BELLA PRANA COLLECTIVE - Key Persons
Aiyana Fraley (she/her) is a meditation and restorative yoga instructor, reiki teacher, and a licensed massage therapist since '99. She guides students in integrating the principles of yoga and inner awareness into their everyday lives. Aiyana is also a massage therapy continuing education teacher, offering courses in reiki, aromatherapy, and massage. Additionally, she leads regular Reiki Trainings at Bella Prāṇa for Level I and II, along with master level certifications. See our workshops page for upcoming training. Aiyana also brings her healing skills to our Yoga Nidra and Full Moon Reiki class experiences, find those classes on our schedule page. Aiyana is called to heal and brings a grounding and kind energy to every room she enters.
Amie is a lot of things rolled up in one! She's a wife and mother to three amazing little ones, crafter and small business owner, a nature nut, wannabe chef, a forever student and a lover of yoga. Amie has done yoga off and on throughout out her life, mostly to help with running injuries. Her first experience with hot yoga was in 2014. She fell in and out of practice numerous times but when she started hot yoga again in the summer of 2021 something was different. She became a committed practitioner and took a 200 hour teacher training to become a hot yoga instructor. She remains curious about the practice and strives to learn more.
Progressive, funny, and 100% real, Ashley Adams (she/her) is an instructor and the founder of Black Prāṇa Magazine, which is in partnership with the Bella Prāṇa Collective Yoga Teacher Training. With family history hailing from the small beach town of Tarpon Springs, Florida, this business tycoon, mother, and eldest sister of four knew fate led her to purpose when doing "the work" didn't quite feel like working. Ashley says the success of her business is rooted in pure frustration. In response to that frustration, Black Yoga Magazine was born. The only publication of its kind, BYM exists because of the lack of representation for people of color in the yoga world. Ashley also made the conscious decision to lower the barrier to entry when it comes to people of color obtaining their certification to teach Yoga and less than a year ago, Ashley launched her first 200-Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program virtually. To date, Ashley has successfully trained over 4000 yoga professionals.
Brianna started her yoga journey as a high school student in 2004. She was drawn to yoga's physical, mental, and emotional healing properties and had been practicing it since. She completed her 200 Hour YTT training through Pranakriya Yoga. Then, she continued her studies, completing the Prenatal Training at Bella Prana Collective. As a marketing professor at the University of South Florida, Brianna is passionate about empowering students by allowing them to tap into their inner strength both on and off the mat. Brianna is an encouraging instructor who focuses on breath work and the mind-body connection.
Brittany began her yoga practice in 2012 while she was studying Exercise Science at the University of North Florida. She found passion in wanting to help others achieve a more active lifestyle through yoga and fitness. Brittany received her Certified Personal Trainer certification upon graduating and has been training clients, of all ages, since. In the summer of 2020, Brittany received her 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training and is registered through Yoga Alliance. Brittany hopes to bring peace, healing, and joy to all people who cross her path on and off the mat.
Chanel's experiences intend to expand and deepen your felt and intuitive understanding of body, mind and soul. She infuses her affection for music, structured and free movement, meditation, mantra and other ancient wisdom practices to help remind us of our gifts, strength and contribution to this world. Chanel's been a part of the Bella Prana community since 2014. She's 500RYT, a reiki master, DJ's for joy, and has her own energy healing business.
Consuelo (she/her) is a 500 hr RYT and Reiki Master. Her yoga journey started in 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa, where she study Hinduism as part of her college curriculum and shortly got attracted to the asana practice. In 2018, completed the 300 hr. yoga teacher and Reiki Master training at Heathwood Yoga Institute located in Bradenton. She believes that yoga is all about connecting the dots between the mind, heart, and body - a practice beyond the mat. Loves teaching Yin, Restore, Vinyasa, meditation, and Reiki. Consuelo was born and raised in Chile, and her biggest muse is her grandmother, Odette, a yogi and reiki master.
