Amanda quit her day job to get her 200-hour vinyasa yoga certification at an intensive retreat in southern Italy. There, she learned the finer points of meditation and asana practice (while eating homemade pasta and drinking Italian wine). Back home in New Orleans, she is excited to share yoga with everyone she meets. Her teaching approach is more motivational than spiritual – her goal is to help people lighten their hearts and create more joy in their lives while strengthening their bodies through yoga.

Amanda credits Ashtanga yoga for helping her to establish a daily asana practice. But after she broke her back a week after her 30th birthday, she had to take a different approach to yoga while she recovered. Nothing like being bedridden to realize how important the body is! After making a full recovery, she currently practices and teaches in the vinyasa flow style, which allows her to incorporate Ashtanga basics of muscular locks and ujjayi breathing into her classes while improvising asana sequences.

She feels very fortunate to be part of the Tapas Yoga family and looks forward to seeing lots of new faces in her classes as the journey continues.

Back to Top

Aimee received her 200 hour certification through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts. A former college-level math instructor, Aimee has a passion for teaching that is long-standing and that is now routed toward yoga and other holistic health practices that inspire her deeply. Aimee has been certified in nutrition, herbalism and bodycare through the Australasian College of Health Studies. She is certified as an Angel Therapy Practitioner® by Doreen Virtue, PhD, and in a Spiritual Teacher program. She is also a Reiki Master.

Aimee feels fortunate to share with others her talents to heal. She recently served on a Stress Management Team doing hurricane relief work. As a Resource Facilitator, she helped many responders by using light touch deep relaxation techniques.

Back to Top

IONA teaches technique for both cabaret and folkloric styles of Belly Dance, also referred to as Raks Sharki or Danse Orientale. She brings to her classes both a joy of dance and of human beings, while providing a comfortable, and at times, comical atmosphere for women to explore moves of this dance genre. As an instructor and the current director/choreographer of The Beledi Jewels troupe in New Orleans, Iona fosters the students’ individual interests in acquiring technique for personal fulfillment as well as stage presentation and performance.

Iona earned a Master’s in Theatre Arts in 1998, with stage movement/dance training with Dollie Eaglin and Yvonne Olivier. She began studying and performing belly dance in 2001with Louisiana dance artists Betty Karam, Layla Isis, and Shamsi. She continues her dance training and education with workshops and classes by international dance artists including Ansuya, Amaya, Amel Tafsout, Artemis, Eva Cernik, Hadia, Jillina, Morocco, Sahra Saeeda, Sonia, Suhaila Salimpour, and the late Serena Wilson.

Iona’s performance credits include stage, TV, festival, and restaurant performance as a soloist and troupe member. Her name Iona, 'purple jewel', is a tribute to her late grandmother, Iona Meneray, who was also an Arts enthusiast and New Orleans native. For more about Iona, visit dancingjewel.com.

Back to Top

Casey is a Power Pilates trained instructor in the classical tradition of Joseph Pilates. She first encountered Pilates while in physical therapy with a perceptive therapist who pushed her to develop more core strength, and later transitioned to sessions with some of the best Pilates instructors in the New Orleans area. Casey enjoys the power of Pilates to develop functional strength as a foundation for life's everyday demands (and more advanced physical endeavors). She appreciates that the exercises can be scaled for individuals of all ability levels - Pilates himself rehabilitated bed-bound hospital patients and trained professional boxers with much the same method. A student of yoga for years before discovering Pilates, she credits Pilates for improving her yoga practice.

Casey teaches an invigorating Pilates mat class open to students of all levels.

Back to Top

Jen is the owner and an instructor at Tapas. With over 10 years of practice and a 200 hour certification through American Power Yoga in Dallas, TX, her passion for yoga grew into something she wanted to share with a wider community.

Jen believes that yoga is just practice for the "real world", and that anyone can practice regardless of body shape and size, background, or physical limitation. Jen's focus is on presenting an open-minded, fun and relaxed atmosphere where students take from class what they desire to get - both physically and emotionally. Although her yoga is full of spirit, she strives to keep her classes free from religious or spiritual intonations.

Yoga should be an adventure, not a competition. So every class is a unique, and exciting, experience.

Back to Top

Courtney McGuiness completed her teacher training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in her home state of Massachusetts. Embracing the Kripalu philosophy, Courtney leads classes with warmth and authenticity, encouraging a deep connection to self, present-moment awareness, and personal inquiry. She draws on over 10 years of personal yoga practice, 25 years of dance training, and a degree in Complementary Healthcare to create a class experience which is holistic, sacred, creative, and light-hearted. Her intention is to let the "true teacher" teach, allowing each individual to find his or her own connection to self and spirit on the yoga mat and beyond.

Back to Top

Karen has been studying and practicing hatha yoga since the early 70s. She was instructed by Sterling Hoffman under the tutelage of Swami Vishnu-devanada. She learned Sivananda style hatha yoga, which emphasizes healing asana, pranayama, relaxation and meditation. The three years of study with Sterling inspired a life long practice.

Yoga was simply too wonderful not to share with others so when asked to form a class for the Jefferson Parish Parks Department in 1990 her teaching began. She has also offered classes at Earth Savers, Premier Athletic Club, and the YMCA. Close to her heart are the classes she taught which were offered by businesses for their employees, bringing the peace and harmony of yoga to the work place.

Karen's teachings are informed by her own solo practice and years of studying a variety of styles with yoga teachers throughout the country. Every book, every teacher, and every personal experience on the mat has woven a tapestry of love of yoga which has enriched her life. The possibility of enriching the lives of others through yoga is what prompts Karen to teach and encourage the yogi in everyone to surface. Karen holds her bachelor of fine arts degree in interior design from Louisiana Tech and has recently completed her masters in clinical hypnotherapy.

Back to Top

Back to Top

Wendy graduated from Blue Cliff College, and began practicing in early 2001. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Wendy worked in a private facility, then joined the Tapas family when it opened in January 2006.

Wendy offers Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular, Healing Touch, Reflexology and Chair Massage. Chair massages can be made available at offices, trade shows, conventions and for private massage parties.

Wendy offers that although massage is initially thought of as a luxury, it soon becomes a vital part of maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit which allows you to deal with day to day stressors more effectively.

To schedule an appointment, contact Wendy directly via any of the following means:
504-461-0186
504-400-5875
wendyapplewhite@coface-trm.com

Back to Top

Laurie's detailed bio will be available soon.

However, since joining the Tapas team late last year, Laurie has quickly become a popular favorite. Her caring, compassionate nature and focused attention has lead to a devoted group of regulars.

To schedule an appointment, contact Laurie directly via any of the following means:
504-621-8220
treatyourselfwell@gmail.com

Back to Top

Ross's detailed bio is currently not available.

To schedule an appointment, contact Ross at 504-455-6227.

Back to Top