Lafayette Center for Yoga

315 Jefferson St., 

Downtown Lafayette, LA

Founders and Owners

 

Lydia and Michael Morton founded the Lafayette Center for Yoga in 2006 and opened their 315 Jefferson St Downtown Lafayette location in Jan 2009. Prior to moving back to Lafayette , they practiced and taught in Detroit, Michigan for 10 years, one of the largest & most diverse yoga communities in the US. They took their Yoga Teacher Training from Jonny Kest of Jonny Kest Center for Yoga in Birmingham, Michigan , who was a student of Pattabhi Jois and David Williams. The Lafayette Center for Yoga offers an unique approach to teaching yoga in Acadiana and also offers Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher Training and Continuing Education Workshops.

Teachers

Lydia Morton has worked in th fitness industry for over 20 years, with the last 10 years devoted to her Hatha Yoga practice and teaching. She earned her Teacher Training certification in 2003 and joined the teaching staff at Jonny Kest Center for Yoga. She also taught Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Slow Flow in other locations in the Detroit Metro area. She has studied with David Williams, Doug Swenson, Jonny Kest (all students of Pattabhi Jois), Paul Grilley, Lillias Folan, Rama Birch, Seane Corn, Steve Ross, Mark Whitwell, Nicki Doane and Vinnie Moreno. 

She is currently a registered Experienced Yoga Alliance Teacher (ERYT) and maintains the Red Cross CPR certification. Lydia was formerly certified in Aerobics and Personal Training with ACE (American Council on Exercise), THIN (The Health Instructors Network) and received her Personal Training certification from The Cooper Institute of Aerobics Research in Dallas Texas.

"Practicing and teaching yoga and meditation have brought great joy and peace into my life. As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand how a regular daily yoga practice can promote health and healing for the body and mind.  My wish is that all my students will open their hearts and minds to the power of breath, and the intuitive knowledge of their bodies.  No matter when you start, no matter what age or physical ability, no matter what comes your way in life, yoga can help you create steadiness and an awareness that will open you to your limitless potential.  My favorite quote is from the great yogi master K. Pattabhi Jois, 'Practice and all is coming!'."

 Michael Morton is a long time practitioner of Hatha Yoga. After retirement from DaimlerChrysler, he completed his Teacher Training in 2006 with Jonny Kest , ( a student of Pattabhi Jois of Mysore India) and other renowned teachers at Jonny's Center for Yoga. He has also studied with Paul Grilley, Nicki Doane, Eddie Modestini, Steve Ross, and Vinnie Moreno.

Michael is a graduate of the University of Mississippi in Fine Arts and currently serves on the Board of the Acadiana Center for the Arts. He also received his certification in Anatomy Biomechanics from the Cooper Institutes of Aerobics Research and is registered with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).

He began teaching at Gilda's House in Detroit, a free support community for anyone touched by cancer. He continues to contribute his time at Miles Perret Cancer Services in Lafayette.

"After teaching my first class at Gilda's Cancer Center, I understood the powerful healing powers of Yoga for the physical body and emotional spirit. Through my journey of practice and teaching, I am reminded daily of the opportunities for people of all ages, all levels of fitness and  wellness to use yoga to grow in health and happiness. I believe the biggest misconception about yoga, particularly for men, is that it's just about laying on the floor and stretching. While I personally enjoy the soft long held postures of Yin Yoga, I know that the more challenging  postures of moving and holding your body weight is all the strength building anyone needs. These strengthening and stretching postures along with the practice of a full complete yogic breath is all that is necessary to be fit, healthy and happy."

Katie Pennington has more than 20 years of dance training and performing experience. She grew up in Lake Charles and completed four years of study in performance arts at the University of New Orleans and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

Katie began practicing yoga over five years ago. She returned to Louisiana in 2009 and continued her yoga practice with Lydia and Michael. Katie completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course of study with Lydia at the Lafayette Center of Yoga and is registered with Yoga Alliance as a 200 hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher).

Neil Gresham recently graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and completed his 200- hour Yog a Teacher Training course of study with Lydia at the Lafayette Center for Yoga.

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, an alternative, dispute and resolution legal 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!"

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