“You only have to let the soft animal of your body. love what it loves.”

Group of smiling people in a yoga studio posing for a photo, with some seated on the floor and others standing, against a background of large windows and a brown wall.

Hello, we are playful heart studio, an accessible place to join together in reverence for our beloved bodies. We want you to be you, feel good in your skin, learn a thing or two, and cultivate joy as a community.

A woman posing in a squat position on a rock with a mountainous landscape in the background.

  • Noelle is an intuitive healer, floral designer, and performance artist. She grew up in Boone doing community theater and dance. Her first yoga class was at age 6 with her father, who is a sound and energy healer, and she fondly remembers adults looking at her upside down from between their legs. She began teaching in 2009 and became an internationally certified yoga therapist in 2017. As a back care specialist, living with scoliosis, she has a deep understanding, and ample experience helping others heal pain of all kind in their bodies. Noelle is thrilled to be back in the Historic Banner Elk School after starting Avery Community Yoga in 2019 and stepping down to build her family and floral design business. Noelle deeply believes in Love, play, nature, and community.

A person in a light-colored shirt stands indoors by a large window with orange flowers in a vase on the windowsill. A floor lamp provides warm light in the background.

  • Chelsea has been practicing yoga since 2009. She is certified and registered as a 500 E-RYT with 12 years of combined teaching experience in Florida, Peru and Western North Carolina. Trained in Vinyasa and Hatha styles with a self developed affinity for the depth of Yin, she loves combining styles both in personal practice and shared instruction for a balance of fluidity and creative self expression.

Person with short blonde hair smiling in front of a lush green forest and rocky hillside.

  • Raised in the High Country, Natalie has a passion for supporting her community through movement and outreach. Her classes offer multilevel opportunities for mobility, balance, and strength building with an atmosphere of playfulness and ease. Natalie also leads Big Play as part of the Non-profit she founded called Active Avery Families

A man smiling outdoors, wearing a denim jacket over a white shirt and sunglasses on his head, with greenery in the background.

  • Jarrett W. Koski/ Jump Start Aerobics – Jarrett hold a M.A in Theatre arts and a B.F.A in Musical Theatre. He currently serves as the Director of Banner Elk Presbyterian Church Preschool. Jarrett is also a performer. Some favorite performance roles include: Matilda (Mr. Wormwood), The Wizard of Oz radio show (Scarecrow), Norman Rockwell: America’s Artist (Clyde/Peter), Newsies (Davey), It Shoulda Been You (Marty), Superstar (Peter), Into the Woods (Baker), Mary Poppins (Bert), Charlie Brown (Snoopy), Pippin (Pippin), Godspell (Jesus). Past directing: Elf Jr, 9to5, Singin’ in the Rain Jr, The Addams Family, Millie Jr, Godspell Jr, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast. Jarrett is very thankful and grateful to be able to do what he loves. This is for you Victoria Rose! More!!

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  • Miranda is a Boone local with almost 10 years of Pilates experience and is constantly expanding her knowledge and practice. While teaching during lockdown, Miranda got extremely creative with her mat Pilates repertoire and is proud to offer challenging yet accessible classes that never look the same. Modifications will be provided, and all-levels are welcome to join.