DeAndra (she/her) of The Body Elevator Co. is an in house massage therapist at Bella Prāṇa as well as the Boutique Director. Whether you need stress relief, pain management or much needed pampering The Body Elevator Company is available to assist you on your self-care journey; catering naps by the hour and serenity by the minute. As a relaxation specialist, DeAndra offers a variety of techniques that soothe the body, mind, and spirit. She believes in the body's natural ability to heal itself with the assistance of massage therapy. Her style is nurturing and methodical, customizing treatments that beautifully combine pampering and therapy. As a business owner, DeAndra takes pride in providing excellent customer service by using clean, organic and vegan products in session. Book services at www.thebodyelevator.com.
Devin (she/her) first stepped on the yoga mat in 2019, she quickly realized just how much it could transform her life to incorporate yoga into her workout routine. She began practicing more frequently and loved watching herself evolve mentally and physically on her yoga mat. She loves that yoga helps build her strength, confidence, awareness, mental clarity, and flexibility. A few years later, she graduated from her RYT-200 training registered with Yoga Alliance. Devin's intention is to share her love and passion towards yoga with her students and to invite them on the lifelong journey of health and fitness benefits that yoga provides. She hopes that her students will leave the room feeling powerful, confident, and more relaxed than when they walked in.
Devin Johnson (he/him) is a local Tampanian, and a retired competitive athlete, with a huge heart for sharing his love for yoga. By taking one of his classes he will help you realize that "it's just yoga". The secret people don't tell you is that comparison doesn't get you points in class. But with his gentle guidance you have the chance to connect to more of the subtle energies of what Yoga truly is.
Giana has been practicing yoga since she was 14 years old and it has continuously been a grounding point in her life through seasons of change and discovery; yoga taught her the most precious lessons in life through self-work and inquiry. Giana believes that yoga is a practice and not a performance, through this she encourages students to come as they are and not how they think they "should be" and surrender to what's possible when you just show up. Her intention is to empower students in the classrooms on their mat and provide them tools to take out into the real world to truly "live your yoga".
Initially the physical intensity and injury prevention benefits guided Giovanna (she/her) to go to a yoga class. The lessons about human nature opened the path to become a 500hr yoga instructor. Yoga balances her love and passion for endurance training and spiritually guides her soul to embrace life with ease. She leads her students to feel a powerful class, with awareness and purpose, to explore the dynamic experience within the physical aspects of their bodies and mind. "Yoga offers the playground of love to connect with your soul, offers the tools necessary to remove the obstacles that cause suffering and shows us a way of life to engage in reality with peace". When Giovanna is not on her mat, she is swimming, biking, running or arranging a healthy meal.
Hannah began her yoga practice at Bella Prana in October of 2016. She quickly became a regular practitioner of the Hot 26 style of yoga. The routine and discipline of this yoga style provided Hannah relief from her anxiety. Hannah decided that she wanted to guide others through the moving meditation of a Hot 26 class so that they could experience the same amazing benefits she has. She received her 150 Hatha Yoga certification from Gaze Hot Yoga in May 2019. Hannah is excited to be part of the Bella Prana family as this is where her practice originated. Besides yoga, Hannah is a lover of cats (especially her own cat Javier), Trevor Hall, and traveling with her husband.
Jane (she/her) began her yoga journey 22 years ago and has been teaching for 8 years. She received a 200hr RYT certification through LifePower Yoga under the direction of Jonny Kest. Jane's passion for teaching is rooted in the transformation that she has experienced in her own life and the desire to share this gift of exploration with others. She enjoys teaching Vinyasa Flow, Power, Yin and Restorative. Her style is creative as well as challenging and grounding. Jane's intention is to be a guide for students on their own journey of self-discovery and growth.
Jenna's (she/her) background as a Registered Nurse ignited her love for the yoga practice as a holistic way of healing the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga became an outlet for her to relieve tension from the high-stress hospital environment. Jenna's aspiration is to guide others in finding healthy ways to cope with life's challenges through yoga. She focuses on strength building and spirituality to cultivate a full mind-body experience. Since receiving her 200 RYT with Awakened Life School of Yoga, she has completed trainings in meditation, pranayama, inversions. Her in depth knowledge of anatomy encourages a challenging, yet safe practice to prevent injury and promote wellness. She has dedicated herself to sharing the light of this practice with others.
