My Story

Hi! My name is DeAnn, the owner and operator of DeAnn Kalich Yoga & Wellness, providing trauma-informed grief counseling and instruction in the Ashtanga yoga method.  My mother died when I was 9 years old, and the experience has shaped my entire personal and professional life. I spent my career as a college professor, researching and publishing in the field of sociology.  I'm from Texas originally, but having lived my entire adult life in Louisiana, I have adopted the local foodways and truly enjoy some spicy seasoning!  I received my PhD in 1995 from LSU in Baton Rouge, but am proud to say I am both an undergraduate honor alum and Professor & Department Head of Sociology, Anthropology, Human Development & Family Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  I have taught and published for more than three decades, primarily in the areas of homicide, suicide, gender, sexuality, grief  and loss. Since 2003, I have maintained the high standards for continued certification as Fellow in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling and I specialize in trauma and traumatic bereavement.  I have over 20 years of experience working with grieving children and teens.  Keep Going Counseling was born out of my attempt to help even one person breathe easier and more steadily in the face of sometimes unbearable pain. 

In my quest to help, I discovered another pathway later in my life - at the age of 45.  In 2015 I enrolled in my first Ashtanga yoga class.  In the beginning, I thought I enrolled for stress management and pain relief from a back surgery that did not heal correctly.  The pain relief did come via Ashtanga, but in a curious mix of soreness from unfamiliar exertion and the simultaneous strengthening of my core... as well as the more subtle and completely unexpected strengthening of my mind - and ultimately, across time - my spirit. I first trained with Lydia Morton of Lafayette Center for Yoga. After Lydia retired, I struggled to locate Ashtanga teachers near me.  The stars and moon aligned to create the perfect opportunity for me in 2019 to continue my study of the Ashtanga method with Sara Turk of Cherry Blossom Yoga, with whom I completed my 200 hour certification in yoga, emphasizing the vinyasa styles of yoga -Vinyasa Flow, and Ashtanga-Vinyasa system. 

Ashtanga yoga has given me the ability to find my balance - both on and off the mat. I discovered that I thrive under the rigor and predictability of Ashtanga yoga, and through DeAnn Kalich Yoga and Wellness, I am happy to offer the same to my own yoga students and counseling clients.  I lead classes in Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga, Ashtanga Half Primary, and Ashtanga Short Form. I also offer students the opportunity to study Ashtanga individually in a group setting (Mysore style).  As a sociologist first, and now as a sociological yogi, I have spent my life working to understand and mitigate pain for other living beings.  Believing strongly in karmic yoga, I am pleased to offer classes by donation/pay what you can.