Amy started practicing yoga her freshmen year of college, over 20 years ago. The benefits she gained from her own regular yoga practice inspired her to share the gift of yoga with others. In 2008, she completed her 200-hour YTT in Tulum, Mexico. She then continued on to obtain her 300-hour YTT several years later. Amy has her ERYT 500 and YACEP designations through Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga for over 16 years. She teaches all styles of yoga, but her passion is Vinyasa, Hot and Kids Yoga. As a former elementary and secondary physical education teacher, Amy is passionate about sharing the gift of yoga with youth. She has developed curriculum for kids yoga teacher trainings and summer camps that focus on mindful movement, yoga stories, partner yoga, mindfulness activities and yoga art. Amy is the lead yoga teacher trainer for Flourish Yoga's 200-hour YTT.
Amy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Wellness and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education. With her educational background, Amy creates thoughtful sequences that challenge both the mind and body, while leaving you feeling nourished, balanced and inspired. When Amy is not teaching yoga she enjoys spending time with her twins, Raya and Luca, her husband Tony and their dog Miles.
Shey completed the 200-hour Sumit’s Yoga Teacher Training in 2013. Her personal style of yoga is fluid - full of ‘maybe’s, ‘optional’s, ‘what feels right today’s, ‘just for fun’s, and encouragements to try something new. Always from the inside out and leading with the heart.
Over the last decade she has taught yoga in studios, schools, churches, homes and parks to kids, moms, dedicated yogi’s and beginners that never expected to find themselves on a yoga mat. She feels yoga is wonderful in all forms and flavors. When she is not doing yoga, Shey hikes, reads all sorts of books, grows her house plant collection and spends time with her husband, kids and dogs. Originally from the Midwest, Tucson sunshine never gets old.
Even on a tough day, yoga leaves her feeling stronger, happier, and less cynical in this crazy world. She is excited to be a part of the Flourish Yoga community.
Jamie started her yoga journey in 1999 when she took her first yoga class, she was instantly hooked. The way it made her feel on and off the mat was something she had never experienced before and never wanted to go without again. It wasn't until the year 2010 that she wanted to take yoga to the next level and teach what she loved.
Jamie studied under her teacher Carlyn Sikes at Scottsdale Community College. She completed her YTT500 program in Hatha Yoga with emphasis in Iyengar, as well as receiving a certificate in Yoga Instruction. Jamie is an E-RYT500 and since 2010 has been teaching hot vinyasa, teaching others to become certified yoga instructors and managing yoga studios.
In 2021, Jamie moved to Tucson where she found a new yoga home with Amy
(a longtime friend) at Flourish Yoga. Jamie loves being in an
environment of like-minded people who care deeply about their health and
well-being. She also enjoys being outdoors, cooking, practicing yoga,
playing with her pup George, and having lots of FUN with her family and
friends!
"What I love about yoga is there’s no “final point”. It’s a continual process. What’s achievable one day, simply isn’t what our body needs the next. It’s humbling and beautiful at the same time. I love how yoga can an amazing compliment to other aspects of an active lifestyle.”
Melissa began her yoga journey in 2003 while living in Maine. She loves taking as many different instructor’s classes as possible. Melissa studied under Darren Rhodes and Sam Rice at Yoga Oasis and completed her YTT200 hour program in 2020 and has been teaching since. In addition to her 200hr yoga training, she has also trained and received certifications for barre and yin yoga. She loves all styles of yoga but enjoys teaching hot flow sequences and yin the most.
When not practicing or teaching yoga, she loves to read, exercise and rock climb with her two kids.
My name is Denise Fernandez. I started practicing hot yoga in 2011 to heal a knee injury. I found the 26&2 series and loved the challenge of the heat/humidity combo right away. In 2017, I completed my 200hr RYT certification through Sumits Yoga here in Tucson. I learned about the various postures, benefits and the physical/emotional connection yoga has to offer. I became a teacher to share and spread my love for yoga with the Tucson community. In my years of teaching, I have gained experience in teaching yoga to kids and the calming presence of yin. However, my love for yoga resides with the heat!
