Teachers

Bobby Phelan @Bobby.phelan.iv
Co-founder | Co-Owner

Yoga Teacher 200 ERYT CBA

Whenever I meet new people, the most common question I get is, “Where are you from?”. Over the years I’ve learned that, 9 times out of 10, what they’re really trying to ask is, “What race are you?”. I’m Vietnamese from my mother’s side, and Irish American from my father's side. I was born in Boulder Colorado in the year 1990. My father worked for a fire department as a paramedic and my mother was a technician in a chemistry lab.

As I got a little older, my dad started medical school, while still working full time on the fire department. That crazy work ethic continues to this day. I’m constantly inspired by this, though, honestly I never quite developed that work ethic for myself. In 2000, my dad graduated from medical school and was then accepted to a medical residency program in El Paso Texas. The move was hard on me at first because it was the first taste of culture shock. Eventually I adapted. 

Upon graduating high school, I moved to Salt Lake City for college because I wanted to be back in the mountains. Technically, mechanical engineering was my major. More realistically, snowboarding was my major and engineering was my minor.

It was also in college that I began meditating. I started by studying Zen styles of mediation and philosophy at age 19. That then led to me yoga a few years later, when I was 22. Truth is, I was having a tough time handling the stress of college life and so an uncle of mine pointed in the direction of Zen to help. It definitely helped me stay somewhat straight in school, however, like snowboarding, I ended up studying a lot more Zen and Yoga than engineering. 

Upon leaving school, I fought with myself night and day. One voice in my head said I was supposed to get an engineering job, while the other voice said that path was just not right for me. When I shared these feelings with my father, he suggested that I get certified to teach yoga, since that’s basically all I was doing by this time anyways. He was living in Houston and he offered to let me come live with him. He even helped me enroll in a local teacher training program where he was also doing yoga himself. 

This turned out to be the best decision of my young life. I completed my teacher training and immediately began working and immersing myself in the Houston yoga community. The years began to fly by as I taught thousands of yoga classes, made hundreds of friends, and deepened my own practice. Most importantly, I met Annavy Nguyen, the woman who became my wife, my best friend, and my partner in all things. 

Now, as of writing this, it’s 2019 and we have made another big leap by starting Loveland Yoga. I have no doubt that teaching yoga is my path in life, and I’m fully committed to following that path, no matter where it takes me. I look forward to seeing you in class and getting to know your story as well. Every day brings a new practice and every season brings a new lesson. Thank you for being part of our story.

-Bobby

Annavy Phelan @Annavy.Phelan

Co-founder | Co-Owner

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

I was born and raised in Houston Texas, right off of Airline and I-45. My parents come from a huge family made up of Vietnamese immigrants, and I am part of the first generation born here in America. I also have an older brother to whom I look up to, even though we fought constantly as children. 

We grew up very modestly, aka, poor. My family first owned a chain of convenience stores, and my mother owned and operated a nail salon. Yes, I know that's very stereotypical, but honestly, they were damn good at it. I remember when I was little, my father would drive an hour to Galveston for our convenience store and then drive all the way back up to the Cypress area to pick me up from daycare. To this day, I contribute my strong work ethic to both my parents. 

As I got older, my mother continued to hustle hard at the nail shop and my dad sold our convenience store to work for Schlumberger. He spent 25 years there before retiring. 

My education was pretty normal. I was an active kid in High School where I ran track, awesomely, and played tennis, terribly. My parents did not heavily focus on athleticism or sports even though I craved it much as a child. After high school, I went to UT Austin for college where I discovered yoga for stress relief for studying. Upon graduating, I moved back to Houston and started a career in the medical field as a dental assistant at a pediatric dental office. 

After moving back to Houston it was hard for me to decide what path  I wanted to go career-wise so I decided to go back to University at UH. I graduated with a degree in Chemistry and Biology, with the intention of applying to Dental school.  After numerous failures trying to get into Dental School I decided to start working in the field to see if it would help. 

From there I worked around from place to place until I eventually worked up to being a part-owner of a Free-Standing Ambulatory Surgical Center. I worked in dental for over ten years, and the truth is, I was very unhappy with this career. After fighting with myself for a very long time, I finally pushed aside my pride and decided to quit dental to do something different and more fulfilling with my life.

Now, as far as yoga goes, I found the practice in college and I continued with it throughout my career in dental. Yoga was the only consistent happy practice that I had in my life and it's what eventually led me to meet my husband Bobby. We practice yoga together now, along with JiuJitsu, and I know these shared passions are a big part of what makes our bond so strong. 

