Spirit of the Lake Yoga & Wellness Center

Holly grew up in a strong dance tradition and came to yoga 20 years ago. She is a 500 Hour RYT whose powerful classes combine insightful meditations, creative sequencing and a spirit of playfulness to help deepen one’s practice. Holly guides students at their own pace to become aware of and remove obstacles in their bodies so that they are able to more comfortably move through their lives. She is deeply grateful for the loving wisdom shared by her fellow teachers and yogis.

“You are what you think. So today, say to yourself, ‘I am wonderful.’ And believe it.”

Take a deep breath and join her soon…

Allison began her yoga journey about 13 years ago when she stepped onto a yoga mat for the first time. From that moment on, yoga has been at the cornerstone our her life, both on and off the mat. She became a certified yoga instructor in 2017. Shortly after, she became a certified trauma informed instructor. Allison began volunteering with the veteran/active duty population in 2018 through the non-profit, Veterans Yoga Project. 

Sheila’s journey with yoga and energy work started over 20 years ago when she attended her first yoga class during the lunch hour at a corporate job. She quickly saw the healing effect it had on her whole being: emotional, mental, physical and spiritual, and knew she had found something wonderful.

For the next 15 years Sheila practiced yoga, learned to meditate and read numerous spiritual books.  In 2016, she completed her 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher training (RYT) followed by a 40-hour certification in Trauma Informed Yoga, both at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Her yoga specialties include trauma yoga, restorative yoga, yoga nidra and meditation. During her six years as a yoga instructor, Sheila has worked with a number of organizations including The Marsh, Williston Fitness Center, Gilda’s Club, Family Pathways and the Minnetonka Firefighters.  She led her first international yoga retreat to Costa Rica in 2020.  She states “One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching yoga is seeing the community that is created during classes.”

Sheila has completed Levels 1-3 of healing touch training with the Healing Touch Program. She offers in-person and distance healing touch sessions on a regular basis as she works towards Level 5 completion in the program.  She also received Reiki I certification with Pati Richards and recently completed Sound Healing training with Green Lotus Yoga and Healing Center.

Sheila states “I am humbled each day by the power and the practice of yoga, meditation, and energy work. I lead with an open heart in all I do and hope that the work I do helps others live with an open heart as well.”

Tricia has been practicing yoga for more than 10 years. In 2017, she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training for her own personal growth and had no intention of teaching. She has been teaching ever since and absolutely loves seeing how people are able to grow in their practice. She is currently working on finishing her 300 hour advanced teaching training. In the summer, you can find her in the Excelsior Commons teaching Donation Yoga, with all proceeds benefiting the Commons. Search on FB for Donation Yoga Excelsior!

Elaine’s love of yoga began with a big life transition when she moved to Minnesota from
Singapore in 1997. She discovered in yoga, ways to support herself emotionally, physically and
spiritually. Dedicated to continuously growing and learning, you will find her reading a yoga
book, listening to a podcast and trying new classes.

After practicing for over 20 years she was drawn to expand her personal practice and dive
deeply into the spiritual/philosophical sides of yoga through her teacher training at Spirit of The
Lake in 2019. She has uncovered a heartfelt connection with mantra, breathwork and alignment
and, loves to share this with others.

Sue Kanter is the owner of Engage Physical Therapy and Wellness, a private physical therapy practice that specializes in helping people get back to moving better, with less pain and getting back to a more active life without expensive drugs and surgeries.  

Sue has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare profession.  Prior to starting her private practice, she worked in various settings including cardiac rehab, research and employee fitness, home health physical therapy, outpatient hospital setting, academic teaching, and private practice. 

Sue’s primary clinical focus has been on neuromusculoskeletal care and treats neck and back pain/injury, shoulder and elbow pain/injury, hip, knee, foot and ankle pain/injury.  Sue has advanced training in manual therapy, medical yoga therapy, chronic pain management, cancer rehab, spinal pain management, and upper and lower extremity injury and pain management.

Sue received her master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis, MO.  Sue also has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Ball State University.

Sue’s approach to health and well-being is to partner with patients/clients to determine individual values, needs and goals.  She feels strongly that it is imperative to individualize care and meet each person where they are.  She follows research closely to stay up to date on modern evaluation and treatment approaches, while respecting individual expectations and needs.

