Our Team

Sam Williams

Owner/CEO

Sam's first love was dance and it put her on the path of body awareness, music therapy, and the practice of embodiment. She took those things and poured them into her own studio, YoBa Studio. She set out to build more than just studio but a brand that can continue to grow. Sam is here to help share this practice that is rooted in the practice of listening to your body. Sam is passionate about using the body as a gateway to process emotions and listen to your heart. And she believes that movement is a powerful tool for listening. Sam earned her E-RYT-200 in 2016 and is blessed to have the opportunity to help share her passion, love, and healing through YoBa Studio in the Raleigh, NC, and surrounding areas.

Get to know Sam:

Music plays this role in my life:

Music is healing. Music is universal. Music can pull us out of a depressed state while bringing us to tears. It's a way to communicate. Feeling the rhythm and beat in your body, both start to work towards your soul.

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?

BRUNCH all day every day. I love a good hash and waffle, but will never turn down a biscuit.

My teaching style is:

Heartfelt, passionate, energizing, strengthening, while learning to welcome and appreciate stillness and quietude.

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Being able to share my real heart and soul with our community. Being venerable enough to show up raw and honest with all of our students. Giving myself permission to show up as I am hoping that will inspire others around me to do the same. It in some ways forces me to take care of myself the best I know how, it keeps me in check with my heart, spirit, and soul daily. Many days I myself want to run from my mat or practice but at the end of the day, I’m grateful to be able to do this for myself and other people.

Hannah Bise

Studio Manager

From the warm, personalized welcome to their kickass taste in music, the YoBa community was instantly one Hannah felt connected to & knew she had to be apart of! As Studio Manager, she’s on a mission to continue building the YoBa community & help everyone feel at home. She discovered yoga over 10 years ago as a much-needed stress reliever, but soon found it was her answer to so much more! After receiving her RYT-200 certification in 2016 at Charleston Power Yoga, she’s been spreading her love for the practice ever since. Her classes are a space to release tension, move through emotions, and grow closer to your intuition. She focuses on intentional movement, breath, music to help you get out of your head and into your body, and believes that movement should leave you feeling both free & strong!

Get to know Hannah:

My teaching style is:

Spacious and grounded.

Go to artist for a class playlist:

Can’t go wrong with Maggie Rogers!

My enneagram is:

Type 9, The Peacemaker: All-embracing, Receptive, Reassuring.

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Seeing everyone take what they need in their own bodies!

Hannah Beckner

Marketing & Brand Manager

Hannah is originally from Virginia, where she grew up dancing and cheerleading competitively. She found a love for barre during high school and has been hooked ever since. The day after she graduated from the University of Lynchburg, she moved to Raleigh, NC, and started a career in the world of creative advertising and branding. As she continued to practice barre and yoga in her adult life, she found that the most impactful moments of her practice were those that were rooted in mind-body connection & musically driven movement. So it was no surprise that she felt immediately drawn to YoBa Studio. She is excited to be able to use her marketing experience to advocate for a brand and community she is truly passionate about.

Get to know Hannah:

My enneagram is:

Type 6, The Loyalist: Intuitive, Trustworthy, Committed

You can find my own mat rolled out at this class:

YoBa! I love the balance of intensity and serenity. I always leave feeling strong, grounded, and in tune with my heart and my body.

Mantra:

Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming.

Music plays this role in my life:

Music is the best medicine. It helps me feel what I need to feel, even if I don’t know what I need. It makes my most complicated emotions seem clear and helps me feel grounded and grateful during my best moments.

Mary Mac Moore

Lead Instructor

Originally from Greensboro, NC and a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Journalism & Mass Communication, Mary Mac's North Carolina roots run deep - which is ultimately what recently brought her "back home" to Raleigh after several years living in Atlanta, GA. Mary Mac has always been passionate about wellness. Growing up she was a competitive and avid equestrian, runner & lacrosse player. Though she has been practicing yoga on-and-off for many years, it wasn't until after she graduated that she really dove in and started to discover the countless other benefits that classes could offer beyond physical strength. Yoga, and power vinyasa in particular, became a sacred part of Mary Mac's routine that allowed her to get out of her head and into her body. One of her first priorities after moving to Raleigh was finding a new studio to call home. She knew immediately after her first visit that she had found that in YoBa Studio. The sense of community & belonging, strong physical practice, infrared heat, and killer music were unmatched. She was hooked! Mary Mac completed her YTT-200 certification at YoBa Studio and is so grateful to have the opportunity to share this life-changing practice with everyone. When not at the studio, Mary Mac works full-time as a marketing specialist at Citrix. She loves to explore Raleigh with her pup Ernie, try all of the Mexican restaurants & coffee shops, cook delicious meals, and make Spotify playlists. If you don't know her already, she can't wait to meet & flow with you!

