Jessie L. - is from Las Vegas, NV. She fell in love with Ann Arbor at a young age when she attended University of Michigan's Debate Camp. Jessie is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she did her BA in Classical Art and Archaeology and Art History as well as the University of Cambridge where she received her Master's of Philosophy in Archaeology: Heritage and Museum Management.  She is proud to own and operate a Yoga studio, where intangible heritage is a part of the daily landscape. She was a competitive dancer in her youth and found yoga after she left the world of dance. Jessie has been practicing yoga for over eight years. She has envisaged the concept of aUM Yoga as a studio that she would have frequented during her time as an undergraduate. Jessie is an E-RYT 200, is certified in Aerial Yoga, Thai and Sports Massage. Jessie also specializes in Geriatric Yoga and teaches in an assortment of assisted living facilities and adult day care centers in the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter Area(s).  She is focused on creating and fostering a welcoming & loving community! As a Lululemon Ambassador, she strives to create this community both internal and external to the aUM Yoga studio space.

Amanda T. 

has been a student of yoga for over fifteen years. In 2012, after more than decade of working in women's health as a Certified Professional Midwife, she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a yoga instructor. Amanda sees yoga as a wonderful opportunity to reconnect the body, breath, and mind while gaining strength both physically and emotionally.

Carly N.

​is a student at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in English Literature and Community Action and Social Change. She completed her RYT 200 training in the spring of 2016 at aUM Yoga. Yoga has helped Carly find peace and clarity within her busy life as a student. She hopes to share the benefits of yoga with members of the Ann Arbor community. 

Carson C. 

has always been dedicated to fitness. Growing up he played competitive tennis and loved running. When he went to his first yoga class he was blown away and thought it was the hardest thing he had ever done. He has been back on his mat every day since, growing physically, mentally, and spiritually. Yoga is an amazing gift that he is so happy to have found and he can’t wait to share the gift of yoga with all those he comes in contact with, both on and off the mat. 

Doug K. 

has practiced yoga for 10 years, finding deeper meaning and joy after completing aUM's first teacher training in 2015, on the campus where he earned degrees in the early '80s.  In yoga, he's found a practice and people whose philosophies connect and inspire in a way nothing else has. With an automotive industry career ending, he looks forward to continuing the journey by practicing and learning from students and teachers everywhere his travels lead. 

Ellery W. 

is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.  She first came to aUM to serve as a substitute for competitive dancing in high school but soon found yoga to be the best mood stabilizer when faced with the stress of college classes.  Ellery values the concept of making positive change within the mind, body, and soul through the physical practice of yoga, but the philosophy of clarity and awareness has spread into all actions of her daily life.  She is passionate about practicing Yoga off of the mat through collaboration(s) between Ann Arbor establishments and clubs on campus.

Erin A. 

is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Movement Science. Erin began practicing yoga after years of gymnastics and fell in love with the mind-body connection that it brought. She uses yoga to stay grounded and in touch with herself. Yoga helps her to appreciate the beauty of the people and the world that surrounds her. 

Hanna P.

is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Biomedical Engineering. She initially found yoga through the Michigan Yoga Club. She was originally attracted to the physical challenge of yoga but quickly fell in love with the mental challenge, yet relief, that yoga brought her. She trained at aUM Yoga in Winter of 2016 and continues to share her love for this amazing community.

Holland B.

is a graduate of the University of Michigan, who is currently working as a Pediatric Nurse at Mott Children's Hospital. She graduated aUM's Demystify Yoga Teacher Training program in Spring of 2016. During her time at the University of Michigan she competed on the Triathlon Team and continues to enjoy a multi-sport lifestyle. Yoga has taught Holland both patience and balance, complimenting her otherwise chaotic lifestyle. She appreciates how yoga has transformed her both mentally and physically and hopes to share this with her students. 

Kelly M.

is currently enrolled at the University of Michigan studying Community and Global Public Health with a minor in Biochemistry. She started practicing yoga regularly during her freshman year of college and received her RYT 200 at aUM in April 2017. She is also the vice president of Michigan Yoga Club, where she hopes to help other students find balance through yoga! Breathe blue!

