Discover Yoga: Instructors

your instructors

Alison Eliason

Director of Discover Yoga. She studied with Ellen Morrell and enjoys the qualities of viniyoga tradition of hatha yoga. She became a certified yoga instructor in 2000. Alison has studied locally and abroad. In 2006, she spent time at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India. And in 2008, spent time with Collette Crawford to deepen her understanding of prenatal yoga. She graduated in November of 2010 from a 500 hour Yoga Alliance certified teacher training with Laura Yon-Brooks at Planet Earth.

She currently leads classes for children, teens and adults, one-on-one sessions, retreats and instructor certification trainings, teaching in the community. She also manages Discover Yoga and shares the space with eight wonderful independent contractor instructors. Alison incorporates yoga techniques into her daily life to help bring peace, balance and enjoyment into living

Yoga has helped her breathe easier, be aware of her body, mind and spirit, notice her fears and judgments, and based on those observations, continue in her journey to be and create peace. She invites all ages and abilities to experience the peaceful studio setting and yoga teachings at Discover Yoga

Alison offers All Levels on Mondays at 9:30AM, and Wednesdays at 4:30PM, and a Level 1 on Wednesdays at 9:30AM. She also coordinates and instructs with other Discover Yoga instructors the Deeper Study and Apprenticeship programs. top ^

Angela Butoryak

Angela is a Northwest Native and was drawn to Yoga in 1997 when she suffered sciatic pain during and after the birth of her first child. She continued to practice for many years before she decided to dive deeper in her studies. She loves sharing what she has learned, and how it has greatly affected her life in a positive way. Yoga has so many facets, and she continues to learn and use yoga in her everyday life! She studied and trained in the Viniyoga lineage, where function is stressed over form, and emphasis on integrating the flow of movement with breath, under Tracy Weber at Whole Life Yoga in the Greenlake area of Seattle. She certified Aug 1st, 2011 at the RYT-200 level and is a member of Yoga alliance. Angela has a unique ability to connect with her students with knowledge, understanding and compassion.

“Those who discover the knowledge of yoga and fail to share it are as thieves" - Sri T. Krishnamacharya

Angela teaches Yoga for Pregnancy on Fridays at 10:30 AM.

Beth Dolan

Yoga has been in Beth’s life since 2003, when she was drawn to it as a way to recover and heal from an ergonomic back injury. She completed her teacher training through the Discover Yoga Instructor Certification Program in 2008. Viniyoga and Forrest yoga are the styles that most influence Beth’s teaching. In yoga and in life, it is Beth’s continual practice to walk in awareness, observation, strength and flexibility.

In her own practice, she has found that a challenge on the mat often mirrors a challenge in life. Beth’s classes allow each student to explore this from their own unique perspective. This is particularly appropriate in Beth’s yoga for pregnancy classes. As a mother of two young children she knows the importance of awareness, observation, strength, and flexibility in motherhood and child birth. Her yoga for pregnancy classes are tailored to incorporate these elements for women during this amazing time of transition.

Beth teaches Yoga for Pregnancy on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, an All Levels class on Sundays at 9:30 AM, and Mommies on the Mat series occasionally. top ^

Kim Saganski

Completed the Intensive Yoga Studies and the Apprenticeship Programs at Discover Yoga in Redmond in 1998. She is continually exploring the practice of yoga as a student and a teacher (both locally and internationally). She invokes a friendly and safe environment in her classes and enjoys composing new and different methods to approach the specific needs of each student and to provide appropriate challenges.

Kim uses yoga to bring clarity and focus to the mind, energy and relaxation to the body, and a chance to connect with one’s self. She focuses on becoming more aware of the body as well as the mind in order to reduce dis-ease caused by stress and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Kim is currently offering a Level 2 Yoga Class on Mondays at 7:00 PM. top ^

Kaitlyn McConnell

Kaitlyn is a Yoga Works trained and Yoga Alliance registered (RYT 500) teacher with over 10 years of experience. Her teaching style ranges from vigorous flow classes to gentle and restorative, always with an emphasis on alignment and the breath. Her practice of yoga has helped her to recognize the power within each of us to live a life that is full and satisfying and her classes are a reflection of that. In her classes each student can expect personal attention and hands on adjustments that are safe and supportive. She allows each student to work at their own pace while still challenging them to find something new in the practice each time they step onto their mat. She has completed over 500 hours of training and has been fortunate enough to have assisted and be influenced by both Carmen Fitzgibbon and Sarah Ivanhoe.

