Robin Hearne RYT 500

Studio Owner + Yoga Instructor

I’ve always been drawn to the quiet, transformative power of wellbeing — the way mindful movement, breath, and intentional living anchor us through every season of life. As the owner of Outer Banks Yoga, health and wellness aren’t just passions for me; they’re the lens through which I see the world and the foundation of how I lead our studio community.

Travel has shaped my teaching just as deeply. Having led transformative retreats to destinations around the world, I feel most alive when connecting people to places that awaken wonder and invite us to see ourselves — and the world — with fresh eyes. I love designing immersive experiences that seamlessly weave together movement, culture, and inner exploration.

Leadership, for me, is an act of service; a steady, intuitive presence that creates space for others to grow. My journey has been deeply shaped by the wisdom of Anne Howard, whose guidance continues to influence the way I hold space and lead our community. Guided by these roots, my focus is on creating environments infused with mindfulness, harmony, and quiet wonder, inviting people to step out of their daily routine and back into themselves.

Whether welcoming you into our Kitty Hawk studio or hosting a retreat across the world, my commitment is to cultivate a space where you feel genuinely supported, inspired, and connected.

Anne Follenbach-Howard
eRYT-500 YACEP

DIRECTOR OF YOGA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM + Yoga instructor

Anne is the director and instructor of our Yoga Teacher Training program - Amalam School of Yoga at Outer Banks Yoga.

She has been practicing Yoga for over two decades. She began her journey in France when she was traveling often between Europe and Indonesia and felt she needed a nourishing practice that she could bring with her anywhere. After she moved to the US she pursued her 500-hour yoga teacher certification.

A beloved teacher with 10,000 hours of experience, she leads classes that are ever evolving. Challenging, yet balanced with softness, relaxation and humor. She is also certified and teaches and trains in Yoga for Trauma, Yoga for Kids and Pre-natal Yoga.

Susan Reynolds
e-RYT 500 YACEP

YOGA INSTRUCTOR & Teacher Trainer

Discovering the wisdom within the body has been my lifetime endeavor.  I first discovered the synergy of linking breath to movement and the benefits of meditation and Yin yoga through Japanese Chishin Ryu martial arts.  Turning toward yoga’s more peaceful practice, I came to appreciate the strengthening and lengthening benefits, introspective meditation, and deep fascial openings of vinyasa flow and Yin. 

Yoga was a vital source of strength during my successful fight with breast cancer.  Uniting the physical, mental and subtle body through breath brings balance, peace, focus, and resilience to both body and mind. Slow, mindful breathing paired with yoga’s moving meditation calms the nervous system, offering a gentle pause from the demands of life.   Whether through a dynamic or gentle flow, yoga is a pathway to remain present and deeply connected to your heart.

Having logged over 4000 teaching hours since 2014, I remain endlessly fascinated by the power of breath, movement and body wisdom. I truly believe you can transform any aspect of your life—your outlook, your experiences, and your well-being—through loving acceptance and the practice of yoga.

Kelly Shields
eRYT-200 RYT-500 YACEP

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

I came to yoga in 2016 for the stress relief — and honestly, to touch my toes. I stayed because I discovered so much more. Beyond the physical practice, I began to feel the mental, emotional, and spiritual shifts that yoga offers, and I knew I wanted to go deeper. Two years later, I enrolled in the 220‑hour teacher training, and in 2021 completed my 300‑hour program, both through Outer Banks Yoga’s Amalam School of Yoga. Studying under Anne Howard has been uplifting and inspiring, a true testament to her kindness and grace.

Through this training, I worked through some of my own fears (headstands, kale, and Sanskrit terms, to name a few), and now I love encouraging students to meet their own edges with curiosity rather than self‑doubt. My teaching style is fun and lighthearted — a reminder not to take ourselves too seriously as we move, dance, bend, and breathe.

I teach both in the studio and on the beach, and I co‑lead our introductory yoga series, welcoming students who are brand new to yoga or returning after time away. And yes, I can finally touch my toes.

Lalai Riquelme
RYT-500

Yoga Instructor

Hecha en México and fueled by the ocean and  by the surf, I bring high-energy, and playful spirit to every class. With a background in Classical dance, I’m a 500+ HR registered yoga teacher, certified in Barre, Pilates, Pranayama and meditation, alongside deep study in mobility and training in bodywork and massage therapy.

My mission blends physical mastery with soulful depth. Grounded in the sacred geometry of the Yantra and a deep mantra of global service, I create transformative spaces where movement becomes a celebration. Lets flow, play and heal together.

