Our Team

Dr Ann C Collins, MD

Nourish Wellness Founder

Family Physician

Teacher of Yoga, Meditation & Mindful Nutrition

As an MDVIP-affiliated primary care doctor, Dr. Collins has more time to develop close relationships with her patients. Dr. Collins is board certified in both Family Medicine and Integrative Holistic Medicine. Her personal practice of yoga, mindfulness, and organic whole food nutrition teaching allows Nourish Wellness to take your medical care outside of the exam room, providing you with tools and experiences of nourished living. She offers expertise in pediatrics, elder-care, adult medicine, executive medicine, diabetes care and prevention, cardiovascular health, stress, mental health & addiction issues, and women’s health.

Mikisha Hawkins

Medical Assistant & Client Advocate

Mikisha (Kisha) Hawkins is a dedicated patient advocate and Dr. Collins’ primary medical assistant and phlebotomist. Her cheerful energy and heartfelt care for her patients and their families contributes to the environment of personalized care we value in our practice. She embodies our value of caring for our neighbors like family, and uses her resourcefulness to advocate for our patients’ needs each day. She has extensive experience in diabetic education and cardiac care as well as helping patients with lifestyle modification to cultivate vibrant health. A devoted mother of three, Kisha brings a vibrant spirit and depth of life experience to her work at Nourish Wellness

Kyra Cullison

Client Advocate

Kyra is a dedicated patient advocate.

Lesli Butler

Client Advocate

Lesli’s gentle presence is reassuring to all who meet her. Dedicated to her own growth though yoga and personal practices, Lesli brings a depth of caring to her role as a client advocate and yoga teacher at Nourish Wellness. A natural with beginners and children, Lesli helps to set folks at ease and is dedicated to helping nurture the Nourish Wellness community

Mary Glenn Rinne, Ed.D

Nourish Wellness Center Advocate and Center “Mom”

Mary Glenn has been an advocate for community wellness for decades. After retiring as the Principal at the Indiana School for the Deaf, where she taught for many years, Mary Glenn has continued to serve though her volunteerism as a child advocate, Food Pantry service, and Ronald McDonald House staff member. Mary Glenn is devoted grandmother to seven and mother to three. Her support and belief in the mission and vision of Nourish Wellness Center has been pivotal to its blossoming. She can be seen volunteering in many capacities at the Center, and the Center’s culture and mission are deepened by her presence and wisdom.

Megan Collins

Nourish Wellness Summer Intern

Megan is a student in the leadership school at Culver Academy. A wonderful team player, she is equally at ease on the volleyball court as she is lifting 5 gallon buckets of Indiana Topsoil into the Nourish Garden boxes!

Casey Jayne Collins

Nourish Wellness Center Helper

Casey is an enthusiastic helper and “Jayne” of all trades. She can often be seen helping in the Nourish Garden or applying her extensive DIY expertise to Center projects.

Dave Sims

Servant Owner and Community Builder

CITYOGA and Nourish Yoga

Teacher of Yoga and Meditation

Dave Sims strives to “live his yoga” every day. A long time meditator with a dedicated personal practice, Dave also devotes himself to study of the ancient yogic texts to better share these ancient teachings with his students. Dave continues to be an impassioned student of yoga. He has had the honor of studying with his amazing primary teachers; Marsha Pappas and Nikki Myers (CITYOGA), Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev (Isha Yoga), and Rolf Gates (RYT500 Advanced Vinyasa Training) and finds inspiration from many accomplished local and national Ashtanga teachers. Dave serves on the Yoga Alliance Studio & Schools Board Advisory Committee and is a Board President of Mighty Lotus, a charitable organization bringing yoga and mindfulness to Central Indiana schools.

Ann Collins-Sims, MD

Nourish Wellness Founder

Family Physician

Teacher of Yoga, Meditation & Mindful Nutrition

Dr. Collins (Anni) discovered the healing art of yoga when faced with a health challenge of her own. During a rigorous family medicine residency, she experienced preterm labor while carrying her first child. On the mat, she discovered a grounding of her energies, which she credits for her vibrant pregnancy. Inspired to deepen her understanding for the benefit of herself and her patients, Dr. Collins embarked on a path of yogic study with her Teacher, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Yoga. Thru Sadhguru’s grace, she has enjoyed remarkable opportunities to continue learning at his feet in the Isha ashrams in Tennessee and Coimbatore, India, and to travel with Sadhguru thru Nepal and Tibet to the sacred Mount Kailash. She supports Sadhguru’s programs throughout the US, providing medical coordination and assisting special needs participants learning asana and kriya. She is a presenter for Isha Kriya, a powerful meditation for enhanced clarity and improved health. Anni is also a certified facilitator of Y12SR, the Yoga of 12-Step Recovery. In her role as an Integrative Family Physician, she serves patients of all ages in their journey to vibrant health. Anni is grateful for the graceful mentorship of Nikki Myers, Marsha Pappas, and Rolf Gates with whom she completed her RYT-200 and RYT-500 trainings at CITYOGA. Anni’s classes are joyful and spirit based, accessible to all abilities, with an emphasis on finding contentment with what we cannot change, while playfully challenging ourselves to embrace the expansive possibility of what we can.

