All big things start out small.

By the fall of 2009, as yoga was becoming more mainstream and easily accessible in small towns across the U.S., we recognized that the residents in the Leavenworth area wanted it, too, many of whom drove to great lengths to practice elsewhere. In the winter of 2010, a few certified yoga instructors in town realized a way to reach the community. With the intent of merely coordinating a way for the teachers to gather with their yoga audience in a convenient location, the Leavenworth Yoga Co-op held its first yoga class on February 1, 2010 in a borrowed space downtown with two volunteer instructors and six curious participants. That was just the start of our wonderful yoga journey!

The Co-op Concept

The Leavenworth Yoga Co-op studio is the organizational arm of a kula of people who participate in Yoga, Pilates, Reiki, meditation, reflexology and massage.

We bring together a group of quality instructors and practitioners who provide a variety of experiences and expertise to share with you, to guide you in your personal practice of physical and mental wellness. We strive to unite a community of people in their goals of health and wellness.

Wellness that fits your life.

It takes a community energy to make a studio a good one; our co-op members work as housekeepers, class assistants, and boutique shop clerks in exchange for yoga class.

Mindful celebration.

Meet the LYC Kula:

Sonya "Sunnie" Edmonds (CYI) is a yoga instructor, Reiki practitioner and the director of The Leavenworth Yoga Co-op Studio. 

Rebecca Beasley (RYT200) is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor who received training through YogaFit in Oregon and Washington. Rebecca began her practice more than 9 years ago while her husband was stationed at Fort Leavenworth. She is most drawn to Vinyasa for its promotion of internal balance and core strength, and brings to LYC a strong background in the fundamental elements of yoga postures and alignment.

Cynthia Boone Walley (RYT200) first experienced yoga in 2000 during her internship at House of Menuha, while pursuing her B.A. in Pastoral Ministry. She soon began taking classes at RFCC and completed her yoga teacher training at KCFitnessLink in the fall of 2008. Cynthia's quiet demeanor leads her to teach gentle and restorative Hatha yoga. She finds that the use of props and modifictions in the BKS Iyengar method makes yoga more accessible. Cynthia feels that an emphasis on pranayama and proper alignment, as well as exposure to Ayurvedic practices and spiritual aspects of yoga, allows her students to develop their personal practice. Cynthia is also a Reiki practitioner.  

Karen Barker (CMT) focuses on alleviating stress and discomfort through a deeply relaxing massage in order to enhance your health and well-being. A graduate of WellSpring School of Allied Massage, Karen is a 750-hour Massage Therapy Practitioner with additional training in reflexology from the International Institute of Reflexology, and is also trained as both a Yoga Teacher and Pilates Teacher. Karen serves her community as a Military Spouse, Pro-Life advocate, and through a variety of programs providing opportunities for dogs to better the lives of those with visual and hearing disabilities.

Jolie Crow (DC), or Dr. Jolie, has a busy practice in Overland Park, Kansas, and works out of Leavenworth on Wed., Fri., and Sat.  She received her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractice and also has two BD degrees in Psychology and Chemistry and two MS degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Additionally, she is certified in Acupuncture and P.T. She uses the LYC Studio to offer community acupuncture and private acupuncture sessions.

Kelly Gough (RYT500) has always had a love for the Human body and it’s journey towards physical and emotional health. In 2011 Kelly received her 500 hour certification from InBody Academy under the direction of D’ana Baptiste. Kelly has had the privilege to learn from many wonderful teachers including D’ana Baptiste, Lucinda Dillon, Christie Burnette, Abbey Daw, Mitchelle Bleir, Kaycee Dunfield, and Kim Lynn. Kelly loves all styles of yoga. She finds her practice and teaching styles reflecting Power and it’s balancing practice, Yin.  As Steve Maraboli said in his poem Why not you…"Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?" Her goal of each class is to assist students in discovering their deepest potential and connection to self in this sacred space we create on the mat, whether in asana, pranayama, or meditation.

Jennifer Southard (CYI) first began practicing yoga 10 years ago. It was then she fell in love with the benefits of making the mind and body connection associated with yoga.  Becoming a certified yoga instructor in 2007 with YogaFit, she incorporates this passion into her fitness and personal training regime. Adding Pilates as well, she brings with her training in Stott Pilates, in both Matwork and Reformer.  

Kristi Brown loves to promote wellness through her practice as a STOTT Pilates instructor and a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.  Kristi has been teaching Pilates since 2003 and a nutrition devotee for as long as she can remember.  She enjoys working with clients to help them gain a greater sense of awareness through movement and nutrition and demonstrating how that in itself can bring about healing.   “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”--Arthur Ashe 

Laurie Morano (RYT-200) has been on her yoga journey since her first Ashtanga class in 1998. Laurie also holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Her challenging work with troubled youth led her to fuse counseling with yoga where she witnessed firsthand the amazing healing power of breath initiated movement.  This experience drove Laurie to seek her certification through Yoga Mountain in New City, New York. To her, yoga is a life-long journey of self-discovery and transformation; it is not something that can be “mastered,” as we are all perpetual students.  Laurie’s classes are a blend of Hatha and Vinyasa Flow and she believes in the moving and inspirational power of music – integrating fun and funky playlists with her sequences. Laurie focuses on helping students find a sense of balance and personal challenge, no matter what their level.  In addition to her own amazing teachers, Laurie has attended workshops with and has been influenced by Dana Flynn, Kathryn Budig, Simon Park, Max Strom, and Judith Lasater, among others.   

Jan Harris