Our Story
Donelson Hot Yoga began with Kim Corwin in 2018. After a long career as a professional dancer, she understood the importance of maintaining a working relationship with your body, mind, and spirit. A year later, Jessalynn Hakanson began working with Kim to develop Teacher Training — adding to the studio’s offerings. Today, Donelson Hot Yoga is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds come to share in their passions for health, community, and yoga.
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500 E-RYT, RPYT, LMT
Practicing yoga since 2001 and sharing her experiences since 2004, Jessalynn holds certifications in prenatal, postnatal, and a 200 hour RYT yoga certificate through the Yoga Center of Minneapolis. She has additional training at the Golden Bridge Kundalini Yoga Center for The Khalsa Way.
She has a background in various styles such as vinyasa, ashtanga, jivamukti, kundalini, yin, and restorative. Jessalynn is grateful to her teachers in Minneapolis and all her fellow practitioners along the way. Her 500 hour RYT certification is through Sri Dharma Mittra's Life Of A Yogi Teacher Training. Sri Dharma's training focuses heavily on the classical teachings of yoga with a strong emphasis on the eight limbs, spiritual dimension of yoga, as well as the physical discipline and pranayama practices.Jessalynn has deep devotion to healing arts. This devotion moves through her studies in various yogic traditions, Ayurveda, breath, body, sound, and energy work. She creates containers for spiritual alignment through the service of her sessions, trainings, workshops, and retreats. She is grateful to love and serve her community and a family full of furry times and tenacious spirits who are her greatest teachers :)
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Jade is a food lover, solar powered and loves to get outside. The ocean, or any body of water really, soothes her soul. She enjoys exploring, stand up paddle boarding, family walks with her dogs and husband, biking, traveling and reading.
After completing her 200 hr yoga teaching training in 2018, life has never been the same. Yoga shows up for her on and off the mat and she is so grateful for this personal growth. Her love of learning has led to certifications in yin, restorative, nidra, sculpt, stand up paddle board (SUP) yoga and the completion of her 300 hr training in 2023. Jade’s favorite thing about yoga is the space to play and explore. You get to bring out your inner child and she loves to bring that playfulness to her classes. She believes yoga is for every body and strives to make classes accessible for all. Jade hopes you feel supported and connected in your experience, and a sense of peace and calm after each class. She hopes to see you on your mat soon!
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Kimee Shideler is a 500 RYT who intentionally creates a welcoming space where students can tend not only to the physical breath, but also the spiritual Breath.
Full of curiosity and always looking to expand her yoga knowledge and wisdom, her certifications go beyond basic teacher training to also include Chair, Yin, Touch, and Trauma Sensitive. Her deep commitment to guiding her students to meet all parts of themselves on the mat with compassion and gratitude is evident in her classes.
Kimee has been blossoming as a teacher since 2017 when she completed her training through Holy Yoga, a global Christ-centered registered yoga teacher training program.
Off the mat, Kimee enjoys being close to Mama Earth through hiking, paddling or just grounding her feet, and she also leads a Women In Nature group and a Book Club. Additionally, Kimee is a Contemplative Retreat Leader who guides participants to incorporate yoga as a spiritual practice in their faith journey. Her favorite place to be is at home snuggling or playing games with her husband and three kiddos. You can find Kimee @sacredrhythmsyoga.
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In her normal 9-5, Breanne moved from a corporate training role for the last 8 years to the proptech space in 2024 which allowed her more time to focus on yoga and her family. Her love for yoga began while she was in college over 20 years ago. She elected to take Hatha Yoga as one of her gym classes at Penn State University and immediately fell in love and has practiced ever since. Breanne grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and work brought her to the amazing city of Nashville early in 2021. Through the many studios she practiced in while in PA, nothing compared to DHY. She jumped at the opportunity to enroll in Kim Corwin and Jessalyn Hakanson’s teacher training and received her teacher certificate, focus of Vinyasa, in April 2022. She began teaching Foundation flows until she received her Hot 26 certification at the end of summer 2023 and shifted to teaching Hot 26. The additional loves of her life are her fur babies, Davinci and Isla, and spending time with her family of 6 amazing bonus children and her boyfriend, Kyle. They love experimenting with new meals in the kitchen and enjoying the local restaurants and extraordinary outdoor areas of our city. Come join Breanne Wednesdays at 7:30!