Marsha Pappas

ERYT-500

Director of the 200 hour TT program @ CITYOGA

Director of the acclaimed CITYOGA teacher training program since its inception in 2003, Marsha has been teaching yoga since 1994 after devoted study with her teacher, Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga) at the Yogaville ashram in Virginia. Marsha’s teaching places an emphasis on Stress Management and therapeutic approaches to special populations and students who may need additional support. In addition to her service as a beloved and devoted teacher trainer, she has also served as a yoga and meditation teacher in the Indiana Women’s Prison; Outside the Box, a Special Needs adult-care center; and through her corporate Stress Management workshops in and around Indianapolis. She brings depth of experience, along with her down-to-earth style, and sense of humor to her interactions with her students and her service to the community.

Roxanne “Nikki” Myers, MBA

E-RYT500

Yoga Therapist

Nikki is an accomplished teacher and practitioner on the path of Yoga. A unique focus of her path has been the integration of yoga in healing. Nikki came to yoga in the midst of her own health crisis, but quickly realized yoga was centering and firmly grounding her in a sacred space that allowed healing to happen far beyond the physical. Nikki’s studies lead her to the American Viniyoga Institute (Gary Kraftsow) where she received certification as a Viniyoga Teacher. Nikki is also trained in Somatic Experiencing, the distinguished trauma healing program under the directorship of Peter Levine. Born out of her personal struggles with addiction, Nikki co-founded of the acclaimed Yoga of 12-Step Recovery program (Y12SR) for which she now trains teachers internationally. She is beloved TT teacher trainer in the acclaimed CITYOGA teacher preparation program, as well as the foundress of CITYOGA School of Yoga and Health.

Carol Tharp-Perrin

RYT500

Carol came to Yoga through the arts. Her knowledge of the mind-body-spirit relationship has evolved through her interest in interdisciplinary arts, painting, gymnastics, and figure skating, as an equestrian, and as a dancer. Dance ultimately led to Yoga, which has become integral to her life’s work. Carol holds a Master’s degree in curriculum development. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance and a certified teacher in Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga. After completing yoga teacher training courses in Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga with Nancy Schalk, Carol was certified by David Swenson though the First and Second Series Ashtanga teacher training programs.

Laura Spriggs-Thompson

ERYT200

RYT500

Laura made the journey into teaching in 2004 and was honored to have studied with many great teachers, including John Friend, Sianna Sherman, Mitchel Bleier, Naime Jezzeny, Sue Elkind, Todd Norian, Ann Greene, Amy Ippoliti, Desiree Rumbaugh, and Noah Maze. In 2009, she became the first certified Anusara Yoga teacher in Indiana, through one of the most rigorous yoga certification programs of its time. While Laura is no longer affiliated with Anusara Yoga, she still draws on much of what she learned from her own teaching and practice as well as drawing on inspiration from many sources. Her classes are a blend of flow, detailed alignment instruction, and themes to connect more deeply to the heart.

Diane Hancock

(spiritual name: Hari Datti Kaur)

RYT500

Diane is fascinated with the technology of Kundalini Yoga, which uplifts the mind and emotions, and strengthens the physical body. As a musician, she appreciates the enormous influence of the Naad (sound current) that is integral to this type of yoga, and often uses the Gong in class. Having personally experienced Kundalini Yoga’s enormous benefits, she is compelled to share this practice with others. She studied intensively with many long-term Kundalini yoga teachers: She is Level 2 (500-hr) certified with the Kundalini Research Institute. She has been teaching at CITYOGA since 2005.

Chris Roche

E-RYT500

Chris has nearly 25 years of experience as a personal trainer, coach, group fitness instructor, yoga teacher, meditation guide, and workshop presenter. His certifications range from Yoga Alliance, Wholistic Fitness, CrossFit, Russian Kettlebell Challenge, MovNat and much more. He also has a degree in Exercise Science and advanced study and instruction in meditation and the contemplative arts. Chris is the founder/creator of “Bridging the Wellness Gap”, a holistic lifestyle transformation program that focuses on health, fitness, and well-being.

