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ABOUT
ABOUT ME
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
⦿ Mater Level I & II Barre 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
Nicole Hartman
Sometimes we stumble onto unexpected passions and joys, which is what happened to me in early 2022. Going into 2022, I was trying to become a children's librarian, books and stories being an absolute love of mine, and to get my foot in the door, I offered to teach a children's yoga class once a week at the library. And as cheesy as it is, that's when I found my calling. When teaching children's yoga, you are as much a student as a teacher. There's never a dull moment! My favorite thing to do is craft stories that children get swept up in, becoming so engaged they don't want to leave. Watching them take home and practice moments of mindfulness, which we learn (undercover) in class, is extremely rewarding. I am certified through Cosmic Kids Yoga and currently working on my 200hr yoga certification and becoming a certified nutritionist.
Jack Kaady
Jack started practicing yoga in 2007 as way to decompress from a stressful job in high tech and stay in shape between taking various outdoor gorge sessions. He began his practice at Flow Yoga studio in Hood River in a Bikram yoga class. He soon realized that the static poses were too restrictive and made his way to a Vinyasa Flow class.
That style resonated with him and a few years later he found “yoga mecca” when some classes at Yoga Samadhi and Flow in Hood River offered Journey into Power (JIP), a style developed by Baron Baptiste and taught in a 90-95 degree studio. This practice takes its inspiration from Ashtanga, Bikram and Iyengar styles of yoga. Jack has been studying to improve his practice and knowledge of yoga ever since by taking various courses from the Baptiste Institute and Baptiste Affiliated studios.
Hi training includes completing his 200-hour teacher training at Namaspa Yoga Studio in Bend. Before that he took Level 1 and Personal Revolution from Baron Baptiste in Sedona and Tulum. In Tulum, he didn’t practice hot yoga, he practiced yoga, and it was hot!
Finally, in 2019, after taking several more week-long trainings and assisting at a Level 1 training in Ojai, California, he received his 300-hour yoga leader certification from the Baptiste Institute.
Most of all in this journey, Jack realizes the importance of yoga not only as a physical practice (asana) but what it offers through meditation and inquiry. His classes offer his students a vigorous practice, but also allows for modifications and suggested alignment to make it accessible to everyone who is willing to go on this satisfying and invigorating journey. He looks forward to seeing you in class soon!
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.
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.
You can connect with her on Facebook & Instagram as Wild Bloom Yoga — inspired by her love of yoga & the beauty of the Gorge.
Janell Wyatt
Janell Wyatt, LPT, RYT
Retired Physical Therapist, 200 and 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher
I started going to yoga classes when I turned 50 and fell in love with the practice. Yoga
restored health to my body, peace to my mind, and restoration to my soul. I always say that I
continue to do yoga so I can BREATHE.
I worked as a physical therapist at MCMC and in pediatrics in the schools for 30 years, and
when I retired I went to my first yoga teacher training in Arizona at Yahweh Yoga where I
completed my 200 hour certification. My teachers there were a mother/daughter team and the
mom was 75 years old and could still do forearm planks, strong warrior poses, and I decided I
wanted to continue to be strong and flexible into my 70s and 80s too. She also did a wonderful
Restorative yoga class every evening after a long day of yoga classes and studying.
My husband and I led Yoga Retreats to Costa Rica for 3 years, and then I decided to go back
to Arizona for my 500 hour training at Yahweh Yoga and I continued to teach slow vinyasa style
yoga classes in The Dalles and Maupin. When COVID hit, everything shut down, and I learned
to teach and take classes over Zoom. I love learning new things and have been studying
Restorative Yoga and want to bring this practice to Empower Yoga in the near future.
Otherwise, I plan to be fully retired and enjoy taking yoga classes and going to yoga retreats,
and enjoying spending time with my family.
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.
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.
You can connect with her on Facebook & Instagram as Wild Bloom Yoga — inspired by her love of yoga & the beauty of the Gorge.