Meet Our Instructors

Yoga classes and workshops offered at Mystic Meadows Yoga Studio are led by trained certified yoga instructors. A certified yoga instructor has completed at least 200-hours of yoga training to learn yoga techniques and postures; yoga philosophy, history, ethics and lifestyle; human anatomy and physiology; proper alignment and adjustments; and safe methods of teaching yoga.

Teaching style and tradition may vary from teacher to teacher. We encourage students to explore new styles of teaching and benefit from the lessons of multiple teachers.

Lex Stuck

"Hey, I'm Lex. I like to teach all styles of yoga and my absolute favorite classes are vinyasa flows and yin. I focus on cueing to safely move your bodies through the physical practice while reminding yogis that there are all ways to practice yoga. I strive to provide a space where all body types and levels feel welcome.

I started practicing yoga after a very stressful life, particularly when I started college and no longer played softball. I fell in love with the fact that yoga wasn't just a workout. It created the space for me to tap into my internal dialogue and learn the breathwork that I have had in my life ever since. After a while, I jammed myself into the corporate world, and the stress intensified so bad that my life felt like it was falling apart. I came back full force into my yoga practice and it changed my life for the better once again. At that time, I was determined to try and provide that life-saving feeling for my fellow humans and took the teacher training course that forever inspired me to continue my yoga journey.

I grew up in Southern California, relocated to Colorado, and now live in Missouri working full-time in conservation. I love to snowboard, take care of my chickens and ducks, hang out with my dogs, and do all things outdoors. I wait for Halloween to come around each year and love to cook plant-based foods.

I currently teach at one of my favorite studios ever- Mystic Meadows and I taught on retreats around the world. I am the founder of Dirty Lavender which hosts nature-based yoga and retreats."

Shelby Leppin

"I started doing Buti yoga in 2016 after I had gained about 40 pounds during nursing school and felt very uncomfortable in my body. Buti yoga gave me permission to be creative. I learned how to get comfortable in my own skin without criticizing or judging myself. I became certified to teach Buti in 2016 and continued my yoga education with Amanda by completing my 200 hour CYT in Ashtanga in 2018. Now after becoming a mom to 6 beautiful children, I'm returning to yoga to help my body move and heal.

My classes are typically high energy and expansive. I will ask you to do things that might feel weird or uncomfortable. I very intentionally teach you how to get out of your head and into your body. Movement is very powerful. It allows us to confront our weaknesses. It forces us to get into the present moment. In India, Buti means a secret remedy or cure. It's time to let go of self judgement and let yourself move. I'll see you on the mat!"

Ramey Weichelt

Substitute yoga teacher

"Hi my name is Ramey (Ray -Me)! I am a 200-hr Registered Yoga Teacher. I completed my yoga teaching training with Amanda at Mystic Meadows Yoga in 2023, and I am very honored to instruct at a place I consider home. My career is in the wellness field, and I love to incorporate the body, mind, and spirit in everything I do. I love to instruct yoga as a way to help people connect to their spirit while gaining body awareness. In my class - I will be your guide while encouraging you to listen to your body and move in a way that honors where you are in the present moment. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your yoga journey - I can't wait to flow together. "

Joni Grinde

"Hi, my name is Joni. I was born and raised in Kirksville. I attended yoga for the first time in 2003. A friend invited me. At the time I was struggling with depression and couldn't seem to pull myself up. My first class was an experience I'll never forget. It was just what I needed to pivot my life. It felt nurturing, I felt release and was able to let go in a safe place. The fact that I could be barefoot made it even better.
I began leading yoga a couple years later and was certified in 2007. Never intending to teach, I just thought I would get my certification for me. I've been teaching consistently ever since.
I welcome you to practice yoga with me. I offer a non competitive, non judgmental class. We're all at different places in life, just doing what we can for today."

Jesze Doleh

"Hey everybody! I’m Jesze (pronounced Jessie). I found yoga in middle school as a way to prioritize my own mind and body during an ever changing time. I continued to practice yoga on and off in college. During the pandemic, I dove back into yoga and have continuously practiced since.

In 2023, I completed Amanda’s Path of a Yogi course. While I am towards the beginning of my yoga teaching journey, I strive to focus my classes on sequences or flows for every body. Classes will always offer modifications for varying intensity. This mindset is influenced by my previous experience teaching nature based classes. My teaching philosophy is to provide a safe space for everybody to learn and have access to the same opportunities.

Originally from southern Indiana, I have moved around pursuing a career in science and nature based conservation. Following the pandemic, I moved to kirksville to continue my passion in conservation and natural resource management. When I am not on the mat or sharing the park with others, you can find me exploring nature, traveling, crafting, or reading."

Holly Findling

"Hi, I'm Holly! I just recently finished Amanda's 200hr Path of a Yogi course this spring. I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to teach at the studio where I learned so much. I've been an active being all my life. While yoga is an active modality, it taught me how to slow down and to listen to my inner self. I don't normally think of myself as an artistic person, with yoga though, I feel like an artist. I welcome you to come on in and experience yoga with me!"

Jake Sevits

Substitute yoga teacher

"My name is Jake Sevits. I am a Kirksville native and have lived here most of my life. The grip of depression forced me to take a hard look at my priorities in 2017 and I began placing my physical and mental health towards the top of my list. I found a passion for martial arts in Jiu Jitsu and opened Old School Jiu Jitsu in November of 2020. Hoping to supplement my Jiu Jitsu practice I enrolled in the Path of a Yogi course February 2023. I found much more than I was looking for and realized there is much more to yoga than stretching and breathing. I enjoy sharing my passions with others and hope to serve Mystic Meadows Yoga in the years to come."

Catherine Steitzer

Substitute yoga teacher

"I love teaching flow based classes with a strong emphasis on anatomy and accessibility. I've practiced yoga for over twenty years, and my teaching style is strongly influenced by my background in dance, figure skating, and alpine skiing. I taught yoga (and skiing) in Colorado and Maine before I settled here in Kirksville. I believe deeply in the power of yoga to bring us into alignment with ourselves, and to serve as a vehicle for greater compassion and service to others.

I completed my 200hr teacher training through ShambhavAnanda Yoga in 2017 at their Shoshoni Ashram, and in 2018 I completed "Yoga, Anatomy, and Injury Prevention for Yoga Teachers" with Jen Deraspe. I sat my first SN Goenka Vipassana meditation course in 2016, and since then I have cumulatively spent over a month on meditation retreats, both as a student and a server.

When I am not on my mat you can find me working in the autism field, pursuing my MS in Educational Psychology, meditating, cooking, or laughing at old SNL bits."