In 2001, feeling a need to slow down the pace of life and a desire to look inward led Ann to the practice of yoga. After a few years and the relocation of her teacher, she signed up for YA 200 hour Teacher Training with Sloane at Yoga Island to further her knowledge and deepen her personal practice. That led to teaching and more training with inspired teachers such as Gary Kraftsow, Judith Lasater, Angela Farmer, Shiva Rea, Julie Gudmestad, Seane Corn, Baron Baptiste and others giving her a well rounded flavor of different styles of yoga. In 2008, she began her Yoga Therapy Certification and will be completing it this coming year. During 2008, an illness tested everything she knew to be true and the calm and strength that she had gained from her yoga practice helped her through many stressful events and heal from many surgeries. Yoga helps us learn how to unearth the deepest layers of who we are and the joy is in the blending of the body, mind and spirit so that we can in turn reach out and share with others. My desire as a teacher is to help students dig deep, discover gently, and give freely and find the beautiful light that shines inside each one of us.

Erin Lane began practicing yoga as a way to enhance her capabilities as a dancer. After shortly realizing its benefits not only in dance but in life, she carried yoga with her on all of her endeavors. Erin graduated from the University of Texas at Austin  with a B.F.A. in Dance in 2007. While at U.T., she studied Pilates, anatomy, Floor Barre,  and the Feldenkrais Method among continuing her technique classes and exploration of yoga. Erin has danced nationally and internationally in Washington D.C., New York, Austria, Guatemala, and in many parts of Mexico where she also trained at La Escuela Profesional de Danza de Mazatlán.  Since joining the Yoga Island team in November 2009,  Erin has become certified in Zumba! and teaches the core strengthening class, Sculpt and Stretch.

"when i let go of what i am, i become what i might be." -lao tzu

From an early age Tara has been exploring the connection between mind and body through dance. In 2000, when she ventured into her first yoga class, it became very clear how vastly rich the practice of yoga is in its ability to integrate the body, mind, and spirit. Ever since Tara has been sharing yoga with as many people as she can.

In January, 2006, she completed a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification and in January 2008, after completing over 1000 teaching hours, Tara received the distinguished E-RYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher) credential. Tara is certified to teach Adaptive Yoga to students with MS and in 2008 received her 500 hr RYT in Yoga Therapy.

As an avid student of yoga, Tara has developed an eclectic mix of yoga methods from numerous teachers including Rod Stryker, Beryl Bender Birch, Erich Schiffman, Susi Hately Aldous, Sharon Gannon and David Life, Dharma Mittra, and Manorama . Her compassionate, yet disciplined, teaching style is therapeutic and challenging as she emphasizes a cultivation of awareness within each pose she instructs.

You'll find her inspiring with her playful spirit and wacky sense of humor, yet patient as she takes time out to personally guide you on your yoga journey.

Sloane’s life changed forever in 1996. That year she survived a head-on automobile collision that literally brought her to her knees. Sloane received medical care from a doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor, and acupuncturist, but she soon realized she was ultimately in control of her recovery. She began healing her body in a new way.- the ancient practice of YOGA.

Since 1996, Sloane has practiced, studied and taught yoga to people of all ages and classes of all sizes. Sloane has traveled all over the U.S. practicing yoga with adored yogis such as Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste, Rodney Yee, Beryl Bender Birch, Seane Corn, and David Swenson. She has been a certified yoga instructor with AAAI/ISMA for 10 years. In spring of 2003 Sloane set sail with 700 other yogis on the fantastic and inspiring Yoga Cruise. There she studied with the best yoga teachers in the world.

Sloane holds a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin and a degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University. She has spent more than 15 years studying and working in the fitness industry. Sloane also holds the E500 level with Yoga Alliance

Susan began her yoga journey in 1998 and has been teaching vinyasa and gentle yoga since completing her basic teacher training at Yoga Island in 2005.  She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500) with Yoga Alliance.

