Meet Our Instructors

Kate Jenkins

Instructor

Kate Jenkins, graduated from Bikram Teacher Training in Spring of 2009. She has taught classes at yoga studios throughout the world. She is a runner & overall fitness enthusiast. The heart and foundation of her fitness is Hot Yoga.

Kate is a native of Nashville, TN. She attended Loyola University in New Orleans and earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy. She has worked as a Board Certified Music Therapist in therapeutic settings for children with physical and developmental disabilities, those with psychiatric issues, and geriatrics. Kate has made Birmingham home since 2004. She attended Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in 2009 in Palm Desert. Later, she attended Bernie Clark’s Yin Yoga Teacher Training in Vancouver in 2014, Vinyasa Yoga for At-Risk Youth Training in Vancouver in 2015, Buti Yoga Certification in 2016, Pyro Pilates in 2018 and Barkan Method Level III training from 2018- 2019 where she received her 500 RYT designation. She completed her Certificate of Ministry from Highlands College in 2020. She is a member of Church of the Highlands and enjoys leading small groups there.

Kate maintains a strong connection to her Indian reservation – Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico. The tradition and ceremony of her culture means the world to her. “Our people have maintained and celebrated tradition that is ancient. It makes me appreciate the lineage and purity of this Yoga. It consistently creates a challenge to give the practitioner what they NEED.” Kate founded the non-profit, Native Strength Revolution. She leads a leadership training program to equip Indigenous and those serving Indigenous people to lead yoga and wellness in their communities.

Trina Smith

Instructor

Natalie Evans

Instructor

Iowa native, Natalie Evans had made Alabama home since 2001.  In 2011, on a recommendation from a friend to get in shape for swimsuit season, Natalie joined Kiva.  It soon became apparent early in her practice that getting in swimsuit shape merely scratched the surface of how yoga could change her life.  Natalie did notice changes in her body and also in her life perspective as well, resulting in a more grounded and calmer attitude.  Natalie completed Inferno Hot Pilates training in May of 2017 and completed the 200 hour Kiva Hot Yoga Teacher Training in 2017.

Natalie truly appreciates the power of the hot yoga and its ability to transform lives.  She hopes to be a teacher who encourages students to be kind to themselves while doing their best for that day- one breath at a time.

Christa Richardson

Holly Kight

Instructor

Holly is a devoted mother first and foremost. She is a lover of the Birmingham physical fitness community, music, nature, and the arts. The fact that yoga has helped her quiet her mind and to be more focused, has greatly become her therapy and natural medication. Holly is not sure if she “chose” yoga or if yoga chose her but the journey she is on is wonderful and always interesting to say the least.

Heidi Goff

“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou I have always wanted to make other people feel good, which is why I want to tell the world about yoga. I first started practicing yoga consistently at the beginning of 2017 at Kiva Hot Yoga. I had been struggling with depression and anxiety. I soon fell in love with the mental, spiritual, and physical benefits I experienced each time I was on the mat. My family and friends noticed how much calmer and happier I was. It was not long before realizing that since I loved yoga so much and it had made such an impression on my own life that I should become a Yoga Instructor, and so I did.

I began my instructor journey in June of 2018, completing my 250-hour certification, by Evolation Yoga. I became a National Registered Teacher (RYT 200) with Yoga Alliance in September 2018. I never imagined I would be as nervous as I was teaching my first yoga class, but I pushed myself through the nerves and began teaching. I have not looked back. Of course, being the overachiever, I am, I immediately was eager to do more training. A year later, in 2019, I acquired my 80 hr certification from Jimmy Barkan. I am currently a practitioner and teacher at Kiva Hot Yoga, specializing in the Hot 26 and Barkan Flow.

I am passionate about my own practice and the gift to guide others in theirs. I hope to inspire others to challenge themselves, and more importantly, to believe in themselves. We are the only thing standing in our own way. I plan to continue to grow and educate myself more with my personal practice and teaching. My passion is to help as many people as I can to find their inner peace, mindfulness, and balance in their everyday life.

Forrest Singletary

Andrea Fannin

Bio coming soon!

Anna McEntire

Anna McEntire is from Birmingham, AL and grew up in the Oak Mountain area. She graduated from Auburn University with a Secondary Science Education degree in 2010 and has been a teacher in Tuscaloosa, Pensacola, Panama City, and now Helena. She also coaches dance team and loves being involved in helping young adults find their passions. Before she came to yoga, she loved to stay active with hiking, running, and dancing. Growing up a dancer, she knows the importance of mobility and flexibility and decided adding yoga was a necessary choice to maintain her lifestyle! What she didn’t expect was how much MORE hot yoga and Kiva would benefit her body, mind, and spirit! Kiva immediately became a second home with its encouraging instructors, warm atmosphere, fun and challenging classes, and bright energy. She fell in love with the hot 26 practice. It truly is a moving meditation, and she quickly grew to enjoy watching all these positive changes occur in her mood, sleep, physical health, strength, energy levels, stamina, positivity, and patience. She can’t wait to help guide you through a practice that has completely changed her life and to help empower you to become your best self on and off the mat.