Katie is the founder of Endeavor Yoga + Pilates. She is a E-RYT500, Certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RYPT), YACEP, and a Certified Pilates Instructor on all apparatus and mat through Peak Pilates. She is a Lead Trainer for the EYP Yoga and Barre Teacher Training Programs. Her teaching approach in her group classes focuses on combining creative and functional movements to promote balance, strength, and mobility, and increase overall well-being. Her background is in finance and economics, and she is the mom of 4.

Jacquelle is a Jamaican American, raised in Atlanta. She has always been passionate about health, wellness, and fitness since her years of training in contemporary modern dance. During her undergraduate years, she studied both Dance and Exercise Science at Shenandoah University. There she learned the importance of holistic health, which has remained with her. After graduation in 2011, she pursued a career in dance as a performing artist. She danced for local Atlanta choreographers and made a name for herself in Zoetic Dance Ensemble and T. Lang Dance Company. While dancing professionally, she worked part-time at many fitness and wellness facilities. She worked in administration and instruction of creative movement & barre through companies like YMCA, Atlanta Ballet, Kinderdance Atlanta, Thunderbolt Power Yoga, Atmasphere Yoga, and Flywheel Sports. In 2018, a severe tendon injury shifted her trajectory and forced her to take a break from dance. She was called to take more interest in her health and the wellbeing of others during her recovery, leading her into the healthcare field. Jacquelle currently serves as the Research Study Project Coordinator at Atlanta Birth Center, in addition to her role at EYP. During Jacquelle's spare time, she enjoys travelling with her husband and fun with her fur baby. In her endeavor towards optimal health, she hopes to join more barre, pilates, & yoga classes. She is excited to be a part of the EYP team as Studio Coordinator.

For more than a decade, Julie worked corporate jobs in Marketing, Sales, Administration and Project Management. In 2015, she took a break from full-time work to focus on her family and yoga. She completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2016 and began teaching at Endeavor Yoga + Pilates right after graduation. Starting in 2021, Julie has combined her love of yoga and business experience to support Endeavor Yoga + Pilates's growth. Teaching yoga classes allows Julie to share a healthy, peaceful lifestyle with students. As the Marketing Coordinator, she loves supporting students and employees as they explore and share wellness in a comfortable and nurturing environment. 

Megan Tames; raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin, began dancing at the early age of three. She attended Valdosta State University and received her BFA in Dance. After college she started attending Barre and Pilates classes, and immediately fell in love with the fitness industry. Megan now teaches, ages three to adult, in all dance and fitness genres. She also dances professionally with Room to Move Dance in Sandy Springs, and is a tour competition judge for ANDC Dance Machine/Boogie Fever. She is a Certified Barre Instructor through IBBFA, and Mat Pilates Instructor with Power Pilates. She is currently a part of the EYP Apprenticeship program training. She is very excited to be a part of the Endeavor Yoga + Pilates family.

Rita began her yoga journey over 20 years ago in the tiny hot yoga studio in Boca Raton, Florida.  At first, yoga class was a lunch time escape from her job’s cubicle jail and a quick workout. After a while, she began to see a major change in her overall physical, spiritual and mental well-being. The Yoga “seed” was firmly planted, and inspired her to further her yoga experience. She wanted to learn all that she could about this amazing practice, and immersed herself in as many classes as possible. With years and more self awareness, hot yoga was no longer working for her and she started practicing Ashtanga style.When she later moved to Georgia, she found her yoga home in an Ashtanga studio next to her office. After taking a sabbatical from her IT carrier that left her feeling burnt out and anxious, she realized the healing impact that yoga was having on her life and wanted to share it with others. With the support and encouragement of family and friends, Rita decided it was finally time to take the next step. She completed her RYT200 teaching certification through Asheville Yoga Center. “Yoga guides me and inspires me. It makes me want to be a better person and encourages me to help others. I am thrilled beyond words to be teaching and spreading the joy and happiness of yoga to my students!” 

Fabiola was born in Brazil where she received her BS in Physiotherapy in 2010. She discovered in Pilates a new passion when started her education with STOTT PILATES®️ in 2016. Fabi has spent time in her career working with a variety of different clients in Atlanta area. She loves to use her background and creativity to promote wellness to her clients and at the same time giving them a dynamic class that focuses on all aspects of body conditioning. She is mom of a sweet little boy and a rescue dog.