She has just finished an around the world adventure where she taught and practiced her way through Fiji, New Zealand, Bali, Europe and Iceland before returning to her hometown, Seattle, WA.

She has moved and will be offering workshops on occasion.

Andrea Murray

Andrea Murray began her yoga journey in 2000 while expecting her 3rd child. She quickly realized she wanted to delve deeper into the teachings of yogic philosophy and share her passion with others. Andrea completed the Yoga Barn’s 500 hour teacher training in 2005 with Robin and has been teaching ever since. “My practice, both on and off my mat, helps me to bring balance to my busy life. I enjoy sharing the many faceted aspects yoga has to offer.”

Andrea offers a Level 2 Yoga Class on Thursdays at 9:30 AM.

Brenda McGee

RYT 500, is a certified teacher with the Krishnamacharya Healing Yoga Foundation and has been teaching yoga in the Seattle area since 1998. Her years of teaching experience include a mix of skill levels and practice styles ranging from gentle to intense; as well as specialty classes for prenatal and postpartum women; yoga for "Strong Bones" and yoga for "Healthy Backs". She completed a 250 hour program in 1998 taught by Ellen Morell at Discover Yoga in Redmond; and a 500 hour program in 2007 taught by Chris Dormaier of Sound Yoga in West Seattle.

Brenda teaches an MS Series at 1:45 - 2:45PM on Fridays and All Levels on Fridays at 12:15 - 1:15 PM.

Phyllis Moses

Phyllis began her study and practice of yoga over 33 years ago. She is a certified and registered yoga teacher and therapist, as well as having a B.A. in Psychology, C.Ht. and has worked closely with a Buddhist teacher for the past 19 years. Phyllis elegantly weaves her knowledge of Western and Eastern thought together to create a bridge of understanding for her students. For more information: www.hypnobirthingandyoga.com

Phyllis teaches a Breath and Meditation series class on Wednesday at 7:15 - 8:30PM.

Patti Chalker

Patti moved to the Eastside in the early 90’s with her family from Southern California. She graduated from USC with a degree in psychology and a minor in business. She has been a Top Producer with John L Scott for many years and bases her success on her client relationships. Patti has enjoyed doing yoga since the late 90’s and has found it extremely helpful in balancing out her busy life as a realtor and mom. Patti completed the instructor certification program at Discover Yoga in December 2008.

As a certified yoga instructor, Patti enjoys all aspects of yoga including teaching teens and meditation. “The grounded, centered feeling follows me through the day and helps me to remember to breathe through life’s difficult situations”.

Patti substitutes on occasion.

Roy DeLeon

Roy trained and was certified by Ellen Morrell, former director and owner of Discover Yoga, and by Robin Rothenberg, Director of Yoga Barn and Essential Yoga Therapy. His version of fluid viniyoga reminds one to keep an open heart in the ups and downs of life. The ongoing theme of his classes is that Joy, Peace, and Love are choices and not something we acquire because they are within us from birth till forever. He ends each session with guided and seated meditation, and blessings. In 2009, Paraclete Press published his prayer book Praying with the Body: Bringing the Psalms To Life, which is focused on the Psalms expressed through holy listening, silent reflection and yoga poses. He is an oblate of St Benedict with St Placid Priory in Lacey, WA. Roy’s website, blessedmovements.com, has information on his upcoming workshops and ongoing free Blessed Movements prayer sessions. His visual blog, expressiveprayer.blogspot.com, shows his prayer-drawings/paintings. He can be reached through blessedmovements@yahoo.com.

Roy teaches All Levels class on Saturdays at 9:00 AM.

Sarah George

Sarah is a native of the Seattle area who is graduating from Discover Yoga's Deeper Study and Apprenticeship programs in December 2011. As a mother of 3, she knows the importance of awareness and breath in her own mental and physical health and shares that peace with others in her classes. Sarah shares the importance of treating oneself with kindness.

