Kristin is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) with Vinyasa Level 1, Level 2, Sculpt and Candlelight Flow training through CorePower Yoga and has been teaching since 2007.
Kristin has her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Minnesota and currently practices Sports Medicine at Essentia Health.
Kristin loves being with her family, playing tennis and other sports, tending bees, and singing in the church choir.
Favorite Pose: Dancer Pose because it is a very strong posture that requires strength, balance, mobility, and an element of letting go.
Sarah Hurst E-500 RYT; C-IAYT
After completing her first yoga teacher training in 2003, Sarah taught semester-long yoga courses at Carleton College and classes at a yoga studio in Northfield, MN. After moving to Duluth in 2005, she continued to teach yoga for the next 17 years at Lake Superior College. Sarah was part of the original staff at the studio when it opened in 2016. Always learning, she has completed 5 yoga trainings ranging from 200 hrs to 1000 hrs each. In 2020 she completed a yoga therapy program at Yoga North in Duluth, earning certification (C-IAYT) with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Sarah’s teaching is strongly influenced by Somayoga, a type of therapeutic yoga. Curiosity, non-judgement and exploration are most important to her teaching. She guides her students through a mindful practice during which they pay attention to posture, movement patterns, breath and mind. She encourages her students to sense and feel, to move with awareness and fluidity, creating a moving meditation. Outside of teaching yoga, Sarah enjoys walking dogs for Twin Ports Pet Sitters, volunteering with the Duluth Wolfpack lacrosse team and traveling! She lives on the lake with her dog and husband and MANY plants.
Daniela Pelayo, PTA, E-RYT 500, YACEP, C-IAYT (she/her)
Daniela has been honored to be teaching at Duluth Yoga since it first opened in 2015. Daniela is passionate to create a safe and inviting space in her yoga classes. She brings many of the skills and tools that she has learned through her many trainings and education. Plus she loves to weave the occasional songs in her native language of Spanish and when the opportunity arises leads a Bilingual Yoga class in English and Spanish on Cinco de Mayo.
During the day, Daniela is a Physical Therapist Assistant at Essentia Health Therapy and Performance Center where she works with a variety of patients in their recovery process from orthopedic surgery, back pain or chronic pain. She is a native of Mexico city, but a Duluthian at heart. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a BA in Women’s Studies and after years of working in the corporate world followed her passion to guide others in their physical healing and rehabilitation process and graduated from the PTA program at Lake Superior College.
Daniela was first introduced to yoga during college but it wasn’t until she was working in the corporate world that she was blown away by the peace of mind that an asana practice brought to her life.
To deepen her asana practice, Daniela completed her first 200-hour yoga Vinyasa certification through CorePower Yoga in 2005 and pursued other CorePower trainings including Yoga Sculpt, Hot Power Fusion and Hot Yoga – 26 posture series. A year of service in Massachusetts at Dhamma Dhara, Vipassana Meditation Center and Kripalu Yoga Center allowed Daniela to start the journey of self-discovery and healing. This sparked her continuous curiosity for learning and growing.
To further her skills as a clinician and to deepen her knowledge of the philosophical aspects of yoga, Daniela enrolled in both the +350/500 Hour and 1000-hour Yoga Therapy Certification at Yoga North International Soma Yoga Institute. Not only did she deepen her knowledge in the richness of yoga philosophy, Anatomy, Ayurveda and Therapeutic skills but she had an opportunity for self-transformation and growth. As a certified yoga therapist, Daniela serves as a guide in the beautiful journey of interoception, neuromuscular reeducation and connection to one’s own bright being.
Most recently Daniela’s never ending curiosity for learning led her to the 200-hour and 300-hour certification of the LYT Yoga Method which is grounded in the principles of physical therapy and neurodevelopmental training developed by Lara Heimann.
Daniela shares her passion for yoga with joy and a kind open heart. She loves the heat and teaches Hot Power Fusion and DY3.
