Kate Herrera Jenkins, Co-Founder/ Executive Director

Birmingham, AL

Kate Herrera Jenkins (Shu-wah-mitz) is a member of Cochiti Pueblo.

She is the founder of Native Strength Revolution.

 Kate attended Loyola University in New Orleans and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy.  She moved to New York City in 1998.  While pursuing a career in Music Therapy in NYC, Kate developed a love to serve kids with special needs and also developed a passion for working with the elderly.

She continued to serve the elderly through movement, music and recreation until 2008.  

In 2008, she discovered hot yoga and immediately wanted to share this healing modality with the world.  She attended 9 weeks of yoga teacher training in CA with Bikram Choudhury. She has Also studied Yin Yoga with Bernie Clark and Vinyasa with Ryan Leier. In 2010, she founded Kiva Hot Yoga in Birmingham, AL.  In 2014, she became affiliated with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga School and started to certify yoga teachers,  Also in 2014, she and her husband, Kerry, former NFL player, opened Iron Tribe Fitness, a group fitness gym, in downtown New Orleans.  

Kate was a 3 term ambassador with lululemon athletica and this partnership led her create a powerful vision and goals which would eventually help create NSR.  

In 2014, Native Strength Revolution was born.  Through fundraising, NSR has been able to provide continuing ed opportunities for other Native Yoga teachers and now lead trainings specifically for Indigenous people.  

She loves staying active and learning new ways of moving.  In addition to yoga and weight-lifting, Kate loves long-distance running! She's always up for the challenge of a marathon or half.

She recently received her Ministry Leadership certificate at Highlands College in Birmingham and sees every moment as an opportunity in ministry.

Birmingham, AL

Kerry is an 8 year NFL veteran, SB XXXVII champion, and wellness advocate.

He was able to keep ideal playing weight as an offensive lineman in college (LSU/ Troy) and the NFL (NYJ & TB).  Affer retiring, his weight skyrocketed and his health plummetted.  Through yoga, he started on a path (along with nutrition and weightlifting/ cross-training) to lose 100lbs and feel like a new human.  He and his wife opened a yoga studio and a gym to help others experience life-changing results as well.  

His passion is motorcycles. He is a certified motorcycle mechanic AND leads motorcycle safety foundation coursed to help others learn to ride and stay safe on the road.

He completed the NSR YTT training in 2020 to become a yoga teacher and help others discover a new dimension of health and wellness.

Mesa, AZ

Johanna is of the Maya People and was born in Southern California. Johanna has been blessed with two amazing daughters who are her motivating foundation. From young adulthood to present, Johanna has believed in the power of nutrition (healing the gut/body from the inside out), movement, and connection with Mother Earth- through plant medicines, healthy eating, and movement within the body. This passion has led her on a journey, seeking knowledge that she believes can help remind others of their healing path from past traumas. Her hope is that these  powerful tools she's learned can be shared throughout your communities. Enhancing Johanna's sense of connection to spirituality, self-awareness, and the Universe she became certified with Native Strength Revolution; RYT 200 Hr. Training. Incorporating an all over whole-listic approach to healing with nutrition and movement as medicine.

 One of Johanna’s greatest passions is working with people and helping them create a healthy lifestyle that they can thrive through. This has led her on her path to working with those in recovery, facilitating in body~mind practices. Johanna is a graduate of Southwest Institute of Healing arts as a Wellness Practitioner in- Holistic Nutrition, Life Coaching, and Fitness Nutrition Education- (Certified through NASM). Johanna also has a deep-rooted passion for working with youth and has begun her certification in Vinyasa (Trauma Informed) Yoga for Youth. In addition, Johanna has also completed a 25 hr. certificate for Trauma Sensitive Informed Yoga and is in the process of completing the full 200 hr. certification. Her approach to wellness has been to first address her own childhood traumas, start the healing process, and to share through a trauma informed lens, reminding others that our first responsibility is to ourselves. Johanna invites you to be patient with yourself, to honor yourself, respect, love, and show up for yourselves first; to stay in the present moment (while also establishing goals), focus on your breath, and to ignite healing that best serves you. Her hopes are to offer an experience of balance, flow, a spirit of playfulness and a dose of inspiration that will help deepen your practice, and to remind you to meet yourself where you are currently at. Johanna, a continued student of life believes that yoga is an ancient medicine and hopes that when you step off your mat you are feeling refreshed, and that she can assist in creating a safe space for healing, and much more. Johanna teaches online classes, in person, and at different events, and hopes to continue on her wellness path of sharing movement as medicine for many years to come.  

Mesa, AZ

Waylon Pahona Jr. is Motivational Speaker, Health/Wellness Trainer and Certified Yoga Instructor through Native Strength Revolution. Waylon is Hopi/Tewa/Maricopa Pee Posh. He is well known for transforming his life and being the founder/Creator of Healthy Active Natives (HAN’s). The HAN’s social networking group on Facebook currently has over 74,500 HAN members nationally and internationally.  In 2013 Waylon also received the Healthy Innovation award by IHS Indian Health Services for his social media group.   Waylon is currently teaching/facilitating yoga and wellness classes with Warriors Code Inc. Outpatient Treatment Center and The Strong Men's Program. He is also an Ambassador to Tanka Bar jerky. 

Birmingham, AL

As a passionate learner, Brianna hopes to walk along side others on their healing journey, helping in any way that she can. Brianna is a Wisconsin Native from the Turtle Clan of the Oneida Tribe. She found yoga and meditation after a physical injury left her mentally and spiritually depleted. She began practicing to heal her body but found that her mind and spirit were also restored by the grace of God. She gained her 200hr certification through the Carson Calhoun Academy and has trainings in Yoga Therapy and Yoga for Youth. Brianna believes that everyone has something to teach as well as something to learn. She strives to meet people where they are on their path to co-create an accessible practice of physical, mental, and spiritual healing.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Haley Brianna is Anishinaabe from the Grand Portage Band in northeastern Minnesota. She has been teaching yoga for 5 years and has studied and taught yoga all over the world. Her favorite styles are yin and slow vinyasa. Haley is an also an adventure travel guide and a diversity and inclusion specialist. She is passionate about travel, fitness, mind-body wellness, anti-racism and social justice, and she loves doing beadwork.

Garden River, ON

Candace Zack-Coneybeare is a member of the Garden River First Nation, located just east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She resides in the Garden River community with her husband of 27 years, of whom they share three beautiful children, and soon their first grandchild! 

With many experiences of health and wellness; recent NSR grad, Candace continues her massage therapy practice that offers Swedish techniques, Reiki, Aromatherapy, & other energy work modalities. 

Candace graduated from Lake Superior State University, Queen's University, Sault College, Canadian Therapeutic College, to name a few. Education is an important part of her experiences to help teach and share knowledge and build effective relationships with others.

Yoga has been a part of Candace's life for over 30yrs, and loves to share teachings of healing, health, fitness, movement, & Indigenous teachings. These teachings will continue with students of various ages and community members of the area and beyond.

NSR has broadened the scope of teaching and wellness and will continue to connect with others of Indigenous & non-Indigenous background.  Teaching yoga will include all of her experiences as she grows into her own unique style of leading.  

Opportunities are endless and she is excited to continue this journey of love, passion, peace and healing. 

Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada

  Hi everyone, my name is Brenda Brizuela.  I am from El Salvador and currently live in Canada on an Island in Lake Huron called Manitoulin Island. 

My relationship with yoga started when I was 17 and it was on and off for 20 years mostly because I felt awkward at times since my body was not flexible so how could I possibly practice yoga? As I gained more life experience I started to understand that flexibility is not a requirement to practice Yoga, all I needed was a willingness to try.  Yoga encouraged me to recognise my physical limitations, work on expanding them and accept where I was on my journey.   

I became a Thai Massage Practitioner in 2006. Since that time, I have been helping people improve their mobility and quality of life thru Thai Massage. I love helping people rediscover how amazing their bodies are and assisting them to reach their physical potential.  Training to be a Yoga Instructor was a natural next step, I completed the 200 hr Indigenous Vinyasa Flow teacher training thru Native Strength Revolution in March 2021.   