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E-RYT 500, TSY, RN
Beginning her yoga journey in 1997, Colleen then earned her 200 RYT at the White Lotus Foundation in 2007 under the teaching of Ganga White.
She has participated in many educational experiences with teachers including Shiva Rea. Completing her 500 RYT in 2018 .
Colleen’s practice focuses on pranayama, movement, meditation and joy. Calming our interior musings, allowing emotional and spiritual release her practices include Vinyasa, Yin, Gentle and Restorative.
As a Registered Nurse and Yoga teacher she is grateful for the many benefits of the practice of Yoga and hopes to share that same grace in all of her teachings.
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Brett is a Nashville local and actually grew up in the Donelson/Hermitage area, so this area is his stomping grounds. He began his yoga journey in 2017 as a means to stay active, but quickly found so much more. He found a space to unplug, a place to connect with his body and mind, and a time to be present. In short, he found sanctuary. For Brett, yoga is more than a physical practice and he quickly fell in love with the philosophy and heritage of the practice as a whole.
He began his teacher journey in 2022 at Donelson Hot Yoga and has loved every second of it! Brett is known for my theme centered classes and how they can apply to folks both on and off their mats. His goal is to offer a space where folks can feel accepted for who they are and where they are on their journey of life. Brett also offers a wide variety of options for folks to take, so there is always something for you to try or explore. Come as you are and just be your authentic self!
Outside of yoga, Brett is an HR professional, an avid reader, a novice cook/baker, a regular concert goer, and lover of a good hike. He’s also never met a dog he doesn’t immediately love.
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Emiko's approach to yoga is all about unique, personal growth—building strength, resilience, and a deeper connection to the present moment.
She completed her 200 hour Vinyasa training in 2019 at Donelson Hot Yoga under Jessalynn Hakanson. Her classes are designed to challenge both the body and mind, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to have fun, explore new possibilities, and celebrate their progress without judgment. She believes that the lessons learned in yoga—patience, persistence, and mindfulness—can be directly applied to everyday life, and hopes to help students navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.
When she's not on the mat, Emiko enjoys live music, tie-dying, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Stanley.
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Melinda’s love for the Hot 26 series began in 2007, when a friend took her to her first 90-minute class. She was hooked after that first class and immediately jumped into the studio’s 30-day challenge.
A few year later she added hot vinyasa into her practice, earning her 200-hour Power Vinyasa certification in Spain in 2009, followed by a Yin certification in Asheville, and lastly, completing Donelson Hot Yoga’s Hot 26 Teacher Training summer of ‘23. She’s been teaching Hot 26 at DHY since Sept 2023.
She says: “The repetitive routine of the practice allows the practitioner to easily notice improvements in their practice, and those improvements can happen quickly with a regular practice. I also like the practice’s intention of maintaining your focus and avoiding distractions on the mat - if you can master the art of avoiding silly distractions like wiping sweat, messing with your clothing, habitually drinking water, etc, magic will happen off the mat as well. I love other forms of yoga but Hot 26 will always be my fav!”
You can catch her Monday nights at 7:30pm.
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Megan found her way to yoga in 2016 after many years of curiosity. What starting a fitness journey quickly became something much more meaningful. In addition to the physical component, yoga has helped her develop inner strength and self love, spark joy, process grief, and find refuge from life off the mat. Megan creates flows with a lot of movement, upbeat music, options for all levels, and the freedom to play and explore. She loves requests and after-class chats. Megan is a mom, occupational therapist, furniture flipper, thrifting enthusiast, puzzle nerd, and Preds fan.
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Movement and expression have been integral to my life since childhood. From an early age, I learned multiple styles of dance, movement, and music. After 15 years as a competitive gymnast, I found the practice of Yoga. Immediately, I fell in love with the connection of breath to movement. Practicing Yoga filled me with the same freedom I felt from playing and creating music. After realizing that Yoga is not just a physical practice, I was able to find a deeper connection to my body & mind from the inside out.
