Our Teachers
Meet Stevi Self
Stevi Self is a registered Yoga Instructor (500 E-RYT), certified AcroYoga instructor, and a certified Yoga Therapist (CYT). She has been practicing Yoga since 1995, began teaching in 1998, and has continued to be a student of Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Pranayama, Meditation, and Mantra over the years. She is co-founder of Southern Star Yoga Center and director of Southern Star's Yoga Teacher Trainings.
Stevi brings many years of teaching experience and a genuine commitment to the practice and philosophy of yoga to her gentle, prenatal and vinyasa flow classes. Her experience gives her the ability to offer a wide variety of alternatives for the poses--making her classes accessible to anyone who is willing to participate. She believes that the breath is the most important aspect of the practice, and for that reason anyone can do yoga even if they can't touch their toes or balance on their hands.
Stevi offers private instruction in yoga asanas, pranayama, meditation, yogic philosophy, and personal yoga therapy. As a Yoga Therapist, she has experience working with a variety of physical injuries and conditions such as arthritis, low back pain, Alzheimers, scoliosis; as well as mental imbalances such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia. She also enjoys working with athletes for injury prevention, injury recovery, strength-building and mobility/flexibility. Stevi has been teaching Yoga for Ole Miss Athletics since 2014. She is a member of the Yoga Alliance.
Contact Stevi:
https://dot.cards/yogastevi
Meet Mary Solomon
Mary has practiced yoga for most of her adult life and has been a certified instructor since 2005. She is co-founder of Southern Star Yoga Center and has been teaching yoga, meditation and related workshops since its inception. She understands firsthand that yoga is a wellspring of opportunity to gain strength, stamina and flexibility, but also that yoga can be a source of healing – from the inside out. While her practice has evolved over the years, yoga always offers a way back to the innate balance and peace of the “self.” This can happen whether the yoga practice is a strong vigorous flow or a slow, meditative, and restorative one. Yoga is a constant centering force in her life and she loves to share this with her students – whether through classes, workshops or one-on-one private sessions. Mary teaches an alignment-based approach to postures and focuses on uniting the breath with a deeper awareness of what’s happening within, and can’t help but sprinkle yogic philosophy and humor throughout.
Of her more recent endeavors, Mary has completed studies to become a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and offers consultations in Ayurveda (which focuses on lifestyle and diet) and personalized Body Therapies through Swaha Wellness and Ayurveda (link: www.swahawellness.com). She offers seasonal yoga and Ayurvedic workshops, as well as personalized sessions in yoga, marma therapy, sound healing, meditation and mindfulness.
Meet Heather Allen
Heather (200-RYT) teaches vinyasa flow, vin & yin, and acroyoga. Her classes emphasize connecting the breath to deliberate, intentional movements and postures. She incorporates elements of functional mobility—which trains strength at the joints’ end range of motion to promote long-term strength and flexibility—so we can still easily get up from the floor at age 90. She has been teaching at Southern Star since 2017, after completing yoga teacher training at the Asheville Yoga Center. Yoga, and especially Southern Star, is an essential part of Heather’s life because through the practice she meets new friends, keeps her body moving and her mind centered. When she isn’t doing yoga, acroyoga, lifting weights, or baking cookies, she is a Spanish professor at the University of Mississippi.
Meet Beth Blaha Brazile
Beth took her first yoga class in 1999 and it was here the seed was planted.
Unfortunately, this class was short lived and ended and yoga fell off her radar until 2005, where she joined a studio that offered Pilates, Body Sculpt, and Yoga. She actively participated in all three. The seed was being watered. In late 2010, after changing careers, she found Southern Star. It was here she found a home and her absolute love of yoga. Here she found the true meaning of yoga and all its amazing benefits in combining mind, body, and spirit. The seed was growing roots. In 2013 she decided she wanted more and began her journey, wanting to learn more and share this love of yoga. Beth achieved her 200 hour Teacher Training Certification at Southern Star in 2014. The seed continues to grow and the journey continues.
“Your passion is not random, it is your calling.” – Unknown
Meet Lisa Caradine
Lisa began practicing prenatal yoga in 2003 while pregnant with her son Miles. Lisa's love for yoga blossomed during those months, as her practice brought forth both mental and physical well being.