Over the years I have had the opportunity to learn from several spiritual leaders of different traditions from around the world, and this has helped me carve my own path.  I love encouraging others to do the same, to find their own voice and path that speaks to their hearts.  

Yoga is a beautiful practice that can help you bring balance into your life, because it braids together physical fitness, mental clarity and spiritual awareness.  

 Albuquerque, New Mexico 

Ms. Whitehair’s life beyond Yoga includes a background in Emergency Medical Services, Fire-Fighting on the Dine’ Nation, providing patient care in Emergency Rooms, and Emergency Response Team training. Currently, Rose provides training on how to prepare for and manage disaster response and recovery, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2010, Rose discovered the healing and balance that Yoga provides. Her practice has helped her heal from hip replacement, scoliosis, thyroid issues, and work-related stress and trauma. She gained her certification through Native Strength Revolution. As an instructor, Rose guides us with Vinyasa flow to reconnect us to our inner selves while building strength and stability.

Anatomy Instructor BIO:
Rose not only teaches First Aid & CPR in her Tribal Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Team classes, but she also has taught splinting, suturing and Emergency Room techniques to medical personnel, while providing Continuing Education Credits for her students. After 16 years of patient care experience, Rose is blessed and excited with this opportunity to continue teaching Anatomy but with a yoga nexus.

Flagstaff, AZ

Preston is a member of the Navajo Nation. As a professional dancer with a career in the entertainment industry, Preston is excited to add Yoga Teacher to his arsenal. Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico Preston made a name for himself in Phoenix and Los Angeles through dance and film. Preston uses what he learned in the dance industry to teach a program, fully founded by him, offering hip hip, jazz, ballet and modern dance classes to kids in remote locations on the Navajo Nation as well as high school students in Winslow and Holbrook, Arizona. The program builds skills such as confidence, self-esteem, respect for authority, teamwork and self-expression in addition to the benefits dance has for the brain and body. In this program, Preston sees the need for emotional release by children and young adults. In these classes, he creates a safe space linking dance with music and ones own story, frustration, emotion or feeling. Preston also knows yoga can offer the same healing. Preston infuses yoga in his program that is currently serving the youth of the Navajo Nation.  Preston is a natural healer and understands the effect yoga has on happiness.  He is honored to be a facilitator through that. Preston loves and is very intrigued by the philosophy yoga has to offer and is very exited to share that with his students. Hózhó Náhásdlíí’ - Walk In Beauty

So Cal

  Panther Tiwa (Taos Pueblo/Raramuri) is an award winning educator, author and athlete whose many accomplishments include Teacher of the Year nominee for the Riverside County Office of Education, Wells Middle School’s Teacher of the Year (2014), Riverside Community College Americorps Program Mentor Teacher of the Year (2008), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) SLATE Affiliate Intellectual Freedom Award (2013), California Indian Teacher of the Year (2014), California Teachers Association (CTA) and Jim Clark American Indian, Xcaret). The author of the children’s book Kiki’s Journey and a volume of poetry, Reclamation Road (both books listed on the California Teacher’s Association website as must-reads in multicultural literature), Panther is a California Writing Project Fellow at the University of California Riverside and has presented at conferences both nationally and internationally. Her own story of adoption and finding home in both her family of origin and family by adoption is well-chronicled and gives her strong voice to aid others who are claiming their roots and branches of their family trees. 

An accomplished athlete, Panther has been active her entire life: softball and track and field gave way to Muay Thai kickboxing, boxing, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and training for stunt and motion capturing work for television and film. She currently serves as a mentor for countless American Indian/First Nations people and others who are making health and fitness a part of their daily routines to combat illnesses affecting Native people and people of color such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. As a stuntwoman, Panther shas trained under International First Nations stuntman Clayton Haskell in blades and hand to hand combat for film and television.  Most recently,Panther has joined the Marvel Disney Universe, appearing in the  Marvel Disney series "Echo."

As a musician, Panther has performed across North America and has written songs in the Tiwa and the Towa languages, which have been compiled on cd’s by the all-women Native drum group, The Mankillers, of which she is a founding member. As a presenter, Panther is engaging and knowledgeable on topics including writing as a healing process, women’s and family issues, and cultural competency. 

As part of her own journey to wellness and as a survivor, Panther has come to terms with her family's violence. She extends her own wellness practice by continuing her education and practice in behavior modification, psychology, Western Herbal Medicine, Vinyasa Yoga, Reiki and other traditional forms of energetic healing. Her message of hope and healing through wellness resonates across Indian Country and beyond.

Listuguj, Quebec, Canada

Paige Isaac is Mi'gmaq from Listuguj First Nation in Quebec, Canada.  She is a queer, gardening, cat mama who loves to laugh.  You can find her and her partner in the garden, hiking in the woods, canoeing down the river or cooking up a storm. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years but with more time on her hands when the pandemic hit, she was inspired to take a teacher training course. She is thrilled to have found Native Strength Revolution and to be part of a group of amazing leaders all motivated to share the gifts of yoga with their communities. 

She studied at McGill University where she earned a bachelor’s degree of science in biology and continued to work there for nearly a decade as the Director of the First Peoples’ House, an Indigenous Student Service Center on campus.  She moved back to her home community in 2018 with her partner where they reside on the beautiful shores of the Restigouche River.  She co-founded Ta’n Wetapegsulti’gw (Ancestral Roots, in Mi'gmaw), a youth-led initiative on a mission to build community, enhance well-being and connect to the land, while nurturing their cultural roots.  She also co-founded a non-profit called Nous Trois - Nesisieg - We Three, a group dedicated to organizing community tri-cultural events, including a yearly festival, with programming that brings together and celebrates francophone, Mi’gmaq and anglophone cultures in Gespe'gewa'gi, the territory she belongs. 

Paige is excited to bring her skills and experiences to a new role as Cultural Coordinator for the Listuguj Education, Training and Employment Directorate. 

She looks forward to making connections near and far through yoga and hopefully seeing you in one of her classes! 

Red Lake, MN

Boozhoo,

Anangikwe indigoo (Star Woman is who I am). Makwa indoodem (I am bear clan). My name is Elizabeth

Strong and I am from the Red Lake Nation (Ojibwe). I have been practicing yoga for almost 20 years,

more seriously in the last 6 years, receiving my 200hr teacher certification via NSR in 2020. I enjoy doing

yoga and sharing the practice as it connects mind/body/spirit. I teach in different styles, including

restorative yoga, modified/chair yoga, vinyasa (flow) yoga, youth yoga, mindfulness & breathwork, yoga

for recovery/addiction, among other styles and specialties. Each session I engage students in breathing

exercises, connection, movement, and often weave in Anishinaabe teachings into the traditional eastern

practice of yoga. I've previously worked in Mental Health, Community Development, and Ojibwe

Language/Cultural Revitalization.

Yoga has been a wonderful mode of healing in my own life, and I hope to share a piece of myself, the

teachings, and overall connection to spirit in every practice.

Yogachigeedaa (Let’s do some yoga)!

Miigwech (Thank you)

British Columbia, Canada

Dionne Paul (Ximiq) *pronoun she/her* is a shíshálh (Sechelt Nation) and nuxalkmc (Bella Coola) artist. She is a member of the Eagle Clan and her ancestral name is Ximiq and translates to the first eyelash of sunlight that comes over the mountain to greet everyone in the morning.  

Mrs. Paul is an artist and has a Master of Applied Arts Degree from Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She currently works full time as Community Health Rep for the Sechelt Nation and part time as Indigenous Faculty Advisor for Capilano University kalax-ay campus. 

Mrs. Paul has learned about plant medicines from my father Thomas Paul since childhood. As a young adult she mentored under female Hereditary Chief Rhonda Schooner Sandoval where she learning how to harvest, prepare and preserve traditional plant medicines and remedies. She has started a medicine company called Domestic Shaman, which offers all natural, handmade, biodynamic cleaning products, teas, jams and salves to my local community.

She is a mother to five children (3 bio and 2 step) and lives and works on the Sunshine Coast in Shishalh Nation territory, 

She  completed the Indigenous Yoga Instructor Training Course in New Orleans with Native Strength Revolution.  She will start her yoga teaching practice online and work towards starting a sweatlodge style hot yoga. 