Our Lead Pilates Teacher, Paola, moved to Georgia from Chile in 2014; by then, she had already served as a Physical Educator in schools and colleges, a Pilates instructor, and a gymnastic coach in a German Club in her country. As a gymnast with the Chilean National Team since the age of 16, and years of experience in sports and fitness, she realized it was essential to find a way to help her gymnasts to get stronger to avoid injuries. That was when one of her friends from college (2001) – a Master trainer at Stott Pilates – told Paola about this Pilates school – and asked to get certified through her and train in her studio. After years of training Paola decided to open her own Pilates Studio in Santiago, Chile. As part of this journey, she decided to travel to California to gain certification in BASI Pilates and specialized in Pathologies and injuries. Paola also holds a Master’s in Psychology for infants and youth and concentrates in the 65 and older population, certified in TRX suspension training Group, TRX personal trainer, TRX camp, TRX sports and medicine, and TRX RIP trainer. She has been working in the USA since 2015 in a physical therapy center, helping patients to get back muscular balance and functionality, as well as postpartum clients – and of course working in different studios and gyms teaching Pilates. In her own words, she says, “Teaching is my passion, hobby, and life, and Pilates is for me a non-stop teaching-learning cycle. I love to educate the movement and through the movement!” She is bilingual, teaching in Spanish and English; expect upbeat, engaging classes!

"I love transformation. I love digging deeper and deeper to find the truth. This is why I love yoga. I love that it gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. I love that there is no magic fix or perfect diagram, we work at honestly inquiring about ourselves and exploring what we find. Because to find one’s own truth, we must be honest with ourselves and be willing to feel uncomfortable about it." Brooke is an E-RYT500, YACEP, Reiki Master, and Sound Healer. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Suryalila, Spain, with Vidya Jacqueline Heisel of Frog Lotus Yoga International; her Reiki Master training with Lisa Powers; her 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Kundalini Yoga with Jeannie O'Neil of Yoga Farm Ithaca, and a Master Sound Healer Training with Simone Vitale. Her Yoga Journey started over 20 years ago when she began practicing Meditation and studying a multitude of spiritual philosophies. Most of her life she has been involved in studying and practicing to develop her spirituality through experience and expression.  She has always known that it was her calling to help others in their own journeys; to share these tools to explore the inner landscape. Her offerings are ever expanding to new ways of doing this!  Her classes are reflective and meditative while bringing you to your edge, to bring into your awareness whatever is ready to bubble up for you physically, mentally, or energetically. She teaches intuitively, taking into account Ayurveda and lunar wisdom to maintain an optimal balance. She likes to weave together Vinyasa, Kundalini, Qigong and Yin Yoga teachings. 

Carrie was lucky enough to begin her yoga journey in 2019 right before the pandemic. Her yoga practice was the only thing that kept her at ease during a period that was filled with fear and uncertainty. After years of operating on autopilot, yoga allowed her the opportunity to tune into her body and work through deeply rooted traumas little by little. After seeing how the practice of yoga transformed her mind, body, and soul, she decided she wanted to share this magic with others. She completed her yoga teacher training at EYP in 2023 under the guidance of Katie Karel and Brooke Padilla. She hopes to leave each of her students feeling more present and connected to themselves. 

I moved to Georgia in 2018 to pursue a graduate degree in clinical counseling psychology. Studying to be a mental health professional, we were taught that we have to model wellness for the people we serve. I wasn't doing a very good job of that, but when I started to practice yoga consistently, I found strength, resilience, and wellness I'd never experienced before. After finishing school, working about 5 years in the field, and becoming a licensed professional counselor, I started to get burnt out again. What's more is that I realized the people I was serving needed more than the traditional talk therapy approach. They were using their minds to process, but they were neglecting their bodies and spirits. I had started to do the same. So, I took a leap of faith and applied for the YTT program to learn how to truly do yoga, not just in a room but in my daily life. I've learned to connect with and care for myself more deeply, and. now I just want to serve others and give them the tools to live their lives connected - mind, body and spirit. I hope to do that in the classes I teach with EYP by providing a moment that feels safe, nonjudgmental, supportive, and empowering. I look forward to connecting with you on this journey. ​ As a newlywed, I am enjoying the life I'm building with my husband, our dog, and our loved ones. I like to journal, read, go on bubble tea runs, be in or around nature and water, paint my nails, try new foods, and watch reruns of my favorite 90s shows.  ​ Dyimond took her 200-hour Teacher Training here at EYP with Katie and Brooke in 2023. Her strengths are her compassion, ability to deeply connect with others, and her true love of serving and healing others. Her classes are alignment focused with sprinkles of organic movement. 

