Meet team Oya

Marie-Anne Cassee

Owner – Oya Yoga Studio

E-RYT 200, RYT-500, C-IAYT, RPYT, bodyART Certified

“I personally invite you to come experience Oya, and the amazing group of very knowledgeable and lovely teachers. Team Oya is dedicated to you, and guiding you to the best and healthiest version of yourself. We look forward to seeing you at Oya Yoga Studio soon!”

Chopra Meditation & Yoga Instructor
Gail Ries

Yoga Instructor

Alison Gurevich

Chopra Meditation & Yoga Instructor

Gail Ries

Gail completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2015 and has found her calling in teaching Yin Yoga. She came to yoga through her meditation practice and the long, still holds of Yin allow her to join this powerful physical practice with deep inward attention Read More >

Yoga Instructor

Kathy Shaul

Self-care specialist and wellness warrior, Kathy empowers people with easy to use, transformative tools for physical, emotional and energetic health.
Can’t touch your toes or sit cross-legged comfortably? That’s okay.Kathy teaches yoga and mobility work that invite you to compassionately connect with your body as it is today

Yoga Instructor

Jackie Reckson

Jackie is a proud Jersey Girl who has been living in Atlanta for the past 26 years. She has been in the fitness industry since 1992, teaching spinning and aerobics. She discovered yoga after the birth of her 3rd child who was born with a neurological disorder.It gave her a peace that no other exercise could and taught her how to go through life one breath at a time

Yoga Instructor

Lena Mayfield

Lena Mayfield is an Atlanta, GA native. She received her 500 hr YTT certification from Peachtree Yoga Centers founder Graham Fowler. Lena maintains her certification with The Yoga Alliance and is E-200RYT & YACEP.Yoga came into Lena’s life a source of refuge after years of dancing and touring professionally. Lena believes that yoga is for EVERYONE not just “able” bodied individuals.

Yoga Instructor

Melissa Anderson

Melissa Ta started her path to Yoga in 2010. After her Father’s death, Melissa was seeking peace and healing in her life. She started practicing yoga and meditation, and soon later in 2011 she was certified at Peachtree Yoga Center in Sandy Springs, GA where she earned her 200 HR RYT.

Yoga Instructor

Robin Adams

Robin uncovers greater balance and strength of character in every class, with the intention of emerging calmer yet energized.

Yoga Instructor

Megan Freeman

With her background in dance, Megan couples principles of fluidity and breath with an important understanding of anatomy and alignment.

Yoga Instructor

Carolyn Petramale

Yoga, for many, begins as a physical practice. That’s how it was for me. You keep coming back to the practice because your body begins to feel better. But we are more than just the physical body. We are layered shells of different bodies comprising our energy, emotions, mentality, wisdom, spirit, bliss. When you find the right yoga practice and the right yoga teacher, you’ll embark on a journey to yourself. I have been on this journey for many years now. Through several 200 hour teacher trainings and countless workshops, I found my way to Universal Yoga and my teacher Master Andrey Lappa. I have completed over 1000 hours of training in Universal Yoga. While Universal Yoga developed my physical practice (way beyond my imagination), the greatest changes were occurring on the subtle and subconscious levels, bringing balance to the nervous system, emotions, energy and so much more.

Yoga Instructor & bodyART Instructor

Claudia Ross

Claudia began practicing yoga in 2008 as a compliment to fitness activities and found it a way to manage stress from work as well. After leaving her career working with individuals with developmental disabilities, she devoted more time to yoga. Claudia completed her 200 hr training in 2015 and 300 hr in 2018, both through Etowah Valley Yoga. In addition to yoga certifications, Claudia is a licensed bodyART Training instructor. She especially enjoys teaching those new to yoga and considers every teaching opportunity a privilege.

Yoga Instructor

Tommasina Marlow

Tommasina completed 700 hours of yoga teacher training before ever beginning to teach. She still continues to train regularly and to date has accrued well over 1000 hours of teacher training. She has always valued paying close attention to details while consistently pushing her comfort zones. One day it was apparent that the comfort zone to push was to step up and teach. But, by doing so, she discovered an even deeper joy and understanding through sharing her love and passion for yoga.

Yoga Instructor

Veronica Rockwitz

Veronica was introduced to yoga in 1991 as a college student searching for a means to handle stress in her life. Inspired by Rolf Sovik while studying at the Himalayan Institute in Buffalo, New York, she fell in love with it, which planted the seed for her 25 year yoga journey.