Mescalero, NM

Hilary serves the Mescalero Apache Tribe in New Mexico. She has worked as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Four Directions Treatment and Recovery Center, practicing play therapy with Native children and providing counseling and classes to adults and families. Currently, she is the Elementary School Counselor at Mescalero Apache Schools and a certified kids’ yoga instructor. As an RYT-200, Hilary brings yoga to the adult community through the Wellness Center and Recovery Center. She also offers yoga to school staff, high school athletic teams and elementary students. Hilary’s greatest hope is to inspire tribal members to become certified yoga instructors through Native Strength Revolution so they can lead their people into health and well-being. In the mean time, she is beyond honored to be trusted in the roles of advocate and ally.

Sioux City, SD

Katherine is an enrolled member of the Ihanktonwan Nation (Yankton Sioux tribe). She grew up on the YST reservation and graduated from Marty Indian school. After high school, she lived overseas  for 3 years in Greece, Israel, Hungary then came home and finished her nursing degree. She currently works as a primary nurse for a family medicine doctor. she is Buti yoga and 200 hour certified yoga teacher through Native Strength Revolution. In winter of 2020 she founded Sovereign Nation Studio that provides yoga classes, apparel and beadwork designed by her. She has a passion for healing and walking with others in their healing journey, fitness, nutrition, and wellness. She dove deeper into yoga after experiencing 15 deaths in a very short amount of time. She used yoga as an outlet to help with her healing journey and now shares her experience with others. For almost a decade she has been a student of yoga. 

Outside of yoga and work she is a partner, has 3 kids who keep her busy and on the go with sports activities and 2 that play Cello. She also has a Rottweiler named Ali Oyate. Cooking and making traditional/natural medicine are things she enjoys. If she is not at work or at kids activities you will find her gardening, dancing, exploring nature and traveling. 

Los Angeles, CA

Debbie’s yoga journey began in 2017 in Mid City, Los Angeles where she attended free yoga classes at a local museum, The Underground Museum. When she moved to Northern California to attend UC Davis she continued her practice by following Maris Aylward’s yoga videos and attending classes hosted by the Yoga Club at UC Davis. After years of her yoga practice she applied for the 2021 Indigenous Yoga 200 hour Vinyasa Teacher Training Digital Edition with Native Strength Revolution. As a new yoga instructor she looks forward to learning more about yoga’s roots, trauma informed yoga, Y12SR, and ways to bring wellness and healing to every body through the practice of yoga. Currently she teaches yoga in spaces dedicated to Indigenous wellness, Womxn and femmes, and the Andean community. She is starting her personal project, Kallpayoq’s Runa Gathering (kallpayoqsrunagathering@gmail.com), to interweave the Andean culture with yoga and bring community among her fellow Runas. In the future, Debbie hopes to offer courses in Spanish and teach children and elders.

Newton, MA

Lizz is a biracial Irish and Kanien'kehá ka (Mohawk) woman on a continuous journey to reconnect to her Indigenous heritage each day. She currently lives on the unceded and occupied lands of the Wampanoag people, teaching middle school math and coaching high school volleyball. She has always sought to understand the world around her, studying education and cognitive science, and yet always felt that something was missing - the disconnect that she felt with the world around her could not be explained away. Then, through programs like Native Strength Revolution, she began to understand what true connection looks and feels like, through the lens of Indigenous wisdom buried deep in her DNA. She is a proud sister, daughter, Auntie, teacher, coach, granddaughter, niece, and friend striving for right relations with all. Outside of work and yoga, Lizz loves to curl up under a cozy blanket with a good book, her sweet pup, Molly, and a sweetgrass candle burning nearby. She can also often be found crafting and creating, and she is slowly learning to engage in these, and all, activities, for the joy and challenge of the process, and not for the product or outcome. This is a lesson she learned deeply during yoga training that she tries to carry forward into all aspects of her life. As COVID restrictions lift and vaccination rates increase, Lizz is most looking forward to connecting with Indigenous communities in person and not just over screens.

Chandler, AZ

Yoga found her 11 years ago in early recovery. Molly Cu:k Ba’ak, a mother and

grandmother. She is a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and descendent

of the Akimel O’odham of Southern Arizona.

During the pandemic in 2021, Molly’s dream of being a Certified yoga instructor

became a reality. Founder, Kate Jenkins (E-RYT 500- Lead Trainer of Native

Strength Revolution), granted Molly a scholarship (RYT 200 hrs.) approved by

Yoga Alliance, through Kiva Yoga Indigenous Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training,

this opportunity opened doors and connected paths unimaginable as she

continues to bloom along her journey, helping others.

Molly is the CEO of her small business, Thawajik Gevkthag (Healing Energy).

Through Thawajik Gevkthag, Molly leads yoga classes to individuals recovering

from all types of abuse. Including substance and alcohol abuse. Reaching

remote areas of Indian Country, all around the valley of the sun and worldwide

online through Native Strength Revolution (NSR).

Molly is an active advocate for those seeking a new way to live, and guiding

women through the 12 steps of recovery. She too is recovering from substance

abuse, domestic violence, worked hard through family reunification, and

transitioned out of the penal system. She creates pathways for others, inspiring

men and women to do something different, stepping forward out of the chaotic

comfort zones.

Molly’s focus is on healing and finding oneself through meditation and

breathwork, (pranayama) through teaching the art of reconnection with mind,

body, and spirit. She assists others in nurturing the bodies we have neglected

and abused for so long, healing through movement on all levels. Whether it be

your first yoga class or advanced. Utilizing the breath as we move gracefully

into the next pose of vinyasa or chair yoga. Molly wants us to push through

our body’s limits and utilize modifications as needed.

Molly enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, photography, hiking

adventures, and long-distance running.

Let us join Molly on the mat, a safe place to channel healing energy through

mind, body, and spirit!

Namaste-

St. Louis Park, MN

Carla Drumbeater is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and lives in St Louis Park, MN. She joined the Army out of high school and served as an Army Medic in Erlangen, Germany and Washington DC. She trained as a respiratory therapist while serving 12 years in the Army Reserves and currently works as a respiratory therapist . She is a Mother of three and a grandmother of one. She started practicing yoga about 10 years ago on and off. She is an Insulin Dependent Diabetic and has witnessed the complications Diabetics have with Covid.infection. Yoga has always made her feel good and makes her body and mind strong. She decided to commit to yoga teacher training to keep her mind and body strong while working as a respiratory therapist through the pandemic. She completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training through Native Strength Revolution in March of 2021. She enjoys practicing yoga daily and has a hobby of Ballroom dancing. She loves that she can do yoga everywhere and shares yoga with her coworkers and patients to keep their minds and bodies strong. Her Diabetes is the best it has been since diagnosed in 2007 with a daily yoga practice.

Mankato, MN

 Sabrina (they/she) is a proud Matriarch, Disruptor, and Advocate in Southern Minnesota - Land of the Dakota 38+2 and displaced Hochunk People. Sabrina weaves together wellness with her diversity, equity and inclusion consulting business - Safe Relations - partnering with local universities and businesses to enhance the wellness of all her relations. Sabrina is finding new ways to use wellness as a tool for teaching around empowerment and boundaries. Sabrina is a resin, acrylic and watercolor artist. Sabrina is homeschooling her daughter and traveling with their 1 yr old pitbull, Hades. 

Bemidji, MN

 Aaniin boozhoo! Andie nindizhinikaaz. Zhingewe Ikwe nindizhinikaaz Anishinaabemong. Ajijaak nindoodem. Nindonjibaa Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag. Nindaa Duluth, Minnesota. 

Hello hello! My name is Andie. I am called Eagle Screams Woman in the Anishinaabe language. Crane is my clan. I am from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. I am currently living in Duluth, Minnesota.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Morris in May of 2020. I have been working in mental health and social services since I graduated. I currently work full-time as a child welfare case manager for the Leech Lake Band at the urban office in Duluth, Minnesota. I am also an artist and I enjoy spending my time painting, crafting, reading, and practicing yoga.

My mother introduced me to yoga at a very young age. I went on to complete the 200 hour Indigenous Yoga Instructor Training in March of 2021. Through yoga, I have learned better ways to work through trauma and hardship. I have also learned what it means to live mindfully; to stop and take a breath. My dream is to bring healing and wellness to my people. 

