instructors
Elissa
Elissa has been practicing yoga for more than a decade and began teaching in 2022. In June 2024, she founded Lake Whitney Yoga to share the benefits of yoga with her local community after years of traveling to practice and teach.
Yoga has been a grounding force in Elissa’s life, guiding her through challenging times and inspiring her to create a space where others can experience the same sense of connection, balance, and strength. She is passionate about fostering community, supporting overall wellness, and helping students build both mobility and resilience through mindful movement.
Elissa completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Yoga8 in 2022 and her 300-hour certification with My Vinyasa Practice in 2025. She also holds a certification in Hypermobility and is studying Somatic Healing, deepening her understanding of the body’s innate capacity for healing and transformation.
Emily
Emily is what we like to call our “gentle” instructor. Her intention is to help you unwind and find calm amidst the chaos of everyday life. Through yoga, she invites you to soften, slow down, and restore balance to the yang energy that often fills our days. Emily teaches Yin, Restorative, and Gentle Yoga classes, weaving in pranayama – mindful breathing techniques – to guide your awareness inward and cultivate a deep sense of peace and presence.
Emily is a certified 200 hour Yoga Teacher and has completed specialized 20 hour trainings in both Yin and Restorative Yoga. She is currently advancing her studies through a 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training program and pursuing a Mindfulness Coaching certification to further support her students’ well being.
JESS
Jess is the “Tigger” of the studio—always bouncing from one thing to the next and bringing infectious energy wherever she goes. She originally found yoga as a way to slow down, center herself, and tap into her chill mode. Through her practice, Jess has reduced anxiety while building strength and flexibility.
She loves sharing that mental and physical growth with our community through her strength classes. Jess is currently studying for her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, deepening her practice and expanding the tools she brings to her students.
RACHEL
Rachel is a Dallas native and wellness professional who has been practicing yoga for more than two decades. Her journey in the fitness industry began with work at Equinox in 2012 in a sales and general management capacity. That role took Rachel to Los Angeles, where she shifted into yoga and meditation instruction in 2017, joining the staff at celebrated studios like Unplug Meditation and The Den.
Rachel first came to the fat in her teens, seeking physical, emotional and spiritual balance. That intention remains the core of her practice. She aims for each individual to leave her classes feeling better than when they arrived. Rachel believes in yoga that is accessible for everyone and specializes in teaching all levels.
Rachel completed her 200-hour YTT with Yoga8, where she currently teaches Yin & Hatha classes. She also holds certifications in Mindfulness, Sound Healing, Barre, Hypnotherapy, Astrology, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, giving her yoga practice a therapeutic and restorative focus.
