To be a lover of New Orleans, you have to be a lover of life - and McKensie embodies both. A born-and-raised Nebraskan (you’ve heard her shout Go Big Red at least once or twice), she spent 14 years soaking up the soul, rhythm, and magic of New Orleans before moving back to Omaha to be closer to family. She now manages NOLA Vibe Yoga remotely, returning to the city five or more times a year for work and play - because let’s be real, those things tend to blur together here.

McKensie co-founded NOLA Vibe Yoga (formerly NOLA Tribe Yoga) with Baye Tilson in 2016 and became a certified instructor in 2019. Her classes are upbeat, heartfelt, and social - filled with flowy transitions, great playlists, a little core fire, and plenty of laughter. Her goal? To help even the most skeptical “future yogis” discover that yoga can be creative, powerful, liberating, and fun.

Things she loves: strong flows, good vibes, chair pose (yes, really), and ending class in that yoga-stoned savasana where all feels right with the world.

Follow McKensie on Instagram here!

A little bit more about McKensie:

• Your go-to post-yoga drink or snack? Ideally a cappuccino from The Elysian Bar if we’re flowing at Hotel Peter & Paul - my fav coffee shop in New Orleans.

• A favorite New Orleans spot that always makes you smile? Tracey’s Irish Channel Bar will always have my heart - the beer, the po-boys, Husker football on Saturdays. It may have closed in 2025… but the memories are still very much alive!

• What kind of vibe do you like to bring to your classes? An upbeat, come-as-you-are vibe where we move, laugh, connect, and remember that yoga doesn’t have to be serious to be powerful.

• Song or artist you have to sneak into your playlist? Probably a song by The Revivalists - representing the city and boosting the energy no matter the class style.

• One word or phrase that sums up your teaching style? Playful + creative movement - exploring new ways to move your body that feel empowering and exciting (the way I felt when I first fell in love with yoga).