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Meet Our Teachers

 

 


Carisa Day Yin/Yang Fusion & Yin Yoga

All of my classes are fun and light hearted much like my own personality. I enjoy teaching the dance of Yoga and the awareness of Breath. I feel that my Yin Yoga practice has influenced patience and allowed me to deepen my practice. While Vinyasa and Anusara allowed me to explore the alignment, endurance and strength of both the asana and pranayama. Yoga to me is a style of life that is humbling, selfless, and honest. But most of all FUN! I enjoy teaching these values in my classes knowing that people of any belief and age can utilize these teachings to become a more wholesome and wise individual!

Carisa's Yogic adventure started in 2001 in the state of Maine where she attended The Polarity Realization Institute for Holistic Massage Therapy and Polarity Yoga. With just a hint of the enchanting art of Yoga, Carisa continued her journey into self exploration. Carisa was soon traveling the world, exploring the many practices of massage, yoga and dance. Currents finally brought her to Portland, OR in 2006 where she enrolled at the Lotus Seed School of Yoga in NE Portland, studying with Wren Doggett. The Lotus seed specialized in Warrior Yoga and Vinyasa Flow. During the Summer of 2008 Carisa trained with Annie & Natalie Adamson at Yoga Union's Teacher Training. The focus was on Anusara, Yoga Therapeutics and Vinyasa Flow.


 

James "Jim" Cox Hatha Flow

After an extended stay in the hospital due to a stress-related illness, I decided spending my life energy chasing down dollars in some of the most famous and demanding kitchens in America was not going to bring me any closer to enlightenment. The joy I found in my daily yoga practice beckoned me to follow, and thus I find myself in Portland, teaching yoga and actually spending time with my two beautiful girls. I began my practice at Mindful Body in San Francisco, where I studied with Yolanda Bain and Jason Crandell. I am certified through Integrative Yoga Therapy, founded by Joseph and Lillian LePage and based in Garopaba, Brazil. I am registered with Yoga Alliance.

Now that I do not work 70-80 hour weeks, I have rediscovered my passion for Food food. When not teaching yoga (or chasing my 3 and 5 year old daughters), I can be found in one of the numerous (and wonderful) farmers markets Portland is famous for, shopping for dinner. I do not hold any dogmatic beliefs concerning yoga styles. I feel individual alignment (compared to classical alignment) is very important to avoid repetitive use injuries. I like to have fun during asana practice, and I welcome all skill levels to my classes. And sometimes I bring cookies.


 

Jennifer "Jenna" Roberts

Core Yoga

Jenna began practicing yoga over 12 years ago, and still remembers that wonderful resonance she felt after her very first class. She has followed that feeling from Boulder, CO, to New York City, to the ashrams of India. There she became certified to teach at the Sivananda TTC in Madurai and also found the peace of meditation through a 10 day Vipassana silence retreat.

Her classes integrate mindful breath into conscious movement with a splash of relaxed laughter. She likes to weave Vedantic philosophy lessons in to help us take the gifts of our physical practice out into our daily living.

Jenna recently laid anchor in Portland after 4 years of living a nomadic life around Asia and the US. On the road, she dove deeper into her love for photography, writing, tarot, Chi Gong, and dancing. She feels right at home sharing these with the spiritual and artistic communities of this beautiful city.

Of all these passions, Jenna feels yoga has defined her happiness the most. She hopes each class brings out the students' own joyous and lighthearted energy as we focus on the art of being in our bodie

 

 



Michele L. Medeiros  Vinyasa (Candlelight), Yin/Yang

I began practicing in 1998 when some devastating events led me to believe I needed to find peace with-in myself.  I had accumulated a large amount of anger and resentment over the previous years that I needed to let go of.   

That was when I decided to try this yoga thing out.  I tried several types of classes:  Bikram, Vinyasa, Flow and Ashtanga.  I still remember the first time I stepped onto the mat and began the dance of breath and movement.  I was amazed how wonderful I felt from the inside out:  I was hooked.  Practicing regularly eventually opened the door to meditation and that is when it all came together for me.  I then decided to further my practice with the intent to tell everyone I came in contact with as to what I had experienced through my yoga practice. 

I began attending workshops and decided to take a teacher training with David Swenson.  I embarked on a journey and never came back.  It was during this period that I began teaching Ashtanga yoga at my friend’s studio in Melbourne FL. 

Yoga has completely changed the way I see myself and the world around me.  It takes great discipline to come to the mat, remain present and then be asked to breath and move in synchronicity. 

Leading others through their practice is an honor and provides great joy for me.  To see and feel how yoga impacts so many different people, in so many different ways is, in a word, magical.  I have been known to be a “tough cookie” by many of my students, but they always come back for more.  Ultimately, I try to inspire my students to stay rooted onto the mat like trees are rooted in the earth.  Practicing this on and off the mat is a challenge.   

I read this quote once that I have kept with me: 

    “To be a powerful woman you don’t have to be aggressive or forceful.  Like a tree, you have to find your roots and then you can bend in the wind.” 

Yoga has brought me to my roots.

Erin Giacomelli Yin Yoga Sunday evening 4- 5:00 pm



      I began my personal yoga journey in 2005 after a particularly stressful semester in college. I quickly fell in love with the practice and have been exploring the exciting adventure of discovering the inner self ever since. I continued my practice throughout a move to New Zealand in 2006. I enjoyed the stability and peace I found in the consistency of yoga during my travels. I returned to Fort Collins, Colorado and completed my yoga training through Shambhava School of Yoga in the summer of 2008. Recently I moved to Portland, Oregon to finish my student teaching for high school English and to teach yoga. I love this town and the people it draws.

      I believe that yoga is a gift and benefit that anyone can harness through proper flow and guidance. I encourage all students to find their own mixture of comfort and strength within the poses. Begin your own journey to finding and enjoying the peace of the inner self through yoga!

 

 


 

 

 

Sister northeast location: www.zenspace.info

Contact us: 503.777.2776

4512 Se Woodstock Blvd Portland, Oregon 97206

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