OUR STAFF

Carl and Anya moved to Lake Stevens in June 2019.

They have 4 grown children, and 2 four legged kids (dogs) are still at home -). They are big Pitt Boxers dog lovers.

Outside of building and growing Hot Yoga Joy of Lake Stevens studio they love to travel, ride theirs motorcycles and of course spend time with the L-Sisters Lara and Lena, as much as possible. Carl new hobby - woodworking keeps him happily busy!

Anya and Carl positioned themselves to make a big difference in the Lake Stevens community.

With her husband support, Anya loves to mess in her garden, run races and work on home projects between classes and two businesses.

Anya has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. In 2005 she has attended a Hot Yoga class and had fallen in love with that style of yoga.

Been physically active all her life she found that hot yoga can be a "glue" to healthy joints as well as whole body and mind.

In 2020-2021 She has completed her 500 YTT hours.

In 2023 She has received her Aerial Yoga Teachers certification and quickly decided to share that style of yoga with her community.

In her classes, Anya loves to combine music with creative sequences, connecting breath and movement with inspiration to deepen your practice and see new possibilities. She loves to teach and make a difference in people lives.

"Seen the progress in my students Yoga practice is truly the most rewarding feelings".. she says.

Natalie is a certified yoga instructor and works as a licensed Sex and Relationship Therapist at her practice, Reservoir S&R Therapy. She is new to the area, having moved to Lake Stevens in fall of 2022. She completed her yoga teacher training while living in Darjeeling, India in 2019 where she received a holistic education in yogic practices, including pranayama, yogic philosophy, asanas, anatomy and physiology, and ayurvedic dietary practices. She is thrilled to join Hot Yoga Joy studio and the Lake Stevens community as a whole! She looks forward to using her knowledge and education to join you in your pursuit of meaningful wellness in your life.

Kelli is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) completing her training in 2017 following a career as a Family Law Paralegal. Kelli has taught Hatha, Yoga Sculpt, and Slow Flow classes while specializing in Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra workshops. After a break in teaching due to both Covid and then a long-term knee injury, she began attending Anya’s Yin/Meditation classes and the monthly Sound Bath and fell in love with yoga all over again. After attending classes to regain her strength and balance in her injured knee, the heart’s desire to start teaching yoga followed. Kelli is thrilled to begin teaching the yogis at Hot Yoga Joy and to watch their confidence and growth in their own practices as she is doing again in her own. She looks forward to helping Hot Yoga Joy grow their clientele and establish their business serving the Lake Stevens community. Kelli is a long-term Lake Stevens resident living in her dream house with a beautiful view of the lake with her husband, their three cats and one goofy Golden Retriever. She has one grown daughter; son-in-law and four granddaughters living nearby and loves spending time with the family. Kelli is also a Level One Usui Reiki Healer as well as a Certified Yoga Nidra Teacher, a Certified Chakra Healing Teacher, and a Certified Crystal Healer. Kelli’s next plan is to complete 300 Teacher Training.

Sarah Romero is a new kids yoga instructor!

She began practicing at Hot Yoga Joy in the spring of 2022 and inspired by classes she decided to learn more about Kids Yoga.

She is the biggest dog lover and enjoys spending her free time in nature or doing something creative like painting rocks or trying something new. Sarah has been involved with the Lake Stevens community for 3 years and is empowered to nurture all the wonderful connections. From a young age, Sarah has always found joy in moving her body in ways that helped her express herself; dance, Cologuard, and now yoga asanas! Sarah hopes to spread the joy of movement and the benefits of yoga to the youth. Sarah is excited to join the Hot Yoga Joy team with her bubbly personality and is ready to create an environment for the kids to feel supported and empowered!

Aarika is 500- hour certified Yoga Instructor.

She has experience teaching yoga in various setting such as studio, gyms and at a university. Aarika is a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. Her education helps her to practice and teach yoga in a safe and intentional manner. Aarika enjoys creating classes where everyone feels welcome. She helps her students to be comfortable in their bodies while growing stronger in their physical practice. In her free time Aarika enjoys traveling, gardening. cooking and baking.

Andrea’s interest in fitness began as an extension of her training in ballet and jazz dance back in high school. She began teaching high impact aerobics and step along with children’s dance in Michigan before embarking upon a 15 year career performing internationally as a bellydancer. After moving to Chicago, she co-directed a dance studio and helped many aspiring bellydancers launch their own careers. After a significant back injury, she relocated to Seattle in 2011 and began teaching Barre while studying to become a Physical Therapy Assistant at PIMA. The enhanced understanding of anatomy and kinesiology coupled with the practice of stability exercise not only helped her to rehab her own injuries, but underscored her profound belief in the healing power of movement. While working as a PTA in an outpatient orthopedic setting,she became certified in Craniosacral Therapy through the prestigious Bastyr University which furthered her interest in natural healing and bridging the gap between the physical and energetic. Andrea’s focus is basically ALIGNMENT; of the body, of our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies, and with our soul’s purpose! During the pandemic, Andrea had the opportunity to delve deeper into the practice of Yoga and received her RYT-200 through the Kaivalya Method. After joining Sports Physical Therapy in Lake Stevens as a PTA in 2022, she is excited to become a part of the positive and encouraging environment at Hot Yoga Joy and further serve the community through wellness and empowerment!.

Leah is a certified yoga instructor with a deep passion for movement and breath and the healing power that yoga brings into people's lives. Yoga was key in her long recovery from the effects of a temporary paralysis and traumatic brain injury resulting from a near fatal car accident 15+ yrs ago. She hopes that by helping others weave yoga into their lives they can receive some of the same benefits she has found, both physically and mentally. She also has a Master's in Pedagogy (in French) and before finding yoga taught French for over a decade. She loves nature, her four kids and hiking with her two aussie labradoodles in her free time.

Yoga has been passion in Judit life since she first set foot in a studio 15 years ago. During her yoga journey Judit experimented with many different styles from traditional Bikram and Hatha through adventurous arm balances to a deeper, inward turning Yin, while dipping her toes into meditation as well. She has completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at the University of Washington with focus on inclusivity, anatomy and yoga philosophy and became a registered yoga instructor in August 2023.

Judit believe that yoga should and can be accessible to anyone with a main goal is to promote the physical and mental benefits yoga holds and share it with as many people as possible. As an extrovert and a real Gemini, She loves interacting with people and always down for a fun adventure. Judit is a proud mama to three awesome little girls who are her biggest supporters and keep her going with rain or shine. .