Alexa Halstead

RYT200

Alexa found her way to her mat in 2010. From her first practice, Alexa recalls a sense of quiet determination, a subtle understanding that she had encountered something momentous. Alexa rode the wave of life for several years until finding herself enrolled in a 200 hour teacher training at CorePower Yoga in Chicago in 2013. In her personal practice, Alexa attempts to peek behind the elusive curtain of perception to create space for a loving interchange between body, mind, and most importantly…spirit. Whatever your style or ability level, you will find a challenging and welcoming environment in Alexa’s class. Come home to your body. Come home to your breath.

James Jafari

RYT200

James found yoga in 2009, after decades of practicing a variety of eastern arts, and during a stressful period in his life journey. Yoga has provided him a way to find inner calm, as well as blissful freedom from pain due to chronic injuries incurred during years of participation in competitive athletics. James is a dedicated student of Yoga and in 2012, received his 200hr certification at CITYOGA under the instruction of Nikki Myers and Marsha Pappas. James brings his knowledge of the human body gained from his years (since 2000) as a full time, Nationally Certified, Therapeutic Body Worker/Massage Therapist. James strives to serve students through an alignment based Yoga practice that is designed to deepen their body awareness, build strength, increase flexibility, strengthen focus and coordination, while maintaining poise and grace.

Gaynell Collier-Magar

RYT500

Gaynell has been teaching Vinyasa yoga in Indianapolis and Cozumel, Mexico in English and Spanish since 2009. She teaches Mindfulness Meditation + Opening Yoga to Everyone, an adaptive yoga practice for people with physical challenges. She also teaches Y12SR at Tara Treatment Center. She has studied with Matthew Sanford (Adaptive), Rolf Gates ( RYT200/500) and Nikki Myers (Y12SR). Recently she served as assistant to Rolf Gates in Tulum, Mexico. Gaynell has been a student of Tibetan Buddhism since 2007 and gratefully receives teachings from Geshe Jinpa Sonam at the Indiana Buddhist Center. She has had the precious privilege of five times receiving teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the US and India. She is the mother of three grown children, eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild

Neil McGuffog

RYT200

Neil is an avid promoter of an active, movement-based lifestyle. His passion is helping individuals initiate behavior changes that lead to better health and finds that yoga provides a powerful pathway to help guide people along their journey of change and self-discovery. Neil received his 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certification in Indianapolis at Cityoga under the watchful tutelage of teachers Nikki Myers and Marsha Pappas. As a runner for more than 25 years with many years of corporate wellness experience, Neil began his yoga practice in 2010 to help balance the effects of long-distance running. He earned his Certified Personal Trainer designation from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Neil brings an attitude of gratitude to the mat for each class.

Erica Eugster, MD

RYT200

Erica was introduced to yoga as a teenager while living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Decades later after moving to Indiana, she was delighted to re-discover yoga through her son, who along with several high school friends, was attending a weekly class in Eagle Creek Park. A serious student of yoga, Erica loves the Ashtanga Primary and Rocket series, and Power Vinyasa. She completed her 200 hour-RYT teacher training at CITYOGA in 2013, and a 40-hour intensive Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training with David Swenson in 2016. A pediatric endocrinology physician by profession, Erica knows firsthand that yoga connects us to our own inner Power, Beauty, and Peace, and she is so excited to share this magic with others!

Lesli Butler

RYT200

Lesli came to yoga in 2011 seeking relief from lower back pain. After an honest go of practicing yoga every day for a month she discovered Yoga’s healing qualities. Now she practices not just for body but also the mind and spirit. Under the teachings of Nikki Myers, Marsha Pappas, and Dave Sims through Cityoga’s 200-hour Teacher Training, Lesli delved deeper into self-discovery. She loves to stretch and grow stronger through practice on and off the mat. With her background in dance and running, she enjoys teaching a slow flow Vinyasa with grace and fluidity. She especially enjoys teaching beginners and children with a focus on breath and alignment.

Jennifer Sukola

RYT200

Jennifer found yoga in 2000, when looking for a way to relieve stress. After a short time, she discovered ashtanga yoga, and was hooked. With a background in dance, she quickly understood that a regular personal practice brings benefits on and off the mat. In 2014, she received her RYT 200 certification from CITYOGA, under the instruction of Martha Pappas, Nikki Myers and Dave Sims. Jennifer aspires to help others experience the benefits of yoga and the increased awareness it brings in all areas of life.

Kelly Colby

RYT200

Kelly took her first yoga class over a decade ago in Indianapolis, it wasn’t until she began a family of her own that she found her way back to her mat to rejuvenate and restore her body and mind. Over the years, she fell in love with the physical challenges, the spiritual connections, and the inner peace she felt when she practiced yoga. Her desire to deepen her own practice and to spread the joy of yoga to her friends and family led her to complete her 200-hour RYT certification at All People Yoga Center in 2015 under the guidance of Dona Robinson and Jen Xanders. Kelly encourages her students to recognize and embrace the healing, energetic light that yoga brings to life, both on and off the mat.