Anna began her yoga practice in San Diego in 2019. As an avid runner for years, she had little
interest in adding any movement to her workout routine besides running. After trying an aerial
yoga class on a whim, she fell in love with its challenging playfulness, so different from any way
she had moved her body before. Her love of mat yoga came shortly after as yet another way to
express herself creatively through movement. After completing both her Aerial Yoga Teacher
Training and her 200-Hr RYT, she is honored to share the gifts of yoga with others. To Anna,
yoga is much more than the time spent on your mat, it is a way of life that has positively
changed the way she interacts with others and with herself.
Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Anna moved away at the age of 18 to explore California.
After many compelling and educational experiences on the west coast, she is thrilled to be back
in Minnesota sharing her passions with this community. Aside from teaching yoga, she also
manages the Client Success team at a software start-up, and in her free time she enjoys
drinking IPAs at local breweries.

Sara is a Yoga teacher based in the Midwest. She is a firm believer that the struggles we encounter on the yoga mat can be taken and applied to all the other areas in our lives to help us with our daily challenges. That cultivating deeper awareness of our inner geography helps us get back in touch with our essential and true nature which is grace and love. 

Sara leads international retreats and has over 1000 hours of training. She teaches traditional Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa flow, and mobility drills, and has a passion for handstands and arm balances. She is also a passionate mental health advocate. In her spare time she enjoys creating content for her Instagram account and is a mom of two! 

Karen began practicing yoga 30 years ago out of curiosity, then later on, realized it was necessary as part of her self-care routine to prevent back problems due to scoliosis.  Recovered from a bike accident,  grief from loss of a son, and nerve & joint damage from Lyme disease.  Yoga has been essential in her own recovery, she is always happy to discuss with her students how to help an issue, injury (old or new) or strengthen/stretch something.  Karen taught Yoga Teacher Trainings 2006-2020, is a Reiki Master Teacher (Since 2005), Certified in Natural Therapies (1995) and currently finishing a certification in Spiritual Counseling through AIHCP.  Always learning more from life and students, Karen is a natural teacher and inspiration whose mission is to empower us all to love and care for ourselves. 

Crystal Ann Hanson is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher(E-RYT500), Certified Ayurveda Yoga Specialist (AYS), Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach (CFNC), Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), Sacred Activist Leader and holds a BS in Psychology. She uses an integrative approach utilizing all of these modalities when conducting private client consultations, workshops and teaching classes. Crystal enrolled in her first 200 Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in 2009 through the Himalayan Institute. After feeling the many emotional, spiritual and physical benefits that Yoga and Meditation brought to her daily life, she had a strong desire to continue to learn and share with others.

Crystal has now completed a second 230YTT, 540YTT, Ayurveda Yoga Specialist Certification and Chair Yoga Certification. She is grateful to have had in-depth study-training opportunities with Indu Arora, Sarah Powers, Lauren Walker, Rod Stryker, Eric Franklin and many others from the Himalayan Institute and Kripalu for Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Mudra, Energy Medicine Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Yoga Philosophy, Fascial Anatomy and Meditation. Her professional and personal studies are ongoing, always a student of Life.

Crystal teaches from her heart as she invites students to pause, connect, look inside and feel what is happening in the present moment, to observe the effects a practice reveals. Her classes are rooted in traditional Hatha & Tantra Yoga sharing from the lineage of Swami Rami (founder of the Himalayan Institute) and teachings of Indu Arora (International Ayurveda and Yoga). Crystal’s classes include Mantra (chanting), Mudras, Pranayama (breath; prana practices) and teachings from the Vedas (ancient books of “wisdom”). Crystal holds sacred that which Indu Arora has taught, “Yoga is a work IN, not a workout”. Crystal is honored to teach and share from all of her training, modalities and life experiences respecting an integrative approach. Crystal Ann Hanson believes that we are ALL teachers and we are ALL students.

Sonia has been teaching movement since 1990, starting out as a group exercise instructor and personal trainer.  She discovered the Gyrotonic (R) Method in 2005 while getting her Pilates certification.  She loved the fluid, undulating, gentle movement system, somewhat similar to yoga.  She became a teacher in 2008 and teaches both classes and privates.

Matthew teaches yoga and meditation at Spirit of the Lake, facilitates meditation groups in prisons and corporate settings, and hosts the Pretty Good Meditation podcast. He completed his yoga teacher training at Spirit of the lake and he is currently in the advanced-level teacher training program at Kripalu, the largest center for yoga and holistic learning in North America. Matthew is a graduate of Minnetonka High School and has a PhD in musicology. His yoga classes are designed to empower people to realize their full potential through the physical postures of yoga, meditation, and music. Learn more at matthewtift.com.

