Teachers

Our teachers

NATASHA KOHORST, RYT500, RPYT, Master Reiki

My own personal growth came to me on my 40th birthday when I was given a cane to help me get around after a double hip replacement surgery. The second surgery did some nerve damage and caused a difficult road to recovery.Throughout the long road towards recovery, yoga gave me back the life I missed.

One of my passions is travel and yoga has helped me regain the strength to enjoy travel again. I have walked the hill to Dracula’s Castle, in Romania, hiked the jungle trails in Hawaii, and went rock climbing and horseback riding in Wyoming. No telling where my next journey may be.

Along with this beautiful journey, I decided that I wanted to share my story and guide others to learn this beautiful art of Yoga. I have earned my 200 hour teacher training through the beautiful and sacred space of Grace Tree Yoga Studio & White Lotus Homein West Chester, Ohio. During this process, I fell in love with working to inspire and support women during their pregnancy. To help honor the sacred process of motherhood.

I am a wife to a wonderful supportive husband and a mother of three beautiful adult children. I have been in Cincinnati for 15 years after relocating from Costa Mesa, Ca. Cincinnati has become my home I am a proud Moeller & MND Mom. I love all that our beautiful city has to offer. I hope to help guide you during your practice.

Column

SANDY NARDINI, RYT500

I began my yoga practice about 15 years ago. I was playing and coaching volleyball when a team mate suggest I come to her yoga class. It was helping her with flexibility, balance and agility. I was skeptical at first, but I realize there was more to Yoga than down dog! I began to enjoy the breathing techniques and the sense of peace it was creating in my mind and body. When I decided to decrease my active exercise routine and concentrate more on fulfilling my mind and body needs, I discovered what an important part yoga was making in this transformation. As I began my transformation, I explored different classes and was fortunate enough to sign up for a class that lead me to White Lotus hOme where I eventually earned my 200 RYT.

I enjoy teaching and sharing my love for Yoga to students of all levels. I believe yoga is a way to help people find love and peace within themselves.

I teach with mindful awareness of our breath and body through vinyasa flows as well as discovering our inner core through Yoga Core and Yoga Fusion classes. I am also certified to teach children ages 2-12 through Imagination Yoga which i am happy to bring to NKO Yoga!

I have worked for 29 years in the medical field and am currently a practice manager at a pediatric group in Blue Ash. I was born and raised in Cincinnati and love raising my family here. I have been married to a wonderful supportive husband for 41 years and we have 2 married sons and 4 grandsons. I enjoy traveling with my family to our vacation home in South Carolina and I still enjoy playing sand volleyball!

Column

Jaclyn Ross, RYT200

Jaclyn Ross is a 200-HR RYT Yoga Teacher, an 85-hour Shanti Mom Prenatal Yoga Teacher and a Certified Health Education Specialist. In her classes, you can expect alignment-focused poses with breath and meditation work that is appropriate for all levels.

I began my yoga journey in college, when I took a semester-long class at the University of Cincinnati eight years ago. In this class, I was exposed to a variety of yoga styles including: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Yin. I loved how yoga could be so versatile and accessible to anyone. I have always felt this call to be a yoga teacher, but the timing was never right. I continued to practice on my own at various studios over the years. In 2019, I was an overwhelmed elementary school teacher and I was expecting my first child. I began seeking a prenatal yoga studio to relieve stress and help with the aches and pains of pregnancy. I found NKO Yoga and immediately fell in love.

Fast forward to 2020, I left my full- time job to stay home with my daughter. The universe aligned and I completed my 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training from Uplifted Yoga with Brett Larkin in 2021. As of 2022, I am working towards becoming 500 RYT and has completed the Shanti Mom Prenatal Yoga Teacher training. I love to learn, teach, and connect with my students. I am in the thick of motherhood myself and have developed a passion for providing moms with a safe, supportive space to relax and connect with themselves, baby, and other mamas. I look forward to seeing you on the mat soon!

Column

Mike Cappel, RYT200

Yoga has been a transformative practice for Mike.

Mike’s first class was at the invitation of a teacher friend way past his 50th birthday. He accepted out of loyalty and support for his friend. Biking, swimming, and running were Mike’s preferred activities, but he continued with a weekly yoga class at the insistence of his Doc.

