Our Teachers

Heather Rushing Chaney, E-RYT 500 Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist

Years ago, I found a piece that was missing in my life, and I’ve continued to delve into the goodness of the mental and physical benefits since. In January 2014, I begrudgingly took my first yoga class, and my life changed.

It didn’t take me long to know I wanted to share it with the world (still do!) so about a year later I took my first yoga teacher training. Since, I’ve taken numerous trainings and I’d say I define “yoga nerd”. I never want to stop learning and growing, and most importantly, I never want to stop sharing and helping others to learn and grow. I deeply care for people, their physical health, yes, but their mental health, YES! I love teaching all ages and abilities, and spreading this beautiful, healing practice.

Along with Alia King, I’ve led multiple 200hr yoga teacher trainings and continuing education through Yoga Alliance. It’s one of my true passions to teach teachers and help them grow in confidence, skill, and heart, then watch them step into their power and use their gifts.

Rise Yoga has my heart, and I’m honored to be a part of this community. Whether you’re brand new, or looking for a new place to roll out your mat, we’d love to have you practice with us at Rise.

Beverly Smith, RYT 200

After many happy, but chaotic years of raising a family, I found myself stepping into 50 wondering where in the world is Beverly? Well… I found her on the mat! Yoga has helped me rediscover myself – creative, balanced, connected, and strong. While asana had always been part of my fitness routine, I began to embrace the 8 Limbed Path of Yoga as a lifestyle and have not looked back. As a Yoga teacher, I am deeply committed to helping others find that same balance of focus and freedom both on and off the mat.

I completed my 200-hour YTT in July 2024 through Be Kind Yoga. I am also certified as a Personal Trainer, Nutritionist, and Exercise Therapy Specialist, and I will be completing training as an NBHWC certified Health Coach in the fall of 2025. Along with my Yoga practice, I enjoy strength training, running, and hiking. When I’m not on the mat, I’m hanging out with my amazing husband Rocky, our son Wyatt and {future} daughter-in-law Vitória, our 5 little cats, and my canine bestie, Daisy.

Corey-Beth Travaglini, RYT 200

Hey everyone! I’m Corey-Beth you can also call me Corey or CB!

My true yoga journey began when I stepped back onto my mat in February 2021 after a decade-long hiatus. It felt like a “personal homecoming,” as yoga has helped me rediscover the daily importance of caring for myself in mind, body, and spirit.

I completed my 200-hour RYT under Rise Yoga teachers Heather Rushing-Chaney and Alia King. In addition to teaching yoga, I am also a Reiki Practitioner and completed my Reiki Master training under Master Teacher Miri Klements.

I love that yoga is a meditative, mind-body practice that supports mental health and overall interconnected well-being. So much of what we learn on our mats naturally extends into how we move through the world.

As a yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner, I’m honored to help facilitate healing, balance, and self-discovery while continuing to learn and grow in these beautiful, ancient practices that have deeply shaped how I show up in life.

I look forward to meeting you and journeying with you on your mat!

Trinida Rapadas, RYT 200

Namaste! My name is Trinida Rapadas. I have been working at Gold's Gym for the past 10 years teaching Sliver Sneakers classes from classic, EngerChi, yoga to fall prevention. My passion for yoga started to grow more and more along with finding myself going on my very own spiritual journey. On May 7th, 2023 I received my BIPOC 200 hour Vinyasa yoga teacher training done through Chakra Flow University by my techers Victoria Martinez and Shanna Small. I got a new job at Strive Spinal Health with Dr. Derek Tucker and was able to incorporate teaching yoga classes at the chiropractic office for Spinal Health, joints full range of movement and conditioning. I also got the opportunity to teach chair yoga at the public library for a mid day relax and reset.

I love helping others discover their very own yoga journey and to be able to be apart of that is such a joy. All I want is to spread love to everyone I can. Finding self love by accepting your body just as it is and exploring new edges of yourself by feeling the sensations of your very own body in the moment that you're in while adding mindful breathing and meditation. Super exciting to be apart of Rise Yoga now.