Professional

Nicole Lovald is a Board Certified Life Coach, Certified Yoga Instructor and Reiki Master. She has a master’s degree in Counseling from Capella University and is currently enrolled in a post-graduate certificate program in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has training from The Center of Mind-Body Medicine and Veterans Yoga Project and is certified to officiate weddings and other spiritual ceremonies through the Universal Life Church.

Personal

Nicole has spent over 15 years working in higher education, social services, non-profit, and for-profit settings. Her love of yoga began many years ago when her husband was deployed and she was looking for a self-care practice to ease her worried mind and untangle the stress induced knots in her body. Yoga led her to a variety of other healing modalities and integrative medicine. Nicole is now passionate about sharing what she has learned about healing her mind and body with others.

Nicole is the author of a spiritual memoir, Om Sweet Om: A Corporate Junkies Search for Enlightenment.

Philosophy

It is Nicole’s mission to help others learn how to better manage stress and tune into their bodies healing abilities. A life full of joy, ease, and wellbeing is her ultimate hope for everyone she has the opportunity to work with.

Judy is a 500 hour E-RYT, teaching Yin, Adaptive, Nidra and Aqua Yoga in the local community for over seven years. She has studied with several outstanding teachers including Paul Grilley, Judith Lasater, Indu Aurora, Sarah Powers, Gary Kraftsow, and Ken Nelson. Judy says, “My earliest yoga experience started back in the 70's in my college days - and became my centering and calming practice. After moving on to other activities, I returned to an active practice over the course of the last decade.” 

With a background in Occupational Therapy, Amy came to Spirit of the Lake in search of life balance between a demanding career and starting a family. She has experience of owning a business of her own, and enjoys the “behind the scenes” work that comes with the in's and out's of owning and growing a business. In her spare time, Amy enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her husband, dogs, and twin babies.

Amber Huttner, E-RYT 500, was certified as an Anusara yoga teacher in 2001. Teaching for almost 20 years, her classes are fun, informative, and always emphasize learning new ways to progress and succeed on the mat. Amber brings an abundance of technical expertise along with her humor, compassion, and heart-felt instruction to her classes. Her students benefit from her enthusiasm for life and dedication to help them learn, heal, and grow on every level.

Jackie began practicing yoga in 2005 and instantly recognized the benefits yoga has to offer as a means of self-care. Initially drawn to yoga for fitness, she quickly fell in love with the peace of mind, clarity of thoughts and overall feeling of well-being. As a 200 RYT, Jackie strives to create a safe, non-competitive space for her students to explore and challenge their boundaries. She is honored to teach yoga helping to bring balance, awareness, health, and happiness into the lives of others.

Niki guides well-rounded classes that are light-hearted but meditative. They flow in a thoughtful manner and are designed to create balance, a feeling of calm energy and mindful presence. In her classes you will learn proper alignment of poses while you build strength, self-awareness, flexibility, focus, and the ability to relax. An experienced teacher with advanced training, Niki is registered with the yoga alliance as an E-RYT 500, and YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider).

Rosie began practicing Yoga in 2005 as means of self care while working as a massage therapist. She noticed that practicing yoga helped her gain strength in her body and her mind. She fell in love with the profound lessons yoga has to offer and is inspired by assimilating them into her classes.  She completed the RYT-200 at Spirit of the Lake.  She loves to create classes that encourage self love and mindful movement. She enjoys teaching creative, active flows as well as deeply relaxing yin classes.

Inspired by her own personal yoga practice, Melissa is committed to helping others cultivate confidence & realize their own beauty & strength. Melissa offers mindfulness-based classes that promote awareness of body, mind & spirit, while creating intelligent & playful sequencing, empowering you to feel peaceful & at ease in your body as you step off your mat. Melissa is honored to hold a space for you as you progress on your personal yoga journey. Melissa is grateful that she has experienced the powerful benefits of yoga & is passionate about sharing that love & joy with others. 

Jaimie teaches her classes in a way that makes them accessible, beneficial, fun and
relaxing for everyone, no matter their experience with yoga! As a Certified Massage Therapist, she draws upon her knowledge of Anatomy & Physiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu, and Yoga to help her students use their own energy to heal their mind, body, and soul. 

Jaimie has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and completed her first 200 hour YTT in
2011, and another in 2019. She is also a graduate of Center Point School of Massage
and Shiatsu in St. Louis Park MN.

When not practicing Massage or Yoga, Jaimie spends her time hiking, paddleboarding
or spending time with her husband and two cats!