I began my yoga journey in 2004. The effect it had on me was subtle, but over time I noticed a tangible shift in my perspective and my ability to handle situations. I found a sense of freedom and personal growth from the focus on mindfulness in yoga, and I continue to be inspired by what yoga teaches me about myself, the world, and the intimate connection between the two. I completed my 100-hour training with Amazing Yoga in Costa Rica and pursued my 200-hour certification with Prairie Yoga in Lisle, IL. I served as a mentor in the yoga teacher training program at Prairie for three years, and I have worked to broaden my scope and knowledge with continuing education in areas of therapeutics and yoga for special populations (prenatal, kids, and seniors). My family recently moved to northern Michigan to escape the density of the Chicago suburbs and to raise our young son, Emanuel. Outside of yoga, I hold a master’s degree in physics and work remotely as an associate in the Chemical and Materials Science group at Argonne National Laboratory.

As a Northern Lower Pennisula native, I first fell in love with yoga in college as an elective class. After graduating college in 2006, I began following local yoga instructors who I still call my mentors. I finally went to yoga teacher training in 2012, and became a yoga instructor with Sandra Carden from Yoga Union. I taught at three local studios for four years then took a break from teaching to become a Nail Technician. After 4 years of that, I’m now back in action and couldn’t be more thrilled to teach again. Yoga makes my stress go away, strengthens my body, keeps me in the moment, and overall makes me a better person. I think yoga connects the mind, body, and soul for each individual. It’s my goal to help others find that connection. My favorite styles of yoga are yin, gentle, outdoor, yoga nidra, and meditation. My passion is to spread the love of yoga to others together. My priority is to make everyone feel comfortable. I enjoy hiking, reading, camping, live music, two tracking, disc golf, and winter sports. The authors I’m digging right now are Oriah, Melody Beattie, and Jim Harrison. I would like to further my education in Reiki. Keep on Groovin’! Peace. Mir

Aleece, a Petoskey native, received her RYT 200 in March 2017 and is currently in her 500-yoga teacher training program. She has an insatiable hunger for knowledge and didn’t stop at yoga. Afterwards, she went on to receive her Buti Yoga teaching certification in December 2017. Aleece began yoga as an irregular exercise class, but the once simple exercise developed over the next six years into a profound connection of the mind, body & soul. Yoga not only improved her way of life and supported Aleece regularly through everyday stresses, it served her in coping with the loss of her parents. Wanting to reciprocate to others what yoga has done for her, becoming a yoga instructor was the next step. Her passion for unity creates classes, teaching to all levels and ages, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones and enabling them to try something new. Always wanting to share, Aleece’s insatiable hunger for knowledge feeds into her magnetic generosity. She brings the ‘studio’ to everyday life making yoga easily available and sharing yoga in unusual places. Buti has brought her previous years of dance training and the internal musician to her current yoga practice and has molded a new path. Aleece is a Bodywork Practitioner, Stretch Therapist, Mobility Specialist, Sound Healer and many other modalities in the Healing Arts. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family and friends, being active outdoors connecting with nature, and celebrating life everyday with her husband, Adam, and their dog Jax. Her favorite quote, “how do you know you can’t do something unless you try? – never let something, especially doubt hold you back from the beauty of life of experiencing new things.”

Sara Kessler is a NSCA certified personal trainer and a 2007 graduate of The Professional Fitness Institute in Las Vegas, NV where she was awarded the highly coveted “most motivated trainer” award. Sara’s commitment to all ages exercise extends into the Boyne community where she is involved in children’s and senior citizen fitness. Our class members and other local exercise enthusiasts know Sara as a dedicated and motivating presence promoting all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. Sara’s number one priority is raising respectful, health conscious children and passing along another generation of positive leaders.

A student at life. Marlee’s yoga practice evolved from a physical journey which resulted from a complete lifestyle transformation in 2015, after a long strand of personal hardships and toxic behaviors. Yoga provided her the positive coping skills and inspiration she’d been searching for her whole life. Her practice is a balance of playfulness and tradition with the intention of making a yogic lifestyle more tangible to anyone looking to better their lives. Marlee’s CYT comes via 200+ hours Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy.

Sarah first came to yoga for the physical benefits of the practice after struggling with a chronic running injury; however, she also quickly began to notice the deep spiritual, mental and emotional benefits, as well. As a mental health counselor, Sarah began incorporating components of yoga into her therapeutic practice and has been able to witness the transformational power it has on her clients. As a RYT-200 yoga instructor, she enjoys teaching challenging vinyasa flow balanced with restorative yoga, and focusing on breath work guiding the practice. Sarah loves teaching yoga because it allows her to help others experience the spiritual, mental and emotional healing that can be found through the practice, as well as bringing fun and creativity to each class.

