Business Details
Inclusive Yoga Studio in Gainesville, FL
Kardiya is a small but ambitious yoga studio dedicated to creating an inclusive community that supports both students and teachers. Our mission is to make yoga accessible to all through a tiered membership structure that ensures fair compensation for instructors while remaining affordable for practitioners. We believe in the transformative power of yoga beyond physical practice, emphasizing mindful learning to heal individuals and strengthen community bonds. Our unique pricing model allows members to choose contribution levels based on personal circumstances while maintaining consistent benefits across all tiers. We prioritize teacher well-being, recognizing that sustainable careers for instructors lead to higher quality instruction.With both in-person and online class options, we serve a diverse population seeking physical wellness, mental clarity, and spiritual growth. Our Gainesville-based studio operates on land historically stewarded by Indigenous communities, which we acknowledge with respect and gratitude. Through regular workshops, teacher training programs, and community events, we foster connections that extend beyond the mat. Our experienced instructors bring decades of combined expertise in various yoga disciplines and movement practices. We continually experiment with new formats like our 'Yoga + Skateboarding' retreats to make wellness practices engaging and accessible to different audiences.
Services
Yoga Classes
Teacher Training
Online Library
Prenatal Yoga
Meditation Sessions
Highlights and features
- We offer tiered membership pricing that supports both accessibility and instructor sustainability
- Our instructors have combined 30+ years of yoga teaching and movement expertise
- We prioritize community-building through special events and collaborative workshops
- We provide both in-person and online class options for flexible learning
- Our teacher training program has graduated students since 2011
Associations and certifications
- Yoga Alliance
What people say
Inclusive community
Experienced teachers
Transformative experience
Accessible pricing
Creative classes
Services
Yoga Classes
Offering diverse yoga formats from functional movement to therapeutic practices. Classes accommodate all skill levels with specialized options like prenatal yoga and advanced flow sessions. Instructors emphasize proper alignment and mindful progression to improve physical health and mental clarity through structured sequences.
Teacher Training
Comprehensive Yoga Alliance-accredited programs combining technical instruction with personal development. Curriculum covers anatomy, philosophy, sequencing, and teaching methodology. Experienced instructors mentor students to develop authentic teaching styles while maintaining respect for yoga's cultural origins and modern applications.
Online Library
Curated collection of recorded classes available for seven days after posting. Provides flexible learning options for members unable to attend live sessions. Includes diverse content from beginner basics to advanced practices, maintaining the same quality standards as in-person instruction.
Community Workshops
Thematic wellness experiences combining yoga with complementary activities. Recent offerings include 'Yoga + Skateboarding' retreats that integrate physical practice with new movement disciplines. Designed to make wellness practices engaging while fostering community connections among participants.
Meditation Sessions
Guided meditation classes focusing on breathwork and mental stillness. Combines traditional pranayama techniques with modern stress-reduction methods. Sessions include both standalone meditation practices and integrations with physical yoga postures for holistic wellness.
People
Melissa Montilla
Co-Founder & Lead Instructor
With 15+ years of teaching experience, Melissa specializes in therapeutic applications of yoga and movement education. She developed the teacher training curriculum emphasizing cultural respect and practical anatomy.
Natalie
Co-Founder & Program Director
Bringing 18 years of yoga instruction experience, Natalie focuses on advanced sequencing and teacher development. She co-created the studio's community-centered business model prioritizing accessibility and instructor sustainability.
Shane
Functional Yoga Instructor
Specializes in movement-based yoga practices that improve daily functional mobility. Teaches weekly classes integrating strength training principles with traditional yoga postures for enhanced physical capability.
Emily
Flow Yoga Instructor
Focuses on playful, creative sequences that make yoga practice enjoyable. Her classes emphasize movement exploration while maintaining technical precision in pose transitions and alignment.
Kavita
Restorative Yoga Instructor
Teaches our most relaxing classes with emphasis on stress reduction and mindful awareness. Creates nurturing environments for students to unwind and reconnect with their bodies through gentle yoga practices.
Questions
What makes Kardiya's pricing different from other yoga studios?
Our tiered membership system lets you choose your contribution level while maintaining equal benefits for all members, ensuring both instructor sustainability and student accessibility.
Do you offer classes for beginners?