Bozeman, MT

Carmen  small-scale food grower from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Fort Hall, Idaho. She is transitioning into the larger food market and exploring options in food sovereignty to integrate into tribal communities in Montana, Idaho and Arizona.  She’s a current PATHS (Pathways to Agriculture and Native foods, Tribal Health and Sovereignty) participant with Montana State University and sees this program as a catalyst to large scale change. This work, paralleled with a personal healing journey have served as the spark to reignite the dormant dreams that have long been housed in her heart. She is passionate about sharing her spark with all communities she is apart of and to nourish a nation hungry for change and healing. Carmen is also a beginning yogini, TEDx Bozeman 2019 speaker, undercover poet/comedian and is the mother of 3 sons, Steven, Liam and Dominic. She currently resides with her family in Bozeman, Montana.

SLC, UT/ Pine Ridge, SD

Canté was té nape ciyuzapo

Wakán wahté wín, emaciyapi 

I greet you from my heart 

My name is lives holy

I am from the Oglala Lakota people.

I am lucky to be the mother to four beautiful children. Who are my foundation and drive me crazy. 

What brought me to yoga... was a article I skimmed through about how it helps with running.  I also love long distance running. 

Through my exploration of yoga I found that it’s more than just movement.  It helps work through trauma.

That was it for me, I dove in... I had to learn more.  Trauma is a big part of my life.. learning to acknowledge it, rather than hide it and be ashamed of it. That was a big way for me learn to breathe. 

I’m so blessed to be given an opportunity to try and help my Native people- help them navigate, acknowledge their traumas, and use them as a tool. That is my goal.

Wopila 

Thank you 

Ponca City, OK

Samantha is a member of the Grayhorse District of the Osage Nation and descendent of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. She has served both of her tribes in a social services capacity for years. It was through this service that she discovered her passion to help others. She most recently was employed at the Ponca Tribe Wellness Center and received her Fitness Trainer and Nutritionist certification from the International Sports Science Association (ISSA). She fell in love with weight lifting but after an injury found it difficult. When researching different ways to rehab her injury, she discovered the healing practice of yoga. She then attended 200 hour Indigenous Vinyasa Yoga Teacher training and is now a RYT-200. She volunteers her time teaching free online yoga classes to her community. She has dreams to continue serving her tribal community by making wellness more available and sustainable for all ages. She resides in Ponca City, Oklahoma and enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She is the mother of three beautiful children that have been the biggest inspiration in her wellness journey. She hopes by sharing her journey she will inspire and recruit others in her community so they may reach more people.

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada 

Aanii !  I'm Zara Contin; an Ojibwa Anishnaabekwe from Henvey Inlet First Nation Ontario, Canada and Certified Yoga teacher. Currently residing in Sudbury Ontario. I am a teacher for the Natural Sciences, mother, and outdoor enthusiast I have a close connection to our Mother Earth and everything she teaches us. During my time at University I suffered anxiety and panic attacks stemming from my childhood abuse and trauma. This is when I learned to incorporate yoga into my daily practice along with meditation.  I travelled to other areas of the country, where I found the joy of incorporating yoga into my every day life, while on my travels learning about my culture and identity as an Anishnaabekwe. 

Deepening my sense of connection to my spirituality and energy I took it upon my self to do a 200 HR training program for Vinyasa Flow. I like to incorporate a holistic approach through the medicine wheel and using therapeutic tools like sharing, active listening and traditional medicines during a class. The sole purpose is to feel that deepening connection not only to ourselves, but with the people around us. I love to explore how we can decolonize, reclaim and honour our own practices while continuing to focus on yoga as the main tool to help heal ourselves and how we can honour ourselves by bringing it back to our communities so that we can all begin to move our bodies and heal from the sickness that surrounds our people.

Albuquerque, NM

Olinka is a Navajo yoga instructor based in New Mexico. She has been practicing yoga since 2012.  She is passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga to those who would not normally have access to classes.  Olinka has used community outreach to teach yoga in rural communities and looks to create a safe environment for all levels of students to practice.

Denver, CO

Yá’áh’tééh! Bilagáana nishłí. Deeschii’nii báshíshchíín. Bilagáana dashicheii. Tábaahí dashinálí. 

Amber (she/her) is a Diné woman born and raised in Utah and moved to Colorado where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She is currently a graduate student in a Master’s of Social Work program where she hopes to receive her degree and assist with creating equitable food systems and clinical work. Her passions include healthy and traditional foods for everyone, listening to other’s stories, and petting every cat and dog she comes across. Amber’s favorites ways of movement and being are outside while hiking, backpacking, skiing, and running.

Ile-a-la Crosse, Saskatchewan, Canada

Jordyn is a Nehîyaw/Cree and Métis woman from northern Saskatchewan in Canada. Jordyn has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and an instructor for just over 2 years. She has learned so much through her teachers, Kate Herrera at Native Strength Revolution and Ryan Leier at One Yoga Lions. As a young person, yoga was a means of therapeutic relief for both body and mind. In the community Jordyn grew up, healing modalities were few and far between, yoga was a way through struggle and honouring the gifts our body and mind provides. 

Over the years, Jordyn became more interested in supporting Indigenous people through healing and studied Psychology in university and helped to co-found a non-profit to support Indigenous youth in athletics, SaskATF. As her careers and interests shifted over time, Jordyn has returned to her home community where she lives in an off-grid cabin with her dog, Otis. Jordyn is currently taking a Master’s program through the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan studying Energy Security. Jordyn also works full-time as the Sustainable Energy & Sovereignty Specialist with the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan and works closely with the Île-á-la Crosse Residential School Survivors Committee. Jordyn shares her knowledge and experience as an Indigenous land protector serving on various boards with the ultimate goal incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing and being to shift climate policy to save Mother Earth. 

Harmony with nature begins with ourselves. As a Wildrice Harvester, Pemmican Lodge Land Guide, and climate pro-activist, I weave my love for the land into my yoga practice. With nature as our guide, I challenge you to discover the profound connection between breath, movement, and the elements. Whether you seek tranquility or crave the intensity of a challenging flow, join me on the mat for a holistic journey toward balance and strength.

Seattle, WA

Jennifer is an east coast woodland native transplanted to the west coast Salish lands. Jennifer’s lineage is of the Nipmuc and Narragansett peoples as well as her mother’s side who were a mixture of European descent.  Jennifer’s passion is creating connections and sharing in the healing journey of others. Jen has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and finally joined NSR after finding the right fit and more sisters/brothers to call family and becoming a teacher. Her goal is to share her story, journey of yoga, and how it has always been a place of retreat, connection, and rebirth. Jen works in the philanthropic sector, works with many local Native non-profits, is a volunteer board member, tribal council member, now yoga teacher and CrossFit coach. Her real job is raising 2 children, Vida, and Benicio. Jen enjoys working in her garden, making medicinal teas and things, harvesting, and exploring the PNW, she will also be climbing Mt. Tahoma this summer with the first ever group of Indigenous climbers.  

Ponca City, OK

Julie is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. Her 15 year career path as a mental health professional has provided her opportunities to teach in the university setting and provide clinical services in the Veteran’s Administration system. Currently she provides mental health services for a tribe in north central Oklahoma. In addition to “talk” therapy, Julie offers yoga classes several times a week at the

tribe’s addiction recovery facility, for an after-school youth leadership group, and for the

“Incredibles”, a weekly elder lunchtime gathering. While teaching at Oklahoma State University, she discovered yoga via an exercise ball and weight training class at the university’s wellness center. Julie has always believed the mind, body, soul, spirit connection to be essential to a balanced way of living. She combines this belief withpersonal lived experiences, ‘indigenous ways of knowing”, and the knowledge generated by theacademic terms describing the Indigenous experience in North America, “historical trauma” and

“soul wound” to inform the basis of both her clinical expertise and her yoga practice. Science has shown that once trauma is experienced, certain parts of the brain become a ‘smoke detector’which can keep the body in a constant state of arousal, and the central nervous system in dysregulation. The principles of yoga, breathing, and bodily movement are all effective at

resetting and recentering the mind and body and are key in reducing symptoms typically

associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a western medicine term used to

describe experiences of being in fear of one’s life or that of a loved one.

