Yoga Studio in Virginia Beach, VA where we share good health & healing through yoga & meditation with people from every level of wellness and every walk of life.

yoga

“If you can breathe, you can do yoga.”

- Krishnamacharya

Shine Yoga Studio VA

You are welcome here. This is a no judgement zone.

Yoga has nothing to do with your flexibility, your size or your experience. Here at Shine, we are all about relieving stress, learning to calm and quiet the mind, increasing strength and connecting to a place of peace, whatever that looks like for you.

Get to know yourself from the inside out!

Be curious, be brave. We’re all in this together! We are here for you, every step of the way. Any questions, give us a call at 757-335-6006, connect on social or hop on over to the Contact Form.

Meet the Shine Family

Kacie-Steinmetz

KACIE STEINMETZ, Owner

My vision for Shine Yoga is to be the kind of studio where everyone feels safe to practice and open themselves up to the kind of healing that comes from self-awareness, stillness together with movement, shared community with other warm and accepting souls. We know that doing yoga has nothing to do with your body type, flexibility, or previous experience. I don’t necessarily believe yoga is for everyone—but it is for anyone who feels called to explore it. If you’re seeking connection, healing, or simply space to breathe, you’ll find that here.

Armed with a degree in music theatre and a heart for helping others, I blindly set out into the big world in the late 90’s with very little direction and no plan. I had no idea who I was or what I wanted and my path unfolded very slowly. I took my first yoga class at the Hampton Family YMCA in 2000 and I was hooked! I finally gave in to the burning desire to pursue yoga as a teacher in 2005 when I was pregnant with my son. There are few things that have fit me so well. I love the physical practice of the asanas and the yogic principles of lovingkindness and simplicity and stillness, just for starters.

After a daughter in 2008 and a divorce in 2010, I decided it was time to define who I was and what I really wanted to do with my life! I received my life coach certification in February 2013 and moved to Virginia Beach in July the same year and became a new bride at 38! There are few things that teach you more about yourself than a second marriage. It’s been an incredible journey and a powerful blessing.

That first certification in 2005 was a 30-hour prenatal program through American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA). I enrolled in a 200-hour program with YogaRenew just before the whole world closed down in 2020, and it would be a year before I completed the program. And within another year, I completed my trauma-informed 300-hour program with our current yoga school, Always-at-Aum Yoga School. Those programs were two of the best decisions I ever made!  And it just goes to show that you can complete a teacher training program at any age.

In June of 2020, the time had come for me to realize my long-time dream of owning a yoga studio when I took over at Shine Yoga!  My experience in helping to run a small business varies from a yacht broker to a small site design firm to my own relationship coaching practice! These experiences had prepared me for some of the more challenging aspects of small business ownership. But I am definitely much more at home in a yoga studio! The transition to yoga studio ownership felt very much like coming to center for me since yoga and meditation have been such a big part of my life for so long.

Matt and I live practically right around the corner from the studio with our four nearly-ready-to-launch children and our two dogs. In a transition to a world geographically 45 minutes from my home but a world away from the culture, I feel so much like I am where I am supposed to be. It is so important to me to share that level of joy and peace with others through the practice of yoga.

Our Team

We have an amazing group of talented instructors who are committed to creating a safe, inviting atmosphere where you can explore, grow and rest through yoga practice.

Jackie Sawyer

Jackie Sawyer

Instructor

Jackie sought Yoga after an illness many years ago and she’s been practicing ever since. Originally from England, Jackie came to the states in 1997 when her husband took a job here. She received her 200-hour teacher training in 2009 and her 300-hour in 2014, both from Angela Phillips. She also has certifications in Yin Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, and Chair Yoga. She loves the more gentle and meditative elements of Yoga and is looking forward to training more now that she is retired from the school system.

Jackie believes that Yoga is for every-body, and the yoga studio and your yoga mat are sacred places.

Jackie has been teaching at Shine since 2020, when Kacie became the owner.  Jackie is a perfect fit for our team of easy going instructors, having practiced at Shine for three years previous.

Jackie and her husband have two daughters and four  grandchildren. They love to spend time with them, and they also enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors, walking, biking, and golfing.

Tammy Keefer

Tammy Keefer

Instructor

Tammy and her parents moved to Virginia Beach in 1985. As the daughter of a Marine, she was used to not settling down in one place for too long, yet her family fell in love with the Hampton Roads area and began establishing roots. Virginia Beach has always felt like her home even while spending several years away serving in the Army and living in the DC area and Charlottesville.

It was in Charlottesville in 2016 where Tammy took her first kundalini yoga class under Crystal Oliver (Sohan Raj). She immediately felt a deep connection, and within a short period of time of continued practice she began to notice an undeniably positive shift in her life. Since then she has devoted much of her time to deepening her practice and in 2019 her endeavors included a RYT 220 teacher training under Jai Gopal Khalsa.

Having adopted a daily meditation practice, Tammy enjoys sharing the tools and techniques that has transformed her inner awareness, health and life. Her classes offer invigorating breath work, meditation and kriyas that will help you balance and optimize your physical and energetic bodies. She also offers Gong Yoga Nidra, a guided meditation that will take you into a deep state of relaxation by incorporating her voice and the use of the gong.

