Dr. Raelynn Deaton Haynes
Owner and Manager
Yoga Instructor | Ashtanga, Original Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Rocket, Yin, Qigong
Pilates Instructor | Mat levels I, II, III
Barre Instructor
Raelynn is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. In addition, she has training in Yoga Assisting and Adjusting, and Yoga Massage. She holds a master’s and PhD (Biology and Zoology) and has taught in academia for over 12 years. Before purchasing Willow Gardens Yoga Studio, she left her full-time academic position to pursue her yoga and nutrition career, explore her entrepreneurial spirit, and continue the growth of Willow Gardens Yoga Studios. She is a lecturer at Texas State University in San Marcos, a yoga & Pilates instructor, and a holistic health consultant. Raelynn also leads yoga retreats and yoga and Pilates training.
Kerrie Kelsey
Director of Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga Instructor | Hatha, Rocket, Power, Yin, Vinyasa
Pilates Instructor
Barre Instructor
Kerrie has always enjoyed an active lifestyle: running, soccer, boxing, and hiking. She found Hot Yoga in 2013 and loved the benefits it provided, both physically and mentally. Finding Pilates, however, has been the biggest game changer in her life. For several years, she had been dealing with constant back pain. As an active person, she found this frustrating and discouraging. Pilates helped her find the relief she needed and taught her how to care for her spine health, balance her body to prevent further injury and build the strength she needed to continue doing what she loved.
Wendy Wray
Studio General Manager
Yoga Instructor | Yin and Restorative
Pilates Instructor
Wendy discovered her passion for fitness in her 30s when she signed up for her first triathlon. Always driven by a desire to push her limits, she ventured into CrossFit in her 40s. Seeing the need for a supportive and judgment-free space for women to train, she earned her Level 2 CrossFit Coach certification and opened a successful women-only CrossFit affiliate. In 2022, she expanded her expertise by completing a 50-hour Yin Yoga teacher training; in 2023, she completed a 20-hour Pilates training; and in 2024, she completed a 200-hour Vinyasa training. Wendy is dedicated to providing safe, effective training that empowers people to live strong, vibrant lives.
Stacy Clayton
Yoga Instructor | Original Hot Yoga
Pilates Instructor | Mat Level I, II, III
Yoga changed Stacy’s life; she believes it can change yours, too! In 2016, after several knee surgeries rendered her stiff, inflexible, and in chronic pain, she began searching for a new way to challenge her mind and body. At 52, she took her first hot yoga class and hasn’t looked back. In 2018, she took another leap of faith and traveled to Boulder to earn a Bikram-styled hot yoga certificate with Esak Garcia. She enjoyed teaching and sharing her passion for yoga so much that she embarked on another journey. She completed an additional 200-hour hot yoga certification in December 2019. She is also a certified Pilates instructor to round out her repertoire.
Karlee Kaltz
Yoga Teacher | Vinyasa, Yin, Aerial
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
Karlee began practicing yoga in 2016 to connect with her body after she had stopped dancing. She quickly realized that it was not only a physical practice but a spiritual, mental, and emotional practice as well. In the summer of 2018, she completed her RYT200. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect deeper with her yoga practice. In 2022, she wanted to redo her training and focus more on helping others connect deeper with their yoga practices, so she participated in the RYT200 at Willow Gardens Yoga.
Ellie Bostwick
Yoga Instructor | Original Hot Yoga, Ashtanga, Yin
Pilates Instructor
Reiki Master
Sound Healing
Musician
Ellie started practicing yoga at the age of 15 in South Carolina, and after moving to NYC for art school in 2010, she discovered Bikram yoga and became certified in the fall of 2014. Along with teaching yoga, Ellie is a musician and began sound healing in 2019. By 2021, she had started her sound healing project (Crystal Voyager Vibes Sound Healing) and regularly facilitated sound baths and yin sound baths. She has trained with Candee Edwards, Danielle Golfarb, and Margie Sanders for sound healing and vibrational sound therapy. She also received her Reiki Master certificate from Izzy Swanson, and the course focused on the Jikiden Reiki lineage, deep trauma healing, and energetic protection. Ellie is available for private sessions using Reiki and vibrational sound therapy techniques.
Carly Badke
Yoga Instructor | Vinyasa, Yin
Carly enrolled in yoga teacher training in 2017 to further dedicate herself to the practice and self-care, with no intention of becoming a teacher. The universe had other plans, and she’s been teaching ever since! Her grounding and approachable style encourages new and seasoned students to consciously integrate breath, movement, rest, and mindfulness to inspire us to be more kindly connected to ourselves, our communities, and the earth. Carly also holds a Master of Science in Higher Education and spent a decade working with college students in academic and community engagement programs. Off the mat, she enjoys getting her hands dirty in her mini backyard garden, cuddling with her adopted dog Bodhi, and co-managing her partner’s monster art business.
