Instructors - Alluma Yoga

MEET OUR TEAM

Isabel has been teaching group exercise for over 30 years, and is the former owner of Balletworks dance studio in Ironwood, MI and Shanti Island Joy Yoga in Bokeelia, FL. She was a competitive triathlete for many years, during which time a very wise teacher suggested she needed to add yoga to her life. She found that to be the truth. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance (RYT-200) and holds several other teaching credentials. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing Science from Capella University and a BSN from NMU. She is a Registered Nurse and certified massage therapist. As a healthcare professional, she seeks to inform while empowering people to reach their best health. Her mission with Alluma Yoga is to create a space in which people of all ages, abilities, and paths can experience the gift of yoga, enriching their physical, social and emotional lives and enjoying the radiant energy of a supportive and nurturing community of yogis.

Bri has been in the yoga industry for over 8 years, both acquiring training and teaching others. Her extensive training led her to realize how important the practice of yoga is for the mind, body, and soul. She is the former owner of Honor Yoga in Negaunee, MI, which is where she watched the beauty of creating a yoga community that flourished and bonded.

Her greatest treasures are her daughters Kina and Anja, and her family bond is extremely important to her. She defines her role as manager of Alluma Yoga as ensuring that all yogis and teachers can feel supported, safe, and content with their yoga journey.

My Why. Yoga has strengthened me inwardly, and outwardly. In the past, that meant pushing my body beyond my edge whether in yoga or some other fitness class. The mental discipline had to be tough and strong as well. At that time, something felt off with my life and my practice.

Today, strength means believing in me. I do not push past my edge when practicing yoga. I do see my edge growing all the time in a healthy accessible way. I surrender to where I am in the pose at that moment, breathing deeply and relaxing my mind. By blending ease and challenge in my practice, my body is strong and I feel powerful. I don’t resist the pose, and I don’t resist what occurs in my practice or in my life. I teach what I have learned. I teach what works for me. This yoga is about finding your own inner power — to be calm in the sometimes storms of life, and mostly to find love and kindness towards ME.

I was born and raised in the UP. In my spare time you will find me running 4 Peaks, on the shores of Lake Superior, or jumping off Black Rocks with my 3 awesome boys, Dre’, Nash, and Landen. I started practicing Yoga to find a balance between Running and CrossFitting, and realized it led me down a path to find myself. My mat has helped me find a place to realign, let go, and find peace within myself.

I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance. I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Marquette at TuliVesi Yoga in Integrative Vinyasa and Power Vinyasa in 2019. In 2015 I obtained my YogaFit Level 1 Certificate at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

As a Yoga Teacher I am committed to supporting my students in the development of their practice to enjoy the lifelong benefits of Yoga. I look forward to sharing the gift of Yoga with everyone!

Mary Connor is the owner of Marquette Ayurveda, LLC and is a NAMA certified ayurveda practitioner. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance (RYT-500) and is the former owner of the Marquette Yoga Center and Nirinjan Dev School of Yoga.Her formal university education includes a BS from West Virginia University in Food Science and Nutrition, and a Master’s degree from NMU in Exercise Science. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys cycling, camping, hiking, backpacking and skiing, and teaches cross country skiing. “Spending at least an hour or more outside each day, along with 20 minutes of meditation” is her prescription for everyone to manage the stress of everyday life and prevent disease.

I started practicing Yoga at Honor Yoga because it immediately felt like a community. Yoga showed up in my life when I didn’t know I needed it the most, which is why I decided to take my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training.

Yoga continues to meet me where I am on my mat and in my life. It’s a practice that follows me when I’m off my mat and allows me to show up for myself, my family, and others that I encounter. I wanted to share both Yoga and YOD Yoga with others because of the impact they have had on my life through breath, intentional movement and joy.

Yoga has been a part of me and my being for the last 10 years. I know first hand the healing power that comes from the practice and mostly importantly from the community. My practice and teaching mimics the same beat of just taking it all in, allowing the time for self reflecting and healing and to leave feeling empowered, moved and mostly importantly loved. My classes will be about exploring our depths, our strengths and of course just having fun!

Cate is a board-certified Internal Medicine and Hospital Medicine specialist. She began her yoga journey while in medical school at Wayne State University. Yoga brought balance to her life, and helped her to manage the extraordinary stress and demands of becoming a physician. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Michigan, and completed her Residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. She follows a whole-foods, plant-based diet, and has done extensive research and writing regarding plant-based nutrition, including a certification through Cornell. She is also earning her health care MBA through Oregon Health and Science University.

She lives in Portland with her partner Tony, sister Sarah, and best buddy/ fur baby Teddy – a Mini Australian Shepherd. She loves to share her knowledge of food as medicine with others, and is delighted to provide consulting services for Alluma Yoga Studio.

Heather’s yoga journey began at the young age of 14 while committed to competitive sport, as yoga offered a different perspective on training; slower is better. As a swimmer and triathlete, she has a passion for physical activity, but the intense training and structure left her with anxiety from stress and feelings of exhaustion. She committed herself to yoga while studying at CU Boulder in Colorado. She completed her 200 hour YTT with CorePower in December of 2019. She plans on completing her 300 hour teacher training in Bali within the next few years. With an established background in fitness, Heather loves to incorporate yoga sculpt elements into her practice to connect, grow, and gain strength with the breath, and with a passion for plant medicine, essential oils are a foundation in her yoga routine. She practices yoga to listen; to become the witness to her body. Yoga brings her attention to value things greater than herself. For Heather, yoga is an investment of experience and knowledge to share with others. She is always looking to lead collective movement for the desire to connect people to health. “Movement has been my life, it is my life, and yoga is for my life.”

MEET OUR TEAM

Isabel Francis

Brianna Salmela

Lori Beth Jokinen

Kristin Jewel Tuominen

Mary Connor

Emily McLean

Dena Elansari

Catherine Edgell, MD

Heather House

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Alluma Yoga

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