Our Team
We each bring a different perspective to Happy Finch, and we’re united by our dedication to purposeful work, intentional instruction, and real connection.
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Signature Style: Intentional movement, soulful intuition, and a deep connection to the wild.
Kelsi began her yoga journey in 2007, first practicing at home with DVDs before exploring studios and pop-ups around town. Over time, her practice deepened, leading her to earn her 200-hour certification at a Baptiste studio in 2012. Since then, her teaching has moved through many seasons – power vinyasa, slow flow, yin – each reflecting where she was in her own life. For Kelsi, yoga has never been static; both her practice and her teaching continue to evolve alongside her own personal growth. What she values most is the internal journey yoga invites us into, and the resilience it builds over time.
That inward exploration ultimately inspired Kelsi to found Wilderness Yoga Company in Boone, NC in 2018, where she combined guided hikes with outdoor yoga experiences. It was a deeply meaningful season that taught her so much about building community and running a purpose-driven business. After closing that chapter in 2020 and relocating out west, she carried those lessons forward – and in many ways, they planted the seeds for what would come next.
In 2025, Kelsi returned to that vision through Happy Finch Yoga, offering yoga online, in nature, and in intimate settings. At its core, the goal of Happy Finch was to create spaces for connection – with ourselves, with nature, and with one another.
When the opportunity arose to bring Happy Finch Yoga into a physical studio space in early 2026, the timing felt aligned. It was Kelsi’s home studio of four years, and she was already surrounded by a community of friends and fellow yogis. What better way to let Happy Finch take flight.
As always, life was perfectly on time.
Off the mat, Kelsi is a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources, specializing in leadership development, organizational culture and strategy, and team engagement. She is based in Clayton, North Carolina, where she lives with her boyfriend, three cats, and one very lucky dog. She can usually be found outdoors, in the air as a private pilot, or you know – doing yoga. :)
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Signature Style: Musically inspired, authentically present, and a profound appreciation for life.
A student of yoga and meditation for over 25 years, Jess has been curious to learn about these modalities as a path to internal freedom and liberation. Over the years, she dabbled in the practices, as well as teaching Vipassana Meditation, but her growth accelerated as she came out of a deep depression in 2012. Teachings from Ram Dass, Eckert Tolle, Sharon Salzburg, Pema Chodron, and Jon Kabat-Zinn began to lead her in a new direction, toward her highest self.
It was at that time that she began to more deeply explore Ashtanga Yoga, which she practiced most days in her then hometown, Orlando, FL. Through six years of consistent practice of the primary series, she tapped into discipline and awareness like never before. It was the catalyst which led her to begin teaching Vipassana Meditation locally - in the corporate environment, around town, in parks, and privately.
In 2017, to join the love of her life, Ken, Jess moved to the Raleigh area. While she missed practicing yoga in a group environment, she did not find her local studio until years later. She continued studying at this time, visiting Ram Dass in Maui, meeting several of her Buddhist teachers around the country, and going on silent retreats as often as possible to soak in all of the ancient knowledge she could.
But her yoga practice was still missing something…. Inspired by her mother’s experience with dementia, Jess decided to dive into end of life work, going through training to be a death doula in an effort to help folks find freedom as they face the end. Alua Aurther, owner of Going with Grace, was her guide, showing the way of death mediations, leaning into grief, and how to appreciate all of the little things before the end.
Then in Summer of 2024, a fateful meeting with a member of the True North Yoga, Kelly, happened at a Michael Singer talk in Gainesville, Florida. Kelly spoke so highly of the True North community, Jess couldn’t resist a visit.
A few months later, she began attending classes regularly and very quickly felt right at home. New friendships blossomed at the speed of light!! Her practice deepened yet again, this time through Power Vinyasa and Flow classes in a heated environment, which she had resisted for a long time. Then owner, Lisa, approached her about teaching a monthly Meditation and Mindfulness class, which kicked off in January 2025. This monthly series has been helping community members tap into living An Aware Life, leading them to self inquiry, greater self mastery, and a deeper understanding of the connectedness and impermanent nature of all things.
Jessica remains a student, always. This is a key principle in her life: we should always be learning. Her current teachers are Michael Singer, Joseph Goldstein, and Venerable Robina Courtin. She is an avid student of Taoism, Buddhism, and more recently, Astrology. Jess is currently working on her YTT 200 hour and will be offering asana classes as Happy Finch Yoga soon.
All of her work really boils down to one key point: Awareness - of mind, of emotion, of our inner state, and of the world around us. She is grateful to continue to learn from those before her and to share these liberating practices with others.