Outside of yoga, I obtained my Doctorate in Behavioral Health in May of 2021. I now teach at the School of Social Work for ASU. I enjoy hiking, baking and spending time with my family. I met my husband Steve through yoga and we have two amazing kiddos. Phil who is a 9-year-old soccer stud and I just had my little girl Sophia-Quinn in July of 2021.
Natalie received her 200 hour yoga certification in 2019 and has been a practicing yogi for about 6 years. She teaches hot Vinyasa flow as well as Yin.
Natalie is also a licensed mental health therapist and found the mental and physical practice of yoga, and mindfulness to be a natural extension of her professional training. Not being naturally athletic, she was always nervous to engage in activities that required physical movement. She always clung to the myths, “I am not flexible. I am not graceful. I am not strong.” In yoga she found that none of that was true, nor mattered. She loves how accessible yoga is and how much positivity and self-esteem blossomed through her practice. It was that realization and gratitude for the practice that led her to become an instructor, with hope that she could help others find all the benefits yoga can bring.
Her passion is hot Vinyasa flow and feels that through the movement, breath, heat, music and intensity, you can be transformed.
Yoga came to me in 2019 while I transitioned from my role as a contemporary dancer and was looking for a way to keep movement in my life. What I found, however, was so much more than physical; yoga provided a welcoming community, a way to deepen and explore my spirituality, and a healthier relationship with my body. I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training in March 2021 with Yoga Pod Tucson under Shaelyn Delgado and Megan Cannon.
My classes focus on a playful, creative, and mindful practice and always learning more about yoga on and off the mat. As a practicing mental health therapist, I incorporate parallel concepts of mental health into my teaching and believe that mindful movement is an extremely powerful tool for healing, change, and well-being. My hope for my students is to leave my classes feeling challenged, strong, empowered, and supported, both mentally and physically.
Eva started regularly taking yoga after graduating college. Originally she gravitated towards yoga to help with stress and anxiety. She had taken various types of yoga classes but never really got hooked until she discovered vinyasa yoga. Finding the natural rhythm of linking the movement and breath together in a flow became so comforting and therapeutic for her.
In 2020 she completed her 200 RYT in Phoenix under Megan Cannon and Shaelyn Delgado. She then continued on to obtain her 300 RYT. Eva has her ERYT 500 through Yoga Alliance. Eva teaches hot and is passionate about creating an experience for students with thoughtful sequences and playful music.
Eva has a bachelors degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education and is an Elementary PE teacher outside of the yoga studio. When she is not teaching Eva loves running on the river path, being outdoors, and spending time with her fiancé and their crazy husky and 3 cats.
Born and raised in Seattle, Kim moved to Phoenix in 1998. She has been a hairstylist for almost 30 years and still loves it!
She found her yoga practice in 2008 and was immediately hooked and began practicing regularly. There was just something about the transformation she felt while connecting breath with movement and the sweat! Oh the sweet sweat while practicing in the heat. It truly was a whole body experience. She loved it so much that she decided to take a huge leap out of her comfort zone and in 2018 completed her 200-hour YTT training through Aim Free Teacher Training in Gilbert, AZ. Kim loves to teach and enjoys the whole experience she creates in a class with her fellow yogis.
Kim has been married to her husband, Ross, for 19 years. Together they have their amazing 16-year-old son, Logan, and their three rescue pups, Murphy, Jojo and Molly.
Last year, their family decided to relocate to Kim’s husband’s hometown of Tucson. Being close to family and a smaller town is just what they wanted! Tucson has quickly become their home and favorite place. Kim enjoys practicing yoga, watching her son and the Seahawks play football and, most of all, spending a lot of time with family and friends.
Heather has been teaching for more than a decade in the Chicagoland area and is delighted to share the gift of yoga with the Tucson community.
She received her 500hr training with Prairie Yoga and brings attention to alignment in her heart centered classes. Heather is a self proclaimed anatomy nerd and taught the topic in various yoga teacher trainings. While alignment is important she states, “The purpose of the pose isn’t about how it looks or how well it’s performed and is more about what you discover”.
