Our Instructors, Trainers & Facilitators
Sandra Roshonda Thomas
Sandra Roshonda Thomas (Roshonda) is an experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) with Yoga Alliance (YA), which acknowledges completion of a yoga teacher training with a Registered Yoga School (RYS) and she holds a YACEP with YA as a continuing education provider where she hosts workshops, trainings and writes curriculum. She has over 2200 hours of teaching experience documented on top of her hours of training through YA. Her ashtanga yoga training of the past five years is beyond those hours as she has mentored other ashtangi’s and taught workshops, hosted workshops and facilitated mysore classes. Roshonda has been teaching other fitness formats for over 19 years.
She is a combat vet who is still active duty who has a passion for helping veterans and specializes in trauma work. She is the Founder, Owner and Creator of Culpeper Yoga Shala and Spa. She currently works through a veterans trauma yoga program and has held credentials with US Army and Civilian as a Sexual Assault/ Sexual Response Coordinator-DSACCP-I.
She is currently in the Apprenticeship Program for Ashtanga Yoga under Taylor Hunt. She is a published author and has hit amazons best sellers list with her 2024 book: Sandstorm Sunshine: When Life Isn’t What You Waited For. She recently authored and self-published a 90 day series for a journey to joy for 2025. Her 2025 series of books are available on Amazon.
Culpeper Yoga Shala and Spa is now hosting Yoga Teacher Training and Reformer Trainings.
She is trained and certified to teach all the modalities at the Shala and trained and certified to provide the SPA services alongside the staff.
Steve Thomas
Steve Thomas, B.A., is a retired Army combat vet. He specializes in teaching classes on weapons safety. He is certified in Refuse To Be A Victim courses, and other national recognized safety and weapons courses. He is TRX certified, Mat Pilates, Pilates Reformer and Stretch Coach certified. He is certified in infrared therapies.
He joins the team bringing organizational skills, marketing management and experience with small and mid-tier business management of 13 plus years.
Steve will host and volunteer teach veteran classes, mat pilates, pilates reformer, and restorative yoga. He will coach and support wellness clients by request.
Jason Wise
Jason comes to us as a Hatha experienced Yoga Teacher. Rooted in his passion for the outdoors and connecting with nature, he is a wealth of knowledge not only in yoga, but in agriculture as well.
Jason has taught Hatha classes, Kripalu and other yoga modalities which has allowed him to explore Thai therapies and other eastern traditions bringing a fresh perspective to our Shala.
Joining our team as a experienced yoga teacher, Jason is teaching hot yoga classes, gentle yoga for all levels and will assist in workshops and trainings at Culpeper Yoga Shala and Spa.
Welcome Jason :)
Eileen Moore
Eileen has M.S. in Special Education, she is a 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher and is a - Trauma Informed Kids Yoga Instructor. She is a fitness enthusiast and can be found with her family on the ski slopes, trails or on the water! She is an educator at heart and always circles back to teaching and sharing with others. She loves that yoga is for everyone and always looks forward to welcoming new yogis, meeting them where they are in their practice and continuing to grow on their journey. Eileen loves food health!
Eileen is certified in a multitude of fitness modalities- SUP, Yogalates, Vinyasa styles and more.
She will teach Mat Pilates, Yin, Gentle Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Sculpt and Flow, Vinyasa Flow and Kids Yoga classes.
Rich Deal
Rich comes to Culpeper Yoga Shala and Spa as a man of diversity. From a lifelong devotion to sound, he is known in the community as Ted and VitalSounds through his musical talents.
The expression of VitalSound is the handpan-centered expression of a musician whose path has woven through strings, rhythms, and voice for over 20 years. From the quiet mountains of Virginia to stages and sacred spaces across the East Coast and beyond, Rich offers a refuge in resonance — music created not just to be heard, but to be felt. Rich loves to bring sound to class.
With roots in guitar, piano, bass, banjo, mandolin, hand drums, and voice, the handpan emerged as a spiritual home — an instrument where melody and vibration meet in stillness. Each sound bath is a sacred offering: a space to pause, breathe, and return to the rhythm beneath the noise.
Currently, Rich is focused on photography as 540Photography. We are thankful for his talents as he is sharing this with others now.
Rich will bring to us the sounds of the Handpan and his one on one time for clients seeking healing by sound. He will specialize in restorative and meditation classes. he will host soundbaths and VitalSound Workshops bringing more relaxation and healing into your life.
Rich is trained on the reformer and will teach reformer and weights classes. He will work with men on the Cadillac reformer as well as any fitness guru or athlete wanting to build strength or tone.
