Our Lava Team

I am a self proclaimed gym rat and a runner. I have run 18 marathons, countless half-marathons and raced more 5K’s than I would like to admit. Running centers me, allows me time to myself to think and relieves stress. It also provides me with a sense of accomplishment like no other form of exercise ever has. I knew that pounding the pavement for all these years would take its toll, so I began cross training and exploring various forms of yoga. I never really liked yoga. I admit it was the last thing on my list each week and something I felt I had to do instead of something I wanted to do. If I had little time to spare, I always chose a run over a yoga class. I practiced yoga on and off for about 20 years never really embracing it before I found what I was looking for in Lava Yoga. Lava Yoga was an established business in Topeka and when they expanded to Lawrence, I went to practice the first day it opened. I absolutely fell in love with the style of practice and the people. I had finally found my yoga home.
The classes provided all that I had been searching for … strength, balance, flexibility, detox, stress release, mindfulness and even spirituality. I always left class feeling happy, peaceful, energized and accomplished… whether lying on the mat the whole time or practicing each pose.
The classes at Lava Yoga are not only a great workout for me, but they also have allowed me to continue running, lifting weights, walking the dogs, paddle-boarding and traveling. My time in the studio has become what I like to call “Life Support.” As I continue to move deeper into my yoga practice, I have found that I am more resilient, more flexible both mentally and physically and more patient with my family, our family owned business and with myself.

I have a B.S. in Exercise Science and a B.S.N.

I worked as an R.N. for many years specializing in all forms of cardiac care with my favorite being Cardiac Rehab. I simultaneously worked as a certified fitness instructor before making the life altering decision to stay at home my two boys.
Following a nursing career and raising my kids, I became an instructor at the studio in 2019 and took ownership of the studio in 2020. A new chapter in my life.
Thank you, Topeka studio owners (Beth and Leigh) for friendship and support.
I am so excited to share my passion of yoga with you through Lava Yoga Lawrence. Come see me!

My yoga journey started in 2006 right after a haircut at my favorite barber shop. I walked into a Bikram studio and signed up for a month of unlimited yoga. I was immediately drawn to the heat and humidity of the room. It helped my body with stretching and needed conditioning. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the yoga that I was practicing daily was helping create a connection to something that I was needing in my life. A connection back to myself.

I practiced Bikram yoga consistently for 9 years. I even competed in several USA Yoga events. The competitions were designed to bring the yogi into an appreciation and self-realization of their own practice, which it did do for me. I did not try other yoga styles until the summer of 2015 when the Bikram studio that I was attending was shutting down, I decided to attend a Yoga Works 200 hour teacher training at Om Tree Yoga in Lawrence Ks. The teacher training was extensive and thorough with lots of reading, practicing and instruction of yoga and its processes. In one of training sessions we were instructed to go out and try different yoga’s and evaluate the different studios and their practices. This is when I found Lava Yoga. I was excited to find a hot studio again. Even better yet to be introduced to Beth, Leigh and the Lava staff. I have continued practice at Lava and have become very fond the studio, the classes and teachers. I have received my 300 hour “Evolution of a Teacher” by Natalie Savage which was offered at Lava Yoga and now hold my 200 hour E-RYT and my 500 hour RYT.

I am fascinated by every bit of yoga. Its postures and practices, its linage and future. Being a bit of a late bloomer into this yoga world I will quote Bikram “Never to old, never too bad, never too late, never too sick to start from scratch once again”. I am excited to see where this process will take me in life. I look forward to meeting, teaching and taking yoga with you at Lava Yoga Topeka and Lawrence very soon!

What started out as a way to get some exercise (that was not in a gym), has grown into a lifelong practice with a profound desire to share yoga with others. I was introduced to yoga in the early 2000’s while gazing at an amazing mural inside a studio in Lawrence. I thought the mural was fantastic and I wanted to learn more about what was going on at this place. I had not been exposed to yoga before, so it was all very new to me – I had no idea what I was getting into! The studio was hot and humid and very different than anything I had ever experienced. But I kept coming back until it became a part of me. Now, I can’t imagine life without yoga.

I grew up on a dairy farm in North Central Kansas –and have always felt a connection to nature and all of its vibrancy. I love that yoga provides a relationship to the earth, especially through the synchronicity of the postures and the breath. And being a Kansas farm girl, I love the heat. And the humidity. So, hot yoga is my happy place! I am currently a healthcare regulatory consultant, helping clients stay a step or two ahead of the government. So, believe it when I say it – I need yoga!

I live in Lawrence with my ever-supportive husband and our crazy, but super cute dog. We are empty nesters with one son in KC and one here in Lawrence. I completed the RYT 200-hour certification course as part of my “retirement plan”. I want to maintain my fitness and stay active for a very long time. I look forward to guiding and practicing with yogis of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, celebrating our similarities while honoring our differences.