Get to know Mary Mac:

Mantra:

“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.” - Rupi Kaur

My teaching style is:

Athletic without compromising fluidity.

My enneagram is:

Type 7, The Enthusiast: Versatile, Curious, Optimistic.

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Witnessing the impact of the physical practice on people’s hearts & souls - especially when they don’t even realize that’s what they need or are looking for. That’s the magic of this practice.

Nicola Ferraro

Lead Instructor

Nicola is originally from Falmouth, Massachusetts. She grew up dancing and was in her first ballet class at age 3. She had an instant love for dance and spent many years in the studio taking ballet, pointe, and modern dance classes. In high school, Nicola taught ballet classes at her local studio and at an after school program at an elementary school. Nicola's love for dance continued at East Carolina University as a dance major where she took technique classes, choreographed, and performed. Nicola graduated from East Carolina University in 2015 with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. When Nicola moved to Raleigh, she began teaching kindergarten in Apex and loves the excitement and energy her students bring to the classroom! Nicola is excited to be a part of the YoBa Studio family and share her love for Barre!

Get to know Nicola:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

The connections with clients! I love having new clients fall in love with barre and existing clients return for something they whole heartily enjoy.

My enneagram is:

Type 1, The Reformer: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled.

Mantra:

Stay present in each moment.

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

It is my second home and my family by choice.

Caitlin Guy

Front Desk Lead

Raleigh native, Caitlin attended North Carolina State University to study English and Linguistics. Though she had been active in her early life through dance, cheerleading, soccer, and volleyball, Caitlin was searching for a new way to move after having two children in two years. After practicing yoga on and off in gym settings for years, she found YoBa Studio in 2018. Though she came to YoBa Studio for an escape from life, what she found was connection. Yoga became a practice that helped her to truly go inward and feel, instead of tuning out her reality. After enduring three surgeries in the summer of 2018, she found a true haven in YoBa Studio and rediscovered how to feel at home in her body. Caitlin joined the team in January of 2020 and is honored to welcome clients to a safe space to get out of their heads and into their hearts.

Get to know Caitlin:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

YoBa Studio has been a safe space to find comfort in my own body and explore the connection between the physical and emotional.

Podcast I’m currently listening to:

Terrible, Thanks for Asking.

JuiceKeys Order:

Pecan Energy Ball, Apple Bottom Greens, and a jalapeno shot if I'm feeling spicy!

How long have you been practicing?

8 years.

Stacy Logan

Front Desk Ambassador

Stacy grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and attended the University of Pittsburgh to study Public Relations and Political Science. It wasn’t until a marketing job brought her to the Raleigh area that she discovered hot yoga and a dedicated practice was born. It was love at first Asana, so to speak. She fell in love with the way the practice made her feel, the way it allowed her to get out of her head, and the way it forced her to stop saying “I can’t.” Eventually, Stacy realized that sharing yoga with others brought her more joy than she knew possible and an RYT-200 certification soon followed. She currently works as a yoga therapist for a network of eating disorder hospitals and strives to create a space where everyone feels safe & comfortable to be themselves. It was that exact outlook that resonated so strongly when Stacy discovered YoBa. It is truly a space where everyone is invited in exactly as they are. No judgments.

Get to know Stacy:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

A group of the most supportive individuals I’ve ever met, always cheering each other on & learning both from and with each other.

Music plays this role in my life:

Music is truly a universal language and has the power to connect everything & everyone.

By day (or night) I’m also a:

Yoga Therapist for a network of eating disorder hospitals.

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?

Breakfast. Give me all the bacon & eggs you have.

Olivia Ball

Front Desk Ambassador/Instructor

Olivia grew up in Columbus, Ohio. In her fifth year of getting her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering at the University of Georgia, she took up yoga to fill the newly added time in her schedule and immediately fell in love. She completed her 200 RYT training in Athens, GA through Shakti Yoga University which practices a Baptise style of yoga. Yoga has always been a way for her to come back to the present moment and listen to what her body needs. Olivia moved to Raleigh in July of 2019 where she was captivated by the community that YoBa Studio created and knew it was something she wanted to be apart of. She focuses on connecting movement to breath and cultivating authentic connections with each of her students. She is currently in Raleigh to act as a Graduate Assistant for the NC State diving team while pursuing a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

Get to know Olivia:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Seeing individuals show up as their authentic self and take exactly what they need which shows up in many different ways such as: taking a pause to reconnect on their mat, trying something new or listening & allowing a cue to land in their body.

Go to artist for class playlist:

RÜFÜS DU SOL or Big Wild.

JuiceKeys Order:

Green Lemonade.

Music plays this role in my life:

Music helps me express whatever emotion I am feeling at that moment. When the music is carefully selected, it helps me connect more deeply to the present moment.