Licensed Massage Therapist

Sara Christman

Using Swedish massage techniques, clinically-based deep tissue, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and stretching, Sara foster’s deep relaxation to reset the body.

Shamanic Healing Practitioner & Reiki Master

Catherine Philippe

Catherine teaches participants to manage their own energy, helping them transform and awaken their heart and mind.

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

Lily Sokolov

Lily is passionate about helping others heal through a well-rounded yoga experience.

Yoga Instructor

Justin Michael

Justin’s yoga journey began in 2011 when he learned the Tibetan Five Rites. Practicing these daily, eventually Justin’s desire for yoga became stronger. In 2013, he began to regularly practice in studios, and in 2015, he decided to take a 200 hr RYT training after being exposed to methods of Universal Yoga and Andrey Lappa. Since then, Justin has trained with Andrey an additional 200 hours and plans to continue learning from him as long as Andrey is teaching.

Justin is a firm believer in the traditional path of yoga through the teacher/disciple relationship. He feels it is very important to always remain humble and learning anywhere on the path. When teaching, Justin honors the full system of UY by making sequences for any desired style of practice. In Universal Yoga, we use understanding of the Mayakoshas with any and all possible techniques and methods in yoga to bring balance in our body and mind.

Yoga Instructor

Maggie Fike

Yoga, to Maggie, is a lifestyle that gives her a sense of belonging, increases flexibility, strength, mindfulness, and stillness. In her class, Maggie will guide you into the deeper awareness that is within all of us, allowing you to gain more knowledge and an understanding of yourself and how your body works. Whether in Dynamic Flow or Chill yoga, Maggie’s goal is to challenge you to find your edge and dive into the sensation.

Yoga Instructor

Alison Gurevich

Alison Gurevich is a 200RYT yoga teacher based in Atlanta, Georgia. She has received additional specialized trained in teaching yoga to seniors, chair yoga, yin yoga, restorative yoga, aerial yoga, and yoga for osteoporosis (the Fishman sequence). She loves working with people at all ages and stages of life to explore what and where yoga can bring them. Alison is passionate about the balance of a power/vinyasa practice with a yin practice in both her teaching and her personal practice. In addition to regularly teaching power flow, vinyasa flow, gentle flow, and yin classes and workshops in the Atlanta area, she also teaches Mala making workshops that explore mantras and meditation. Alison began practicing yoga as a teenager in Florida and thirty years later she can regularly be found on her mat and at yoga festivals and events, continuing to grow her practice and seek the best to share with others.

Yoga Instructor

Jenni Gruher

Childrens Yoga and Parties

Jenni graduated from the University of Florida with an undergrad and masters degree in elementary education. She taught in the classroom for eight years and then became a stay at home mom to two beautiful children. Teaching has always been very natural for her and she has always felt a connection to children. She decided to combine her two passions – children and yoga! Her curiosity continued to grow and soon after, she decided to expand and receive her 200 hour yoga teacher training through Dorje Yoga.

Jenni has seen first hand how yoga brings incredible peace and focus for individuals of all ages. She is grateful to have the opportunity to share her love and passion for yoga to kids and adults in our community and intens to continue to share and inspire for years to come!

Office Manager

Kiki Edelman

Office Manager

Thai Yoga Bodywork

Chris Butson

Chris aims to help people connect with their body’s wisdom and innate healing power. With an intent to bring peaceful presence and liberate the body-mind, Chris offers a deeply calming, restorative experience. He enjoys helping people step out of time, relax, and come back to themselves.

In the Thai Buddhist tradition of ‘loving-kindness’ touch, Chris initiates fluid movement for the body, using slow compression and extension, rocking, percussion, and gentle stretching. Sessions are customized to your needs and take place on a cushioned floor mat; wear comfortable clothing.

Chris came to the healing arts after 13 years working the “corporate grind”. He longed for a self-directed path of service, authentic to his heart and soul. In 2007, he headed to California to certify in northern-style Thai Yoga Bodywork (‘lazy man’s yoga’). He trained at the Ritam School of Healing Arts, with renowned teacher Saul David Raye. Chris also served for 3 years as a yoga studio manager and assisted Thai massage trainings led by Atlanta’s revered teacher, William Hufschmidt. Since 2008, Chris has built a loyal following of clients in private practice. He lives in north Georgia with his wife and fur-babies, overseeing operations on a small permaculture farm.