In February 2007 Lisa studied at a Sivananda ashram on Paradise Island, Bahamas, where she completed the Teacher Training Course (RYT 200). Lisa returned to Oxford and began teaching; she is a Registered Yoga Teacher and a member of The Yoga Alliance. In 2010, as part of her ongoing journey, Lisa returned to Sivananda Ashram to study Yoga of Recovery (108 Hrs), a course integrating Yoga and Ayurveda with the 12 Step principles to help those overcoming addictive and self-destructing behaviors. This led her to the exploration of Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga. The profound effects of the knowledge gained through this course lead Lisa back to the ashram a year later, where she completed her Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Certification (108 Hrs).
Together, yoga and ayurveda are the original holistic system of care, facilitating health through the unity of spirit, mind, emotions, and the physical body. Lisa's practice and study of yoga and ayurveda together, has helped create wholeness and balance, and a genuine passion for continuing her studies and sharing her discoveries.
Meet Olivia Dale
Olivia Dale has taught yoga at Southern Star since 2014. She was certified through Southern Star’s teacher training. She fell in love with yoga while pregnant with her first child for the connection it gave her to her body and has been hooked ever since. She hopes to offer the same sensation to her students. She believes there is no better way to start the day and teaches a strong sunrise vinyasa yoga class.
She is an Oxford local, mother of three boys, researcher for UM’s school of pharmacy, and avid reader. When not on her mat she can be found cheering on her boys at the soccer field or relaxing with her family at her favorite place, Smith Lake.
Meet Amanda Devara
A Memphis native, Amanda moved to Oxford for graduate school and has made her home here. An active mother of three with a passion for yoga and fitness, she received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification through Grow Yoga School and her 500 hour certification through My Vinyasa Practice out of Austin, TX. Amanda is a registered yoga teacher and member of The Yoga Alliance. Amanda teaches a vinyasa style, power flow class focusing on uniting breath and movement. Her classes are sequenced to help create emotional and physical space to increase flexibility and promote inward reflection for a total mind, body, spirit experience.
Meet Sarah Mason
Sarah completed Southern Star’s 200 teacher training and is in the process of working toward her Yoga Therapy certification through Inner Peace Yoga Therapy. Sarah leads the Friday Weekend Reset class and donates proceeds to our Diversity & Inclusion Fund for Students living on a limited income to be able to attend classes.
Meet Lydia Foster
Lydia Siniard has been practicing yoga since 2008. In 2011, she completed her 200-hour certification and in 2013, her 500-hour certification with Etowah Valley Yoga in Cartersville, Georgia. Lydia is also currently in the process of completing her Professional Yoga Therapy certification. In addition to her love for yoga, Lydia is also passionate professional ballet and contemporary dancer. She is the founder and co-owner of Hinge Dance Company, LLC and Associate Director of Oxford Academy of Dance Arts.
Living with gratitude allows what we have to be enough and more and Lydia encourages her students to find that place of appreciation in all aspects of life. She aims to offer quality therapeutic information and encourages each student to truly listen to their own selves when practicing yoga on (or off) the mat. With the idea that the breath is the most important part of our yoga practice, Lydia often says, "If you can breathe, you can do yoga" and strives to make yoga accessible to any and everyone that comes to her class.
Lydia offers private sessions for asana and yoga therapy.
Meet Meg Hayden
Meg is a Registered Nurse and a single mother to 2 beautiful children. She started practicing yoga when she was pregnant with her first child, 18 years ago. In 2017 Meg's occasional practice changed into a life saving healing modality and way of life as she made the decision to get sober. As a dedicated seeker on this path, yoga has been her constant companion over the last 6 years. She wanted to begin sharing the power of these practices with others and finished her 200 hour YTT in the Spring of 2021. She then started teaching and joined the Inner Peace Yoga Therapy training program. In August 2021 She began teaching yoga at a recovery center for adolescent boys 3 days a week and it quickly became the most nourishing and fulfilling part of her week. She has also completed the year long Mindful Teacher Certification program through Mindful Schools and teaches Yoga classes weekly at Southern Star Yoga in Oxford, MS. SHis certificed to facilitate Yoga for 12 Step Recovery and is completing her 800 Yoga Therapy Certification May 2023.
