Our Instructors
Get to know the team that makes Homebody what it is! Click through to learn about what brought them to yoga, what to expect from their classes, and fun facts like their favorite local spot in Raleigh and wishlist concerts. Each person’s unique background shines through in their classes so make sure to try as many as you can!
Jayne Vecchio
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Why yoga? I first tried yoga in 2017 while finishing up grad school. I was an avid runner at the time and did not think I would enjoy yoga because I assumed it was “just stretching” and I thought I would prefer something “more intense.” I finally agreed to take one yoga class and was absolutely humbled. I fell in love with how yoga made my body and brain feel. I am also a Registered Dietitian and feel that practicing yoga is a wonderful way to find gratitude for the body and all it does for us each and every day.
Teaching background? I dedicated half my life to competitive cheerleading and yoga soon became my creative outlet after college. I dove into teacher training in 2019 and have been teaching since. I love seeing my students feel strong and capable during class while challenging themselves.
Other movement? I love a good run.
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Goodnights Comedy Club
What do you hope people take away from your class? Trust yourself – we are capable of more than we think.
Bucket list travel? Greece, Southern Italy, Spain, Paris, Bali. Anywhere and everywhere.
Favorite concert? Austin City Limits 2023 – I cried when I saw Mt Joy for the 8th time
Conner Burke
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Why yoga? I grew up with a panic disorder, but I only recently learned the words to describe how I've always felt. Connecting mind and body through movement has helped me understand feelings that words can’t. I came into teaching in hopes that I could share how the yoga practice has benefits that go far beyond the physical body.
Teaching background? I started teaching as a way to share the practice with others - especially the mental health benefits. I’ve been teaching for 3 years but have been practicing for 10 years. All of my classes are trauma-informed which comes through in the cues I use and music I choose to pair with the practice.
Other movement? Catch me popping into run groups around Raleigh. I also love weight lifting and walking.
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Raleigh City Farm
What do you hope people take away from your class? My direction is only a suggestion to guide your own practice. I want students to show up for themselves and move how their body needs.
Bucket list travel? Mediterranean
Favorite concert you've ever been to? Dermot Kennedy at Red Rocks
Erica LaGarde
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Why yoga? I found myself with extra time after retiring from 10+ years of competitive dance and decided to try yoga. About a year into my practice I discovered vinyasa flow and found classes that incorporated contemporary music. I was hooked and fell in love with the depth and versatility of the practice.
Teaching background? I have been teaching dance and group fitness since 2005, and felt called to share my passion for yoga pretty quickly in my journey. i finished my 200hr certification in the summer of 2017 and have been teaching in the Raleigh area ever since. I've completed a variety of continuing education over the years in restorative and yin yoga, modern human anatomy, flexibility and mobility, power vinyasa, and recovery yoga. I'm also working towards my 500-hr designation with Yoga Renew.
Other movement? Running, strength training, and Pilates! Movement activities are my favorite activities and I definitely like to mix it up.
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Umstead Park for views, Green Light Tavern for fancy bevs, Che Empanadas for snacks, or Rebus Works for something cutesy and v Raleigh.
What do you hope people take away from your class? I like to think of every class as a little adventure; a place to let curiosity, playfulness, and intuition thrive. Life can get serious, let yoga be fun!
Bucket list travel? Yellowstone National Park, Vancouver Island, or Joshua Tree!
Favorite concert you've ever been to? Oh man. I really love live music, it's practically my whole personality. I've seen Sylvan Esso like 8 times so maybe they are my favorite band to see live? Hard to pick though.
Glenn Cheatham
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Why yoga? I started practicing yoga in 2016 while in college. I was a struggling, anxious, stressed college student who found so much community, calming, and security in establishing a yoga routine. Yoga was the thing that helped me feel strong not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.
Teaching background? I decided that I wanted to teach yoga while I was sick and in and out of hospitals. While recovering, I got to participate in gentle yin yoga and yoga nidra. It was a first-hand experience of how impactful and healing a yoga practice can be, and I felt so passionate about being able to share that with others. I’ve been teaching yoga for four years and have incorporated my teaching into my career as a therapist, as well as becoming a trauma-informed yoga teacher.
Other movement? I love a lot of different styles of movement! I mainly practice kettlebell movements like swings, snatches, and Turkish get-ups. I love to create full-body kettlebell flows that work in some yoga/animal style movements like beast (hovering table) and crab reaches (like wild thing).
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Boulted Bread for a morning bun, Black & White for a brown sugar oat milk latte, Standard for a What’s In A Name cocktail, and Player’s Retreat for a mushroom & Swiss burger.
What do you hope people take away from your class? I want people to establish a deeper connection to themselves and leave feeling like they are more aligned with themselves and more attuned to their own energy.
Bucket list travel? Bike trip in Spain! Japan! Mexico City!