Elyse Clark comes to EYP with a degree in Music Education and Performing Arts from Kennesaw State University.  In her “First Act”, Elyse jumped into facilitating Corporate Management training and development for multiple retail corporations spanning a two decade career.  In 2018, Elyse stepped away from the corporate training world and returned to her first passion of teaching movement and fitness in a small group and private setting. She holds Level I and II Comprehensive Certifications in Classical Pilates from Peak Pilates.  In addition to teaching Pilates, Elyse is also a full-time Homeschool Mom and performs with the First Redeemer Choir and Orchestra. 

Heather began taking barre classes at EYP in 2019 and was immediately hooked. She quickly got certified and loves teaching and continuing to learn and grow and help others do the same. She has always had a passion for health and wellness and has a background in the medical field. With a desire to deepen her knowledge and broaden her teaching repertoire, in 2022 she joined the EYP Pilates Apprenticeship program to venture into Pilates Teacher Training. She began teaching Pilates at EYP in January of 2023 and continued her comprehensive certification with BASI Pilates. She now not only loves teaching Pilates but thoroughly enjoys enhancing her own pilates practice at EYP. Heather loves Duluth and really enjoys meeting and empowering others in her community to feel stronger and healthier. When you attend one of Heather’s classes you will love her upbeat and positive personality as well as her good insights. You are sure to leave inspired, challenged, encouraged and seen. Here’s what Heather has to say about teaching at EYP: “Barre is so fun to teach. It's super upbeat and we really try to have fun while we push our bodies to their limits. I always say 'If you shake, you win!' Ha! While low impact; strength, definition and flexibility are quick gains in barre. Pilates is beautiful to teach. There’s such harmony in good movement. Helping our clients create new and healthy movement patterns to carry throughout their life is so fulfilling to me. It’s like an undoing of all our bad posture habits. You always feel so good and open after taking a pilates class and seem to leave standing up a little taller. Overall, I love helping our clients feel empowered and inspired to be their best selves, not only physically but to feel good and proud of their bodies at every stage of life. Every 'body' is different and that's a beautiful thing. I love being even a small stepping stone in their journey to wellness and being proud of what they've accomplished on any given day at our studio.” Outside of the studio, Heather enjoys creating and has her own business designing and making essential oil diffuser jewelry. She spends much of her time creating and sewing costumes for her kids on-going theatre performances, which she loves. Aside from that, her greatest passion is being a fully engaged mama to her 3 incredible children and enjoying life with her sweet husband, dreaming up various adventures, doing remodeling projects, boating, camping and eating yummy food.

I have always been drawn to yoga for as long as I could remember. Yoga has always seemed so relaxing and calming. It wasn't until around 2017 when I actually got on a mat. That's when I fell in love. In 2021 I took a leap of faith and moved to Atlanta, GA. To occupy my time and to nurture my body, I decided to get back into yoga. During this time my love for yoga grew. I felt and saw so much beauty in the practice that I was drawn in even more and decided to deepen my practice and expand my knowledge. This led me into taking the yoga teacher training program at Endeavor because now I had this wild idea of actually teaching yoga. Now a Registered yoga teacher 200, I am so very excited and happy to be able to share this beautiful experience with you. See you on the mat! Ja'Rivia brings a refreshing authenticity to her classes. They are meditative and yet so much fun! 

Jen has been an athlete for most of her life with a background in gymnastics, martial arts and strength training. A constant battle with knee issues led her to explore new health options. It has been over 15 years since she took her first Yoga class and fell in love with it. She views Yoga as more than just exercise, it is a holistic practice for the mind, body and soul. Jen’s class style is fun, upbeat, and creative with focus on proper alignment, breathwork and meditation. She completed her RYT-200 training through Endeavor Yoga & Pilates in 2021 and is registered with Yoga Alliance.

Kat started her Pilates journey in January of 2022 at EYP as a New Year's Resolution. She fell in love with how unique Pilates was to other fitness practices and attended classes regularly for the next year. Come January 2023, she was encouraged by her instructor to become an instructor herself. Her passion for Pilates grew after completing the BASI instructor training in April of 2023. Learning about the long term effects on the body and the therapy that Pilates offers is what Kat is really passionate about. Aviation professional by day and Pilates Instructor by night, Kat loves to teach with high energy and passion. Her goal is to always encourage and lead her students to be the best they can be, loving the sense of community Pilates and EYP brings.