Erin Rood

Instructor

Erin found YoBa Studio shortly after they opened their doors in the Spring of 2016. She was immediately drawn to both the mental and physical side of yoga. With four kids at home, Erin is a mother first above all else, but as she was preparing to send her youngest off to kindergarten she knew she wanted to explore yoga further. Erin joined the YTT program at YoBa Studio in early 2018 and a new journey began for her. She wants people to know that no matter where they are in life, there is space for them to grown, learn, and try new things. Erin truly believes that everyone has a story to share and a journey of growth in front of them, and she brings this to every class she teaches. She loves that yoga is truly for everyone, its does not discriminate age, race, gender, or physical ability. Through being both a student and an instructor, Erin has found that YoBa Studio is a safe place for herself and so many others. She truly feels like no matter where you are in your life, yoga is beneficial and she can't wait to share this with you in her classes!

Get to know Erin:

Podcast I’m currently listening to:

Dateline. I love a good murder mystery!

Music plays this role in my life:

Energize, release emotion, embody the way I’m feeling.

By day (or night) I’m also a:

Full-time mom of 4 amazing kiddos and I also ride horses on the regular.

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

Yoba Studio has changed my life. It has helped me build a foundation for growth and resilience. It has brought me to life!

Nikki Richardson

Instructor

Nikki, a Raleigh native, spent much of her childhood on the soccer field and cheerleading for both school and competitive teams. After graduating from Florida State University, she moved to Los Angeles, CA and fell in love with the city, the people, and the culture before locating back to Raleigh. Although she discovered yoga in 2013, Nikki became more serious about her practice after becoming a YoBa Studio member in February 2019. She studied under Sam Williams and was RYT-200 certified through YoBa Studio’s YTT program in 2019. Her favorite part of becoming a teacher was learning how serving the community is such an important aspect of this position. She loves combining her eclectic music taste along with purposeful movement to her flows and she is excited to experience the practice with you.

Get to know Nikki:

You can find my own mat rolled out at this class:

YoBa. I love the mix of barre movements and a mindful practice together. The best kind of combo!

Music plays this role in my life:

Music inspires my life every day and I believe it is a form of communication. You can express your feelings with the press of a play button, without having to say a word. I love that music is such a big part of how we practice at YoBa.

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner:

Breakfast! All the savory dishes and LOTS of coffee, please!

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

I started off at YoBa as a client, where the studio was my place of reprieve and decompression from my busy day. For me, YoBa always meant a place of support and an opportunity to lose myself in movement and music. I crave the heat and crave the classes - even as a team member!

Hayley Twiss

Instructor

Hayley grew up in Charlotte, NC with her parents and two siblings. She started dancing at the age of 2 and went on to compete nationally as she got older. When it came time for college, she joined the dance team at UNC Chapel Hill. After graduation, she moved to Raleigh to be with her now husband, Tyler with whom she is expecting her first child! She was introduced to YoBa Studio in 2017 but was brought back into the family in late 2019. During the day, Hayley works in sales for an office products marketing company as an Account Manager. She is so excited to be a part of the YoBa Studio team and can’t wait to see everyone’s smiling faces in her class!

Get to know Hayley:

Mantra:

“Wherever you are, be all there” - Jim Elliot

You can find my own mat rolled out in this class:

Groove!

If I could invent a holiday it would probably be:

A second Halloween!

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Getting feedback from my students, I love hearing their thoughts on class!

Our Team

Meet Our Team

Sam Williams

Get to know Sam:

Music plays this role in my life:

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?

My teaching style is:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Hannah Bise

Get to know Hannah:

My teaching style is:

Go to artist for a class playlist:

My enneagram is:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Hannah Beckner

Get to know Hannah:

My enneagram is:

You can find my own mat rolled out at this class:

Mantra:

Music plays this role in my life:

Mary Mac Moore

Get to know Mary Mac:

Mantra:

My teaching style is:

My enneagram is:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Nicola Ferraro

Get to know Nicola:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

My enneagram is:

Mantra:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

Caitlin Guy

Get to know Caitlin:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

Podcast I’m currently listening to:

JuiceKeys Order:

How long have you been practicing?

Stacy Logan

Get to know Stacy:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

Music plays this role in my life:

By day (or night) I’m also a:

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?

Olivia Ball

Get to know Olivia:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class:

Go to artist for class playlist:

JuiceKeys Order:

Music plays this role in my life:

Erin Rood

Get to know Erin:

Podcast I’m currently listening to:

Music plays this role in my life:

By day (or night) I’m also a:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

Nikki Richardson

Get to know Nikki:

You can find my own mat rolled out at this class:

Music plays this role in my life:

Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner:

What has YoBa Studio meant to you?

Hayley Twiss

Get to know Hayley:

Mantra:

You can find my own mat rolled out in this class:

If I could invent a holiday it would probably be:

The most fulfilling part of teaching a class: