Board of Directors
Nourish the work and vision of Samdhana-Karana Yoga by becoming a Board Member! Contact us at 253-254-6157 or by e-mail. 
President of the Board - Melissa Staley
Melissa started practicing yoga when she was pregnant with her first child, seven years ago. Her passion for the practice quickly turned into a desire to teach yoga. She began her teacher training and picked up teaching opportunities with the YMCA, PLU, and most recently, volunteering at SY Yoga.
She no longer teaches yoga full time, but instead went back into the classroom as a third grade teacher in the Franklin Pierce School District. Naturally, she can’t help but teach her third graders some yoga too!!
Melissa has two beautiful and charismatic children whom she adores. She also loves running, being outdoors to play, hike or just breath, reading a good book, and she loves being apart of yoga studio that cares so much about its community.
Secretary of the Board - Sandy Windley
Sandy has been a student at SKY since its opening in September 2010 and Secretary of the board since 2011. She is dedicated and grateful everyday to the gifts that yoga and SKY have given her. Sandy is committed to supporting accessible yoga for all.
Sandy has over 14 years of experience as an executive assistant, providing a keen eye to detail. Additionally, Sandy is a Women’s Bodywork Therapist, bringing ideas to contribute to the healing arts portion of the studio. Her work and life experiences enable her to help SKY in many aspects.
Other Board Members
Rachel Cargill
Rachel Has been involved in various forms of dance, yoga, Pilates and meditation for over 20 years. She is excited to help spread awareness of the value of these practices to the community and feels passionate about the mission of SK Yoga.
Rachel has a flourishing bodywork and massage practice in downtown Tacoma and is currently studying to become a Feng Shui consultant at Blue Mountain Feng Shui Institute. She also enjoys performing with the MOVE!ng Company, organic gardening and raising backyard chickens.
Lucas Smiraldo
Lucas is an artist, educator, arts administrator and believes strongly in the link between body and voice. He has been the recipient of three grants from the Tacoma Arts Commission to generate original works of theater, music and film and is currently working on a book, Don’t Move A Muscle to explore how movement can liberate us from childhood traumas and difficulties. He has been practicing yoga informally for several years but became a regular practitioner for the past year. He celebrates the communal aspects of the Samdhana Karana studio and he believes that Tacoma desperately needs to make yoga more accessible through the Samdhana model.
Alfredo Mendez
Alfredo’s first memories of yoga are practicing along with a TV program on Venezuela’s public television when he was 9. He rediscovered yoga practice more than two decades later in Seattle. His yoga journey includes a sampling of many styles, with focused practice in Forest and Iyengar. He obtained his RYT certification with Marianne Wells, an Iyengar teacher.
In his view, yoga is too big of a gift to not share with others. He feels privileged to share it with anyone, whether they seek the health benefits of the physical practice or increased inward focus on self-realization.
He also practices daily vipassana meditation and holds 2nd rank in the Yang family style Tai-Chi.
Alfredo fully embraces the Samdhana-Karana Yoga mission, believing the yoga gift should be accessible to people of all incomes and abilities.