Then, in April of  2019, after talking about it for a really long time, we decided to finally take the plunge and open Loveland Yoga.

Our vision for the studio is to create a space to share our passions with genuine hearts, so our students feel cared about, appreciated, and like real people, instead of just a number.  We hope you enjoy and love the space just as much as we love it. - Annavy

Laura Bennett 

@Lauralizart @Lowhebe

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

My yoga journey began in 2016, in a transitional period of life. Yoga provided me with the balance I needed in this new chapter and even though I felt like the wobbliest person in the room, I was hooked! Yoga gave me the confidence to meet myself, accept myself and trust myself on and off of the mat. In April 2020, amidst the thick of the pandemic I was certified through Rippy Yoga as a meditation teacher. 

Then in 2021, I gained my RYT 200. Part of the course was a Vipassana, silent retreat, in Taos, New Mexico. The silence spoke loudly and I decided to trust in my pull to teach. In August of 2021, I began teaching at Loveland Yoga and truly feel honored to guide bodies and minds, and facilitate a positive yoga experience.

Loveland has such an amazing community and I truly feel at home in this wonderful studio. I believe yoga is coming home to the self, and for that reason, students can expect my classes to be breath-centered, meditative yet approachable, friendly and open, and most importantly—fun! A “come as you are” type of class.

Students can expect my vinyasa flow to be gentle at the start, then build into active practice, and then a wonderful cool-off. Classic Hot will build in the same way but with holding poses for longer durations in order to deeply feel each posture. Yin Stretch will be meditative, breath-focused, and all about slowly melting into the joints and facia. 

When not on my mat or meditation cushion, I spend lots of time creating art and content for my creative business, being with my husband Philip and our dog, Luby, traveling, cooking, camping, telling jokes, throwing parties, spending time in nature, and just enjoying life with great friends and family. I hope to see you on the mat soon! 

Luisa Menze

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA 

Hi, my name is Luisa and I did my Yoga Teacher Training at Loveland Yoga in 2024, after being completely new to Houston, which was a transformative experience.

 I’ve always been passionate about personal growth and awareness, and yoga opened up a whole new world for me, which sparked my desire to teach and I began my journey with kids yoga classes at Loveland.

With a background in communication and theater, both on stage and behind the scenes, I believe in the power of movement and creative expression as a form of storytelling. As a teaching artist, I discovered how both forms of expression play an important role in emotional and physical development. 

Combining yoga with elements of theater, allows me to guide children to connect with their bodies, explore their emotions, and practice mindfulness in a fun, engaging, and supportive way. 

I see yoga as a powerful way to communicate with our deepest selves and I’m excited to be teaching adults, as well as children now. 

When I’m not teaching, you’ll likely find me on stage, in rehearsal, or translating (I’m German, grew up in Italy and have been living in the US for the past 10 years, feeling home in each place). I’m also a huge foodie, which might be one of the reasons I’m married to a chef;)  

I'm very grateful to be part of the beautiful Loveland Yoga community. See you on the mat!

Majesca Wong

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

Yoga became a part of my life in 2019 as I sought a deeper connection to myself and my body. The welcoming Houston yoga community quickly became a second home. After five years of dedicated practice, I completed my Yoga Teacher Training at Loveland in 2023 and started teaching in October of that year. Through this journey, I’ve discovered the profound meaning of being a true yoga practitioner—both on and off the mat.

In my classes, expect dynamic and creative flows, a playlist that energizes, and a space where everyone is met with warmth, acceptance, and zero judgment. I strive to teach what I practice and I’m honored to guide you in your own practice and share the love I have for yoga with you! 

Kelley Gill

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

After practicing yoga on and off for nearly a decade, I felt called to deepen my understanding of the practice both physically and philosophically. In 2024, I enrolled in the Yoga Teacher Training at Loveland, hoping to recommit to my own practice, connect with Houston’s yoga community, and build the confidence to share this practice with my loved ones. Sharing yoga with others has quickly become one of the most meaningful parts of my life and I’m grateful to get to offer what I’ve learned and continue to learn with this wonderful community.

I believe yoga should be accessible to everyone regardless of how you look, where you come from, or how flexible you are. My classes offer a balanced sequence with a slow, intentional build, a playful flow, and a grounding cool-down. Together, we’ll create an inclusive, joyful, and judgment-free space where you can focus on deepening your mind + body + breath connection. My hope is that the sense of connection you cultivate on the mat stays with you long after class ends.