Chelsea has been teaching group fitness classes since 2010 - starting off leading step aerobics, body pump and kickboxing classes. In 2017 she started teaching at Duluth Yoga. Chelsea completed her Hot Power Fusion and 200 Hour Power Yoga Certifications through Duluth Yoga, and her Yoga Sculpt Certification through CorePower Yoga. Chelsea focuses on teaching fun, energetic, empowering DYSculpt classes enhanced by the beat of a good EDM playlist with the goal of leaving students inspired and ready to take on the day.
Chelsea's favorite yoga posture is child's pose. This posture is gold whether it is right away in the morning or at the end of a long day, you can sink into this peaceful posture and feel all of the tension melt from your body as it's being fully supported by the earth. Complete surrender.
Outside of the studio, Chelsea is the Director of Client Experience for a local financial planning and employee benefits firm. In her free time, she can be found outside cross country skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, in the kitchen cooking a new recipe, baking a new sweet treat, or getting lost in a good book.
Meghan completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through Duluth Yoga in 2020, 20-hour Yin Yoga certification in 2022, and 50-hour Yoga Sculpt training at Duluth Yoga in 2023. Meghan has been practicing yoga since 2005 and teaching at Duluth Yoga since 2021. Meghan loves the countless benefits to practicing yoga—including unparalleled core and full-body muscle strengthening, an improved ability for muscle recovery, and good mental clarity and calmness. By teaching, Meghan hopes to make yoga accessible and fun and help everyone explore what yoga can do in their own life. “I love yoga! I love the physical, heating practice of vinyasa flows, and I also crave the opening and grounding Yin and Restore practices. It’s important, as in life, to have balance in all we do.”
When outside the studio, you might find Meghan teaching or playing on a tennis court, in a beehive helping her family’s apiary (Lake Superior Apiary) tend bees, rollerblading, singing, gardening, or spending time with her family. Meghan and her husband live in Duluth and have 4 children.
Katie has been practicing and teaching yoga for almost 20 years, and completed her 200-hour vinyasa yoga training with Runa Yoga in 2020. Since then, she has taken additional training in prenatal yoga and awakening yoga, while continually learning from her teachers and students in Duluth and online. She enjoys creating flowing sequences that connect familiar poses in unique ways to inspire and uplift her students.
Annie Kiel, MPH, MA, E-RYT
Annie Kiel is an experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, with over 600 hours of training and 2,500 hours of teaching experience. She teaches progressively, meaning that there are always clear options for students to choose which version of each posture is best for them that day. Annie’s sequencing is intentional and creative, with many opportunities for arm balances and inversions! She pays particular attention to safety and alignment with precise anatomical cues, as students connect breath with movement. Annie invites students to focus their energy inward, drawing awareness to both the physical and mental practice of yoga. Her classes include low-volume music that is almost entirely instrumental.
In 2013, Annie co-founded Firefly Yoga International using yoga as a complementary public health intervention for survivors of trauma. Since then, she has trained over 500 professionals on the principles and practice of teaching trauma-informed yoga (in 6 countries!). Annie applies her trauma expertise to every class she leads, working to create inclusive and safe environments for all. She holds a MPH in Global Health, a MA in Gender and Peace Building, and specializes in addressing trauma through a public health lens. Annie has provided consultation on trauma-responsive design to federal government agencies, international and domestic nonprofits, and private sector companies. She currently serves as the Director of Organizational Wellness and Employee Experience with the Minnesota Department of Health. Annie lives in Duluth with her partner, toddler daughter, and a very theatrical husky.
My name is Sidney, I got my yoga sculpt training from DY in winter 2023. I am currently studying at the College of St. Scholastica to get my Doctorate in physical therapy. My mother was a yoga instructor, so I was immersed in yoga from an early age. After trying yoga sculpt, I realized that it was the ideal combination of my two favorite things: strength training and yoga. I am so excited to now be teaching what I love to those in class! My motto in teaching is "Everything you need is already in you," in class or outside of class it's so important to keep the positive comments rolling. Your thoughts are a pretty powerful tool and if your mind believes it your body can achieve it. In class, my goal is to help everyone find that positive energy to uplift themselves and walk away with a win big or small.