Fast forward a few years and maybe 100 yoga classes, while training for a 2016 Ohio to New York bike ride, Mike accidentally signed up for a 05:50 a.m. Army ROTC fitness class at UC! Mike loved the Army Cadets and the fitness program and as of 2022 continues to participate in the program. That first summer break the only UC comparable fitness program was an Ashtanga Yoga Class. That semester and his professor took his practice to a whole new level. As soon as possible, Mike enrolled in the yoga school where the professor trained. Mike graduated as an RYT 200 in 2021.Mike’s studio practice focuses on gentle core work and poses common to both Ashtanga and the Army Physical Readiness Training program.

Mike is a lifelong resident of Greater Cincinnati, Environmental Professional, Montgomery City Council Member, Veteran and Bearcat. Mike teaches and substitutes at various locations in Clifton and Cincinnati’s Northeast Suburbs. Additionally, he offers yoga to his grandchildren whenever they visit. An avid reader Mike always has a yoga book nearby and when not working is usually in a yoga classroom as a student or teacher.

As of 2022, Mike is enrolled as a student in Asheville Yoga Center’s hybrid 300 hour training program. Mike hopes to continue studying with his Ashtanga teacher, and also study in Mysore, a monastery, and Italy after graduation from Asheville.

Column

MISSY COURTS,
RYT 200 AND REIKI II

I began my yoga practice many years ago, practicing on and off around my kids activities at different studios. About 5 years about I started practicing regularly, several times a week. The movement helped with a health issue I have. The breath, peace and calm filled another need I had after some loss I had experienced in my life.

I earned my 200 hour RYT through Grace Tree & White Lotus Home. I really enjoy teaching and sharing yoga with everyone I can and helping to let them know that everyone can do yoga.

My day job is an administrative assistant at in a high school guidance office where I have daily contact with hundreds of teenagers.

My favorite yoga students are my young granddaughters who like for me to do yoga with them.

ColumnArielle J Schmidt

BETSY BROTHERS,
RN, E-RYT 200, & REIKI II

I first discovered yoga in 1971 in a class at a neighborhood school and with Lilias Folan on WCET TV. I practiced sporadically through out my life until 1997 when I began consistent classes and exploration. Curiosity leading the way, I became Reiki Level I attuned in 2003 and Level II in 2004. The student was ready and Cincinnati Yoga School offered its first local Teacher Training with Shashank Lakhia and Will Brashear. Since completing my 200-hour training in 2007, I have trained with Doug Swenson, Kali Ray and became a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Yoga Teacher in 2011 after studying in Asheville, North Carolina, St. Augustine, Florida, and Hershey, Pennsylvania. With this variety of history and trainings I can only call my classes "eclectic" and strive to connect yoga philosophy and practice to direct application in today's world. Classes are created to meet the needs and requests of attendees. In addition to my usual Hatha Flow, I have taught yin, prenatal, power and chair classes.

In addition to being a yoga instructor, I am a retired Registered Nurse and a

Tri-Life Leadership Training volunteer. I was co-owner and steward of the Grace Tree mission and vision from 2012-2018.

"Yoga gifts me with the continued opportunity for study, helping my fellow man, personal growth and lets me move forward without regrets and 'what ifs’."working with you.

Column

KATIE VIANCOURT, 500RYT

Katie is a certified 500RYT. She started her yoga journey in high school taking Yoga and Pilates classes at her local recreation center, but found her passion for yoga when she started her first training in 2015 at World Peace Yoga in Cincinnati. She was feeling lost after moving to a new city and the company she was working for shut down. Yoga gave her a sense of peace and helped her on a new and exciting spiritual journey. From there, it was down the rabbit hole into life of holistic living. Since then Katie has completed both her foundational and advanced teacher training and has certifications in Thai Yoga Massage and Reiki.

She is also studying to be a certified Raindrop Therapy Technician and Ayurvedic Practitioner through Maharishi International University. Katie’s classes are typically Hatha or Vinyasa, but teaches a variety and are accessible to everyone.

