Maria Bliss, Owner

Maria’s journey to yoga has been a lifelong evolution. Her childhood love of movement brought her through careers as a professional ballet dancer, dance teacher, and fitness instructor. Along the way, she began practicing yoga and ultimately decided that was her calling. As owner of Yogabliss, Maria has created a peaceful and energizing atmosphere for the community, offering a wide variety of yoga classes and workshops. She invites students to find balance in their bodies, minds, and spirits ultimately promoting a healthier, more authentic way of existing in this world. Maria’s passions are brought together with Vinyasa style yoga. She teaches using elements of spirituality, beautifully integrated into the graceful flowing movement and meditation of yoga.

Her teaching blends a strong asana practice with inspirational readings and dialogues, inviting students into a space of calm presence both on the mat and as they leave the studio. Maria believes that our essential nature is goodness, using humor and encouragement she “nudges” each student to step forward on their own path toward wholeness and personal growth.Maria has completed Power Vinyasa Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste and Lisa Black, and also trained in the Teaching Assistant Program (TAP) at Shakti Vinyasa Yoga. She has completed Level 1 Iyengar teacher training with Aadil Palkhivala and a variety of teacher trainings with both Shiva Rea and Seane Corn. Maria believes the key to being an effective teacher is to remain a lifelong student of yoga. She brings the benefits and blessings of her daily study to her students, sharing the journey toward becoming healthier, stronger, more content and compassionate beings-truly waking up to recognize the abundance of our lives.

Lena Showalter, Business Manager

Lena eagerly joined the Yogabliss team as Business Manager in 2009.  She has always been inspired by those with a deep love for movement, learning, and exploring, and as such has filled her life with things like hiking, cycling, running, and general wellness.  Since becoming a part of Yogabliss, Lena has discovered a newfound passion for yoga and is excited to continue growing in its practice.  She has a boundless passion for travel and a great compassion for those in need. These two qualities have led her to many parts of the world, including Western Europe, Africa, Chile, Peru, and Mexico.  After living and studying in Spain for a year, she returned to the states and received degrees in both International Business and Spanish from Western Washington University.  Following graduation, Lena and her younger brother traveled to Chile for three months to work as volunteers with severely disabled orphans.  Now back home, she plans to stay a while.  Lena thrives on keeping things organized and well-oiled, and is dedicated to providing support to the instructors and students of Yogabliss.

Liz Doyle

Liz Doyle began her yoga career with Kathleen Hunt’s teacher training program, which laid a solid foundation for her further studies. Liz has studied with Andrey Lappa, the father of Universal Yoga, Theresa Elliott a local creative Iyengar teacher, Katerina Wen, completed a year- long apprenticeship with Troy Lucero, and most recently spent a month with Edward Clark of Tripsichore Yoga fame. An avid student of the practice, Liz teaches some of the most creative, challenging and fun yoga classes in the Seattle area. She understands yoga from a philosophical and alignment perspective, which complements her ability to assist students in improving their technique, increasing skills, and going deeper.  http://www.lizdoyleyoga.com

Anna Burstein

Coming from a background in gymnastics, Anna was initially drawn to yoga for its physicality.  Happily and accidentally, Anna found a resonance to the spiritual, philosophical, and practical components of yoga as well. She completed her first teacher training at Samadhi in 2009. Since then, she has earned a Masters of Psychology degree at Seattle University as well as a certification in Integrated Movement Therapy at the Samarya Center. Integrated Movement Therapy bridges yoga and psychotherapy, and emphasizes individual transformation as a means to radical social change and making yoga accessible for all. It includes one-on-one therapy, group therapy, and specialized yoga classes. She has taught yoga to people struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental illness. She also teaches yoga to students at Mercer Island High School and to students and student athletes at Seattle University. Anna teaches to build strength in body and heart, ease in movement and challenge, and joy in breath and spirit.

