Our Instructors

Donna Kell/Owner

Donna (E-RYT 200, YACEP) - has been teaching Yoga since 2012. She is trained in Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, and Yin Yoga. She provides a safe, tranquil, and “spa like” atmosphere that encourages relaxation and contentment. In her class, you will learn breathing techniques that help your muscles and joints relax deeply into each pose. She performs hands-on assists that facilitate proper alignment as well as deeper relaxation. In addition, each pose is complemented with the use of essential oils. Donna's is a well-guided class that ensures you feel confident in your practice. You will leave feeling relaxed and more centered. 

Kelly Harrington/Studio Manager

Kelly Harrington, RYT® 200, has a deep commitment to yoga and holistic wellness. In February 2024, she earned her 200-hour certification from My Vinyasa Practice. Kelly's journey back to yoga was sparked by a health awakening, having been diagnosed with high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. Within six months of dedicated practice, she triumphed over these health challenges, shedding the need for medication and reversing pre-diabetic conditions. Kelly's devotion lies in restorative and yin yoga, where she finds joy in guiding others to rediscover inner peace and connection with themselves

Katie Dyer

Katie began practicing yoga in 2006 to help with the stress of her busy career as being a middle school teacher. She found more than fitness – she found that the physical challenges and resolve gained in yoga transferred to her daily life. She completed her teacher training in 2013 and taught for 6 years at YogaFly before being sidelined by COVID. After two years of baking and mask making, she’s ready to return to the mat! Her specialties are vinyasa, meditation, and savasana. Come experience the love, patience, and joy of class with Katie.

Sara Zuwiyya

Sara has always been passionate about fitness and wellness.  Over the past 15 years, she has enjoyed the routine of finding a balance between cycling, running, and practicing yoga.  She completed a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification in 2013 with Yogafly, and an additional 200-hour certification in 2021 with Green Yoga 

International in Mallorca, Spain.  She is also certified as a spin-instructor.  Sara knows that our busy lifestyles can cause us to feel scattered among the demands of family, work, and the plethora of demands we place upon ourselves.  She believes that yoga brings us to find the spark and space within ourselves to restore, reconnect with self, and in return to illuminate out positive energy

Sara’s teaching style unites the breath control of hatha yoga, the movement of vinyasa yoga, and the strength of the mind to connect with the body.  Her classes typically build from the fundamental sun salutations to a creative sequence of seamless transitions designed to bring awareness to certain regions of the body and to guide you to reach your potential in diverse peak poses.  

Both on and off the yoga mat, Sara reminds us to do what we love and to love what we do every day.

Heidi VanderVelde

Heidi found yoga as a college student and was immediately drawn to the manifold benefits of a yoga practice, including the increase in strength, flexibility, and calmness. After experiencing these benefits, she knew she wanted others to receive them as well. She then pursued her 200-hour teacher training in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2008. Following her certification, Heidi taught extensively at numerous studios in the St. Pete area. She has multiple years of experience in teaching Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, gentle, and alignment-based classes. She enjoys teaching all age groups, and particularly loves teaching beginners and helping them discover what yoga can do.

Heidi is also a pediatrician with a continued desire to promote health benefits for others. She and her husband moved to Auburn in 2018, and they have a two year old son and 3 dogs. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the mountains, reading, writing, and playing in her garden.

Leah O’Gwynn

Leah has been practicing yoga for almost six years. After her first class Leah realized that yoga was what she wanted to do all the time! It isn't just a workout, it has changed her life. Leah recently completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training under Nicole Agostino. Leah loves Vinyasa and a good juicy flow with some good tunes. She looks forward to sharing classes that not only teach you something on the mat, but also help you carry those lessons off the mat into your everyday life! 

Susan Steele

Susan may be new to sound bath facilitation but she is someone who has utilized the power of sound and music in healing and celebrating throughout her life, from learning to play piano in elementary school and playing clarinet in the competitive high school marching band, to successfully completing music theory and composition coursework in college, at the University of South Carolina, where she later graduated.

Professionally training in the practical application and science of sound healing therapy was added to her competences, in 2022, through the SoundEmbrace (AL) facilitation curriculum, from Danielle Hall.

She is also a Usui Reiki practitioner, via Palmetto Healing Arts (SC), and currently provides individualized energy sessions to her clients in need of physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

Susan has more than 30 years’ experience in healthcare and corporate consulting and over 6 years in retail entrepreneurship, as co-owner in a small shipping and printing business.

