Kelly Patrick (Owner), TIY-T

Kelly is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with an A.S. in Occupational Therapy. She has practiced occupational therapy on all ages from children to seniors. Kelly is a 500-hour yoga instructor and lead trainer for the Rise Up 200 & 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training. Kelly is also certified in Senior Yoga, Yoga for Cancer, and is a Trauma-Informed Yoga instructor. Kelly recently published her autobiography, I Wish My Mom Was Dead. She’s currently writing her second book. The books are her life story of how she overcame her childhood trauma to not only heal herself, but to help others as well. Kelly works diligently to bridge the gap between mental health and holistic approaches and has designed several accredited trauma informed yoga programs, for mental health counselors, occupational therapists, and lawyers. Kelly also created an online trauma-informed yoga channel, with yoga classes and short videos about trauma and how it is interwoven into our minds, bodies, and souls. Kelly’s passion for yoga has been enhanced by the healing experience she has obtained from the practice. She is passionate and determined to educate others on holistic paths to healing from trauma.

Suzanne Corley

Suzanne had been a group fitness instructor for twenty years when she was first introduced to yoga. Challenging, humbling, and exhilarating are the words she uses to describe this experience. "Yoga was the missing component in my fitness routine, as well as in my life in general. Once I experienced the healing and rejuvenating connection between mind, body, and spirit, there was no turning back."

Earning her yoga teaching certification allows Suzanne to share her passion for Vinyasa yoga. "With the breath as our foundation, I lead an energetic yet restful and challenging yet compassionate series of asanas/poses and let Grace-filled yoga do the rest!"

Greta Fechter, TIY-T

Greta has been teaching middle school since 1997 and is a natural lover of learning. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Miami University and then her master’s degree in middle level literacy from Cambridge College out in Boston. Her personal yoga journey started after she had her third son in 2012 and wanted a calming but peaceful retreat from “BOY-MOMing”. The mind-body-soul connection she discovered in her yoga practice completely changed her life.

In early 2017, she earned her 200 hour certification. Greta believes yoga is for everyone - no matter your age, weight, previous experience, athletic ability, or bank account. Having fun and making connections with her students sets her apart from other teachers. The sense of community you will undoubtedly feel in her classes will keep you coming back for more!

Lisa Fide

My yoga journey started almost 18 years ago when my curiosity overrode my fear of trying new things, and I signed up for a basic beginner yoga class offered by my local Park & Recreation Department. It was a little awkward at first but one hour later as I was lying flat on my back on my mat during Savasana, it dawned on me- I couldn’t think of any place I would rather be than right where I was smack dab in the middle of that group of welcoming, eclectic, loving people who became instant friends. I was home.

Lisa's goal is to create a class of inclusion. Yoga is for everybody and EVERY BODY. Lisa strives to make her classes fun, safe, and inclusive, where you will come together as one practice, one breath and one energy.

Lisa completed her 200 hour yoga teaching training at Circle of Life Yoga. She is currently studying Hypnotherapy with a goal of combining the two practices in the future. Off the mat, Lisa can be found volunteering with the Lorain County Metro Parks System or home in North Ridgeville with her eclectic flock of parrots. 

Cyndi Milluzzi

“Yoga is the secret to growing older gracefully both within your body and within your soul”.

This has been my mantra throughout my several years of practicing yoga. As a nurse I always knew the importance of maintaining my health. Even though I enjoyed several sports such as biking, swimming, hiking and even competitive figure skating, I was always drawn back to my mat because it treated both my body and mind equally. After a severe accident left me with the inability to walk for three months, it was yoga that healed my leg and my anxiety. Linking breath and movement allowed me to strengthen my muscles, calm my doubts, and move forward to a place of calmness and peace. Always a competitor, I also learned to listen to my body and work towards my own goals in a healthy way.

My decision to become a yoga instructor was influenced by wanting to share this peace and tranquility I finally found with other individuals . I knew that yoga could be an answer for so many people dealing with medical issues such as stress, high blood pressure, arthritis, and previous injuries. For those people wanting to maintain their strength, balance, and agility, yoga was the perfect answer for maintaining wellness.

Through Nirvana Yoga Studio in Richfield, Ohio, I completed my 200 hour Yoga Alliance training under the kind and thoughtful leadership of Melissa Cugini and Maria Varonis. It is with great appreciation and an open heart that I grew my own practice with their support, guidance, and gentle teaching techniques. Additional accolades to Dunya Khaleq for her encouragement and sharing of her own unique teaching methods.

On the mat, my favorite asana is Locus. It represents to me a way to float above the mat in a beautiful and powerful way.

Off my mat, I share my life with my four wonderful children, my encouraging husband Ken and my pet Dove. Listening to music, enjoying fires in the backyard and hikes and bikes in the Metroparks put a smile on my face.

Cathie Smith

Cathie is a Yoga Alliance registered, EYRT-200-hour certified yoga instructor. She first found yoga after an injury, looking for a gentler way to exercise and has been hooked ever since. Beyond that, she discovered that yoga is so much more than a workout. As a person with fibromyalgia, the mind-body experience is life changing for her.

