4th year Festival Leader - is the owner of Halcyon Spa, Salon and B&B.  The vision for a yoga festival came to her more than 10 years ago and now as the spa celebrates its 23 year anniversary she is creating the 3rd Annual Yoga Bliss Festival.  She grew up on a dairy farm in Augusta, MO and feels her roots in Augusta.  She is a 1994 graduate from St. Louis University with a degree in Physical Therapy;  2000 graduate The Healing Arts Center with certificate in Massage Therapy; 2013 graduate West-East Yoga with Jamie Sanchez with RYT-200; and participated in the 300 hour yoga training virtually with Brett Larkin during the pandemic.  Kathy moved to Sedona, AZ in 2019 when offered a full-time position as a PT at John F. Barnes Clinic -Therapy on the Rocks.  She knew her soul was being called west and changed her entire life.  She continues to come back to Augusta regularly and is thrilled to bring yoga, MFR, and this festival to Augusta, MO with friends from Sedona and locally to create this experience.

4th year Festival Leader - Mindful Movement, LLC, is a Group Fitness Instructor leading classes for over 20 years and is currently at the Four Rivers Area YMCA in Washington, Missouri. She holds A.A. degrees in Fashion Merchandising & Liberal Arts; B.A. Recreation & Leisure Studies from San Francisco State University; Univ. of Missouri Extension Master Gardener. In addition she is trained and certified in ACE Group Exercise Instruction, AFAA Group Exercise Instructor; AFAA Pilates; Black Belt – TaeKwonDo (former instructor); KickBoxing/Step Aerobics; Les Mills International - BODYBALANCE, BODYPUMP (AIM 1 level), SHAPES, & SPRINT (Cycling Intervals); LIVESTRONG; PiYo Strength; Reebok/YMCA Indoor Cycling Training; Silver Sneakers - Classic, Ener Chi, & Yoga; Turbo Kick; Yoga RYT 200 hours; YogaFit Level 1; Member of Yoga Alliance; and Zumba.

4th year Festival Leader - (she/her/they) - Shenee is a creator and visionary who’s life is dedicated to being in service to others. At the foundation of her teachings is transformational breathwork as a tool for intentional life design. She blends breathwork with complementary modalities to create a unique + dynamic experience that is a true energetic rebirthing!  With a background in both the healing arts & permaculture, Shenee offers an integrative approach to wellness, encouraging clients to consider their physical, mental and emotional states, as well as the quality of their breath and relationship to their environment. She works with clients both virtually & in person through sessions, workshops, programs & immersive retreats both locally + internationally.  

Website:  www.inspirationactivation.life 
Email: shenee@inspirationactivation.life
IG: @shenee_alexa  www.instagram.com/shenee_alexa
IG: @inspiration_activation  www.instagram.com/inspiration_activation
Facebook: Shenee Alexa Booth www.facebook.com/shenee.alexa.lmt 
Facebook: Inspiration Activation www.facebook.com/inspirationactivation

3rd year Festival Leader - Jessica Caimi is an artist, intuitive, somatic practitioner, psychic channel, & energy healer specializing in helping highly sensitive people. She helps clients who desire positive change in a variety of areas including health, relationships, creativity and career to clear subconscious blocks through their body and energy so they can thrive in their life and creative endeavors. She especially loves working with artists, writers, business owners, and other creative professionals who feel stuck or weighed down by their empathic nature, health issues, or past trauma. Clients are supported in quickly getting to the root cause of their issue, and shifting energy to allow for greater health, ease, and inspiration. Jessica believes that healing doesn’t have to be traumatic and that you can feel safe, supported, and nurtured as you shed layers and re-imagine your story.

