Rachel Lawrence Mor - 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 - Manager

My name is Emily Naifeh and I am an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with over 300 hours of training. I took my first yoga class at 3rd Street Yoga Studio 10 years ago and immediately felt at home. 3rd street has gotten me through many moons and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to teach for and manage the studio. My favorite part about teaching yoga is being present for others. I love being able to bring more peace to people's lives! Whether you are practicing yoga for mental, physical, or spiritual health- I am here to hold space for you. In my classes, I love to combine lots of playful sequences while still encouraging you to intuitively move using your deep yogic breathing. Currently I am teaching a beginner's yoga class, and I encourage all students whether we are flowing or doing a restorative sequence to use ALL the props to find what feels best! When I'm not teaching I love hosting Yoga Community Circles, hiking with my family, painting, running after my two kiddos, and camping. Mother Earth is my playground and I am so happy to be on this planet doing Yoga with you! ~Namaste~

Name: Kelly MerkPope

Training: 

• Yoga Teacher 250 hour training at YogaLife Institute (PA)

• Yin Yoga Training

• Child Yoga Training 

• Yoga Therapy training 

• Usui Reiki Master Practitioner 

• Kundalini Reiki Master

• Karuna Reiki Master

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What I do in the Studio:

Yin Yoga instructor, Yoga therapy/private sessions, Manager

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Experience:

College is when I started taking my yoga practice seriously so by the time I graduated college I knew that I wanted to be a yoga instructor and bring the inner peace I felt to others so I did my research and found YogaLife Institute. I did my four years of training there and have been teaching private sessions for 3 years now and classes for 2 years now. :) My teaching style is based on holding space for you to have your own experience and noticing what is coming up within your mind, body and spirit through your practice. When I walked into 3rd Street Yoga after moving to OK I felt home and knew that is where I was supposed to practice and teach and hold space for myself and others. :)

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When I am not in the studio I am...

a PreK Special Education Teacher, wife and a chinchilla mom

Kelly Merk - Manager

Alex got her 200HR Yoga Teacher Certification in 2014 at Grassroots Yoga Studio in Albuquerque, NM and also holds a certification in PIYO, a combination of yoga, pilates and cardio for endurance and strength training. Alex's classes focus on affirmations and intentions to create positive thinking, space and energy that creates an atmosphere to help deepen individuals practices both mentally, physically and spiritually. "it's not about the most advanced yoga posture you can do, it's about trying new things, continuing to try new things and conquering new obstacles".

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

Lisa Hashemi

I found yoga because I have scoliosis and back pain. I stayed because of the spirituality- I transformed my life into one that I love living. I’ve been teaching yoga since 2015. 

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Kristi Roy

Alex got her 200HR Yoga Teacher Certification in 2014 at Grassroots Yoga Studio in Albuquerque, NM and also holds a certification in PIYO, a combination of yoga, pilates and cardio for endurance and strength training. Alex's classes focus on affirmations and intentions to create positive thinking, space and energy that creates an atmosphere to help deepen individuals practices both mentally, physically and spiritually. "it's not about the most advanced yoga posture you can do, it's about trying new things, continuing to try new things and conquering new obstacles".

Tina Hilbert

Tina continues to learn different

hatha yoga techniques to create diversity

in her teaching style. She aspires to meet people where they are in their journey. Some of her hobbies are functional fitness, journaling, attending workshops, and reading. She enjoys hanging out with her daughter, family, and friends. She believes that laughter and playfulness is powerful medicine for the Soul.

Tina is classically trained in various methods of hatha yoga and immersed in the holistic and alternative community of healing modalities. She incorporates the 8-Limbed Path, Kundalini Technology, Foundational Alignment, and Raja Yoga Meditation into her practice, classes, and private sessions. 

She is an Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher 500, a Yoga Alliance Continued Education Provider, and Lead Trainer. Tina is also a Level 3 Original Hot Yoga Association teacher and a certified Mindfulness Coach. She is pursuing a Clinical Yoga Therapy certification with Michelle Young, C-IAYT Therapist and E-RYT 500, founder of My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, TX.

Tina’s Clinical Yoga Therapy focus

is on Behavioral Medicine.

Allix was introduced to yoga at 3rd Street as a teenager when attending Edmond North High School in the late 2000's. Her practice has made a profound impact on her life and helped her manage several difficult obstacles, including childhood trauma and physical illness, and fostered a desire to be of service to others. She obtained her 200hr teacher training from SoulWork in 2020, training in the Akhanda lineage. She went on to receive her 60hr Trauma-Informed training certification in 2021 after working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault here in Oklahoma City. As a master's student of Social Justice & Human Rights at Arizona State University, she hopes to work with survivors of trauma and provide yoga to those seeking solace, refuge, and resistance. Allix loves creatures big and small, and enjoys reading, learning new languages, writing short stories, and finding new ways to live simply and sustainably. She is available at request for private sessions. 

Allix Stewart