Mark White - Proprietor/Licensor MarkWhite
Senior Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher
Being a teacher inspires me. Connecting with people. This style of yoga. Through this medium, I believe I can bring to my students a different perspective on how they can live their lives- a lot less stressed, without so much judgment, resentment and fear. I believe I can help facilitate a connection with my student's authentic self through this style...
See the rest of the interview with Mark White
Frank MarkowskiRYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program FrankMarkowski
A friend promised Frank that yoga asana would enhance his kick-boxing practice and break up the monotony of his regular gym workouts so he gave it a try. During his first ever yoga experience, he realized an immediate passion for yoga. This same friend invited Frank to MBody Yoga studio and the Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga practice taught by Mark White. This introduction solidified his resolve to become a teacher of yoga.
Providentially, Mark made the decision to begin his first Teacher Certification Program and Frank did not hesitate to enroll. The life changing experience Mark’s TCP training offers now affords him the privilege to share with others the many benefits that come with a regular yoga practice. Strength, flexibility, and balance are parts of the physical, but enhancing the connection of mind, body and spirit is what makes yoga continually appealing to Frank.
Outside of yoga, Frank has a daytime gig in corporate health care and loves playing and hanging out with his family and friends.
Dawn ClappDawnClapp
Dawn came upon Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga in the summer of 2005. She
had been practicing and teaching yoga for two years and was looking for
an opportunity to deepen her own practice. As a single mother of two
young boys she was also seeking a source of empowerment and peace. Dawn
was hooked after her first class, finding not only a practice that
challenged her physically, but also an opportunity for personal growth.
In February of 2006 Dawn attended Level 1 training in Hawaii with Baron
Baptiste. In June she traveled to Montana to complete Level 2. She is
currently working towards certification from the Baptiste Institute.
Dawn graduated from the University of North Florida in the spring of
2006, where she received a BS in Community Health and Exercise Science.
In addition to teaching Power Hour, Dawn continues to teach yoga once a
week at UNF as well as heading up MBody’s Community Based Class. Her
hope is to ignite the same passion for this practice in all of her
students.
Jamie Sherman
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification ProgramJamieLavi
Jamie began her yoga journey 10 years ago drawn to the physically challenging discipline of Bikram yoga.
In 2005, while living in Guatemala City, Jamie discovered Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga and was attracted to the freedom and versatility of the practice. She soon discovered an awakening of spirit and a grounding of mind in the inherently physical practice. Upon moving to Jacksonville in 2007, Jamie found MBody Yoga and instantly fell in love with the studio, practice and community.
Teaching has always been a part in Jamie's life — from teaching kids arts and crafts at summer camp, to teaching snowboarding all around the world. Jamie is a graduate of MBody Yoga's TCP Program and a Level 1&2 Radiant Child Yoga Instructor, certified to teach children's yoga. Although she has practiced yoga at studios in many different cities and countries around the globe, MBody Yoga is a place she can call home. To her, yoga is more than asana and Mbody is more than a yoga studio. It is a place that provides an incredible connection between spirituality and physical asana, fun and lightness. This connection has been her true inspiration to teach yoga, creating the desire to share her passion for yoga and life.
Sarah Smith
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification ProgramSarahSmith
Sarah was primarily seeking stress relief from her busy work life when she began practicing yoga. She was hooked, and tried many different styles as she became dedicated to making yoga a lifelong journey.
After moving to Jacksonville in 2008, she discovered MBody Yoga and was drawn to the combination of heat, power, spirit, and community that the Baptiste style offered. Through practicing yoga, Sarah found a new light and a lifelong path to peace and openness.
She graduated from Clemson University in the spring of 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and currently works full time in corporate health care.
Merrie Ann Sharpe
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification ProgramMerrie Ann Sharpe
Merrie Ann took her first Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga class six months after hip replacement surgery. She found the class very challenging, but quickly realized that continuing to participate was not only going to help her recover physically, but was giving her a way to “feel” even if it was only on her mat.
She completed MBody Yoga's Teacher Certification Program in September 2009. Through her training, Merrie Ann discovered an openness and flow to her life that she had forgotten existed, and has made yoga a central part of her life.
Merrie Ann is a graduate of University of North Florida with a degree in information science. Outside of the yoga studio, she spends her time with her children and her dogs, enjoying the beach, and she works as a project manager in the treasury monitoring area of a global bank.
Karina Hahn
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification ProgramKarinaHahn
Karina grew up on the sunny beaches of Miami and in 2006 made her move north to Jacksonville where she had her first real experience with yoga. She took a Sunday community class at Lululemon where MBody Yoga owner and instructor Mark White was teaching. She was instantly hooked by the strength, love and joy that she felt after each class.
After two years of growing through a dedicated practice, Karina took the next step and completed MBody Yoga’s teacher certificate program in September of 2009.
Through yoga, Karina has found the confidence to accept whatever life throws her way and strengthen her relationships. Through the studios, she has meet amazing people who are now a part of her life. She has also learned to have compassion for all, and most importantly, herself.