She also released an album “The Journey Om” under the name Heather Anjali as a reminder of how no matter where we go in life or in our yoga practice we are already home.
Catherine has been a yoga student for 15 years and teacher for 10. She received her 200hr certification in Thailand in 2013, and continued to study and teach internationally mostly throughout Southeast Asia for 4 years. She learned from various international teachers and taught classes, workshops, and retreats for students from around the world. This experience has forever informed her life and teaching. Catherine’s authentic, from-the-heart blend of spiritual and practical teachings safely invites you to dive deep into your being. In her classes, you’ll be met where you’re at with mindful alignment and breath-centered practices. She’s passionate about holding space for your self-study as she knows yoga to be a path to self-love, wellness and wholeness, healing and transformation.
"I started practicing yoga as a pre-teen with my mother and sister as a way to exercise and spend time together. It later became a way of managing stress and sharing peaceful (as well as challenging moments!) with those I care about. I now see yoga as an essential part of my life that allows me to connect to myself and recenter before taking on the rest of my day. I love teaching yoga and feeling the energy of those in our community. Yoga has helped me find self-acceptance and peace in my most challenging phases of life- and it is one of my goals to help others realize the power of this practice.
Outside of practicing yoga, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, my cat Benito, baking, and working on my "greenish thumb". I am currently in a PhD program with a focus on teaching Spanish and learning how we process language."
Since early 2007, yoga has helped me find a way to recalibrate my mind and body after stressful/busy days. As time goes on it has become a very important part of my life, helping me to recognize my purpose from the inside out.
For me, Yoga extends far beyond the studio and into every aspect of our beings allowing us to be less reactive in any situation. The most noticeable impact for me has been in the relationship with my family, friends, and acquaintances. Everything feels more balanced and at ease.
This is my mission as an instructor and practitioner. As a 200RYT teacher, I tend to be pretty lighthearted and playful. I enjoy getting to know and learn from every student that walks through the door.
A major change in life led Sean to discovering his yoga path and a calling to guide others. As a longtime outdoor athlete, Sean discovered the symbiotic relationship between yoga and these pursuits. As an instructor, Sean’s blend of challenging and nurturing through creative movement has helped him develop a connection with those he seeks to help.
Sean is 200 and 300 hour yoga certified (E-RYT-500, YACEP), and has certifications for Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, and Yin, plus over 150 extra hours trained on functional anatomy. In addition, he has led RYA Teacher trainings and graduated over 50 yoga teachers. He has led the Mass Yoga Class for Idaho Yoga Week and has been affiliated with over 12 studios during his 6 years of teaching.
In addition to yoga, Sean enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, and exploration of wild places. Seanwas a single Dad for many years and raised his son.
Crystal’s love of movement has taken her through disciplines of dance, acrobatics, martial arts, and all the obstacle courses and adventures that come with an 11-year Army service. Her love of yoga began in a heated room in which she was asked to move as slowly as she had ever recalled moving.
To her surprise, moving slowly was the most challenging thing she had ever experienced, bringing up thoughts, emotions, and a new perspective on the human experience. She knew this movement was special!
Crystal completed the 200-hour Sumits Yoga Teacher Training in 2012 in Chandler, Arizona and acquired an additional 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certificate in 2016 from Buddhi Yoga in La Jolla, California. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of New Mexico and can be found in Capoeira circles or running after her two small kids that remind her that inner calm can be found in the breath.
I started my yoga journey back in college and have been floating in and out of my practice ever since. I did not get serious about my practice until injuries from years of marathon running started to take their toll on my body. Knowing I would have to give up my distance running, my hope was that yoga would fill the void. While practicing more often was an amazing outlet, I realized it was not enough so when the opportunity to go through teacher training showed up in 2015 I knew I had to take it.
While 2020 and 2021 threw a wrench in my yoga journey, as it did for so many yogis, I’m excited tocontinue my journey with all of you. That’s why we yoga, right? To learn to deal with the ups and downs, to learn to laugh at the mistakes and to just give ourselves a little grace (and if we can nail an arm balance every once in a while, well, that’s just icing on the cake). Namaste Yogis!