3rd year Festival Leader - Regan Caruthers is a spiritual teacher, inner life coach and trauma informed yoga instructor who for many years led HeartMath retreats and programs for the Institute of HeartMath in Boulder Creek, CA their headquarters.  A former executive in the educational software industry, she now dedicates her life to teaching and coaching her clients in developing a more intimate and disciplined inner life through yoga, meditation, coaching, and her Ready to Awaken courses.  Regan's path was informed by her early schooling where she meditated daily, practiced Tai Chi, and learned about the power of self-love and conscious thought.  A published author, Regan, a Creve Coeur native, recently moved back to Missouri from Santa Cruz, CA. She has begun teaching free yoga as an act of service to the surrounding communities each Wednesday and Saturday at her spiritual enrichment center called Aset located on her 10 acre estate in Washington, MO. For more information go to www.asetyogacenter.com

2nd year Festival Leader - is a St. Louis painter, poet and Reiki master. Collectors who resonate with her work have described it as “more than art” and “speaks to the parts of me that need light, joy and love.”  Her paintings and poetry provide a portal to the sacred space within. As a creative expression facilitator, she invites participants to rediscover their own sacred space and sense of delight. She facilitates workshops and creates sacred space for events and engages in community collaborations. Angela's paintings and drums have been featured at the 2022 and 2023 Yoga Bliss festivals. She is a contributing author in the bestselling book, "Shine Your Soul Light," a book that shares empowering stories of 11 international visionaries. At her core, Angela believes: "Within us all is the capacity to love without reservation, express ourselves fully, and see the beauty in each other and ourselves."

Contact at: www.AngelaLChostnerArt.com instagram.com/@achostner/ achostner@gmail.com

1st year Festival Leader - Allison's passion for yoga and holistic wellness was ignited by the Yoga Bliss Festival in Augusta, MO, where she was introduced to a deeper understanding of the mind-body-soul connection. This transformative experience led her to complete her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Yandara Yoga Institute in Mexico. She studied asana, pranayama, meditation, chanting, and Yogic philosophy. As a Certified Chopra Coach, Allison offers a supportive environment to help you create and achieve the vision you have for yourself. She works with individuals who are ready to reconnect with their true self and uncover the deeper meaning and fulfillment they’ve been seeking. It’s not about reinventing yourself; it’s about unlocking your inner wisdom, embracing your authenticity, and discovering the purpose that has always been within you. Allison’s coaching blends ancient wisdom with modern tools, drawing from the teachings of Deepak Chopra to guide individuals toward clarity, self-awareness, and lasting transformation. Her approach integrates mindfulness, meditation, and somatic processing, helping clients reconnect with their inner wisdom, live with purpose, and align with their truest desires. Whether you're seeking enhanced well-being, greater clarity, or improved relationships, her coaching is tailored to your unique journey. If you’re ready to elevate, expand, and evolve, let Allison guide you toward unlocking your full potential. She looks forward to meeting you on the mat! For more information on Allison’s coaching offerings, contact her directly: www.allisonchrisman.com, allison@allisonchrisman.com, or (573) 239-4765.

1st year Festival Leader - From the echoing subways of New York City to screens and stages across the country, Damiyr is an artist whose voice transcends the ordinary. Known for his raw, emotional performances and soulful interpretations, Damiyr has captivated audiences with music that speaks to both the struggles and the beauty of the human experience. His journey, which began in Brooklyn, NY, has been one of resilience, passion, and relentless artistry, allowing him to hone a style that is uniquely his own. He has been seen/heard on America’s Got Talent, Celebrity Undercover Boss, Uproxx Uncharted, Hot 97 featured by Wu Tang, The Big Quiet and on YouTube with 11+ million views.

4th year Festival Leader - Ananda Das captivates hearts around the globe with his deep devotion to spiritual music and yogic traditions. Celebrated for his collection of over 16 albums and more than three million streams, his voice carries the power to stir souls and awaken minds. A devoted teacher of Bhakti Yoga, he offers transformative singing classes and mantra workshops, helping individuals unlock the profound power of their voices in devotion. His teachings in Sattva and Kundalini Yoga are a blend of dynamic kriyas and calming asanas, designed to propel personal growth and spiritual awakening. He also masterfully leads cacao ceremonies to open the heart, celebrate community and bridge ancient rituals with contemporary spiritual practice. Ananda Das stands as a pillar of inspiration and transformation in the global devotional community.

