Yoga Life - Yoga - Studio Deerwood

Sara Torbett, OTRL/CHT, E-RYT 200 Owner of Yoga Life Studio

"It is my passion to help others achieve optimal health through the healing and energizing practice of yoga."

Sara is the owner and founder of Yoga Life Studio. She founded Yoga Life Studio in 2004 out of her deep desire to help others achieve balance and wellness through the ancient science of yoga.

Sara is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor in Power Vinyasa and Mind Body yoga. Sara also completed a 40 hour Ashtanga Teacher Training with Dave Swenson. She recently ended her 10 year professional career as an Occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist to pursue her yogic studies and develop her yoga studio. Her diverse background as an OT, professional ballroom instructor, and gymnast have helped her develop a holistic, well rounded approach to yoga. Sara has trained with many yoga masters including: Dave Swenson, Doug Swenson, Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest, Natasha Rizopoulos, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Manju Jois and Tim Feldmann. Sara's yoga style is spiritual, powerful and very healing to the mind and body as she incorporates healing sounds through music and chanting,aromatherapy and gentle touch to create a soothing environment conducive for healing and balancing the body, mind and soul. In 2009, Sara released her new Yoga DVD for Pregnancy "Prenatal Yoga Flow" which can be purchased online, at the studio, or at lululemon athletica at St. John's Town Center Mall. Sara has been practicing Vinyasa and Ashtanga Style yoga for over 8 years now and co-directs the Yoga Life 250 Hr Ashtanga/Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Program.

Kristine Sandkuehler-Mensch, RYT 200, Assistant Manager

"Yoga has been my island of peace in the craziness of everyday’s life since 2001. My teaching goal is to assist others in finding the same harmony and peace in their life as I find every time when I return to the mat."

Yoga has been an important part of Kristine’s daily life since 2001. After moving to Florida from her home country Germany in summer 2007 she didn’t return into the corporate world that had been her professional home for four years. Instead, she decided to dive deeper into Yoga not only as a practice but also a philosophy and way of life. In November 2008, she completed Yoga Life’s 250 hours Teacher Training Program and started teaching regularly. Kristine has completed over 500 hours of training and studying with several teachers such as Govinda Kai, Greg Nardi, Tim Feldmann, Kino MacGregor, Dave and Doug Swenson, as well as David Keil and Joanne and Mark Darby. In June 2010, Kristine completed Richard Freeman's 200 hours Teachers Intensive in Boulder/CO.

Kelli Paugh

Kelli Paugh graduated from Yoga Life's 250-hour Teacher Training program in January 2010. She has attended several workshops, including a yoga anatomy workshop by David Keil, an Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga instructor authorized by the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and a yoga sutras workshop by Greg Nardi of the Miami Life Center. Kelli has also completed a workshop in Thai Yoga Massage given by Sati Chmelar of The Yoga Shala in Orlando, and an arm-balance workshop by Sara Torbett, director and owner of Yoga Life. Although a relatively new practitioner to Ashtanga yoga, Kelli is excited for the opportunity to be a teacher at Yoga Life and is always looking for ways to share what she has learned and expand her yoga vocabulary.

Mary Morcom, RYT 200

Mary “Mohini” Morcom has been practicing yoga since 2005 and completed Yoga Life’s 250 hours Teacher Training Program in 2008 and a 40 hours Ashtanga Teacher Training with Dave Swenson the same year. Mary has had the privilege of studying with and attending workshops from, among others, Sara Torbett, Sati Chmelar, Adrienne Reed, Manju Jois, David and Doug Swenson, Tim Miller and Tim Feldmann. Her love of yoga came as a natural extension of a lifetime exploration of movement and the mind-body connection through dance. Before practicing yoga, Mary studied dance for over twenty years and has danced professionally with the Colorado Ballet, Ballet Austin and Tapestry Dance Company. Mary is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and University of Texas School of Law. She is currently practicing law in Jacksonville with a focus in commercial real estate matters while maintaining a consistent yoga practice. Her yoga practice helps her find balance and a sense of calm throughout the hustle and bustle of her professional life, a gift she hopes to bestow to others through her teaching.

Tricia Cox, RYT

"As a yoga teacher I strive to give my students a better connection with their body and mind. I hope to create an environment for self discovery and a place for understanding their own unique purpose in life."

Tricia is a 200 hours registered Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance in Mind Body and Power Yoga. She recently left her advertising career to pursue her yogic studies and continues to give her students a holistic approach to health and fitness.

Jessica Carnes, RYT

Jessica received a dual certification in Ashtanga/Power Vinyasa Yoga at Yoga Life Studio in 2008 as well as a Yin Yoga certification from Asheville Yoga Center in 2009. She also has a degree in Sports Medicine from the University of North Florida.
Jessica has over 300 hours of teacher training and workshop hours invested in her yoga career. She is currently working on her RYT-500 at the Asheville Yoga Center and continues to study from many inspiring and renowned teachers. Her goal is to safely guide students to find expansion in their practice through awareness on the body and breath.

David Wilcock, Certified Personal Fitness Trainer

"I am so passionate about health and fitness because I struggled with obesity as a young teen."

If you are looking to enhance your Yoga practice with cross training, build strength, stamina, or to lose weight...Try Personal Training with David. Your First 30 Minute Consultation is Free. Schedule one Today by email or by phone.

David has been a certified personal fitness trainer for 12 years, and has worked in the fitess industry for more than 15 years. As an extremely overweight teen, he understands the physical and emotional problems that plague many people who are trying to achieve or maintain good physical health. David believes in a no-nonsense scientifically sound appoach to fitness training. David even trained Owner Sara Torbett for the past 8 months. "David really knows how to challenge me in ways I know I would not have done on my own. I loved the variety of movements we did to build up my strength and endurance. It really helped my Ashtanga Yoga practice. I hate going to the gym to workout on machines and David can train any muscle in the body with just a few dumb bells and a mat. Thanks David!"-Sara Torbett. David is not one to fall for the latest fad or gimmick that may not actually work or perhaps be dangerous. He also has a background in nutrition and can be very helpful in steering you in the proper direction with your nutritional needs.