Owner, Mudita - Be Joy Yoga

Carrie Coppola (she/her)

Carrie Coppola (She/Her) is the owner of Mudita – Be Joy Yoga. Carrie has a M.Ed. from the University of Utah and is a 500 E-RYT and Certified Yoga Therapist. Carrie believes yoga found her. She immediately felt the profound healing benefits of the practice. This ignited passion led her to create Yoga for Recovery, a program integrating yoga in treatment centers.Carrie has facilitated yoga for countless people in recovery through group and individual sessions, monthly workshops, weekly classes, within each sharing the hope and possibility of utilizing yoga to rediscover the connection to self, lost through trauma and addiction. Carrie is the director of Be Joy Yoga School, holding yearly yoga teacher and Trauma-informed training to support teachers to step into their intuitive self and facilitate healing through yoga. Carrie holds a deep reverence for the practice of yoga. Whether teaching classes, leading retreats, or offering trainings, her intention is to create a safe, compassionate space to come home to yourself and be joyful.

Founder & Executive Director, Blossom House

Jody Hassel (she/her)

Jody Hassel (She/Her), M.F.A., E-RYT, TCTSY-F is the Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Trainer for Alaska and Hawaii. She is the founder and Executive Director of Blossom House, a nonprofit service organization providing accessible, trauma-informed interventions to incarcerated and in-custody communities. Blossom House’s Yoga Service Project Alaska currently offers weekly yoga as well as a Yoga Teacher Training program for men and women at the Fairbanks Correctional Center and yoga classes for youth at the Fairbanks Youth Facility. Jody is also a Supervisor for the 300-Hour TCTSY Certification Program at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment in Boston. Creating access to an embodied practice of being present and feeling empowered are Jody’s highest priorities in facilitating yoga.

Chief Experience Curator, Bliss Experiences and Owner, Lake Tahoe Yoga and Realignment Coaching

Jenay Aiksnoras (she/her)

Jenay Aiksnoras, (She/Her) ERYT500, MS Counseling, BS Psychology, is the Chief Experience Curator at Bliss Experiences, owner of Lake Tahoe Yoga and Realignment Coaching. Her specialties include guiding private group practices, therapeutic sessions, outdoor experiences, and small group sessions. Every practice is uniquely suited to the specific requests and needs of the group. Jenay began practicing Yoga in 2000 and earned her 200 level training certificate in 2005. In 2011 she earned her 500 level training certificate. She guides classes in the RajaHatha Yoga lineage which include specific instruction in breath, movement, mindfulness, and philosophical focus. Jenay believes that svadhyaya is the key to accessing the deeper aspects of the practice of Yoga: You must know yourself in order to reveal your Self. “Yoga is the practice of disassembling the puzzle of you, removing the pieces that are unnecessary, and rebuilding with only that which you need.” Her empathic approach to guiding others is tempered by her understanding that she cannot do the work for you. Those that are drawn to practice with Jenay value her ability to encourage them to do their own work and recognize her as a guide upon the path.

Yoga Instructor, Reiki Practitioner, and Health Coach

Tierra Barber (she/her)

Tierra (She/Her) and yoga found each other at the same time she sought a deeper commitment to her physical, mental and spiritual health. Being a health and fitness enthusiast, yoga opened her eyes to a new expression of everything she loved.

Originally from Midland, Texas, Tierra received both her BSEd and MSEd from Baylor University in Health Science Studies and Exercise Physiology, respectively. After receiving her RYT-200 hour in 2013, she immediately started teaching to various demographics in the local community and privately. Her teaching has evolved to delivering a well-balanced class feeding the mind, body, and spirit.

Since then, Tierra has gone on to receive training in Thai Yoga Massage and Meditation. She recently completed her 300-Hour Teacher Training program through Yoga on High, which included the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program. It’s her ultimate desire to take yoga out of the studio and into the community to educate others on the benefits and holistic approach of yoga. Tierra is excited about her journey and is grateful for the opportunity to share her love of yoga with the world!

Executive Director

Katie Koestner (she/her)

Katie Koestner is the first woman in the United States to speak out nationally and publicly as the victim of campus “date” rape at age 18. Katie has been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC Nightly News, CNBC Talk Live, CNN, Larry King Live, Good Morning America, Later Today, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight and other national television programs. Katie is the subject of an HBO movie and has lectured for over 5000 schools and organizations in North America and around the world.