teaching style, creating a relatable and nurturing environment for her students. In her classes, attendees will discover not only physical strength but also mental and spiritual resilience. Alison guides her students to honor their body’s wisdom while cultivating an inner and outer strength that extends beyond the mat and into everyday life.
Follow Alison on Instagram @alisonwsaville
Helen Wilds
Helen attended her first yoga class in her living room with a DVD over a decade ago. Since that time, she’s developed a personal practice that emphasizes resilience and balance. She brings these values to the classes she teaches with asana influences from vinyasa, yin and Iyengar yoga.
As a sociologist, Helen believes firmly in creating a more just and equitable world and feels that work must be done within and without to achieve this. She uses movement and reflection to encourage mental, emotional and physical resiliency to help people better move through the world.
Follow her on instagram @wildsthingyoga
Whitney Moore
Whitney has been a devoted and trusted Massage Therapist in Knoxville since 2017. She specializes in Deep Relaxation and Grief Massage and is peacefully inspired by grief work and holding space for those experiencing loss. In addition, she facilitates grief workshops where she combines story-telling, connection, introspection, and yoga.
Throughout her career, she has become dedicated to providing true rest, stillness, and relaxation. To better serve her clients and community, she completed a Restorative Yoga Instructor Certification in 2023. In her classes, she offers gentle, hands-on massage techniques to enhance restorative benefits.
Through massage therapy and yoga, Whitney’s goal is to reduce pain and stress while subtly increasing body awareness through ease and tranquility. Because of her own healing experiences through these practices, she understands care, comfort, and compassion are of the utmost importance, and she looks forward to continuing to serve the Knoxville community through these modalities.
Follow her on Instagram @whitney.with.ascend