About Us

With its roots latched in mud, the lotus flower submerges every night into river water and miraculously re-blooms the next morning, sparkling clean. This daily process of life, death, and reemergence is symbolic of its refusal to accept defeat and find enlightenment.

Cristina, Teacher

A native to Mexico City and a newbie to Boise, Cristina strives to infuse soulfulness into every facet of life. Her teaching is known for its precision, loving space, and challenge, all while leaving students empowered and taken care of.

In addition to co-founding Samani Yoga + Wellness, Cristina is the founder of her own wellness coaching brand. She is wildly passionate about empowering women to transform how they related to themselves, their careers, their relationships, and their “why.” When she’s not teaching or working with clients you can catch her in the kitchen, on the trails, or binging the latest series.

Jenn, Teacher

I’ve been hooked on yoga ever since I took my first class 8 years ago. Since then I have been able to hone my practice and fall even more in love with it, completing my 200hr YTT in Costa Rica during the summer of 2019.

So many life lessons I’ve learned on the yoga mat and been able to carry them with me throughout my daily life. Yoga has taught me that it takes strength to surrender, that when you are in control of your breath you can quiet your mind and that your physical body is capable of things you never thought possible.

I can’t wait to see you on the mat!

D’Arcy, Teacher

D’Arcy Valverde is a 500 RYT. She received her 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) certification in 2017 from Sampoorna Yoga in Goa, India, and her 300 hr YTT certification in 2022 from Sage Yoga & Wellness in Boise, ID. D’Arcy’s passion for yoga began in 2010 with a hot vinyasa flow practice, bikram, and an ashtanga- inspired practice; jivamukti. Each practice had a strong focus on the physical components of yoga which she loved, and still loves to this day. Since then, D’Arcy has practiced yoga around the globe, and landed in her beloved home of Boise, ID. Over time her practice has evolved to encompass many yoga varieties including vinyasa flow, yin, yoga nidra, meditation, chanting, and somatic experiencing, to name a few. Yoga has become much more than a movement practice for D’Arcy; it is has evolved into a daily life practice. D’Arcy’s vinyasa classes are breath-focused flows – accessible to all levels!, and include grounding, time for meditation, and self-reflection. Her yin nidra classes are similar with a focus on slowing down and connecting to source. The goal of all of D’Arcy’s classes is to create a safe space and time for people to connect with their bodies, their mats, and themselves; their truest teachers!

Becca, Teacher

I’ve been practicing yoga for 10 years and am a 200hr yoga instructor. When I’m not practicing or teaching, you can probably find me curled up with a book somewhere. Our emotional wellness affects our physical body and our physical body impacts our emotional well-being. Therefore, honoring the heart-body connection is forefront in my teaching philosophy. I encourage my students to allow their heart and body to guide them, whether on the mat or off. When we learn how to truly tap into our selves, we begin to open up more readily to the world’s beauty and challenges. Whether I’m teaching a hot flow, slow flow, or yin, my hope is always that you leave the studio feeling a little more connected to both self and those around you. I’m looking forward to meeting you and being part of your journey!

Hayley, Teacher

Hayley O’Brien has been in the fitness industry for over two decades, specializing in all things group fitness. Since moving to Boise four years ago, yoga has become her absolute favorite class to teach. The practice of yoga holds a special corner of Hayley’s heart. Her personal practice has given her wings to fly…providing endless opportunities to feel love and to share it with others. Hayley’s purpose when she teaches is to create and share that same beautiful environment. One that lends itself to explore within and provide magical moments of self-care. Hayley would love for each person that joins one of her classes to leave feeling more rested and rejuvenated, treasured and loved, honored and seen. It is as simple as that. By day, Hayley is a yoga instructor, but she is also a mama of three, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a friend…a Frenchie pup snuggler, a slow and steady marathon runner, a coffee sipper and a snack sneaker. Hayley is a 500 hour RYT and the owner of White Feather Yoga.

Taylor V, Teacher

Yoga is like coming home. Knowing you have everything you need in your mind, body, and soul. Everyone’s home is unique, and is perfect and safe for them. As an instructor, I strive to guide people home. To create a safe space for individuals to fall into complete love and acceptance of themselves. My goal is to release any “shoulds” and expectations. Yoga is far beyond a physical practice of postures. When you take my classes, I will invite and challenge you to move into and out of your body into the elements and energies within creating strength and balance. Bettering yourself for a better world. I will hold space for my students and bring them into the present, helping them let go of the rest and be their most authentic self.

