Meet your instructors
Rachel Lawrence-Mor
Studio Owner
I was born in Oklahoma. Both sides of my family came to Indian Territory in the 1860’s. They were teachers, doctors and saddle makers. I assume they were seeking to find their place in the world and a good life. Me too. I am a mother, wife, lawyer and yoga student.I began practicing yoga and meditation in 1971 because I really needed it. I had panic attacks which were making my life small. I had difficulty living within my body and mind. With the urging of my brother, I moved to California and studied with yoga master Baba Hari Dass, who with the Hanuman Fellowship, created the wonderful Mount Madonna Yoga Center. I began teaching yoga to high school students in 1978. When I began to practice yoga, I don’t recall that we put names to a particular practice. In any event, I have studied Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Restorative, Kundalini, and Yoga Nidra. I intend to continue to deepen my yoga practice. I do yoga and meditation today because I still really need it.
Emily Naifeh
Studio Manager
Come to one of Emily’s yoga classes for feel-good sequencing, real-life philosophy, and heartfelt connection, and stay for the restorative poses and deep breath work that is sure to leave you feeling revitalized and at peace. When she's not teaching yoga posture classes, Emily leads community members through transformational yoga circles once a month which cover the history and philosophy of the ancient yoga practice, guiding students to take their yoga off the mat and into daily life. You can also attend one of her sound bath experiences to find profound stillness within. Her extensive knowledge and experience include earning over a decade of yoga experience, over 500 hours of yoga training, working in yoga studio management for 3rd Street Yoga, directing the Edmond chapter of Yoga in the Park: a volunteer-led program providing free yoga to the public, and leading classes for the Metropolitan Library System. Whether you’re practicing for mental, physical, or spiritual health, Emily is ready to hold space for you. Emily is also available for private one-on-one or private group classes upon request.
Lisa Hashemi
Yoga Instructor
Lisa has been practicing yoga since 1999 and started practicing at 3rd Street Yoga in 2003. She started a regular yoga practice after the birth of her children finding that with a regular yoga practice she had much less pain with her neck and back as well as finding a great sense of peace and calm. Lisa finished her 200 hour RYT teacher training with Karen Prior-Samatva Yoga in June of 2009. She finished the program with over 280 hours of training. Lisa teaches Samatva, to find your inner state of harmony and balance. Contact her for private lessons or pelvic floor evaluations.
405-503-7522
Kristi Roy
Yoga Instructor
I've been teaching yoga since 2015.
I found yoga because of my scoliosis and back pain. I stayed because of the spirituality and as a result, I transformed my life into one that I love living.
Allix Stewart
Yoga Instructor
My very first yoga class was at 3rd Street as a teenager, and I consider myself very lucky to have come full circle in my practice. I earned my 200YTT under the Akhanda lineage in mid-2020 after practicing for well over a decade - since then, I have also completed my 60hr Trauma Informed YTT and became certified in Meditation and Pranayama. I earned my master’s degree in 2022 with a focus in critical trauma studies and social work, which complemented my professional background in advocacy and victim services. I currently specialize in yoga for mental health and trauma, and have extensive experience working with refugees and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. I also provide yoga to students receiving inpatient mental healthcare services. I firmly believe that yoga should be available to everyone, regardless of income or accessibility.My practice has made a profound impact on my life and I’m grateful to be able to hold space for students inside and outside of 3rd Street! I love creatures big and small, and enjoy reading, writing, and being outside as much as possible while finding new ways to live simply and sustainably. I am available at request for private sessions.
Shana Anderson
Yoga Instructor
I am a retired Addiction Counselor and Anger Management Specialist. I utilized Yoga, Pranayama, and Vipassana Meditation to treat my clients in my private practice. I found this approach to be very effective, especially when other modalities had failed. I have practiced Yoga for many years. My journey with Yoga and Meditation has assisted me with numerous personal tragedies, self-esteem, and courage. I decided to become a teacher in 2013. I received my 200-hour certification at Spring Stone Yoga. I then went on to complete my 500-hour and beyond certification from Etowah Valley Yoga. I feel I have found my tribe at 3rd Street Yoga and I look forward to teaching and learning in this beautiful space.
Laughlin Dibble-Banaszak
Yoga Instructor
Laughlin has been practicing yoga for a decade and teaching for the past 5 years in Georgia, Germany, California, and now in Oklahoma. Her love affair with yoga began as a recommendation from her South Asian doctor to try yoga to help with anxiety. She received her teacher training certificate from the Satchidananda Ashram Yogaville in 2018 and has been teaching group classes, private sessions, and working with the military ever since. Her classes include meditation, breathwork, yoga philosophy, and movement and are for beginners and long-time practitioners alike! Her goal is to help as many people as possible integrate yoga into their daily lives mindfully and with knowledge and reverence for all the tradition has to offer. Available for private sessions/events.
703-508-6214
Cheryl Mason
Yoga Instructor
RYT500, YACEP, GSY-Faculty
I have been teaching yoga for more than 20 years. I received my RYT200 with Integrative Yoga Therapy and my RYT 300 with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy, and I have been blessed to study with a variety of leaders in the yoga therapy arena. I am also a Yoga Alliance Continued Education provider. In 2016 I became interested in the many facets of Somatics. Somatics refers to the lived experience of the body, and the conscious exploration of bodily sensations, movement, and perception. I am a level 3 Gentle Somatic Yoga Practitioner and a faculty for Gentle Somatic Yoga (GSY). Gentle Somatic Yoga is a profound way to unlock old patterns of holding stress and pain in our bodies and I have experienced this freedom in my own body. I consider
it a privilege to help others find freedom in their bodies. I am continuing my education in the fascinating area of Somatics and l am currently
studying Neurogenic Yoga and Trauma and Tension Release (TRE). I love to blend all the facets of yoga in classes that are designed to meet the needs of
the students, including but not limited to asanas, somatic movement flows, pranayama and guided meditations.
Margie Owen
Yoga Instructor
I've been teaching fitness for 36 years. Throughout the years, I've taught a variety of formats, including step, power pump, and kickbox. I have always enjoyed guiding people and helping them attain their strength and fitness goals. While recovering from a back injury in 2015, I realized how healing yoga was and decided I wanted to add yoga to the mix. I completed my 200-hour training at 405 in 2019.
I'm a wife (40 years), mom, Mimi (4 grandkids), and nurse. I love my family and friends, being outside, and challenging myself.