Hello, my name is Martha Carlson. I have been practicing yoga for more than 11 years. Yoga found me in 2002, after the birth of my first child. I came to Yoga looking for a gentle way to get back into the pre-baby shape, but soon discovered that Yoga was so much more than simply getting on a mat and moving my body through poses. I was hooked. Yoga was my stepping stone to changing both my insides and outsides. I knew long ago that becoming a teacher was something I was being called to do, and I was finally able to realize this deep desire, completing my Teacher Training in August of 2013. I enjoy teaching all levels and kinds of classes. If you have come to do Yoga with me than I am honored to share a practice with you regardless whether you are a beginner or long-time Yoga geek! I am truly blessed to be in the company of the awesome instructors at azItala and hope that you find a Yoga home here with us. Blessings on your Path!

I'd like to welcome you to our new studio, and I'd love for you to come practice and fully enjoy your experience at azItala! I first practiced yoga in 2010, and it transformed my life. I started yoga on a whim — a coupon actually — by the urging of a good friend, and, before the coupon ran out, I was hooked. For me, yoga was a way to find peace in a busy work week, work through sports injuries I was gaining in my harder impact sports, and a way for me to control my weight with a work out that felt good in and out of my body. I WAS IN LOVE WITH THAT FEELING.... So in love that I decided to join that same friend in teacher training, and I became certified in 2012. Throughout my certification process, I began building the dream of a studio. I opened a home studio for friends and family and taught from there, spreading as much yoga passion as I could, with hopes to open a studio to the public. With so much support from family and friends, I have now realized that studio and I feel so blessed. Azitala teaches to all body types, to all levels and in styles appropriate to each. I myself love to teach anyone willing to try, simply for the love of that whole body feeling. I want everyone to feel welcome and to feel they can grow in our studio, physically and mentally. I would like each practitioner to truly feel YOGA — that union between mind and body. My hope for you, is that you too will FALL IN LOVE WITH THAT FEELING! Namaste E-RYT200, E-RYT 500, Module in Kundalini, Module in Yin/Restorative, Pranayama, Grief and Trauma yoga, Ayurveda nutrition Certificate and Reiki Master. 

 

I discovered yoga six years ago and fell in love with the sense of being calm, but strong at the same time. As I grew through my practice, I enjoyed the positive changes to my mind and body so much that I wanted to share that love with others. I became certified in 2013 through Green Lotus. My focus is on the mind/body/breath connection and teaching people to be confident and comfortable in their bodies through Hatha yoga. During my journey, I have discovered the multiple positive benefits of mindfulness, gratitude and meditation practices. I'm looking forward to sharing these benefits with other practitioners as well. I live in Brooklyn Park with my husband Jay, two dogs and a cat (we have four boys, but they are adults now and living on their own). In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, hiking, bonfires, taking the dogs to the dog park, reading, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

 

Join me in a practice that can change your life, your health and your overall well-being… one breath at a time! I come to my mat seeking strength of heart, mind and body yet learning to let go of anxiety and uncertainty. Practicing pre-natal yoga initially then returning to my mat as cross-training throughout marathon season, yoga became a form of gratitude for my muscles and permission to focus on mindfulness and breathing. Meeting you where you are on your mat; anxious or uncertain about yoga or experienced and seeking strength, I am passionate about helping my students build a dedicated yoga practice. I will encourage proper form with hands-on alignment techniques while guiding classes ranging from Active to Gentle Flow. Linking breath to mindful movement, my focus is helping you build core strength, and move through functional activities injury-free and with renewed energy! I look forward to joining the opening team of talented instructors at azItala after recently returning to Minnesota from the Denver area. I was blessed to have the opportunity to become 200-hour certified in Hatha Yoga, Power Vinyasa and Meditation training in Denver through Sersano Wellness (spring 2013), am registered with Yoga Alliance and NETA Group X Certified. See you in the studio soon!

 

Instructor

I began practicing yoga sporadically around 1999; I would begin to deepen my practice only to be drawn away to another activity that "burned more calories". Little did I know. After running a marathon in 2010 I became injured and needed to stop all impact activities, so I started a more committed practice. Yoga started to stretch me both mentally and physically and it soon became my core source of exercise and spiritual practice. I love the themes in yoga of accepting who you are, finding your edge with ease and kindness to all beings - including yourself. I enjoy helping others learn to listen to their bodies and to accept where they are today. I am very passionate about helping people get onto the mat who think they won't be able to do yoga. As an instructor I seek to be challenging, encouraging and uplifting. I hope you come away from your classes with high spirits, energy and a smile knowing that you pushed yourself mentally, spiritually and physically. Yoga has been my oasis in life, so I seek to create a safe space for others where all know they are welcome. Come have some fun and breathe with me!

 

I began practicing yoga at the age of eighteen as a way to maintain the flexibility I developed from 16 years of dance prior. Shortly after the physical benefits of yoga were unveiled, I began to also notice the mental benefits. I felt stronger physically, emotionally, and I even grew half an inch taller! With a background in physical fitness, I am dedicated to assisting you on your mat, providing hands-on adjustments and guidance. I believe that yoga is a life-mimicking practice; working with your body, not against your body. Yoga provides us the opportunity to cultivate calmness, so we can leave the mat feeling fuller and richer than when we first walked in. I became 200 hour certified in Vinyasa, Hatha, Ashtanga, Slow Burn, and Yin. I later completed my Yoga Sculpt training as well, along with AFFA Group X Certification and ACE Personal Trainer Certification.