Lisa Znaniecki, RYT 200

I began teaching group and private fitness classes in 2016. Following a recommendation from my massage therapist, I started practicing yoga in 2022 to alleviate lower back pain. Not only did I find relief, but I also discovered yoga's numerous benefits. Eager to merge my passion for fitness with my newfound love for yoga, I enrolled in a 200-hour yoga teacher training program.


I am dedicated to helping students experience the transformative power of yoga and guiding them on their wellness journey. Outside of teaching and practicing yoga, I enjoys lifting weights, walking, and jogging. I love the outdoors and cherishes time spent with family and friends.


I live in Albemarle with my husband, Craig, and two dogs, Stella and Theo.

Kimberleigh Hagar, RYT 200


Hi! I've been practicing yoga on and off for 20 years, but really got into a consistent practice in 2022. Once I saw and felt the benefits of being a regular, I knew there was no going back. My time on my mat in my "little purple box" became such an important reset moment for me no matter what that week brought on! I always left class feeling my mental and emotional batteries were recharged. When I was connected with Heather through a chain of fellow yoga teachers and learned how YTT could help me, and help me help others, I knew it was the right time. I completed my 200-hr RYT with Heather and Alia in 2025 and am so excited to share the gift of yoga with you now!

I am a holistic mental health therapist (LCSW) that works with overthinkers and perfectionists, and I've loved approaches that focus on connecting the (over)thinking brain and feeling body. Yoga is such an incredible avenue for this, and I love the ways that different kinds of yoga practices support and nourish this connection. In my classes whether we're flowin' or moving slow, you'll find mindfulness weaved in throughout as you connect your mind, body, and soul! I'm excited to meet you on the mat!

Alia King, E-RYT 500

After a few years in my own practice, I walked into a studio one day in 2013 and saw a flier for an upcoming yoga teacher training. Without even meeting the teacher, I signed up. My goal was to learn more, just for myself, but the end result was an absolute love for teaching yoga! I have taught many styles of yoga to a variety of people, from kids to the elderly, and I honestly enjoy them all! I decided to further my education with my 300 hour and am an E-RYT 500. I love teaching new students, as well as, training others to be teachers themselves, and everyone in between. When I'm not teaching, I am probably watching one of my daughters cheer or the other one dance. I have a wonderful husband, a house I love, dirty animals and too much grass to mow, and during the week, I work at Stanly Community College.

Holly Wagoner, RYT 200

Hi! Around ten years ago, as an exhausted and overwhelmed mom trying to balance work, life, and relationships, I recognized a need to take care of me. In my professional life, 20+ years in education and counseling, I preached self-care to my students but realized I was doing very little of my own. Enter Yoga.

Yoga feels like freedom. On my mat, I’m safe. I’m free to move my body in ways that feel best in the moment; whether that’s to challenge my strength, practice steady balance, or have intentional flowing movement. It’s a space to focus my mind and my breath. It’s a time to look inward, leave chaos at the door, and appreciate my mind and body for all it allows me to be and do.

I wanted to share this feeling with others – to provide the same space for anyone interested in experiencing this freedom of self-care and the beautiful, healing connection of mind and body.

I completed 200RYT in early 2025 and I cannot wait to meet you and be a part of your yoga journey.

Gloria Permison, RYT 200

I stumbled upon yoga during a rough time in my life over a decade ago. Looking back on it now, it’s the seeds planted here that have propelled me through this healing journey I continue on today. Even though distractions in life took me away from it temporarily, yoga found me again with the help of my friend Kim (she also teaches at Rise) who encouraged me to check out Rise Yoga Studio. I don’t believe any of this was just coincidence. In meeting Heather, who greeted me with such love and such a passion for yoga, I knew Rise was something special. Currently, I am a therapist and have my own private practice. In completing Alia & Heather’s 200hr yoga teacher training program in April 2025, I have been able to incorporate what I have learned with my clients and the Rise community. Besides being a clinical social worker and yoga teacher, I really love nature, hiking, swimming, music, animals and all things wellness. Fun fact about me: I’m mostly vegan and have 4 fur babies in addition to my 3 human children. Classes I will most likely be teaching: slow flow, deep stretch, yin, sound bath & meditative classes. Classes you’ll most likely see me taking: power, flows and yin.

"What happens when people open their hearts? They get better." - Haruki Murakami

Steven Yost, RYT 200

Bio coming soon!