Meet Our Instructors

Every instructor brings a unique experience to the CYC. Learn more about our talented crew.

Brittany

Brittany leads a compassionate and inclusive class designed for individuals seeking solace and strength in their journey with sobriety, regardless of the type of addiction they have faced. In this safe space, we invite you to explore the transformative power of yoga as a tool for healing.

Chelsea

Chelsea Heck is a yoga teacher, licensed massage therapist, and somatic practitioner with over a decade of experience supporting people through movement, body awareness, and nervous system regulation.

Her approach blends traditional yoga practices with a deep understanding of the body, creating classes that encourage strength, mobility, presence, and connection. Drawing from years of work in bodywork, craniosacral therapy, and nervous system-informed practices, Chelsea offers a grounded and accessible space for students to explore their relationship with themselves through movement and breath.

Chelsea completed yoga teacher trainings through both the Ananda and Ashtanga traditions and has been a dedicated student of yoga for over sixteen years. She is passionate about creating spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and cultivate greater ease, resilience, and self-awareness.

Originally from the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, Chelsea recently returned home after many years living, studying, and working throughout the American West. She is grateful to be sharing her work within the community that helped shape her and looks forward to supporting others through yoga, movement, and embodied awareness.

Crystal

As a yoga teacher, I don’t just lead classes; I weave Reiki energy into every facet of my practice. My approach is rooted in mindfulness and intention, ensuring that whether we are moving through a deep restorative session or a mindful flow, the flow of healing energy remains the priority. To deepen this experience, I use sound bowls and affirmations throughout the session, creating a sacred space for you to soften, reset, and reconnect with your inner self.

Donna

My name is Donna. I’m an RN and certified yoga instructor committed to creating spaces where every body feels seen, supported, and welcome. Through breath work and mindful movement, I invite students to honor the wisdom of their own bodies, nurturing self-acceptance and authentic expression on the mat.

My classes center on empowerment—building strength, resilience, and confidence while releasing the pressure to compare or perform. To me, yoga isn’t about perfecting poses; it’s about cultivating joy, balance, and a sense of freedom in your own skin. Each practice becomes a celebration of who you are, fully and unapologetically.

Heather H

E-RYT 500+ Yoga Teacher 
Knoxville, TN

I’m Heather Hutcheson, and I’ve been on an incredible journey with yoga for the past 12 years. My path began during one of the darkest times in my life when I was grappling with addiction. Yoga came to me as a beacon of hope and healing, guiding me toward a brighter, more fulfilling existence. I truly believe that yoga saved me.

Through my practice, I found not only strength and resilience but also a sense of purpose. This is why I now share yoga with others; it has become my Dharma, my life's mission. I created Sober Yoga 10 years ago and as an E-RYT 500 + hours (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher), I aim to create a nurturing space where others can discover the transformative power of yoga for themselves.

Born & living in Knoxville, TN, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with so many wonderful individuals on this journey. My classes are designed to be inclusive and supportive, helping students from all backgrounds feel at home on their mats. I’m passionate about self-love,  self-acceptance and building community through the practice of yoga.

When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time outdoors (surfing & hiking ) connecting with nature, and exploring new ways to enhance wellness in my life and the lives of others. I’m excited to continue this journey of sharing yoga and empowering others to find their own light, just as I did. Join me on the mat, and let’s discover the healing power of yoga together!

Heather S

Heather Lyn Schneller is a seasoned professional holistic healer, longtime yoga teacher, and the co president and founder of the Community Yoga Center. Her background blends years of devoted study in yoga philosophy, somatic healing, Ayurveda, mindfulness, and community service. She teaches from the heart and believes that yoga is a remembering of who we truly are. Heather has guided hundreds of students through life changing trainings, retreats, classes, and wellness education. She brings warmth, compassion, and lived experience into each offering. She believes deeply that yoga meets every person exactly where they are and calls each of us toward balance, clarity, and purpose. Namaste.

Heathers Classes:

Heather’s classes at the CYC are gentle, grounded, and intentionally crafted for the whole person. She invites students into a practice that supports the mind, body, and spirit through mindful movement, breath awareness, and simple tools rooted in yoga and Ayurveda. Students can expect safe alignment, creative sequencing, a sense of being seen and cared for, and a warm space for learning how to feel at home in the body again. Her teachings help students settle, soften, strengthen, and reconnect. Class with Heather is a chance to breathe more deeply, release what no longer serves, and return to the heart.

Kayla

Hi! I'm Kayla. I found yoga in 2022 while working toward a bachelor's degree - burnt out, raising three kids, and floating somewhere above my own body. Yoga brought me back down. It gave me tools to heal and the courage to rebuild my life from the inside out.

I began teaching in 2023 because I knew I wanted more people to experience the ways yoga can transform you. Yoga taught me to lead with my heart, not just in poses but in life too. When I felt called to share this practice, I listened and began offering free classes in our community. Eventually, this led me to join the founding team of the CYC.