Welcome Rich :)
Darla Davis DuTilly
Darla is a E-RYT 500 hour registered yoga teacher (E-500 RYT) who’s passionate about helping women—especially over 40 to feel strong, grounded, and more at home in their bodies. With years of experience guiding mindful movement, breathwork, and soulful self-care, she creates welcoming spaces where you can show up just as you are. Darla is creative in ways to bring in chakra energies through colorful dynamics in her classes. Her genuine smile and attention to detail in her interactions make her an amazing teacher and mentor.
Her teaching blends traditional yoga training with intuition, offering a down-to-earth, heart-centered approach that supports a student through every season of life.
When she isn't on the mat, you’ll likely find her playing with clay in the pottery studio, spending time with her family, or soaking up inspiration for her next creative project.
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Darla is one of our lead teachers at the Shala and will teach restorative classes, specialty workshops for women, gentle flow classes, yoga sculpt and other yoga modalities. She will additionally assist in managing social media and Canva publications.
We are grateful for her leadership, mentorship and creative spirit.
Dixie Aiken
Dixie Aiken possesses a Master’s degree in Community Counseling and is recognized as a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional.
She is coming to us with 20 years of experience in the mental and behavioral health fields. Dixie established North Acre Life Enhancement to support individuals who are not in crisis but seek additional assistance in maintaining their emotional well-being. Her mission is to help those aiming for positive life changes or simply striving to live their best lives, utilizing a blend of traditional and natural approaches.
Dixie is qualified as a Level 2 Bach Flower Remedy Practitioner, Reiki and Sound Therapy and has a certificate in Kids Yoga.
She will be teaching Kid Yoga, Gentle and Beginner Yoga Flow and providing support for wellness opportunities at the Spa.
Welcome Dixie!
Megan Xifos
Megan is the owner of CodeName CrossFit. She is a wealth of knowledge in both fitness and business. She brings to Culpeper Yoga and Shala a bright perspective for wellness and recovery. She is an embodiment of physical acumen and a pillar of positivity for women, men and children in the community. Her contagious beautiful energy will help those that need a boost to get to the next level in their journey.
She will specialize in restorative yoga, wellness coaching, nutritional coaching and stretch movement classes and infrared sauna therapies.
She will coach men and women on healthy lifestyle management for their overall fitness and assist in managing business activities.
We are excited to have her on board.
Master Thunder Lane
Master Thunder Lane is a Ninth degree black belt in the t’ien shan p’ai System and specializes in Tai Chi. He is a Level-1 Qigong Instructor from the Supreme Science Qigong Center. He is a certified dive master and rescue diver through PADI.
Thunder is 200 HR certified Yoga Teacher through YogaFit and YaxYoga Concepts and has been teaching yoga and different yoga modalities for decades.
Thunder will bring the knowledge of martial arts, meditation, yoga, and mindfulness into his classes at Culpeper Yoga Shala and Spa.
He will share a healing connection between breath, movement and mindfulness that will bring stillness & peace into your life.
Thunder will teach yoga classes, meditation and restorative classes along with specialty modality classes at the Shala.
Welcome Thunder!
Nicole Jeskey
Nicole is a teacher and facilitator of Yoga. Nicole has been around yoga and yoga classes for more than 15 years of her life. She has a passion for movement, a zeal for learning, and enjoys spending time with others which is a great combo for a teacher at our yoga shala.
Nicole is an apprentice of the owner, Sandra Roshonda Thomas and has spent hours in workshops and in one-on-one trainings. Nicole is certified in DIVA Pilates fusion and trained in Yoga movement.
Nicole teaches Pilates fusion and reformer weights for the Shala as well as hot yoga and beginner yoga classes.
Three Cheers for Nicole!
Melissa Smith
Meet Melissa Smith
IAC, RYT 200, Reiki Master
Melissa is a Certified Trauma Informed Inner Alignment Coach and Intuitive Guide.
She began her journey as a student of yoga; the practice changed her profoundly. Melissa continued refining her skills and gathering knowledge, excited to sow the seeds of knowledge in her students.
Her specialty lies in Yin, Restorative, Group Meditation and Yoga Nidra. She’s currently enrolled in Kundalini training, a practice she’s excited to add to her yoga offerings.
Melissa blends modalities ranging from craniosacral techniques, somatic therapy, Thai Massage, acupressure and Ayurveda principles into her work as a Reiki Master & Assisted Stretch Practitioner for a client-centered approach where healing can happen intuitively.
Melissa will teach Power Hour, Vinyasa Fusion, Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga and other modalities. She will bring her beautiful expertise in Ayurveda, Thai massage, Stretch Practitioner and Reiki to our clients.