Julia Voellmecke
eRYT-200 YACEP

YOGA INSTRUCTOR
Certified Yogi Flight Method teacher

As an E-RYT 200 yoga teacher, I bring a thoughtful and structured approach to every class, helping you build strength in a way that feels safe, intentional, and progressive.

My practice began while I was pregnant with my first child, and it quickly became a path of profound transformation. What started as a personal practice evolved into a lifelong journey of growth, resilience, and connection—one that continues to shape both my life and my teaching.

With advanced training from Yogi Flight School, I specialize in arm balances and inversions, guiding students to approach these practices with clarity, technique, confidence, and a sense of play. I love breaking down complex movements into precise, accessible steps so you can feel what is truly within reach. Some of my most rewarding moments as a teacher are watching students realize they can accomplish something they once believed was impossible.
I meet students exactly where they are, gently guiding them beyond their comfort zone with care and encouragement. My goal is to create classes that challenge, inspire, and empower, cultivating courage, resilience, and self-trust that extends far beyond the mat.

Pauline Sweeney
RYT-200

YOGA INSTRUCTOR + Sound practitioner

The practice of yoga gave me valuable insight inwards and from there I fell in love with meditation and the way it shifts your life with clarity. I followed my interests and lived in Asia for a few months graduating from Yoga Union in Bali, Indonesia in 2019. Now teaching yoga and sound healing for over 6 years in the Outer Banks, I love blending these modalities to empower you to bring your inner awareness alive.

I continue to travel the world learning and exploring every aspect on how we can bring ourselves more grounded, restored, and energized.

Karen Karuna Bachman
eRYT-500 YACEP

YOGA INSTRUCTOR

My yoga journey began in 1995 on the Outer Banks, a luminous place where heaven and earth mingle on a thin strip of sand. That sense of sacred ground has shaped everything about the way I teach.

I completed my 200-hour foundation with Anne Howard at the Amalam School of Yoga at Outer Banks Yoga in 2019, followed by a 300-hour Advanced Teacher Training through My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, TX in 2021. Most recently, I completed certification as an Ayurveda Coach from the highly regarded Shakti School with Katie Silcox. That lineage, rooted in both the precision of modern movement science and the rich, living tradition of Ayurveda, informs every class I teach.

My purpose as a teacher is simple and profound: to help you come home to yourself. I believe that when the body, mind, and spirit are invited into playful, conscious movement, transformation becomes possible, not as a distant goal, but as something you can feel right now, on the mat. Guided by a love of movement, philosophy, and the sweet spot between ancient wisdom and modern life, I strive to create a space where curiosity replaces striving, and exploration leads to genuine growth.

My deepest hope is that when you roll up your mat and walk back into your day, you feel unmistakably, powerfully connected to your heart—and to the wild, radiant beauty of this landscape that holds us all.

Lauren Battaile
RYT-200

Yoga Instructor

I have always been drawn to practices that help us slow down, tune inward, and reconnect with what matters most. My path to yoga began as a way to create more balance and steadiness in my own life and blossomed into teaching after completing a 200-hour Interdisciplinary Yoga Teacher Training with Anne Howard, an experience that deepened my appreciation for yoga as both a physical practice and a lifelong journey of self-awareness.

I currently teach mindful, approachable classes designed to help students build strength, improve mobility, calm the nervous system, and cultivate a deeper sense of connection with themselves. Guided by the reminder that we don't have to be perfect to be whole, I invite you to step onto your mat with curiosity, grace, and the willingness to meet yourself exactly where you are.

Kathy Cagiano
RYT-200

yoga instructor

I began practicing yoga in 1976, and after many years of learning and growing on the mat, I stepped into teaching with certifications in 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, Yin, Restorative, Chair Yoga, and the Foundations of Meditation.

My approach is gentle, honoring the way yoga and qigong meet you where you are, one soft breath at a time. I guide students to release tension, improve flexibility, and reconnect with their bodies. My Turning Tide and Low Tide Peaceful Flows blend wave-like qigong movements with yoga, inspired by my online qigong training and personal practice.

My intention is to offer a peaceful, welcoming space guided by my mantra: Live… Laugh… Love.

Oli Cela
RYT-500

Yoga Instructor

My spiritual journey began in Albania, where I was born and raised in a political environment that left little choice over my own destiny. At eighteen, I was assigned the role of elementary school teacher and left home to study at the university. Although I initially resisted studying a path I hadn’t chosen, I grew to love teaching and spent twelve inspiring years guiding young minds in my native country. Living in a war torn country eventually became unsustainable for me and my family and we relocated to Ohio, where I gained political asylum, before eventually finding my way to the Outer Banks.

