Tanna Torkelson

RYT-200

Certified Yoga Instructor

Amanda Brown

Licensed Nia Instructor

Tanna completed her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training at Energy University through Krysia Energy in Westlake.  She brings a strong background in Ashtanga but enjoys teaching a variety of classes from basic, to powerful flow, and even Senior Citizen chair yoga.

 

"I found yoga when I was in my early teens with the help of my Sunday School teacher, mentor and family friend. She had noticed that I was interested in exercise and decided to skip part of the lesson and teach me triangle pose.  It was a freeing pose that opened my mind as much as it did my back which was often sore. At this time in my life, feeling good on the inside was something quite new to me.

 

My curiosity of yoga beat down the path to learning more and more about the physical practice.  Yoga introduced emphasized the simple concept I still hold dear today: What is on the inside matters more than what is on the outside. This instilled an idea that I should 'be kind' to my body and mind, a practice not many teenagers are taught.  I am so thankful for her sharing yoga with me and the time she chose to do so in my life. It has stayed with  me and helped me through the physical and emotional trials in life."

 

“The concept of total wellness recognizes that our every thought, word, and behavior affects our greater health and well-being. And we, in turn, are affected not only emotionally but also physically and spiritually.”

(Greg Anderson, founder of the American Wellness Project)

 

~ Tanna

 

Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics/Computer Science from Emory University in 1996.  She worked as a technology consultant for several years before moving to the USVI with her husband, where she volunteered and worked part-time at a local school, and started to teach fitness classes.  It was there that Amanda first experienced Nia in 2000.  It was “love at first sight!”

 

Amanda was a student athlete, enjoying gymnastics, dance, and various sports.  She has over eight years of teaching group fitness classes.  In 2011, Amanda attended her Nia White Belt training.  She has enjoyed sharing her joy of movement, to help students gain fitness and energy, relax, and enjoy a feeling of connection with the community.

 

Amanda enjoys “dancing through life,” including free dancing with her two children at home.  She also enjoys sharing her joy and love of movement – of all kinds – with people.  She believes in the healing power of movement for all age groups.

 

When Amanda is not moving and dancing, you might find her creating and crafting, snuggling her two little dogs, and spending time with her family: husband, daughter and son.  Playing games and puzzles, cooking and playing outdoors top the list.

 

"Find something you like to do, then try something new, and keep moving for the long journey through life!"

~Amanda

 

 

Shiela Buchanan

Certified Reiki Master

Certified Yoga Instructor, RYT-200

Ruth Ann Whitbeck

Certified Yoga Instructor, RYT-200

Sheila Buchanan earned her yoga instructor certification in 2003 from Harriet Russell at Bhumi’s Yoga & Wellness in Westlake, Ohio.  Since then, she has learned under the instruction of many certified, senior teachers across the country in the Iyenar, Anusara and Kundalini traditions of yoga.  While pregnant in 2006, she was taught by Certified Iyengar Teacher, Eileen Epstein in Las Vegas who developed the prenatal/post-natal program for the prestigious Iyengar Yoga Institute in Los Angeles.  In 2003, after earning her 200 hour teaching certification, Sheila started a local children’s yoga business, Yoga Adventure Kids, LLC with fellow teacher, Kimberly Payne.  They developed creative programs for children with an imaginative and playful approach that were taught in various locations throughout the Cleveland West Side until Sheila relocated to Las Vegas with her family in 2005.

Yoga Style:  A unique blend of Iyengar-style focus on alignment (which is individually tailored to each individual in each class), heart-centered flow, energizing Kundlini-style breath work, and meditation.

 

"When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world...  Illuminated emancipation, freedom, unalloyed and untainted bliss await you, but you have to choose to embark on the Inward Journey to discover it." - BKS Iyengar

 

~ Sheila

Ruth Ann completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2014 from Inner Bliss Yoga Studio in Westlake, Ohio. After spending years in the Airline Industry, she now enjoys part time work at Destination Travel Company, a local travel agency as well as teaching yoga.  Teaching Yoga is a wondrous passion for Ruth Ann.

Ruth Ann believes yoga is about the breath then adding movement and that connecting with the mat and the breath brings great joy. Feeling the energy before, during and after practicing carries one through all the days’ challenges. Yoga keeps you grounded and teaches self-acceptance.  Sharing this with others of all ages and backgrounds brings peace, bountiful blessings, and empowerment.

Power Vinyasa Yoga has opened my eyes to all the possibilities of which we are all capable. Throughout my training I have learned so much about myself and my choices; about keeping an open positive attitude and understanding that we are all where we are supposed to be at this given time.

 

“I believe that yoga guides us in a direction that brings each happiness and peace not only on but off the mat. Each of us has the ability to bring positive light to our space. Love, laughter and lasting friendships all radiate out in the teachings of Yoga no matter if the class flow is basic, slow, warm or hot.”

~ Ruth Ann

 

 

For 3 decades Lori has devoted a portion of her life to the study and practice of yoga and meditation.  Her path began in the late 1980’s.  In 1988, as a young teen, Lori spent much of the year studying yoga and meditation in an ashram.  She has a daily yoga practice and loves to teach many styles to suit the needs of her students. Lori is a firm believer in the value of meditation to reduce stress, calm the mind, and heal the body.

Lori has a BA in Phycology where the psychology of health and the effects of stress on the body and the mind were her main focus. She earned her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certificate in June of 2014 from Inner Bliss Yoga Studio.  She has experience in hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, power vinyasa yoga, Iyengar yoga, and Yin yoga and Astanga yoga.  As well, she has practiced and studied a multitude of meditation techniques including Yoga Nidra, Buddhist meditation methods, general stress release techniques, guided meditations, and walking meditation.

 

Lori brings awareness to her teaching to support all other exercises her students participate in. Lori also loves working with students that feel they "aren't flexible enough for yoga" and patiently guides them to create more space in their bodies at whatever level they are at. She teaches the power of breath connected with movement, and is encouraging and inspiring.

 

"Yoga is for everybody. Meditation is for every mind. We become our habits, and I believe a daily yoga practice that is as simple as 5 Sun Salutations and 10 minutes of meditation will completely change your life. I love bringing the gifts of yoga and meditation to everyone and work to craft a practice for everyone that will meet you exactly where you are."

~ Lori