Meet our rock solid team of amazing massage therapists who work hard to offer you professional, powerful therapeutic treatments:

Lynda Saffell

(LMBT 9861)

Following her dream to serve others in a healing capacity, Lynda attended Bhakti Academe for Intuitive Massage and graduated in August 2004. She gained her pain management experience working two years in a Chiropractic clinic specializing in neck and back injuries.

Lynda has elevated massage to an art with her fine-tuned skill of “listening” to your body and the body’s energy. She practices a combination of relaxation massage, deep tissue therapeutic techniques, and healing energies to release tension and emotional stress and bring your body into balance. Each massage is a wonderful experience, custom designed to your needs in the moment, and includes hot stones and aromatherapy.

Leigh-Ann Renz

(LMBT 9076)

Leigh-Ann has been practicing massage & bodywork since 2009, after graduating from the Asheville School of Massage & Yoga. She has received additional training in Thai Massage, Reflexology, Hot Stone, CranioSacral, Myofascial Release, Cupping, and Esalen Techniques – and loves to integrate these various skills into a customized treatment for each client, based on their needs that day.

She enjoys implementing various tools & techniques to help clients meet their goals, whether it’s relaxation, deep tissue work, and/or a specific injury or pain. Leigh-Ann respects the sacredness of the massage space, recognizing that the work done on the table has deeper impacts on our minds and bodies, extending far beyond the actual session.

Tara Scarborough, RN, LMBT

LMBT 20125

Tara is a John Barnes trained myofascial release (MFR) therapist and specializes in this gentle modality of freeing fascial constrictions. It is effective in aleviating both acute and chronic pain and in aiding recovery from surgical procedures. It is also just generally, wonderfully relaxing.

Tara also is known for giving a fantastic therapeutic relaxation massage using traditional techniques and weaving some MFR along with techniques from neuromuscular therapy (NMT), a certification she received while studying at the WNC School of Massage.

When Tara is not at the studio for bodywork + yoga or working as an RN, you more than likely can find her out in the woods hiking, biking or kayaking on a local river. She is also a yoga teacher for WYC. Click here to learn more.

Natalie Lembeck

Reiki Practitioner

Natalie was first introduced to Reiki through a Reiki Restorative Workshop in Washington, DC in 2019. With an open mind, she entered the workshop without knowing what to expect. She left feeling more warm, centered, and healed. After only a few of her own Reiki sessions, Natalie recognized the power and deep influence of the practice. In the fall of 2019, Natalie began her own journey in becoming a reiki practitioner.

Offering herself as the conduit for the loving, essential life-force energy of the universe, Natalie‘s clients often leave her sessions feeling calmer, lighter, more balanced, and with A greater sense of ease in mind, body, and spirit. Natalie will be offering Reiki sessions with or without physical touch and with options for soothing music and calming essential oils to cultivate a welcoming, healing environment.

Jennifer Avoca Ross

Energy Alignment Practitioner, Usui Reiki, Black Hat Feng Shui, Wellness Coaching + Past Life Regression Therapy

Jennifer relocated to Waynesville from Beaufort, SC and brings with her 20 years of experience in the Holistic Wellness field. After seeing the toll being a Sales & Marketing Manager took on her own well-being, she shifted her focus to reclaiming her health and helping others to do the same. She made a career switch into massage therapy, which led to her passion for alternative healing therapies.

Massage was quickly followed by certifications in Usui Reiki, Black Hat Feng Shui, Wellness Coaching + Past Life Regression Therapy. Training in these modalities then opened her spiritually and led her to offer guided meditation, intuitive guidance, numerology + channeling.

Her passion & focus is helping others reconnect to the core of who they are to allow space for the body + souls own innate healing ability through energy work, sound & vibrational healing, guided process + sharing information she picks up from the body/soul of her clients.

Upcoming Events

“Since I started taking classes at Waynesville Yoga Center, I can now go down the stairs ‘normally’, instead of one foot at a time. I’m really pleased with how these classes are helping me.”