As a licensed mental health practitioner, Julie believes we are all born with unique gifts, talents, and limitless potential. However, the layers of context within our micro and macro environments can have great impact on our 'blanc tableau' and how we develop across the lifespan. She approaches clients with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and does not believe in ascribing stigmatizing labels that do not always capture the true nuances of certain populations. Dr. Clark believes most have the agency and ability to create the change they desire and that talk therapy, especially when combined with the movement of yoga, is a means to become 'unstuck' from the

false and inhibiting thoughts and beliefs that often play on 'repeat'. If you love live, local, independent music, you just might, see Dr. Clark on the very front row singing, dancing, and getting replenished by the rhythm and sounds of music and words others

scribe to paint a picture of the human experience. She expresses some of her creativity in her backyard flower garden, learning each year from the annuals, perennials, and succulents about

the beauty mother earth and father sky provide for the eyes, soul, bees, hummingbirds, and hawks.....and the occasional night creature that she and her husband live trap and relocate to the local nature preserve. When not spending spend time with family and friends, Julie loves to travel, camp, whitewater raft, and take on the occasional DIY project. Her most memorable trip is

probably driving to Alaska and her most memorable half marathon is a tie between a downhill run in the Rocky Mountains and a trail run through the Osage Hills.

Seattle, WA

Aloha! Marla Alohilani Barhoum is Native Hawaiian and a health educator for HHAPI (Healthy Hearts Among Pacific Islanders), a health study through Washington State University, where she teaches online zoom classes and walks participants through a health & wellness curriculum.  

She is a busy Mama to two active teen daughters that play both volleyball & basketball and Chewie, our sweet Labradoodle pup.

She enjoys being in nature, hiking, reading, hip-hop dancing, hula, kickboxing, weight lifting, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and loves continuing to learn and grow!

She was certified last year through Native Strength Revolution and Yoga Alliance.  She's grateful for the opportunity to teach yoga classes online.

San Diego, CA

Ya’ah’tééh/Hello! 

My name is Brittany and it is such an honor to have the opportunity to hold a space for my native community through Native Strength Revolution. I’m a Northern Arizona girl by birth, a California resident by choice, and a wellness enthusiast by passion! I have been practicing yoga for over 3 years now, I became a certified YTT in the spring of 2022 and have been encouraging others to incorporate movement into their lifestyle as a tool for self-awareness, empowerment and a deeper connection to their mind, body and spirit. Especially because this is how I began my healing journey through anxiety, heart palpitations and depression which were all symptoms of a birth control that had been placed incorrectly inside my body, I used yoga and my traditional wellness practices as tools to shift myself into who I am today, resilient and grateful for all that has happened FOR ME and not to me. I am a firm believer that everything in this life happens for a reason, as chiché as it sounds. If it weren’t for my lowest of lows, I wouldn’t have chosen the path to be here now, where I truly can’t imagine myself anywhere else. Outside of holding space and supporting others in their practice, you can find me; supporting native businesses, taking my doxie on nature walks, painting, finding the best local tea shops or beachside journaling about my visions and goals. Ahxé’hee/Thanks for taking the time to read my bio, I hope to see you in an NSR class or the YTT program! 

Ponca City, OK

Sara Buffalo Head-Bell (Mi Hupa) is a member of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. Sara attended Oklahoma Wesleyan University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Communications. Sara moved to Austin, TX in 2005 and managed a NAEYC accredited child care program. It was there that she developed a passion for child development and youth camp programming. After growing and developing the Kaw Nation Child Care Development Fund Program from 2011-2017, she became the Youth & Children’s Pastor at Ponca City Church. It was also at this time that Sara received her yoga certification thru AFPA, after seeing the positive effects the practice of yoga had on the hurting and struggling youth in her city. In 2020, Sara took on the role of Tribal Administrator, overseeing the daily operations for the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. Recognizing the need for a more holistic approach to Human Resources, she enrolled in the NSR Program with the intention of growing authentic connections in the community, and empowering the next generation to be compassionate Ponca leaders. Sara recently accepted the position as the Indian Education Director for Ponca City Public Schools. She is also the 7th Grade Girls basketball coach for West Middle School. She volunteers for the Poncan Theater, serves as President for the Volleyball Booster Club, coaches free softball clinics in her community, teaches yoga online thru NSR, and for various organizations. Sara has been married to her college sweetheart for over 16 years, and together they have three amazing daughters. In her free time she enjoys gardening, reading cozy mysteries, running, yoga and spending time with family. 

New Jersey & Ecuador

Paola is from the coast of Ecuador (Esmeraldeña and Manaba), where growing up on her ancestral lands marked her vision for healing and wellness through ancestral medicine. Raised by carriers of sacred wisdom, she began walking alongside elders and spiritual leaders in her community early on to lead a life of service—honoring her lineage and the lands she comes from. She is a bridge between worlds, incorporating her experience as a coastal Ecuadorian woman, descending from an unbroken line of traditional healing wisdom to her yoga and wellness offerings. 

Her wellness heroes are her maternal grandmother and women in her community who remind her that Mother Earth provides all that we need to live whole and balanced lives. Our ancestral teachings direct our perspective to how cosmic consciousness and Mother Earth connect to our physical and spiritual existence. The foundations of Paola's offerings are the inclusivity of ancestral understanding of mind, body, and spirit, sensitivity to how trauma informs our body experience and creating safety for inherent wisdom to thrive—reflecting principles of the natural world.

Paola’s interests include the connection between land rights, women’s rights, and intergenerational healing for Indigenous and people of color. Her involvement in community healing efforts offers firsthand perspective on how the well-being of the land, the sovereignty of women, and the unification of communities across lands interrelate in creating greater harmony for present and future generations.

Alongside Native Strength Revolution’s 200-hour YTT, she has trained with Native Wellness Institute and is certified in integrative somatic trauma therapy. She graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology and a double minor in Latin American and Black Studies. She has taught wellness classes for NSR, Rising Hearts, institutions such as UC Berkeley, and brands such as Levi’s. You can follow her on Instagram @paola.monseratt

Burley, Washington

Tessa Sayers, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, is a poet, artist, trauma-informed yoga and somatic teacher, holistic health enthusiast, and seeker of personal growth. In 2017, Tessa created the brand Soul Curiosity to inspire holistic healing through the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual elements of the Medicine Wheel. Tessa worked alongside Sam McCracken at Nike N7 for 6.5 years in program, product, merchandising, and brand roles. Currently, she is the director of Marketing and Program Development for the National American Indian Business Leaders. In 2022, she was a recipient of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development’s 40 Under 40 Award. She is also a founding board member of Women Who Rise. Tessa lives in the country with her husband, two dogs, cat, and chickens. You can spot her dancing anywhere with good music, especially in the grocery store aisle. 

Portland, OR

Chandra was raised primarily by her 92-year old grandmother, who she currently provides care for and is Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin-Paiute of the Klamath Tribes of Oregon. Most of her childhood and adolescence years were growing up on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Warm Springs, Oregon. She is led by Faith, a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie to many. She is proud to be an achiever and a servant leader, passionate about bringing healing and wellness to all Native peoples and communities through the work she is called to do. She is a health professional and social worker with a clear personal and professional goal to do work that will improve the health status of Native American people, and bring awareness and education of chronic diseases. In addition, and from personal life experiences, Chandra is passionate about the safety of youth, and holds near to her heart the work to outreach to young girls and women who have experienced trauma, shame, and guilt and feel lost and alone. Both her personal and professional interests and work are committed to developing programs and policies that will support tribal communities and address the persistent health disparities that tribal communities’ experience, this is through learning from youth and elders, teaching health education and practicing yoga with communities, and living each day of my life the best I can.   I love music and movement, like dancing, yoga, mindfulness, and I like to go for long drives and road trips to see the beauty of our Creator. I love to spend time with my husband, children, and grandchildren and eat flavorful food. :)  

