Neil Gresham has practiced yoga for six years and is an avid practitioner of Ashtanga yoga. He recently graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a B.S. in general studies concentrating in behavioral science. In his last semester, he conducted a three credit independent study of the benefits of yoga. After graduating, he completed his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course of study with Lydia at the Lafayette Center for Yoga. Neil has also studied Judo, Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi.
"I began practicing yoga as a means to further discover who I am. From self-exploration, yoga has helped me to cultivate a peaceful, appreciative nature. In addition, yoga has given me an awareness of the more subtle things in life. Slowing down, breathing and living in each moment is what I am truly passionate about. Being able to teach these values through yoga is an honor."
Lisa Duhe has been practicing yoga at the Center for Yoga for three years. She keeps a balanced practice by attending Ashtanga, Slow Flow and Yin classes. Lisa completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course with Lydia at the Lafayette Center for Yoga in 2009 and is registered with Yoga Alliance as a 200 hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher). Lisa uses her own practice, her Teacher Training and her life experience in developing and sharing her unique style of teaching.
Mimi Methvin has been practicing yoga since 1984 and teaching since 2004. Holding a second degree black belt in American Shotokan Karate, Mimi is a certified kickboxing instructor and has been teaching at the federal building since 1999. She began practicing at the Lafayette Center for Yoga in 2008 and completed the 200-hour teacher training pragram with Lydia in 2009. She has also studied with Dana Strong at the Shambhala Center.
Mimi is retired from the U.S. District Court as a Magistrate Judge after 26 years of service. She attended Tulane University and earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She currently owns Satori ADR, a mediation and alternative dispute resolution practice.
"Yoga has brought incredible gifts into my life, and having an opportunity to share what I have learned from other teachers is a great blessing. Anyone who has committed to a regular yoga practice knows that it changes you from the inside out. As the body acquires greater strength, flexibility, and balance, so does the mind. Learning to find serenity in a difficult yoga posture creates a mind-body wisdom that transfers - amazingly - to everyday life. The benefits of yoga are accessible to everyone. My favorite recent quote is from Sharath Rangaswamy, grandson of the great yoga teacher Patthabi Jois. He said, 'the sick man can practice yoga, the injured man can practice yoga, the man who is not flexible can practice yoga, the weak man can practice yoga. The only man who cannot practice yoga is the lazy man.' Ah, but what rewards yoga gives back!"
