Our Instructors
Lisa Kanne
Hot 26, Restorative and Hot Flow. subs all styles.
Lisa has been practicing since 2001 and teaching yoga since 2004. Her classes are inspiring and give individual attention to help students deepen their practice. She weaves in the teachings of the eight limbs along with a focus on breath and alignment to give students mindful awareness on and off the mat.
Kim Jones
It was a high school teacher that first introduced me to Yoga by presenting an Astanga Yogi to our class. This yogi practiced the entire sequence in all his sweat, glory and audible breathing. I was in awe – he made it all seem so easy. I started researching Yoga and began practicing at home with the help of Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste and a few other recordings. I quickly determined that it certainly was not as easy as the yogi had made it seem.
The following years I practiced on and off in between health club activities and membership. I must admit it was awhile before I actually attended a class in an actual Yoga Studio but when I did, I was hooked!. From there, my practice became quite regular and I realized that there was a reason that Yoga kept “pulling me back in”! It was in 2009 that I decided to enroll in a 200 Hour RYT certification with Theresa Murphy. The reason I embarked on this journey was not to teach really, but to dive deeper into the whole idea and philosophy of yoga. And again, I was awed. I learned so much and am still learning! Yoga is never ending, far reaching and certainly much more than asana. I did ultimately decide to teach and this has helped me understand even more about yoga. I have learned so much through teaching and from my students.
Yoga has become a very large part of my life and has succeeded in changing how I live my life. In particular it has taught me to enjoy the journey in every aspect of life while trying not to attach myself to the (potential) result. Because of Yoga and it’s never ending teachings, I am and hope to always be “a work in progress”.
Anne Hajek
Hatha Basics, Hot Flow, Kundalini
I’ve been practicing and studying yoga since 2011. I finished my 200-hour training and began teaching at Karma in 2015. I enjoy creating classes that cultivate balance, strength, and flexibility through a slow progression of postures. I make every effort to create sequences that are accessible to students of all levels, I always emphasizing the role of the breath in fueling movement. I often experiment with the use of a variety of props to help deepen and refine the experience of poses.
Beth StaenBerg
Chair and Tai Chi
Movement and breath have been the focus of Beth’s life through her experience as an Occupational Therapist along with extensive teaching experience in yoga, Tai Chi and QiGong. Beth welcomes you to her current classes at Karma Yoga teaching Chair Yoga and the internal martial arts of Tai Chi and QiGong and Chair Yoga. These classes emphasize slow, nurturing movement, breath awareness and body alignment. You will leave Beth’s classes feeling renewed and recalibrated.
Brittany Newton
Yoga has been an essential part of my life for nearly a decade now. I fell in love with how it made me feel from the inside out and had been yearning to teach since I started my practice. During some of the most difficult times of my life I have found myself in the studio surrounded by supportive teachers and a supportive community at Karma Yoga Omaha. After nearly 5 years of a devote Hot 26 practice I made the leap during quarantine to dive into Yoga Teacher Training with both feet.
I LOVE to sweat and love how deeply transformational Hot 26 is mind, body and spirit. I knew that I wanted to teach Hot 26 before I graduated in May 2021 and am so grateful that I have been able to do that with my Karma Yoga family.
Not only has yoga transformed the way I feel inside of my body on a physical level, it has opened up my mind and heart to loving myself wholly. This was what I wanted to bring to the mat as a teacher and is what I strive to bring to every student I am privileged to teach. I believe it is truly an open flow of learning and teaching from both the student and the teacher. I learn from my students in every class and hope to do the same for them.
Karla Pirruccello
Warm Flex and Flow and all styles
Juli Coppersmith
Hot 26I started running more than 20 years ago. I ran almost every day and even participated in a number of marathons. Over the years, though, running took a toll on my body as it does for most runners. And, with the aging process in full swing, I began having some issues with arthritis and early onset osteoporosis. I had heard yoga was great for these types of issues so, I decided to check it out.
My first experience with yoga was Bikram (hot) yoga. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I first entered the room. But, I have to say that from the very first class I was hooked. I absolutely, completely and totally loved it!!! Ultimately, yoga even replaced running for me, which I thought would never happen. And, the physical issues that brought me to yoga, all but disappeared in a very short period of time…I was amazed!
I love the fact that the Hot yoga series works every single part of your body inside and out. I love the intensity of the class and the extreme “detoxifying” heat. I love that instead of tearing your body down, like many other forms of exercise, yoga restores it. I love that yoga is for everyone…all ages…all physical capabilities. I love the fact that in the yoga room, we don’t compete with one another, but instead draw off each other’s energy. I love that it’s a challenge every single time you come to the mat. I literally could go on and on…but, I think it’s safe to say I LOVE YOGA!!