Madison Griffith, RYT 200, LLMSW, is a local mental health practitioner in Charlevoix and East Jordan schools. Madison has a passion for bringing a trauma-informed perspective to her yoga classes to support all yogis to feel loved, safe, supported and seen. Recently graduated from the University of Michigan, Madison moved to the Up North area to build community and experience all the nature that it has to offer! Madison enjoys being active, getting outdoors and hiking, paddleboarding, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She hopes you join her in your practice!

Laura’s yoga journey has been one of self discovery and refinement. Her practice has allowed her to love her body, explore the depths of her mind and navigate her life with more authenticity. Her classes are designed with creative sequencing and a sense of playfulness. She encourages all of her students to tap into their inner sense of play and exploration so that they are able to make their practice truly their own. As a teacher, Laura’s intention is to create space for her students to tune in, connect with their breath, feel good in their bodies and find some mental clarity.

Born and raised in Michigan, my family moved “up north” in 2001 where I graduated in 2004 from Charlevoix High School. Received my Associates Degree in Business Administration from Everett College in 2011. Always more of a bookworm, athletics were never my thing. I tried (and failed to maintain) several different workout routines. Then just over 2 years ago I took my first yoga, and then my first barre classes. In tandem, they changed my outlook on exercise and brought a new realization to my life and body.  I loved how I felt in barre class. It was fun and challenging. Last fall, my instructor made a casual remark that I should get certified because she didn’t always have a sub when she wanted/needed to take time off. So after a little convincing from her and several friends, I decided to go for it. I am now a certified International Ballet Barre Fitness Association Barre Instructor as well  as a NASM/AFAA  Group Fitness Instructor. I love barre because it’s kind of a sneaky workout. Sometimes you don’t feel like you’re doing much, but when you do feel it, oh man! Those fatigued muscle shakes are the goal… so embrace the shake!

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”

-Thic Nhat Hanh

Taylor provides a heart-opening practice to All-levels of practitioners. Classes integrated with themes inspired by the wondrous natural world, offering her students a sense of confidence, gratitude and connectedness when leaving the class. Students may expect a strong, yet restorative practice involving a deep, slower paced, yin inspired flow. Incorporating breathing techniques, meditation, and mindfulness. With her main focus on meeting our bodies, mind, and spirit where they are without holding judgment, creating a safe environment to come ‘home’ to on the mat.

Throughout her 15 years of experience in Ashtanga Yoga, Taylor completed her 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training and Reiki I certification in 2020 at Be the Love registered yoga school in Petoskey.  As a teacher, she strives to promote student’s mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.  A love for yoga was sparked in high school while growing up in a small Detroit suburb. At this time yoga was merely a physical activity that had only scratched the surface of the journey she would find herself on.  Taylor followed her passion for nature, wellness and the arts and would go to school at NMU in 2010. Later on, settling into Northern lower Michigan, which has now been home for the last decade. She enjoys many pastimes such as cooking, tending to house plants, traveling, creating, thrifting and hanging out with her two dogs (Mio and Zen), rabbit (Buddha), and kitten (Palo).   Yoga and meditation have been the most crucial part of her individual healing process, being no stranger to chronic pain, mental health, and trauma struggles.  Taylor welcomes you to come as you are and discover the healing powers, we all possess in order to experience deep peace, joy, and the gift of knowing thyself.  

I began practicing yoga in my 20’s and have taught many styles of yoga since 2004. I rely on my personal practice to bring joy into my heart, clarity into my mind, strength, flexibility and rejuvenation into my body, and elevation into my consciousness. This is what I focus on as we practice together. I include breath-work and love to tuck meditations into my classes. I create sound baths featuring vibrations of crystal and Tibetan singing bowls and gongs to relax the body/mind and elevate our spirits. I offer, Reiki during deep relaxation Savasana at the end of classes, and in sound bath events.
I began teaching Hatha yoga in 2004, and Kundalini yoga in 2005. Since then, I have taught thousands of classes nationally and internationally: hatha, kundalini, yin, restorative, gentle flow, iRest®, and chair yoga. I have small private studios in Austin, Texas and Boyne City, Michigan. I spent 4 years living in Munich, Germany where I taught yoga in both corporate and private settings. I encourage my students to expand their ability to feel into the present moment, where we are truly “alive”! Together we learn to welcome our whole mind, body, emotional and spiritual consciousness- the essence of Yoga.

Certifications:
 Hatha RYT500, Kundalini 500, Chair Yoga, iRest® Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga,
 SAFE Core Advocate Trauma Informed Training, Advanced Gong Certification, Reiki Practitioner Levels I and II