Danna Karina  @DannaKarina29

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

Hello my fellow Yogis, I started my yoga journey back in 2014 after facing a knee injury; I was attending physical therapy, but only a small improvement was made. Doctor's mentioned surgery and I immediately had a  little voice in my head that spoke  saying  to wait and to find alternatives. I started doing research and I came across youtube meditations, and the power of thoughts of healing took over my body. Within that same week I joined a Bikram yoga studio, as some call it cooking on fire. Bikram is a system of hot yoga sequences with 26 poses practised in a 104 °F (41 °C) with a humidity of 40% to replicate the climate from India.

 Having so much pain wearing a knee brace, I took my first yoga class. My exact thoughts were: Oh my God, is so hot in here! I can barely breathe, my heart rate is going so fast, I feel dizzy and nauseous,  I have anxiety! how do this people do it? As I look over  to stop to catch my breath. I saw  an older lady in her 60's 70's with  beautiful long white hair, transitioning from one pose to another so gracefully and peacefully, she was radiating so much light. I slowed down my breathing and said to  myself I wanted to be just like her when I grow up, she was such an inspiration. Within a few weeks of yoga, I decided to signed up for  the 30 day challenge and I got hooked. I started to see  the physical and psychological changes on and off the mat. 

 My Doctor saw the improvement and took away medication and I no longer needed surgery. He ask me Danna what are you doing? I said Yoga, meditation, and words of affirmations.I changed my habits which included my nutrition and hydration. I became a regular studio member which it introduce me to the yoga community and  started attending  other forms of yoga practice such as Forest yoga, Yin Yoga, Rocket Yoga, Kundalini, Restorative, flow and introduction to Ashtanga.   

I wanted to deepen and expand my knowledge as a student which led me to take a yoga teacher training . I learned the physical, philosophical, anatomical, and science of yoga.   I just want to share the power of breathing healing  that yoga  offers, it truly changed my way of living. I want to expand the wonderful light and benefits that the practice can offer,  with a beginner, intermediate and advanced level, one breath at a time with his community.

Juan Faragher

Yoga Teacher 200 ERYT CBA

Initially an avid power yoga student, JuJu Faragher (he/him) has found it important that his practice, teaching, and understanding of yoga goes beyond the physical aspects and incorporates the full picture of what yoga can offer the individual living in the Western world.

Through the years, JuJu has taken the time to cultivate a space where everyone can feel welcome; with accessibility, self-acceptance, and personal autonomy being the core tenets of his yoga teaching. Whether you are new or an veteran practitioner, JuJu offers an opportunity to listen to your body's intuition and explore yourself physically and emotionally through guided meditation and active self-inquiry in asana. In his classes, you'll discover an intuitive practice thats gives you the freedom to become your body's best teacher, guide, and friend.

Brittany Wells

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

I started practicing yoga in 2021, right here at Loveland Yoga. I was looking for relief from tension headaches and a way to manage stress, but I also wanted to make some new friends in a new city. I got all that and so much more. Yoga quickly became a steady, grounding part of my life.

In my classes, you can expect a gentle pace, creative cues, and plenty of options to make the practice your own. I want students to feel at ease, supported, and—most of all—confident in themselves. I love weaving in little nuggets of yoga philosophy in a way that feels accessible and down-to-earth.

Outside the studio, I work in e-commerce helping product-based businesses create loyalty loops that feel smart, human, and totally on brand. I’m also a proud dog mom to two tiny pups, Tiki and Rizza, and we love going on adventures together—especially Dog Yoga. In my free time, I’m probably reading a cozy mystery or fantasy novel, sewing something colorful, playing board games, or hosting a themed party or movie night. And if it’s fall, you’ll find me at Ren Fest as often as possible.

Hope to see you on the mat soon!

Angela Weltin

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

Angela Weltin is a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Angela leads the Special Victims Bureau, overseeing the Child Abuse, Sex Crimes, Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Divisions. Yoga has been a long time loyal friend. Mind-Body movement is her respite from the harsh world and her family is her joy. 

Matt Toomey

Yoga Teacher 200 RYT CBA

A native Houstonian and graduate of both St. Thomas HS and the University of St. Thomas, Matt loves all things Houston. He has helped to raise his family here as well as start two coffee businesses, Boomtown and Little Dreamer Coffee. He is also a licensed Q Grader. He’s 

Matt is a fun loving spiritual cosmic soul child who loves music, cooking and yoga. He cries in every Pixar movie and adores his kids.  Loveland is home to Matt, where he is surrounded by the most inspiring and beautiful people. He is so lucky to have the Loveland yoga family, whom he gratefully cherishes eternally.  Matt has been teaching at LL for 9 months and is always a student at heart.