Taylor has her doctorate in music performance and literature and a cognate in music theory. In 2021, after becoming a yoga teacher, she began to be exposed to sound as a healing modality, expanding her already intimate relationship with music and sound. Sound healing is the practice of using sound and mindful listening to transform and expand consciousness in order to enhance our body’s natural drive to regenerate and heal itself. All existence is vibratory in nature, making sound the perfect tool for healing practices and self growth. It mimics the vibratory nature of existence, affecting us on all levels: anatomical, psychological, emotional, psychological, and spiritual.  As a sound healer, Taylor invites you to think of sound with a childlike curiosity and a beginner’s mind.

Sarah S, Teacher

Sarah Spodeck has practiced all over the world and completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training in Wellington, New Zealand. Sarah teaches various types of yoga with focus on form, strength, concentration, and breath. She enjoys meeting her students and celebrating their progress on and off the mat. Sarah is a member of Yoga Alliance.

Taylor B, Teacher

Taylor’s guiding light through life is the belief that movement is medicine. Born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, her early years were filled with hiking, gymnastics, and outdoor sports. After moving to Boise for college, she discovered weightlifting and found peace in greenbelt bike rides. Her journey then took her to San Diego, where she immersed herself in the health & wellness world — teaching group fitness, personal training, working with functional medicine doctors, and finally discovering the magic of the practice of yoga. It was there she completed 500 hours of yoga teacher training, studied breath work & meditation, and immersed herself in a community of people deeply committed to inner work, healing, and spiritually. What began as a personal exploration became a profound transformation — deepening her connection to herself, the universe, and the people around her. She went on to lead retreats and host yoga-based events centered around movement, mindfulness, and community. Now settled back in Boise, Taylor is honored to share the practice that was a catalyst for deep healing. As both a student and a teacher, she creates space for others to explore, connect, and grow through intentional movement and breath.

Justina, Teacher

Justina has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. Initially she fell in love with the strength she developed and the mediative state she found in a set sequence power vinyasa. As her body changed, her practice evolved, and Justina expanded her teaching skills to include Yin Yoga. Yin has helped her connect with the body in whole new way. It informs her power practice and teaching as she helps students “use the pose to get into the body.” Most recently Justina completed 100 hours of Yoga Nidra training. With these three forms of yoga, Justina has truly found the means to create more sthira and sukha — steadiness and ease — in her life. It is her heartfelt desire to share it and hopefully have a positive impact on the world around her.

Justina is an RYT 500, E-RYT 200 and YACEP. She received her 200-HR YTT from Namaspa in Bend, OR and her 300-HR from True North Yoga in Boise, ID. She also holds certifications in Yin Yoga from Evoke Energy Yoga, Yoga Nidra from Hilary Jackendoff, and the Functional Approach to Yoga with Paul Grilley. Additionally, Justina is certified in Baptiste Power Yoga with over 300 hours of training in Power Vinyasa.

Before moving to Boise, Justina lived on both coasts, Europe, and the Middle East. A lover of travel, Justina shares this nomadic life with her husband, son, and kitty!

Gargi, Teacher

Hello NAMASTE to all YOGIES here! I’m Gargi! I’ve had a passion for yoga for about thirteen years now and have been teaching professionally for seven years! Yoga has transformed my life in every possible way. Physically, I’ve witnessed a remarkable increase in my strength and flexibility. Beyond the physical, Yoga has had a profound impact on my mental and emotional well-being, and I believe it will do the same for you too. Yoga is not about working out, it is about working in. It’s a holistic practice that promotes overall well-being. I would love to share my knowledge of YOGA with you all trough my teachings, in my teachings you can feel my true love about yoga. I have a master’s degree in Biotechnology, though I soon realised that my real passion lies with yoga, with intensive training and education in Yoga from MDNIY(Delhi, India) and qualified from the Yoga certification board (YCB), INDIA along with RYS 500 hrs from Yoga Alliance USA. I especially love Hatha and Astanga yoga, Pranayama (breathing practices) and Satkarma. Off the mat, you can find me mostly with my yoga practices of inversions, headstand , scorpion pose. I love advanced yoga pose(yogasanas) a lot & I love to teach advanced yoga poses to my students. In my ME time you can find me making tea (chai) I am a tea lover, I love spending time with my family, meditating or travelling. See you on the mat!

