OUR STORY:
Prior to becoming a studio with a brick-and-mortar home, Painted Lotus Yoga and Wellness was the business name of Clarissa Boggess’s teaching and energy work practice in Tuscaloosa. For over a decade, Clarissa practiced as an independent contractor working with local schools and businesses as well as teaching at The Yoga Center.
After 20+ years, Lynda Kees, founder of Tuscaloosa’s first Yoga studio, made the decision to dissolve The Yoga Center. Since Clarissa and Lynda have been friends and colleagues for well over a decade, it seemed the natural progression that as The Yoga Center came to a close, Painted Lotus Yoga and Wellness, LLC would evolve into its new brick and mortar incarnation as Tuscaloosa’s premier yoga studio.
Honoring the history and legacy of our roots while continuing to grow as a healing arts center is a tremendous privilege and honor for Clarissa and all who teach and practice within this sacred community. We are deeply grateful and honored to continue to offer yoga to our vibrant community and for our growing family of yoga teachers in Tuscaloosa. We look forward to supporting you on your path to empowered transformation!
Prior to becoming a studio with a brick-and-mortar home, Painted Lotus Yoga and Wellness was the business name of Clarissa Boggess’s teaching and energy work practice in Tuscaloosa. For over a decade, Clarissa practiced as an independent contractor working with local schools and businesses as well as teaching at The Yoga Center.
After 20+ years, Lynda Kees, founder of Tuscaloosa’s first Yoga studio, made the decision to dissolve The Yoga Center. Since Clarissa and Lynda have been friends and colleagues for well over a decade, it seemed the natural progression that as The Yoga Center came to a close, Painted Lotus Yoga and Wellness, LLC would evolve into its new brick and mortar incarnation as Tuscaloosa’s premier yoga studio.
Honoring the history and legacy of our roots while continuing to grow as a healing arts center is a tremendous privilege and honor for Clarissa and all who teach and practice within this sacred community. We are deeply grateful and honored to continue to offer yoga to our vibrant community and for our growing family of yoga teachers in Tuscaloosa. We look forward to supporting you on your path to empowered transformation!
OUR TEACHERS:
CLARISSA BOGGESS: Owner/Instructor, E-RYT200/RYT500, YACEP, HMCCP, Reiki
A Tuscaloosa native, Clarissa brings over a decade of teaching experience to her classes. A student of the practice since the early 90's, Clarissa received Yoga Alliance certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level through Yoga Bliss Studio (with Jennifer Wofsey) in March 2008 and achieved 500 hour Yoga Alliance certification through the Rolf Gates 300hr. Advanced Vinyasa Teacher Training (Augusta Kantra and Rolf Gates) in August 2016. Over the years Clarissa has received on-going training in various aspects and styles of Yoga and movement-based healing modalities including Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Kids, Hannah Somatics, and is an Accessible Yoga Ambassador.
Clarissa has an extensive knowledge of herbal plant allies, is a Reiki practitioner, and has an in-depth understanding of the use of crystals for balancing energy, earning the designation of Certified Crystal Practitioner from the Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy, in March 2016.
Clarissa is a fierce and tireless child advocate within Tuscaloosa City Schools and serves the LGBTQ+ community as a founding member of PFLAG Tuscaloosa. Clarissa is available for workshops, speaking engagements, and events. To consult with Clarissa for your event or speaking engagement, please email your request to: paintedlotusyoga@gmail.com.
"STEP LIGHTLY, EMBRACE THE FLOW, AND REMEMBER TO BREATHE." Clarissa
A Tuscaloosa native, Clarissa brings over a decade of teaching experience to her classes. A student of the practice since the early 90's, Clarissa received Yoga Alliance certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level through Yoga Bliss Studio (with Jennifer Wofsey) in March 2008 and achieved 500 hour Yoga Alliance certification through the Rolf Gates 300hr. Advanced Vinyasa Teacher Training (Augusta Kantra and Rolf Gates) in August 2016. Over the years Clarissa has received on-going training in various aspects and styles of Yoga and movement-based healing modalities including Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Kids, Hannah Somatics, and is an Accessible Yoga Ambassador.
Clarissa has an extensive knowledge of herbal plant allies, is a Reiki practitioner, and has an in-depth understanding of the use of crystals for balancing energy, earning the designation of Certified Crystal Practitioner from the Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy, in March 2016.
Clarissa is a fierce and tireless child advocate within Tuscaloosa City Schools and serves the LGBTQ+ community as a founding member of PFLAG Tuscaloosa. Clarissa is available for workshops, speaking engagements, and events. To consult with Clarissa for your event or speaking engagement, please email your request to: paintedlotusyoga@gmail.com.
