LMY Team
Meet our Teachers
We are honored to introduce our teachers, each of whom brings a unique background, personality, and teaching style to their classes.
About Misty
Misty is the founder and owner of Little Mindful Yogis. Combining over 15 years of child development with an excited and approachable spirit, Misty makes teaching yoga to all ages fun and fulfilling. She blends her yoga journey and experience as a teacher and mother to all of her instruction. Misty started Little Mindful Yogis in 2019. She found her love for kids yoga when applying it in her own preschool classroom. After seeing its effects, she decided to gain training so that more children could have access to all of the benefits of yoga. She then received her kids yoga certification from Kidding Around Yoga, 200 hour RYT certification, Children's yoga certification for ADHD/Autism and Differently Abled, and Trauma Informed Yoga for Youth certification. Misty has used her experience and knowledge to create the LMY curriculum and themed lesson plans for all school classes. She gives guidance and training to all of the LMY team so that they may lead classes confidently and with intention. She is also the lead instructor for Little Mindful Yogis Kids Yoga Trainings. When she isn't in the classroom or managing LMY, you can find her hiking with her partner and their dog, doing acro yoga on the beltline, and traveling whenever she gets the opportunity.
About Kaitlin
Kaitlin serves as the Administrative Assistant for Little Mindful Yogis, affectionately known as the "LMY Guru." In this role, she supports the team behind the scenes with email communication, marketing initiatives, and teacher support. She began her yoga journey over a decade ago, drawn to the practice by an innate curiosity that soon evolved into a meaningful and transformative lifestyle. Through her dedication to the 8 limbs of yoga, she found empowerment, confidence, and strength—and felt called to share these experiences with others. In 2022, Kaitlin completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Giving Tree Yoga in Smyrna, Georgia. She deepened her expertise in 2024 by earning her Kids Yoga Teacher Certification through Little Mindful Yogis. Currently, she is continuing her studies through a 300-hour advanced yoga teacher training, further enriching her practice and teaching. Alongside her love for yoga, Kaitlin has always been passionate about working with children. Her nurturing nature and deep empathy were evident from a young age. Over the years, Kaitlin has supported children of all ages as a camp counselor and a lead preschool teacher. Her understanding of child development informs her teaching style, and she strongly believes in the power of yoga as a tool for emotional regulation and self-expression. When she’s not working or teaching, Kaitlin enjoys hiking in the mountains, listening to live music, exploring her personal yoga practice, snuggling with her pets, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
About Shantesica
Shantesica (she/her) is a yoga teacher, public health scholar, and maternal and child health advocate from Conyers, Georgia. A proud Triple Dawg, she earned three public health degrees from the University of Georgia. Shantesica has taught yoga for five years and received her 200-hour certification from Shakti Power Yoga in Athens, GA. Her teaching style is rooted in empowerment, authenticity, and presence, deeply informed by her work as a college professor, doula, and birth advocate. She recently received her Kids Yoga Teaching Certification through Little Mindful Yogis and is excited to share her joy of yoga with youth. She brings her passion for mindfulness, breathwork, and movement to young children, helping them build emotional awareness, confidence, and calm from the inside out. Outside of teaching, she enjoys traveling and indulging in reality competition television.
About Lainey
Lainey is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor who brings a playful and heart-centered approach to children’s yoga. With two younger siblings of her own, she’s spent years learning how to keep little ones engaged, joyful, and feeling safe. Her classes are imaginative, movement-based journeys designed to help kids build confidence, body awareness, and a sense of calm—all while having fun. Lainey is a certified Kids Yoga Teacher with Little Mindful Yogis. She believes that every child deserves a space where they can express themselves freely, move joyfully, breathe deeply, and just be. When she’s not teaching, you can find her baking cookies, walking the Beltline, or cuddling with her two cats.
About Alex
Alex began her personal yoga practice over 20 years ago as a healthy way to cope with the stress and anxiety of being a teenager. Over the years, her commitment and dedication to the practice of yoga and mindfulness as a tool to manage all of life's obstacles has only deepened. As a busy mother and nurse practitioner, there are many days where the time spent on her mat is the only time her mind is peaceful and body relaxed. It is with this in mind she began utilizing the principles of yoga in her nursing practice, sharing the benefits and joys of yoga with her patients, most recently as an acute pediatric mental health nurse. In 2024, her passion for sharing yoga with the children in her personal and professional lives led Alex to become Kids Yoga Teacher certified with Little Mindful Yogis. She is excited to bring her experience with the benefits of yoga to youth. In her free time, you can find Alex practicing heated vinyasa yoga, cooking and crafting with her daughter, hiking, watching live music, and snuggling with her menagerie of rescue animals.