– Carol L.
“Jay is a wonderful yoga instructor; has great variety in classes; is always dependable (there and on time); is kind and understanding; and always available to answer questions and give additional instruction if necessary. She is calm and classes are enjoyable no matter the challenge.”

– Myndie S.
“Jay takes time to answer questions, to give help when needed in performing movements and is a gentle, calm person which helps my yoga experience.”

– Anita S.
“What has set the program apart for me, as well, is the approach to teaching that encourages us not to focus on a “perfect” pose, but rather perfecting a pose within our bodies and the bodies of our students. This means everyone’s expression of a pose will be slightly different, and there is such beauty in that. It runs counter to so much that we are taught elsewhere in life.”

– Kristen, B
“WYC YTT has given me such tremendous depth in my practice of yoga on and off the mat. I’ve loved seeing my evolution this year as I learned all the ways I can add yoga to my home and work life. I started just expecting to build a stronger personal practice, but now I am so excited to see where this will all take me in the years to come.”

– 2019 YTT Student
“My experience during my YTT at WYC has not only increased my confidence on the mat but has opened up endless possibilities and opportunities for a courageous, confident, and grateful life off the mat. “

– Teresa F.
I signed up for YTT thinking I had time to myself to focus on me, but the world has other plans. It’s still the best decision I’ve made, and I am so grateful that what I have learned has come to me at a time that I can apply it to so much real world trauma. This YTT has been a saving grace!

– Kim T.
“Jay is an always-patient, highly skilled teacher who makes everyone feel welcome and able to participate. Her class is always a joy and rewarding.”

– Barbara S.
“That special moment when your body, mind and spirit blend into a yummy synchronized yogic OHMMMMMMM……..yeah, YTT has given me like a hundred of those so far! You guys are awesome!”

– 2019 YTT Student
“I waited years looking for the right yoga teacher training program and WYC was definitely the reason why. I’m absolutely convinced I could not have found a program that was more creative, inclusive, or supportive. I would definitely attribute that to the meticulous design of the curriculum and incredibly talented teachers you brought in to lead so many cool facets of the course. You drew in some of the most amazing students with all this awesomeness and I’ve been so thrilled to learn alongside them this year so thank you, thank you, thank you for every last delicious bit of it.”

– CJH
“Amber, you’re an incredible teacher! You are a natural at creating flows that challenge and inspire your students.”

– Michelle G.C.
“Amber is an incredibly gifted instructor, particularly when it comes to yoga. She is calming, thorough, and provides that extra-added touch of essential oils, gentle adjustments, and themed practices. I love that Amber’s yoga classes are dynamic and she’s taught moves in her classes that I’ve never done in 15 years of practicing yoga. She’s a breath of fresh air in the yoga scene. I highly recommend her!”

– Christine G.
“I haven’t felt this good since I got my puppy, ten years ago!…”

– Steve S.
“After my first private session with Amber my body felt so good! Because of her guidance and personal assisting I highly recommend working with her.”

– Barbara B.
“YTT provided me with the tools and knowledge to deepen my own yoga practice and help others with theirs. This program challenged me in unforeseen ways and I am so thankful to have experienced this journey with such incredible teachers and fellow students. It was truly a life-changing experience.”

– Hayley P.
“One of the things I have loved about the program is that we are not just learning how to teach certain poses; I have been learning things I didn’t even know I could learn about yoga in general, including about the subtle energies, how they tie to both anatomy and the philosophy of yoga.”

– 2019 YTT Student
“Thank you all so much for offering this. It has truly been a gift in my life and I am very grateful to be part of this class!”

– Kristen, B
“Jay met me prior to class to help me polish my yoga teaching skills. I really appreciate her willingness to meet and teach me to make me a better instructor.”

– Brooke H.
“I woke up one morning and realized I was 60 years old, that I could live well into my 80s and that I had to do something to improve my strength and stamina if I wanted a good quality of life. I was caring for small grandchildren periodically, and it exhausted me.

