Teachers
Joseph Dugan
​Joseph is a Nada (sound) yogi at heart and believes that everything is made out of sounds and vibrations. His classes focus on harmony and developing deeper listening skills, not only with our ears but with our whole body and heart, so we may trace the path back to the unharmed place within.
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"Yoga's not about making us into better people, it's about cleaning off the dirt to see what was always there."
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500hr-E-RYT AYM Rishikesh, India
200hr-RYT Evolve Yoga MI, US
50hr Yin Yoga - Arhanta Yoga
50hr Nada Yoga - Jivasu​
MAURA o'meallie
In 2017, Maura left her Colorado mountain town to live in Ferndale, Mi. She grew up in a vibrant art community and was always surrounded by inspiring creatives.
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She believes that yoga and the practice of teaching yoga helps to awaken the parts of ourselves that lay dormant.
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"When I think of yoga the first word that comes to mind is connectivity. Connecting to all life and back to a place of wholeness and well being."
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200hr-RYT AYM Rishikesh, India
200hr RYT Nada Yoga Rishikesh, India
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Valerie WEir
Valerie Weir as been practicing Kundalini yoga since 1973 and trained directly with Yogi Bhajan. She has also served as a teacher trainer for the kundalini yoga institute. She has extensive experience in sound healing having trained with Gong Master Don Conreaux and has completed level one training with Professor Surider Singh of the London Academy of Music. She’s a professional Astrologer and holds a level two certification in Steven Forrest’s apprenticeship program. Valerie’s classes are fun and innovative, classic Kundalini yoga involves movement breath-work and sound. Each class includes Gong and homemade tea. No level of experience required- just come as you are.
Keiffer Hubbell
Keiffer started yoga practice in 2000, as a form of cross-training for competitive figure skating. He practiced a consistent Hatha yoga series, six days a week at the end of each training day, for 12 years before attending a formal studio class, at Breathe Yoga. Once Keiffer began practicing at a studio he found the joy of free movement and creativity that he was seeking. The yogic community and studio environment have a mindful approach to holistic movement and the effort to turn your attention inward. This was a catalyst for major shifts in Keiffer's life. After retiring from figure skating in 2013 Keiffer finished his Yoga teacher training at Breathe Yoga in Keego Harbor and his since co-taught multiple yoga teacher trainings. Keiffer is excited to share his experience and energy.
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Rachel Sementilli
Rachel began practicing yoga in 2013 and in becoming a dedicated practitioner of asana, pranayama and meditation, she firmly believes in the transformational power of yoga. Soon after, she also discovered a passion to share the gifts to as many students as possible. She completed her RYT-200 with the Center for Yoga in Birmingham, MI in spring of 2016; then completed an apprenticeship program with Citizen Yoga in autumn of 2017, and additional training in Prenatal yoga in the autumn of 2018.
joshua cresswell
Joshua began his yoga journey in 2013 where it granted him the subtle discovery of life. He studied his 200 hour teacher training at Hilltop Yoga in East Lansing, Michigan, and proceeded to his 500 hour training through AYM in Rishikesh, India. Joshua believes in providing a safe space for all to explore their intimate relationship with life and love. Share a space with Joshua for honest play -investigating our hearts, our worlds, opening to the unknown together.
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ELLIE SCANDiRITO
Ellie is a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, has been engaging and inspiring students around the world for the past 10 years. She received her formal training at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh India, where she studied Yoga asana, pranayam, yoga nidra, vedic chanting, and meditation. Her style is invigorating, yet calming.
When Ellie is not teaching yoga, she is working as an Early Childhood Educator. She also is enrolled in The Beaumont School of Yoga Therapy. She is studying the scientific framework of yoga, and how to treat physical and emotional / mental health needs.
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*Ellie is currently living in Kyrgyzstan! We will update you upon her return!*
megan gougeon
Megan Gougeon has been teaching yoga in the metro Detroit area since 2011. She believes yoga is for everyone and strives to create a safe and serene environment for her students in every class. Megan is currently pursuing her Master's of Social Work to continue her education in mind and body healing. She believes that through moving the body and bringing the mind to the present moment, we can deepen our connection to ourselves and others in our shared humanity. This deeper connection can be profoundly healing to individuals and our collective community. Megan specializes in Hatha Flow style classes that are welcome to new students and seasoned practitioners alike.
trishna patel
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Yoga has woven in and out of Trishna’s life for the past 25 years. At a young age, she began learning the philosophical and spiritual aspects of Yoga through the practice of Swadhyaya (self-study). She was then introduced to yoga postures and meditation to complement her 11-year study of the Indian classical dance form, Bharat Natyam. With the intention of deepening her practice, she completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2019 at Namaste Yoga in Royal Oak. Throughout this process, she began to see and feel immense transformations within herself and in her life, and felt inspired to be a yoga guide for others.
Trishna believes the integration of the mind, body, and breath is a powerful practice that allows for self-discovery and awareness both on and off the mat. She understands the study of yoga to be a lifelong endeavor that requires continuous commitment. With her calming voice, foundational cues, and offerings of both variations and challenges equally, she aims to create an inclusive environment that supports all students on their journey.
200hr-RYT Namaste Yoga, Royal Oak, MI
katrina wright
Katrina had practiced yoga at various times of her life but it always seemed like something was hidden behind the class that was never discussed with students…until she found Samastah! She never pictured herself as a yoga teacher but was fascinated by the new information she was receiving and earned her 200 RYT from Samastah in 2019. She continued studying in the two Yogic Embodiment courses that followed. Katrina also studies voice & harmonium with Maura. In her professional life, she leads IT at a local non-profit whose mission is to heal trauma. She donates her time to train co-workers about trauma-informed practices and the importance of self-care. Her yin yoga class is about feeling a deep connection to whatever you need most in the moment.
kelsey Dovico
Kelsey is passionate about building connections and community between diverse cultural groups and between human society and the natural world. Her yoga classes are both restorative and developmental, often featuring meditations, pranayam, and techniques from other mind-body practices like qi gong and somatics. Kelsey is passionate about the decolonization of Western yoga and strives to embody and emphasize traditional practices within their cultural context. At work, Kelsey facilitates trauma-informed programming for people in recovery from substance use disorder. She also enjoys belly dancing, gardening, and handicrafts.
200hr RYT – Namaste Yoga Shala
45hr Yogic Development and Embodiment – Samastah Yoga