I completed my teacher training in 2022 after actively practicing yoga since 2009. I have a deep love for yoga and decided it was time to further my practice. I am the co-founder of Sacred Hearts Healing Center where we offer private healing sessions, sweat lodges, women’s circles, full moon healing circles, weekend retreats and much more. I am also the creator of Illuminessence, an all organic skincare company whose profits benefit the non profit retreat center.
When I am not actively involved in my businesses and teaching/practicing yoga; I  love tending to my garden, managing the Airbnb that’s on site, hiking trails, and hanging with my dogs and family.

I am fortunate to have found yoga at different points throughout my life, turning to my mat and practice each time, looking for something different. This pattern repeated itself in 2019 when I was feeling burnt out from graduate school and seeking a connection to my body, mind, and spirit. I had practiced hot yoga before and loved the feeling of an intense yoga practice with the added heat that left me feeling relaxed and energized simultaneously. I found Lava Yoga Lawrence when searching for a yoga studio, and after my first class, I felt instantly welcome. I found an incredible community and studio to support my yoga journey.

As a student at Lava, I deeply appreciate the variety of classes and teachers that each offer a unique yoga experience and help me grow my practice. More, I leave each class feeling centered, energized, and strong. Yoga has brought peace and joy into my life on and off the mat, and I became eager to share that love of yoga with others.

I completed the “Evolution of a Student” RYT-200-hour yoga teacher training in December 2022, led by Natalie Savage and Craig Pruett. I am eager to share the practice of yoga with others. Everyone’s practice is different, unique, and wonderful, and I am excited to be a part of your yoga practice.

Yoga, for me, is arriving at your mat exactly as you are and letting your body and breath guide you. So, whether you are new to yoga, an experienced practitioner, or looking to grow your yoga practice, I encourage you to try a Lava class. I am honored to be a part of the Lava team and look forward to seeing you in class!

My yoga journey began in December 2022. I decided I wanted a new hobby and I thought yoga would be perfect since I would also be getting “a workout” in too. I have always loved exercising, but once I began my yoga practice I realized yoga is not only a physical experience but also a spiritual and mental practice. I have enjoyed every second of being a part of the yoga community. Every teacher and yogi I have met has been so kind and welcoming, making me feel so loved and a part of this community. I completed my 200-hour YTT through Sumits Hot Yoga KC in January 2024. I have been teaching hot yoga since then, including flow classes and sculpt yoga. Being a yoga teacher has shown me how to be more confident in myself as well as being okay with not being perfect. I love helping yoga students deepen their practice by leading classes to help them grow their mind-body connection. Outside of yoga, I love spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, going on walks, going to the lake, and relaxing. I am a freshman at the University of Kansas with an undecided major in hopes to eventually go to PA school and become a Physician-Assistant.

I am a Lawrence, Kansas native who left town at the age of 19, started a family, came back and raised my little people and then went to KU to receive a graduate degree in special education (graduated in December 2015). I believe in self awareness, self growth, self love and yoga! For kids and adults. I have been practicing many styles of yoga since I became pregnant with my middle child who is now 21. I have taught children for 8 plus years in both private and public venues. I received my 200 hour yoga teacher certificate with Gopi Sandal’s Yoga with Heart program which focused on Bhakti yoga traditions and other love rhythmic yoga expressions and styles.

During my kids classes, I incorporate mindfulness, music, storytelling and self regulation which are geared for the needs of children 4-12 years old. I model for each child and frequently modify for each child and student/child’s comfort level and ability. We have fun and make light of poses while learning to focus our attention and support our emotional growth as little humans in this ever changing, rapidly moving planet and society. Please ask me questions!

Love, Miss Nicole
Kid’s Yoga Instructor, Yoga with Heart for kids

I have been a student of Bikram Yoga since 1989 and I am a Certified Bikram Yoga Methods Instructor since 2007. ‘Nuf said. Come take my class. It’s called “26 & 2”.

Kim was introduced to yoga in 2001 while working at Hallmark Cards Inc and living in
Kansas City, Missouri. Since then, she has continued her interests in yoga and Eastern
studies. Kim is a certified Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoho practitioner, and has certifications in
Hatha Yoga and Ghosh Yoga.

Kim is also an accomplished studio artist. She is inspired by how art is made and the
mental ballet needed to achieve a painting or drawing. Artists call this the intuitive
creative process. In 2019 she combined her love of yoga and art and created the
Yoga+Art workshop series bringing both loves together for a creative outlet that
includes meditation, mindfulness and stress relief.

My passage in to yoga began when I was 13 years old. I had structural issues and needed some relief. I went to my first Hatha yoga class and loved it. When I was 18 years old I went to my first Bikram class (26&2). The repeating of postures along with the holding and heat began to change my body. I could see in the front mirror my spine straightening, my hips leveling. The yoga was healing my body! I have been an enthusiast every since.