Meet Rachel Haggard
Rachel has been practicing yoga for over a decade in studios all over the United States and abroad. With a desire to deepen her practice and also share the practice of yoga, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Southernstar Yoga Center in 2019. She is Yoga Alliance Certified and trained in the Hatha Vinyasa style of yoga, which balances movement and breath while working up a sweat. She has taught yoga both in the United States and internationally in yoga studios, gyms, and homes doing both group and individual sessions. As a former competitive runner and athlete, Rachel likes to create dynamic and fun, but challenging flows to stretch and lengthen the muscles, while simultaneously fostering strength and calm in both mind and body. Rachel teaches hot vinyasa yoga, yoga sculpt, inversion workshops, and yoga fusion workshops to all levels.
Meet Deb Jones
Deb works as a high school teacher, yoga instructor, and mother of 2 active kiddos. She began practicing yoga as a means to quiet her mind, catch her breath, and rebuild the strength and flexibility she had as a dancer. She very quickly noticed the benefits of a regular yoga practice both on and off the mat. The increased balance, body awareness, and connection to her breath keep her grounded every day on the mat, in the classroom, and driving around town to one activity after another.
Deb completed her 200 hour yoga teacher certification with Southern Star in 2015 and has been teaching ever since. She teaches Hot Vinyasa Flow, Weekend Warrior, and the Core Strength Vinyasa. Deb also teaches Breath2Movement workshops with Rachel Haggard. These workshops provide students an opportunity to get out of their heads and fully into their bodies by repeating a choreographed yoga sequence set to a piece of music.
Meet Jessica Lynch-Rector
Jessica’s love for yoga began in 1998. Her journey started as a curiosity to see what yoga could do for her. She discovered yoga was so much more than just physical postures and movement. She has enjoyed adding the benefits of pranayama and meditation to her practice. Yoga for her has been life changing. Yoga helps keep her grounded and mindful. She received the 200-hour teacher training certification with The Yoga Alliance through Turquoise Tree Yoga in Benton, AR with instructor Robin Johnson in 2005. She has had the honor to attend workshops with many wonderful teachers such as Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, David Swensen, Doug Keller, and Eric Schiffmann. In the winter of 2018 she had the opportunity to deepen her practice and attended the Southern Star Yoga Teacher Training with Mary and Stevi.
She enjoys teaching a class of traditional vinyasa flow. Focusing on breath, balance, and movement. She encourages students to listen to their body, breath and being present on the mat.
Meet Jennifer Mizenko
Jennifer Mizenko is a Professor Emerita with The University of Mississippi, teaching dance and movement for the actor for over 30 years. She received her 200-hour yoga training from the Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja, Mexico in 2015, and is registered as a 200 RYT with Yoga Alliance. Her movement and somatics training is extensive, beginning with professional dance training in graduate school at The Ohio State University where she received her Master of Arts, and also at the Erick Hawkins School of Dance in New York City. She is an internationally certified teacher of The Alexander Technique (AT) through Alexander Technique International (ATI) and is a Certified Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CMA) through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LBMS) in New York, NY. Both AT and LBMS offer yogis constructive tools that assist with good use of the body, alignment and maximum physical expression.
In her yoga classes Jennifer uses her knowledge of movement and somatics to assist each student with moving in the most functional and expressive manner that is best for their body. She offers private instruction in gentle yoga, Alexander Technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals.
Jennifer is well on her way to completing her 500-hour training with continuous teacher training courses through Southern Star Yoga Center.
Meet Jeff New
Jeff first came to Southern Star Yoga in 2010 in curious hopes of finding an alternative way to stay fit. He was immediately hooked by the aspects of yoga that aren't physical. The breath, calm, and balance was a huge surprise as well as the community. Jeff has been a personal trainer since 1985 and has a background in weight lifting and mountain biking.
Jeff completed his 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Southern Star in May 2014 and is working toward his AcroYoga certification to be completed Fall 2015.
Meet Andrea Staten
Andrea began her yoga practice at Southern Star Yoga Center in 2011 and found a sense of peace and calm that kept her coming back to the mat. She earned her 200 RYT certification through Southern Star Yoga in 2016. Andrea is grateful to share her practice with others and help them explore the benefits of yoga. Andrea believes that coming to the mat is an act of self-care and self-love as well as an opportunity to not take ourselves too seriously.
Meet Blake Summers
Blake Summers graduated from the University of Mississippi with a major in psychology and minor dance. The intersection between the two subjects lead him to practicing yoga. Summers received his certification from Southern Star and enjoys cultivating a positive atmosphere for healing and strengthening. He believes in pranayama and importance of breathe work. Summers finds yoga is the best behavior management tool and encourages all to join the practice.