Johanna Epps

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In 2001, I took my first yoga class at At One Yoga in Phoenix, Arizona and was instantly hooked. I began the 200 hour teacher training program offered at At One Yoga the next year. At One Yoga was the largest yoga studio in the Southwest, with 3 locations. They offered a wide variety of classes and styles such as Anusara, Ashtanga, Power, Flow, Yin, Restorative, and Gentle. They hosted national and international teachers on a monthly basis. I taught and practiced there for 9 years. The exposure to top level teachers and classes has shaped me into the teacher I am today and I am forever grateful to have had that experience, and to be able to share it in small town Arkansas. 

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Over the past 20 years, I've had the opportunity to teach yoga in homes, studios, athletic clubs, spas, colleges and a professional athlete training center. My favorite style of yoga is Vinyasa. Vinyasa is very much about linking breath with movement. In this style, the breath is as important as the movement. I believe that this focus on the breath is THE reason why yoga is so meditative. With a mind that is rarely shuts up, it is the combination of breathing and moving together seamlessly that allows my mind to relax and be quiet. I do like a challenging class, but my practice is much more than a physical endeavor. I enjoy working with my body to see what it can do, but as I've dealt with injuries over the years, I've learned to practice in a way that is functional and sustainable. I've always struggled with depression and anxiety and my practice is a major tool in keeping those issues in check. One of the great things that came out of my being injured was that I developed a meditation practice. In 2016, I went to Dharamsala, India to do a 100 hour mediation teacher training. 

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My teaching is still heavily influenced by the first teacher I truly resonated with, David Romanelli. David's class had a sincere, practical message, great music, fun flows and a nurturing touch. I completed my 500 hour certification with Jason Crandall. Jason loves a vigorous class, but has studied anatomy and mechanics heavily in order to bring more safety and sustainability to the practice, without losing the fun. That training was the best training I've ever done and I'm super excited to share everything I gained from it. I have taught almost 12,000 hours of yoga classes. I have gained so much from this journey and I’m excited to share it with my students.