Catherine De Marin

Catherine’s first yoga experience was a prenatal class she attended to support her prenatal massage clients. She was amazed by the commitment of the mothers-to-be, profoundly moved by the awareness of breath, body, mind and baby. Her love of this practice inspired her to teach prenatal classes, soon expanding that teaching to the broader population. Catherine began studying yoga with Robin Rothenburg in 1999 at the Yoga Barn in Issaquah. She is a Certified Viniyoga Instructor, an Integrative Yoga Therapist, a Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher and a Licensed Massage Therapist. She teaches from her vast knowledge and experience of working with the body-mind connection. She is a gifted teacher, able to elicit beautiful practices from her students, allowing them the freedom to move in practice as they are able. She teaches with kindness and compassion, utilizing personalized modifications to aid her students through class.

Jen Ernst

Jen fell in love with Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga when she moved to Seattle in 2006.  As a natural athlete, she first began to practice this style for the physical challenge but what hooked her was the intense feeling of being alive, encouraging her to explore adventures on the mat and beyond.  The vigorous yet accessible practice of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga has allowed her to transform herself from the inside out- igniting strength, radiance and authenticity on her mat and in her daily life.  In her classes, Jen brings lightness and laughter to create a supportive space for each student to identify and remove barriers to expand to their fullest potential physically and mentally! 
She has completed Level 1 and 2 teacher trainings with Baron Baptiste and is actively pursuing Baptiste Power Vinyasa certification.  Locally, Jen recieves ongoing training with Master Baptiste Teacher Lisa Black, completing the SHAKTI Teacher Training, Teacher Assistant Program (TAP), Advanced Teacher Assisting Programs and Teacher Mentorship. 
As an associate Yoga Life Coach, Jen finds much gratitude empowering clients to heal, feel and ultimately wake up from debilitating or limiting lifestyles.  She believes that people already have everything they need, it’s her job to shine light on that and together co-create actions steps to discovering joy, happiness & overall greatness!

Carley Ewert

Carley’s path to yoga began in 2002 with the desire to develop presence and self expression through movement. As a massage therapist and constant student of vinyasa flow she creates a safe and varied flow. Carley has completed CorePower’s 200 hour Teacher Training, Shakti’s Teacher Assisting Program (TAP), and regularly attends weekend workshops with visiting master teachers such as Shiva Rea, Simon Park, and Jason Crandell. Her classes are energetic and encouraging as she utilizes the elements of breath, core, balance, and postural alignment to find inner strength. She often uses music to inspire although emphasizes the breath is the true key to one’s practice.

Auryel van Gemert

Auryel combines her background in energy work with her passion for physical movement and meditation into a dynamic yoga class. Her practice integrates a grounded experience in bhakti and vinyasa yoga, with Lino Alelyunas, Erich Schiffman and Baron Baptiste being some of the most important and illuminating influences in her teaching and studies. Auryel offers a challenging combination of asana, meditation and breath work, resulting in a relevant, modern approach to yoga.

Libby Ludlow

Throughout her ten-year tenure on the U.S. Ski Team, Libby embraced the limitless benefits of yoga. The balance and perspective she cultivated through her yoga practice helped her to achieve her dream of competing in the Olympic Games in 2006, and ultimately, to gracefully retire from ski racing in 2008. Leaving her athletic career behind, Libby completed her 200-hour Teacher Training in Goa, India in 2009, and graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in philosophy and Asian religion. 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. Libby draws on her background in functional strength and conditioning to ensure that her students practice safely and mindfully, but also encourages students to tap into the grace of connecting with their breath and moving from their center.

Elizabeth McElveen

Elizabeth found her way to yoga after years of teaching fitness. Prior to arriving in Seattle, she owned a studio in Spokane, where she spent 10 years crafting her mindful approach to yoga. She is first and foremost a student; she has studied with several teachers in different yoga disciplines. Her knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology is vast as she is also a massage therapist. This training, along with her years of study and talent, allow her to create inspirational, beautiful and holistic classes. She teaches daily classes, monthly workshops and is available for private sessions.

Jenny Michaels

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, Level I Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste and training in Hot Hatha yoga with Ali Valdez.  Jenny continues to be an avid student of yoga practice and philosophy and has taken many workshops including those with Richard Freeman and Edward Clark.  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 time with her family and pets or on the ski slopes.