Karina currently works in corporate banking. Outside of the yoga room she enjoys spending time with her family, visiting friends, gardening, walking on the beach and photography.
Aylin Aydin
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification ProgramAylinAydin
Aylin began her yoga practice with Bikram, and found the intense physical workout appealing. But after taking a class at MBody Yoga, she found that yoga could be about so much more than exercise. She was inspired by the community of students and teachers that make up the M Body Yoga community, and became dedicated to her own personal growth through yoga. After taking the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program, she enrolled in the Teacher Certification Program.
Having now left her corporate job, Aylin is able to devote her life fully to yoga. Now, as a yoga teacher at MBody, Aylin invites her own students to be open to breakthroughs and possibility in their lives. She seeks to create space in her classes for students to begin their own personal journeys.
Aylin is a native of Germany where she earned a bachelor's degree in biology. She moved to Jacksonville about 6 years ago, but continues to travel the world, which affords her great insight into different cultures. Aylin enjoys the beach and kayaking trips with her husband. When she is not outside, she loves to cook and play with her son, Mason.
Leah Hansen
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program
LeahHansen
Leah discovered yoga while attending a benefit for Hurricane Katrina in 2006, and was compelled to continue the practice when she discovered an awakening. As her practice grew, she found that yoga was lighting up her life. Yoga made her feel empowered to accept her imperfections, brought a sense of clarity and fostered a greater sense of connectedness with herself. Leah was experiencing a shift that transformed her life.
After maintaining a dedicated practice for five years, Leah took the step to becoming a yoga teacher through MBody Yoga's Teacher Certification Program and graduated in April 2010. As an instructor, Leah hopes to inspire and empower others through their life transformations.
In her life outside the studios, Leah works as a chemist in the research and development of medical devices. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Florida. Leah likes to spend time with her fiance, friends and family, and enjoys traveling, snowboarding, snorkeling and going to the beach.
Jon Hansen
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program
JonHansen
Throughout much of his life Jon had no exposure to yoga, and never realized that it could be accessible to an ex-collegiate football and track and field athlete. After some time of avoiding the gentle suggestions from his girlfriend Leah, Jon finally joined her for his first class at MBody Yoga, taught by Mark White. Impressed with how this style of yoga challenged the physical aspects of strength, flexibility, and balance, Jon committed to a yoga practice at MBody. It didn’t take long before Jon realized the power of this style of yoga to connect the mind, body and spirit.
Witnessing Leah experience her teacher certification and the powerful connections with ourselves and others which the program facilitates, Jon was inspired to pursue a path of continued growth through MBody Yoga's Teacher Certification Program as well. Jon graduated in April 2011. Jon has a deep admiration of the transformations that are possible through the application of the Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga teachings. Through teaching yoga, Jon’s vision is to help facilitate a connection with the student’s authentic self to realize their greatest potential.
Outside the studio, Jon works in the research and development of medical devices. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The College of New Jersey and Master of Science Degrees from Drexel University. Jon and Leah recently married in 2011and they like to spend time together with their friends and family, and enjoy traveling, snowboarding, scuba diving, and going to the beach.
Seka Roberts
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program
LeahPatterson
Seka discovered yoga in 2004 to escape a relationship that was no longer serving her. What she found was the kind of support and love she was seeking.
After first practicing Hatha yoga, she finally took the step to enrolling in the teacher training at Two Suns Rising Yoga School. After teaching for two years in local gyms and fitness clubs, she went to work for lululemon Athletica. It was through her exposure to the broader yoga community that she became aware of MBody Yoga and went there to take her first Baptiste Yoga class. She soon enrolled in MBody Yoga's Teacher Certification Program and graduated in April 2010. Seka now strives to bring empowerment and possibility to her classes.
Seka is a graduate of Florida State University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Interior Design. She enjoys spending her time with her friends and living an active lifestyle — surfing, rock climbing, biking, or any other adventurous thing that she is inspired to do.
Anh Thomas RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program LeahPatterson
Anh initially began her yoga practice at her husband's suggestion after she found herself bored and unfulfilled with other types of workouts. Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga was the physical and spiritual challenge she was seeking and hadn't found elsewhere. She became immediately hooked; She knew she would be practicing yoga for the rest of her life. Eager to discover more, Anh immersed herself in the MBody community, attending workshops, classes, and enrolling in MBody's Teacher Certification Program, ultimately earning her RYT-200 certificate. Anh seeks to translate how Baptiste Power Yoga has enriched her life for her students. As a student, she continues to discover how yoga makes her feel progressively more challenged, open and alive.
Maria O'Donnell
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program
LeahPatterson
Maria began her yoga practice in high school with her best friend whose father was an Ashtanga yoga teacher. Throughout college and her five years living in Southeast Asia, Maria continued to practice many different styles of yoga and found the introspection and reflection through the movement of body and breath to be incredibly healing. Maria was introduced to Mbody through a donation based class at a local studio lead by an Mbody teacher. Completely enthralled with the rhythm and flow of the class, she then found herself at her first heated ninety minute practice at Mbody's Neptune Beach studio. Maria knew she was at home with the sweat, spirit and energy of the studio and became a regular practitioner.