Random fun facts about Jess:
Music is 90% of her personality (her nickname in college, she studied Voice, was J-Funk.
She’s a bird nerd: listening to birdsong has been one of her favorite activities since childhood.
Vegan for almost a decade, her compassion for animals (and all beings) runs deeper than ever before.
Plants are part of her purpose: an avid gardener and plant mom, Jess loves to tend to them and learn about life cycles through theirs.
She’s passionate about astrology and understanding the rhythm of the cosmos.
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INSTRUCTOR
Addie Flynn is a RYT 500 yoga teacher who’s spent the better part of a decade helping people move with more strength, awareness, and confidence in their bodies. Her classes blend intelligent sequencing, thoughtful alignment, and creative transitions that feel equal parts grounding and energizing.
Known as a bit of a connoisseur of cueing, Addie has a knack for making complex movement feel approachable without overexplaining the magic out of it. She teaches with precision, humor, and a sharp eye for the little details that change everything.
Also important: the playlists never miss. Equal parts vibe curator and movement guide, Addie builds classes that feel immersive from the first breath to savasana. Expect smart movement, good music, and a flow that leaves you feeling stronger than when you walked in.
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Signature Style: Intentional movement, authenticity, and exploration.
Danielle has been teaching yoga for over a decade, bringing warmth, curiosity, and a deep respect for the body’s innate wisdom into every class she leads.An E-RYT 200, Danielle specializes in Vinyasa and Intuitive Movement, creating practices that invite students to move beyond simply “doing the poses” and instead explore how movement feels in their own bodies. Her teaching blends intentional movement, breath, mindfulness, and space for students to listen inward and make the practice their own.
Danielle is also trained in somatic and prenatal yoga and is a registered meditation and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher. Her approach is rooted in the belief that yoga is about far more than flexibility or physical postures—it is an opportunity to reconnect with yourself, become more present, and cultivate greater awareness both on and off the mat.
Whether guiding a strong, flowing Vinyasa practice or a slower, more intuitive exploration of movement, Danielle encourages students to meet themselves exactly where they are, move in ways that feel authentic, and leave the mat feeling a little more connected to themselves than when they arrived.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Alignment-based vinyasa flows, intuitive movement, full moon vibes, and great playlists.
Edie is a longtime yoga practitioner who expanded her love into teaching. Her fitness journey took off when she became a personal trainer while attending Penn State University in 2014. Looking back, yoga has a been a constant through line for nearly two decades.
She moved to North Carolina in 2021 in search of more sunshine. Leaving her corporate job behind in 2023 gave her the freedom to explore her highest path, reconnecting with her yoga practice at the time.
When she’s not on the mat you can find her deep in a book, frequenting local coffee shops, or cuddling with her dog. If you’re lucky you might see her exploring her love of music at a karaoke night. She extends that passion into carefully crafted playlists for each class.
Edie has a special interest in energy work and is always looking for ways to balance her chakras and extend this awareness to her students. Having a 200 hour certification, she specializes in alignment-based Vinyasa flows and places focus on intuitive movement and strengthening the mind body connection. Her personal training background allows her to bring a unique perspective of crafting flows with balanced muscle movement.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Soulful voice, passionate about music, Goddess Energy.
Rediscovering yoga through an Ancient Yoga class at a very special festival of hers in 2023, led Gabriella to begin believing in her inner wisdom, now defined as her inner goddess. She was guided by loved ones who saw her authenticity to pursue yoga and in 2025, she received her YTT from 110 Yoga - Alignment Based Vinyasa & in March 2026, she was taught on how to perform Artistic Assists from Yoga Salt with credibility soon to be achieved.
Yoga and music festivals provide a feeling of love that heightens the mind, body, heart, and soul. Music creates sounds that express elements of rhythm, harmony, and flow through connection. Her class style focuses on unifying your flow to the flow she intentionally designs. Tapping into your presence with guidance on the breath + alignment while feeling the sounds of bass is pure magic. Teaching brings her a true joy and sharing it with others brings the ultimate fulfillment.
Gabriella delights in creative expression and being in tune through movement, meditation, and self nourishment. Her family and two doodles are her world. If she’s not at a music festival living out her inner child, you can find her in the studio chilling in Malasana.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Deep rest, nervous system regulation, and the journey home.
