541-980-3191
ABOUT
Angela
I have been teaching yoga since becoming a certified teacher in 2017 where my love for yoga became more than a passion. It became a desire for continued knowledge and how to best share it to benefit each individual I am lucky enough to teach. That knowledge has allowed me to experience the magic of yoga and all of the positive effects on the mind, body and soul.
My approach to teaching comes from a space of appreciation, compassion and FUN. I strive to structure my teachings so when you step off your mat you feel peace of mind, strength in body and empowered to your very soul.
Offering the Gorge's only infrared hot studio and a separate cool studio, we want to help you embark on a journey to obtain your personal wellness goals.
CERTIFICATIONS
⦿ Yoga Sculpt Certification
⦿ Hot 26 & 2 Certification
⦿ Degree I & II Barre Certification
⦿ Human Reformer Pilates Certification
⦿ Pumped Up Strength Certification
⦿ 200 RYT Yoga Certification
⦿ Cardio Yoga Certification
Whitney Hooker
Whitney completed her 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher vinyasa teacher training in Greenville, SC at North Main Yoga in 2008. Her training focused on restorative breath practice incorporating the Qi Gong breathing techniques of teacher Max Strong. Whitney has enjoyed teaching yoga as a healing modality to the general public and clinical populations. She believes in making yoga accessible, approachable and fun for all persons and this philosophy inspired her career choice as an Occupational Therapist. When she’s off the mat Whitney adores pushing her limits in the gym, giggling with her girlfriends, music, singing, reading, plant-based cooking, making colorful bad art and exploring the beautiful PNW on foot or two wheels with her dog Sophie and partner, Jay.
Bill Kupchin
Bill was raised on a small farm in Troy, Pennsylvania. He finished High School in St Petersburg Florida and went to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He retired from military service and has been working in Aviation Safety commercially ever since. He also has a personal training studio TempleTrainingTech.com and enjoys hiking, camping and being outdoors as much as possible.
Bill first experienced yoga through seeking relief from back and hip pain due to arthritis. 22 years of military service had taken its toll on both body and mind. After moving to the Columbia River Gorge from Alaska, he found relief in restorative yoga. Feeling brave one day, he entered his first Bikram yoga class and never looked back. Wanting to share what he discovered, he pursued his 200 hour CYT and has a passion for making yoga accessible for all populations. Bill enjoys practicing outdoors and weaving philosophy into his practice. He is a 200 hr CYT, Certified Personal Trainer, Strength Coach and Master Health and Wellness Instructor. He has taught online with Tribe, nOMad and in person at Pure Yoga The Dalles, Yoga for First Respomnders, Hood River Elks Lodge and Google. #templetrainingtech, templetrainingtech.com, nomadalwaysatom.com, tribeyogamilitary.org
Lexi Stickel
Lexi stumbled upon yoga over 15 years ago as a way to destress as a busy grad student and fell in love with the practice. As a teacher, she aims to infuse joy, connection, and breath into every class she leads. She believes everyone can experience the benefits of yoga and each of her classes link body & mind with breath & movement. Lexi strives to ensure that every student feels empowered and comfortable in her classes with options that work for their unique and beautiful bodies. Lexi completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training with Jaya Yoga School in Hood River where she refined her approach to yoga. She is currently working on her 500 hour, and is certified in Restorative Yoga.
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> She was born and raised in Oregon, and has lived throughout the Willamette Valley. Now she is a proud community member of the Columbia River Gorge. You'll probably bump into Lexi on one of the numerous trails, lakes, or breweries in the Gorge. She loves to explore all the beauty of the PNW with her partner and pup.
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> You can connect with her on Facebook & Instagram as Wild Bloom Yoga — inspired by her love of yoga & the beauty of the Gorge.