Yes, we have multiple beginner-friendly classes including our Mellow Yoga series and Functional Yoga Practice, with instructors who provide modifications for all skill levels.
Are your instructors certified?
All our instructors complete Yoga Alliance-accredited training programs, with many holding additional certifications in specialized yoga disciplines and movement therapy.
Can I access classes online?
Yes, we provide online class recordings available for seven days, plus live virtual sessions that maintain the same quality and interaction as our in-person offerings.
What community initiatives do you offer?
We host special events like our Yoga + Skateboarding retreats and maintain a sliding scale drop-in policy to ensure yoga remains accessible to all community members.
Do you offer prenatal yoga classes?
Yes, we have specialized prenatal yoga sessions with Elaina, focusing on supporting pregnancy, childbirth preparation, and postpartum recovery in a welcoming environment.
Reviews (7)
J. P. Brown
Mar 12, 2017
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If you're looking for a variety of styles taught by professionals, then look no further than Sanctuary Yoga. Excellent space, caring teachers, and free community meditation--all in one spot. There is a reason why this studio consistently receives all star reviews. Bravo!
Yajaira Varillas
Feb 27, 2017
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Melissa is one of the most intelligent, influential yoga teachers I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. This yoga studio and the people who work here are some of the sweetest and loveliest people I have met anywhere. I recommend her and all of her yoga teachers that teach at this studio. I did my 200 hour YTT with her and a wonderful group of women. I highly recommend this studio to anyone looking to do yoga, no matter the level.
Susan Perko
Dec 12, 2016
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Teaching at the Sanctuary was a joy and an opportunity for which I will always look back on with fondness and gratitude. The students that attended the Sanctuary seemed genuine and eager to learn yoga. Not only did they achieve balance and ease in their poses outwardly, they also were determined to take what they practiced into their daily lives. Gainesville has such a gem in the Sanctuary Studio and in Melissa Montilla.
This spring, I was lucky enough to take class with Melissa, while I was back visiting. To this day, her teaching speaks to me with its simple clarity like no other teacher. She allows the students to have their experience within in a safe and carefully crafted framework. I wish I could have packed her up in my carry-on and taken her back home with me.
This spring, I was lucky enough to take class with Melissa, while I was back visiting. To this day, her teaching speaks to me with its simple clarity like no other teacher. She allows the students to have their experience within in a safe and carefully crafted framework. I wish I could have packed her up in my carry-on and taken her back home with me.
Tiffany Cowen-Dyson
Dec 03, 2016
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I've been going to Sanctuary Yoga for nearly 10 years. Melissa, the owner, has always been one of my favorite teachers. As a physical therapist, I really appreciate and am very impressed by her anatomy knowledge. She has truly mastered the art of teaching a safe, engaging, and physically challenging class. I've been so impressed by her that I've decided to attend her 200 hour yoga teacher training course to further my knowledge. Highly recommended Sanctuary! :
Teonia Burton
Nov 22, 2016
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Melissa Montilla is a gifted and very skilled yoga instructor and therapist! She has an intuitive ability to modify poses to strengthen and increase expansiveness in your body without over-straining your muscles. She is very patient and you can truly see that she loves creating an environment to make yoga for everyone! Go visit Sanctuary! Warning! Yoga can be pleasantly addictive! :-
Rachel Teague
Oct 23, 2016
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I'm crazy about the Sanctuary and have been singing its praises for 10 years. There are many different styles of yoga offered, so there's something to suit every need, and the teachers have always been dynamic, educated people with a broad range of complementary interests: massage, acupuncture, personal training, dance & herbalism to name a few. The studio has moved locations several times and each space has had its own unique personality.
The current studio space is like being in someone's sundrenched Florida room, warm and inviting. I love it here so much that I have since taken the Teacher Training and am overjoyed to now be a part of the Sanctuary family.
The current studio space is like being in someone's sundrenched Florida room, warm and inviting. I love it here so much that I have since taken the Teacher Training and am overjoyed to now be a part of the Sanctuary family.
Sarah Michalko
Sep 11, 2016
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Amazing studio! I have been going to classes here off and on for years and the classes are consistently great. I have also heard the teacher training program is life changing, even for people who do not aspire to be yoga teachers.