4th year Festival Leader - Welcome to my yoga practice.I have been practicing and teaching for almost three decades. I have studied and practiced in India and locally  and incorporated the nectar of many traditions of yoga and meditation.   As a dedicated and passionate yogi, I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for students to explore their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. With a strong foundation in the original yoga teachings,  my classes blend traditional techniques with modern insights to help you cultivate strength, flexibility, balance and a sense of well being and connection. I believe that yoga is a journey, not a destination, and I'm honored to guide you along the way. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, I invite you to join me on the mat and discover the transformative power of yoga for yourself.

4th year Festival Leader - is a native of Washington, MO and opened Present Moment Yoga in 2011. She discovered the benefits of a regular practice in 1999 while looking for something to support her mind and body after childbirth. Quickly recognizing the amazing benefits that linking breath and movement have, she dove deeper into all aspects of the practice and became certified to teach.  Melissa's teaching style is focused on making yoga accessible to all levels, challenging her students to achieve their goals through intelligent sequencing and mindful modifications, and helping them to learn more about the practice of yoga and about themselves.

1st year Festival Leader - Jill is the founder of Wildwood Yoga & Wellness, a thriving studio that has served its community for over 10 years. She began practicing yoga in 1996 and has been teaching since 2002, now holding over 2000  hours of training. Jill is an E-RYT 500, YACEP, certified Roll Model® Method Practitioner, Reiki Master, and a trained sound healer and sonic massage practitioner. Her teaching style is grounded, intuitive, and therapeutic—blending functional movement, breathwork, and self-myofascial release to support physical and emotional well-being. She often weaves in sound healing and energy work to create a deeply immersive experience. A mom to three boys, Jill brings authenticity, compassion, and a touch of magic to everything she offers. Her classes are a space to reset, reconnect, and return home to yourself.

4th year Festival Leader - Sarah is the owner of Optimize Health & Wellness in Glen Carbon, IL. She has been a physical therapist for 29 years and has always been dedicated to learning with a passion for understanding and providing care that addresses an integrative mind/body connection for her clients. Sarah completed her PhD in Natural Health in 2010. In 2015, she received her massage therapy licensure. With her love of movement, she completed her 500-hour yoga teacher training certificate in 2017. Sarah has integrated a certification in health and nutrition coaching and reiki-master level training into the care she provides. Clinically, at the core of her wholistic program for her clients is her expert-level training in John Barnes’ Myofascial Release (MFR). She has continued to study the art of MFR on an ongoing basis since 2010. She has been providing pelvic health care for clients since 1995, throughout the spectrum of patient populations: adolescents, pregnancy, adult and geriatric populations. Sarah is grateful to have the honor to have worked with many women and men in optimizing their understanding of the body and assisting each heal on a deep, personal level. In addition to a fulfilling career, Sarah is a wife, mother to 3 boys, and 2 family dogs. Hobbies include cycling, taking walks, spending time with her family, and dinners out with friends.

1st year Festival Leader - Visionary Healer, Yoga Master & Founder of Yo Soy Satya. A true luminary in the world of holistic wellness, spiritual transformation, and sacred living, Soña is the visionary behind Yo Soy Satya, a global movement dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and illuminating the path of truth within ourselves, each other, and the planet. A renowned E-RYT 500 Yoga Instructor and teacher of teachers, Certified Holistic Practitioner, and Reiki Master, Soña’s journey is one of profound personal healing and transformation. After overcoming near-fatal injuries, anxiety, addiction, and deep emotional wounds, she devoted her life to guiding others toward self-discovery, empowerment, and healing. Rooted in the ancient wisdom of Toltec Medicine, Ayurveda, and Himalayan yoga traditions, Soña’s teaching style is an elegant fusion of depth, grace, and authenticity. Trained by some of the world’s most esteemed sages, her approach seamlessly integrates breath, movement, sound, and energy work to awaken the soul. With a deep reverence for nature, movement, and sacred wisdom, Soña curates luxury retreat experiences that are both transformational and deeply immersive. Her presence alone invites a shift—a call to return home to oneself, to embody truth (Satya), and to embrace the limitless potential within.