She takes inspiration from her love of dance to create beautiful flows — smooth transitions are key. A resident of Olmsted Township, when she’s not doing yoga, she enjoys working on projects around her home with her best friend/husband, gardening and spending time with their boxer Laila. 

Kristen Wilson, TIY-T

A resident of Olmsted Township! Kristen discovered her practice after having two children and trying every type of fitness fitting her busy work and home schedule. She quickly learned and preferred the physicality and mentality of her yoga practice. She is a 200 RYT graduate and trained locally in the Vinyasa (matching breath and movement) practice. Kristen’s classes will help you generate the internal fire needed to inspire and deepen your practice. Her gratitude for sharing her students’ practice and space is her main motivation for teaching. She understands beginners and continues to bring a ‘beginner’ mentality with a humble attitude to her own practice. All of her classes will offer gentle suggestions to sweeten poses making sure you walk away feeling welcomed, complete, and refreshed!

“Yoga makes me feel beautiful, capable, and healthy! I want everyone to feel this fulfilled.” 

Kelly Atkinson

Kelly was first drawn to yoga for the workout and to gain flexibility. Right away she became aware of the mindfulness that she was getting, and she knew that yoga was always going to be a part of her life. She wanted to share her passion with others, so she became an instructor. Now she can give others the opportunity to breathe and find peace while gaining strength and balance on and off their mats.

Chelsey Cox

Chelsey started gymnastics before she could walk and continued throughout high school. By the time she got to college and stopped moving daily, she realized something didn’t feel right in her body! She was craving movement and stretching so she picked up an elective yoga class and never looked back. 14 years later she earned her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Circle of Life Yoga. 

Chelsey lives in Strongsville with her husband Jeremy, son Theo, and their two dogs Kingsley and Kora.  To Chelsey, yoga is a safe escape to feel aliveness in your body and allow yourself to make a conscious decision to relax and be present.

Gabby Scalese

Gabby started her yoga journey after she had her second son. She loves the way yoga can move the body into various poses while improving breathing, strength, and flexibility. Gabby completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Circle of Life Yoga, and was the "best decision" she would say. Gabby had some great opportunities spreading the practice of yoga to others from young kids all the way to groups of families. Outside of yoga, Gabby enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons playing in the pool, camping in the woods, or keeping it simple with having movie nights. Gabby loves being a boy mom!

Sarah Germano

Sarah began her yoga journey after the birth of her twins. Using yoga not only to recover, she used it as a powerful tool in her fight with PPD to find a sense of herself again. This experience then repeated itself following her subsequent births. Driven by a desire to help others facing a similar struggle, she became a 200 hour certified yoga teacher and wants to help people who feel the same things she did whether it be isolation, inadequacy, or self-doubt.

Regardless of gender or background, Sarah recognizes we all face moments of vulnerability like this and sometimes a moment or reflection can lead us back to our inner strengths and worthiness. As a wife and mom of 4, Sarah loves a good vinyasa flow with lots of movement to keep her focus on her practice. Her mission is to create an inclusive space with a great vibe and serenity in the studio.

Heather Hanchuk, TIY-T

Heather graduated from Baldwin Wallace College with a B.A. in Sports Medicine & Athletic Training. She is also a Physical Therapist Assistant and Integrative Health Practitioner, and is working towards a certification in Sound Healing. Heather has worked with people of all ages, and brings years of experience into teaching yoga. As a college basketball player, Heather has always loved being active and is now a marathon runner. Heather completed her 500 hour yoga teacher training through the pandemic, it was her stress relief. Heather believes yoga is for everyone, no matter the age, size, shape, flexibility, or fitness level. Heather’s favorite quote is by Joel Kramer, “Yoga is a dance between control and surrender - between pushing and letting go. When to push and when to let go becomes part of the creative process, part of the open-ended exploration of your being.”

Katie Evans, TIY-T

Katie spent eight years teaching in Alaska before she became a 4-8 grade ELA teacher in Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alaska in English and Music, her Master of Arts from Tiffin University in Communications, and her Master of Education and Curriculum from Bowling Green State University. Her passion for Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL) grew out of her own healing journey. Katie recently published her first book, From Me To You. Katie recognizes and understands how the practice of yoga has helped in her healing, and decided to become a 500 hour trauma-informed yoga teacher. Katie thinks one of the most important things that she can do as a teacher is to let her students know that what they have to say and who they are matters. Katie wholeheartedly believes that every human, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to learn to express themselves, communicate their thoughts and feelings, and take up space!

Lisa Ackim

A 200 hour level Certified Yoga Instructor since July, 2014, Lisa has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. Yin, Ashtanga, Sivananda, and Vinyasa are some of her favorite styles of yoga to practice. She’s also a Licensed Massage Therapist and has been practicing massage since 2004. She’s certified in Thai Massage and a Master Reiki Practitioner. She feels being a Yoga Instructor and Massage Therapist is the “BEST” job in the world because she gets to help people feel good all day long. When she is not practicing yoga and massage, she enjoys fitness, reading, gardening and music.