Nickki Head, Owner and Instructor, 200 E-RYT

Nickki Head

When Nickki took her first yoga class in Denver, Colorado she was hooked. After moving back to Wichita, she became Yoga Alliance certified and started the Hot Yoga program at a local studio. After teaching there for over a year, it was time for her to spread her wings and fly. She opened Firefly Yoga Studio as owner and instructor on May 1st, 2011. After traveling to India in March 2012 to study with international instructors, she continues to deepen her personal practice daily. Her connection to yoga is mental and physical, always grateful that yoga continues to be her solid rock in life. She also uses yoga as a cross-training sport to compliment the half marathon, full marathon and triathlon races in which she competes. Her wish is that everyone who walks in her studio doors will find his or her own unique connection to yoga.

Emily Vanderburgh, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Emily Vanderburgh

Emily first attended a yoga class to relieve chronic shoulder pain. It worked, and quickly began to transform her life, mentally and physically. Yoga helps her feel connected to herself, strong and beautiful. Emily recently returned from India where she spent several weeks studying yoga. She is 200-hour certified and anticipates receiving her 500-hour Yoga Alliance certification in 2013. Emily is excited to share her love of yoga with the Firefly community.

Jordan Ryan, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Jordan Ryan

Jordan has been dancing most of her life and after taking a few years off to explore new opportunities, she fell in love with yoga. She first connected with yoga on a physical level and after deepening her practice, she realized that yoga followed her off her mat. Through yoga she has learned to honor her body and has grown mentally, physically and spiritually. Jordan is Yoga Alliance certified and has continued her education with David Swenson, Tiffany Cruikshank, Kathleen and Wade Mortenson. Recently she returned home from India after studying Ashtanga Yoga with Ajay Kumar, and Sri BNS Iyengar. Jordan hopes to share the benefits of a consistent yoga practice on and off the mat.

Keely Patton, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Keely Patton

Keely has practiced yoga on and off for several years, but since dedicating herself to a daily practice, she has seen and felt a transformation in her life. She believes yoga is a journey in which one is continually accepting oneself, and therefore knowing oneself more deeply on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Keely is Yoga Alliance certified and she is excited to share and grow in the yoga experience at Firefly!

Leigh Ann Ablah, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Leigh-Ann Ablah

LA has always enjoyed yoga and as the running miles have added up over the years, she enjoys yoga to release any aches and pains.
Through her breath and movement, yoga serves as a meditative practice in motion. Yoga helps her to find equanimity in everyday activities, helping her to surrender, let go of what she cannot control and giving her the strength to move forward regardless of the outcome. Leigh Ann continues her yoga journey with her own practice and is a certified yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance. LA is trained in prenatal yoga, Vinyasa flow and also teaches at the YMCA and WSU.

She firmly believes in K. Pattabhi Jois quote “Practice and all is coming!”

Michelle Nentwig, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Michelle Nentwig

Michelle started taking yoga classes back in 2005. Having worked in the fitness industry for a couple years, she found that yoga was the ‘missing piece’ of her overall wellness. It not only provided her with greater strength and flexibility in her body, but also in her mind. She became Yoga Alliance Certified through the Yoga School of Therapeutics in Kansas City. Seeing the transformations that are made possible through yoga has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her practice.

Isha Smith, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Isha Smith

From cheerleading to track to volleyball to dance, Isha’s interest in yoga came from wanting to explore her flexibility a bit more. The combination of dance and yoga has brought a new light to Isha’s practice and she is leading a life of intention, both on and off her mat. She looks very much to growing with her students as they move through their asanas together. Isha obtained her certification through the YMCA.

Aaron Chiappetti, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Aaron Chiappetti

Aaron has been active his whole life and was searching for something deeper. He found yoga a few years ago and realized that yoga brought something new to his lifestyle. Words cannot describe how much yoga has transformed his life and he looks forward to sharing his practice with others while continuing to grow in his personal practice. Aaron is Core Power certified.