As soon as I saw Waynesville Yoga Center was opening, I came. I am so thankful to Jay for a place where I feel safe, not self-conscious, and where I can attend classes that benefit me without feeling in competition with anyone else. Restorative and Yin have improved my flexibility and meditation skills; Beginner Flow, Flow Level 1 and Gentle Chair Yoga have increased my strength and balance and also challenged me, as has Barre and Balance!

I feel better than I ever have – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have met so many new friends. All of the instructors I have had are wonderful and willing to share of themselves. Thank you, Jay, your endeavor is making a tremendous difference in so many lives!”

– Terri M.
“With all of my health issues, I never would have believed I could ever learn to teach yoga. WYC’s Real Yoga for Real Bodies built my confidence as a leader, reminding me that my journey is my strength, and I will actually be a better teacher because of the challenges I’ve experienced. Thank you so much for creating a program that encouraged us to bring the beauty and the beast through this incredible transformation.”

– CJH
“When I first began practicing yoga, it seemed like the more I learned, the more I wanted to know. I bought a few books but still didn’t feel like a real student of the practice of yoga. When the 200 hour YTT was offered, I saw it as the perfect chance to really expand my knowledge. I have come to realize that with this deep dive into the practice of yoga, I have a strong knowledge bank that will allow me to continue to expand my knowledge of yoga for years to come.”

– Jann F.

Our mission is to provide a safe and accepting space where students can learn, heal, grow - and have fun! We work to create peace in our world, communities and families by first creating peace within ourselves.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

We'll send special offers, yoga articles, event information, and more - directly to your inbox!

Visit Us

Contact Us

Waynesville Yoga Center
274 S Main St
Waynesville, NC 28786

828.246.6570

hello@waynesvilleyogacenter.com

Meet our rock solid team of amazing massage therapists who work hard to offer you professional, powerful therapeutic treatments:

Lynda Saffell

(LMBT 9861)

Leigh-Ann Renz

(LMBT 9076)

Tara Scarborough, RN, LMBT

Natalie Lembeck

Jennifer Avoca Ross

Upcoming Events

“Since I started taking classes at Waynesville Yoga Center, I can now go down the stairs ‘normally’, instead of one foot at a time. I’m really pleased with how these classes are helping me.”

“Jay is a wonderful yoga instructor; has great variety in classes; is always dependable (there and on time); is kind and understanding; and always available to answer questions and give additional instruction if necessary. She is calm and classes are enjoyable no matter the challenge.”

“Jay takes time to answer questions, to give help when needed in performing movements and is a gentle, calm person which helps my yoga experience.”

“My experience during my YTT at WYC has not only increased my confidence on the mat but has opened up endless possibilities and opportunities for a courageous, confident, and grateful life off the mat. “

I signed up for YTT thinking I had time to myself to focus on me, but the world has other plans. It’s still the best decision I’ve made, and I am so grateful that what I have learned has come to me at a time that I can apply it to so much real world trauma. This YTT has been a saving grace!

“Jay is an always-patient, highly skilled teacher who makes everyone feel welcome and able to participate. Her class is always a joy and rewarding.”

“That special moment when your body, mind and spirit blend into a yummy synchronized yogic OHMMMMMMM……..yeah, YTT has given me like a hundred of those so far! You guys are awesome!”

“Amber, you’re an incredible teacher! You are a natural at creating flows that challenge and inspire your students.”

“I haven’t felt this good since I got my puppy, ten years ago!…”

“After my first private session with Amber my body felt so good! Because of her guidance and personal assisting I highly recommend working with her.”

“One of the things I have loved about the program is that we are not just learning how to teach certain poses; I have been learning things I didn’t even know I could learn about yoga in general, including about the subtle energies, how they tie to both anatomy and the philosophy of yoga.”

“Thank you all so much for offering this. It has truly been a gift in my life and I am very grateful to be part of this class!”

“Jay met me prior to class to help me polish my yoga teaching skills. I really appreciate her willingness to meet and teach me to make me a better instructor.”

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Visit Us

Contact Us

Schedule