Tracy L. Daniel, Ed.S., Ph.D., E-RYT-200, RCYT-95
Dr. Tracy L. Daniel, founder of Mindful Child Aerial Yoga and Wellness, has more than 20-years experience as a psychologist and 5-years in special education administration. Dr. Tracy has a specialist in education degree and is educated in clinical, school, and health psychology. She is the author of Mindfulness Activities for Children: 150+ Mindfulness Activities for Happier, Healthier, Stress-Free Kids. Dr. Tracy is a former adjunct health psychology professor, hot yoga instructor, and six time marathon runner.
Dr. Tracy is a trained yoga professional, certified in Hatha, Kundalini, AntiGravity, and children’s aerial yoga. She is registered as both an adult yoga teacher and children’s yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. Dr. Tracy completed her Hatha 200-hours under Angie Eckenroth through the Kansas City Yoga Teacher Training (KCYTT). She completed her Kundalini 200-hour and children’s 95-hour specialty under Shakta Khalsa, founder of the world renowned Radiant Child Yoga. Dr. Tracy trained under Yuki Block, owner of Fly Studios, for her AntiGravity certification. She also completed aerial yoga training under Occupational Therapist, Lindsey Lieneck.
Dr. Tracy is certified in mindfulness, Brain Gym, and crisis intervention from the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). She has extensive knowledge in addressing neurological challenges in children. She is certified in vestibular and reflex programs such as Rhythmic Movement, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration, and Astronaut Training.
Dr. Tracy uses her eclectic psychology and yoga training to provide classes that optimize the learning capacity of the brain. Dr. Tracy has been using evidence-based mindfulness and yoga effectively for a number of years in her psychological work with children. She has had phenomenal success significantly decreasing hyperactivity, anxiety and depression, while enhancing executive functioning skills, by teaching children how to self-regulate their behavior using health-based practices.
Dr. Tracy focuses on brain-based movement and behavioral nutritional therapy in order to offer services that would compliment the benefits clients are receiving from traditional medication and psychotherapy services. She obtained her Ph.D. in Health Psychology, as she recognized the mental health benefits of a healthy lifestyle to enhance children’s well-being. Dr. Tracy is no longer practicing psychology, but uses her knowledge to teach mindfulness and aerial yoga classes to help children be happy, healthy, and resilient.
Kennedy Myers, Registered Nurse, Aerial Yoga Teacher
Kennedy obtained her Bachelor of Exercise Science degree from the University of Kansas and her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Research. She works as an Operating Room Registered Nurse at Overland Park Regional and a nurse injector at Sweat Theory. Kennedy is in the Nurse Practitioner program at Rockhurst University. Kennedy has been practicing yoga for over 12-years and teaching it for 7-years. She earned her 200-hour yoga certification from the Kansas City Yoga Teacher Training (KCYTT) when she was 17. Kennedy trained under Yuki Block, owner of Fly Studios, for her Antigravity (aerial yoga) certification. While at KU, she was hired as the KU swim and dive team yoga instructor. She has taught hot yoga at various yoga studios in Kansas City. In her free time, Kennedy practices yoga and assists her mother, Dr. Tracy, at Mindful Child Aerial Yoga.
Haven Herndon, Occupational Therapist
Haven received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Rockhurst University. Her clinical experience includes early intervention, school-based practice, outpatient pediatrics, teen and young adult practice, as well as geriatrics. She obtained her 200-hour yoga teacher certification from Kansas City Yoga Kula in 2020. Haven enjoys combining her knowledge of both occupational therapy and yoga teachings to help children explore and interact with their environments mindfully while helping them gain skills to succeed in their daily lives. Haven has a background in ballet. She enjoys gardening, hiking, and all things outdoors.
Kyra Hayes, Registered Nurse, Aerial Dance Teacher
Kyra obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing with a minor in Spanish Language from Rockhurst University. She currently works as an Operating Room Registered Nurse at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, KS. After 15 years of studio dancing, she decided to start practicing yoga when she moved to Kansas City. She has worked with children for over 7 years — including working at a childcare center, teaching 4-13 year olds different styles of dance, and working as an au pair teaching English in Spain. In her free time, she enjoys taking all sorts of dance classes, practicing yoga, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Kathleen Williamson, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Kathleen obtained her Associate in Applied Science from the Metropolitan Community College Health Science Institute. She has clinical experience both in pediatric and long term care settings, and has worked with a wide range of ages and abilities. Kathleen worked at Brain Balance center for 3-years where she implemented programs designed to enhance children’s cognitive performance, motor skills, and emotional wellbeing. Kathleen is trained in evidence-based several pediatric movement methods. She is certified in the Masgutova Neuro-Sensory-Motor (MNRI) Reflex Method and trained in Astronaut Training and Rhythmic Movement. Kathleen is passionate about facilitating growth and development in children through a holistic, evidence-based approach. In her free time, Kathleen enjoys reading, playing the cello, and lifting weights with her husband.
Hannah Sewester, Physical Therapy Doctoral Student, Aerial Yoga Teacher
Hannah is currently pursuing her physical therapy degree (DPT) at University of Kansas Medical Center. She graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor of science in kinesiology. She has 16 years of dance training and experience, including both collegiate and professional. She was introduced into the aerial arts and aerial yoga world while dancing and attending college in Arizona, and quickly fell in love. She has 4 years of experience working with children in the outpatient physical therapy rehabilitation realm. She incorporates movement into every aspect of her life and is always seeking new ways to move and explore the capacities to which the mind and body connect. In her free time, she teaches Yoga Sculpt at PowerLife. She loves hiking, traveling, yoga, and reading!
Sadie Thomas, Physical Therapy Doctoral Student, Aerial Assistant
Sadie is currently pursuing her physical therapy degree (DPT) at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science in Motor Behavior and a minor in Psychology. She has a passion for working with people and hopes to use her knowledge of movement and her experience of working with children to create a positive and fun environment that promotes mindfulness. Sadie has practiced yoga for many years and regularly uses mindfulness techniques in her daily life. She is a firm believer that instilling these tools in children and young adults early on is instrumental in their development. In her free time, she loves painting, yoga, pickleball, traveling, and learning!
Courtney Ng, Occupational Therapist
Courtney Ng, Occupational therapist, graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from William Jewell College and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. She has more than 23 years of ongoing school-based experience as an Occupational therapist with the Kansas City Public Schools and serves as a mentor to other therapists. Courtney enjoys providing fun, engaging child-centered therapy, and advocating for a diverse population of students with physical, social-emotional, and attentional challenges that impact their functioning within learning environments. Courtney is grateful to widen her scope of therapy practice at Mindful Child in the areas she’s most passionate about, including sensory regulation, primitive reflex integration, mindfulness, and yoga practice. Courtney is a wife and mother of two busy teenagers and loves spending time with her family and friends, walking her dogs, traveling, and exercising.
