The Yoga Shala staff

We are grateful for the help of our highly experienced teachers and staff. It is their skill, their passion for their students and their personal appreciation for the gifts of yoga that create the unique environment that is the foundation of our community. At The Yoga Shala our Mysore classes are taught by highly experienced yoga teachers who are dedicating their lives to practicing, studying and teaching traditional Ashtanga Yoga. 

Krista Shirley

Founder & Director 

Krista Shirley is a level 2 authorized Ashtanga Yoga teacher and the founder of The Yoga Shala in Orlando, Florida. Krista teaches at The Yoga Shala Monday-Thursday mornings 6:30-8:30am and counted led Ashtanga Primary series Friday mornings 6:30-7:45am. She also hosts asana, meditation, self help workshops and retreats at The Yoga Shala and around the globe.
Krista’s dedication to her personal yoga practice and the Ashtanga lineage shine through in her teaching. Her energy is contagious and inspiring! Krista specializes in meeting each student where they are, helping them not only create a habit of daily practice, learn the sequence of asanas, work towards physical mastery of the postures, but also helping each student go inside themselves to truly integrate the body and mind,  and let go of the things in their lives that no longer serve them.  Krista is here to help you begin or advance your Ashtanga Yoga journey and looks forward to sharing this transformational and enriching practice with you.  | www.kristashirley.com

shelby makowsky

Danielle Hicks
Shelby is the program leader for mid-morning Mysore classes. After practicing various styles of yoga intermittently over the years, Shelby was introduced to the Mysore Style of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 2011, and it clicked with her. She was fascinated to learn that traditional yoga encompasses so much more than just the physical aspect. In 2013, she committed to a daily practice at the Yoga Shala, and in 2015, she completed the apprenticeship program with Krista Shirley.
​Danielle discovered the practice of yoga ten years ago as she was searching for a new way of living life with health and intention. Since then she's developed a daily yoga practice, explored many styles of yoga, and in 2016 became a registered yoga teacher. On the verge of big change, she longed for a practice to support spiritual growth, and it was the alchemy of Ashtanga yoga that tugged at her heartstrings. Ever since that first class, it's been a steady burning flame, a torch to light the way. She loves to explore the physical and energetic alignment of the postures along with the breath, and how this can heal and transform our lives on a fundamental level to a more profound one. Danielle is delighted and honored to guide others of all levels in their Ashtanga Yoga practice. Come and allow the practice of transformation to enter your heart through the power of the breath.
Danielle has an established yoga practice under the guidance of her teacher, Krista Shirley. In 2019, she completed Krista's Ashtanga Yoga Apprenticeship.

Dash Wendrzyk

Dash has been practicing yoga since 2004, but it wasn't until in 2010 that he committed to a daily Ashtanga practice. Over the years, Dash has attended several workshops, including one with Manju Jois (Sri K Pattabhi Jois' son). He has also attended the Ashtanga Yoga Confluence, a gathering each year of several well-known Ashtanga teachers. When Dash is not teaching or practicing yoga, he loves to travel all over the world, and he has gone on all of Krista's annual yoga retreats. Dash also enjoys spending time with his dog, an adorable Manchester Terrier named Tony.

isis gentles

katherine van fossen

gabriella armor

Megan Nelson
Gabriella has been practicing yoga on and off since 2012 and immediately got hooked on Ashtanga yoga when introduced to the practice in the summer of 2017. Eager to gain more knowledge and deepen her practice, she completed the teacher training in the summer of 2018. Having a background in Athletic Training and Physical Therapy, as well as a deep knowledge of human anatomy and injury, Gabriella is keen on incorporating proper tissue alignment and muscle activation during practice. She uses yoga to quiet a busy mind, maintain an inward focus, and connect breath to the body. She loves the history and tradition of Ashtanga yoga, and enjoys teaching others that yoga is so much more than just the physical asana. 
"Yoga found me. I wasn't looking for it, but there it was. At first I tried to analyze it, give reasons, and tabulate the pros and cons.....but then..... my heart changed. I let go of the reasons. I saw my body and mind change. I witnessed physical and emotional changes, growth, healing, and expansion. I'm still learning and breaking down new barriers as I EMBRACE this process, joyfully and with devotion. If I'm not on my mat (or helping you on yours!), I'm working on water quality issues at my Engineering job. I also love dancing with total abandon with my silly kids, hiking through the trees with my husband, admiring the stars, and feeling the morning dew on my toes. Yoga is so much more than physical movement. Come experience this yogic path with me. Connect to your best Self by connecting to your conscious breath. Do the work. Commit to this practice for your Self." -- Megan Nelson

donia kitsmiller




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Melanie radliff

Melanie has been practicing yoga for 11 years, primarily Vinyasa, but fell in love with Ashtanga when she first tried it one year ago. Her first experience teaching was here in the US for small classes she offered for free, but she soon spent four months in Costa Rica as a yoga instructor, eventually working at a yoga retreat center called Selva Armonia as the off-season teacher. She used yoga as a tool for emotional healing for many years and believes it is truly magical, especially once one can use breath to connect to its source. 

Heather Yvonne Allen

Heather joined The Yoga Shala when the studio wasn’t even a year old in 2010 and since then, she has become one of the longest dedicated students to the studio. Heather has studied with R. Sharah Jois during his tours here in America, and also on 2 occasions in Mysore, South India. Heather joined TYS’s teaching staff in 2011.