Living with a rare form of arthritis, alongside the intense stress of being a working single mother, pushed me to look for a way to manage my overwhelming situation. This path led me to Outer Banks Yoga where I began studying under Anne Howard. Receiving my RYT220 and going on to complete my 500-Hour training transformed my life, healing my body and spirit. Today I am deeply passionate about sharing the power of healing and connection through yoga, always exploring as a teacher and forever remaining a student.

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”
- Khalil Gibran

Anna Oprea
RYT-200

Yoga Instructor

I remember the day I found yoga. Going through a major life change, I had this newfound time for myself but felt like I couldn't breathe. Listening to my heart, I found what my mind and body needed… a yoga class with Anne Howard.  I haven't looked back since.

I think the mat is a place to dance gracefully with yourself, your one true home. A time to slow down, notice the natural, and listen to your heart. You just might feel a bit lighter and walk a bit taller off the mat! 
Namaste,
Anna

Suzanne Duck
RYT-500

Yoga Instructor

Yoga has been an essential part of my life, and I feel honored to share this practice with the Outer Banks Yoga community, where I have been teaching for the past 9 years. As a 500-hour certified yoga instructor, I have continued my studies through a 195-hour training in the Yoga Sutras, as well as trainings in meditation, pranayama, and restorative yoga.

My classes invite students to slow down, connect with their breath, and cultivate greater ease, balance, and presence both on and off the mat. While my weekly class is rooted in gentle flow, I also enjoy guiding all-levels classes and Yin yoga, and I am passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive space where students can connect with breath, movement, and mindfulness. 

LeeAnn Edwards
RYT 200

Yoga Instructor

I’m LeeAnn Edwards, Outer Banks native and RYT 200. My yoga classes blend creative sequencing with mindful alignment, to help build strength and release stress. I first came to yoga looking for a way to incorporate more movement and exercise into my daily life. Little did I know the positive impacts that it would have on, not only my physical, but also my mental health. My yoga journey has been such a transformative and beneficial addition to my life, and I am eager to share those benefits with others.

In my sessions, expect a welcoming space where you can move at your own pace, breathe deeply, and leave feeling strong and grounded. When I’m not on the mat, you can find me at the beach, the horse barn or teaching 4th grade!

Rebecca Head
RYT 500

Yoga Instructor

Yoga has always been an interest of Rebecca’s and a constant during several moves. After relocating back to the Outer Banks and beginning to teach Elementary School, Rebecca met Anne Follenbach Howard, who had brought her gift of yoga into the Elementary School curriculum. Anne introduced Rebecca to a yoga group for teachers. Six years later Rebecca had the amazing opportunity to study under Anne and completed her 220-hour yoga teacher training at the Amalam school of yoga at Outer Banks Yoga. With this training, yoga and all it encompasses, unfolded for Rebecca and she will forever be grateful for the opportunity to learn from such an amazing mentor. Rebecca continues to strive each day to be in the present and to share positivity and light with those around her. Rebecca has been on the Outer Banks for almost 15 years and when she is not practicing yoga, she enjoys reading and spending time outdoors with her husband, son, family, and friends.  

Rebekah Thompson
RYT 200

Yoga Instructor

Rebekah started exploring yoga in 2012 and began to develop her yoga practice at Dig Yoga in Lambertville, NJ. It was there that Rebekah found a true love relationship with yoga as she experienced deep emotional, mental and physical healing through her practice. When she moved back to her hometown of Richmond, VA, Rebekah found a yoga community at The Yoga Dojo where she later completed her 200-hour Rocket Based Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training. In late 2020, Rebekah started studying Ashtanga Yoga under Michelle Dorer and taught Beach Yoga during the summer of 2021.
Rebekah is also a talented music teacher. She studied music in college and graduated with a degree in music with a focus on vocal performance. She has been teaching voice, piano and violin and performing professionally for 10-years and she serves as the Director of Music Ministries at Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church.
Rebekah’s musical talents compliment her yoga classes beautifully. Her classes offer a balance between flexibility and strength asanas and she likes to pair music with her class that allows the flow to become a physically creative expression. With a focus on alignment, you can expect to see Rebekah come off her mat and walk around while she is teaching, offering one-on-one support and optional hands-on adjustments.