Susan's teaching style is greatly influenced by Shiva Rea, with whom she completed a 300-hour Prana Vinyasa Flow advanced teacher training program in California. She credits Shiva for teaching her how to dance and to feel at home in her body. She continues to study with Shiva and serves as a mentor to new teacher trainees in Shiva's program.  

Susan loves to encourage her students to discover their own creativity in the flow.  She teaches with compassion, creating an environment where students of all levels feel comfortable.

Susan is also trained in Pre/Post Natal yoga through Shiva Rea and is a Relax and Renew Certified Instructor w/ Judith Lasater. 
 

Melinda has dedicated 20 years in the fitness industry. “The high impact of aerobics had taken its toll on my lower back. I needed some relief but didn’t want to give up my physical exercise.” In 2004 she decided to explore yoga as a means of releasing stress and improving her flexibility. After a long search and trying many different styles of yoga she found what she was looking for. A life transforming style of yoga created by Baron Baptiste called Baptiste Power Flow Yoga.

Pamela Ryan began developing her personal yoga practice in the mid 1980’s, and she eventually earned certification as a Registered Yoga Instructor in 2006. Pamela has also practiced as a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1997, specializing in sport massage therapy. Having worked with elite athletes, including Olympic Gold Medal gymnasts Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bradie James, Pamela recognized the powerful therapeutic benefits of a yoga practice. Sharing the empowerment of yoga with her clients and students has become her passion. In addition to yoga instruction, Pamela offers Thai massage and related workshops at Yoga Island.

When I first took yoga, I was living in Rhode Island back in 2004. The class was in the High School hallway in the winter, it was cold. No props, no heat, no music, just my mat, I fell in love with it. Just two months into my yoga practice my husband decided to move the family to Texas. I did not find myself on the mat until I took Yoga Island’s teacher training back in 2006. I was the worst in the class, stiff as a rock, my back pain was unbearable, and I had a sinus infection every other week. Even after all the running I did and weight training, I could not do a push up or a downward dog. Every pose was hard, every pose was painful, and my mind said yes to the postures my body said no. I had no mental connection to my body. I did not know how to roll my shoulders back or stack them or bring my pelvis forward or so many other things. I am a determined person, disciplined, and mentally strong so I decided not to give up but climb the mountain. I practiced everyday with pain and joy, I could not quit. After three months my body was in better shape, my back hurt less, I could do more and so I kept going. I have been teaching and practicing yoga for now four years. I still make it to my practice at least four times a week.
Yoga to me is the best physical and mental work out there is. It will strengthen your body and mind. Through yoga, I will teach you to cultivate compassion, kindness, curiosity, and a gentle-heart on your mat, and who knows, you might just find yourself practicing those qualities outside of your mat.
 

In 2006, while living in the bay area of California, Brook began taking yoga classes at her apartment complex’s fitness center. She felt so amazing after each class that she could not stop going every week. Yoga was helping her to manage neck and back pain from scoliosis, but it also started unexpectedly affecting many other areas of her life. Brook had spent most of her life extremely overweight and engaging in several unhealthy habits. Since beginning her yoga practice she has completely transformed physically, mentally and spiritually and continues to welcome new, positive changes. She loves watching and helping new students discover the powerful and far reaching benefits of yoga, as well as challenging more experienced students. In addition to the physical postures, she incorporates pranayama, meditation, and guided imagery in her classes. Brook got her 200 hr RYT at Yoga Island in November 2009 and feels very fortunate to have been teaching in the metroplex ever since.

Mary left a promising advertising career to devote her energies into teaching yoga, and has never looked back. Since then,  she's immersed herself into the practice and study of yoga and has enjoyed every moment of life under this new, profound rebirth. She continues to make yoga and meditation a part of her daily routine and is fulfilled each day by teaching others the joy of yoga. Mary received her 200 hour Yoga Alliance teacher certification through Yoga Island and teaches Vinyasa yoga.