Freedom Ciavarello
Freedom Ciavarello is your biggest fan. She is so happy that you’re here and cannot wait to share a Meditation moment with you. She teaches a modern, approachable style of mindfulness-based meditation that utilizes visualization, breath, affirmations and self inquiry to help practitioners of all levels know the depth of their true potential. She works as a holistic lifestyle coach specializing in mindfulness and is a modern day alchemist, owning and operating a small batch skin care company in Beautiful, The Dalles. You can find more information about her work and products through her website (linking moonbeamdaydream.com) or by following her on Instagram (linking Instagram.com/moonbeam_daydream). Until soon!
Shana Rose
Shana loves to live her life by the philosophical principles of the 8 fold path, practicing gratitude for nature and food and people- she sees everything as sacred and celebrates all with ritual. She enjoys teaching Ayurveda, meditation, yoga and has a spiritual life coaching business. Shana has lived with indigenous shemanic communities holding space for plant medicine ceremonies in Guatemala and Mexico. Outside the studio, you can find her doing art in her hammock or rollerblading by the water. Shana loves living in the Dalles, seeing massage and facial clients and hosting retreats!
Mary Wagstaff
Mary believes that if you can hold a plank for 60 seconds, you can hold space for all the feelings life throws your way. With 25 years as a yoga practitioner, Mary sees yoga as emotional intelligence training, a pathway to self-discovery, and a reminder that life is a sacred ceremony. Her motto? "It just keeps getting better."
Mary’s playful and ritual-rich approach to class invites students to meet themselves on the mat with curiosity and humor, uncovering the wisdom and stories held within their bodies. Off the mat, she’s a holistic alcohol and life coach for women, helping them reconnect with their highest selves and live vibrant, unaltered lives. She also facilitates women’s circles, DJs ecstatic dance, and passionately honors the divine feminine in all her work.
Janell Wyatt
Janell is a retired physical therapist with 500hr yoga certification. She loves teaching and practicing yoga for bringing the body, mind, and spirit together for peace and health.
Jenni is a compassionate and skilled Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT) with a unique ability to guide individuals on their journey. With experience as a mental health counselor she brings deep empathy and understanding to her work, creating a safe and supportive space for transformation.Specializing in somatic healing, Jenni leads yoga integrating ancient yoga practices with modern tools for emotional and physical well-being. Her sessions are enhanced by her knowledge of mindfulness, sound baths, and trauma-informed techniques, allowing participants to reconnect with their bodies and develop a sense of inner peace.Her commitment to holistic healing shines in her ability to weave ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices, creating impactful group experiences that resonate on both a personal and communal level.
Catalina discovered yoga over 15 years ago while living in Seattle. What began as a practice soon became a path—connecting breath, mind, and body, and offering tools to move through life’s ups and downs with greater ease and appreciation.
For two years, Catalina lived in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, where she practiced with a beloved teacher, Molly, who often reminded her, “All is coming.” Those words became a guiding truth as her curiosity for yoga and wellness deepened. Inspired by that time, she also became a certified International Health Coach, expanding her passion for holistic living.
Now rooted in Hood River, Catalina recently completed her 200-hour Mindfulness-Based Yoga Teacher Training. She describes the experience as both enriching and humbling—reminding her that even after years of practice, she has only begun to scratch the surface of yoga’s depth. Molly was right: all is coming—and Catalina feels there is still so much more ahead.
A lifetime fitness enthusiast, Leah began practicing yoga in college to fulfill a PE credit over 25 years ago and has been teaching since 2013. Yoga has been her constant over the years, along with biking, swimming, running, mountain biking, winging, and weight training. For Leah, yoga provides the necessary balance to feel good doing all of her other activities. With a masters degree in International Education from New York University and her love of teaching, the perfect combination, naturally, was to become a yoga instructor, personal trainer, and health coach. Leah believes that you should feel just as good at 80 as you do at 40 in both body and mind. Leah incorporates strength, flexibility, alignment and balance in her vinyasa classes. A native Portlander, Leah and her family moved to Hood River in September, call it their Covid life crisis, and are happy to now call their dream town, home. Leah loves the Empower Yoga community is happy to have found a studio that is full of wonderful, warm energy.
