‣Katonah Yoga® Teacher
‣Breathwork
‣Tools For Joy
I’m Kat. I am a yoga + breathwork teacher, nature enthusiast, and holistic living advocate based in Birmingham, Alabama. A former nomad and a southern girl at heart, I am a lover of the unknown and seeker of the extraordinary. Drawn to yoga’s non-competitive and healing nature, I am passionate about helping people explore, connect with, and embrace every unique part of themselves.
I first fell into yoga (literally) at a music festival in 2015 while recovering from foot surgery. In a miraculous moment of clarity, I knew instantly that this would be my life’s path. Like many, I became hooked on the physical benefits of practice, and later came to see how subtle body + embodiment practices like meditation and kriya can have a profound impact on our lives.
My teaching approach is rooted in the simple truth that feeling connected to the greater collective starts with our connection to ourselves. I wholeheartedly believe that the breath is one of the most powerful tools we can use to master our lives, and design my classes to spark self-awareness and curious self-inquiry – whether through intentional, invigorating, and functional movement or through the quiet, reflective practices of yin yoga.
I believe embracing life’s polarities and mysteries can create a profound space for growth and expansion. My offerings are informed by my extensive studies with Katonah yoga and Vipassana meditation, with threads of Five Element Theory, Kundalini, and Kula yoga methodologies.
Instagram: @katkyates
The mind is the world
One should purify it strenuously
One assumes the form of that which is one’s mind
This is the eternal secret.
Education
YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider)
ERYT 200 HR Certified through Yoga Alliance by Anton Brandt of the Sacred Fig; Bali, Indonedia
Katonah Yoga® Certified (300+ Hrs) through the Katonah Yoga® Center and The Studio with Nevine Michaan, Dages Keates, Josie Schweitzer, Abbie Galvin, Alex Sharry, Marco Migliavacca; New York City and Zoom
30 HR Yin Yoga Certified through Power Living Yoga by Truth Robinson; Melbourne, Australia
75 HR Kula Yoga Certified by Nikki Vilella and Anton Brandt; Coccoon, Portugal
Thai Massage Certified through Sunshine Massage School; Chiang Mai, Thailand
10-Day Vipassana Meditation Course at Dhamma Arunachala; Tiruvannamalai, India (April 2017)
10-Day Vipassana Meditation Course at Dhamma Kancana; Kanchanaburri, Thailand (Sept 2018)
Two 10-Day Vipassana Meditation Courses at Dhamma Patapa; Jesup, GA (Feb 2022 + Feb 2024)
Namaste (y’all).