Job Titles:
- Director of Family Programing at Bella Prāṇa
Jessica Freedman (she/her) is the Director of Family Programing at Bella Prāṇa and lead instructor in our Prenatal Teacher Training. She is a 200 HR RYT, Children's author, a graduate of the University of Tampa, wife and mama. Originally bound for medical school, she had a change of heart. She started to gravitate toward a holistic approach to health and wellness and a call to serve others to lead a healthy and happy life. In 2006, she answered this call with not one, but two, 200hr Yoga Teacher trainings including advanced prenatal training and "Prāṇa Flow". While pregnant with her own two children, she had the immense honor to learn from doulas, acupuncture physicians, naturopaths, midwives, and obstetricians. She combines 13 years of teaching yoga and fitness experience with the techniques taught to her by experts in these fields and postpartum health and healing, to bring a loving, balanced approach to pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Jessica's offerings include Prenatal Yoga Teacher Trainings, prenatal, postnatal, restorative for pregnancy, and core and pelvic floor classes.
Jessica (she/her) owns and runs our Ashtanga Yoga Program at Bella Prāṇa through her business, Yoga Chikitsa. She is committed to teaching and practicing the Ashtanga Yoga method, as taught in KPJAYI, Jessica began teaching yoga in 2007, and the daily practice of Ashtanga yoga provides her with the healing, uplifting, and insightful benefits of a committed yoga practice. Jessica uses gentle encouragement to guide students along a path of healing self-discovery through yoga. Jessica has traveled to India to study at KPJAYI with R. Sharath Jois in Mysore, India and was blessed with the Authorization to teach Ashtanga Yoga in 2013. Jessica dedicates her life to learning and sharing the Ashtanga Yoga Method, it inspires her to cultivate peace, inspiration, dedication, devotion and self surrender on and off the yoga mat.
With a background in powerlifting and football, Kamran (he/him) found yoga as a way to heal injuries and turn inward. Yoga became an outlet where Kamran could be his true self and find the discipline to show up every day for his body and mind. It is his goal to show that yoga is for everyone from all walks of life. It is also his mission to guide students and bring them to a point where they can truly find themselves through a challenging, yet fun class to deal with all of life's challenges through movement and breath.
Karla (she/her) began practicing yoga in 2008. She was instantly hooked on the way she could forget the outside world's worries and focus inward. Eager to find peace in life's hustle she began a regular yoga practice and completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2018. She uses yoga to calm the mind and as a reminder to live in the now, allowing all past thoughts and worries to leave the mind. She strives to bring the same peace of mind to her students through breath work, stillness, and asana. When Karla isn't teaching yoga you can find her working with the animals at Big Cat Rescue.
KJ discovered yoga over decades ago in college just for fun, and it ended up filling her soul. She received her 200hr teacher training right here in Tampa and has been dedicated to learning and growing with her students everyday since. What inspired KJ most about teaching was how personal each individuals practice becomes. KJ loves to share the energy and strength of powerful vinyasa, with room to explore variations and modifications. "I want every person that steps onto the mat realize that every shape their body makes is already perfect." In class you will find a blend of traditional Ashtanga Yoga aspects mixed with non-traditional flows and lots of great music.
Kristen Lillian Riordan (Schneider) first discovered yoga while living in China in 2010. Kristen has studied intensively under renowned teachers in India and in the US. She is a 500 RYT, author, and ayurvedic counselor. Kristen has a Master's degree in mental health counseling and is passionate about the mind-body connection. Kristen believe yoga is like therapy for the body and spirit! She strives to make each class feel like a hug. Her yin and slow flow classes are grounding for the nervous system and uplifting for the heart. Her vinyasa and power classes are playful, dynamic and sprinkled with opportunities to explore new shapes! All three of Kristen's books can be found in the Bella Boutique.
Lauren (she/her) fell in love with yoga during high school when her cross country coaches/yoga instructors started teaching yoga classes every week. The goal of yoga was to help with agility, speed,and prevent injury. For her yoga gave her an overwhelming sense of serenity, love, and community. She took a gap year and earned her 200 hour certification through Core Power Yoga in Encinitas, California. As a teacher her purpose is to inspire her students and create a space of serenity, love, and community. Although she was born and raised in San Diego, California her family now lives in Tampa and she studies marketing at University of Tampa.
