Om/Aum
Chanting Om is not a religious thing, it is a spiritual and universal thing. The vibrations of the sound itself possess incredible power. The vibrations allow your energy to connect with universal energies reminding us that we are one. 5 facts that you might not know about Om/Aum. Bending Branch Yoga looks forward to chanting with you.
Our Teachers
Nicole Bacon
Owner/200 E-RYT/ Thai Yoga Bodywork Practitioner/ Auyrvedic Trainee
Nicole believes that yoga finds you exactly when you need it most. That bittersweet moment in your life when you realize that you are ready to uncover your true self. Once certified to teach yoga, this was not the end of Nicole’s learning journey, in fact it was just the beginning. Nicole became certified in Thai Yoga Bodywork with Michael Sitzer. She studied Yin Yoga with Douglas Johnson and is currently training to be an Ayurvedic Practitioner with Anna Russ. She believes continual education is incredibly important for yoga teachers to offer knowledgeable, safe and accessible classes/ workshops. Nicole teaches a wide range of classes throughout the week from spiritual Yin classes to high intensity Slow Burn sessions. She also has taught numerous workshops. To complement the group yoga practice, Nicole also offers a number of Total Wellness services such as Thai Yoga Bodywork, Organic Face and Scalp treatments, Private Yoga Lessons and so much more. Let her empower you to discover that balance within.
Email: Nicole@bendingbranchyoga.com
Amanda Marks
200 RYT
Amanda started her yoga journey after the death of her father. She quickly discovered It helped her process her feelings and began attending classes regularly, in addition to using other yogic principles, including pranayama and meditation. Amanda is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice and now incorporates yoga into her work with her clients that struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and eating disorders. She also teacher yoga and meditation at a local substance abuse program.
Her concentration in yoga teacher training focused on somatic therapy, energetic anatomy, and yin yoga. She additionally completed 20 hours of Yin Teacher Training.
Amanda strongly believes that “every body” can do yoga and that it is not about how flexible you are, but how it is about just being. She prides herself on being genuine and authentic and is passionate on helping others find their voice through yoga and connect our minds to our bodies.
Kim Thomas
200 RYT
From the beginning, she felt an immediate connection to yoga and has been a devoted practitioner ever since. Kim quickly discovered the mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga and believes that when we learn mindfulness and how to slow ourselves down, we are able to be in the present. In this presence, peace and contentment are found and we are able to serve and help others at a greater capacity with kindness and compassion.
Kim received a 200-hour certification through SAMA in Newport, RI in 2013 and as a continuation to her training; she just recently completed an additional 200-hour certification through Buddhi Yoga in La Jolla, CA. She has also completed courses in Ayurvedic Ear, Sinus and Cranial Therapy and an introduction to Marma Therapy and will soon be receiving her Thai Bodywork Certification.
Kim believes that there is no greater gift then to share the gift of yoga with others. She aspires to guide yogis through their very own beautiful transformation, leading them into a place of strength, self-acceptance, and overall peace and contentment.
Aubrey Ferrando
200 RYT
Aubrey has been practicing Vinyasa flow, heated Vinyasa and Bikram yoga since 2006. Her passion for the Vinyasa style led her to Yoga Fox studio in Delray Beach, FL, where she received her 200 RYT certification in December 2012. She immediately began teaching regular classes in South Florida. Since then, she has studied with 'Mukti' Michael Buck with the Vedic Conservatory, Ashtanga Guru David Williams, and has taken many weekend workshops on various specialities to continue education and bring new insight to her classes. These teachers have embedded the importance of breath (Prana), alignment and the graceful moving meditation that is yoga. External strength and internal peace are two areas of expertise that are the foundation of her practice. In July 2013 she made the move to the Smyrna, GA area with her fiancé. She now has the opportunity to bring her Yoga Fox and South Florida Vinyasa influences to yogis in the Atlanta area.
Cheryl Hodgins
200 RYT
Cheryl has been practicing yoga since 1974; teaching professionally for the past seven years. Her teachers have included Baron Baptiste, John Friend, Michael Carroll, Leslie Bender, Desiree Rumbaugh, Amrit Desai, Deborah Williamson, Stephen Cope, and Sean Corne. She is currently working toward her 500 hr certification with the Pranakriya Yoga program.
“I believe yoga is transforming, often in a way that is more evident off the mat than on the mat. Alignment awareness allows us to enjoy a comfortable, safe, physical practice, as well as allowing the yoga energy to flow freely through our bodies. Our body is the vehicle, the breath our fuel, our mind, a silent observer.”
Melanie McNally
200 RYT
Melanie's interest in yoga began in college, where she practiced in between classes. She loved it, but after graduation, balancing job, family, and city life, her yoga practice got pushed to the side. She spent the next ten years as an advertising executive; overworked, overweight, and stressed to the limit. The more yoga she did, the better she felt. Energized and motivated to share her results with others, she gave up the corporate world and devoted herself to practicing and teaching yoga. Her passion for the positive benefits of yoga makes her an ideal teacher, leading by example with compassionate and gentle encouragement. She made a positive change, and she wants to help others achieve a healthier, happier life.
Jamie Hunt
200 RYT
Jamie Hunt initially began teaching fitness back in the 80's. When Desert Storm began, he decided to run to the call of duty and join the Marine Corps. After a back injury, he was medically discharged from the Marines. Fast forward - marriage, three daughters, and years in a corporate job, he began working out with P90X where he discovered yoga. The yoga workout days were always the toughest; the founder of P90X was quoted as saying if he could do only one type of exercise, it would be yoga. Jamie knew there had to be something more to yoga than just the poses. He found the practice of yoga brought him more than physical fitness; it brought a balance to his life. Due to his back injury he knows first hand the need to listen to one's body and respect where your body is each day. However, he understands the importance of challenging oneself. He looks forward to sharing his sense of humor while enlivening people’s power within.
Cameron McLane
200 RYT
Cameron is a 200hr RYT certified yoga teacher, trained at Be Yoga in Marietta Square under Isabelle Casey early 2015. Certified in Hatha Yoga and educated in the following areas: Philosophy, Anatomy & Physiology, Ayurveda, Meditation, Mantras, History, Teaching principals, Sequencing, etc. The purpose being uniting the mind and body together as one using the breath. Cameron’s concentration throughout the duration of his training was the study of Yin Yoga focusing on the aspects of balancing Hatha with deep stretch while directing students to have a more positive well-being.
In addition to hands on assisting in Isabelle's training he has 20 hours HOA led by Julie Eubanks. In the weekend intensive many types of assists were taught: Physical, verbal, demonstrative. All to help empower yogis to go deeper inside and share their energy in a positive way. Human contact is very powerful and can help improve one’s physiological state drastically.