Hailing from Canada, Laura's lifelong connection to her homeland ignited a passion for international exploration that has spanned more than 15 countries. Through her extensive travels, Laura has been captivated by the myriad ways cultures across the globe embrace life. Her mission is to empower individuals of all fitness levels and backgrounds to embrace their bodies and experience vitality in their lives. Laura's dedication to fostering well-being through purposeful movement led her to achieve her Barre teacher certification from Endeavor Yoga + Pilates in 2020. Her commitment to growth continued with the completion of the EYP Yoga Teacher Training in 2021. As an instructor in both high-energy Barre workouts and mindful yoga practices, Laura offers a well-rounded experience that leaves clients invigorated and empowered. Her Barre sessions help clients build strength in a fun, dedicated environment. On the other end of the spectrum, her yoga classes provide a calming sanctuary grounded in chakra-balancing themes, elevating mind, body, and soul. Beyond her professional pursuits, Laura is a dedicated mother of two sons, a German Shepherd, two cats, and four hens. She believes in the power of fostering balance and harmony, both within ourselves and in the world around us. Laura's goal is to inspire you to not only embrace fitness but also to cultivate a profound love for life's journey. Whether sweating it out in a Barre class or finding serenity on the yoga mat, Laura is committed to guiding you towards a life lived with vigor, health, and joy.

I discovered Yoga in 2006. At that time my health was not good and I was looking for a more meaningful life. My first yoga class was Bikram Yoga which I practiced for about 3 years every single day, and very quickly, the daily practice became an important part of my life. In 2009 I tried Ashtanga Yoga for the first time and it was a case of love at the first Sun Salutation. In 2013 I took my 200-hour yoga teacher training and earned my RYT-200 credential. From that moment on I never stop studying and learning more about Ashtanga, anatomy, movement, mobility and the mental benefits of yoga. I’ve trained with leading yoga, anatomy, and philosophy teachers including David William, David Robinson, Taylor Hunt, Tymi Howard Bender, and Kino MacGregor. For me Yoga is about the balance between strength and flexibility, exertion, and release. My classes combine both strength and mobility work in an Ashtanga Vinyasa style. Expect to move, sweat, and breathe. I am a dynamic and also very compassionate teacher with a true regard for my students’ healing. I love to encourage self-empowerment and self–awareness in them. I hope to meet you on the mat soon! Namaste

Minji was born in South Korea and immigrated to the US with her family in 2004. She has always been a compassionate being who dedicated her time to help others around her. Minji was introduced to Pilates while she was pursuing to become a nurse, and it changed her life completely. She started her education with Club Pilates in 2021.  She enjoys working out her own body as well as giving a good workout to others. Minji is eager to learn more and dive deeper into the movement of the human body. She is bilingual — teaching in English and Korean. Minji loves to bring positive and happy energy to the group. There will never be a dull moment with her in any of the classes.

Patty received her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification in 2016 at John's Creek Yoga, and completed her 300 Hour Yoga teacher Certification in 2021 from the Asheville Yoga Center. She also completed her Basic Mat Pilates Certification from Peak Pilates in 2021. She was raised on the plains of South Dakota: Simple lines and endless sky and stars. She became a Graphic Artist. She received a BA in Visual Communications from the University of Minnesota and an MFA from CalArts in Visual Arts and Communications. Within the creative process, yoga was always interwoven, to help with creativity, clarity, focusing, anxiety, problem solving, testing the limits, and finding the edge. Throughout her graduate studies, she practiced with an Iyengar trained dance student/yoga instructor from India. Patty has practiced yoga for many years and has become passionate about its benefits. It has helped her in so many ways: connecting the mind and the body, being present in the here and now, not worrying about the “what ifs”, the anxieties that can take over so easily, learning to breathe, not hyperventilate. Patty is an avid cyclist and finds yoga is the Yin to cycling's Yang. She is grateful for so many things her in her life, yoga being one! Patty wants to give back to others, so they too can benefit from having yoga in their lives. Patty is married to her high school love, has two lovely grown boys, who were raised in the sunshine and sandy beaches of San Diego, CA. She and her husband relocated to Georgia in 2012.

