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, Yoga Tune Up®, Roll Model® Method
Kathy Shaul

Yoga Instructor

Carolyn Petramale

Yoga Instructor & bodyART Instructor
Claudia Ross

Yoga Instructor

Veronica Rockwitz

Licensed Massage Therapist
Sara Christman

Shamanic Healing Practitioner & Reiki Master
Catherine Philippe

Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
Lily Sokolov

Maggie Fike

Alison Gurevich

Chopra Meditation & Yoga Instructor

Gail Ries

Gail’s wish is that each student feels grounded in the body, centered in the heart, and connected to their deeper self.

Yoga Instructor, Yoga Tune Up®, Roll Model® Method

Kathy Shaul

Yoga E-RYT 200, Yoga Tune Up®, Roll Model® Method, IEM, Reiki

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. To make shapes that serve you. To feel good. Sacred soul care nourishing body, mind and spirit.

Through conscious movement and breathing we heal, have more energy, are less stressed and are kinder. To ourselves and one another. Side effects may include improved focus, and circulation, flexibility, cardiovascular conditioning, weight management, better health, restful sleep, ability to breathe, JOY, inner peace, LOVE.

Yoga Instructor

Jackie Reckson

Jackie inspires her students to deepen their awareness of self, their connection with their bodies, and enrich their experiences on and off the mat.

Yoga Instructor

Lena Mayfield

Lena is excited about making yoga accessible to students of all levels, and in a nurturing and approachable environment.

Yoga Instructor

Melissa Anderson

With a passion for women’s wellness, Melissa’s classes bring out the truth in who we are and the journey that unfolds along the way.

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

Carolyn continues to deepen her knowledge and share with her students, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and humor to each class.

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 incorporates multiple yoga disciplines into her classes with the intention of creating a warm, caring environment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Kiki Edelman

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.