Operations Manager

Meg Franklin

Energy Healer

Shane Orfas

I live in the Alpharetta / Johns Creek / Roswell area and work in the entire Greater Atlanta area.

I’m a 2 year graduate of the WhiteWinds Institute of Integrative Energy Medicine in Atlanta. 3rd year completed as assistant. I learned the art of physical, energetic, and psycho-spiritual healing, and became professionally certified in energy medicine. At WhiteWinds I received specific training in kinesiology, visceral organ unwinding, recognizing and realigning energy fields and chakras, addictive cycles, presence, nutrition, meridian therapy, and teacher training.

I have also become a certified instructor in Tai Chi Qi Gong after studying under Master Yun Xiang Tseng in Boulder, Colorado .

I have been facilitating professional energy healing sessions for 15 years and Life Coaching and Spiritual Counseling as a result of a 20 year journey, exploring the Buddhist temple, the Hindu temple, Native American medicine wheel, Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, work with visionary seers, mystics, Pachakuti Mesa (Peruvian Mesa) and the 12 step program (CoDa). I have developed a way to reach people from all backgrounds as well as personal interests and directions to assist people in finding their own path.

My passion for learning and growing in the arts of yoga, Tai Chi Qi Gong, and Energy Medicine is a continuous process. I am constantly finding new ways to integrate my mind, body, and spirit to live a life of integrity and rooted in the heart of the healer.

Yoga Instructor

Sarah Druckman

Sarah is a local chiropractor and yoga lover. She has dabbled in and out of studios for 20 years since she first discovered yoga classes at her college gym. When she was introduced to Buti Yoga in 2017 she was hooked for life! This practice spoke to her in a way that no other practice did. What else was there to do, then to
become certified to share Buti Yoga? Due to the physical nature of her job working with horses, dogs, and people
everyday, Sarah soon realized how profound yoga was to keeping body and mind supple and receptive. In 2020 she completed her 200hr RYT at Lift Yoga. She is also a certified RAD Roller Practitioner. Sarah incorporates yoga poses and stretching within her chiropractic practice on a daily basis. She encourages all forms of self care to her clients, especially practicing meditation, breathwork, yoga, pilates, and nutrition. When not she’s not in her local chiropractic office or on her yoga mat, she can be found out and about in the Alpharetta community, playing with animals, riding horses, and enjoying the outdoors.

Yoga Instructor

Trinity Brewer

Trinity Aura Brewer

Prana Vinyasa Flow Trained Yoga Teacher

YogaFit Certified Teacher
BUTI Certified

Trinity is a second generation yogi who completed her 200 hour teacher training directly
with Shiva Rea in Greece. The prana vinyasa style resonates with her, as it embraces the
organic qualities of movement, freedom and individuality. Trinity has an extensive
background in ballet and ballroom dance and yoga has been her anchor through it all.
She initially trained in alignment based yoga, Pilates. certified in fitness and children's
yoga and completed a rigorous Buti yoga teacher training with master Buti trainer Nani
Berger in Portland, Oregon prior to studying with Shiva.
Since that time, both her practice and teaching continue to grow. She has taught a wide
range of populations (including many children's classes) both in Georgia and abroad and
divides her time between the Netherlands and the US.
She is also attuned in 1st and 2nd degree Usui Reiki. She believes that yoga should be
inclusive and a disciple accessible to ALL. Her classes address individual needs,
functional movement, breathwork and balance. Come as you are.

Naturopath

Melita Manafi

Melita Manafi is a naturopath with a passion for healing. She graduated
from Trinity school of natural health. She has had a holistic approach to
healing for the last 10 years and has been practicing as a naturopath
since 2016.
She uses a holistic approach to dis-ease by looking at each individual as
a whole: body, spirit and mind. The digestive system is where health
begins, so she made that her focus. Other natural modalities, including
measuring the Digestive tract pH, iridology (mapping the iris) and TCM
(Traditional Chinese Medicine) will also be used to get to the root cause
of any disease, condition and deficiency.
Melita uses different techniques based on individual needs to bring the
body back into balance, considering emotional health and wellness. In
order to do so she uses the following:
● Dietary adjustments
● Homeopathic remedies
● Bach flower essences
● Supplementation with Enzymes, minerals, and vitamins
● Balancing the meridians
● Emotion Code