Sara is originally from North Carolina and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Dental Hygiene. She fell in love with pilates 22 years ago when she took her first mat class after having her daughter. Eventually she and her family moved to Sarasota, Florida where in 2012 she decided to become a certified pilates instructor. She did her classical training with Classical Pilates Education in Boca Raton, Florida. She just recently completed contemporary pilates training with Pilates Sports Center with a master trainer in Suwanee, GA.She loves to share her passion for pilates and help her clients achieve their personal goals. In 2021, Sara decided to pursue her yoga teacher certification and completed her training in December of that year. She did her training at Endeavor Pilates and Yoga Studio in Duluth, GA. She is a RYT 200. She loves what yoga has taught her in both the mind and body. When she is not teaching pilates or yoga, you can find her hanging out with her husband, daughter and her 2 dogs. She loves to play tennis, read, cycle, and hang out with great friends.

Yoga is my passion and love. It makes me a better human being. I was introduced to Yoga by my father at a very young age. I continued my Yoga journey through various Yoga camps in India. It started as a hobby then turned into passion with time with realization of mind and body connection.I completed my certified RYT 200 Yoga Teacher training and RYT 200 Yoga Instructor training through Aayush Ministry, a department of the Government of India. I continue to get involved in events and celebrations related to Yoga and wellbeing across India and the US . I'm a full time banker and mom of two sweet little boys. In my free time I love to do gardening and go on walks with my loving husband.

Stephanie began her Barre venture during the year of 2020. As businesses began to slowly open after the Covid lockdown, Stephanie decided to pursue her Barre practice with Endeavor Yoga + Pilates. Quickly after starting, Stephanie fell in love with the feeling that Barre embodies: Strength. It was then Stephanie knew she was hooked. Since then, Stephanie has continued to pursue her Barre passion by earning a Barre Teaching Certificattion through the EYP Barre Teacher Training Program under the direction of Katie Karel and Dani Roycroft. When Stephanie is not teaching or working on her own Barre practice, Stephanie participates in other activities such as kayaking, spending time with her husband and 3 dogs, and teaching her 2nd grade Resource Class. Stephanie loves to create fun adventures for others to participate in by creating a fun-loving, positive experience. This is something you will quickly see within her teachings. Stephanie loves making others feel positive and accepted to begin their own Barre journey.

Tita started her yoga journey in high school where she attended classes alongside her mother at a local gym, but it was after a devastating foot injury in 2013 that she found a true passion and joy in deepening her yoga practice.  Tita has a strong background in movement, participating in the colorguard activity for over 20 years as a performer, instructor, and clinician.  Her colorguard career provided her the spark to enjoy a life of intentional movement, and she loves to explore the space around her with curiosity and incorporates elements of dance within all of her classes.  Tita earned her 200 hour yoga teaching certification at Endeavor Yoga + Pilates in 2021 under the direction of Katie Karel & Dani Roycroft.  When Tita is away from the studio, she enjoys her career as a high school science teacher, continuing to share her passion of movement in the colorguard activity, reading fantasy/sci-fi novels, painting, spending time with her husband and 2 children in the great outdoors, and learning how to be a better mother and person every day.

Ashia is from the Lawrenceville area. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism in 2015. She then spent two years serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambique from 2016-2018. Following her time abroad, Ashia moved to Vermont and earned a Master of Public Administration in 2020. She returned home to Georgia during the pandemic to become involved in activism around racial equity and housing justice. In 2021, Ashia started as an Outreach Advocate for a sexual assault center (SAC) and fell in love with supporting and uplifting survivors. She joined Mosaic Georgia, the SAC and child advocacy center in Gwinnett County, in June 2022. She currently works full-time as the Wholeness Collective Coordinator, a wellness program of Mosaic Georgia. She has the long-term goal of providing holistic healing services for trauma survivors and professionals in the helping professions. She is passionate about creating spaces of safety, inclusion, and healing. In her free time, Ashia enjoys being outdoors, writing, and spending time with loved ones.

My name is Carla Franchi, a social worker by profession from Andrés Bello University, Chile. I spent some years in the operations area of a kindergarten chain in my country, which helped me develop my administrative skills and, what I like the most, helping people when they have some difficulties. Sometime later, my sister (Paola Franchi, our lead Pilates teacher) invited me to join her project in Chile, that was working and start a Pilates studio with her!! Which was a very enriching experience to see how people through this discipline achieve a feeling of physical and mental well-being. A couple years later, my husband was transferred to the United States for his job. This gave me the opportunity to work as a movie extra, which helped me break the language barrier and start daring to speak English! Working at Endeavor Yoga + Pilates has given me the great opportunity to continue improving my professional skills and communication, together with the experience of being in contact with people. In my free time I like to run and be in contact with nature, which is consistent with the activities that I developed in my adolescence in which I practiced sports such as athletics and artistic gymnastics.