4th year Festival Leader - is a dedicated yogi with a practice spanning since the 90s. Introduced to Yoga during her first pregnancy, she has remained a committed student ever since. Passionate about silence and the dharma, she is a devoted practitioner of Vipassana meditation, frequently attending silent retreats to deepen her practice. As the co-owner of Sanctuary Bridge Transformations, Jenna leads transformative retreats worldwide, guiding participants on a journey to reconnect with their hearts and authentic selves and motivation for individuals staying true to their path. With over 25 years of experience in somatic-based therapies, Jenna has assisted individuals from all walks of life in healing trauma and reclaiming their truth. Her passion lies in facilitating others' connection to their hearts, fostering authentic self-discovery through mindfulness, meditation, ceremony and body-centered therapies. For more information, visit www.sanctuarybridgetransformations.com

4th year Festival Leader - SiriAtma is a devotee on the path of love & wisdom. Her fervent love is deeply felt in all of her offerings.  She nurtures with gentleness and playfulness in her facilitations. She is deeply steeped in the realm of the subconscious, and a teacher of ancient wisdoms of yoga & gong sound therapy. She is a clinically certified hypnotherapist (CCHT), and a well of knowledge in kundalini energy. She is Mom to 3 sons, however she mothers all who come to her seeking liberation.

1st year Festival Leader - Angela Lamb is an artist, art educator and yoga instructor. She began her career in New York City as a graphic designer and art director. Once becoming a mom, and needing more flexibility, she started artisticsoup.com, a successful photography company that is now in its 18th year. Faced with a chronic autoimmune illness in 2014, Healthy Life Nation (www.healthylifenation.com) was born, and as she was learning how to improve her health she discovered that what she was learning could help others. Angela decided to document her journey in an award-winning health documentary called "Un-Inflame Me: Reversing the American Diet & Lifestyle." during which she reversed her illness and has been well since 2017. Since then she has created many health resources to help others including: "Superhero Healthy Henry Discovers Planet Earth" children's book, "The Art of Natural Healing" docuseries, "Heathy Life Nation: A Health Optimization Adventure Series" docuseries and "Bonding with My Bunnies: Yoga Lesson Plans for Families & Children" book. In 2015, Angela became a PiYo instructor and a certified Adult and Kid's Yoga Instructor in 2020. She has taught both adult and kid's yoga classes, and kid's art and yoga classes plus adult mindfulness art classes for many branches of the St. Louis County Libraries. Angela also teaches a weekly Power Yoga class for Optum, and has taught a yoga and art camp for the St. Louis City Libraries and Kid's and Adult Yoga classes at many St. Louis area gyms. She also teaches art classes at a private St. Louis school 2 days a week for grades PreK4 - 8th grade. Angela began Breathing Art in 2024 when she became fascinated with fusing her two worlds of art and yoga together creating an immersive, meditative experience for viewers. Her work explores the connection between breathing, meditation, and artistic expression. It aims to capture the essence of calm, peace, and the profound connection between the inner self and the outer world through art. The work highlights breathing exercises and mindfulness practices, while often associated with personal well-being, can also be potent tools for artistic exploration and the creation of evocative artworks. The goal of Angela's work is to calm the bodies and minds of the viewers and place them into a meditative relaxing dreamscape. www.healthylifenation.com, artisticsoup.com

