OMazing Teachers
Kate Lessard
Grew up in: Oconomowoc, WI (Go Pack Go!)
Song that moves me: Anything by Shakira
What I’m reading: Whatever I get sent from my Book of the Month club- I’m always reading!
What’s in my cup: Skinny cinnamon latte
Favorite beach: Elia Beach on Mykonos
Teaches: My favorite class to teach is Hot Power Vinyasa, but you can find me subbing Vinyasa, Hatha, and Restorative classes too
As a former ballet dancer, I have always been drawn to exercise that focuses on alignment. I was initially drawn to barre because of its alignment focus and taught barre and HIIT classes at Ohana Yoga + Barre in Denver, CO for several years. When teaching at the studio, I found myself taking more and more yoga classes, and fell in love with yoga both as a physical and spiritual practice.
I used yoga to recover from old dance injuries and it became part of her daily routine. After arriving in Oregon, I got certified through YoYoYogi and have been teaching ever since. My classes feature a fun playlist, upbeat energy, and focus on finding your strength- inside and out! I especially love Hot Power Vinyasa classes because they force me to be in the moment with my breath.
When not teaching, I work in tech and enjoy reading and hiking with my husband and our dogs.
Cindy Stockdale
Grew up in: North Vancouver, BC Canada
Song that moves me: I love everything classical to electronica
What I’m reading: Zodiac Academy
What’s in my cup: Coffee and Protein Hot Chocolate
Favorite beach: Mombassa, Kenya
Teaches: Vinyasa, Hatha and Gentle Yoga
My passion in life is to explore the great mystery and to connect deeply with others. These desires have led me to degrees in Psychology and Archaeology as well as in depth study of Yoga, Shamanism, and Energy Work. I’ve been teaching yoga for over 19 years and exploring Shamanism for over 15. These mystery schools are essentially journeys of remembering; there is a call that is answered and through practice an incredible truth is revealed and ultimately the remembrance of unity, wholeness and love.
My call is to create a strong, loving space for others so that they may unveil their deepest truths and then reflect these back to them so they may rise. Yoga is a lifelong study, the best thing for all students beginner or seasoned, is to approach yourself and others with loving kindness. Every day on the mat is different.
Stay in the beginner’s mind so you can drop your expectations, judgements, and personal narratives, and be open to wonder and unbridled joy.
Martina Zhekov
Grew up in: Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Song that moves me: Pacific Coast Highway by The Hip Abduction
What I’m reading: The Empath Experience by Sydney Campos
What’s in my cup: An iced vanilla oat milk latte with caramel drizzle
Favorite beach: Sarti Beach, Greece
Teaches: Restorative, Hatha and Vinyasa
IMy yoga journey began during my early 20s as a means to quiet the busy world around me. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a passion which continuously kept calling my soul. I love exploring the different styles of yoga with the intent of expanding my knowledge, practice and spirituality. My yoga journey has guided me through emotional and spiritual healing which has helped elevate my awareness, life perception and overall well-being.
I grew up in a small country nestled in the heart of the Balkans in Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is a culturally enriched country with mountainous terrain that reaches the beaches of the Black Sea. After living in several different countries, my family and I settled in beautiful Oregon in 2012. I love being outdoors and enjoy many activities such as hiking, paddle boarding and camping.
After working in healthcare as a certified ophthalmic technician, I decided to follow my passion and explore new opportunities in teaching yoga. I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2022 and am currently registered with The Yoga Alliance. My evolving teaching style includes Vinyasa, Hatha, gentle and Yin yoga.
Through guided meditation, I allow my students the opportunity to let go of their ego and connect to the observer within. Yoga isn’t about getting into the perfect pose or even touching your toes. Yoga is having the ability to quiet the mind by connecting to your inner self.
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita
Jessica Hughes
Grew up in: Upstate NY
Song that moves me: Stronger by Britney Spears
What I’m reading: Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore and Your Body Your Yoga by Bernie Clark
What’s in my cup: If it is before noon, probably black coffee. Otherwise water, or electrolytes after hot yoga
Favorite beach: Gleneden Beach, OR
Teaches: Vinyasa, Restorative and Hatha
I have been practicing yoga consistently for about 4 years and in that time, it has helped bring me strength, relaxation, and confidence, all of which I’m excited to share in my teaching. I love teaching (and practicing) lots of different styles including vinyasa and hot power vinyasa, yin and restorative, and more recently, hatha. I especially enjoy teaching beginner-friendly classes that offer many options for people of varying ability.
I love using blocks and other props, both to make poses more accessible or more challenging. In my own practice, I’m working on strength and moving towards arm balances and inversions, but also balancing this with being patient and kind to my body by incorporating regular restorative postures (current favorite: legs up the wall pose).
Outside of yoga, I like hiking, backpacking, fantasy novels, nature documentaries, and cats. To all the new students out there, I encourage you to keep an open mind, try multiple styles of yoga with multiple instructors, and find gratitude for the person you are today. You are worth it and I hope to see you on your yoga journey!
