Meet our team of beekeepers, yogis and more!
Omar Moros Taylor
Omar Moros Taylor is an avid lover of all things outdoors, whether it’s gardening, backpacking, sailing, beekeeping, and more. Having gone to college for environmental studies and global health studies, Omar is driven by exploring inquiries encompassing the intricate connections between people and nature; focusing on community engagement, community resilience, and sustainability. Omar serves as Living Water’s Bee Sanctuary Manager and Volunteer Coordinater.
Shanna Latia
“I’m an extroverted personality teaching myself and others how to turn within to experience our true authentic selves.”
Shanna Thornton began on the path of yoga in January 2016 and hasn’t looked back since! Her first exposure to yoga was during a college course and after a trip to Yogaville with her professor, Shanna knew she was destined to share the science that had been so transformative for her. In the Spring of 2017, Shanna earned her 200-hour Basic Certification from Integral Yoga under the tutelage of Nora Vimala Pozzi. Shanna then went on to study Sound and Vibrational healing at the Atma Buti school of Soul Medicine. Shanna guides both sound meditation and yoga practices at Living Water.
Alexza DeCroix
Alexza has been practicing yoga since 2002. She started by practicing from a book on the roof of a friend’s house in Puerto Rico because there weren’t a lot of classes available and she didn’t have money to pay for them at the time. She was certified as a teacher in 2004 at the first yoga teacher training in Puerto Rico ever at Samadhi Yoga. Most lectures and classes were in Spanish (which she speaks pretty well).
Alexza has drawn on yoga and meditation for inspiration and healing in many ways, especially after a motorcycle accident in 2012, when it was unclear whether her knee would fully heal.
Alexza is a dancer, a rave and club dj, and an adventurer. She has traveled in Europe, Central America and Indonesia and lived outside of the continental U.S. for 8 years, studying Anusara yoga along the way. She has managed yoga studios in Tribeca and RVA, and taught regularly in Costa Rica. Alexza is also a serious student of astrology, breathwork, occult, energy, healing and mysticism.
Ssanyu Brooks
Ssanyu (aka Sunny) Brooks' intention is to guide students who are seeking a place to be their authentic selves. She prioritized yoga practices in 2016 and became a 200hr certified yoga teacher in 2019, after a transformational yoga retreat. Ssanyu realized that she wanted to provide a space for freedom of humanity & personal autonomy, when working in the field of healthcare. Her background in clinical training exposed her to people's wholehearted beliefs, which are multi-faceted and very intricate. She allows students the opportunity to explore their personal beliefs & needs in a safe space. She has over 500 hours of various trainings, including Power Yoga, Fitness, Slow Flow Vinyasa, Yin, yoga anatomy, and guided meditation. Her practice of teaching yoga is based in encouraging the essentials for the practice (breath, body, mind, and spirit). Her wellness services (yoga asana, meditation, and breathwork) are continually being evolved to be extremely supportive for persons in essential occupations and other marginalized communities. She strives to be a catalyst for renewal, joy, and movement of energy.
Grandmaster Lorenzo Gibson
Grandmaster Lorenzo Gibson has studied martial arts for over 35 years. His foundation and focus is traditional Tae Kwon Do, a Korean art of self-defense. He holds the rank of 7th degree black belt, thus earning the title of Grandmaster.
Grandmaster Gibson has also studied Korean weaponry, Kumdo (Korean Kendo), Aikido, Judo, Ju Jitsu, Karate and Grappling. He has instructed over 400 black belts and has earned recognition and lifelong devotion from his students. Many of his students have competed in and won state and national competitions.
Grandmaster Gibson continues to instruct martial arts in the tradition of the ancient masters, through patience and humble dedication. He now teaches at Living Water Community Center. Contact Master Gibson to join the class!
lorenzo.gibson@comcast.net
804.304.7088
James McDonald
James McDonald is an avid gardener, beekeeper and community organizer. He helped organize Owl Orchard community garden and he volunteers at Living Water in a variety of ways, one of which is managing hives in our host-a-hive program. James also serves on Living Water’s Board of Directors.