Energy work and continuing to evolve her knowledge and use of healing supportive therapies are her passions, along with mindfulness to the inner work it takes to walk the Reiki Path and assisting others on their healing paths, as well.

Dana Wilkes

Dana has always had a passion for both fitness and helping others. For many years she has been an avid runner and CrossFit enthusiast. She also spent 22 years as a licensed social worker, working with children and families. After retiring, Dana’s quest to find mind-body wellness and healing led her to Yoga. Dana finds the flow of Vinyasa Yoga to be both strengthening and energizing and she equally values the benefits of mobility and relaxation that Yin Yoga provides. She feels that meditation and pranayama can be a gateway to more presence and healing for all individuals. Dana is excited to share the tools she has learned in her recent study of Yoga in Nicole Agostino’s Alignment Based Teacher Training. In her Vinyasa classes she strives to provide an energizing flow while her Yin classes are mobility focused. In both areas she balances movement with meditation and pranayama practices

Leticia

Yoga came into Leticia’s life in 2018, when she started practicing at home, out of curiosity. At this time, she realized the benefits, physical and emotional, that yoga brought into her routine. She always loved being active, but the awareness of the breath, body, and mind all together in yoga, was something new. Day by day, as her practice became more consistent, she became passionate about yoga.  She decided to join studio classes at Auburn after dealing with respiratory issues in 2020, which made her realize even more the importance of our breath. Yoga classes were decisive in her physical and emotional recovery. In the studio, she was able to learn about correct alignment, mindfulness, awareness of the body/breath, and to connect with the beautiful and supportive yoga community in Auburn.

In 2023, she pursued her 200-hour teacher training in Rishikesh, India, where she could learn more about Hatha, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga practices. Her Hatha classes at Be Yoga will focus on longer holding of poses, strengthening, and breath/body awareness, for all levels. During teacher training she became especially interested in pranayama, yoga anatomy, and philosophy, which she is excited to share with students. She loves to study about different limbs of yoga and considers herself a forever learner. 

Lesley Stewart-Austin

Hi I’m Lesley and I just moved to Auburn in January!  My family moved here because my husband is part of the new football coaching staff at AU!  War Eagle!

 Originally from Canada, I have been dancing since I was 4 years old - studying jazz, tap, ballet, modern, Irish, highland, ballroom and oriental dance(belly dancing). I was a professional cheerleader/dancer in the CFL (Canadian Football League) for 12 seasons and head coach for 17.

I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher’s Training and Barre intensive training up in Canada.  I have also practiced SUP yoga (stand-up paddle board yoga). Quite the challenge but so fun out on the water on a hot summer’s day!

 Overall, I have been practicing yoga for over 25 years as it’s been beneficial to my dance career by supporting my strength and flexibility while helping me feel grounded and calm when I was having anxious, stressful days. I love yoga! There are so many benefits for all ages - mind & body. I plan to practice for the rest of my life.

I look forward to guiding you through your practice at Be Yoga, a wonderful studio where I was lucky enough to find my new yoga family!

Elena Roversi

Elena's love for movement started early – from competitive swimming and alpine skiing in her childhood to a passion for hip-hop, which she both learned and taught for almost five years. In 2017, life led her to Africa, where she discovered the art of pole dancing and the practice of Ashtanga Yoga.

An ardent enthusiast of Ashtanga, Elena views it as the most rewarding and challenging yoga style. She recognizes its power to unveil physical and mental potential while instilling acceptance of limitations through the repetition of its sequences. Since 2017, Elena has dedicated herself to the integration of movement and breath in her yogic journey, which also took her to Mysore, the “home” of Ashtanga practice and learning. She passionately explores techniques for body alignment, strength, and flexibility, placing mindfulness and meditation at the forefront.

After this introspective journey, Elena became a part of the cheerful BeYoga community in 2023. Her teaching approach revolves around the humble exploration of the Ashtanga primary series, with a focus on alignment and the discovery of the body, reflecting her open-minded and nurturing spirit.

BreAnne Marini

BreAnne started practicing yoga in 2012 to help balance a busy career and a move to a new city. She’s always enjoyed running, HIIT workouts, and cycling. For the last 12 years, she’s been practicing yoga and finds the benefits are just as strong off the mat. For her, yoga brings a balance of strength, calm and awareness.

She first completed a yoga sculpt training, and later received a 250 hour registered yoga teacher certification in Asheville, NC.  She’s excited to be settled in Auburn with the Be Yoga community! Her classes typically have a fun playlist that will leave you feeling strong and ready for the day.