Column

RUTH BENANDER, RYT 200

I began practicing yoga as a teenager and learned a lot about fitness, and then I got older, kept practicing yoga, and learned even more about about being healthy, centered, and present. My yoga practice is equally about fitness, health, being centered, and fully present in each moment. Through experience with high impact sports, I have learned a lot about what yoga can teach about movement, focus, and recovery. My yoga practice includes study, postures, meditation, service, and devotion.

I want to help people with their yoga practice so they can find strength and flexibility in their bodies, and also compassion and peace in their spirits. In my classes, I believe that each person is an individual on their mats, and each person's practice is individual to their own experience and their own bodies. I hope to support this personal journey for each person in my class, as each person finds their own yoga.

I also teach yoga for UC Wellness at the University of Cincinnati, and I facilitate mind/body awareness skills seminars at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. This mindfulness training gives students tools to manage stress and find balance so that they can experience a more efficient and effective working and learning environment.

Column

Saresa Hanna, RYT 200

Yoga has been my sanctuary throughout my life. I was first introduced to yoga as an alternative

gym class in high school and noticed how it changed my mood and awareness. It also helped

me explore other cultures and traditions. As I grew older, I became a yoga practitioner often

balancing my everyday life with the longing to fully dedicate myself to a yogic path. Yoga guided

my focus, reduced my stress and connected me to the divine both within myself and within the

world around me. After attending different studios, classes and retreats I knew yoga would

always be a part of my life. My life has taken me on many different journeys. From a career to

motherhood to finally completing my degree; my yoga practice has always been there to guide

me through rough waters. I knew it would always be with me. The decision to become a yoga

teacher was a long one because I wanted to ensure I knew enough before starting to teach, but

I soon came to realize, I will never know enough! Becoming a yoga teacher increased my

knowledge of yoga, how to adhere to traditional yoga practices while teaching others along their

path and how to find balance amongst the chaos. Yoga is a lifestyle and we are always learning,

adapting and ever evolving. After completing my 200 hour certification, I continued my studies

with a 300 hour certification and children’s yoga course.

My approach to class includes different levels of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, while encouraging

you to try challenging poses which will help enhance your practice and push your boundaries

safely. We are all stronger than we think! Focused on balancing the mind, body, spirit

connection, Hatha yoga classes will help realign these areas within us through asanas,

pranayama and guided meditations. While Vinyasa classes will invigorate and increase energy

levels. Every class is different but also builds upon each other.

Column

AMY REESE, RYT200

My name is Amy Reese, and I am a certified yoga instructor, aromatherapist, and breathcoach. I moved to Cincinnati 5 years ago from Kansas, and I have enjoyed making a home in the Queen City. You can usually find me walking with my dog, Franklin, or tending to my garden and indoor plants. I strive to create stillness in a world of chaos through the practice of yin yoga, and I hope to practice with you soon!

Column

LISA WALSH, 500RYT

After years of being on my feet as a Respiratory Therapist I sought relief through Yoga. It soon became apparent that Yoga was helping my mind as much, if not more, than my body. I am now a 500 hour RYT and very happy to be a part of NKO Yoga.

click to edit

Lisa Locher, RYT 200

My name is Lisa Locher and have been an RYT since 2015. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 28 years, have three adult children and two grandchildren that are my entire world. My family has lived in the Deer Park community for over 20 years and all three of my children are graduates of Deer Park High School. I enjoy spending time with friends, great food, great music and traveling,(preferably to somewhere warm with an ocean.) I began my yoga practice in 2013 as a way to relieve some stress and cope with the effects of a recently diagnosed autoimmune disease. After about a year of practice, I decided to take my 200 hour YTT. I have been blessed to have taught several classes over the last 7 years, building friendships with some of the best yogis and yoginis in Cincinnati. My favorite part of teaching is sharing with others the accessibility of yoga to everyone. Contrary to what some believe, you don't have to be super flexible to have a flourishing yoga practice. Props are our friends and there is no shame in using them! As a person that suffers from autoimmune disease, i understand there are sometimes physical limitations and try to build my practice and classes around the school of thought that yoga looks different for everyone. I generally start every pose in the most accessible and foundational form and allow the individual to grow in the posture to their own comfort level. I am excited to getting to know each and every one of you. See you on the mat! Namaste

Click to edit

Our teachers