James Scates Schmitz
Studio Owner | Teacher

Jaime comes to Yoga from a long and diverse athletic back ground. When she committed to a daily Yoga practice, the physical and mental shifts created a sense of peace and balance in her mind and body. After years cultivating a daily practice, in 2007 she participated in teacher training at the Ashtanga Yoga School of Seattle where she studied Ashtanga and the Eight Limbs of Yoga with David and Satya Garrigues (2 of approximately 40 teachers world-wide certified to teach Ashtanga Yoga by Ashtanga?s founder/creator Sri. K Pathabi Jois). Since then she has studied with master teachers Shiva Rea, Bryan Kest and Ana Forrest. She has also studied Baptiste Power Vinyasa extensively at Shakti Vinyasa. More recently, Jaime has been inspired by the fluid and dynamic flow of Senior Teacher Sarah Tompson Beyer. With her training in Ashtanga Yoga, Jaime teaches from a place of connection to the historical roots vinyasa Yoga, however she loves the liberation, athleticism and challenge of a strong, dynamic flow. Jaime feels incredibly honored to have been a Lulu Lemon Ambassador.

Alice Harper
Senior Teacher

Alice first came to yoga to relieve a lower back injury and quickly discovered how much more there was to yoga than the physical practice. Living in Boston she was able to practice with Baron Baptiste and other master teachers at his studio. Her experience grew from there studying with many teachers around the Boston area. In 2005 she completed a Teacher Training in the Baptiste Power Vinyasa style. Still hungry for more she continued studying with Bo Forbes in Elemental Yoga and Integrative Yoga Therapeutics. She then went on to being one of the founders of The Center For Integrative Yoga Therapeutics ?. Alice?s classes draw from this joy of discovery, with an emphasis on alignment, pranayama, and a connection with the self. Her focus on alignment and vinyasa flow yoga help students safely tap into their internal awareness taking their practices to a new level. Through a new found self awareness she hopes to give her students the tools to transform their minds and bodies both on and off the mat.

Madzy Bessalar
Teacher in Training | MFY Apprentice

Madzy first committed to a yoga practice in 2003 when she regularly attended Kirk Slobody's classes. With this practice, she learned to engage all aspects of her body through creative movements, an incredible attention to detail, and an appreciation for the athleticism inherent in "power yoga.? Though her study with Kirk, Madzy learned how to use alignment and breath to maximize the benefit from each posture. While Madzy felt incredibly well versed in the physical aspects of Yoga, It was not until she began a regular practice at Mountain Flow Yoga that she learned what yoga really meant to her. In her words: ?I learned what Yoga meant to me personally and more on a spiritual level. I not only gained strength, endurance, confidence, and overall competence . . . but also gained a new sense of self. In each class, I felt my own personal growth and strength begin to soar.? Madzy is participating in her teacher training as she apprentices with the teachers at MFY. She has studied with master teachers Brian Kest, Richard Freeman, and Sarah Tomson Beyer. She participated in a teacher training with Shiva Rea in April of 2009 and with Shakti Vinyasa?s Lisa Black in June of 2009.

Autumn Jacobsen
Ashtanga Teacher

Autumn took her first yoga class in 1996 and has been fascinated with yoga ever since. She has studied Hindu traditions, yoga history and philosophy, Kannada, and Sanskrit, and she earned her M.A. in Religious Studies in 2005. After taking a wide variety of classes, Autumn committed to the daily practice of Ashtanga yoga in 1999. She has taken four extended trips to India, two of which included studying Ashtanga yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and R. Sharath. A longtime student of Steve Dwelley and Michele Nichols, Autumn has also practiced Ashtanga yoga with Dena Kingsburg, Tim Miller, and David and Satya Garrigues. She apprenticed with Steve and Michele and has taught at their Ashtanga Yoga Shala in Santa Barbara, and at the Ashtanga Yoga School in Seattle. She is especially thankful to Steve and Michele, who taught her to practice and teach from the heart. Autumn believes that although Ashtanga is a physically rigorous practice, it is above all a moving meditation requiring focus, patience and love. She finds great joy in sharing this practice with others.