Erica Llewellyn
Pilates Instructor | Comprehensive
Yoga Instructor | Vinyasa, Gentle, Yin, Restorative
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
Erica started as a Certified Personal Trainer in the fitness and wellness industry in 2008. In 2010, personal training became her full-time career. She took a Pilates class in this role and couldn’t believe how challenging it felt. She kept taking classes and began understanding muscle activation and compensation in a way she hadn’t before. She learned this within herself, but it also allowed her to access a new way of teaching. She obtained a Comprehensive Certification through Peak Pilates in 2012 and has loved sharing Pilates with many people over the years.
Katie Gates
Barre Instructor
Pilates Instructor
ACE Certified Health Coach
Katie has loved moving for as long as she can remember. Starting dance classes at age 3, she began teaching fitness as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor while pursuing her BFA in Dance in St. Louis. As a dancer, Katie's first Pilates classes showed her how much the use of the breath can aid deep muscle work and the importance of muscle specificity, as opposed to just throwing yourself around to get an exercise done. Katie was introduced to the Hot 26 postures in 2002 and has been stretching in hot studios ever since!
Karrie Sheehan
Yoga Teacher | Healing Yoga, Wake Up & Stretch
Barre Instructor
Musician
Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Karrie was interested in music from a young age. One holiday, she got a keyboard and started playing around with different sounds and rhythms. She never had formal training, so she would attempt to figure songs out “by ear.” Her most significant breakthrough came after college when she started playing drums to jam with her brother. She was hooked and wanted to learn all she could! She began taking lessons and continued doing that for several years. During this time, she was asked to join several bands, and she even taught drums one summer at the Salvation Army’s Music Conservatory. She also completed her 200HR Yoga Training and Yin Training.
Greg King
Yoga Instructor | Breathwork, Vinyasa, Yin
With 300 hours of yoga teacher training, Greg King specializes in creating gentle, accessible flows that nurture body and mind. His yoga journey began in 2011, following a life-altering car accident that challenged his physical and mental resilience. Through yoga, he discovered the transformative power of movement and breathwork to heal, strengthen, and align.
Originally from outside Texas, Greg is now a proud honorary Texan, married to a true local, and raising a family of yogis who embrace the mental and physical benefits of this practice. As a former musician, Greg brings his love of music to his classes, curating soulful playlists that elevate the flow and set the perfect vibe.
Greg’s teaching focuses on movement, breath, and alignment to help reset the nervous system, find balance, and deepen your connection on and off the mat. Whether you’re just beginning your practice or looking to grow, Greg is here to guide you toward more ease, strength, and community.
Claudia Sand
Yoga Instructor | Original Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Yin
Claudia started her yoga journey in November 2015 when Willows Gardens in Buda opened its doors. After suffering from chronic back pain, she started with the HOT-26 practice 4 times a week. This practice helped her to overcome my back pain, and she fell in love with the way it had changed her body and mind. After several Yoga challenges and workshops, she took a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training plus a 50HR HOT26 immersion training. In 2022, she added a 50HR Yin training; in February 2023, she finished her 200HR HOT Teacher Training.
Rebecca Knowles
Yoga Instructor | Hatha, Vinyasa, Gentle, Restorative, Yoga Therapy
Occupational Therapist
Rebecca is a registered yoga teacher and occupational therapist with over a decade of teaching experience. Her classes offer a balance of alignment and flow that is accessible and heart-centered while helping to build and refine skills. She hopes every student leaves class feeling more connected to themselves, others, and the world around them. Anusara, Vinyasa, and Iyengar are the ones who most influence her teaching. Rebecca is a new mom and enjoys running, cycling, and spending time in nature.
Nicole Marie
Yoga Instructor | Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Chair Yoga, Pre/Post Natal, Yoga Nidra, Kundalini, Tai Chi
Pilates Instructor
After I had an extremely personal and devastating loss in my life, my friend and initial yoga mentor suggested I try yoga to find terra firma again. I have not looked back since. I am trained in the Hatha and Kundilini Yoga traditions at the 500-hour level. Now that I have been teaching yoga for 12 years, the practice I share embodies hours of training and personal experience with many yoga masters. As a result, I approach the mat from the perspective of the individual body's unique needs; this means we begin our practice right where we are.
Aimee Wagner
Yoga Instructor | Original Hot Yoga
In 2008, Aimee discovered hot yoga as a sanctuary from the relentless pace of corporate life. The practice provided a sanctuary of heat and mindfulness, offering her a much-needed escape and a way to manage the stress of my demanding job. What began as a personal retreat soon became a profound journey of self-discovery and transformation. This rigorous practice, rooted in ancient yoga traditions, enhances physical strength and flexibility and fosters mental clarity and emotional resilience. She fell in love with it instantly.
