Diala Hamed RDN, Founder

Raleigh native, Diala Hamed RDN E-RYT 500, began her studies of yoga under Adi Shakti in Vinyasa and traditional Hatha yoga in Costa Rica. After years of travel and teaching yoga, she ventured off to India to earn her 500 hr certification through Akhanda Yoga School in Rishikesh. She has since taught and participated in yoga across the globe, in places throughout Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a Vipassana meditator she values the quiet space that yoga creates and enjoys sharing her learnings on and off the mat in Yoga Teacher Training and retreats around the world. Yoga has taught Diala to ride the waves of life instead of trying to fight them. She believes wherever you are in your practice is always enough, but when you’re ready she’ll give you the extra push you need to pass your expectations.

When she is not on the mat you can find her strumming her ukulele or sipping cacao reading in a comfy chair.

Jot Anant, Yoga Trainer

Using the power of the ancient wisdom of yoga to heal ourselves as a way to contribute to healing the world is at the core of all of Lauren’s teachings. She firmly believes that we can honor and care for our individual self and needs while still honoring and supporting the collective community that we create. She openly shares her love, compassion, playfulness, and joy through a holistic and balanced approach taught to her by her teacher, Himalayan Yoga Master Yogrishi Vishveketu who developed Akhanda Yoga. Akhanda means whole, indivisible, which applies not only to each individual, honoring that we are whole and complete exactly as we are, but it also applies to the style of teaching, drawing upon the many ancient wisdoms that come together to seamlessly create a whole and complete yoga practice. Lauren also draws upon her education in Yin Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga, Yoga for PTSD & TBI, Thai Yoga Bodywork, as well as her experiences of living a life of service and of traveling and learning from the wide array of teachers that are presented along the path of life, to create a safe space in which students can explore the depth of their being, create a stronger relationship with Self, drop deeper into gratitude, and use their own intuition to support expansion and transformation. Lauren artfully weaves together science and spirit, bringing a unique balance of anatomy/alignment with the deeper spiritual qualities of the practice.

Tina Idhammar, Community Manager

Tina, originally from Sweden, now proudly calls North Carolina her home. With a background as a physical therapist Tina has always been fascinated by the body and how we can change it in different ways through training.

Tina ventured into yoga to complement her marathon training, only to discover its profound effects on performance, injury prevention, and, unexpectedly, her mental well-being. This journey led her to become a yoga teacher, initially seeking personal growth but quickly realizing her passion for sharing yoga's benefits with others. She focuses on the fine line between effort and ease, challenge and fun. She believes yoga offers something for everyone. Whether you are looking to improve your fitness or find ways to mindfulness and stress release in your everyday life.

The goal is that when you step off the yoga mat you feel both energized and relaxed. What you learn in yoga can be applied to other areas of your life helping you reach your goals. Tina is extra passionate about the power of affirmations, gratitude and guided meditations. Tina is happiest when outdoors, whether it be digging in the yard, hiking, playing tennis or sleeping under the stars. For Tina, yoga is an inspiration to live each moment more mindfully, one breath at a time.

Katina Gad, Community Manager

Katina Gad, RYT 200, is one of Nova Yoga’s community managers. She loves connecting movement with breath and flow. Katina is a NASM certified personal trainer, an Animal Flow Instructor and Regional Leader, A Spartan SGX Coach, a Movnat instructor,and a nutrition coach. She spent the past five years diving deep into human movement and physical practices specializing in mobility and primal movement. After practicing yoga off and on for the past decade she wanted a shift in how she worked and the classes she was teaching so she earned her 200 hr certification through Nova Yoga in 2023, began teaching, and never looked back. Katina values building community and connection with the earth.  She enjoys sharing her knowledge of how to move with joy, build health, and improve wellness. In her free time she loves making juices (green juice especially), and has two yoga cute pups!

