We feature a wide array of classes for all ages & ability levels, taught by mature, professional instructors who come to Yoga for Health Education with diverse training and fields of expertise. Offering public and private classes.
Instructors
Libby Robold
Co-Director, MA,
E-RYT 500, YACEP, PRYT, CAHC, AYT, C-IAYT
Michael Robold
Co-Director, MA, CYT
Libby began her yoga studies with Dr. Ron Chalfant, Iyengar teacher, in 1978. A few years later she began teaching yoga at Northwestern Michigan College, and has since studied with many renowned teachers and various yoga schools, becoming certified as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist and certified Yoga teacher. As a long time yoga specialist, Libby is a Yoga Teacher Trainer and Continuing Education Provider for Yoga Alliance Teacher Registry and the National Ayurveda Medical Association. She has been training teachers in a unique, in-depth style since 2001 when she started Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy, a lengthy training with highly individualized components. Libby is also a board certified Ayurveda Health Counselor and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist with the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, as well as a board certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Libby studied Ayurveda for over sixteen years with mentor Patricia Hansen of University of Denver, and learned Ayurvedic Pulse Reading and Marma Point Therapy with Dr. Vasant Lad, BAMS at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM. Libby teaches a wide array of classes from Beginning and Beyond, Continuing, Yin, Kundalini, Sunrise Flow, and therapeutics for backs and arthritis, along with Ayurveda classes, children's’ yoga and workshops. She facilitates programs locally and beyond, and offers Yoga Retreats. Libby spent many years as a public school, regular and special education teacher, and as Integrative Arts Therapist for TBAISD, where she combined Art and Yoga Therapy for healing emotionally challenged children. She feels her educational background has enhanced her Yoga Therapy practice and sees yoga as a way of life. Libby is passionate about helping people find their inner strength through their creative spark within.
Michael taught elementary school for ten years, earned an MA in Elementary School Administration and, along with his wife, Libby, operated an outdoor vacation company, Michigan Bicycle Touring, for twenty-five years. Michael has taught over 7000 hours of classes since 1996 and his personal yoga practice began with Iyengar teacher, Dr. Ron Chalfant in 1979. After moving to the area in 1982, Michael assisted Libby in classes and workshops at NMC for nearly fifteen years. Although drawn to the high energy styles of yoga, Michael likewise enjoys teaching classes to beginners. He has a passion for nutrition and enjoys conducting Yoga of Eating workshops. At Yoga for Health, Michael co-directs the Center for Conscious Living and currently teaches Beginning, Beginning & Beyond, Yoga for Teens and Family Yoga. He enjoys teaching yoga because it encompasses all that we are – mind, body and spirit. Michael is an active member of the Michigan Yoga Association.
Jen Hays
Yoga Instructor
Jen took her first yoga class with Libby Robold at age nineteen. She began studies with Yoga for Health Education followed by years of practice teaching. She recently completed her 300 Hour Plus Program with Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy. Jen currently teaches numerous classes at YHE including Beginning, Beginning & Beyond, and out-reach programs.
Stephanie Prall
Yoga Instructor
Stephanie is a former junior high social studies teacher with a longtime interest in world cultures and contemplative philosophies, such as Buddhism and Taoism. Stephanie has taught a variety of ages and levels of classes including Beginning and Beyond, All Levels, Gentle Yoga, Continuing Flow. She also completed her 300 Hour Plus Program with Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy.
Barb Huegli
Yoga Instructor
Barb received her 200 hr. Teacher Training course with Sandra Carden in 2002 and completed her 500 hour continuing education with Libby and the Himalayan Institute. Barb’s focus in her teaching is to convey asanas with proper alignment in hopes that students can enter any yoga class with a solid understanding of the postures. When she is not teaching yoga or working at Munson Hospital, Barb loves to be outside.
Ann Parker
Tai Chi Instructor
Ann, a physical therapist by trade, is a long time Tai Chi teacher at YHE. She brings a vast array of experience and training to her teaching. After completing her degree in Physical Therapy, she relocated to Seattle where she was fortunate to study with several excellent Yang style instructors including Richard Aries and Cosette Le Ciel, both founding members of Five Willow Tai Chi Association where Ann has studied for many years. Ann has also studied with honored masters Mr. Toa Ping-Siang, Mr. William Chen,both in the lineage of the late Master Cheng Man-Ching. She has been fortunate to study with the highly regarded, Madame Gao . Ann feels she has gained tremendous mental , physical, and spiritual growth from TAi Chi and loves sharing her passion with the people of northern Michigan.