About Julia
Julia is a passionate kids’ yoga instructor with a decade of experience in education. In addition to her work in yoga and mindfulness, she teaches kindergarten at Ethos Classical Charter School, where her love for early childhood learning truly shines. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Bali, Indonesia, where she deepened her understanding of the mind-body connection and holistic wellness. Inspired by the tranquility and wisdom of her training, Julia brings a calm, nurturing energy to every class. With a deep love for teaching and supporting young learners, she creates fun, engaging sessions that help children build confidence, mindfulness, and a lifelong appreciation for movement. Julia’s classes focus on playful exploration, balance, and relaxation—offering a supportive environment where every child can shine.
About Myrriah
Myrriah is an enthusiastic yoga instructor and the proud owner of Elm Yogis. With over five years of experience and an RYT 200 certification, she loves introducing yoga to young minds in a way that’s fun, playful, and engaging. Myrriah also holds a degree in early childhood education, which helps her create classes that are both educational and nurturing. As a mom to a toddler, Myrriah understands the benefits of combining movement and mindfulness to help children build confidence and find calm. She started teaching kids yoga as a preschool teacher and now brings her classes to various locations, including the Sandy Springs Library. Her sessions are filled with imaginative stories, playful poses, and creative breathing exercises, providing a safe and supportive environment for children to explore their bodies and emotions. Myrriah is a certified Kids Yoga Teacher with Little Mindful Yogis and is excited to share the joy of yoga with young yogis, helping them elevate their spirits, embrace kindness, and discover their inner strength, all while having a great time on the mat!
About Joyanna
Joyanna (or Joy) is a certified yoga teacher that has been practicing for a little over three years and is also certified in Reiki healing. Being built under the pen name of PeriwinkleYogi, Joyanna has wanted to emphasize that finding one thing to bring yourself joy and comfort is more important than any pose or breathing technique. Yoga is about building a safe space free of judgement and competition, but instead full of support and growth. Having a background in Anatomy and Physiology, Joyanna works to acknowledge how any pose may feel entirely different depending on how your body is while emphasizing that these differences are normal. She prefers to teach a slower style of yoga so that you can safely transition from any pose and feel the alignment at any point; if you feel like something is not for you, you are welcomed to pull out of the pose and try a different modification. Joyanna’s primary goal as a teacher is to help students find a sense of self while building confidence, trust, and acceptance within. Feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas, and she’ll do her best to talk things out with you. This life is all about growth and just enjoying each moment as they come no matter how crazy they may feel. ~Periwinkle Yogi Joyanna~
About Gina
Gina Misticawi is an E-RYT 200 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher) and RCYT (Registered Children's Yoga Teacher) with Yoga Alliance. She became certified through AFAA as a Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor and Group Exercise Instructor in 1997. She then completed her 200-hour yoga certification through Atlanta Yoga Fellowship/Peachtree Yoga Center. Gina is also a Spin instructor with Mad Dogg Athletics and Schwinn and holds numerous other fitness certifications. After having children and realizing the amount of stressors placed upon them, she decided to become a Kids Yoga teacher. In 2016, Gina became a Certified Elevated Grounded Teacher under the direction of Amy Haysman, Cheryl Crawford, and Sedef Dion. In 2024, she became Kids Yoga Teacher certified with Little Mindful Yogis. Gina currently teaches Kids Yoga at the Atlanta Athletic Center and All Saints Preschool. She teaches big people classes at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Cecil B. Wellness Center, Burn Bootcamp, All Saints Catholic Church, and Mary Our Queen. Teaching allows Gina to give back to those around her. She truly enjoys helping others find their own sense of self-acceptance and realize their full potential. What she loves most about yoga is that anyone, at any age, can practice. Yoga is available to all, no matter what the experience and physical ability…everyone can benefit from the practice of yoga. Gina is married and has two daughters, Lily and Mia. She loves spending time with her family and her two rescue dogs.
