Instructors

Debbie Maier

Debbie Maier, DRYT 200 under Sri Dharma Mittra, dedicates her practice to inspiring students of all ages and backgrounds to find inner peace. She hopes students leave her classes with a smile and desire to live their yoga off the mat making a positive impact throughout the world.

The Pacific Northwest native is a former NCAA Division I athlete who has practiced yoga and meditation since 2000. Mother to three children and an active entrepreneur in High Point, NC, Debbie has owned DeBeen Espresso for 21 years and Pure Light Yoga for 7. Maier believes strongly in ahimsa, living by example and giving back to the community.

Leahann Bowen-Schmitt

Leahann has been a fitness instructor for over 25 years and a Yoga instructor for 12 years. She has taught everything from Step to Spin, however, her passion is Yoga. She has especially enjoyed teaching men during her lunch time Power Yoga class at Volvo Trucks. They have spent a lifetime in the gym pumping iron and are amazed at the body awareness, power and relaxation that Yoga offers. Leahann enjoys stories from her students and how Yoga has helped their running, cycling and skiing. She also enjoys a Holistic lifestyle as well as natural oils.

Leahann received her 230 hour Yoga Certification from Yoga Alliance in Asheville and she is also Level 1 certified with YogaFit. She also has certifications in Cycling and Aerobics.

Anthony Parra, E-RYT 500

Teacher and mentor, Tony Parra has been living a yogic lifestyle for over a decade. Incorporating the full spectrum of yogic practices into his teachings. He keeps the integrity and tradition of an ancient yoga style alive, yet remains open to complimentary modern techniques that he has found to be effective in supporting the growth of his students.

Tony believes that here is no area of one's life that is outside of the scope of yoga and aims to re-establish the ancient duty of the yogi as mentor, scholar, leader, seer, advisor and healer, etc.

His instructions completely transform his students. Increasing their health, wealth and awareness. He is consistently in a state of growth and inspires others to do so as well. Join him in this enlightening experience! Join him in the joy of yoga!

Jennifer Newton

"Stand in front of your past and let it be.  In this space of LOVE all things are possible".   ― Baron Baptiste

I initially found yoga through my local YMCA right after the birth of my third child.  Having tried many different forms of workout, yoga was the right fit.  Fast forward a couple of years, one more child, a few ups and downs (okay, some big downs), I found myself more dedicated than ever to my practice.  This dedication to yoga and a need to do something more with my life led me to seek out a 200hr yoga teacher training.  After much study, I found CorePower Yoga in Charlotte.  This was a surprise to me, I had always loved yoga but was apprehensive about the "power" part.  Not only was the style of yoga powerful, it was also hot!  I fell in love with the way this style of yoga made me feel.  A good sweat does wonders for the spirit.  My body began to change in ways I never thought possible.  I began to see tone, muscle definition, and stamina I never had before.  Once again, yoga had transformed my life.  I graduated from CorePower Yoga in December 2017 with a certification in Power Yoga.  

Wendy Robinson

Wendy Robinson, Ph.D., who has completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Mindbody Centering YOGA at the Global Breath Studio in Durham, NC. Wendy is a student and friend of Pure Light Yoga, and contributes the Moonday by Sphinx Yoga and Wonderful Moon for Wise + Well posts you may have read on Facebook.

A long-time yogi with experience across many practice styles, Wendy currently focuses on Dharma, where she began many years ago in New York City.

Jordan Harris

Jordan has been practicing yoga regularly since 2013. At the time she was training for her first marathon and noticed how much yoga seemed to help her speed, flexibility and recovery time. As her practice improved, she started noticing she felt better inside as well. She handled stress better and just felt overall more calm. Observing these things, she realized yoga wasn’t just about the asanas.

In 2015, within a few months time span, Jordan experienced several life changing events including the loss of a parent and a diagnosis of MS. After much research and thought, yoga seemed to be the answer.

It was about the complete picture: mind, body and soul. It has helped her heal in so many ways. She was so excited to have the opportunity to learn under Tony Parra and obtained her 200 hour yoga teacher training (200RYT) through Tony’s teaching program, The Living Path of Enlightened Yogis. Yoga has the amazing ability to give you just what you need when you need it. Her hope is to help you find the best version of yourself, and aid you in finding peace and confidence within.

Katie Koile

RYT 200, she completed her teacher training in April 2017 through Passion Yoga School in Costa Rica. Under the direction of yogi, Adi Shakti, Katie learned the Akhanda Shakti method, which means the "whole divine feminine." She seeks to empower students through yoga, and believes that yoga is a transformational journey and a path to bliss where we uncover a deep sense of peace."" Bio: "Katie grew up in Indiana, but lived in Wilmington for a few years befjennifore moving to High Point this past April. She has done lots of traveling and will surely bring some of those experiences and her wild freedom to the mat. You can find her most mornings slinging coffee at PLY's connected cafe, DeBeen Espresso.

RYT 200, she completed her teacher training in April 2017 through Passion Yoga School in Costa Rica. Under the direction of yogi, Adi Shakti, Katie learned the Akhanda Shakti method, which means the "whole divine feminine." She seeks to empower students through yoga, and believes that yoga is a transformational journey and a path to bliss where we uncover a deep sense of peace.""

MaryAnn Vinay-Ricks

MaryAnn first discovered yoga 10 years ago as a path to help cope with her over-active mind. In 2008 she began attending classes regularly at Pure Light. Throughout her journey she has found yoga to be centering, restorative and calming while also providing strength and flexibility. MaryAnn received her RYT 200 Yoga training from Yoga Mindset School of Yoga in High Point in 2018. She is passionate about encouraging individuals to discover yoga and its benefits to their body, mind and spirit. MaryAnn lives in High Point with her husband, active 2-year-old, and two dogs.

Kary Lawson

"You can’t serve from an empty vessel- Self care is the first step in healing." Kary found yoga in college at UNC-Wilmington in 1993. It quickly became the peace she needed in her life. In 2008 she completed her 200 hour training in an integrated, alignment based style of yoga known as the Anusara method. In 2010 Kary broke her back while sledding, a major setback in her teaching and personal life. She made a quick recovery and gives yoga the credit, physical therapy consisted of yoga postures. After several years and a few more hardships, Kary made her way back into the yoga community. "It has taken me 2 years to find the right studio and the right teachers. Pure Light is exactly that, the light has reciprocated through its teachers and I found how much I missed teaching. I hope to bring the faith of renewal or regeneration to my students. I hope to give this gift to others that has healed my mind, body, and spirit. Steps toward healing oneself."

Jackie Ruane

Jackie Ruane sees yoga as an entry way to a new perspective. Yoga and meditation played a pivotal role in allowing her to fall back in love with life. After realizing the impact of yoga, she enrolled into a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Maui at Full Circle Yoga School. Her training was conducted by the creator of Functional Power Yoga, Pablo Lucero. Jackie welcomes every person into her class with welcoming, loving arms. Whether you are completely new to yoga, or have been practicing for years--her classes provide options to each level. You will be accepted and embraced no matter what! Her goal is to make people feel belonged, loved, capable—and most importantly, she wants people to feel like the best version of themselves. She believes through connecting the body, mind, and spirit in a safe place, we can begin to understand ourselves and grow. Jackie is confident that in order to make our strongest impact in the world, we must start within.