When not on the mat, Tammy is a wedding and portrait photographer and works alongside her husband. She also enjoys the great outdoors and trail running.

Frances McQueen

Frances McQueen

Instructor

Frances discovered yoga in Tucson, AZ, back in 2000 when she was just 18 years old. While working at a tanning salon, the yoga studio owner next door offered her a job, a raise, and the chance to try yoga—and her life was forever changed.

What drew Frances in wasn’t just the poses but the profound wisdom and timeless teachings of yoga. Since then, yoga has been her guide, shaping her journey and offering opportunities for growth, connection, and peace she never imagined.

Frances is known for her nurturing teaching style that balances movement and stillness, strength and ease. Whether you’re new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, her classes are designed to meet you where you are, offering a space to deepen your practice and reconnect with yourself.

She’s a highly experienced teacher, holding E-RYT® 200 and RYT® 500 certifications. Frances specializes in Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Slow Flow, Meditation, and Pranayama. As a YACEP® provider, she also supports yoga teachers with continuing education.

When she’s not on her mat, Frances is running, swimming, and thriving in Mom life.

Michelle Graybeal

Michelle Graybeal

Instructor

Michelle, RYT-200, RCYT, is bringing her passion for movement, mindfulness, and creative expression to our studio, and we can’t wait for you to experience her energy. She’ll be taking over our Friday 6:45am (we know it’s early, but it’ll be worth it to get out of bed!) Energetic Flow, helping you kick-start your day with strength, breath, and intention.

Michelle’s yoga journey started in high school, where she first discovered the power of breathwork. Since then, she’s built an incredible background in fitness and wellness, teaching group classes for adults and children. She became a certified yoga teacher in 2023 and later added children’s yoga to her expertise. Plus, she’s a published author of mindfulness and gratitude journals.  Michelle is an inspiration!

Nik Levinsky

Nik Levinsky

Instructor
Nik began training in martial arts at the age of 16, starting with Muay Thai (kickboxing) and Filipino Arnis (stick fighting). After sustaining a serious knee injury that required surgery, he discovered Chi Kung and Tai Chi through the Ñam Hoa Temple system and the Longevity Tree Form. This practice not only allowed him to continue his love of movement but also provided a deeper, more mindful strength that supported both physical and mental healing.
Over the years, Nik integrated these principles into all aspects of life, from surfing and snowboarding to daily work and well-being. His greatest appreciation for the arts of Yoga and Chi Kung comes from their adaptability—these practices grow with us, enhancing all forms of physical training rather than being confined to traditional movements. Through breathwork, he cultivates a sense of flow, much like a river moving from the mountains, creating space for stillness amidst the busyness of daily life.
In 2004, Nik became a certified instructor in the Longevity Tree, Yang Energy, and Tiger Forms under Master Jim Scott Berhends. Since then, he has been sharing this transformative practice, guiding others toward strength, balance, and inner peace.
Join Nik on Mondays at 6:15!
Suzanne Toone

Suzanne Toone

Instructor

Suzanne began her yoga journey years ago when she walked into a beginner’s class that completely changed her life. Inspired by the variety of yogis she met—different backgrounds, ages, and body types—she decided to pursue her teaching certification in 2016 at the age of 41. Since then, she’s been passionate about sharing the message that yoga truly is for every body, regardless of age or shape.

Her teaching style focuses on the gentler side of yoga—beginner-friendly, adaptable, and centered on relaxation, balance, and calming the mind and spirit. Suzanne encourages modifications and exploration so students can make the practice their own. She has studied Hatha, Yin, and Chair Yoga, and she also holds certifications in NLP, hypnotherapy, Reiki 3, EFT, chakra therapy, and crystal therapy. Always curious, she enjoys learning new energy practices and exploring different spiritual paths.

Ginny DeCoster

Ginny DeCoster

Instructor

Ginny began practicing yoga in 2006 as part of her journey toward a healthier lifestyle. Over the years, she has studied and practiced a wide variety of methods, including Bikram, Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Gentle, and Restorative yoga. She earned her RYT 200 and RYT 500 certifications in Hatha Yoga in 2008 and 2010, and is also certified in Ashtanga/Power Yoga through Beryl Bender Birch and The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute. In 2016, she completed Raja Yoga Academy’s first U.S.-based RYT 500 training with Craig Villani in Huntington Beach, CA, focusing on the therapeutic practice of the original hot yoga sequence.

Drawing from this wide range of training, Ginny has learned how to support every body in yoga through modifications, alignment, and hands-on assistance. She has been teaching since 2008, previously served as the director of yoga at Inlet Fitness South in Virginia Beach, and later opened her own yoga studio. Today, she continues to teach in-person classes, lead continuing education for yoga teachers, and run YogaRx, her online platform dedicated to therapeutic yoga.

We are always looking to welcome new teachers to the Shine yoga fam!

Are you a certified yoga instructor (or future certified yoga instructor) with a passion for helping others? Reach out today to learn more about joining our team.

Get in Touch