About Janelle
Janelle, also known as “Coach Nelly,” is a dedicated fitness and wellness coach, a registered behavioral therapist, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology as well as a master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis. This is her first year teaching kids yoga, and she is thrilled to share her personal wellness journey with young learners. Passionate about helping children understand and connect with their bodies, she brings a warm, encouraging energy to every class. Outside of teaching yoga, Janelle loves to travel, explore new food spots, and indulge in meaningful self-care. You can also catch her teaching Yoga and Pilates at FS8 in Buckhead. She joined Little Mindful Yogis because she believes deeply in spreading awareness of mindfulness and the importance of learning to tune into your body from a young age. Janelle is excited to inspire confidence, presence, and joy in every child she meets.
About Melissa
Melissa is a nurturing and engaging instructor, full of first hand experience with her own children (2 and 4). She respects the yoga teachings and encourages her kids to practice with her so they can enjoy the lifelong benefits of yoga. Melissa’s yoga journey started 2015 in college where she studied child development. After over seven years of practice she decided to pursue teaching. She is RYT 200 hour certified as well as a certified Kids Yoga Teacher through Little Mindful Yogis. During her free time, she gives back to her community by volunteering her yoga teachings at local church groups, particularly Spanish-speaking groups, so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy yoga.
About Lauren
Lauren is a Naturalist and kids’ yoga teacher who loves helping little ones connect with movement, their feelings, and the magic of the outdoors. With a background as both a camp counselor and a Pre-K teacher, she brings playful energy and a deep understanding of childhood development to every class. She’s passionate about teaching, nature, animals, and creating joyful moments where kids can learn, breathe, and explore. When she’s not leading mindful adventures, Lauren teaches goat yoga at GGA Dwarf Goat Yoga and spends time with her two sweet cats, Honey Bun and Oreo. She also loves traveling, reading, and crafting—always seeking new inspiration for creative, nature-centered lessons. Lauren can’t wait to flow, play, and grow with your little yogis.
About Haley
Haley loves combining her passions of both yoga and children into one with LMY. She has been working with children for most of her life and is currently a Registered Behavioral Therapist for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her yoga journey began around 2017 as a way to connect her mind with her body. After seeing substantial changes in mindset, ease, and confidence, she quickly recognized the power of the practice as a tool from which everyone could benefit. She then began incorporating yoga techniques and breathing exercises into sessions with children she assisted and nannied, then witnessing the profound positive changes this practice has on a young mind! She then took her practice a step further and received her RYT200 certification from Nexus Institute in Nosara, Costa Rica. In 2024 she received her Kids Yoga Teacher certification with Little Mindful Yogis. As an actress in Atlanta, Haley has the imagination, enthusiasm, and energy levels to match any child where they are. When she is not practicing yoga, Haley enjoys any and all things adventurous. You can catch her hiking, traveling, seeing live music, cooking, or engaging in some art project. She currently teaches adults at Bring It Om and adults + kids at {Sacred} Yoga. Haley believes in fostering each child’s unique talents and abilities by listening to each individual, harnessing inner beauty, spreading positivity, and allowing breath and emotions to flow.
About Rylee
Rylee was first introduced to yoga in high school somewhere around 2008. With a background in gymnastics and cheer, she quickly fell in love with the practice and saw its applicability in both sport and everyday wellness. Rylee established a routine where she made yoga part of a daily practice. She continued to practice in college and then found a home studio at Decatur Yoga and Pilates where she encountered hot vinyasa and vin for the first time. It was around this time, she knew she wanted to expand her knowledge and eventually teach. She was just beginning to understand how incredibly versatile yoga could be. She received her RYT200 from Giving Tree Yoga & Wellness in Smyrna, GA and has added Cosmic Kids Yoga™️ to her certifications. 3-5 year olds are one of her favorite age groups to teach because they’re “always so curious and enthusiastic”. Rylee is currently teaching hot vinyasa classes at Harmony Total Wellness in Milledgeville, GA. When she’s not on the mat or discussing yoga philosophy, she loves cooking vegan cuisine, gardening, hiking, and learning about strange animals and bugs.
About Sofia
Sofia is a heart-led yoga teacher, 200-hour certified and Kidding Around Yoga certified, with a passion for guiding both children and adults on their wellness journeys. A leader in advocating for sustainable living—both internally through mindful habits and externally through care for the environment—she brings purpose and intention to every class. Sofia has taught kids yoga at Stellar Power Yoga in Vinings and currently teaches adult yoga as well. Alongside yoga, she tutors in Spanish, Reading and Writing, and Economics, reflecting her deep love for education, music, and the arts. She is eager to serve and inspire students of all ages to move, breathe, and grow.