Kelsey S.

is a junior attending the University of Michigan. She started doing yoga when she was 16, at this age the concept of yoga and mindfulness was completely mind-blowing to her. She has been hooked on yoga ever since. She came to aUM as a Freshman and joined Michigan Yoga Club. She began to take yoga more seriously after being welcomed onto the board of MYC. She's excited for the club's future and her goal is to make more students connect and feel that post-yoga glow!

Lauren H.

grew up Ann Arbor, MI. She started practicing yoga at the age of 20 as a way to de-stress during finals week. She quickly realized that yoga not only helped her survive stressful times in college but helped her progress and thrive in all areas of life. Lauren completed her RYT 200 training in the winter of 2016 at aUM Yoga. Now she not only teaches yoga but is also a high school art teacher. She strives to bring mindfulness, creativity and joy to all aspects of her life, always working to practice what she preaches, and preach what she practices.

Lil S. 

is a senior at the University of Michigan studying Biomedical Engineering. She has been practicing yoga for over one year and recently received her teaching certificate from aUM in Spring 2017. Connecting the mind, body, and breath in yoga continues to be a challenging, exciting, and rewarding journey for her. She hopes to bring the same physical and mental benefits she gets from yoga to her students.

Mariah S.

is an undergraduate at the University of Michigan studying Political Science with a minor in Crime and Justice. She has been practicing yoga for two years and has recently graduated from aUM's Teacher Training Program in winter of 2016. She is also Co-President of Michigan Yoga Club and loves the community that yoga has created for her. Yoga brings her balance amidst a crazy college schedule through promoting compassion towards herself and others. She hopes to share the wisdom and peace that yoga has brought her with all of the yogis that she meets. 

Mike M. 

is a musician, writer, hockey player, and graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors in Creative Writing. He also currently works as an Editor for a scientific research company in downtown Ann Arbor. Mike began his practice with Matt Hunter of Giant Steps Yoga in 2011 and completed his teacher training her at aUM in 2016. As a teacher and yogi, Mike believes in bringing laughter and playfulness to each practice while still helping students find their edge and deepest challenge.  Through yoga, he strives to help cultivate self-love and mindfulness while practicing non-attachment and ego. He hopes with each practice, to offer gratitude, promote healing, and to celebrate as Jeff Magnum said, "how strange it is to be anything at all"!

Noelle P.

is currently a Senior at the University of Michigan and studying in the pre-med field. She was first introduced to the practice of yoga as competitive gymnast, but truly began to cultivate her yoga practice in the midst of her first marathon training program - where she was seeking more flexibility and strength. Growing up in Michigan's quaint Upper Peninsula, the opportunity to expand her practice was limited. After less than a month in Ann Arbor, she was immediately drawn to the community of love at aUM , where she effortlessly found comfort and a deeper meaning through daily practice. As a faithful believer in aUM yoga, she completed the Demystify Yoga Teacher Training Program in Spring of 2016. Throughout DYTT and teaching, Noelle hopes to spread her light and passion for yoga to future students also searching for another dimension in their practice. It is her core goal to spread love and light to the Michigan Yoga Club and aUM Studio, by cultivating a unique practice for every Yogi. 

Sandra J.

is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is currently completing a gap year between her undergraduate studies and medical school. Alexandra discovered yoga a little under two years ago and recently received her teacher certification from aUM in Spring 2017. Yoga has provided her with a vibrant, grounding energy—an energy that she lost after quitting her passion of rhythmic gymnastics—that guides her through classes and life external to the studio. Her hope as an instructor is to help others connect with their breath and themselves, ultimately cultivating personal awareness both on and off the mat.

Shelly I.

"Yoga is a path, and it is a personal path. It will not look, feel or be the same for any body." Shelly's classes honor this. She was drawn to yoga at a very young age and has had a regular practice for over 20 years. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2014 and has been teaching regularly since. Shelly's classes incorporate the foundations of Ashtanga (breath, drishti, and bandhas) to help find alignment and stability in postures. She combines this with the freedom to explore your own personal boundaries using dynamic and creative flows with the backdrop of inspiring messages and empowering music. Think meditation meets dance. You will leave feeling challenged, yet stronger and more flexible both physically and emotionally. You will learn how to get out of your own way, on and off the mat in order to apply yoga to all aspects of your life. Shelly believes that yoga teaches you that you already have all you need.