Heidi Valenzuela, RYT

Heidi

Heidi Valenzuela began practicing yoga to find some relaxation from her job. After nine years in the corporate world, Heidi started YogaXoga LLC, offering Demystified Yoga™ and Christian Yoga classes in the Kansas City area. Heidi truly has a passion for teaching yoga: "I love that every day I get to guide and encourage people in taking small steps to improve their health and well-being."

Heidi received her RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) training through YogaFit International and her Christian Yoga Teacher Training through New Day Yoga in Atlanta, GA. Heidi lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband Sam and soft-coated wheaten, Charli. Heidi is expanding YogaXoga classes to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and plans to return to Kansas City (her hometown) often to lead classes and workshops.

Sally King, MSW, LCSW

Sally

Sally, a licensed clinical social worker, is passionate about the role lifestyle can play in depression and anxiety prevention. Sally has worked with the aging, those that struggle with eating disorders, and those with bipolar, depression, and schizophrenia.

Despite ridiculously tight hamstrings, Sally is excited to be pursuing her RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) via YogaFit International and finds yoga "one of the most nurturing things I do each week!" Sally is married to Nate King, a Kindergarten teacher and self-employed landscaper, and they enjoy cycling, traveling, and their church community. Sally teaches YogaXoga gentle and therapeutic classes in the Kansas City area lives in South Hyde Park.

Kate Ranstrom

Kate

Originally from Boston, Kate Ranstrom was attracted to yoga in college. It helped her through a difficult time and ever since then she has used yoga to create stillness in her life whether working through stressful times or using it to meditate on her faith.

As a YogaFit trained teacher, Kate’s grown even more appreciative of the wonders yoga can do to help us all slow down and take care of our bodies. She loves being a part of this transformation for others. Kate teaches gentle and mixed level YogaXoga classes in the Kansas City area. Kate lives in Lee’s Summit, MO with her husband Erik and dog Peter.

Kathy White

Kathy

Originally from Omaha, NE, Kathy White began taking restorative yoga in 2002 and it made a dramatic difference in her life. In 2005, Kathy moved to Kansas City and began practicing with Heidi Valenzuela & YogaXoga. Kathy has completed yoga teacher trainings with YogaFit and Judith Hanson Lasater’s Relax and Renew®. Kathy loves the strength, flexibility and calming effects that yoga offers. She is excited to share the benefits of yoga with her classes. Kathy teaches gentle and restorative YogaXoga classes in the Kansas City area. Kathy lives in Leawood, KS with her soft-coated wheaten, Darby.

Joy Sutter

Joy

Joy has been practicing yoga for five years and gained Yoga for Kids teaching certification from Caren Lisondra in 2010. She's currently studying with Christy Burnette to complete her 200-hour RYT training. Joy also holds a degree in Early Childhood teaching degree from Southern Nazarene University (2008) and has taught preschool in many different settings. Her love of educating pairs wonderfully with her love of yoga.

"To educate someone on their path of understanding themselves in a deeper way and to find peace is a wonderful gift. Yoga has provided a new outlet of peace and personal growth that I feel I can in turn give to others."

Joy teaches YogaXoga classes in Lenexa.

Jen Simpson

Jen

Jen Simpson began practicing yoga in 2006 as a part of her fitness practice. She soon realized that yoga is about so much more than just being physically healthy, and began to appreciate the mental and spiritual aspects of the practice. Jen really wanted to be able to share this gift with others, so she became a Certified Holy Yoga Instructor in May 2011. Jen has found yoga to be the perfect balance between physical fitness, mental rejuvenation and spiritual connection. Yoga has been a blessing to her in her Christian faith as it allows her another way to carve out time to "be still."

When not on her mat, Jen volunteers at TLC for Children & Families, helping children and youth in crisis. She and her husband also run a textile cleaning business called Rusty's Carpet Cleaning & Restoration. Jen and her husband enjoy traveling (especially to the beach), spending time with their 2 dogs and golfing.