Eagle, Idaho

My name is Mayte (My-tay). A few things about me: I am a dog lover, a tea drinker, and creative thinker. I love pottery, working with oil pastels, and any other art forms I can get my hands on. I am a music junkie. I find myself most at peace and can center myself the best when I am in nature. I was born and raised in what used to be a small town called Boise, Idaho. Home of the potato, Smurf turf, and 5 federally recognized tribes! I grew up with an immigrant father and an Idaho native mother which kind of speaks of my roots. I’m indigenous to Bolivia/ Peru (which is where my father immigrated from; Lima, Peru.) Something I knew, but wasn’t sure exactly how much Peruvian I had in me until 2018 after taking a DNA test that revealed much more than just scientific data. This began my personal healing journey into self, into my culture, where my roots lie, finding answers to my most pondered questions, learning more about my familia in Italy and Peru. Which then led me to finding NSR and Lightyear leadership which completely transformed my life! In the Spring of 2022 I graduated and became certified through Native Strength as a Trauma informed RYT. Since then I’ve begun divulging into my creative career. I look back at my childhood and have a few highlights but mostly low lights. I remember what it was like to live always expecting the worst. The trauma that I had witnessed and endured at such a young age now inspires growth in my young adult years.  Presently I aspire to become a better teacher through whomever takes my classes. I strive to live a healthy & sustainable lifestyle in every aspect of my life (it is a daily practice.) I yearn to create a community, a safe space, for beings that are finding/figuring out who they are, who might be struggling with mental health, or breaking through addictions. I yearn to help you dig deep and discover where you truly come from and rediscover yourself through movement and artistic creative freedom. 

Sheet'ka, AK

Melonie Boord, Tlingit/Mexican, lives in Sheet'ka (Sitka), in the panhandle of southeast Alaska. She is a licensed clinical social worker, wellness and healing ally.  She enjoys chasing sunsets in different parts of the world and spending time in nature on the water and in the rainforest. She is guided by the primary mission of the social work profession to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.  The mind-body-spirit connection experienced through yoga asanas and teachings complement her social work practice to enhance healing and well-being. 

Calgary, AB

Shelly is a Woodland Cree originally from La Ronge, Saskatchewan, currently living in Calgary, Alberta. Shelly is a musician and a new yoga instructor who is looking forward to helping make a difference in the way people heal and feel about themselves.

Ponca City, OK

Haley is a proud member of the Kaw Tribe of Oklahoma, residing in Ponca City, Oklahoma with her husband and four children. Haley is a full time mom, Realtor, certified drone pilot, and owner of a marketing business. Her love of movement started at a young age, with dance being a significant part of her life. Haley believes yoga is an important part of staying in tune with the body and taking time for self-care. Haley has become a passionate advocate for the practice, sharing its benefits with others. She understands the value of mindfulness and has made it her mission to inspire others to prioritize their physical and mental well-being. Through her teachings, Haley hopes to empower others to find their own path to wellness and live their best lives. She Believe movement is the medicine for mind, body and especially soul. 

Haley's classes are a true reflection of her innermost being - playful, soulful, and full of life. She has a way of connecting with her students that is both profound and uplifting, leaving them feeling inspired and rejuvenated. Whether you are a seasoned yogi or new to the practice, Haley's classes are not to be missed. So come join her on the mat and experience the transformative power of movement for yourself.

Monument Valley, UT

Mariah Holiday’s roots flourish in Monument Valley, Utah; original homeland of the Diné

people. She is Nóóda’í Dine’é Táchii’nii (Ute Red Running Into Water) + Díbéłzhíní

(Balck Sheep) + Tł’izí lání (Many Goats) + Bit’ahnii (Folded Arm People). This is how

she carries her ancestors and oral stories as a Diné woman.

Guided with Diné teachings and K’é (family), Mariah actively strives to empower

relatives through creating safe spaces within tribal communities with yoga and

meditation. By sharing accessible yoga + meditation sessions, she weaves unity,

resilience, and ancestral wisdom into her transformative journey.

She finds solace spending time in the outdoors, making art, hide tanning, and traveling.

Saskatoon, SK

Tanisi! My name is Alethea Greyeyes and I am a Nehiyaw Iskwew (Plains Cree Speaking Woman) from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan, Canada. I proudly wear the title of mother, wife, daughter, friend and community fitness leader here on Treaty Six Territory - and across Turtle Island. I am most proud of my fitness portfolio which includes Fitness Instructor and now certified Vinyasa Yoga Instructor. I find immense joy and fulfillment when I lead classes, teach foundational components of physicality and bring wellness to my community. Aside from the leading aspect of my life, I am a long distance runner, and thoroughly enjoy the challenge of endurance sports, specifically Ultramarathons.
I am a proud NSR class of 2023 graduate, who is ready to share this gift with the world! 

Anadarko, OK

Marʉawe! My name is Randalyn Holder. I am an enrolled member of the

Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. I am also of Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Irish

descent. I work for the Anadarko Indian Health Clinic Diabetes Wellness

Center as a Lifestyle coach and Fitness specialist. I believe a well-balanced

inner self is necessary to nurture our being. Yoga has been a big part of my

healing journey and my recovery. I was able to take a giant step towards sobriety with my Saviors help and recently reached a milestone of 15 years sober. I previously worked in an outpatient rehabilitation Center where I facilitated a women’s recovery support group for 8 years. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It is my desire to share my love of yoga with my local community, Riverside Indian School and our many tribal and community outreach programs. I most recently completed Trauma Sensitive Yoga training and I plan to implement this in my practice as a certified yoga instructor. It is my desire to work with substance

abuse and mental health facilities to offer yoga as a supplement to healing

and recovery. I am an avid runner, with 8 half marathons under my belt and

hope to run the NYC Marathon with the NSR team someday soon. I believe

exercise is the most underutilized anti-depressant and it is free!

Yoga and running have helped me heal from some of the trauma I have

endured in my lifetime and have helped to keep me grounded. I believe to

have balance in our lives, we must nurture our spirituality and well-being on a regular basis. We can do this through prayer, exercise, yoga & meditation.

Movement allows us to feed our soul and body with the self-love that we all need to walk a peaceful and abundant life.

Duluth, MN

Mary LeGarde, Anishinaabe from Duluth, Minnesota, is a yoga instructor, an Ojibwe language student, and a traditional beadworker and regalia maker. Mary's yoga journey began in her junior year of high school, and since then she has become passionate about creating a welcoming space for all of those who wish to learn and practice yoga, to share, and to feel safe while journeying deeper into their breath and spirit. Currently she lives in Northeast Minneapolis and works part time as a studio assistant to an artist whose focus is in textiles and who also owns a small business, Makwa Studio. She is inspired by nature, her culture, and those around her who are truly her greatest supporters. Outside of yoga, Mary enjoys dancing in powwows along with contemporary dancing, creating art, and teaching her friends how to play cribbage. 

Albuquerque, NM

Kena Leigh Chavez Hinojos is an enrolled member of the Pueblo De Cochiti, NM. She is also from the Hopi Tribe, from the Village of Walpi, Coyote Clan. Kena has worn

many hats throughout her career.  Recently began her journey as a Peer Support Worker working for Women In Leadership, with women incarcerated being released within  2yrs reconnecting with themselves and their community.  Prior worked with beWellnm The Health Exchange, as the Native American Community Outreach Manager, providing statewide outreach on affordable health insurance for Natives. Mrs. Hinojos has been a Case Manager at Haven House Domestic Violence Shelter, where victims gain immediate safety and learn knowledge, skills, and resources to succeed in a life free of violence. She is the former Tewa Women United V.O.I.C.E.S. Program Manager/Advocate Coordinator, a culturally-based response to sexual violence and other trauma related to sexual violence in the diverse communities located in Rio Arriba and northern Santa Fe counties, and the Pueblo and Tribal Nations in New Mexico. Previous to TWU Mrs. Chavez Hinojos worked with both her Pueblo & Hopi Tribes. Former Social Services/ICWA Coordinator for Pueblo De Cochiti and former Project Coordinator for The Hopi-Tewa Women’s Coalition to End Abuse.

Kena is a Strong Families/Forward Together New Mexico Healthcare Leader in the community. An active member on the NM Maternal Mortality Review Committee and the National Coalition for Sexual Health she utilizes her voice advocating for Indigenous victims and communities. These are not just jobs for her, this is a way of life she chooses to live for the future of her children and Mother Earth. Mrs. Chavez Hinojos is a Thriving survivor of sexual assault & domestic violence.  

