Melissa Crowder
Melissa is the owner of 4 States Yoga. She started practicing Yoga in 2007 and fell in love with the way it makes her feel. Melissa came to Yoga through Kundalini Yoga and Meditation and stayed with it for Yin and Vinyasa as well. She was drawn in by the breath work and has gained strength and stamina through practice. She loves teaching yoga and making friends from her mat. Meditation is what happens when we sit still, concentrate and let go. Meditation is her favorite!
Melissa is the owner of 4 States Yoga. She started practicing Yoga in 2007 and fell in love with the way it makes her feel. Melissa came to Yoga through Kundalini Yoga and Meditation and stayed with it for Yin and Vinyasa as well. She was drawn in by the breath work and has gained strength and stamina through practice. She loves teaching yoga and making friends from her mat. Meditation is what happens when we sit still, concentrate and let go. Meditation is her favorite!
Tom Potts
Dr. Potts came to yoga late in life, at age 68 he realized that his body was beginning to congeal to the extent that he could not look over his shoulder to back up his truck. He began practicing Tai Chi with Becky Browne Tai Chi of Joplin. Seeking an additional path to greater flexibility and core strength, he began his yoga practice in 2015 with Dai Trang Flake, also of Joplin. Yoga became his addiction, and he practices daily, studying Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, and Restorative yoga. In January of 2017, he began his 200 hour teacher training with Emery Bryant, of Emery Bryant Yoga of Springfield, Missouri, and completed his certification in vinyasa yoga in September of 2017. He began his 300 hour teacher training in May of 2018, also with Emery Bryant, and completed it in December of 2018. He began teaching for Sandi Krumsick at Downtown Yoga studio of Joplin in September 2017, and continues to teach at 4 States Yoga to this day. He is currently teaching beginners’ yoga and Yin yoga, and often conducts workshops in Power Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and a practice he refers to as “Asian Fusion”, which is a yoga class with elements of Tai Chi and Qigong incorporated into the yoga flows. Dr. Potts’ classes are strongly analytical, in keeping of his non-retirement life as a chemical scientist, and students are encouraged to explore the details of their own yoga practice, and to modify their practice to maximize the benefits. Dr. Potts teaches with three guiding principles: Keep the practice safe, keep the practice fun, and keep the practice communal. He sprinkles his classes with puns, teasing, and corny dad (in his case, granddad) jokes.
Dr. Potts came to yoga late in life, at age 68 he realized that his body was beginning to congeal to the extent that he could not look over his shoulder to back up his truck. He began practicing Tai Chi with Becky Browne Tai Chi of Joplin. Seeking an additional path to greater flexibility and core strength, he began his yoga practice in 2015 with Dai Trang Flake, also of Joplin. Yoga became his addiction, and he practices daily, studying Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, and Restorative yoga. In January of 2017, he began his 200 hour teacher training with Emery Bryant, of Emery Bryant Yoga of Springfield, Missouri, and completed his certification in vinyasa yoga in September of 2017. He began his 300 hour teacher training in May of 2018, also with Emery Bryant, and completed it in December of 2018. He began teaching for Sandi Krumsick at Downtown Yoga studio of Joplin in September 2017, and continues to teach at 4 States Yoga to this day. He is currently teaching beginners’ yoga and Yin yoga, and often conducts workshops in Power Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and a practice he refers to as “Asian Fusion”, which is a yoga class with elements of Tai Chi and Qigong incorporated into the yoga flows. Dr. Potts’ classes are strongly analytical, in keeping of his non-retirement life as a chemical scientist, and students are encouraged to explore the details of their own yoga practice, and to modify their practice to maximize the benefits. Dr. Potts teaches with three guiding principles: Keep the practice safe, keep the practice fun, and keep the practice communal. He sprinkles his classes with puns, teasing, and corny dad (in his case, granddad) jokes.
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Rebecca Snyder
My name is Rebecca and I’ve been doing yoga in some form or fashion since I was 12 years old. I first fell in love with one of Richard Hittleman’s yoga book with beautiful black and white photos of a woman in a white leotard and detailed descriptions of each pose and sequence. I also have a background in dance through high school and when I went to college, I wanted to continue doing something physical and was on the hunt for a new fun activity. I starting going to a Hot Yoga studio for several years and loved how the heat was able to open up my joints and I was able to get deeper into my yoga practice. This was the first time I really connected with the yoga breath, controlling my body’s reaction to the heat and actually hit the splits for the first time! Coming back to the Joplin/Carthage area, there were no dedicated hot yoga studios, so I became very involved in a local yoga studio, even getting my yoga teacher’s certification for Ashtanga YRT 200. I now enjoy teaching around the area and meeting and working with different groups of people. When I’m asked about why I love yoga or how it has helped me, I keep coming back to how collaborative a yoga practice can be. We support one another, rejoice in each other’s achievements and create some amazing communities around this time honored practice. I’d love to welcome you to drop in to any of my classes and let me know what you’re looking for in yoga. I’ve taught lots of beginner’s classes and am comfortable explaining our poses and flow to someone just trying out yoga for the first time to those looking to deepen years of practice. |
Rachel Albertson
Rachel is originally from Kirksville, Missouri. Her first fitness certification was for PiYo Live from Beachbody Live. She earned her 200hr Yoga Teachers Diploma through Yogabody Yoga Teachers College based in Barcelona, Spain, and also holds certifications in Breath Coach, Flexibility Coach and Trapeze Yoga from the same school. Yogabody's program has roots in Ashtanga and Vinyasa, Rachel always brings a challenging practice!
Rachel is originally from Kirksville, Missouri. Her first fitness certification was for PiYo Live from Beachbody Live. She earned her 200hr Yoga Teachers Diploma through Yogabody Yoga Teachers College based in Barcelona, Spain, and also holds certifications in Breath Coach, Flexibility Coach and Trapeze Yoga from the same school. Yogabody's program has roots in Ashtanga and Vinyasa, Rachel always brings a challenging practice!
Amanda Kemp
Amanda first stumbled across yoga in college, and fell in love with its ability to balance chaos with a little calm. Yoga has taught her to appreciate the mind-body-breath connection and to value spending time in stillness, while challenging "The Grind" narrative in our busy, goal-oriented, externally-focused world. She's grateful for the tools yoga has given her to build a healthier mind and loves sharing those tools with others. Amanda has been teaching various levels since 2015, and is currently 500-hour and prenatal certified, so pregnant students can safely enjoy yoga's benefits as well. While she loves the challenge of arm balances and creative vinyasa flows, she believes strongly that any and every body is suited for yoga, no prerequisites necessary. She finds the most satisfaction in making the practice accessible to beginners, and loves to see students standing taller, breathing deeper, and generally feeling better after class.
Amanda first stumbled across yoga in college, and fell in love with its ability to balance chaos with a little calm. Yoga has taught her to appreciate the mind-body-breath connection and to value spending time in stillness, while challenging "The Grind" narrative in our busy, goal-oriented, externally-focused world. She's grateful for the tools yoga has given her to build a healthier mind and loves sharing those tools with others. Amanda has been teaching various levels since 2015, and is currently 500-hour and prenatal certified, so pregnant students can safely enjoy yoga's benefits as well. While she loves the challenge of arm balances and creative vinyasa flows, she believes strongly that any and every body is suited for yoga, no prerequisites necessary. She finds the most satisfaction in making the practice accessible to beginners, and loves to see students standing taller, breathing deeper, and generally feeling better after class.