3rd year Festival Leader - is an Akashic Record expert and Reiki Master with over 20 years of professional experience. She is a Master Teacher of beginning and advanced Akashic classes and a gifted Akashic Record Reader.  Grace has done Akashic Record readings from coast to coast and internationally as well. Widely acknowledged for her skill and compassion in bringing forth meaningful information from the Record, she is passionate about introducing others to the Akashic Record through readings, classes, meditations, events, and healing sessions.  Grace has master’s certifications in three Reiki disciplines, with additional training in Nervous System Energy Work. She combines the traditional training of Usui Reiki with the compassionate energy of Karuna Reiki® and the power of Holy Fire® Reiki to provide a powerful yet relaxing Reiki session that can be felt on many levels.  Grace has pioneered Akashic Reiki as a potent modality that combines the healing properties of Reiki with the high-vibrational wisdom of the Akashic Record to form a powerful foundation for transformation.   Grace gives Akashic Record Readings and Akashic Reiki sessions both in-person and remotely via telephone and online videoconferencing (Zoom). See Grace's website, AkashicGrace.com, for more information.

2nd year Festival Leader - Swami Sankarananda is a simple pilgrim of peace and a servant of God in our path of awakening to the One Truth. Living much of his adult life as a businessman in the tech industry, he realized the selfish pursuits were meaningless and through grace came to the pursuit of God, or highest Self, and dedicated his new life to service of this Self in all. In 2012, Swamiji renounced his worldly way of life and traveled to the Himalayas, receiving darshan and life guidance at the feet of Swami Premananda and Swami Ramaswarupananda, disciples of Swami Sivananda. He took initiation as a Sanyassi, or monk, in 2013.  He received Divine Guidance to walk pilgrimage, and inspired by the life and teachings of Peace Pilgrim, in 2013 he began a coast to coast walk in faith, asking for nothing, 7,000 miles across the United States. He shared parts of the journey on social media and also documented the process in his book “Pilgrimage Home”.   When asked about the inevitable challenges that must have been experienced, Swami smiles, “really the only problems which I have ever encountered were in my mind.” Completing his walking pilgrimage in 2016, he continued traveling in a donated motorhome named “Prema” (“Divine Love”). Today he resides in West Virginia. He meets with spiritual aspirants who invite him into their communities, and as he tours the U.S., he offers talks, workshops and retreats in the same spirit of pilgrimage, including the “Be Still and Know” Silent Retreats held at various Yoga studios and spiritual centers across the country. Swami is supportive of all forms of Yoga; and while striving to hold to and honor his lineage he also honors all lineages, teachers and saints of every tradition. He is grateful for all who are involved in the propagation of Yoga, including all who are stewards of Yoga and all those who are just beginning their practice. He wishes to actively support and encourage all in their paths to discover the highest human potential within us. Whether it is through pilgrimage, retreats, workshops and satsangs, providing individual counsel, gifting spiritual books, or offering a smile and kind word to a stranger, Swamiji continues in offering his life to do his best at embodying the guidance to Love All and Serve All. May all beings be happy and at Peace.

2nd year Festival Leader - Amelia Williams has been a life coach since 1998. In the years since then, she has facilitated many workshops, women's circles, lectures, classes, book study groups, and more.  Today she is enjoying a new but old path of meditation and drumming. She travels around the state teaching why meditation is important to our mental health and staying connected to who we are.  She teaches people how the Zen Labyrinth boards, which she and one of her son’s hand makes, make meditation easy and fun. She started meditating in November 2014 because she was being immobilized by anxiety and panic attacks.  She has meditated in one form or another every day since then. She added drumming to her classes two years ago.  She bought her first drum in 2000.  She enjoys helping people find their natural rhythm with the help of a drum.  Amelia is a certified Master Spirit Life Coach, certified in Time Management, certified in Couples Relationship Coaching, certified in Plant-Based Nutrition, and is a Mind/Body Eating Psychology Practitioner. She and her husband co-facilitate community drum circles monthly.

2nd year Festival Leader - retired as a physical wellness coordinator. Coupled with her prior work experience as a community health worker, Eileen's experiences inspired her to motivate others to live in harmony in mind, body, spirit, and soul.  She has studied healing touch, energy medicine, grief movement, education and support, and guided sound-bath facilitation.  Her interests include learning about complementary forms of medicine and studying about death, dying, and end-of-life education.