Lisa (she/her) first stepped on to her yoga mat in 1999 and has been teaching yoga for over 15 years. She holds E-RYT-200, RPYT (prenatal) and RCYT (children's) certifications from Yoga Alliance. She offers a wide range of yoga instruction to all ages and abilities including prenatal, postnatal, baby & me yoga, power flow vinyasa yoga, gentle/yin/restorative yoga, mindfulness meditation, iRest Yoga Nidra, chair yoga for seniors, corporate yoga for increased ease and productivity in the workplace, and adaptive yoga for differently abled bodies, specifically US veterans and their caregivers. Her classes are constructed to be fun and challenging, yet accessible to all. Lisa's intension is to teach yoga and meditation as a lifelong source of health, fitness and vitality while inspiring students to be aware of the many benefits of wellbeing that are often simply an inhale & exhale away.
Mary (she/her) began practicing yoga in February of 2013 due to a running injury. During those early days, her work on the mat was motivated by a longing for physical healing. Pleasantly surprised, she experienced peace and healing in her emotional, mental and spiritual body as well! This discovery inspired her to become a yoga teacher. So in the midst of being a wife, mother of 4, hugger, knitter, reader of literature and student of Life, Mary obtained her 200hr E-RYT, and 500hr RYT certification. As a yoga teacher, through guiding the practice of poses and breath, Mary desires to create space for everyone to cultivate and nourish peace and health in their own body, mind, and spirit.
Megan DiGiacomo (she/her) is an 500 E-RYT YACEP instructor and the Director of Operations at Bella Prāṇa. She is lead instructor of our Yin, Gentle and Restorative Yoga Teacher Trainings as well as a lead instructor in our 200 Hr YTT. Her experience with yoga started as a young wife and mother with twin babies in 1995. Stress, anxiety and exhaustion were taking her over. She saw a photo of a woman doing yoga on a rock in Utah, and was inspired by quiet strength, grace and peace. She started practicing in 1995, and her path led her toward a calling to teach in 2007. As a lifelong student of Yoga, Megan is a Reiki master and received her 200 hr certification in the Hatha tradition, studied with Jessica Lynne Trese at Bella Prāṇa to receive her 300 certification in 2018, holds 50 hr advanced trainings in Restorative and Yin yoga with Bernie Clark, and is currently working toward a Ayurveda Health Advisor to be completed in 2023. Each class Megan teaches is meant to be a journey through physical posture, breath work and meditation to experience balance and a path back to Love.
Mia Franz (she/her) turned to yoga in 2017 when she found that running in the Florida heat caused her more stress than fulfillment. She quickly discovered both joy and connection through her yoga practice. Wanting to share that experience with yogis of all levels, she became a certified teacher in September 2019, completing Bella Prana's 200-hour teacher training. She loves the fact that three generations of her family now practice yoga-her parents, herself, and her children! Mia teaches gentle classes and enjoys creating fun sequences that emphasize the power of the breath. As a high school teacher, she seeks to bring the experience of yoga to adults and adolescents alike. When she's not on the mat, she can be found adventuring with her family or sitting with her nose in a book, preferably at the beach!
Nicole (she/her), is a 200hr instructor with specialized training in yin and trauma informed teaching. She was introduced to yoga at a crucial point in her life while trying to navigate recovery from a traumatic relationship. She first explored yoga for the physical benefits and quickly fell in love with the positive influence it had on her mental well-being which kept her coming back to her mat. Her passion to bring this same space for healing and peace to others can be felt in her gentle, explorative teaching style. Nicole is also a Reiki 2 practitioner and enjoys helping students incorporate the subtle energetic side of their practice as well.
Renée (she/her) has practiced yoga since 2016 and graduated Bella Prana's 200hr YTT in 2021. Renée found yoga when she needed it the most. When her life seemed unbalanced and stuck, she decided to try something new. Not only did yoga challenge her physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. It's a place where she can show up as her authentic-self and find purpose, strength, and presence. It brings her balance to the physical impact of sports and weight training. It helps her return to the body, silence the mind and focus on her own movement. Much like growth work, the posture begins when you want to get out of it. She hopes students will feel the same impact in her classes.