Ingrid Baker
Grew up in: Tacoma, Washington
Song that moves me: What Ever Happened? by the Strokes
What I’m reading: “This Thing Between Us” by Gus Moreno and “Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga” by Sally Kempton
What’s in my cup: Egyptian Licorice Tea
Favorite beach: Cannon Beach, Oregon
Teaches: Mindful Vinyasa
Ingrid began practicing yoga in 2004 and has been teaching mindful Vinyasa since 2023. After falling out of her practice for some years, she returned to yoga in 2019 when a spinal condition caused her to lose some mobility. Through daily practice she was reminded of the healing power of yoga and how it can transform.
Ingrid traveled to Ubud, Bali, Indonesia in 2023 where she completed her teacher training and earned her 200 RYT from Sacred Paths Yoga under the teaching of Srimati Alyra Hughes. Ingrid’s time in Bali reconnected her to the Earth, Spirit and Self.
Her classes weave together the philosophy and spirit of yoga with mindful asana, meditation and pranayama. Her hope is to help every person in every body connect with body, mind and spirit.
Ingrid Baker is a Registered Yoga Teacher (200 RYT) with Yoga Alliance.
Renee Robertson
Grew up in: Toronto, ON Canada
Song that moves me: Love me some flowin electronica think Sunset Lover by Petit Biscuit, Neil Young’s is also permanently in my car CD player
What I’m reading: The Women Who Run with the Wolves
What’s in my cup: Double Cappuccino
Favorite beach: Praia de Zambujeira do Mar, Portugal
Teaches: Vinyasa and Hatha
For me, yoga signifies home. I’ve been practicing for over 15 years across continents and seasons of life — from Lisbon to Utrecht, from classrooms to quiet corners — continually returning to the mat as a place of refuge, reflection, and reconnection in town.
As a competitive runner in my teens, yoga began as a tool for physical rehabilitation. But it quickly became something deeper: a space for curiosity, emotional release, and embodied presence. I’ve found that the yoga community draws in calm and expression — and I’ve been grateful to grow within it.
From 2021 to 2024, I lived in British Columbia and worked full-time as an elementary school teacher. During that time, I saw firsthand how much educators needed accessible, restorative spaces. I began offering donation-based yoga out of my apartment, creating a welcoming environment for teachers to breathe, flow, and reset.
Now based in Oregon, I work as an Educational Therapist and part-time teacher at a progressive K–5 co-op, where learning is self-directed and rooted in the outdoors. My teaching — both in the classroom and on the mat — is shaped by rhythm, expressive movement, and moments of reflection
I believe yoga should be accessible, joyful, and deeply felt. I look up to the people in our vibrant community and hope to continue building my practice here — sharing flows that honor both strength and softness, and creating space for others to feel at home in themselves!
Ellen MacKay
Grew up in: Galway, NY
Song that moves me: At Last by Etta James
What I’m reading: I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist and 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
What’s in my cup: Ice water or hot, black coffee
Favorite beach: Anna Maria Island in Florida
Teaches: Hatha and Vinyasa
I have spent the last 15 years sharing yoga with over 4000 hours of adapting postures to meet the needs of students in classes and private sessions, insight from leading six teacher trainings and one international yoga retreat. I’ve been on this journey with my husband, Brian, and two kids. We recently moved to the PNW and are loving all of the new adventures as we explore our new home state.
My yoga journey is ever-evolving. At the moment my focus is on finding balance and really working on my Yamas & Niyamas, more specifically Ahimsa and Satya. How do I live my own truth while showing love to myself and the world around me.
Yoga has been an important part of my life since I began practicing in the early 2000’s. It has shown up for me in my most difficult days and helped me to be present during the joys of my life. I’m passionate about sharing all that yoga has to offer in hopes of empowering others to find their own balance!
Zuzana Barilova
Grew up in: Brno, Czech Republic
Song that moves me: Falling Slowly by Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard
What I’m reading: Czech English Dictionary
What’s in my cup: Italian Espresso Con Panna makes my mornings!
Favorite beach: Barrigona Beach, Costa Rica
Teaches: Vinyasa & Hatha
I discovered yoga working at a television studio in Europe. Years and years into sometimes challenging roles as news anchor, tv producer and also being with my little kids, I just needed to exercise and relax. And yoga is a really sophisticated system for both mindfulness and wellbeing in our body. I truly love sports! Horseback riding, running, skiing, swimming…. But yoga is something more. I love to help students to find balance, strength, energy and motivation.
I achieved my 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Yoga Brno Academy and started teach Kids Yoga and Power Flow Yoga. Now I find enthusiastic and challenging ways to lead Vinyasa, Hot or Hatha Yoga classes at Yoga OMazing, which means everything to me after moving to Oregon!