Meet Our Teachers
Kate Fontana, 200 RYT: came to the practice of yoga in 2002, and was inspired to become a certified teacher in 2009. For Kate, yoga is a way of learning how to show up for life, to be attentive, fully present, and unified in body, mind and spirit. She has been influenced by Ananda, Ashtanga and Anusara yoga.
Kate enjoys making yoga accessible to all body types and skill levels, especially those who are new to yoga or think that they “can't do” yoga. She believes that, in yoga, there is something for everyone, and encourages people towards developing and discovering their own practice. Kate believes that people come to yoga seeking something, and loves to provide the quiet space for each individual to hear their inner wisdom.
Pamela Higley MPA, E-RYT 200: For over 14 years, yoga has been a major balancing piece in Pamela's life. At the age of 25 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The MS diagnosis was her push into bringing yoga into her daily life. Seeing the positive effects that yoga had on her health, Pamela decided to become a certified yoga teacher in 2007.
She received her yoga teacher training from Molly Lannon Kenny and Stephanie Sisson, co-founders of the Samarya Center and home of Integrated Movement Therapy. And her most recent training with world renowned yogini, Shiva Rea, continues to influence her teaching, bringing awareness of connecting movement with the divine breath that we all share.
Her passion for empowering women during pregnancy and the birthing process led her to become a doula. Having practiced yoga during both her pregnancies, she believes that yoga is an invaluable tool aiding in the birthing process. She completed her prenatal teacher training was with Jane MacKarness, of Classical Yoga.
Pamela's approach to teaching is joyful and light and you will most likely find yourself laughing now and again in her classes. Pamela is passionate about her work and the joy that yoga brings to her students
Alfredo Mendez, 200 RYT 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.
Beth Lighty, Beth found meditation as a way to manage chronic pain. She completed Meditation Facilitator training in 2008 under the guidance of Noah Levine at the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society where she was empowered to lead discussions on The Four Noble Truths, The Eight Fold Path, The Brahma Viharas and The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. While she has been sitting on and off for almost ten years the focus on meditation as a form of personal rebellion and the straight forward teaching methods of the Dharma Punx school helped Beth to get serious about practice three years ago.
For the last two years Beth has been leading a peer meditation group that focuses on personal development, participation, and on living in integrity with Buddhist teachings in the modern world. Meditation has fundamentally changed her relationship to stress and self criticism while allowing her to accept living with pain.
Beth sincerely believes that everyone can benefit from meditation, whether they are seeking to rebel against the forces of greed hatred and delusion, or simply want to gain comfort being alone with their own mind.
Kirsten Lawson, 200 RYT: Kirsten is an artist, occasional and informal comedienne, outdoors person, writer, cat herder, and yoga lover. Her practice reluctantly began in 1999 when a friend encouraged her into an Iyengar yoga class; she was bitten. Yoga proved to be her pathway out of anxiety and into a union of breath, body, and min
d.
Grounded in a basic practice of Iyengar yoga, Kirsten received training in Radiant Health Yoga, a form of yoga that combines the knowledge base of traditional hatha yoga with body-mind sciences. Her practice is as much a physical as spiritual practice. With that in mind, she strives to weave in notions of compassion, presence, humanity, and humor into her practiue. Kirsten hopes that yoga will provide a greater sense of good mental and physical health and spiritual well being for all practitioners. Yoga may begin on the mat, but it should be carried wholeheartedly into the world.
Namaste
Follow Kirsten's journey through life and yoga.
Mary Garza is 42 years old, and the mom of two lovely little boys. She is a business owner, yoga instructor, and personal trainer. She graduated in June 2011 with an AA degree in Health and Wellness. She will be continuing that journey by obtaining her BS in Health and Wellness or Exercise Science, an MS in Public Health and then working towards a Ph.D in Natural Health or Exercise Science.
She has been in the Health and Fitness Industry for over 16 years. She holds her personal training certification through Personal Training Systems with an emphasis on nutrition, anatomy and alignment. She is a level 2 YogaFit Instructor with certification in Prenatal Yoga and Senior yoga as well. She will be continuing on her YogaFit journey by working on her 200 RYT and then on her YogaFit Therapist certification, which will complete her 500 RYT.
Mary has a great passion for Health and Wellness and can imagine herself in no other career. Yoga for her is the essence of balance. It is where we can all come to a place that allows us to "just be," honoring ourselves and each other. She teaches a slower, more strength based class, offering modifications as well. Whether it is partially Iyengar-influenced or more Vinyasa yoga Ashtanga yoga style, you can find your inner place of peace and power, regardless of your fitness level.
Mary looks forward to meeting you and helping you create a Yoga Practice that works for your body.
Shanti~
Megan Zaback is a Tacoma native first introduced to yoga l0 years ago. She has been reclaiming and returning to a deep practice that she now embodies through her continuing study of the eight fold yoga path. Megan received her teacher training from Yoga Alliance certified Wild Grace Arts studio in Olympia, Washington in 2010. Megan offers a sacred space for all to explore and connect by honoring our truth, each other and ourselves on and off the mat. Having an authentic passion for sharing love, light and unity Megan has found her “comfortable seat” or asana in life. Through yoga and her BA in Art and Social Sciences at the University of Washington Tacoma campus she hopes to bring understanding and compassion to ALL. Megan is honored to be sharing yoga where it all began, right here in Tacoma. Enjoy each session and bring yoga to their body on that day.