My passion is bringing mindful, playful movement to all bodies at all levels. I strive to hold a safe, compassionate space for all.
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E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP
Standup Paddle board- Level 1Kara’s love for yoga took her by surprise. She was first introduced to yoga in 2009 after complications from a surgery which caused severe damage to her inner ear. Doesn’t seem like much, but when your inner ear is destroyed, your equilibrium is also destroyed. Through yoga she was able to re-train her brain into creating balance, and then realized yoga was not only powerful and strong, but spiritual practice. It wasn’t until a couple years later she realized what she was learning on the mat was flowing into her everyday life. Yoga has taught her balance both figuratively and literally. Kara completed her initial 200hr teacher training from YMEDI under Carrie Hensely and Daryn Jackson in 2015. She is certified in Vinyasa, Power yoga, Yoga Sculpt, Yin Yoga, Chair Yoga. She continued her journey through My Vinyasa Practice to complete her 500hr certification in January 2024, now certified in Yoga Nidra, Restorative yoga, Adaptive yoga and Prenatal Yoga. In addition, she is certified as a Stand Up Paddleboard instructor, level 1 and SUP yoga. She also has First Aid and CPR certification
Kara’s intention is to create a space for those to explore and challenge themselves both physically and mentally in hopes of establishing a balance they can carry with them on and off the mat. Outside of yoga, Kara runs a couple of small businesses with her husband. She is a free-spirit, that is continuously learning and trying new adventures.
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I’m a Nashville native and have been practicing yoga for over a decade. I completed both a 200 Hour Vinyassa and Hot 26 training in the summer of 2020. I found yoga in search of healing an injury and found that it can offer so much more. Not only has yoga helped to heal me physically but it has had a profound impact on my emotional strength. I plan to continue my study of yoga by focusing on yoga therapy to help others work through trauma, the way that yoga has helped me through mine. Off the mat, I am a full time photographer and enjoy traveling for music, food, and everything in between.
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Brent has been practicing and studying yoga for over 25 years and has been actively teaching for 10. He enjoys sharing the joy and love he has found in yoga with others. Brent likes to make practice fun and interesting so each person can enjoy their yogic journey their own way.
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Danielle was first introduced to hatha yoga in high school as a way to increase flexibility and confidence. She came back to the practice in her mid 20s as chronic back pain began to impact her day to day life. After experiencing the healing benefits of Hot 26 firsthand, she became passionate about sharing yoga with others, wanting to teach people how to better process the subtle stressors of life.
Danielle is passionate about the intersection of physical and mental health and believes that yoga and meditation are accessible to everyone. She aims to teach her students how to be present in their bodies, both on and off the mat. She received her 200 hour training in 2020 and started teaching at Donelson Hot Yoga in 2025.
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“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” The Bhagavad Gita
Yoga has been and continues to be a catalyst for growth and evolution for Kat. Growing up in a very conservative household, Kat found her way to yoga in 2017. The practice of asanas along with breathwork and meditation have provided the awareness and support to embrace her journey of self, through the self, to her self. Yoga for Kat is a reconnection with her true inner self. Kat completed her teacher training at DHY in 2022. Her hope in every class is provide the space for all practitioners to glean what they need on that particular day. “We’re all just walking each other home.” - Ram Dass
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Nicole Gheorghe is a lifelong yogi and has been teaching yoga in Nashville since 2011. Her classes offer a balanced blend of creativity and technique, in the style of vinyasa yoga. Over the years, Nicole has been fortunate enough to study with a variety of world-renowned teachers, but her most influential mentors are Jason Crandell and Shiva Rea. Nicole’s teaching style and classes are a unique yoga experience that will leave you feeling inspired and connected, strong and vibrant. Nicole believes that the practice of yoga allows us to develop a sense of balance and clarity in all aspects of life. In her classes, you can expect to see a breath-centered mix of anatomy, alignment, yoga philosophy, and creativity. All are welcome!
Join us!
We are a warm community of heart forward humans with a steady love for the profound practice of yoga. Our classes are non-judgemental, and designed to grow with your ability. Find your class and we’ll lay a mat out for you.