Instructor Profiles

All yoga instructors are certified with Yoga Alliance.

Deborah Adele, ERYT 500, owner of Yoga North studio since 1999, holds two Masters degrees, certifications in Kundalini and Hatha yoga, and extensive studies in Meditation and Yogic Philosophy. Initiated into the Himalayan Tradition, Deborah has made numerous trips to India for continued studies. She is author of The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice, an upcoming book on the Western mind, 2 instructional CDs, and numerous published articles.  Deborah uses her knowledge and training to support others in living a life integrated with balance, clarity, and well-being.  She lives in constant gratitude and appreciation for the richness of the yogic teachings, her teachers, and the experiences of her life.

Ann Maxwell, RYT 500, owner of Yoga North studio since December 2001, holds a masters degree as well as certification in Hatha Yoga and Yoga for Cancer Survivors as well as extensive Yoga Therapy training with Susi Hately. An experienced wilderness adventure guide, Ann brings the spirit of adventure and curiosity to her expertise as a yoga instructor and business owner, grounding her ability in the practicality and expertise of the body.  Ann is a model of yogic living for her students and brings a sense of wisdom and fun to the daily practice of yoga.

Molly McManus RYT 500  loves Yoga North for the warmth and sense of community it has brought to her life. She enjoys teaching postures and philosophy at Yoga North and with the wonderful students of UMD as well as her role as Administrative Director at the Northland’s premiere teaching school. Molly continues her development with continuous training in anatomy, therapeutic yoga and adaptive yoga as well as any philosophy courses she can find. The diversity in her interests, background, education and experience help her to create a relaxed, inviting and fun atmosphere to teach the wildly beneficial life skills of yoga. She is keenly aware that Joseph Campbell had it right when he said, "Follow your Bliss!"

Hilary Buckwalter RYT 200 She has been studying yoga since 2006 and completed Naam Yoga teacher training at the 200 hour level in Joshua Tree, CA, in August of 2008. She recently completed her 500 hour level Hatha Yoga teacher training in the Himalayan tradition at Yoga North. Hilary has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in International Peace Studies and Philosophy and has a deep love for exploring and participating in the global community. She is currently enrolled in the Masters of Advocacy and Political Leadership program at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Jodi Christensen RYT 500, Jodi's education in the healing arts began in 1998 at the Utah College of Massage Therapy, where she earned certification as a Massage Therapist. She continued her education in Reiki and Quantum-Touch and is a Certified Practitioner of both modalities.  Most recently she continued her education in Hatha Yoga of the Himalayan Tradition with Yoga North where she completed their 200 and 500 hour teacher training.  Yoga is a practice she finds to be profoundly healing physically and emotionally as it brings other healing modalities she's learned into one self-empowering practice that simplifies and encompass the healing potential we all carry within. 

Sara Duke RYT 200 has had a life long interest in health and wellness. She has been practicing Yoga since 1998 and completed the 200 hour teacher certification requirements through Yoga North’s Teacher Training program in 2008. Her main focus right now is to allow ease and contentment in her yoga practice and in her life and to encourage her students to do the same. As co-owner of On-Word Bound Books (a publishing company), Sara worked closely with Deborah Adele of Yoga North on her book, The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice.

Kyle Elden, RYT 200, received her first 200 hour Hatha certification at Sun Moon Studios in Mankato , MN in 2003 and has built upon her yoga education in Yoga North's in depth teacher training. She has been teaching since March of 2003 and continues to love sharing the gifts of yoga while at the same time learning from and growing with her students. She finds all that yoga offers to be transformational in mind, body, and spirit and believes Yoga North is a magical place that nurtures growth and has been a catalyst for her own unfoldment.

Erika Frykman MA, RYT 200, teaches Hatha yoga with an emphasis in functional movement. She feels blessed for the acceptance and support she has received at Yoga North, and tries to bring those qualities into her teaching practice as well as her job as our Marketing Specialist. Erika's former professional life was in Nonprofit Advocacy, and when Erika “came to the mat” yoga captivated her and she could think of nothing better than increasing the amount of yoga happening in the world. She encourages students to foster self-awareness, relaxation and breath because-- the way we show up to our yoga practice is often the way we show up to our lives-- skills in the physical, mental, and emotional body can be developed at the mat. She is currently deepening her training at Yoga North in the 500hr Teacher Training program. 

