Meet our team

Dawn (she/her) began practicing yoga in 2005 while a single mom and a full time student. She felt both empowered and calm on her mat and knew immediately she wanted to share the benefits of yoga with others; six months later she attended her first yoga teacher training. Over the last 15 years Dawn has taught thousands of classes, has co-lead dozens of yoga teacher trainings throughout the southeast and has managed two yoga studios. Her classes are challenging and fun and she is known for her ability to form deep personal connections with her students, while simultaneously fostering a strong sense of community both in and outside of the classroom. Dawn offers the unique gift of meeting her students exactly where they are – both on the mat and in life – to help them achieve amazing growth through self-acceptance and perseverance.

Elise (she/her) is an educator and social justice advocate. She serves students who traditional education has failed in her current role at Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. She specializes in intensive remediation in reading, comprehension, and math. She also taught yoga at Camp I Am Special to a wide range of children and adults experiencing disabilities. Elise studied journalism and mass communication at George Washington University but decided to pursue a career in education because of the positive impact individual teachers had on her life. She was recently accepted to the New Leaders Council Orlando 2022 cohort and looks forward to growing her knowledge base to better serve JYJI.

My name is Ashlee Johnson (she/her) and I’m excited and inspired to teach yoga. I am a licensed Physical therapist for 12 years and I have now added being a certified yoga teacher under my belt. I am driven to educate, promote safety with alignment and inspire patrons to reach a maximum level of physical mobility and well being on their mat and in their life. I am also inspired to bring yoga to the underserved communities to provide other options for wellness. My goal is to expose as many people as possible to yoga to develop a mind, body and soul connection.

Lisa Long (she/her), wants to live in a world where Love gives you a permission slip to drop the mask and be who you are. Known for her hearty and full-body laugh, Lisa meets people where they are in the present moment. She passionately believes in the healing potential of movement and the power of community. As a movement teacher and a producer / writer for visual media for over 30 years, she knows how to communicate ideas that are well received and recognizes the power of media. Across her career as a communications professional, including broadcast and web, she has shared life’s passion to excel. Her work has been seen on the biggest Jumbotrons to the smallest screen in the palm of your hand. Her clients have ranged from the NFL to labor unions, Fortune 500 companies, and healthcare. As well, as an E-RYT 500 and C-IAYT, she is a respected Yoga Therapist including leading teacher trainings and workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. When she’s not helping others reach their fullest potential, you’ll find Lisa hiking a trail to a waterfall or riding her bike at the beach.

Greg (he/him) is a Navy Veteran, father, and grandfather. He served his country for 22 years in the IT and Communications fields. Greg was also a Corrections Officer for 19 years. During his time in Corrections, he sought out working in programs meant to keep youth out of prisons, collaborated with state, local, and federal law enforcement officers, and led investigations against coworkers accused of misconduct. Greg practices yoga (normally at Mbody Neptune Beach) and is known for his colorful language during more challenging poses. He also produces a podcast called "UnComfortable," which focuses on news topics that might be uncomfortable to discuss. When Greg isn't working, he is most likely watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys and grilling something delicious for his beloved wife Tamara and/or their adorable dog, Brandy.

Ali Brin (she/her) is a data scientist by day and artist by night. Among Ali's many hobbies and activities, yoga is her favorite to share with others. She began practicing yoga in 2005 to destress after school, then later experimented with taking different class styles to deepen her practice. In 2017, Ali decided to sign up for 100 hour teacher training after getting the confirmation she was not an amputation risk from an incident with a mysterious spider bite. Although she does not have super powers, Ali loves helping others through her work with Rotary International being an active member of First Coast Rotaract since 2016. Ali Has held the board positions of Treasurer, PR Director, Vice President and Club President throughout the years and is excited to put her learnings into action with JYJI.