My name is Ezra Masse-Mahar, born and raised in Schenectady, N.Y., I was lucky enough to have an extremely active childhood ranging from baton twirling, acrobatics, ballet and spring/platform diving. I had the opportunity to travel and perform as a dancer and acrobat all over the world, leading to experiences such as Olympic Stadium Ceremonies and America's Got Talent Season 12 top 10 finalist.
Sara’s journey with yoga started when she was in the 7 th grade and she and her father took an after-school yoga class together! Fast-forward to 20 years ago when Sara and her husband were involved in different types of athletic activities and decided yoga would be a good addition to do together. Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga became a favorite and Sara completed Level 1 teacher training with Baron Baptiste. Her love of yoga expanded to both Bikram and Sumits.
During Covid when studios were shut down, Yin in the living room was a welcome alternative. Sara is a frequent rock climber and occasional runner and discovered the many body benefits of Yin, such as eliminating her lower back pain and enhancing flexibility. She decided to pursue Yin teacher training with Joanna Lynne Smith, M.Ed., E-RYT 500, so Sara could share this style of long, deep holds with others. Yin is a great complement to any other type of yoga or physical activity and is also wonderful on its own for yogis at all levels.
Sara and Jim are parents to Alyssa (finishing grad school) and Zachary (in college). She has a doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and has spent over 30 years in the corporate world focusing on employee engagement and wellness.
My first yoga experience was in 1993 right after the birth of my daughter. After my first class, I realized I was not just moving my body, I was accessing my heart and spirit. Yoga has been a constant in my lifethrough every season. My practice has allowed me to discover many different variations and in 2016 I decided to become an instructor. My joy is helping others learn new ways to access their body, mind, and spirit. I do this not only as a yoga instructor, but also as a Sound Practitioner, Grief Recovery Specialist, and Body Code Practitioner. I look forward to meeting you on the mat and hearing about your journey as we walk this path together. Namaste.
Lisa walked into her first yoga studio in 2006 and was immediately drawn to how it made her feel emotionally and physically. She soon developed a consistent weekly practice and realized it was also transforming her life off the mat.
In 2010 Lisa completed her YTT200 with an emphasis in Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga. As a teacher she loves guiding students to tap into their own inner wisdom as they journey through the practice. Lisa has a deep love for nature and will often bring her personal practice outdoors.
She enjoys sharing those outdoor experiences with others by hosting yoga retreats in the U.S and abroad. Off the mat she loves traveling with her family, gardening, water sports and spending quality time with loved ones.
I took my first yoga class in college and found hot yoga soon after. I kept going back to practice as it was the first thing I had found that helped me disconnect from everyday life stresses and reconnect with myself. After returning from the Peace Corps in 2017, I needed a reset and to get back into yoga. I wanted to deepen my practice and decided to go through teacher training, not knowing if I would ever actually teach. I fell in love with the idea of helping to guide others through their practice and have been teaching since!
I was born and raised here in Arizona, but have spent a lot of the last ten years moving back and forth from Austin, TX. I am happy to be back, closer to my family and yoga community! When I’m not at the studio, I spend time with my dog, exploring new hikes and parks or heading up to our cabin in Mt. Lemmon!
“My approach to a yoga practice is to create a sacred space, a place to honor the body and listen to the teacher within. I offer each class as a prayer.”
Patricia is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance E-RYT. She became a certified Integral Yoga teacher in 1975 studying the teachings of Swami Satchidananda and continued her studies of Eastern Philosophy for nearly 50 years experiencing two (2) spiritual journeys to India with her family. She has actively participated in community service since she was 18 years old. In 2000, Patricia opened The Jyoti House, A Healing Arts Center in Conroe, Texas, where a variety of practitioners, counselors and healers offered services and regularly held free seminars and workshops open to the public. Her background as a Yoga Instructor allows her to help you create a healing place within yourself with visualization and relaxation so that you may tap into that unlimited energy source and enjoy life to the fullest.
Being born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, yoga was part of my ecosystem but I focused on running, cycling and other aerobic activities. After a family member shared how his yoga practice and community supported him during a challenging time I became curious to learn more. I started practicing, discovering a way to regulate an active, “always on” lifestyle, while raising kids and juggling a busy career.