Sarah is teaching an Intro Series on Tuesdays at 9:30-10:45AM.

Allen Moore

Allen started practicing yoga in 2007, seeking relief from low back problems. Since then, he has found that relief, and much more. In 2011, as a way of deepening his practice, he enrolled in Discover Yoga's 200-hour teacher training program. He is finishing his graduation requirements for his certification. When not practicing yoga, he works as a self-employed software engineer, finding yoga helpful there as well in reducing stress and maintaining his overall health and fitness.

Sarah Kimsey

Teaching yoga in an accessible way is my mission. I have been practicing yoga for the past 10 years, however yoga took it's permanent place in my life soon after the birth of my daughter in 2007. Yoga has been a journey of self-acceptance and self-awareness for me, and it's my philosophy is that everyone can get something positive out of yoga that translates into their everyday lives. In June 2010, I completed my 200-hour RYT certificate from Discover Yoga.

Sarah recently had her second child. She teaches the Intro Series on Thursdays at 5:30PM.

Susan Park

Yoga instructor since 2002. She leads classes and private sessions that energize, clear and focus the body, mind and breath. She practices meditation, a positive mental focus, enjoys the energy of the outdoors, and works as a real estate agent. She continues to expand her knowledge through life experience and ongoing yoga training. Her classes offer an avenue to breathe, increase energy, and refresh for teens, men and women.

Susan substitutes occasionally.

Tracy Coons

Tracy is a certified yoga instructor ( RYT 200) trained in the Viniyoga lineage by Tracy Weber at Whole Life Yoga in Seattle in 2008. She specialises in yoga for conditions such as back pain, emotional trauma, anxiety and insomnia. She focuses on adapting all the tools of yoga (postures, breathing, meditation, sound and ritual) to make them approachable, fun and accessible to everyone enabling them to find greater peace, health and vitality. Her passion is in sharing the message that yoga is for students of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities.
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Tracy is a busy mother of 5 home-schooled children, a mad music fan, a whimsical soul and at the heart of it all, a yogi. Yoga gives her life shape and meaning and a firm foundation. It reminds her to take life one breath at a time and helps her to become the best version of herself she can be!

"If you can breathe, you can do yoga" Judith Hanson Lasater

Tracy teaches a Level 1 class on Tuesdays at 5:30PM, Yoga for Pregnancy class on Saturdays at 10:30AM, and Yoga Nidra, Couples Yoga, Prenatal Couples Yoga and the Health Back Series.

Dana Hein-Skaggs

Dana Hein-Skaggs, more fondly known as "Miss Dana" by her students, has the amazing ability to inspire and motivate others through her contagiously optimistic outlook on life. Always quick to point out the silver lining in the face of adversity, she has helped to light many a path for those who have set out to accomplish sometimes seemingly impossible tasks.

During her years in the world of dance, she was very fortunate to have studied ballet and modern dance under the tutelage of Ballet Mistress Suzuko Riewe; of the American Ballet Theater.

More recently in 2005 Miss Dana discovered her path to yoga. It began in the presence of Yogi Master, Dr. Michael Gladych, in an amazing exploration of self-inquiry. Following the "yellow brick road home" she was led to the Samarya Center in Seattle where she found inspiration, peace, and community which motivated her to enroll in their yoga teacher training program. She has enthusiastically embraced her time there and has devoted numerous hours to her yoga studies and continuing education of IMT (Integrated Movement Therapy), an innovative doctrine of yoga therapy developed by the Samarya Center.

Ultimately, the fire inside Miss Dana's passion is sharing the gift of yoga with you, no matter who you are.

Dana begins offering Kid Yoga series on Mondays at 4:30 PM and 5:15 PM and a Mom's and Little Yogi's series on Thursdays at 1:30 PM.

Teresa Osborn

Teresa specializes in a broad range of dance ranging from Hip Hop, Disco, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Swing, Salsa, Latin (Rhythm), Ballroom (Smooth) and C&W Line & Couples Dancing. Discover Yoga is excited to offer Zumba and dance workshops.