Anna Otoupal
Anna has been a nurse for over twenty years and has been teaching yoga for just over five. She completed a yoga teacher training program at Karma Yoga in Clackamas, Oregon. After spending many years as a yoga student, Anna wanted to take her practice to a higher level. She has enjoyed the tranquility and strength of practicing yoga and has found a deeper meaning to the practice through teaching. Anna is very grateful to all teachers who have contributed to her process and she looks forward to sharing what she has learned with other students.
Barb Miller
Hi! I’m Barb Miller!
I am a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, having moved here in June of 2021 to be close to my only grandchild. Originally, born and raised in Indiana, after spending 7 years in Milwaukee, WI and the last 25 years in Orlando, FL, Washinton has been a BIG change! I am married and the mother of 2 grown sons.
Exercise, nutrition and wellness have always been a priority in my life, but I had only dabbled in yoga along the way. However, in 2016, my life changed in a dramatic way. My older son, who had struggled with addiction, was the DUI driver in a fatal crash that killed a young woman. Complete devastation followed. I turned to ALL things yoga as therapy and a path to healing. Yoga changed my life and I soon developed a deep desire to share the many benefits of yoga with others. I earned my 200 hour yoga teacher certification (under Shannon Kidwell / Sweetwater Yoga / Orlando, FL). I also earned space-holder certification in Yoga of 12 Step Recovery or Y12SR (under Nikki Myers). Teaching yoga has given me the opportunity to help and guide others on their own healing paths as we all navigate the complexities of life.
I would love the opportunity to guide you!! I offer clear, concise guidance and I believe you will find my classes to be accessible for the beginner and beneficial for even the most seasoned yogi. My style of yoga is mainly Hatha. As a senior citizen myself, I understand the aging body. I make it my goal to guide all of my students of all ages through a safe, alignment based, breath focused and fun yoga practice that will make you feel better overall...Mind, Body and Spirit.
Alway a student, I am currently in a continuing education mentorship under Dr. Ariele Foster of The Yoga Anatomy Academy. This is an anatomy based mentorship and relates to the functional movement of yoga asana. I will complete my Yoga Anatomy Academy Mentorship Certification August 2022.
When not on my yoga mat, you can find me enjoying the great outdoors, power walking, cooking, exploring new music, watching crime TV, being an attentive plant mama and Super Nana!
Betsy Bouffard
Betsy’s yoga journey was on and off for years after her first class in 1998, but became a consistent part of her life in 2018. In the midst of personal growth and change, yoga was a launching pad to the sort of life she wanted to live.
Betsy received her YTT 200 from Parallel 45 in Vancouver in the summer of 2020, and completed the Leadership Training of Y12SR (yoga of 12-step recovery) under Nikki Myers in January 2021. She is honored and grateful to hold space for all people touched by addiction and teaches with Kula for Karma weekly. Betsy is a perpetual student of yoga and has completed her YTT 300 through Yoga Renew, and an additional YTT 200 with Mojave Yoga Collective. She has completed certifications in Yin Yoga (20 hours), Yoga Nidra (40 hours), and SUP (stand up paddle board) Yoga (18 hours).
Betsy enjoys the life-altering and affirming guidance of her many teachers, sharing the hope and joy of yoga and all of the teachings it provides. Through yoga, she looks forward to her own continued growth, and yours!
Outside of yoga Betsy enjoys time with her husband Steve, daughter Nola, and sweet dog Trixie.
Candace Olson Daron
I took my first yoga class 27 years ago, and over the years, my practice ebbed and flowed. Over time, needing to find a balance between work and family life, yoga became essential to my mental, physical, and spiritual health. As my yoga practice deepened, my meditation practice and self-care deepened as well. My passion for yoga became a calling. What is my life’s purpose? What was I to do when the kids were grown and gone? How did I want to feel every single day? As soon as I saw the posting for Yoga Teacher Training, I had my answer.