Kristin Fogard, RYT 200. Since 2002 she has cultivated a fondness for the Ashtanga and Hatha traditions and the underlying philosophy that surrounds yoga. She received Hatha certification from Yoga North in the Spring of 2005 as well as in depth teacher training in Ashtanga from David Swenson in 2004. In the years since she has attended Ashtanga workshops led by: David Williams, Doug Swenson, David Swenson, Manju Jois, and Govinda Kai.

Linda Glisson came to Yoga North with a passion for sharing wellness. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. She attended the 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program at Yoga North in 2006 and completed an Ashtanga yoga training intensive with David Swenson. Linda appreciates the opportunity to share with and learn from her students on her yogic journey as a practitioner and teacher.

Sarah Hansen, RYT 200, is working toward her 500 hr certification through Yoga North.  Her roots as a wilderness educator bring an exploratory approach to her classes while grounding her interest in supporting student discoveries to increase function and ease.  She delights in exploring the world through the eyes of children and enjoys bringing their passion into her yoga classes.  Sarah loves being present, learning and growing through the daily adventures that parenting brings at home or in the Boundary Waters.

Margaret Harstad Since Received her 750 hour training for massage at Touchstone Healing Arts located in Burlington, Vermont. She received training for Thai Yoga Bodywork from Jonas Westring in Vermont and Tanya Boigenzahn in Minneapolis. Margaret specializes in Thai Yoga Bodywork, Deep Tissue, Sports, Relazation, Reflexology, Pregnancy and Swedish massage, She incorporates some Healing Touch and Chakra Energy Work into sessions if desired. You can learn more about Margaret on her blog: muggymoose.blogspot.com

Jillian Holmen  is mama to two small boys and Yogaplay instructor.  She feels blessed to be able to find constant opportunity for practice in this busy life.  It's ALL Yoga!!  It's ALL Play!!  And Yeah for those little gurus; who offer more lessons than we ever sign up for!  A quote from a 5 year old Yogaplay friend sums up why she loves this gig: (in describing his original asana, Warrior 4) "It helps to encourage and opens the heart of your bones."

Stacy Johnston brings to yoga a passion for mind and body wellness. She had been teaching fitness classes for over a decade, and knew she found something really good when she stumbled on her first yoga class! She completed the 200 hour Hatha certification through the Yoga North Teacher Training program in 2008. She is continually inspired by the amazing Yoga North community.

Catharine Larsen, MA, completed the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in the Himalayan Tradition at Yoga North studio in 2005. She has found all of the classes she has taken, as well as those she teaches, at Yoga North to be life changing, spirit freeing, and heart opening. Catharine is a Licensed Psychologist who sees clients in her home office on Lake Superior.

Joe Lindgren, RYT 500, received his Hatha Yoga certification from Sun/Moon Studios in Mankato MN in 2002. Joe has studied in depth in the Himalayan tradition and the Iyengar method, which emphasizes the detail and precision of alignment. A committed yoga practitioner since 1989, Joe shares his expertise in asana alignment and his love of the 8-limb practice of yoga. Joe believes that the focus on detail and precision in asana makes the poses come alive, and continually brings one to deeper levels of awareness in mind, body, and spirit.

Virginia May  in 1999 Deborah Adele was my Virginia's Kundalini Yoga teacher.  She immediately fell in love with the class.  It was so inspiring, nurturing, and revealing.  She came and loved Sadhana.  In 2006 she took teacher training at the Center for Happiness in Minneapolis and has been teaching ever since.  Yoga is such a spiritual experience for Virginia.  Virginia is currently doing chaplaincy training and loves visiting with people in their homes.  Sat Nam.

Patti Peters, BA, RN, IKYTA, experienced the transformative power of Kundalini Yoga at Yoga North in 1999. She completed Kundalini teacher training through the Center For Happiness in Minneapolis . Her outside interests include wilderness camping, travel, parenting sons, and gardening.

Sarah Ricciardi joined the Yoga North family in November 2007 as our Marketing Coordinator. She is a freelance Graphic Designer who has worked in a variety of venues ranging from metro magazines to art galleries. She finds the atmosphere and energy at Yoga North to be an inspiration not only to train in the art of Yoga, but to apply the practice within life itself. Sarah wishes to use her education in Graphic Arts and creative gifts to attract others to Yoga North in hopes that they will find health & healing, focus, and the precious path to a life of happiness.

Wendy Saliin, RYT200, is currently working towards her 500hr certification at Yoga North. Yoga has brought her a sense of serenity and contentment she has never known before - something she cherishes amidst this hectic world. Her hope, through teaching, is to share with others what yoga has taught her about the powerful ways our minds, bodies, and spirits are interrelated, and the ability we have within each of us to bring physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing into our lives.