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a space of loving community + empowering connection
Our Team
Sarah McFaddin
founder
I discovered the yoga practice through an immersive wellness experience which opened my mind and heart to the healing that yoga can offer. This led me to study nutrition and begin a deep dive into wellness. While completing my yoga teacher training, I discovered how integrated the body, mind, & sould are; and they can heal as one. My teaching style is gentle, empowering, and encourages students to listen to their body to create more ease + goodness.
Caitlynn Fortson
studio manager + integrative wellness facilitator
Like most humans, I am an everchanging soul on my own never-ending journey of whole-body wellness. Over the past year I was blessed with the opportunity to learn, grow and evolve my understanding of health and wellness by becoming an integrative nutrition health coach. Coming from a social work background, I believe in the importance of leaning into each of our own individual gifts to create a foundation for growth. What a gift it is that we are all bio-individual, yet all interconnected. My hope is to empower, guide, and walk this journey with others; through intentionally shifting mindset, mindfully moving, embodying community and nourishing whole-body wellness from a place of love.
Laura Knutson
instructor
After a day teaching my elementary class, there is nothing I want more than calm and peace of mind. That’s why I started doing yoga 18 years ago when I was tired and pregnant and needing to feel grounded. I found a yoga DVD for pregnancy at Best Buy (ha!!!!) and my journey into finding myself began. I spent years streaming yoga of all types in the privacy of my living room, learning from the best teachers out there. I felt an outer/inner calling that continued until finally, the summer of 2018, I got certified to teach yoga and taught for 3 years at GetFit LLC. I continued my yoga journey by getting my 500 yoga certification, which added adjusted stretching to my skill set and a new desire to once again stretch my wings. And that’s how I landed at Vidya! I won’t lie, it’s sometimes easier to roll out my living room yoga mat and stream a class in the workout clothes I just grabbed from the dirty laundry. But knowing the difference that group exercise makes - that support of having a tribe - makes me find the energy to get to class. I guess you could say, I want more than just peace of mind now!
Elika Whitney
instructor + health coach
Through a self-discovery journey of my own, I was introduced to yoga in 2014 and have been unrolling my mat ever since. I completed her 200 hour YTT in 2016 and have continued to evolve my integrative wellness practices, achieving my Level 2 Reiki certification in 2021. I am also a health and wellness coach with experience in social work, school counseling and non-profit programming. My client centered approach focuses on meeting people where they are and growing from there. I strongly believe that yoga is for everyone - especially people who identify as ‘not flexible’!
Elizabeth Shultis
instructor
My yoga journey started 15 years ago to gain knowledge of breath and assist with my daily focus. I quickly learned there was much more to yoga including community and more to learn daily in my yoga practice. I took my 200hr YTT at GIVE Yoga in Columbus, Ohio. I teach slow flow with breath and slow movement throughout the class. I love the power and the challenge I feel in multiple poses and hope that others feel the same way as I facilitate a class. A quote I love which applies to yoga is “walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet” Thich That Hanh
Barbara Airulla
instructor
With over 20 years of personal practice, I am a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. I obtained my 200hr YTT and Meditation Teacher certification from the prestigious Yoga on High in Columbus, Ohio. I teach Hatha yoga classes including slow flow, alignment-oriented, special focus and gentle yoga. I also guide meditation practices which offer participants the methods to tap into their own mind-body connection. A consummate educator and life-long learner, I earned a PhD in Art Education from OSU. I find natural connections among yoga, meditation, and art. When not teaching, I am creating, gardening, walking in nature, or reading. My yoga teaching philosophy is "The balance of breath with movement and thought equals life. First breathe, then move, and notice what you feel."
Alyssa Tantillo
instructor
I am a Jersey-born yoga instructor that has been in the area since joining the OSU community in 2019. I am certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor, and have completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training through Soma Yoga Institute out of California. I was introduced to yoga in 2015 and ever since, I have focused on using yoga to bring people together. I have spent over 150 hours teaching at Ohio State's recreational facilities, in corporate yoga settings, and in-studio since November 2019. My goal is to aid in my students' personal growth through all aspects of yoga in a safe and inclusive way.
Kelsey Russell
instructor
My yoga journey started about 7 years ago. Cardio, and/or lifting were never my cup of tea, but I was craving a full body balanced work out. When I discovered yoga, all of its benefits, and already being a deeply spiritual person - how could I pass up a practice focused on the mind, body AND spirit?! My first few years practicing were on and off, not absolutely sure exactly what I was doing. Until I decided to dive into yoga teacher training to learn more about yoga, the foundations, and the history. I am a boy mom of one & native to this beautiful city of Delaware. I’m a lover of outdoors, nature, hiking, rollerblading, camping & as well as the wonderful season of winter. I have been teaching yoga for two years now & I hope to bring my light & love for yoga to all.