“The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.”
-Alexandra K. Trenfor
The Life In Balance Team
Shonna Compton Storz
Life in Balance Fitness and Wellness owner, Shonna Storz, has worked in the Health & Wellness industry for over 25 years. What began as a hobby and a part-time job through college has become her life's passion. Shonna has worked as a Wellness/Group Exercise Director, Nutrition Educator, Personal Trainer, Yoga and Pilates Instructor, Sports & Conditioning Coach, Corporate Wellness Educator, Spinning Instructor, TRX Instructor, and has designed a successful and engaging Children's Yoga program. Shonna earned her BS in Evolution & Ecology from UC Davis and two MS degrees in Biology and Nutrition Science from Florida State University and is also a Registered Dietitian. She holds numerous certifications:
Certified Life Coach
Silent Counselling Practitioner
Mind Valley Certified Hypnotherapist
Registered Dietitian, American Dietetic Association
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor
TRX Certified Instructor
AFAA Trained Mat Pilates Instructor
AFAA Trained Yoga Instructor
EFI Gravity Personal Trainer, Group, and Pilates Instructor
CPR/AED and First Aid Certified, American Red Cross
Shonna believes that happiness in life and health is all about BALANCE....balancing our busy schedules, making sense of conflicting information about nutrition and exercise, finding time for exercise, family, travel, hobbies, nature, and learning to manage our stress. We all have the same number of hours in our day...but finding the balance in our lives and making time for what's truly important is the key!
On a personal note Shonna is a proud mother of two teenagers, takes great pleasure in growing organic vegetables in her backyard garden, loves to get out in nature for hiking and camping, and has been known to set challenging fitness goals from time to time like competing in triathlons and half marathons.
Mary Beth Murray
Mary Beth moved back to her hometown of Danville in 2017 from Nashville just before giving birth to her first child. She is currently completing her 300-hour yoga teacher training through the Yoga Well Institute, a viniyoga school based in Berkeley, California and Nashville. Mary Beth has a deep respect and belief in the power of healing, both inwardly and outwardly, through yoga. As a bladder cancer survivor, she has experienced firsthand the therapeutic benefits of yoga (asana, breathwork, and meditation) that helped her achieve true healing and move past her health challenges. She hopes to bring what she has learned to her gentle yoga classes.
Mary Beth enjoys balancing her life raising her son, spending time with her family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, practicing yoga and serving as a bladder cancer patient advocate. She hopes to help inspire others by spreading health and wellness awareness, building connections, and living her best life doing what she loves.
Melissa Holt
Melissa is a proud Kentucky native, a mother of a 27-year-old veteran soldier. She partners with her better half, to make custom furniture, crafts, signs, and paintings. She has worked in Danville for 20 years, and currently leads a successful team of sew operators.
A long battle with chronic pain from trauma led her to seek advice for a better, healthier lifestyle. Along with better sleep, better diet, a local Doctor recommended Yoga in August of 2018 to help control her chronic pain. She started with beginners’ workshop in September, at Life in Balance, and continued with regular yoga practice. By October 2018, her chronic pain that she had struggled with for 15 plus years was under control.
Intrigued by her outcome, and the desire to know more, she enrolled in Yoga Teacher Training in October 2019. The R-YT200 allows her to help others by what she has learned combined with the personal experience she has had with Yoga as a healing modality – spiritually, mentally and physically. She continues to grow her practice towards Trauma Informed Yoga, and breath centered practices, along with gentle Hatha yoga style movements. Her yoga practice is led with non-judgmental lightheartedness, down to earth ways to control everyday stress, and easy going poses.
Off the mat, Melissa is a passionate conservationist and she can be found regularly participating in activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and has been known to push her limits with adventurous activities such as zip lining, and sky diving. Melissa’s artsy side can be seen on her Willow Springs Crafts Facebook page.
Noelle Dilbeck
Noelle began her yoga journey over 10 years ago and she desires to pass on the benefits she's experienced in her own life to others. She's receiving her 200RYT through Yogafit. Her desire is to help students thrive by nurturing the body, mind and soul. Her hope is that students can step off the mat and into life feeling stronger mentally and physically as well as balanced and refreshed. Off the mat Noelle lovingly raises her four amazing kids in Danville, Ky.
Francine Southerland
After being an executive legal assistant in a Lexington law office for over 17 years and after the birth of her daughter, Sophia, Francine wanted to be closer to home. She enrolled in the teacher training course at Yoga East in Louisville. After the first class, she knew she was on the right path. After an in depth course of study, practice, internship, and leading classes, she graduated from the 2014 Teacher Training class. Since her journey with this practice began, she has led over 1000 classes and is qualified to lead continuing education workshops. Francine's studies include Ashtanga, Iyengar, Hatha, Gentle Yoga, and Vinyasa. She pulls from these styles and all of her amazing teachers at Yoga East to design classes that are challenging, fun, and accessible for all levels.
Sara Hinkston
Sara is a proud Kentucky girl! Growing up in neighboring Lincoln County she moved to several different places, but ended up right back here in Danville! Early on Sara knew she wanted to be instrumental in one’s positive change, which led to her to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. Upon graduation in 2004, she began working in the field connecting with many different people from different walks of life all facing their own unique struggles. She loved and cherished those connections with her clients, but felt there was more she wanted to do. After several years out of the field of Social Work, Sara began her own yoga practice in her home. It didn’t take long to realize her practice was improving her life in the ways she needed it most! After many prayers she realized this was her calling...helping people heal through movement and inner reflections!
Shortly after, she completed her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. She considers it a blessing and honor to teach the practice of yoga. These days, she loves and appreciates any kind of yoga, but teaches Vinyasa, Gentle, and Yin Yoga. Her style of yoga includes challenging poses and flows that make you dig deep, but also plenty of time for rest and reflection. She holds each connection with her students near and dear to her heart, and truly loves helping people heal through mindful movement, both on and off her mat. Her favorite yoga pose is Gate, but she has a love for all poses that make her give it 110%.
When Sara is not teaching yoga, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys. She’s really up for anything as long as it’s nice and warm outside.
“Yoga does not ask you to be more than you are. But it does ask you to be all that you are.” -Bryan Kest