"STEP LIGHTLY, EMBRACE THE FLOW, AND REMEMBER TO BREATHE." Clarissa
LYNDA KEES: LMT, E-RYT500, Reiki Master Teacher
Lynda is a pioneer in the Tuscaloosa area having opened the first yoga studio in Tuscaloosa more than 20 years ago. We are honored that she brings her years of teaching experience and extensive knowledge of functional movement, principles of alignment, and understanding of yogic philosophy to our PLYW family. Practicing massage therapy in Tuscaloosa since 1997, Lynda Kees Massage Therapy shares a home with us inside the PLYW building. For more information or to schedule body work with Lynda, please contact her directly here: yogatuscaloosa.com
Lynda is a pioneer in the Tuscaloosa area having opened the first yoga studio in Tuscaloosa more than 20 years ago. We are honored that she brings her years of teaching experience and extensive knowledge of functional movement, principles of alignment, and understanding of yogic philosophy to our PLYW family. Practicing massage therapy in Tuscaloosa since 1997, Lynda Kees Massage Therapy shares a home with us inside the PLYW building. For more information or to schedule body work with Lynda, please contact her directly here: yogatuscaloosa.com
REBECCA BROOKS: Tai Chi/Qigong
Becca grew up in East Tennessee on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. The meditative effect of the mountains and respect for nature and the environment were engrained at an early age. She moved her family to Tuscaloosa to take a position as an audiologist in the Department of Communicative Disorders at the University of Alabama. She began practicing Tai Chi and Qigong in 2015 receiving training through the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Since spending her professional career teaching and training students, extending her practice to teach Tai Chi and Qigong was second nature. Her goal is to increase awareness of Tai Chi and Qigong in the Tuscaloosa community.
"In 2015, at the advice of a friend, I began to investigate Tai Chi practice. Health and wellness benefits were well established and documented, which appealed to me due to chronic back pain. The real draw for me however was the idea of a practice based on continuous movement. I am by nature restless and both like and need to move. Through the course of Tai Chi practice, I have come to understand, embrace, and appreciate the concept of movement in stillness. I will take this practice with me wherever I go for the rest of my life."
Becca grew up in East Tennessee on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. The meditative effect of the mountains and respect for nature and the environment were engrained at an early age. She moved her family to Tuscaloosa to take a position as an audiologist in the Department of Communicative Disorders at the University of Alabama. She began practicing Tai Chi and Qigong in 2015 receiving training through the Tai Chi for Health Institute. Since spending her professional career teaching and training students, extending her practice to teach Tai Chi and Qigong was second nature. Her goal is to increase awareness of Tai Chi and Qigong in the Tuscaloosa community.
"In 2015, at the advice of a friend, I began to investigate Tai Chi practice. Health and wellness benefits were well established and documented, which appealed to me due to chronic back pain. The real draw for me however was the idea of a practice based on continuous movement. I am by nature restless and both like and need to move. Through the course of Tai Chi practice, I have come to understand, embrace, and appreciate the concept of movement in stillness. I will take this practice with me wherever I go for the rest of my life."
DIANE FREA: RYT-200
Diane came to yoga more than 20 years ago through an employer’s program for stress management. That led to an exploration of yoga styles and trainings, which she incorporates into her teaching practice to blend exercise and ease. Diane completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2017 through YogaFit, a vinyasa (flow) style designed to be accessible for all body types and experience levels, with additional trainings through Kripalu, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, and Asheville, NC, Yoga Center. Prior to moving to Alabama in 2018 to be close to family, Diane was a yoga instructor with the Jewish Community Center and a small yoga studio in Columbia, SC. Diane also is a certified personal fitness trainer, working one-on-one with clients to begin and deepen their yoga experience, as well as to accommodate special conditions.
Diane came to yoga more than 20 years ago through an employer’s program for stress management. That led to an exploration of yoga styles and trainings, which she incorporates into her teaching practice to blend exercise and ease. Diane completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2017 through YogaFit, a vinyasa (flow) style designed to be accessible for all body types and experience levels, with additional trainings through Kripalu, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, and Asheville, NC, Yoga Center. Prior to moving to Alabama in 2018 to be close to family, Diane was a yoga instructor with the Jewish Community Center and a small yoga studio in Columbia, SC. Diane also is a certified personal fitness trainer, working one-on-one with clients to begin and deepen their yoga experience, as well as to accommodate special conditions.
SILKE STEG: RYT200
Born in Germany in the 70s, raised in the crazy 80s, Silke worked, studied, and built a family in the years following. She studied marketing in her thirties, and while finishing her thesis in 2005 she had her third child. Being a mum during the day and a student by night was simply too much, and that was the time yoga came into her life. She finished her first teacher training seven years later. After moving from Hungary to Tuscaloosa in 2015, she was offering yoga in German in town. She is also trained in Myofascial Release yoga, Restorative yoga, Yin yoga, and yoga anatomy.
In her classes she focuses on body awareness, alignment, and the acceptance of personal limitations by using a variety of yoga and therapeutic styles and props. In her Restorative classes you will nourish and relax your body and mind.
Her affirmation for life: "A smile can change the world!”
Born in Germany in the 70s, raised in the crazy 80s, Silke worked, studied, and built a family in the years following. She studied marketing in her thirties, and while finishing her thesis in 2005 she had her third child. Being a mum during the day and a student by night was simply too much, and that was the time yoga came into her life. She finished her first teacher training seven years later. After moving from Hungary to Tuscaloosa in 2015, she was offering yoga in German in town. She is also trained in Myofascial Release yoga, Restorative yoga, Yin yoga, and yoga anatomy.
In her classes she focuses on body awareness, alignment, and the acceptance of personal limitations by using a variety of yoga and therapeutic styles and props. In her Restorative classes you will nourish and relax your body and mind.
Her affirmation for life: "A smile can change the world!”