Native/Indigenous communities heal mind, body, and spirit. Before colonization healing has been natural and found in plants, animals and spirit. Kena is a firm believer of reconnecting and finding different venues such as yoga, releases and opens up the mind for healing . After experiencing the gift of meditation through yoga she wishes to share with others offering a safe space of healing over all.  

With the support and guidance of the elders and family, Kena and her husband, Larry Hinojos, Co-Founded Getting To The Rootz (G2R). G2R focuses on the underlying causes of trauma in underserved Native/Indigenous Communities of New Mexico. The mission is to provide positive prevention and awareness, engage our relatives in healing and build a stronger community defying sexual violence.

Winnipeg, MB

“They built my city on top of a grave. I could die, I could get high and watch the parade.” 

Recovering my ancestors generational strength, day by day.

I grew up in Winnipeg and played Hockey, Baseball, Football and Lacrosse in the north end. My greatest experience in sports was attending NAIG 2014 where I won gold and silver medals running track. Before joining NSR I was a certified Crossfit trainer and nutritionist. I now work on my reserve, Pine Creek First Nation, as a Recreation Director. I facilitate events and run regular programming such as yoga and boxing. I hope to provide my community with as many opportunities for recreation and representation as possible.

Tucson, Arizona

Enrolled Member, Tohono O'odham Tribe, 

Community Counselor 

Warren Fayuant is a dedicated community counselor and wellness advocate, currently serving the Tohono O'odham Nation as a counselor, case manager, life coach. He is also a student at South Mountain Community College, pursuing a degree in Behavioral Science.

Passionate about mind-body wellness, Warren is a yoga instructor teaching at his church and developing a class for the reservation that blends Native concepts with yoga practice. An outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys hiking, camping, and fitness activities.

Warren's ultimate goal is to share the benefits of yoga and wellness with his community, empowering others to prioritize their mental, physical and spiritual well-being through the benefits of this practice.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Keshhi! Ho' Renee Kylestewa Begay le'shina. Ho' K'o:lokda:kwe deyan, ho' K'yak'yali:kwe a:wan cha'le. 

Renee is a citizen of the Pueblo of Zuni from Zuni, New Mexico. She belongs to the Sandhill Crane clan and is a child of the Eagle clan. She is married to Donnie Begay, PhD (Dine') and a mother to 3 daughters. They live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She works full time for iEmergence, teaches with NAIITS, and instructs yoga with Running Medicine and with Native American Community Academy's cross country and track teams. 

Renee attended New Mexico State University and received a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. Immediately after graduation, Renee served in the vocation of ministry for 18 years at New Mexico State University. She co-founded "Nations" with her husband Donnie and worked alongside Indigenous college students to co-create an inclusive student community. Nations focused on supporting the faith, social growth, and academic path of Indigenous students. This work invoked a curiosity in Renee to learn more about holistic health and wellbeing for herself, for others, and for communities. 

Renee became certified in Mental Health First Aid USA and then in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Level I with The Allender Center. She recently completed NSR's 200hr Yoga Teacher Training in 2024. Throughout this season of learning and healing, there remained a curiosity and internal conviction of how movement, ceremony, and prayer connected to the health and wellbeing of the continual existence of Indigenous communities. It brings Renee joy to engage with individuals and communities in the work of connecting the intellectual mind, physical body, spiritual life, and emotional being. Through this journey, Renee has had the opportunity to be a conference speaker, author, junior research assistant, podcaster (The Talking Circle ), and cultural and storywork consultant. 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Guh-wah-tzee from Adugeg! Hello from Albuquerque. Jessica Rodriguez is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico and has been practicing hot yoga for 20 years. The initial draw of hot yoga was the hot temperatures reminiscent to those of a traditional sweat, especially in the depths of Iowa and Alaska winters. For one with ADHD, yoga has been a beacon for its ability to bring peace and center, matching the pranayama and listening to the body. As a graduate of the Jessica hopes to bring the same peace and serenity to the Native and Recovery communities.

Sheet'ka, AK

Jade Nodes is of Ponca Nebraska Tribal descent but adopted by a Sheet'ka (Sitka) Alaskan Tlingit man as a young child. She holds a Bachelors in Social Work and is dedicated to promoting healing within her hometown in small town Alaska but more specifically dedicated to Tribal healing and wellness within her position at Sitka Tribe of Alaska. She believes that every individual has the ability to find healing and wellness within themselves and she would like to be their ally along the way.

Salt Lake City, UT

(Lands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes)

Aniin cuties!! I am an Ojibwe descendant born and raised in Minnesota (Lands of Dakota & Ojibwe Tribes). In 2020, I moved with my mom to Salt Lake City, Utah (Lands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes). I have lived there since with my partner Santiago, my two stepdaughters, and our fluffy, smelly, tangle of pets. I was introduced to yoga at a young age by my Grandma, Carol Irene, who is still teaching in Vancouver, BC. I'm a huge believer in trying new things and creating balance in our lives! So besides yoga, I have dabbled in martial arts, parkour, dancing, climbing, canoeing and hiking, and encourage all to try out everything you can, enjoying the unique physical, emotional, spiritual and social benefits they bring to your life.

Outside of movement, I love to learn about architecture and design, art and history, ecology and health. I keep up a Google Doc called Indigenous Everything, with links to Indigenous makers and shakers, please check it out and feel free to add yours or your favorites..

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q846h7pX9EoWMzMFgd2HVYXAueuBvnDCNVhkpxGukwQ/edit?usp=drivesdk

Miigwech xx Fig

Oklahoma City, OK

Courtney Reeder Whiteman is a Kiowa and Muscogee Creek from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Courtney has a passion for fitness which led her to become a certified personal trainer in her community. She is also a licensed Zumba instructor and a lifelong fancy shawl dancer. Courtney found her yoga practice in 2020 as a way to stay active at home during the pandemic. Throughout her journey she has learned that yoga can bring mindfulness, self-discovery, and transformation from within. She learned that the integration of body movements, breath and mindfulness create a profound sense of peace and well-being. Courtney recently earned her Master of Public Health degree from Baylor University, and is currently in her Doctor of Public Health (DrPh) degree program at Walden University. Her educational background combined with her yoga journey has led her to pursue her yoga teacher training with Native Strength Revolution with has a vision to decease health disparities among the Native population and provide accessible yoga classes to her community.

Grand Ronde, OR

Holding family dear to my heart. Mother of three & recently engaged to my life partner. I am the youngest of nine siblings, a Grand Ronde Tribal member from a small reservation, Umpqua & Rogue River bands.
What brought me to yoga was after many years of battling with addiction & anxiety, I had lost my Brother to suicide in 2017. The loss was devastating & through prayer I had a total surrender, tired of running I had tried everything. In 2018 I ended up in prison where I found meditation & yoga. Now strong in my recovery, I have been leading class’s since 2021. Yoga changed my life & gave me an understanding of self & how to be there for others.
My current position is Tribal Housing Resource Navigator,  I am a certified Peer Recovery Mentor & NAFFA facilitator. Creating Art is also a passion, I love to paint & craft.  My yoga reflects in every aspect of my life. It’s an honor to share & serve my community with an open grateful heart. Thanking Creator,  We do recover.

Brooklyn, NY

Lauren Peters Neepawus T8nupahs “Sun Turtle” is an enrolled member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a member of the Bear Clan. She leads a corn sister circle, a traditional three sisters garden on her tribal farm, paddles canoe and teaches yoga in her community. She is a traditional Eastern Blanket Dancer and has danced her whole life. She has 2 young sons and recently completed her MBA in Paris. Working with her community, rematriating land and seeds and helping others is her passion and who she is at her core. She walks in both worlds with her background in corporate America living in NYC for almost 20 years, while keeping herself grounded in her traditions and always using yoga when she is away from her homelands. She has practiced yoga for 20 years and has been teaching for 3. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Native Strength Revolution in April 2024. 

Bemidji, MN

Boozhoo! Nenookaasi indigoo, moose indoodem. Bagaani- ziibiins indonjibaa. I’m a mother of 5 and the Director and co-founder of the grassroots Native nonprofit Manidoo Ogitigaan. I’ve been fortunate to work with the Anishinaabe community for 13 years. I am humbled and honored to be adopted into the Anishinaabe community (my biological roots are mostly Asian/ Pacific Islander), to live and work in Anishinaabe and Lakota lands with such amazing people and to be part of Native Strength Revolution. 