Karen received her BSN in 1985 and a Masters Degree in Science in Exercise Physiology in 1992.
After working as nurse for 25 yrs., Karen decided she wanted to make teaching fitness and movement a bigger part of her life. She became a Stott Certified Pilates Instructor in 2004 and completed the RYT 200 training at Yoga North in 2015. Karen has completed the Duluth Yoga Hot Power Fusion training as well as PiY0 and Soul Fusion training and most recently a Trauma-Informed Yoga for Youth training.
Karen has taught and continues to teach a variety of group fitness classes including Pilates, PiYO, Soul Fusion and Circuit training. She also teaches yoga at Amberwing for the outpatient treatment program for at risk youth.
Karen enjoys adventure traveling, hiking, backpacking, running, pickleball, cooking and eating delicious food.
My name is Lexie but you can call me “Lex” ! I’m so ready to bring you all an authentic Lexie sculpt class where we all can work hard, laugh, dance, and move to the music!
A little bit about me - I went to graduate school and earned my Doctor of Nursing Practice-Nurse Midwifery. I love women’s health and helping individuals feel good in their own skin throughout their many stages of life. I will be getting married this October to an amazing, hardworking man! Lastly, I have a golden retriever, Colbie, who is my pride and joy! I’m looking forward to meeting and connecting with each and every one of you throughout your yoga sculpt journey!
Julie found her way to her yoga mat in 2003 and has never looked back. Over the years she’s
devoted her practice to a wide array of yoga lineages including Bikram, vinyasa, hatha,
Ashtanga, and yin. As an early student, Julie absorbed knowledge from gifted teachers, and in
2017 she gained her 200 hr RYT in Cahuita, Costa Rica. Shortly after, she founded Yoga on the
Creek, a studio in Ketchikan, Alaska. Here, Julie focused her teaching on leading mindful, slow
flow vinyasa classes that supported every student’s journey on the mat. She believes that all yoga
originates from the breath, and from that steadiness, the body can then truly benefit from the
moving mediation of yoga. Julie strives to be a clear and approachable teacher. In her classes you
can expect thoughtful sequencing, instruction on proper alignment, and asanas that speak to all
levels of experience. Julie offers an authentic representation of yoga teaching, one that inspires
and empowers her students. She is honored to join the teaching community at Duluth Yoga.
Madelyne received her Vinyasa teaching certification in 2021 at a hot power studio in Delaware. Originally from Texas, she's spent the last 8.5 years living in Washington D.C. and is looking forward to beginning a new chapter in Minnesota. A lifelong athlete, Madelyne was drawn to yoga for the mental clarity brought by practicing stillness and grounding into her body. Her classes aim to help students discover the edge of their comfort zone--whether that's a new posture, a new perspective, or just showing up--and sit with that discomfort to achieve growth.
Madelyne has been an instructor across a variety of activities including rock climbing, paddle boarding, kayaking, group fitness, horseback riding, swimming and hand lettering. When not being active, Madelyne works as a graphic designer, lettering artist and illustrator.
Michelle has always held a strong belief that optimal health and wellness are achieved when the mind, body and spirit are supported as one. She feels grateful to be a lifelong student of the practice of yoga and for the opportunity to share that passion with others. She holds space in her classes for students to explore the tools of breath and movement to connect to themselves and the world around them on a deeper level. She strives to remind herself (and others) not to take life too seriously by seeking adventure wherever and whenever she can, including the mat! In her classes you can expect to be guided inward with an inspired playlist, and cueing grounded in alignment and anatomy.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise Physiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation from The College of St Scholastica. She is an E-RYT 200-hour from Yoga Center of Minneapolis and holds specialty trainings including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, rounding out her passion in the mind body connection.