For years, she dreamed of leaving the corporate grind behind and embracing a career in teaching yoga. In March 2024, she completed a 100-hour training program, which deepened her understanding of the practice and refined her teaching skills. Today, she is thrilled to live her dream and share hot yoga's transformative power with others. She is excited to continue her journey of growth and learning by pursuing additional training soon and expanding her teaching repertoire.
Please join Aimee for a rejuvenating hot yoga session. She looks forward to guiding you on your path to wellness and transformation.
Elizabeth Pickett
Yoga Instructor | Vinyasa, Qigong, Hatha, Roll and Stretch
Elizabeth’s journey into yoga began in 2017 when she relocated to Lockhart, where she discovered yoga as a pathway to self-care and balance. With the guidance and support of numerous mentors and peers, she began formal yoga training in 2023, eager to deepen her practice and share her insights with our vibrant community. Training in Qigong and Vinyasa, she has learned that yoga transcends physical exercise—it serves as a cohesive force that unites individuals in a nurturing and supportive environment, and the friendships she has made through yoga have been instrumental in enhancing her life’s journey. Excited by the prospect of expanding her knowledge of the practice, she envisions a post-retirement life intertwined with yoga, forever grateful for its transformative influence and the enduring connections it fosters.
Renee King Sonnen
Yoga Instructor | Kirtan, Hatha, Restorative
Renee brings over four decades of yoga experience, starting her journey in the early '80s. Certified in Hatha, Kundalini Yoga, and Ayurveda, she recently completed additional training in Vinyasa and Hot Yoga at Willow Gardens Yoga. Her healing journey through yoga, from spinal recovery to post-surgical rehabilitation, exemplifies her belief that yoga is accessible to every body, no matter the age or condition.
Substitutes
Laura Gale
Yoga Instructor | Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa
Pilates Instructor | Mat Certified
Sound Healing
Meditation
Laura has found yoga multiple times throughout her adult life but became serious about it in 2014. Practicing yoga has helped her work through past trauma and personal health challenges. Laura is a mom of two amazing girls and a zany husband. She fell in love with Yin and devoted much of her continuing education to Yin and meditation. Yin Yoga has taught her to slow down, be present in the moment, and stay calm during times of stress. She infuses humor into her classes, believing laughter is the best medicine. Laura loves sharing what she has learned to help others surrender and find peace within themselves.
Belle Stewart
Yoga Instructor | Vinyasa, Gentle
Belle is a wife to the most amazing man and a mother to 2 beautiful little yogis in training. Her yoga journey began at Willow Gardens after a back injury incurred while weightlifting. She has experience with Vinyasa, Hatha, Hot, Yin, Power, Restorative, Ashtanga, and Iyengar Yoga. Belle enjoys incorporating her Christian faith in her classes and pushing her students to be their best on and off the mat.
David Collins
Yoga Instructor | Vinyasa
When David is not doing HVAC work, hiking, camping, riding his motorcycle, or hanging out with friends and family, you can find him practicing or guiding a class at Willow Gardens. David started his practice about 7 years ago, realizing that weight training did little for his balance and coordination. He found himself looking for a solution, dropped into a yoga class, and has been practicing ever since.
Gage Howell
Yoga Instructor | Vinyasa
Licensed Massage Therapist
I’ve spent the last 8 years learning through formal study and deep personal exploration what it means to exist in and out of this particular human form. Over those years, I have accumulated a degree in Comparative Religious Studies, a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, a Massage Therapist License, and countless hours of formal continuing education and personal practice in a wide range of disciplines, both ancient and modern.
Affiliates
Alli King - Guest Teacher
Yoga Instructor | Kids Yoga, Vinyasa, Meditation, Neuro-linguistic programming
Life Coach
Alli is a real estate agent, coach, yoga teacher, guide, spiritual gangster, design nerd, mom, spouse, sister, and friend. Alli’s passion is helping others find their purpose and thrive in it. In 2020, she took what she loved about interior design, helping the people inside the spaces she worked on, and shifted her focus to how to guide people in all aspects of their lives. Alli wants to spread love & light in this world and encourage people to understand their patterns to step into their best selves.
Michele Schalin - Collaborator
Michele Schalin is an international speaker, author, mental fitness coach, breathwork facilitator, and meditation guide—the trailblazer in Mindful Metamorphosis. For over thirty years, she has been an unstoppable force that educates, guides, and supports people on their journey to personal development, spiritual growth, and inner transformation. As an expert in mental fitness training, she provides strategies for controlling one's thoughts, changing subconscious beliefs, regulating emotions better, managing stress healthily, and manifesting greatness into reality; the possibilities are endless.
Michele is an intrepid adventurer who always seeks to explore the unknown and share her journey with others. Her unstoppable spirit ignites genuine connection wherever she goes, from meaningful conversations to spontaneous singing and dancing. She lives life fully, embracing nature hikes and yoga and continuously seeking opportunities to elevate the collective consciousness. To know Michele is to be touched by her contagious smile and infectious laughter.