Janet Weaver
Yoga Instructor
Janet has devoted her life to helping others. With a master’s degree in nursing, she has spent her adult life in clinical nursing, nurse leadership and nurse consulting. In 2016, Janet earned her 200-hour certificate at the Shanti School of Yoga. In 2017, she entered a two-year, 300-hour, advanced training at Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy. As an instructor, Janet’s focus is keeping students safe, and helping students improve strength, flexibility and balance in an enjoyable, fun setting. Her greatest joy is helping students leave a class feeling better than when they arrived. She looks forward to meeting and helping students find a fulfilling yoga practice.
Katy Hobbs
LM, CPM
Katy’s passion is to be a witness and guide for families as they prepare for an experience the process of their child’s birth. As a midwife, she has in depth knowledge of the changes and challenges that occur during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She loves supporting parents as they prepare for what is truly needed during that time. Katy has also been a long-time yoga student at Yoga for Health, and participated in her classes throughout her own pregnancies. She also worked at YHE while studying midwifery.
Katy Hobbs started her studies and apprenticeship to become a midwife in 2007. She became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in 2012 and received her license in 2019 when licensing became available in Northern Michigan. She has been serving families in Manistee County and the surrounding area ever since and now has a solo practice.
Mary Jane Hsu
Yoga Instructor
Mary Jane completed over 400 hours of training with the Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy in 2008. She specializes in yoga for older adults and currently teaches Chair Yoga at YHE, along with teaching an outreach community class in Benzie County. Mary Jane’s nursing career is a perfect fit for her work with seniors.
Denise Phillips
Yoga Instructor
Denise, BA, BS, MIM, 200 E-RYT, has been teaching yoga since 2011. She earned her 200 hour certification through Prairie Yoga and continues her yoga education by working towards her 500 hour certification with Tias Little / Prajna Yoga.Denise was drawn to yoga as an escape from the corporate world, to reduce anxiety, and get back in shape. Denise's dynamic teaching focuses on mindful movement, alignment, breathwork, and adapting postures to meet student's needs. She provides a positive and encouraging environment where students can leave their worries at the door, focus on their health, and be mindfully and safely challenged.
Yoga Instructor
Denise, BA, BS, MIM, 200 E-RYT, has been teaching yoga since 2011. She earned her 200 hour certification through Prairie Yoga and continues her yoga education by working towards her 500 hour certification with Tias Little / Prajna Yoga.Denise was drawn to yoga as an escape from the corporate world, to reduce anxiety, and get back in shape. Denise's dynamic teaching focuses on mindful movement, alignment, breathwork, and adapting postures to meet student's needs. She provides a positive and encouraging environment where students can leave their worries at the door, focus on their health, and be mindfully and safely challenged.
Linda Forster
Meditation Instructor
Linda has been a student of Yoga for many years and completed the Teacher Training Program at Integral Yoga in Buckingham, VA in 2003. Linda currently teaches a free Meditation class at the studio on Sunday morning. Through Yoga she has found a way of reducing tension, maintaining health, building flexibility, and living peacefully in a hectic world. Linda works for the Intermediate School District and has completed her 500 hour training with the Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy.
Melpo Kavadella
Yoga Instructor
Melpo Kavadella, MD, is a dedicated physician who is devoted to her patients. She is a mother of two, a psychiatrist, and a teacher of physicians for Michigan State University. She has completed course work for both the 200-Hour and 300-Hour Plus, advanced training with Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy and has incorporated her yoga training with her life’s work. Melpo teaches periodically at YHE, filling in for staff and teaches Yoga for Deep Grief and Depression among other seasonal offerings. Melpo is a strong advocate for the practice of yoga and enjoys helping students understand the long-term benefits of a regular practice.
June Palumbo
Yoga Instructor
June began her yoga journey in the fall of 1997 when she took her first yoga class at NMC, she immediately fell in love with the practice and began a full time student. After many years she became a continuing student and starting shadowing her teacher in hopes of teaching yoga herself one day. In 2001 she began teaching at local centers and gyms in the TC area and received her RYT 200 hour certificate from Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy. Over the last 20 years June has taught at Yoga for Health Education, Yen Yoga, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa and Iron Works (employee wellness center for Hagerty employees) and many more. June believes that yoga is a lifestyle and it can heal our minds, hearts and bodies through continued practice and study.
Joanna Lauber
Yoga Instructor
Joanna completed her first level of training with Union Yoga, LLC and her three year 500 Hour Plus Program with Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy. Joanna teaches regular classes and specializes in yoga for folks with weight issues and trauma. As a thirty year therapist for individuals with eating disorders, and now trauma based therapy, Joanna blends a wealth of knowledge of western psychology and yoga psychology.