Teaching yoga since 2012, I bring a blend of expertise, humor, and approachability to every class. Expect a casual yet challenging experience, sprinkled with lame jokes (you’ll hear them more than once), creative fun with props, and those hip-dip burners you secretly love to hate. Off the mat, I’m fueled by coffee, addicted to too much TV, and passionate about helping people feel better—physically and emotionally. Whether it’s guiding you through a mindful movement or lending an empathetic ear, my goal is to create a space where you can move, breathe and be present. I’m a 500-hour RYT and certified in Pilates mat work, so I bring a strong foundation of alignment and body awareness to my teaching. In addition to yoga, I offer Thai Yoga Bodywork sessions at Azitala Healing Center—a unique way to deepen relaxation and connection in your wellness journey. All early birds and fun people are welcome to join me Mondays at 5:30 AM to explore how movement and mindfulness can transform your day.

 

Ever since I can remember, dancing and any many forms of movement has been a primary part of my life. My transfer for my love of dance easily transferred to the love of the movement of yoga. The reason I started doing yoga was due to an injury, when I was able to stop going to the chiropractor due to my yoga practice is when I knew there was something so much more to this movement to be explored. This lead me to want to share my love of yoga with others and thus led me to teacher training at St. Paul College. Yoga is something I love and crave to do daily. Having trained for over twenty-five years in a diversity of dance disciplines, I bring an innovative, expressive, and soulful element to my teaching style. I have been developing a strong Yoga practice for the past twenty years, and decided to get Yoga alliance certified training to instruct Yoga in 2012. Being able to help people develop and grow through their own yoga practice is an especially rewarding experience for me. Helping people to connect to their body, mind, and spirit through their yoga practice is what I love to do!

 

My yoga practice began in 2012 while living in Fargo. At that time I was pretty stressed & very disconnected to myself, I was finally ready to embrace some healthier habits. I decided to check out a class & walked in feeling a bit anxious & worried however after I felt a shift in my energy. I felt empowered, strong, & connected to myself. I made a promise to myself that I would be consistent with this practice. My journey led to me take Azitala's 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2016 to share this beautiful practice with others. I began teaching at Azitala in Nov. 2016. In 2023 I furthered my education by taking Azitala's 300-hour teacher training. As a teacher my aim is to spark self-inquiry, equip you with knowledge & tools that can help you live a more easeful life & motivate you to consistently show up for yourself. One of my favorite quotes is by Thich Nhat Hanh: "It is possible to live 24 hours a day in a state of love. Every movement, every glance, every thought, and every word can be infused with love." I think it's important that we aim to move with more love & that we are gentle & kind with not only ourselves but one another.

 

Hi! My name is Kiz Gorham, and my yoga journey began right here at Azitala in April of 2014. I hate the heat and had never tried yoga before, but I bought a $10 intro week nonetheless. After one class, I was completely hooked. Not only did yoga make my body feel healthy, but it cleared my mind and cleansed my soul. After about a year of practicing yoga, I realized how much yoga had changed my life for the better, so much so that I decided to pursue becoming a yoga teacher. Around the same time, Tanya announced she would be leading a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher training at the studio. It worked out perfectly with my schedule, so I was all in. After completing the training, I was honored and humbled that Tanya asked me to teach at the studio. As a teacher at Azitala, I hope to help you find the peacefulness on the mat that I have found, and to encourage you to live your yoga off the mat in your daily life as well.

 

I discovered yoga at a health club in 2006, during a time when I was experiencing transitions and challenges in my life. I found that each hour I spent in a yoga practice served to calm and center me, and that the peace, renewal, and hope I experienced in my practice were qualities I could carry with me throughout my day. I practice (and teach) yoga as a three-part journey – body, mind, and spirit. As the body is strengthened and aligned physically, the mind becomes centered and the spirit is refreshed. I am especially pleased when students share with me the changes they notice in themselves -better breathing, greater strength, posture, more positive emotional outlook - and how they are taking their yoga practice with them off the mat. I’m excited to be joining the Azltala team and look forward to meeting many of you soon.

 

I'm drawn to share with people all the benefits of yoga. Working in health care people come in with various health concerns. I feel like I have a secret solution to help people manage many health conditions, Yoga!! That led me to go through 200 hour RYT training completed June 2017 at Upward facing Dawn Yoga studio. In the integrative therapies classes I teach at work, patients had proven results of decreased blood pressure and heart rate using relaxation techniques offered.To help people with the awareness of the mind body connection. That encourages me! I began my yoga journey 2010 at Heat Yoga, I attended my first class in July after having a knee injury, and ended up falling in love with the heated classes which made yoga more challenging than previous classes I attended. I was athletic my whole life, and yoga began an internal work in me that has changed my life forever. Yoga is so much more than the asana practice or a work out. I’ve discovered yoga is an inner discipline and a way of life. My personal practice is making me a better person. The more I learn, the more I realize there is so much more to learn and never want to stop. Yoga gives me inner strength and self-awareness to get through all the obstacles of life. I’m honored to have an opportunity to guide others through their personal practice at aziltala.

 

I’ve always had a passion for health care and wellness, and yoga fell into that pattern very naturally.  My practice began casually when I took a class at my high school.  I grew to love with how my body and mind would feel after each practice.  I began to fall in love with it and make yoga part of my routine.  I completed RYT 200 hour course through AzItala in the spring of 2019, and plan on continuing my education. 

Yoga is so spiritual, healing, and allows you to grow in many ways. The mat is your happy place, the boundaries of it comfort you, and provide a safe space. I hope I am able to spread my love and positivity on to everyone! 

Namaste :)