Alyssa began her yoga journey six years ago and earned her 200-hour certification in March 2024 at Flourish Yoga in Tucson, AZ, under the mentorship of Amy DeSylvester and Sean Duffy. Shortly after, she began teaching weekly classes in Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yoga Nidra. As a trauma-informed instructor, she is dedicated to creating soft, supportive spaces that encourage healing and self-exploration.
With a background in industrial engineering (Boiler Up!), Alyssa earned two master’s degrees from the University of Arizona, where she started to grow strong roots in Tucson. The desire to connect deeply with her surroundings fuels her drive for teaching yoga and being an active contributor in the local community. She blends analytical precision with intuitive movement, fostering balance, mindfulness, and presence—both on and off the mat.
Off the mat, Alyssa mentors collegiate engineering organizations that support women in STEM, believing that softness and support should extend into all areas of life. She’s also a passionate reader, a gamer, and the proud human of two cats and two Weimaraners.
Flourish Yoga founder and owner. Amy’s yoga journey began over 20 years ago as a means to find relief from stress and anxiety. The transformative benefits she experienced through her personal practice ignited her passion for sharing the healing power of yoga with others. In 2008, Amy completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in Tulum, Mexico, and later expanded her expertise with a 300-hour YTT. Holding both ERYT 500 and YACEP designations through Yoga Alliance, Amy has been a dedicated yoga teacher for over 18 years. Amy continues to share her knowledge and love for the practice in a variety of styles, with a special passion for Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, and Kids Yoga.
With a background as a former elementary and secondary physical education teacher, Amy is particularly devoted to introducing yoga to youth. She has designed curriculum for kids' yoga teacher trainings and summer camps, focusing on mindful movement, yoga stories, partner yoga, mindfulness activities, and yoga art. As the lead yoga teacher trainer for Flourish Yoga's 200-hour YTT, Amy plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of yoga teachers.
Amy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Wellness and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education, which deeply inform her thoughtful approach to sequencing. Her classes are designed to challenge both mind and body, leaving students feeling balanced, nourished, and inspired. When she’s not on the mat, Amy enjoys spending time with her twins, Raya and Luca, her husband Tony, and their dog Miles, embracing the joy of life.
Cass is a Tucson native who started her yoga journey 20 years ago with Bikram yoga. Being a runner, she was looking for something to compliment her runs and help loosen up tight muscles. She walked into that hot room and instantly fell in love with the practice. It was an intense work out, but also one that quieted her mind. After struggling with anxiety and mental health, she finally found something that worked her body and her mind. From Bikram, she began to explore other kinds of yoga. She took her love of yoga with her around the country, moving around with her Air Force husband and practicing when she could. After 12 years and 2 kids away from Arizona, Cass and her family moved back to Tucson when her husband retired from the military. She has practiced on and off for the last 20 years, always coming back to yoga when she needed something to quiet her mind. In 2022, she started her yoga practice again, finding Flourish Yoga. She fell in love with the community there and began practicing regularly. When the opportunity to take YTT came up, she took the plunge and decided to make the commitment to deepen her practice. She completed her 200 hour YTT with Amy DeSylvester and Eva Khan. She’s hoping to spread her love of yoga and the amazing way it makes her feel to the community. When she’s not practicing yoga, she enjoys being outdoors with her family, reading all kinds of books, good coffee and tending to her menagerie of animals, including 3 dogs and flock of 16 chickens.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
I'm Joelle, a RYT 500 yoga teacher with a Master of Science from ASU and a background in biomedical science. I completed my RYT 200 in 2024 at Flourish Yoga under the mentorship of Amy and Sean.
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.
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.
Katrina Listello is a Tucson-based yoga teacher known for her thoughtful sequencing, precise cueing, and grounded presence. With over 25 years of personal practice and teaching since 2018, she brings depth and clarity to every class. Her teaching integrates strength, mobility, and breath with a focus on alignment and intelligent progression, guiding students into more advanced postures in ways that feel both accessible and well-earned. She teaches several modalities of yoga, offering a balanced approach that supports effort and ease while building strength, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection.
Katrina holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resource Management from the University of Colorado and spent several years in corporate leadership and talent development before following her passion for health and wellness. She is currently completing her 500-hour teacher training with Eoin Finn, founder of Blissology. She is also a proud mother of three sons and loves spending time with her granddaughter, who is the light of her life.
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.
Kimberly has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. It began with an invitation to Bikram class and her practice has ebbed and flowed with different lineages over the years.
After studying with her first teacher, Shiva Rea in 2014, she began her own teaching journey in Tubac, AZ. She continued to study, focusing on hands-on assists and Thai massage. She has trained with Janet Stone and Mary Dana Abbott, who both specialize in hands on enhancements in the yoga practice.
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.
Kim recently retired from a successful career as a college basketball referee after sustaining bilateral hamstring avulsions in 2025.
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.
"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.
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.
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!
A practitioner of yoga and meditation since her twenties, Pamela enjoys a variety of styles of yoga including Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Gentle, Myofascial Release as well
as Aerial Yoga.
Through Pamela’s thoughtful and grounding practices, students learn to reconnect to their body and inner wisdom to enjoy a deeper sense of wellbeing
and joy.
Self-empowerment is fundamental to her practice, and her lighthearted teaching style is infused with encouragement and acceptance. One of Pamela's passions is to help others find relief from stress and anxiety through yoga, meditation and sound healing.
Currently an E-RYT 200 with Yoga Alliance, Pamela continues to study with more
experienced teachers worldwide to deepen her daily practice and grow as a
teacher.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Tammy Dyke-Compton is a yoga instructor and dance professor with more than 30 years of experience in dance education and yoga practice. She currently serves as a Professor in the University of Arizona School of Dance, where she teaches, mentors, and inspires the next generation of dancers.
Yoga has been Tammy's happy place for more than three decades and an essential part of finding balance, strength, and longevity throughout her life in dance. She holds a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certification from Flourish Yoga, where her practice has deepened and her passion for sharing yoga with others has grown. She is incredibly grateful to her Flourish mentors and community for creating a space where she continues to learn, grow, and reconnect with herself.
Tammy’s teaching centers on breath, balance, mindful movement, and compassion. She hopes to create the same joy, connection, and sense of belonging that she has found through her own practice and is excited to help others discover their own happy place at Flourish. Breathe Deeply. Move Mindfully. Live Fully.
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.
