MEET YOUR BODY-MIND-SPIRIT GUIDES

Brandon Hudson

Brandon has lived in the Asheville area hiking, exploring the trails, teaching, and practicing yoga since 2000. She is RYT-500, RCYT, MAT in Special Education, a Certified Creative Relaxation Instructor, Yoga Therapy for Children with Special Needs.

Brandon really enjoys being in nature with her red heeler Belle and her passion in life is teaching yoga to folks of all ages and abilities.

Her playful, gentle style allows both children and adults to find a personal connection to their yoga practice. In addition to hiking and planning creative yoga classes, listening to music, reading, and paddle boarding are a few of Brandon’s favorite pastimes. Namaste in Nature allows her to combine her love of the outdoors and yoga.

Anna Easterling

Anna is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, E-RYT 200 Yoga Instructor and Certified Mindfulness Guide. With 20 years of experience as an integrative physical therapist, mindful movement instructor, and meditation guide, Anna is well seasoned in interweaving evidence-based movement therapeutics with the art and science of yoga and mindfulness practices. She has guided 10,000+ sessions across wide ranging settings, such as wellness studios, recreation and community centers, spas and resorts, universities, astronomical observatories, parks, domestic violence shelters, outpatient physical therapy clinics, hospitals, digital platforms - and now, on top of mountains! Embodying the well-researched benefits of enjoying time outdoors for promoting improved physical health and wellbeing, Anna is delighted to serve as a Yoga Guide on the Namaste in Nature team.

Jacqueline Comola

At every major turning point in her life, yoga has wondrously appeared to Jacqueline to guide and heal her, even in times where she had no practice at all. She now regularly comes to the mat to tap into this baffling source of illumination and delights in sharing it with others. Jacqueline first fell in love with yoga at 14, squeezing in an after school practice with a tiny group of teenage girls in a math classroom. She remembers every time ending the practice by putting back chairs and desks, yet now feeling each of those simple movements as a radiant meditation. By college she had delved deeper into her practice through the disciplined style of Ashtanga Yoga. In 2018, she found her way to Vinyasa and received her RYT 200. Serendiptitously, Jacqueline landed her first teaching job leading teenage girls in a classroom at a high school. Jacqueline has always loved nature and has a good deal of experience leading hikes and educational trips since 2010.

Today Jacqueline primarily focuses on Vinyasa Yoga and living the practice both on and off the mat. She loves to guide her students into linking their breath and movement together in vinyasa flow and beginner yoga. Expect your experience with Jacqueline to be infused with whimsy and wonder as you mindfully move through nature.

Jenna Goode

Jenna has been a student of yoga for many years and began to share her practice in 2016. Yoga has since become a way of life, implementing the tools of her practice, as best as she can, on and off the mat. She approaches yoga with love, playfulness, and a gentle curiosity of the mind and body connection. It is her hope that this sense of wonderment is spread to her students. Combining many different modalities of movement and years of education in yoga, psychology, coaching, and fitness, you can expect Jenna’s classes to leave you with a sense of openness, connection, and empowerment. 

Kelli Hall

Kelli recently moved to Asheville from Tampa! Previously, she toured as a dancer with Sesame Street Live and performed on cruise ships. Aside from teaching yoga, Kelli is also an educator and behavioral therapist. She is so excited to lead guided hikes with the approach that yoga sessions are centered around mindfulness, compassion, and respect for the environment. she aims to create a space where participants can connect with nature, deepen their yoga practice, and leave feeling refreshed, powerful, and rejuvenated. 

Elizabeth Robinson

Elizabeth is a mother, yoga instructor, massage therapist, meidtation coach, and Reiki practioner. A lover of all things outdoors, and alwasy finding a way to be in the woods hiking and learning about local flora/fauna. Her yoga journey began in college (24 years ago), earning a 200 RYT from Siva Yoga in Kansas 6 yerars ago. Her focus is on teaching Yin Yoga as it can bring a complete sense of mindfulness in today’s busy world. Elizabeth feels that one of the most important aspects that we can bring to our daily life for general happiness and well being is the ability to slow down, take a few breaths, and settle our mind. “I am so excited to be a apart of the Namaste in Nature Team and work together in nature!”

Lisa Murphy

I’m a RYT 200 yoga teacher with 30 years experience. I was first drawn to yoga as a way to help me relax from the demanding corporate job I held at the time. I left the corporate world to study and teach yoga in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Now, based in Asheville NC, when not on my mat you’ll find me in my garden or hiking with my two rescue poodles. In addition to being a registered yoga teacher, I’m also a certified Life & Health Coach. My coaching programs help people of all ages age healthily, while having more fun! I approach my work in the same way I approach life, with a balanced, light-hearted approach, rooted in my personal experience.

Nicole Killeen

Nicole has been a student of yoga since 2006. She discovered a love for yoga and hiking while attending graduate school at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She graduated from Neighborhood Yoga’s 200 hour teacher training program in 2008 and Vira Bhava Yoga's 300 hour training in 2014. 

Nicole enjoys incorporating pranayama techniques meditation, dynamic flow and relaxation into each asana class. She draws the student's attention to the more subtle sensations in the body and breath both on and off the mat. Nicole loves to share the practice of yoga out in the world with the students she works with, her family, friends and acquaintances she meets along the way. 

Rachel Holmes 

Rachel has spent her life learning about and connecting with her body as a dancer, artist, teacher and healer. Being introduced to yoga in 2006, she quickly realized all people could benefit from the practice, so she began her formal training. Rachel received her 200-hour training at Sonic Yoga in NYC, completed a 6-month mentorship with Hatha teacher, Lisa Benner, 75-hour meditation, restorative and pranayama training at Yoga Maya NYC, 25-hour prenatal training at Sonic Yoga in NYC, 100-hour Kundalini training at Awakenings Yoga in Sedona, AZ. In addition to teaching yoga, Rachel is a sound healing practitioner, energy healer and oracle. She is deeply grateful for being able to work with people and support them along their journey. 

Megan Porter

Megan (500 RYT) is passionate about holding space for you to breathe, move, and flow. She knows first hand how important it is to have a space free of judgement that is both engaging and challenging. She is passionate about mental health and how your yoga practice can be a tool for mental well being. What began as a self-healing practice became a journey of self discovery and a desire to share yoga with others. "When I come to my mat l'm looking for an experience that cares for my mind, body and soul and this is the experience I hope to offer to others," says Megan. She weaves together creative yoga sequences against the backdrop of a carefully curated playlist hoping to inspire you both on and off the mat.