Sarah L, Teacher

My mind never stops, it’s in a constant state of thinking and yoga slows it down. Yoga gives me a peace that I couldn’t find anywhere else. I received my 200 yt in 2015 and found that teaching gives me a peace that I didn’t know I could get without moving.
I moved to Boise from the northeast in 2014 with my husband and dog Dot. I have beautiful life and yoga is just a sweet bonus.

Kathryn, Teacher

Kathryn is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor trained at Studio Lotus with a lifelong personal practice. Yoga has been a guiding presence in her life and she is grateful to be able to help others along their path. Her classes focus on breathwork, embodied movement and intuitive progression. She aims to create an environment where students build a deep connection to their bodies, grow at their own pace and move in a way that feels GOOD. She loves helping students find their “flow state” in class — it’s the best feeling! Outside of yoga, she works in television production and loves traveling, cooking, photography, and spending time in the mountains.

Morgan, Teacher

Hi my name is Morgan! I am a certified pilates instructor and have been teaching for almost two years at a reformer based studio. But my true love is for traditional Mat Pilates. About 6 years ago I was trying to find a low impact but high intensity movement and pilates is where I found that balance. My intention is to share my love for Pilates with all who will welcome it. Outside of teaching pilates you can find me practicing headstands, making smoothie bowls, baking sourdough, and spending time on the green belt or anywhere outside in the sunshine.

Jaime, Teacher

Hi! I’m Jaime and I am so honored share this journey with you! It has been 14 years since a dear friend introduced me to my first Heated Yoga Class. I was instantly drawn to the power of pranayama/breath and Santosha (yogic concept of contentment) on my mat. The universe aligned for the completion of a 200 hr YTT in the spring of 2024 at Studio Lotus and then a second 200 hr YTT (also at Lotus) graduating spring 2025. A spinal fusion fell in between the two. Yoga has been a grounding, nurturing, and healing space for me always but especially in this new season of life with my (upgraded) spine! Embracing mindful, modified movement for the body and deep, guided connection of the soul is where I hope to meet you in my classes. I hold a special place for a super sweaty heated vinyasa flow class (ha!) but you will find me in a slow flow, gentle yoga or yin class here at Studio Lotus.

Sarah D, Teacher

Sarah started practicing yoga over 10 years ago to help deal with some overuse injuries from years of running and high intensity workouts. About six months in, she was pleased to find yoga helped her maintain her strength & speed and surprised about the non-physical benefits she experienced in her mood and mindsets. She never looked back! In 2022, she completed her 200 hour Registered Yoga Training to bring the gifts of yoga to others. Her teaching style is energetic and instructive, as she likes to make yoga appealing to everyone, whether you’re an athlete looking for balance in your training, an office worker looking for some movement in your day, or a parent looking for some time to yourself – or, perhaps, all the above!

Amy, Teacher

Amy started teaching yoga in 2014 after completing her 200-hour teacher training at CorePower Yoga in Seattle. Originally a gymnast, she turned to yoga following a back injury and found it essential in rebuilding her strength and resilience. Trained in vinyasa, Amy’s classes focus on empowering students through breath, alignment, and mindful movement. Her guiding mantra is “take what you get and leave the rest.” She loves hiking, traveling, and sharing yoga with others — and says she enjoys a post-practice walk with her husband Mark and their dog, Harper.

Jane, Teacher

Jane Harvey has been practicing yoga for 19 years, finding her home on the mat through styles like Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar and Bhakti. Her journey has taken her from the mountains of Santa Fe to the Sacred Valley in Peru to the coastal beauty of Oaxaca, Mexico. After years as a student Jane earned her 200HR Yoga Certification in Vinyasa-based yoga at Nexus Institute of Yoga and Wellness in Nosara, Costa Rica and is delighted to share the practice that keeps her so grounded and fortified.  Jane believes in the tri-fold value of yoga – it’s ability to strengthen the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of the human being. Inspired by yogic philosophies such as Witness Consciousness and the Kosha Energy Bodies, Jane loves to offer a state of curious and humorous self-reflection to each student who joins her on the mat: “What does my body need today? My mind? My spirit? Where can I soften? Where can I grow?” Her goal is to empower each student with a bit more lightness, clarity, and a deeper sense of connection, to self and to others.