Maria completed Mbody's Teacher Certification Program in October 2010 and is dedicated to her yoga practice, self-growth and development as a teacher and as a healthy balanced individual with a desire to give back to her community. Maria also works in early childhood education and social services and would like to connect the world of yoga and healing with people of all socioeconomic brackets; self-empowerment is something yoga offers and communities need. Maria has a strong interest in art, especially painting, traveling and is in the process of becoming certified in children's yoga.
Heather Nelson RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program Heather Nelson
Heather practiced various styles of yoga for more than 10 years before connecting with power yoga through MBody Yoga. Having received her 200-RYT through MBody Yoga's Teacher Certification Program, she's now able to share with others her accumulated knowledge and growth of the therapeutic impact yoga has on the body, mind and spirit.
Heather's passion about yoga and life experiences form a foundation for her classes, where she aspires to teach others how to let go by building strength, balance and flexibility from the inside out. She continues to deepen her practice as both a teacher and a student, having become certified to teach yoga to children and seniors.
Heather holds a bachelor's degree in Business Accounting and has worked in real estate for nearly two decades and currently owns Guardian Title & Trust Inc., a real estate title insurance company. She is a Jacksonville native and is married with two children. Aside from yoga, Heather enjoys snow skiing, music, art, traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
Angie Brack RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program Angie Brack
Angie has always created an active lifestyle for herself through sports, running and going to the gym. However, after attending her first power yoga class at MBody Yoga in February 2010, she discovered that the balance between the physically challenging practice and quieting the mind was a perfect fit. Angie completed her Teacher Certification Program with Mark White in April 2011 and recently left her corporate position to teach yoga full time. She is committed to teaching yoga by standing in truth and integrity while using her own life experiences to connect with her students and empower their lives. Angie graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Marketing and lived in New York, traveling the world in the footwear industry, before getting married and moving to Jacksonville. Outside of the studio she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog at the beach as well as traveling, cooking and reading.
Morgan Williams
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program Morgan Williams
Morgan had her first ever yoga experience at Mbody three years ago and never looked back - she was hooked! As a fitness enthusiast, she enjoyed the physical rigour of the practice, and was pleasantly surprised by the mental and spiritual empowerment. Aspiring to bring this enlightening experience to others in her community, morgan joined Mark's TCP 7 class in the Winter of 2010 and graduated in April of 2010. She jumped in as a Mbody receptionist shortly thereafter, and has absorbed every opportunity to connect with the patrons of Mbody and is now teaching at both studios. Outside of the studio, morgan is a licensed clinical social worker at the Wounded Warrior Project. Through the WWP, she combines her wish to serve our nations' warriors with yoga, while bringing her passion for the practice to the injured veterans. In her free time, morgan embraces every opportunity to get on her mat. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, going to church and hitting the beach.
Breanna Tivvis
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program Breanna Tivvis
Breanna Tivvis was born and raised in Sykesville, Maryland. She moved to Jacksonville, FL to attend the University of North Florida, graduating with her BSH in Community Health and Exercise Science. Breanna first discovered yoga in 2006 while living in Jacksonville and was immediately hooked. Returning to Maryland after school, she took her first teacher training in 2008 with Sid McNairy of Lifeline Power Yoga in Towson, Maryland. She wanted to begin the path of furthering her own practice and growth and at the same time spread the joy, confidence, and self love that yoga helps her discover. Finding herself missing the sand and the ocean, she moved back to Jacksonville in 2009 and embarked on teacher training with Mark at Mbody Yoga. She completed her Level One Training with Baron Baptiste in October 2010 and has committed to continue doing yoga trainings every year of her life.
Outside of yoga, Breanna loves to travel, try new things, and relax on the beach. Breanna believes in taking one day at a time and allowing her experiences and all the amazing people in her life to be reminders that life is about the journey and not the destination – Journey On!
Sonny Kadric
RYT-200, MBody Yoga Teacher Certification Program SonnyKadric
Sonny has been a competitive swimmer since he was ten years old and in looking for something to give him an upper hand against his competition he found yoga. His mother is a regular at the MBody studios and encouraged him to take his first class. He was immediately drawn to the physical practice and just a few months after his first class, he signed up for the Teacher Certification Program with the support of his mother and several teachers at MBody.
Taking the Teacher Certification Program was the single best decision of Sonny’s life. He learned that there was so much more to yoga than becoming more flexible and feeling good after practice. Sonny feels empowered by the greater sense of awareness his yoga practice develops. More importantly, he learned how to connect on a deeper level with himself and others by letting go of judgment.
Sonny currently attends the University of North Florida and is majoring in Exercise Science. He also works as a swim coach at Episcopal High School, and he plans to pursue a career in both swimming and yoga. Although Sonny is young, he knows exactly what he desires and loves.