Favorite concerts or wishlist concerts? Maggie Rogers' most recent tour! Wishlist concert is Teddy Swims or Anderson.Paak
Matt Michael
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Why yoga? I first tried yoga doing P90X in college. I then did yoga sparingly for several years, as a complement to running. Eventually, I ended up at a yoga studio and fell in love with the practice. Haven’t stopped since.
Teaching background? My partner convinced me into doing yoga teacher training in 2018. I hadn’t planned on actually teaching yoga but fell in love with sharing my practice with others and have been teaching since!
Other movement? Running, weight training, cycling!
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Natural Science (PS2)
What do you hope people take away from your class? That yoga is fun and accessible to anyone!
Bucket list travel? Redwood National and State Park
Favorite concert? King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at Bonnaroo ‘22
Layla Christie
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Why yoga? I started practicing yoga in college, and I immediately felt like it was more than just a "workout." The studio became a place where I could leave everything at the door and walk in feeling the open arms of the yoga room. Building a good community became easy with the students who considered themselves continuous learners. Yoga challenged me to be bold, build trust, and show up as myself. Moving to Raleigh, I knew no one, and quickly became friends with the yoga teachers whose classes I frequented often.
Teaching background? I got into teaching to meet two simultaneous goals: to encourage myself and others to find their voice.
Other movement? Running, playing basketball, and walks!
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Milk Lab
What do you hope people take away from your class? Feeling refreshed and more at peace than when they walked in.
Bucket list travel? Taiwan, the South of France, Austria, Egypt, and Australia!
Favorite concert or wishlist concert? Samia on my birthday at Cat's Cradle. Wishlist concert would be Zach Bryan.
Joanna Gaertner
STUDIO LEAD
If you’ve received a text message from us or emailed us with questions, chances are Joanna is the one who’s been behind the screen chatting with you. She helps us to keep the studio sparkly clean, is a smiling face and listening ear for anyone who walks through the doors, and a works alongside Emily to keep everything running smoothly. Her and Emily have been working hard to bring Homebody to life and it wouldn’t exist without her!
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My high school field hockey coach emphasized versatility by introducing her athletes to various fitness modalities. Yoga formed the foundation of this approach, incorporating breathwork techniques for use both on and off the field. Shortly after being introduced to these practices, I suffered a back injury that limited my mobility. It was then that I turned to yoga, learning to listen to my body and utilize breathwork in my recovery process. This experience sparked a lifelong commitment to yoga. I've maintained my practice over the years, allowing it to grow and evolve with me, continuing to benefit my physical and mental well-being long after my high school athletics career.
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Other movement you love? I love to bike, skateboard and above all I love to walk!
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? The State Farmers Market, it never gets old!
Bucket list travel? South Africa
Favorite concert or wishlist concert? My favorite concert I've attended was Noah Kahan at Red Hat. The dream would be going to Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Emily Winters
OWNDER & FOUNDER
As the founder and owner of Homebody, Emily has put her heart into creating a yoga home in Raleigh for those seeking a place to practice where the impact yoga has not only on your physical health, but more importantly your mental health, is truly understood. She’ll provide mentorship to her teachers so they feel encouraged to express their own unique styles within a creative sequencing framework. She believes in multiple levels of intensity in every class for students to fluctuate between based on how they’re feeling in the moment.
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I started practicing yoga is 2006 as a sophomore in high school looking for a physical and creative outlet, as well as a space where I felt safe to process my thoughts. I've always struggled with anxiety. Yoga and meditation have played a big role in helping me say centered and to be honest, sane.
After consistently practicing for over 10 years at various studios across the country, I completed my yoga teacher training in 2018 at Up Yoga in Minneapolis, MN. I've been teaching ever since! I've completed a few other trainings as well including a mobility & asana course, Flow School with Bonnie Weeks, and I'm working on my 300 HR YTT with Awakening Yoga Academy led by Patrick Beach and Carling Harps.
My teaching style is founded on functional movement, strength, and connection to breath. You’ll leave feeling grounded, strong, and like you just learned a few new dance moves.
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Other movement you love? Strength training, Barre Eclipse, and walking!
Favorite local spot in Raleigh? Left Hook Coffee for their oat milk matcha latte, Bold Batch Creamery for their Oreo Borealis, Oberlin Regional Library to pick up yet another book from my holds list.
Bucket list travel? Croatia, Southern Italy, Colombia, Joshua Tree National Park
Favorite concert or wishlist concert? Maggie Rogers at First Ave in Minneapolis, October 2018. She played the entire Heard It In A Past Life album, except it hadn’t been released yet so it was complete silence and awe as everyone took it all in. I also saw Brandi Carlile at FloydFest in 2015 and I’ve seen her live at least 6 times since then. Wishlist concert is Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks for sure!
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