Emma, Teacher

Emma Scott completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2018 in North Carolina while she was in college. As a group exercise instructor with Elon University, she used her training to teach vinyasa, all-levels flow, sculpt and yin classes, in addition to pilates, cycle, and barre classes.

She is passionate about creating welcoming and inclusive classes for all students. Emma Scott began her yoga practice 10 years ago in combination with physical therapy to heal from a severe back injury. She found that mindfulness, breathwork, and movement are wonderful skills to practice in her daily life!

She enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and being on or near water any free moment she has. Emma Scott can’t wait to welcome you to one of her classes and form a beautiful community of mindful movement!

Sara Beth, Teacher

Sara Beth discovered yoga as a way to bring balance, strength, and mindfulness into everyday life. What began as a curiosity grew into a consistent practice that supports both physical well-being and inner peace. With an open heart and approachable style, Sara enjoys creating a welcoming space where others can feel grounded, present, and inspired on their own yoga journey. Yoga is truly a way of life on and off of our mats.

Katelyn, Teacher

My love for Pilates began during some of the toughest moments in her life, and it’s been a constant source of strength, clarity, and grounding ever since. The deep connection between mind and body that Pilates creates is what keeps me coming back, and what I can’t wait to share with others. I completed my instructor training through Pilates Sports Center, where I’m certified in Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, and Chair. My goal is to help others feel strong, supported, and empowered. I can’t wait to move with you!

Holly, Teacher

Hi, I’m Holly! I’m originally from Louisiana, where I discovered yoga during pregnancy fifteen years ago. What began as a gentle way to connect with my changing body grew into a grounding practice as I moved across countries—from Israel to Egypt to Denmark. While my physical home shifted over the years, my mat remained a constant anchor. I completed my 200-hour training in Copenhagen, where I began my teaching journey. For me, yoga is an invitation to connect with the whole self. In my classes, you can expect a balance of grounding breathwork and mindful movement, with space to tune inward. Together, we’ll explore strength, stillness, and the spaciousness that lies between. I look forward to seeing you in class!

Rebecca, Teacher

Rebecca Houston found meditation and yoga in 2006 and from 2008-2014 she practiced throughout cities in the US and Europe while working as a rotational counselor for the Military. It was in 2011, while on assignment in Okinawa, that she discovered Ashtanga Yoga as designed by Sri Krishnamacharya and his student K. Pattabhi Jois, via a DVD of Richard Freeman teaching the Primary Series. She practiced at every Ashtanga Shala she could, attending trainings in Mt. Shasta, Las Vegas, and Paris with Tim Miller, the first teacher Certified by Pattabhi Jois. During 2012/2013, she traveled every weekend for 6 months from Fort Irwin, in the Mohave Desert, to the CA coast to practice with Tim and was given the first half of the Intermediate Series. In 2014 she finished supporting the military and went to Maui to practice for three years with Nancy Gilgoff, the first western woman taught the Ashtanga Yoga system by Pattabhi Jois in 1973. In 2015, she was given the second half of the Intermediate series by Nancy and in November that year, she took the Primary Series Teacher Training from Manju Jois, son of Pattabhi Jois. Rebecca’s had the opportunity to practice in Ashtanga Shalas throughout the world including Okinawa, Israel, England, France, Spain, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Seattle. She’s also practiced with other master teachers including David Swenson and David Williams. If you have the opportunity to practice with her, you’ll most likely hear reasons for the precision of the design of Ashtanga Yoga and benefits of practicing this ancient system, stories of her teachers and travel adventures, how to modify and adapt for injuries and limitations in the body, and definitely laughter. Rebecca has been a Licensed Counselor for 24 years and works exclusively with First Responders and Military in her private practice in Boise, Idaho. If not working, practicing Ashtanga, or meditating, she enjoys sauntering on the Boise River or foothills, dancing Flamenco, traveling, and spending time with her mother, daughter, and grandchildren.

Grace, Teacher

Sarah, Teacher