Jahdea is a Jamaican-born yoga teacher, wellness guide, and founder of ResYes Yoga & Wellness. Yoga found her in 2020, rooted in the hills of Portland, Jamaica, just before she uprooted her life and moved to the US. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification in 2024 and teaches at the intersection of movement and healing - blending Vinyasa flow, Yin, and Restorative practices to create space for deep rest, nervous system regulation, and real release. She doesn't teach yoga as exercise. She teaches it as a way home.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: High energy, strength-based movements, and joy.
Jane obtained her 200 hour yoga certification from Blue Lotus yoga in Raleigh. She obtained two mat pilates certifications through Power Pilates hosted at Pulse Pilates in Raleigh. She is currently working on her pilates reformer certification. Jane is high energy, likes to have a lot of fun and wants all her students to have a great experience. When she is not teaching she loves to walk her crazy dog Jager, take all kinds of classes and take care of cats!
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Strength, breathwork, and intentional movement.
Kristy is a passionate yoga teacher who blends strength, mindfulness, and intentional movement into every class. She begins each practice with grounding breathwork to help students connect inward before flowing on the mat.
Her classes are challenging vinyasa flows that build strength, balance, and confidence – while remaining accessible for beginners through experienced yogis. Kristy has completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training and is currently pursuing her 300-hour certification, along with a wellness coach certification.
With a background in healthcare, she brings a strong understanding of physiology and body mechanics, offering thoughtful guidance to support safe, effective, and empowering movement for every student.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Alignment, empowerment, and yoga for longevity. Great tunes included.
A strong desire for personal growth and self-reflection lead Lynn to pursue yoga teacher
training in 2017, completing RYT-200 at Corepower Yoga in Raleigh. Soon after, she
began teaching at several studios in Clayton, Raleigh and Cary wanting to share the
amazing spiritual, mental and physical benefits of a yoga practice. As a self proclaimed
“anatomy nerd,” her teaching is alignment based and focuses on safe and intentional
movement. She is also interested in yoga for supporting longevity and the aging
process.
Lynn guides students to find a peaceful yet empowering experience in her classes and
encourages them to look within themselves for that energy, strength and stillness — one
breath at a time. She enjoys and teaches various types of classes including traditional
Vinyasa, Yin and restorative yoga, and Yoga Sculpt which incorporates the use of light
weights. Music is part of all of Lynn’s classes, but especially Yoga Sculpt where vibrant
and sometimes themed playlists drive the class and add to the fun...anything from Sol
Rising, Motown, or ABBA to Justin Bieber and Harry Styles.
Born and raised in Raleigh, Lynn has lived in Clayton since1998. Off her mat she enjoys
sharing life with her husband and two children, trips to the beach and taking walks with
her two dogs—a sweet yellow lab and a spicy German Shorthaired Pointer.
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Signature Style: Mindful movement, breathwork, strength, and creativity.
Paul is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher and former professional theatrical/commercial performer, whose approach to movement is rooted in breathwork, strength, and creativity.He discovered his passion for dance at 18 while attending the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, eventually working as a commercial dancer in Atlanta and as an original cast member of The Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas. While performing at the Wynn, Paul studied traditional Chinese martial arts with Philip Sahagun at KSTAR, developing a deeper interest in meditation and breathwork.
Paul believes yoga is less about achieving a particular pose and more about the journey of getting there. His classes invite students to slow down, tune into how their bodies feel in each moment, and explore movement with curiosity rather than focusing on how a pose looks. The goal is to develop a deeper connection between breath, body, and mind while honoring where you are in your practice that day.
Paul brings these influences together through structured intermediate and advanced level yoga classes that build strength, mobility, and balance while encouraging students to move with intention and awareness.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Functional movement, neuroscience-informed yoga, and nervous system support.
Tiffany is a yoga teacher and neuroscience researcher whose approach blends movement science, neuroscience, and mindful practice. Her classes move beyond traditional approaches to alignment and sequencing to emphasize functional movement patterns that support the realities of modern life, helping you build strength, mobility, balance, and resilience — both on and off the yoga mat.
With a warm, grounded teaching style, Tiffany weaves breath, body awareness, and science-informed movement into yoga practices that feel purposeful, accessible, and empowering.
Off the mat, Tiffany is an international equestrian athlete and farm girlie who loves spending time outdoors, horseback riding, and enjoying this magnificent planet we get to call home.
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INSTRUCTOR
Signature Style: Strength training, high intensity workouts, and fun dance beats!
Originally from Long Island NY, Stephanie has been teaching dance and fitness for over 20 years. As a certified NSCA personal trainer and former dancer, she loves to help people build upon the natural strength that they’re born with.