Kristina Weidenfeller
Kristen Ryder
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Beth Jarva
Yoga Instructor, CYT 200
Yoga Instructor, E-RYT-500,
YACEP, TCTSY-F
Yoga Instructor, LMSW, CYT, PRYT
Kristina started her “yoga” journey at Yoga for Health Education, when faced with health issues brought on by stress. She fell in love with yoga and trained with Libby, from 2006-2009, earning a 200 Hour Plus Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy Certification. Her early years of teaching focused on pre-natal, post-natal, youth, and yoga for neuro and physically divergent individuals.
Over time, yoga became a foundation for her life, and a guide in raising of her family. Keeping the body mind connection was always at the forefront. Kristina is now returning to teaching yoga to adults after focusing on being a “householder” and raising her children. She is currently a Montessori Junior High teacher with Compass JH, and has been teaching young people yoga along the way. Returning to her yoga home at YHE, Kristina will teach Beginning and Beginning and Beyond classes, expanding her repertoire in time. In the meanwhile, as she puts it, “Of course, along with my husband, I will still be parenting an adolescent, a young adult, a couple cats, and a dog.”
Kristen began practicing hatha and ashtanga yoga in 2005 and has facilitated classes since 2014, first in Metro-Detroit and now in Leelanau and Traverse City. Specialized training/certifications
include oncology yoga (150hr), mindfulness meditation, breathwork, hatha, yin, restorative, and Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY; 300hr). Coupled with almost twenty years of professional experience in the fields of community mental health and public education, Kristen specializes in supporting those who have experienced life events that may impact nervous system regulation and connection to self and others. Kristen focuses on pairing mindful movement with conscious breathing, creating a sense of settling through patterned repetitive movement and moving towards nourishing, restorative rest. Kristen has first-hand experience supporting the physical and emotional impact cancer may have on survivors and their circle.
Beth was introduced to Ashtanga yoga in 1991 and loved it. After receiving her Masters in Social Work, she pursued her interest in therapeutic yoga and completed her 650 hour Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Certification in 2005 and received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification in 2004 Sudha Wexler in Chicago at NU Yoga Center. She taught yoga in the Chicago area at multiple studios from 2004 to 2013. After moving to Michigan, Beth has continued utilizing yoga therapy in her integrative psychotherapy practice. She recently completed a certification in the Neuroscience of Yoga. She is passionate about the impact of yoga on emotional well-being. As a teacher, she enjoys sharing her passion for yoga.
Office Staff
Meet the Administrative Staff at Yoga for Health Education.
The YHE staff wants you to feel happy, safe, and comfortable in your yoga home. We will help you with questions and refer you to classes and teachers, including therapeutic staff, that can help you find yoga or other classes that are best options for you.
Joan McLay
Office Manager
After working in the Wayne County courts for 20 years, my husband and I retired and moved
to TC in 2007. The following week I took my first class at YHE. Although I had practiced yoga for
a number of years, I didn’t have the opportunity to build on my practice. Here, at YHE, I found
the wide variety of classes that YHE offers encourages one to experiment. I’ve sampled a number
of different classes and presently enjoy, Sunrise Flow, Beginning & Beyond and Kundalini. In 2009,
I approached Libby and offered to volunteer my administrative skills if a need arose. Happily,
shortly afterwards, I was asked to assist in the office/store. It is a pleasure to interact with the
students and hopefully, make them feel welcome and part of the YHE community.
Administration
Alyssa met Libby and Michael at the Traverse City farmers market five years ago and has loved being a part of YFH ever since. She taught high school art for five years before getting her MFA in painting and is currently making the shift to be a full-time painter. In 2013, she attended her first yoga class while in grad school and has found it to be the perfect antidote to ease the stress build up in life.
She grew up back and forth between the United States and France. After working in Germany for five years, she made her way back to the States and now has made Traverse City her home.
Alyssa Smith
Erika Wynn
Web Manager
Erika received her 200 hour training with Union Yoga in 2011, and completed her 300 Hour Plus Program with Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy.
Erika taught yoga for almost a decade at YHE and currently runs the studio's website and social media.
Madison Meter
Administration
Madison Meter is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in English, French, and Sustainable Agriculture.
She originally came to YHE as a support person filling in for a YHE staff member after a car accident. She has remained as part time on the Administrative Team. Madison is a Social Media Coordinator for TART TRAILS, has been a Deep Canvas Coordinator for We The People,
and works for Farm Club in service and farming.
Hannah Israel
Seva
Hannah has enjoyed being at YHE since she first began taking classes in 2009. Back then she was a professional bread baker; these days she is working at the health department with moms and children, and raising her three delightful children. Cleaning at the studio is a peaceful oasis at the end of each week.
Gaila Mallery
Adminiistrator
Gaila is the YHE support staff. When she and her husband aren't traveling, she is our on-call person and loves filling in at Yoga for Health whenever needed.