Jacqueline Tabor, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Jacqueline Tabor

Jackie began practicing yoga as a way to cultivate calm in her busy life. What she found was more than just a peaceful pastime, it was a way to build mental and physical strength. After practicing for a few years, she decided that it was time to share her passion for yoga and its positive effects by becoming Yoga Alliance certified. In addition to becoming certified, she continues to supplement her yoga education by studying with Baron Baptiste. Jackie earned a degree in Physical Education from WSU which allowed her to study human anatomy and exercise physiology. Her intention is to inspire and empower her students in a safe and nurturing environment.

Vanessa Fleming, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Vanessa Fleming

Vanessa has been a runner most of her life. She needed a way to strengthen her muscles on the days she wasn’t running. A friend mentioned hot yoga and after her very first class she was hooked. She quickly realized that Yoga was more than a hobby, it was a lifestyle. Looking for a way to deepen her yoga practice, Vanessa felt that teaching was the answer. She hopes to share her love of yoga with others and to never stop growing as both a yogi and a person.

CJ McClellan, Firefly Yoga Instructor

CJ McClellan

CJ’s love for fitness is what has led him to yoga. Always up for a new challenge he decided to try a yoga class, not realizing all that it would have to offer, how swiftly he would fall in love with the practice and the personal change it would encourage. CJ was quickly filled with a passion and eagerness to return to his mat day after day to experience the peace, power and joy of yoga. A whole new depth of understanding lit up his practice and he was compelled to share the yoga glow with others. CJ continues his practice daily, both on and off the mat; he hopes that through teaching he can instill in other yogis the same connection that calls him to love yoga so much.

Katerina Gavin, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Katerina Gavin

Katerina has been teaching dance, yoga, pilates and fitness for 25 years. She took her 1st yoga teacher training 19 years ago. As an A.C.E. master practical trainer and ballet teacher, she felt yoga would be a great addition. She went on to take the extensive Stott Pilates certification and implements pilates work in all of her yoga classes. Seeing the transforming effects of yoga through the years, she’s dedicated to teaching the power of the practice.

Katy Kaufman, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Katy Kaufman

Katy has been a dancer most of her life. She came to her first yoga class seeking a complimentary way to train during her off-season from dance. After taking her first hot yoga class at a local studio, she was hooked. She continued to deepen her practice and began to realize that yoga was so much more than a sequence of poses. Yoga has and continues to deepen her spirituality, strengthen her body and mind, and free her soul. Katy is 200-RYT hour certified and has studied with Tiffany Cruikshank and Renee DeTar. She looks forward to sharing her love for yoga and dance through a peaceful yet strong practice, and growing alongside her students at Firefly!

Jenna Wiginton, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Jenna Wiginton

Jenna has loved the challenge of sports and physical activity since she was very little. She earned her 2nd degree black belt in martial arts at the age of 12 and then went on to play multiple sports through high school. After getting her degree and certification in massage therapy, Jenna took her first yoga class and knew immediately yoga would be a big part of her life. It has been evident from that first hot yoga class that Jenna had found a perfect complement to her love for massage therapy. She recently obtained her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification and for Jenna, yoga has provided something for Jenna that none of the competitive sports or even martial arts ever did; the challenge to push her body, but also the peace to be herself without the stress of competition.

Sabra Salem, Firefly Yoga Instructor

Sabra Salem

Sabra has dabbled in the practice of yoga for several years. Her passion for yoga intensified after regularly attending classes offered through Firefly Studio. She began to notice the impact that yoga had on her general health and wellbeing. Her experience in the field of healthcare only further emphasized the importance of holistic wellness that can be attained by each and every person. This journey led her to pursue a Yoga Alliance certification as studied under Tiffany Cruikshank. Sabra’s passion is to inspire others towards a rewarding life with her enthusiasm, her excitement and genuine love of yoga.