I began teaching yoga in mid-2021 after earning my RYT-200 from YogaPod Tucson, with additional certificates in Ghosh-style Hot 26/2, Yoga Nidra and Corporate Yoga. I love to create vigorous physical asana sequences and incorporate stillness during practice, bringing awareness to each posture’s purpose. I'm also passionate about fitness-style classes leveraging my experience teaching step aerobics and HIIT, weaving in themed playlists to infuse fun and playful energy.
As a scientist turned marketer working in the medical device industry, I’m aware of the clinical impact an unbalanced lifestyle creates within the body. I hope to inspire students to leverage yoga and catalyze healing, mindfulness and self-appreciation.
I'm Joelle, a 2024 RYT 200 graduate from Flourish Yoga under the mentorship of Amy DeSylvester and Sean Duffy. My teachings emphasize the invaluable connection between mind and body, fostering self-awareness and empowerment in each practitioner's journey. With a professional background steeped in scientific inquiry, I'm dedicated to finding innovative solutions to challenges on and off the mat.
Holding a Master of Science from Arizona State University and boasting extensive experience in the biomedical realm, I am intimately familiar with the complexities of navigating health with grace and resilience. In the face of my own autoimmune disease, I strive to be a source of inspiration for students navigating similar journeys. My unpredictable journey with health fuels my commitment to empowering others to embrace their bodies and cultivate mind-muscle connections. Through yoga, I provide a nurturing space for students to explore their physical and emotional landscapes, fostering resilience, adaptability, and a positive mindset in the face of adversity.
My approach to wellness extends beyond personal practice, encompassing a deep-seated desire to uplift and support those around me. Beyond the mat, I volunteer my time to engage with communities, particularly focusing on inspiring young minds to pursue careers in STEM fields.
As a yoga teacher, a scientist, and an advocate for health, my objective is to guide others toward personal growth, self-discovery, and empowerment.
What I love about yoga is that it’s extremely customizable and versatile. I’ve been doing yoga as an exercise since college, but after joining the military it became an outlet to relieve stress. Yoga allows you to take what works for your mind and body to improve your lifestyle at your own pace; however you see fit. The awareness and the confidence it promotes to put yourself first is what served me in my journey with mental health, recovering from surgery, and coping with the ever changing world we live in. Whether you come for the physical, mental, or emotional benefits it truly is a practice for everyone.
In 2001 a friend invited Kim to a Bikram yoga class in Berkeley, CA at Funky Door Yoga (worth the trip just to see the artwork by Ed Renfro) As a former college athlete - she feel in love with the physicality of the practice. A hot room in what felt like a competitive environment, was a short jump from the basketball court.
She continued exploring multiple studios and studying with teachers of various lineages over those next 10+ years as she moved around the country and then landed serendipitously into the fluid arms of Prana Vinyasa with Shiva Rea. After studying with Shiva for 300+ hours in 2014 she began her own teaching journey in Southern Arizona.
In search of something more, she continued to study the art of hands on enhancements and Thai massage.
Kim spent over 100 hours studying with Janet Stone and Mary Dana Abbott, who both specialize in hands on enhancements in the yoga practice. When she moved back to Oakland, she found a passion in assisting prominent teachers in the Bay Area and while she still loved to teach class, she found a new connection in loving and supportive touch. She continues to study with Janet Stone on her next 300 hour journey.
Following in the footsteps of her mom and sister, she decided to become a massage therapist in 2016 where she specializes in Integrative Bodywork. The body is capable of amazing things and Kim’s goal is to offer a space that meets each person with joy and support on their individual journey.
When Kim isn’t on the mat, she is most likely on the basketball court, officiating college games across the county or spontaneously traveling to a concert somewhere.
