Mercer Island Yoga Community  

Rachel Dawn Lowe

Rachel Dawn Lowe E-RYT, ACE ("Rai") lives on Mercer Island with her husband and has just welcomed a new baby boy into her life.  Rai began practicing yoga in Tucson, Arizona while teaching fitness classes. She teaches all levels of students and encourages students to ‘tune in’ and listen to their bodies and utilize modification options. She also teaches prenatal and youth/teen classes. 

By taking what we learn during our sadhana (practice) to other aspects of our lives, we provide a method and a metaphor to discover and create the many ways of letting 'balance' unfold in our lives simply through the practice of yoga.  Rai draws from a Vinyasa style of yoga incorporating free form movement with breath while integrating yoga philosophy. Her primary training was with Kathleen Hunt at Samadhi Yoga and advanced teacher trainings include Shiva Rea, Anne Phyfe Palmer (Prenatal) and intermediate trainings with Aadil Palkhivala.  She incorporates the movement of Tai Chi, mind/body of Deepak Chopra, and presence of Eckhart Tolle. A trip to the Himalayan mountains in Northern India and the Tibetan culture in exile, inspires her to continue honoring and integrating the soul of yoga – union of ourSelves in all cultures and traditions. "Through her Yoga teaching, Rachel creates an environment where the physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of our being increase.  I highly recommend her classes to anyone wishing to explore any level of Yoga.” Scott Rumage, Practicing Yoga since 1980

Please contact Rai at mercerislandyoga@yahoo.com or 206-979-3008 
 

Lulu Peelle

Lulu Peelle began practicing yoga in 1996 as just one more way to exercise her body , but discovered, early on, its multi-dimensional benefits. In her exploration of yoga she has studied various forms including Vinyasa flow & Iyengar, amongst others, but has found her home in Viniyoga.  Her journey has evolved into one of transformation on every level, and through it she’s discovered her true spiritual path.  "Yoga provides me with all the tools that I need for truly living my life."  Her passion and purpose is to share her knowledge and experience in the process of helping others to heal.

She is a certified Viniyoga Teacher and Therapist.  She completed her Viniyoga teacher training with Robin Rothenberg in 2002, and her Yoga Therapist Training with Gary Kraftsow in May 2006.  Lulu currently teaches at different venues, and her classes include Basic classes of various levels; Therapeutic, and Senior classes.  She works privately with students with structural injuries and/or physiological conditions, or those who prefer one-on-one instruction to a class situation. 

Please contact Lulu at  lulupeelle@comcast.net  or 206-779-3303

Maria Bliss

Maria’s journey to yoga began as a child when she entered the world of movement as a dancer.  As she grew and moved through this world as a dance teacher, professional dancer, fitness instructor and mother, yoga offered Maria spiritual solitude, peace and an opportunity to nurture herself.  All of Maria’s passions came together with Power Vinyasa Yoga; a blending of strength and flexibility, a graceful flow of dance and an element of spirituality all beautifully integrated in this dynamic style of yoga. 

Maria has completed Level 1 teacher training with Baron Baptiste, two teacher training courses with Lisa Black and a full year in the Teaching Assistant Program (TAP) at Shakti.  She completed Level 1 Iyengar teacher training with Aadil Palkhivala and has studied intensely with Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea and Seane Corn.  Maria strives to create a light-hearted, supportive environment for others who want to practice an integrated style of yoga.  She believes that every person possesses the heart of a teacher and a student.  She thrives on incorporating the blessings of both in her life.

Please contact Maria at info@yogabliss.org.  See also www.yogabliss.org

Marcie Spahi

Marcie Spahi was introduced to yoga at age four.  As she got older, she continued to be interested in yoga as she traveled and learned more about it.  Marcie began the  study  of Yoga  in earnest in 1994.  Her enthusiasm led her to become a certified teacher in Ashtanga Yoga,(also known as Power Yoga), Universal Yoga, and Samadhi Yoga.  She has studied various body movement modalities along with massage and dance.  Her typical style of yoga class has a dance like component  (Vinyasa style), as well as strong focus on breathing exercises and meditation.  She continues to study and learn with her mentor teachers, Kathleen Hunt and Katarina Wen.

Please contact Marcie at 206-232-3230

Maude Pauletto

Maude Pauletto, who is also a licensed massage practitioner, has been teaching hatha yoga for over 30 years.  Her intent is to help people understand through gentle, lighthearted instruction of various yoga poses and breathwork, their capacity for patience, focus and flexibility.  She has taught in Phoenix, Portland, Beverly Hills, San Francisco and the Seattle area. 

Please contact Maude at yogamap@comcast.net or 206-605-1865
 

Ann Lokey

Ann Lokey has been practicing yoga for 12 years as a student under many different instructors. She began to lead in order to maintain her own practice after she retired from the real world of work.  Since 2003, she has led a free yoga practice class for an hour starting at 9:15 every Friday morning at the Mercerwood Shoreclub.  Ann lives on Mercer Island with her husband and family, including 4 children and two dogs.  She is passionate about the fight against child abuse and neglect and spends most of her time on her family and her passions.  Lucky Ann.
 

Shawn Milligan

Shawn began studying yoga as a way to get back into shape, but it eventually transformed her outlook on all things exercise. Her goal is to offer students a similar transformative experience. Shawn has been studying Hatha Yoga with Bob Smith since 1991, completed teacher training with 8 Limbs Yoga Centers, and recently studied with Orit Sen-Gupta of Tel Aviv. She was also trained to teach students with limited range of movement. Shawn offers Hatha and Yin yoga classes at Mercer Island Physical Therapy, and private sessions at her Mercer Island studio.   

Please contact Shawn at 206-310-5704 and see www.mi-yoga.com for more information

Soleil Hepner

Merging 18 years of High-tech management with 30 years of yoga & wellness, Soleil works with first-hand knowledge when helping men, women, and organizations balance introspection with the constant demands of everyday living.  Soleil is a certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner with a private office on Mercer Island.  She is also the founder of YogaBlaze.com – Seattle’s One Source to Yoga

Please contact Soleil at soleil@soleilrising.com.

Karen Beck