I completed my R.Y.T. 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification in 2016, first with Bhavani Maki and then Om Tree Shala. I have studied Iyengar, Ashtanga, and other styles and appreciate all of them! I hope to continue to learn and grow in my yoga knowledge through teaching.

When not doing yoga, I enjoy hanging with my husband and two little girls. I love traveling, designing clothing and shoes, collecting and selling artifacts, and running in the woods.

Courtney Vardar

I was born and raised in rural Kansas before my family moved to Waco, Texas. In Texas, I tried yoga for the first time and have been hooked ever since. I have been teaching yoga classes since 2019 and I am 500 Hour RYT certified in Multi-Style Vinyasa as well as Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Adaptive Yoga, and Trauma-Informed Yoga.

In 2023, I returned to Kansas to complete my studies at the University of Kansas School of Law and feel so lucky to have found a home at Lava Lawrence! When I am not teaching or practicing yoga, I enjoy shopping, playing piano, watching movies, staying active, and hanging out with my cats. See you on the mat!

Yoga has become a way of life for me. It’s a journey of self-discovery, divine play, and healing that unfolds with every breath. I love to find the connection between breath and movement, and the way each posture teaches me about compassion, patience, and the joy of being in a body. Beyond the physical benefits of increased strength, flexibility, and balance, Yoga has been a vehicle for me to explore profound questions about existence, consciousness, and the nature of reality.

  In 2017, I decided to deepen my Yoga practice and went to Peru for an immersive Yoga Teacher Training.

In 2020, I completed Trauma Informed Training, including Yoga for addiction, anxiety, depression, survivors of sexual violence, and disordered eating.

I am an avid traveler and have enjoyed sharing the practice across 5 different countries: in jungles, airports, law-schools, hostels, on riverbanks, an in my own backyard. I believe in the boundless potential of Yoga to heal people from all walks of life. It’s a practice that meets us wherever we are, offering exactly what we need, whether it’s strength, surrender, or stillness.  

I recently went back to school to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I love to dance, laugh, read books, go for walks, cook, travel, and spend time with my people. I am so excited to be teaching at Lava Yoga Lawrence again! This studio continues to be treasured by many in the community, and I look forward to sharing the beauty of Yoga with you.

I received my 200 RYT certification in January of 2025, after studying and learning from two of the best, Craig Pruett and Becca Spencer. Craig and Becca led me and my incredible classmates through the Ghosh yoga methodology, a challenging change from my regular yoga practice. I was inspired to receive my certification after practicing at Lava Yoga Lawrence since 2019 with a range of instructors, but always with aspirations of having the teaching presence and talent of my long-time friend, Carrie Mandigo. Carrie’s mantra of “we don’t do yoga to get better at yoga, we do yoga to get better at living” really
resonates with me!

In addition to enjoying yoga, I work as a community connector at the Douglas County Community Foundation, helping donors achieve their charitable goals by matching them with the amazing nonprofit organizations serving Douglas County and beyond. I also direct a summer leadership program called
Leadership Douglas County, a Kansas Leadership Center designated community leadership program. In my own experiences, I have felt that adult learning can be especially challenging and a little bit scary, so my goal is to make your time at Lava one of calmness and knowing that it is a “practice.” So, do not
be intimidated to come on in and join me, and give it a try! My mantra is, “be good to yourself!”
I am an active member of Lawrence Rotary board and the Kansas Association of Community Foundations board.
I have lived in Lawrence since 1990 with my husband Matt, and we have two sons, Jackson and Keaton.
Jackson works for the Memphis Grizzlies and Keaton is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University.
Off the mat, I love to play pickleball and mahjong!

With a heart-centered yoga practice since 2007, Summer brings compassionate expertise as both a registered nurse and Certified Yoga therapist, having completed advanced training through the IAYT Accredited school The Soul of Yoga. She holds both an RYT-500 and Certified Yoga Therapist C-IAYT designations.

Drawing from her nursing background, Summer lovingly guides each client in creating a sustainable yoga practice through gentle, safe body mechanics and functional movement. She warmly supports various health populations with special considerations through a trauma-informed lens, meeting you exactly where you are in your healing journey.

As a dedicated Yoga Therapist, Summer tenderly applies yogic tools to address your unique challenges—whether physical/emotional pain, injury, stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, addiction, cancer, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, digestive disorders, or other imbalances you may be experiencing.

She genuinely empowers you to embrace the holistic treasures of Yoga therapy—from asana (postures) to meditation, pranayama (breathwork), iRest Yoga nidra, and lifestyle medicine—collaborating with you to design effective, individualized care plans that nurture your whole being.