Roni Elissabeth Harris (she/her) is the founder & owner of the Bella Prāṇa Wellness Collective. Roni is an 500hr yoga instructor and has been teaching for over a decade. She is also a certified reiki practitioner, a life coach graduating from the Southwestern University of Healing Arts, as well as a nutrition coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Roni is a certified wilderness emergency medical technician and adventurer who is known for her impactful class themes and life changing retreats around the world, in places such as India and Nepal. Using these skills, she is a sought after consultant, writer and speaker. Previously in full time ministry, with her first year of her masters in divinity, she was drawn to the healing yoga provided in such an efficient and tangible way. She is known for her special blend of spirituality, coaching, and yoga all woven together into moving experiences. When Roni isn't at the studio she is with her husband Bret, her son Fintastic, and her puppy Winnie Cooper.
Sahara Rodriguez (she/her) has been practicing bodywork, teaching classes and workshops for over 20 years. She has studied and trained with spiritual teachers from around the world and brings together many paths in the spirit of Oneness. Sahara is a licensed massage therapist, energy worker, meditation teacher, minister, author of the inspirational, "Beyond the Reflection" and is dedicated to heart centered service. Her classes provide a safe, nurturing space which assist people on their healing path and connection to the Source of Life.
Sarah (she/her) found yoga more than 10 years ago but never realized the value of group practice until she began her Yoga Teacher Training at Bella Prana in 2018. While she still believes in the power of a solo practice, she is certain that practicing in a group setting is exponentially more beneficial to your yoga journey. The energy that's shared during practice cannot be duplicated in any other way. Sarah has a gentle spirit and loves making her students feel valued and fully welcomed into the practice. Yoga has helped Sarah connect with her community in many different ways and she looks forward to seeing you in one of her classes soon!
Susan is from Tampa, Florida, landing here in the early 90's when her dad was stationed at Macdill Air Force Base. After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in English, she moved to Chicago. Continuing her job through college in fine dining, Susan started a trend through the next decade of working for very impressive chefs, including Grant Achatz and David Chang. As her palate grew so did her taste for travel, and her next adventure took her to Thailand. Susan was an English teacher there for nearly two years, and it was there that she met her first yoga teacher. P Noi introduced Susan to asana, pranayama, and yoga philosophy. She inspired Susan to seek her own 200 hour teaching certificate which she did in 2017 in Rishikesh, India at Nada Yoga School. Susan began practicing Aṣṭāṅga yoga over four years ago with Jade Skinner in St. Petersburg, Fl, and when she lived in New York, with Amy Santos in Brooklyn. Over the last two years it's been her honor to work with Jessica Lynne Trese in Tampa and receive her 500 hour specializing in Aṣṭāṅga Yoga. Susan has learned that yoga can be experienced so many ways and is much more than a physical practice, but for some it could be the physical body that opens the door to the inner realm.
Tammy (she/her) began practicing yoga almost 20 years ago as a counterbalance to long distance running, but it was after she had children in 2001 that she really started to see the calming influence that a regular practice had on her. She completed her teacher training with Erin and Eric Wheeler of Lucky Cat Yoga, and has advanced training in Yoga Nidra through Jennifer Reiss out of Kripalu. Tammy has a focus in vinyasa flow and yoga nidra and works to bring the mind/body/breath connection together through this practice.
Aloha mai kākou! In early 2016, while attending a yoga retreat Taryn (she/her) discovered yoga and was able to finally find some healing for her PTSD. As a proud U.S. Navy veteran, Taryn is incredibly honored to be able to offer yoga movement practices and iRest yoga nidra meditation to the military community of active duty personnel, service veterans, and their dependents residing in the Tampa Bay area. She also offers yoga to those struggling with sobriety and in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse/addiction. With specific training in military-tailored and trauma-informed adaptive yoga, restorative yoga, prenatal yoga, and iRest yoga nidra meditation, Taryn bridges gentle & soft with fiery & strong, providing modified postures to those who may have unique challenges with the physical practice of yoga. Taryn teaches a monthly free yoga class for veterans and their loved ones at the Collective.