I have completed over 400 hours of YTT Certifications and am currently working on Trauma-informed Certification. I feel deeply my purpose in life is not only to share the physical practice of yoga and help students understand and incorporate the mind-body connection on the mat and in all aspects of their lives. This includes teaching yoga to children as a volunteer with the Vancouver School District. My classes are designed with all bodies in mind – Young bodies to Old bodies, Big bodies to Small bodies, and all bodies in between. All bodies are welcome.
My hobbies outside of the yoga studio include cooking, traveling, hiking, and spending time with my family and our pets!
I am honored to be a part of this yoga community,and it is a privilege to guide others on their yoga journey.
Christopher Hirsh
Christopher ( he / they ) is a white, queer, non-binary person located in what is now known as Portland, OR, the traditional village sites of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Christopher is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, facilitator, justice activist, consultant, and coach.
After working as a performer, director, and producer for 20 years in theatre and film they have spent the last decade studying and connecting meditation and mindfulness, the breath, movement practices, and nervous system regulation techniques with an intention to resource the human body, mind, and spirit, and deepen our capacity in moments of individual and social change. Christopher holds and MFA in Performance from UCONN, and they’ve trained in trauma-informed care, energy medicine, Yoga sciences, breath and vocal production, active listening, psychological first aid and so much more.
Emily Klepper
Emily Klepper (she/her), 200hr RYT, began her yoga journey in 2015 shortly after her daughter was born. Emily loves the way yoga combines movement, self-care, and spiritual development into one holistic practice. She finds yoga helps her slowly grow stronger, more gentle with herself, and more aware of her perceptions that guide her point of view.
Emily completed her first 200 hour teacher training with NOW Yoga in Portland, Oregon. With a desire to learn more, she completed her second 200 hour RYT program with My Vinyasa Practice based in Austin, Texas. Emily will continue to explore the tradition and wisdom of yoga through her own practice, studies, classes, and teacher trainings.
In a class with Emily, you can expect to slow down, check in with yourself, move your body, gently build strength, and hopefully leave feeling calm and content. Emily strives to hold space for students to safely explore asana and feel like their yoga practice is valid no matter what it looks like. She likes to offer options for each shape so that everyone can find something that feels good in their practice.
When Emily is not practicing yoga or teaching, she enjoys being with her family and pets, playing in her garden, and spending time in nature.
Emily Taylor
Emily is a yoga teacher and international retreat leader with over a decade of teaching experience. Shortly after getting a degree in Psychology from San Diego State University, Emily completed her first 200 Hour vinyasa yoga certification. She found that the connection between mind and body wellbeing was what interested her most. Since then she has continued to deepen her studies with a 500 hour Prana Flow training, a 200 hour Hatha training, and master immersion courses.
Emily spends her day-to-day teaching private and public classes in Portland, Oregon. She also offers a variety of workshops and retreats throughout the year. You can learn more about Emily at emilytayloryoga.com
Grace Cunningham
Grace has been practicing yoga since she first found it in 2020 during the pandemic. Her curiosity about yoga began to grow and she soon knew it would become her passion, so in 2021 she set out on a year-long journey to explore yoga styles, studios and what yoga had to offer her as an individual. She loved how yoga helped her learn how to walk in a way that was more self-aware and accepting of herself and others. In Fall of 2022 she took Mojave Yoga Collective’s 200-hour teacher training. She enjoys gentle yoga, vinyasa, and meditation, and loves learning about the deep healing benefits of a yoga practice. When she’s not on the yoga mat she loves collecting house plants and spending time with her family in Vancouver, Washington.
Haley Finnegan
Haley began practicing yoga in high school after an injury ended her athletic activities as a pole vaulter and cheerleader. Naturally overactive and anxious, yoga (particularly Vinyasa) provided an outlet for Haley’s energy and has helped her find deeper spirituality and inner calm.
Through creative flows and mindful movement, Haley encourages her students to find their own personal edges, listen to their bodies, and find both agency and self-compassion on their mats. Offering her students a challenge, no matter their level, Haley is ready to cheer you on and crack a joke or two (because life shouldn’t be too serious, and neither should yoga!)
