Our Instructors

Our instructors are the heart of our studio and include some of the top yoga teachers and fitness trainers in Dallas, Texas. We only provide teachers who have completed a recognized teacher training program, or those who are well on their path to get there.

Vicki began practicing yoga in 1978, and has taught since 1994. Her professional training in yoga began at the Dallas Yoga Center with Fred Dowd, certified in the Iyengar tradition of Hatha yoga. Vicki has completed certification requirements in Integrative Yoga Therapy, founded by Joseph Lepage, and Namaste International Yoga, founded by Bill and Irene Beer. In 1998, Vicki studied in India and continues to study and practice with internationally recognized yoga teachers of various backgrounds bringing the best to her personal practice and students.

Vicki has brought the spirit of yoga to many groups in the community. These include special training for professionals in the chemical dependency and mental health fields and stress management programs for business and industry. She has created and implemented the Hatha yoga programs at University of Texas at Dallas and Collin County Community College here in Plano.

Vicki can be reached at: vjbjohnson@earthlink.net

Louise has implemented a Power Yoga combined with strength training. The dynamic Power Yoga flow is followed by an overall body sculpting and strengthening program. This training program will lengthen your body with a Vinyasa flow, and will also strengthen the muscular skeletal system.

While becoming a stay at home mom of two children, Louise became qualified through years of mentorship under Annette Doody, yoga certifications with Lawrence Viscontini and John DeMinico. Most recently, Louise has completed a 200 hour certification with Yoga Alliance. Her classes are designed to help students build strength, build an aerobic base, build stamina, and increase flexibility. The class will affect the body’s ability to store and transport fuel (oxygen and nutrients) and produce energy. The class will help improve fat metabolism by increasing enzyme activities in the working muscles. Louise’s teaching style is to motivate with compassion, guide the practice with proper form and technique, to help build a happier lifestyle for all students.

Louise is also certified as a Cycle Instructor, Personal Trainer, and has been strength training for over 22 years. In addition, Louise has developed a high enery cookie that is marketed to select customer. She graduated from Dawson College in Montreal, Canada and is a Registered Nurse, having over 12 years of experience.

Louise can be reached at zr1weezie@aol.com

Tifany teaches a blend of Hatha Yoga styles to warm the heart, focus the mind, and strengthen the body. Teaching from the heart what she has learned along her own yoga journey, she helps students increase strength, flexibility, and peace of mind. Modifications are offered for each student’s body type, challenges, and level of expertise.

When Tifany took her first yoga class in 1997, she had no idea it would have such an impact on her that she would start teacher training the following year. Under the direction of her teachers Claude Grimes and Ranjana Pallana, she learned how to communicate the essence of yoga and develop her own teaching style. She received her teaching certification from Ranjana Pallana in 2000.

Tifany has attended workshops and teacher trainings with master teachers Irene Beers, Kofi Busia, Judith Lasater, Kausthub Desikachar, Rodney Yee, John Friend, Gary Kraftsow and others. Locally she has studied with Cynthia Pierro, Vicki Johnson/Namaste USA, Annette Doody and Ruth Lurie. Tifany has a bachelor’s degree in Business Computer Information Systems from the University of North Texas.

Heidi received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Liberal Arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She has worked as an English and Art teacher in Plano Independent School District for nine years.

In 1999, she began her yoga practice at “Yoga for Wellness” with Annette Doody and Vicki Johnson. As her interest in yoga grew, it seemed natural for her to combine her love of instructing with her love for yoga. Heidi completed her Scaravelli Yoga Teacher Training through Namaste USA.

Gary has been practicing and studying yoga since 1998. He credits yoga with transforming not only his body (he lost 40 pounds), but also his mind and spirit. As a yoga instructor Gary hopes to empower people to live a fuller life. He has completed intensive teacher training programs with Rod Stryker, Richard Freeman, Erich Schiffman, Gaia Flow Yoga and Yoga Yoga.

Yoga is not only his profession but his life path and passion.

Skila began practicing yoga in 2002 as a healthy alternative to prescription drugs for pain management stemming from a car accident when she was 15. After three years of practicing with many respected yoga instructors and attending several clinics, she became certified with Deedra Daniels in partnership with SCW and Lawrence Biscontini. Yoga has not only given her a healthy way to manage chronic back and neck pain but has also aided her in body acceptance and helped her to maintain a healthy body-weight (she has lost 50 pounds and has kept it off for over 10 years).

Skila has taught various styles of yoga and specialty courses including Belly Dance, Power Ballet, and Pi/Yo (pilates-yoga fusion). She embraces her past injury as an opportunity to understand and help others with pain management and body acceptance. Skila is currently studying for her Personal Training certification with NASM - National Academy of Sports Medicine.

I draw on more than 15 years of being actively involved in health and fitness, working with individuals from varying background and fitness levels.

In addition to working with an individual’s fitness goals, my goal is to also provide functional strength and muscular balance for injury prevention. I merge these two objectives together by incorporating both traditional and functional training movements into an individual's exercise program. Based on my experience I feel that this makes the workout fun and keeps things interesting, while continuing to challenge all of our body's system and heightening mental engagement.

We have a variety of wellness programs for men and women of all ages. Each program is customized for you, based on your experience, your schedule and most importantly your goals.

James can be reached at james@planoyogaconnection.com