Teri Martin (she/her) is an E-RYT500 Experienced Yoga Instructor from Boston and has been a yoga practitioner for over 20 years. In her yoga teaching she encourages, leads, and empowers students to tune in to and connect with themselves, creating increased physical and personal awareness. An avid swimmer and former dancer, Teri is passionate about the practice of yoga and its inherent benefits of increased strength, flexibility, and balance - on and off the yoga mat. She is an Artist, Art Consultant, Business Advisor and founder of TheArtNetwork. Her left brain has a Harvard MBA and is a former executive at HBO, Cinemax and Citicorp. Teri's vinyasa flow classes are enjoyable, thoughtfully choreographed and appropriately paced flows of ashtanga - based postures and movement with strong emphasis on proper alignment, breath, personal awareness and individual attention.
Tina Tidwell (she/her) is a 500 E-RYT, an owner at the Bella Prāṇa Wellness Collective and professional dancer, graduated from USF with a degree in Dance and Psychology. She fell in love with yoga, through dance, after studying with Michelle Jacobi in Paris. Tina received her 200 RYT in Ashtanga at Yoga on High (OH) with masters such as Tim Miller and Maty Ezraty. She received her 500 RYT through Asheville Yoga Center earning certifications in Meditation, Prenatal, Yin, Seniors, Yoga as Therapy, Yoga and Ayurveda, Restorative and Kids while studying with amazing mentors including Michael Johnson, Libby Hinsley and Stephanie Keach. Tina challenges the body in mindful movement while using the breath as the musical cue. She teaches in the USF's School of Music as well as at DanceUSF and works privately with professional athletes. She is honored to be one of the first teachers at Bella Prana and a lead teacher of the teacher training program. When Tina isn't on stage or in the studio, you can find her spending time with her husband, daughter and floppy puppy.
In house massage therapist Tracy Jones (he/him) of Tampa Bay Sports Massage holds both a Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work from the University of Illinois and holds a Massage Therapy Technician certification from the Myotherapy Institute of Utah. He has been an International Instructor of Manual Therapy (and is a co-developer of Neurosomatic Therapy), is a Certified Neuromuscular Therapist and is a golf fitness expert as a Level 3 Medical Certified Titleist Performance Institute graduate. He has been the Team Massage Therapist for the University of Notre Dame Track & Field Team for the past 7 seasons. Tracy and his team are with Tampa Bay Sports Massage located inside Bella Prāṇa Studio. Book your service at www.tampabaysportsmassage.com.
Tracy (she/her), an E-RYT500, discovered yoga as a graduate student at UF in 2010. As she delved deeper into the yogic philosophy and experienced the transformative power it had on her life, she felt compelled to share the gift of yoga with others. She completed a 200 Hour Hatha YTT and began teaching upon graduating in October 2012. She continued her studies participating in a 300 Hour Hatha YTT, the Level 1 iRest Yoga Nidra training, and the Prenatal Training at Bella Prana. As a mother of 3, she has a special interest in supporting and empowering women by providing resources and yogic tools to meet the physiological changes, stress, and anxiety that accompany pregnancy and motherhood. Additionally, she holds a Masters in Secondary Education and has over a decade of teaching experience in both the classroom setting and yoga studio.
Valarie (she/her) began practicing yoga six years ago as a means to stretch and prevent injury. As a lifetime runner and new triathlete, she was searching for relief from the aches and pains of intense training. She found that the more she practiced yoga, the better she felt and her performance improved as well. She began to spend more time on the mat, including during her pregnancy, and found that the practice was transforming more than her body; yoga had increased her ability to manage stress and improved her mental focus. Valarie realized yoga was more than a physical practice. She completed her 200hr training with mentors, Eric and Erin Wheeler, under Lucky Cat Yoga.
Valerie (she/her) was initially drawn to practice yoga because it provided the opportunity for a physical challenge in a positive atmosphere. The holistic, mind-body approach to health, fitness, and overall wellness that she developed while on the mat kept her coming back. As yoga gradually became a part of her daily life, she realized that she had discovered something greater than just a simple workout: she had found a frame of reference that matched and expanded her own worldview. Valerie completed her 200 hour teacher training at Bella Prana in 2017. She is a high school teacher in Hillsborough County and is called, in all of her teaching, to provide an open and accepting atmosphere where people feel comfortable as they learn and grow.