Conner Burke, Yoga Teacher

Conner is a RYT 200 certified instructor who has been practicing yoga for almost 10 years. Through out her practice she discovered a curiosity of yoga beyond the mat. This is what drew her to learn more through becoming a certified instructor. Although it wasn't her initial goal to start teaching, she

found a space for herself as an instructor of trauma-informed yoga. Conner hopes to create space for all beings to be present as themselves, whatever that looks like in the moment. Her classes are beginner friendly with optional advancements throughout, focusing on alignment. Taking everything one moment at a time, she hopes her path will cross yours and to meet you on your mat.

Jessica Rose, Yoga Teacher

Jessica (CYT 200) took her first yoga class in 2011 at her friend's suggestion, thinking that yoga might be a nice supplement to running. She quickly realized yoga was a physical practice of its own and decided to continue coming to class to learn new poses and challenge herself in a new way.

After many more years of practice across different states, studios, and teachers, she decided to combine her love of travel and yoga and embark on her first yoga retreat (with Nova Retreats!) to Costa Rica in 2019. This retreat had a profound impact on her, as she learned more about the holistic nature of yoga, embodying not just the body, but the mind and soul as well. In 2022, she was fortunate enough to attend a second retreat in Guatemala, and continued to fall in love with the practice and community. 

In late 2022, all of the scheduling stars aligned, and she enrolled in a 200 hour yoga teacher training, hoping to deepen her knowledge and broaden her perspective on this life changing practice. While she did not originally intend to teach, she quickly realized that she had a passion to share this practice with the world, encouraging all levels of yogis to play and try something new. 

When not practicing yoga, Jessica enjoys swimming, cycling, running, climbing, traveling and petting all of the cats. 

AB Daniels, Yoga Teacher

Ashley-Brooke, "AB" is a RYT 200 through Nova Yoga School under Diala Hamed and Jot Anant. Soon she will also be a certified kids yoga Instructor through Kidding Around Yoga. AB found yoga after her dance career ended as it provided a similar space for movement in her life. She truly fell in love with the practice when she realized yoga filled all the gaps she never knew she had in her dance practice. She truly learned the magic of connection, clarity, balance, and mindfulness. AB brings a very fluid-like connection in her teaching. She wants to push her students to turn off and tune in. Her goal is to help her students connect their movement and breathe, while reaching to extend their energies through our anatomical lines. AB is also a dance instructor and works full time in corporate marketing. In her downtime she enjoys hanging out with her Bernese mountain dog, Luna.

Haya Beltaji, Yoga Teacher

Meet Haya, the radiant soul behind the mat, the shawarma connoisseur, and the wanderlust seeker. Born in Raleigh but raised amidst the enchanting landscapes of Jordan, Haya embodies a fusion of cultures and experiences that reflect in her yoga journey.

A decade ago, amidst the hustle and bustle of college life, Haya stumbled upon yoga. What began as a mere elective soon blossomed into a profound passion. With each asana and each breath, she found herself drawn deeper into the transformative embrace of yoga, realizing its power to harmonize mind, body, and spirit.

When she's not gracefully flowing through sequences on her mat, you can find Haya indulging her inner foodie, exploring new corners of the world, or conquering the realm of shawarma with finesse. And let's not forget her adorable cat, Messi, who adds an extra dash of warmth to her life.

But amidst her adventures, there's one place where Haya finds true solace – the beach. There, beneath the vast expanse of sky and sea, she finds peace and rejuvenation, a sanctuary away from the chaos of the world.

With a heart brimming with love for yoga and a spirit eager to share its gifts, Haya's journey has led her to embrace the role of a guide. Her goal? To lead you on your own path to inner harmony and strength. Whether it's through dynamic flows or tranquil meditation, Haya is there, ready to accompany you as you delve deeper into the profound practice of yoga.

So, come join Haya on the mat, where each pose is not just a physical exercise but a step towards self-discovery and empowerment. Together, let's embark on a journey towards a more balanced, vibrant, and fulfilled life.