Drew Nagy
Drew Nagy manages the apiary and bee sanctuary at Living Water. Drew loves beekeeping and gardening because they help him stay connected to nature. Drew also serves as Living Water Executive Director and Pastor of Westover Baptist Church.
Katie Lemmert
Katie Lemmert leads Community Breathwork and Sound on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. Breathwork has been transformational for Katie and she loves sharing the practice with the community. In 2021 Katie wanted to expand her personal breathwork practice and dive deeper into self-healing so she attended the Healer Training at Omega Institute. She has since studied at the Atma Buti® Sound & Vibrational School, completed her 200 YTT at The Yoga Dojo, and studied Meridian Yoga Therapy and is a NADA Detoxification Specialist. Katie also designed the Living Water logo through her company Katie Did Design. She is always welcoming new students and finding fresh ways to engage with and share her skills with the community.
Jonah Marsh
Jonah has enjoyed studying and practicing Qigong since 2008. A Richmond native, he graduated from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Ecology in 2009. His studies focused on traditional Western ecology as well as philosophy of nature from a Taoist perspective. Much of the wisdom of Chinese Medicine is summed up in the phrase, "Return to Nature." By discerning patterns and natural laws, ancient practitioners of Qigong and Chinese medicine found the keys to longevity and harmony in life. It is this spiritual and philosophical aspect, along with the movement practices of Qigong, which Jonah is passionate about sharing with others.
Beginning in 2011, Jonah has studied Blue Dragon (Qing Lung in Chinese) Qigong and Chinese internal martial arts with Shifu Glen Moore here in Richmond. Blue Dragon is a type of Ba Gua Zhang, a Chinese internal martial art which also excels in healing and spiritual development. He still attends weekly classes with Shifu Moore and is an assistant instructor. Jonah also enjoys hiking and camping, skateboarding, attending live music events outdoors, and spending time on the beautiful James River.
Annie Peace
Annie Peace teaches Chair Yoga and facilitates sound healing at Living Water. She has been practicing yoga from the age of 12, and has been teaching groups and individuals since 2016. Her teaching practice includes vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, restorative yoga, yin yoga, and yoga nidra, depending on the needs of each individual or group. Annie also offers guided meditation and sound meditations. She believes yoga practice can be helpful for anyone in centering, finding peace, and connecting to self and others, and tunes each practice to that goal. Annie has taught in yoga studios, parks, community centers, gyms, museums, ballrooms, homes, and businesses, as well as online, and welcomes the opportunity share her practice.
Shonda Austin
Meet Shonda, a beacon of wellness whose journey is as inspiring as her teachings. With a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, she embarked on a path that seamlessly blends academia with the profound wisdom of yoga. Her initial introduction into the world of yoga began in the tranquil setting of Santa Barbara, CA, where she completed her first teacher training, sparking a flame that would ignite her purpose. As a 250-hour certified yoga instructor, she doesn't just guide bodies through poses; she nurtures spirits and fosters self-discovery in every session. Beyond her role as a wellness entrepreneur and yoga instructor, she is a devoted mother, embodying balance and nurturing both her family and her community. With grace and intention, she curates classes, workshops and retreats that create sacred spaces for growth and connection.
Julian J. Desta
Always having a passion for the creative arts, Julian J. Desta was introduced to the practice of Sound Healing and Therapy when given his first singing bowl as a birthday present from a friend. Julian began researching the depths of sound and its powerful healing techniques. After a few years practicing, Julian received his Sound Healing Certification from Mentor and friend Mark Toregson in 2019. Specializing in a variety of instruments from the didgeridoo, to flutes, singing bowls, and drums Julian has created a unique Sound Healing Experience called Elemental Sound Healing. Discovering relationship between sound healing and nature he calls on the 4 elements of Air, Wind, Water, and Fire to channel through each practice to bring balance to the human system, or what he likes to refer to as homeostasis. Julian guides sound meditations at Living Water.
Heather Lane
Heather first found Yoga out of curiosity when she was 13 years old at her local YMCA and that is when herjourney began. Over the years as she continued on her journey, she realized Yoga was her number one constant in life, whether it was an actual class or youtube or apps. She collected books, magazines and yoga gear over the years. At the age of 36, she completed her 200 hr yoga teacher training at Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville, Virginia.