Throughout my journey, I have found that yoga is so much more than the practice of a series of difficult postures. It is about finding your true self. I believe that everything we do on the mat helps us to know ourselves better. For me, yoga is that part of my life that helps me re-focus, re-energize and center myself on what is important.
I am both honored and humbled to be a part of the Karma Yoga teaching community. My commitment and passion for helping others is of utmost importance to me as a teacher. I believe that our success in life is not only measured by what we do, but how we do it. Hope to see you on the mat!! Namaste…I started running more than 20 years ago. I ran almost every day and even participated in a number of marathons. Over the years, though, running took a toll on my body as it does for most runners. And, with the aging process in full swing, I began having some issues with arthritis and early onset osteoporosis. I had heard yoga was great for these types of issues so, I decided to check it out.
My first experience with yoga was Bikram (hot) yoga. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into when I first entered the room. But, I have to say that from the very first class I was hooked. I absolutely, completely and totally loved it!!! Ultimately, yoga even replaced running for me, which I thought would never happen. And, the physical issues that brought me to yoga, all but disappeared in a very short period of time…I was amazed!
I love the fact that the Hot yoga series works every single part of your body inside and out. I love the intensity of the class and the extreme “detoxifying” heat. I love that instead of tearing your body down, like many other forms of exercise, yoga restores it. I love that yoga is for everyone…all ages…all physical capabilities. I love the fact that in the yoga room, we don’t compete with one another, but instead draw off each other’s energy. I love that it’s a challenge every single time you come to the mat. I literally could go on and on…but, I think it’s safe to say I LOVE YOGA!!
Throughout my journey, I have found that yoga is so much more than the practice of a series of difficult postures. It is about finding your true self. I believe that everything we do on the mat helps us to know ourselves better. For me, yoga is that part of my life that helps me re-focus, re-energize and center myself on what is important.
I am both honored and humbled to be a part of the Karma Yoga teaching community. My commitment and passion for helping others is of utmost importance to me as a teacher. I believe that our success in life is not only measured by what we do, but how we do it. Hope to see you on the mat!!
Kristina Conselatore
Ashtanga and Hatha
Robin Hawkins
Healthy Back, Hot Flow and Restorative and all styles
Betti Thomasian
Hot 26 along with all styles
Jerilyn Frisbee
Hot Flow and Candlelight Flow
Discover something new. Challenge the body. Calm the mind. Notice things you've overlooked before.That's my experience with yoga. It’s a profound and deep practice. I teach to share the power of yoga, breathwork and meditation to help students find more comfort and ease in both body and mind. Whether you’re striving towards optimum wellness and peak performance or simply seeking coping skills to deal with life’s daily challenges, I hope you’ll join me for practice.
I completed my 200-hour certification from Karma Yoga Omaha in 2017. In 2021, I completed my 500-hour certification. I hold specialty trainings in Yin, Reiki, MSBR, Aerial yoga, and Pranayama. A seeker at heart, I’ll never be done studying.
Erin Tomaso-Smith
Ashtanga and Power Flow
Amber Harris
Yoga Nidra and Restorative
Amber Harris is a 200-hour RYT and Reiki master. She has completed additional training in facilitating Yoga Nidra at the Daring to Rest Academy. She loves all things energy and in addition to teaching rest, she loves to lead students in meditation and kundalini yoga practices. Amber’s classes create a calm and uplifting experience to receive all the benefits of your yoga practice.
Holly Castan
Hot 26, Yin and all styles
Jacque Tevis-Butler
Yin and Vinyasa
Kara Leutzinger
Vinyasa
Shawn Parmley
Hyp Flow, Hatha and Yin
Shawn began teaching at Karma Yoga in 2016 upon completing 200 hour teacher training with Lisa. In 2019 she finished an additional 300 hours of training through Embodied Poetry with Shannon Paige Kenny and 100 hours of Yoga therapy training with Nishala Joy Devi. Using extra time off during the 2020 pandemic to study hypnotherapy techniques for deep focus and relaxation, Shawn received her certificate in hypnotherapy.
Shawn specializes in breathing practices, slow breath lead movement, experiential felt practices (Experiential Focusing, a form of "felt-sensing," is a practice of allowing our bodies to guide us to deeper self-knowledge and healing) and deep guided relaxation experiences (or immersion) (or practices) designed to restore a state of inner balance to the body, mind and emotions.
Join Shawn on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 for Hyp Slow Flow- this all levels class focuses on teaching a slow easeful vinyasa flow designed to allow the student to feel deeply into each asana (posture) using breath to initiate each slow and intentional movement. Class concludes with an extended savasana where the student is guided into a deep, restful and meditative state.
Being passionate about introducing students to yoga, Shawn also teaches Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Beginners Hatha where the student will experience breath focused easeful asana instruction designed for beginner students or any student who enjoys Hatha practice.
Karen Montgomery
Yin, Kundalini, Hatha and Restorative
Nancy Leutzinger
Hot 26