When not teaching in the studio, at the park, or on a stand-up paddleboard, Haley leads transformational retreats and programs that combine yoga, meditation, and outdoor adventure where she guides others to seek their peak. You can learn more at tadasanaadventures.com.
Joelle Stewart
Joelle has always been drawn to yoga for the instant mind-body connection. Her personal practice has been a way for her to find joy in movement, be kind to her body, and manage stress. She has been practicing on and off since 2015, and after recently having her two children, turned to yoga to find postpartum healing and to practice calm and presence as a mother.
Joelle is passionate about mental health, especially for parents of littles and for those who have experienced disordered eating.
Outside of the studio Joelle is a mix-medium artist and loves to incorporate different creative elements into her meditations. She finished a 200 YYT with Mojave Yoga Collective in November of 2022 and is excited to offer all-levels vinyasa, yoga for creatives, and restorative classes.
Marybeth Stephens
Marybeth fell in love with yoga in 2017 when she was seeking a new way to build strength and better cope with a fast paced job / the stresses of everyday life. She has been committed to a strong practice ever since.
She has had the privilege and pleasure to belong to three studios in Vancouver which has given her exposure to many teachers and styles of yoga. She is always up for checking out a new studio near and far and loves seeking out opportunities to learn new skills, styles and methods.
She received her YTT 200 from Parallel 45 in Vancouver in spring 2022 and is excited to share her practice with the community. Vinyasa is her passion.
When she is not working or on her mat, Marybeth can be found spending quality time with her family and friends. She loves discovering all the PNW has to offer, including getting out in nature to walk, hike and SUP.
Mikhayla Pitts
My name is Mikhayla and I am a passionate massage therapist and yoga teacher. I recently graduated from massage school and I‘m thrilled to announce that I’m starting my massage therapy business at Heights Yoga, a beautiful studio that exudes warmth and positive energy.
Although I‘m not currently teaching yoga at Heights Yoga, I’ve been a yoga teacher for four years and have a deep appreciation for the practice’s ability to promote physical and mental wellness. Teaching gives me an opportunity to help students connect with their bodies, breath, and inner wisdom while building strength, flexibility, and balance.
As a massage therapist, my focus is on healing and wellness. I offer a variety of techniques to help my clients achieve their health goals, and I always tailor my sessions to the unique needs of each individual. By providing personalized attention and nurturing touch, I create an environment of trust and relaxation that allows my clients to surrender and let go fully.
I‘m excited to be starting my massage therapy business at Heights Yoga. I genuinely believe in the power of touch and movement to help people discover their own healing potential and live their best lives. So if you’re seeking relief from pain or stress, I‘m here to help. I can’t wait to see you on the massage table soon!
Nicki Taylor
Nicki has been in love with movement of the body since she was a young girl. She was a ballet and Jazz dancer as a kid and dancing actually became her full time career. Nicki started her yoga journey in 2004 when she was recovering from a dance injury and could not perform. Her mom suggested she try a yoga class and the rest is history. She used the yoga as her rehabilitation and has never looked back. She instantly fell in love with the effects of the practice and noticed the positive benefits not only physically, but yogic philosophy became her lifestyle. Nicki’s yoga background includes Annie Carpenters Smart Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Restorative and more. Nicki is certified in Trauma recovery yoga as well as Pilates and Bootcamp. With over 1,000 hours of training experience, and over 5,000 hours of teaching experience, she and her yoga partner Kelsey Sellman now lead 200 RYT trainings with their school The Mojave Yoga Collective. When Nicki is not doing yoga, she dives deeper into meditation, reading, journaling, and is in love with self study or “self work”. She attends 10 day vipassana retreats, and loves to continue to learn. Something you might not know about Nicki is that she completed her first 200 RYT training with her mom and her brother. Some of her influences are Alan Watts, Abraham Hicks, Eckhart Tolle, Paul Selig and for a good laugh JP sears.