Hi, my name is Lauren! I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training last April at Roots Hot Yoga Tucson. In addition to teaching hot flow at Roots, I also host a donation-based, DJ’ed sunset yoga event every Wednesday evening at the park! Last summer, after only one month of teaching yoga consistently, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and lead a yoga workshop for the first time at a music festival in Flagstaff, AZ. It is a true passion of mine to hold space for the community as I lead with an intention of love and light. Due to my scientific background, I am also knowledgeable in anatomy, which allows me to mindfully guide yogis into postures using detailed alignment cues. I am so excited to meet you all and practice with you! Thank you for welcoming me into your space.
Catherine has been practicing yoga regularly since 2019. Initially drawn to yoga as a form of exercise, she soon found it provided an array of other much needed benefits. Catherine’s personal yoga journey has brought strength, acceptance, and joy into her life. It has also transformed her mental health and helped her reconnect with her love of health and whole-body wellness. Her passion for yoga, movement, and wellness is what called her to become a
teacher, guide others, and make yoga a significant portion of her life. After recently completingher 200hr RYT certification, she is excited to share her love of movement, and knowledge of the
practice with others. She enjoys guiding creative and playful vinyasa and slow flows that help you find peace, acceptance with your body, and connect with your inner child. Her goal is to encourage students to take on challenges and explore how their bodies can move with a smile. Ultimately, she seeks to help others along their journey to feel their best by providing a comfortable and accepting space for students to grow and learn about themselves both on and off the mat.
Beyond the mat, Catherine is a civil engineer designing water infrastructure throughout Arizona
and is a military spouse. She enjoys nature, long walks with her dog, and playing board games.
I’m Jason, and my journey with yoga started in my early 20s as a way to remedy chronic back pain, though it took a few years before I was comfortable enough to immerse myself in
consistent practice.
While living in Philadelphia, I found myself within a short walk to an ashtanga and iyengar studio where I immediately responded to the owner’s approach to alignment and form. I maintained a practice at this studio until the studio (and the world) closed
down during COVID in 2020.
Tired of the east coast city life, my wife and I broke our lease, bought a travel trailer, and towed
our tiny tin home through the southeast and southwest over the next 15 months.
We were immediately drawn to the beauty and isolation of the Sonoran desert. We moved to Tucson and found Flourish soon after. When the studio offered its first 200-hour teaching training program, I was pulled to be part of its first graduating class. I completed training in March 2024 under Amy DeSylvester and Sean Duffy.
My own yoga practice centers on a physical and mental journey to a better self–an ever
evolving target–with hopes of applying what I learn in practice to the rest of my life. I try to
emphasize alignment, form, and fun. While I like my practices to feel challenging (and thus
rewarding), I encourage myself and my students to approach new poses from a place of ease
and stability. My favorite yoga teachers tell me to smile through tough going, and I hope to
promote a similar attitude in students of my classes at Flourish.
I'm Valarie, and a fun fact about me is that I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson has always been my home, and it's where I’ve spent my entire life journey.
I hold a degree in Psychology with a minor in Journalism from the University of Arizona. Since 2007, I have worked as a dedicated social worker. My husband and I have two children who are very active in sports, keeping our life wonderfully busy.
Since high school, I have been passionate about sports and physical activity, particularly cheerleading and dance. During college, I expanded my fitness routine by taking classes like Zumba and kickboxing at local gyms. Despite my energetic and fast-paced nature, it wasn’t until I became a mom that I truly appreciated yoga for its profound ability to bring calmness and balance to my life.
In August 2021, I completed my 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training (YTT), which emphasized alignment and prop usage. In March 2024, I furthered my training with another 200-hour YTT through Flourish Yoga, under the mentorship of Amy DeSylvester and Sean Duffy, focusing on Vinyasa style yoga. Immediately after graduating, I embraced the challenge of learning the hot 60 sequence.
What I love about yoga is its diversity and adaptability for all levels. Depending on my mood or needs, I might choose a slow-paced restorative practice for peace and balance, or opt for a physical challenge and energy release in a hot yoga session. I am deeply passionate about mental health and believe in yoga's power to heal physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Join me in exploring how yoga can transform and enrich your life.
Hi, I’m Chavonne! Miami transplant, now living in Tucson! I turned my side hustle and love for fitness into my career, 20 years and growing. I live for helping people live their BEST life.
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