Libby Ludlow
Teacher

Libby has considered yoga to be a vital and powerful part of her active lifestyle ever since she began practicing in 1997. Throughout her ten years on the U.S. Ski Team, and her journey to compete in the 2006 Olympic Games, Libby turned to yoga to rehabilitate injuries, build strength and flexibility, and cultivate insight and peace. After retiring from her career as a professional ski racer in 2008, Libby completed her 200-hr Teacher Training in Goa, India, and graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Philosophy and Asian Religion. Now delighted to be teaching yoga in her native Pacific Northwest, Libby instructs a vinyasa flow style that is dynamic yet conscientious, and creative yet centering. Although Libby draws on her background in functional strength and conditioning to ensure that her students practice safely and mindfully, she also encourages her students to tune into the grace of moving from their center and connecting the body and breath. In addition to training with her teacher Lucy Roberts, Libby has trained with Rose Baudin, Eoin Finn, Doug Keller, and Seane Corn.

Dora Gyramati
Teacher

Dora was always very active. So much so, that at age 3 her Mom placed her in the Hungarian gymnastics team hoping to have a calmer child. That calmer person did not arrive until she found yoga 24 years later. Although gymnastics - and later track and field - achieved a physical fatigue, it also created more pressure with competitions. However, five years ago when Dora stepped into her first Vinyasa class, she found mindfulness and equanimity. The physical nature of Vinyasa not only gave her the athletic movement she always craved for but also the vocabulary to learn a more happy balanced life. Dora completed Level I teacher training with Baron Baptiste in February of 2008, her Level II in September of 2008 and her Level III in February of 2010. She has also been mentoring with Lisa Black for the past several years. Dora teaches yoga from her life experience. She emphasizes strength with a lighthearted attitude. Her humor carries you through the tough elements of vinyasa flow, while she is there to remind you to be mindful during practice. She sees the challenges of vinyasa as a metaphor to our life, thus teaching breath control, and meditation during the strength building asanas. Her goal is to teach how to stay calm through difficulties, and how to find inner clam in the quiet moments.

Jenny Michaels
Teacher

Jenny?s yoga journey began when she took her first class from Maria Bliss in the little red schoolhouse on the south end of Mercer Island. The love and passion born for power vinyasa yoga was immediate leading to a dedicated personal practice and ultimately a desire to teach to share the joys and benefits of yoga with others. Jenny is inspired by the beauty of the asana, flow and mind-body connection that yoga brings on and off the mat. Jenny has completed the Teacher Training Program with Maria Bliss and Level I Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste. Jenny continues to be an avid student of yoga practice and philosophy through workshops and trainings. She hopes to inspire students to find joy, playfulness and personal growth while exploring their edge in a nurturing yet challenging practice. When not practicing yoga, Jenny can be found enjoying her family and pets, on the ski slopes or on the back of a horse.

Regan Pasko
Teacher

Regan began his yoga practice to cross train for ultramarathons. Through that he discovered a life-changing, joyful, dedicated practice that he wanted to share with others. In 2007, he completed the Level 1 Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste. He has trained with master teacher Lisa Black at Shakti Yoga and has also completed an Advanced Teaching Assistance Program (TAP), learning the art of adjusting students in Power Vinyasa Flow classes. He continues his training by attending intensive sessions with master teachers such as Anna Forest, Baron Baptiste, Simon Park, Jason Crandell, Gregor Singleton and personal work with Jonathan Bowra. Regan teaches using a strong flow, fabulous music and motivation he has cultivated from his training, practice and teaching.

Nicole Tsong
Teacher

When Nicole started practicing yoga five years ago, she discovered her practice was the one place she could calm her mind and be present. She was soon drawn to the dance-like flow, hands-on teaching, and heat of Baptiste-style power vinyasa yoga and devoted herself to the practice.

Then yoga started to infiltrate all aspects of her life, as yoga tends to do. Nicole attended retreats and weekend trainings with master teachers Rusty Wells, Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea, and Bryan Kest. She fell in love with chanting and singing at satsang and kirtan events. She wondered how to fit in more yoga and share its incredible gifts with others.

A weekend teacher training with Lisa Black and Peter Avolio at Shakti Vinyasa Yoga provided the answer. Nicole is a recent, glowing graduate of Baron Baptiste's Teacher Training Bootcamp Level 1, which confirmed her teaching path. She also is in Shakti's Teacher Mentorship Program, has completed the Teacher Assisting Program and plans to take the Baptiste Level 2 Teacher Training in 2010.

Nicole believes that a teacher's role is to empower students and grant them the space to grow physically and mentally. She promises to bring lightness, authenticity, freedom and love to her classes and help students be present, tap their inner yes, and find their own truth. Nicole is a writer by day, and in her spare time, when she isn't teaching or practicing yoga, she can be found doing one of these activities: hiking, skate skiing, cooking, trying new restaurants, playing violin, or checking out new music.