Regan Pasko

Regan began his yoga practice at the urging of his physician to reduce injuries by gaining flexibility while training for ultramarathons. Through multiple years of practicing he discovered a life-changing, joyful, dedicated and rewarding practice that he simply needed to share with others. He has completed a teacher training with Baron Baptiste, and is strongly influenced by Jonathan Bowra both through being a student of his and through his ongoing specialized training. He has completed an advanced teaching assistance program with master teacher Lisa Black learning the art of adjusting students, resulting in a very hands-on approach to his teaching. He continues his training and practice by attending intensive sessions with master teachers such as Anna Forest, Simon Park and Jason Crandell. Through the growth in his practice Regan found that accomplishments on the mat can lead to exciting and new things in life, giving oneself new found confidence and personal respect. Therefore he teaches with a belief that anyone can achieve, urging everyone to try something new and simply do it now. He enjoys the use of a variety of energetic music as a tool to clear the mind, energize the soul and to keep the mood fun.

Lulu Peele

Lulu began practicing yoga in 1996, looking for a new form of exercise. She quickly discovered the many benefits of yoga. She has studied many styles of yoga including Vinyasa and Iyengar, but found her passion studying Viniyoga. While working with her students, assessing their present physical condition and personal potential, she is also obtaining tools for living her own life. Her passion and purpose are to share her knowledge and experience in the process of helping others to heal. Lulu is a certified Viniyoga Teacher and Therapist, and a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. She is a gifted teacher of Basic and Therapeutic yoga classes. She also works privately, helping those with injuries and/or physiological conditions.

Amy Swanson

Amy grew up studying ballet and modern dance, loving the creative expression and movement. She became a fitness instructor and taught in Charlotte, N.C. for 14 years. After moving to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, she sought a physical outlet that would add greater depth to her life. She found her way to the Yoga community, was attracted to the flow and deeply touched by the encouragement to let go of the daily stress and chatter that impedes personal growth. As a lifelong student herself, Amy observes the way her students practice and shares the gifts and blessings of yoga with them. Amy completed the Level One Teacher Training with Maria Bliss and Level I Core Power Training. She has been influenced by and is deeply grateful to her teachers Maria Bliss, Kai Trinh, and Auryel van Gemert. She gives thanks to the many students she has taught over the years who bring their hearts and bodies to class, looking for expression, physical release and a place to explore their edge.

Tina Templeman

Tina’s yoga journey began with the study of the 5 Tibetan rights along with deep meditations of OSHO’s Dynamic & Kundalini meditations. She found a yogic home through the practice and philosophy of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga and truly enjoys teaching using the BPVY methodology. She’s been a successful massage practitioner over the past 9 years which helps her incorporate healthy body awareness and alignment to her classes, allowing students to feel the benefits of the poses as “their bodies were meant to feel them”. She also has over 20 years of dance training which helps her offer students fun, dynamic and well-rounded sequences that help the body and mind open to new levels. Join her as she invites you to experience some the same awareness, awakenings and freedoms she has received through the gift of yoga. Tina has attended Baron Baptiste’s Level 1 & Level 2 teacher trainings, was trained by and continues to study with Lisa Black at Shakti Vinyasa yoga. She has also attended 3 teacher training modules from Shiva Rea, Embracing the Flow, studied with and influenced by Ana Forest of Forest Yoga, Troy Lucero of Seattle and is inspired by Sara Tompson-Beyers’ FlowMotion dynamic yoga sequencing.

Nicole Tsong

Nicole found power vinyasa yoga in in 2005 at Shakti Vinyasa Yoga in Seattle. She was drawn in by the heat, the powerful flow and the hands-on teaching style. Yoga became her bridge to a calmer, more open space in her mind and body. A weekend teacher training sparked an interest in teaching. In 2009, she attended Baron Baptiste’s Level 1 Teacher Training Bootcamp. She emerged transformed and inspired by the possibilities inherent in teaching. Since then, she has completed Level 2 and assisted Baron Baptiste at a teacher training. Nicole believes growth is a lifelong process, and she is committed to seeing students through breakthroughs on their mats and in their lives. She sees her role as one of empowerment for students, and she does so with power, authenticity, levity and love in class.