My teaching is rooted in presence and compassion. You'll find slower-paced flows, time to settle into poses, and invitations to notice - not force.

I believe we are innately worthy and whole, and when we slow down, turn inward, and move with intention, we can feel that truth in our bodies. My hope is that you leave class feeling lighter, more present, and more at home in yourself.

Michael

Michael believes emotional regulation is the foundation for a life well lived. His goal is to create a space for you to drop in, tune in, and tap into your innate peace and power.

Drawing from classical training and personal transformation, Michael blends breathwork, dynamic movement, and mindfulness to guide students into deeper awareness. His classes emphasize alignment, confidence, and creating a steady inner rhythm that carries into daily life.

Believing every human has an inner well of resilience and wisdom, his goal is to help you tap into yourself and step into life with intention.

Rachel

My yoga journey began in 2004 when I took my very first class and instantly fell in love. What started as a simple curiosity quickly became a lifelong practice and a steady anchor through every season of my life. No matter how my fitness routines have evolved over the years, yoga has remained the one constant—grounding me, strengthening me, and bringing me back to myself again and again.

In 2016, I deepened that connection by becoming a certified yoga instructor, with a specialization in Yin Yoga. Even as a teacher, I continue to be a dedicated student of the practice, always learning, growing, and exploring new ways to move, breathe, and connect.

I teach mindful flow classes for mixed levels, creating a space where students can challenge themselves while honoring where they are. My approach is rooted in living a healthy, balanced lifestyle—one that integrates movement, presence, and intention both on and off the mat.

Yoga has been a true gift in my life, offering strength, clarity, and peace time and time again. Sharing that gift with others feels like the most natural and meaningful way to give back.

Raileigh

Raileigh is a certified yoga and meditation guide through the Santosha Yoga Institute. She specializes in vinyasa and viniyoga, and emphasizes her teachings upon the significance of the breath and deep transformative awareness of mind, body, soul, and Spirit. She earned a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences and an honorable academic portfolio of study in psychology, mental health, social development, western medicine, and family and child development from Florida State University.

Raileigh guides and inspires all beings to find health and empowerment through significant lifestyle change, authentic embodiment, and deep present awareness.

You can join her once a week for Yoga for Mommas and Babies at the Community Yoga Center in Maryville, TN.

Raileigh is also the founder of Conscious Lifestyle Coaching™, a sacred space for entrepreneurs, changemakers, and visionaries on the path of self-development, healing, and spirituality to experience transformation and holistic growth. You can learn more and book 1:1 sessions by visiting consciouslifestylecoaching.com.

Ri

Hi! I’m Rebecca (Ri) McGhee and I’ve been helping people in our community get stronger, find balance, and manage stress for over 13 years. I also host the R&R with Ri podcast where I lead weekly guided meditations for relaxation and mindful reflection. As an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer with additional certifications in meditation and breathwork coaching, I love combining physical fitness with mindfulness practices. Throughout my career I’ve been helping people with their physical and mental health even through challenging health issues like cancer, Parkinson's, ALS, and pre- and post-surgical recovery. I’m so excited about being part of the CYC community and helping you find a sustainable approach to balanced wellness that works for you.

What I Offer at CYC

  • Functional Strength Circuit classes that are energizing, efficient, and fun—think timed stations with a variety of equipment (weights, kettlebells, bands, and bodyweight moves) focused on building strength and balance for everyday life.

  • Meditation & Breathwork classes where we explore simple, practical techniques you can use to reduce stress, improve focus and productivity, and feel more grounded.

  • Balance Screenings for anyone concerned about stability or fall risk—quick, informative assessments with personalized tips.  Balance isn't just for older adults. Your balance peaks around age 25 and starts declining from age 30. Most people don't notice until it affects their athletic performance or they suffer an injury that could have been prevented.

Whether you’re brand new to fitness or a seasoned pro, you’re welcome in my classes!

Te’Lor

Te'Lor Allen is a Yoga Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, Full-Spectrum Doula, Reiki Master Teacher, and Holistic Wellness Practitioner dedicated to supporting healing of the mind, body, and spirit. Through yoga classes, workshops, bodywork, and wellness education, she creates spaces for restoration, self-discovery, and meaningful connection.

Travis

My yoga journey began in 2018 to keep fit and flexible as a Motocross rider. I began attending a local studio in Knoxville, Tn and really loved the way mind and body started to feel, everything started to feel more at ease, and it changed the way I looked at my health and longevity. Just as important to me was the connections and the community that yoga introduced me to, a very loving and accepting community. 

I think what sets me apart is that I just don't concentrate on any one style of yoga, I love teaching as well as being a student of Yin, Slow Flow, Vinyasa, and Power Yoga.

I am currently working towards my 300hr YTT at Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, NC and should be on track to complete that by the end of 2026 giving me my 500hr RYT certification. 

My 200hr training was done through The Kula Collective and The Yoga Mix starting in 2024 and completing in April 2025.