Sitka, AK

Jean Swanson lives in Sheet'ka (Sitka), a remote island community on the panhandle of southeast Alaska, land occupied for time immemorial by the Tlingit People. Whether on the ocean or in the lush temperate rainforest, she enjoys spending time with her family surrounded by the elements of nature. She works in social services and is receiving her secondary education to become a licensed social worker. Jean's drive comes from her passion to be of service to her community, in particular, her Tribal community. Jean believes in seeking healing through community support and engaging in activities rooted in health, wellness, and connecting with the four elements of nature.

Ottawa, ON

Roxanna Rojas Brizuela is a passionate advocate for wellness and self-acceptance who currently resides in the vibrant city of Ottawa. Her journey into the world of yoga began during the pandemic, taking online classes and guided by a beloved family member who is also a respected teacher in the community. This introduction opened her eyes to the transformative power of yoga, not just for the physical body, but for the mind and spirit as well.

Of Cuban and Salvadorian descent, Roxanna has a deep-seated passion for helping others and is dedicated to bringing healing to those around her in every possible way. She believes in empowering individuals to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin, regardless of shape, size, or age!

By day, Roxanna works at an elementary school, supporting children with special needs. In her free time, she is also an avid reader and writer who finds joy in the simple pleasures of hiking and indulging in delicious food. 

Recently, Roxanna completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training, marking a significant milestone in her journey. Equipped with newfound knowledge and a heart full of enthusiasm, she is eager to share the benefits of yoga with her community. She looks forward to making a difference in the way people feel in their bodies, perceive themselves, and embrace self-acceptance.

With her spirit set on helping as many people as she can reach, Roxanna is on a mission to inspire and uplift, one yoga session at a time.

Batavia, NY

Kasey Edgerton is of Coahuiltecan descent, whose ancestral lands are what is now known as Southern Texas and Northern Mexico.

Family means everything to her, and she is grateful and proud to be a mother, wife, daughter, granddaughter, and sister, to the multi-generational household she is a part of. 

She does all she can to support the nonprofit founded by the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation: AITSCM (American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions) and her community.

She is a doctoral candidate at Viridis Graduate Institute delving into Ecological Psychology. Through a multidisciplinary lens, she navigates where psychology, ecology, and Indigenous ways of being meet, shedding light on how our perceptions, behaviors, and experiences are entwined with the environment. Her work uncovers the profound implications of our relationship with the natural world, (we ARE nature), and explores ways to cultivate empathy, respect, and reciprocity within it.

She is honored to be an NSR class of 2024 graduate and could not have asked for a more life-changing experience with a more beautiful cohort!

Naleetzam! Thank You 

Phoenix, AZ

Say hello to Antonio, a graduate of Native Strength Revolution YTT - Yoga Teacher Training, (200 hr). Antonio is on the start of his wellness journey, healing through holistic pathways. He started his journey when he experienced, first hand, the chaos of substance abuse and addiction. Which led him to healthier modalities of healing his mind, body and soul. Antonio commits himself to a life of wellness and healing. He is Peer Support certified and focuses his time in his own personal recovery and 12 Step programs. Antonio believes that true healing comes from within - mind, body, and soul. His dreams of passing along his teachings to those seeking recovery continue to give him strength and hope. Antonio is proof that we do recover.

Sitka, AK

Doug is a new Yogi who lives and works in Sitka Alaska. 

Kingston, WA

Bio coming soon!

Chicago, IL

Jennifer is of Anishinaabe and European descent, born and raised in Chicago. She walks a path of reconnection - deepening her relationship with yoga, mindfulness, and the cultural teachings that ground her. She recently completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Native Strength Revolution, a program rooted in healing, cultural reclamation, and Indigenous strength. As she steps into teaching, Jennifer brings a deep respect for the practice of yoga as a path toward personal and collective wellness.

Her yoga path is part of a larger story of returning - to self, to culture, to community. Through this practice, she is learning to shift from survival to thriving, and to carry forward the love and wisdom of her ancestors in new and embodied ways. Yoga has become a bridge, connecting her to Ojibwe teachings of honor, humility, courage, and love - and reminding her that healing is both personal and collective. Her vision is to share yoga and land-based wellness spaces with Indigenous communities, creating spaces for reconnection, rest, and resilience.

She is a writer, speaker, and seeker, guided by a love for all her relatives, her ancestors, and the sacred medicine of story, prayer, and presence.

Tulsa, OK

Jessica “Jessi” McEver (Cherokee Nation) is the Director of Pop Culture + Media of IllumiNative and has dedicated her career to uplifting Native narratives as a producer and strategist. She is focused on building power for Native communities through inclusive representation on and off screen, challenging existing systems as well as building pathways and loving spaces for the next generation of Native creatives. She is a mother of two, fierce souls, pun enthusiast and eternal optimist. 

Koostatak, MB

Katina Cochrane is from Peguis First Nation, Treaty 1 territory, Manitoba, Canada. She and her husband, raise their three children living in Fisher River Cree Nation. 

Being grassroots raised, she had the privilege living ‘life on the Rez’, which she credits to instilling a strong connection to community and a sense of pride. She graduated highschool and moved to the city for university. Katina graduated with a Bachelors Degree from the University of Winnipeg, specializing in Political Science and Indigenous Governance. 

She picked up her dancing bundle at a young age, dancing fancy shawl for 30 years, jingle dress for seven years and continues to dance as 'old style' fancy, alongside her children, a traditional boys dancer, and two teen girls fancy shawl dancers. 

She is currently the Executive Director of the First Nation Healing Centre inc., working with women and children healing from trauma. She dedicated her career path to navigating systems that affect her people the most, Justice and Child Welfare systems, assisting families with trauma, healing and wellness. 

Katina is a volunteer, a skaabe, a hard worker and an actual clown named Twinkle! She has been practising yoga for 14 years, adding this practise to her wellness bundle and is excited to share this with her community. She strives to support others while she walks her path with kindness, humility and laughter. 

Suquamish, Washington

Yoga found me over 10 years ago and helped me reconnect with my body in a way I didn’t know I needed. Through my recovery from alcohol, ceremony and spirituality became lifelines and yoga became a form of prayer. I trained with Native Strength Revolution, where I was empowered to teach in a way that honors who I am as an Indigenous woman. Yoga is ceremony for me. It’s where I show up fully, express myself honestly, and offer others the chance to do the same. Being connected to my body through yoga and ceremony helps me stay balanced in mind, body, and spirit, and that’s what I hope to share with every class I lead.

Vancouver, WA

I'm Nalani, 20 years old, Black and Native(Umatilla and Makah)and grew up on the Nez Perce Reservation-now calling Portland home. My biggest goal is to embrace happiness into all aspects of my life. I've found that happiness through creativity, the ocean, and the Tribal Canoe Journeys, which keep me connected to my roots.

Yoga has helped me find balance through all of it— bringing clarity and peace into my life. It's turned everything into something more, and I'm excited to share that with others on their own journey by teaching yoga!

Chassell, MI

Shelbie is a family medicine physician from Muskegon, Michigan, and a citizen of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. She walks in balance between tradition and modern medicine, bringing a holistic and culturally grounded approach to healing. Shelbie was introduced to yoga in 2012 as a way to heal from past traumas, and the practice has since become a central part of her personal and professional path. Passionate about sharing yoga with Native communities, she strives to help others reconnect with their bodies and reclaim wellness. She hopes to integrate yoga into her primary care practice, creating space for whole-person healing that honors Indigenous knowledge. With a deep understanding of Native American health issues, Shelbie is committed to bridging the gap between Western and traditional medicine.

She currently serves as a full-time primary care physician for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Baraga, Michigan, where she lives with her partner and their two kittens, Azhigan and Biiwaabik.

Portland, OR

Stephanie Gutierrez (San Carlos Apache Tribe) guides yoga and mindfulness practices grounded in somatics and her love for and deep connection with the natural world and her culture. Stephanie completed the 200-hour RYT Indigenous Yoga Teacher Training with Native Strength Revolution in 2025. Her teaching style is influenced by her experience living with chronic pain and using movement, mindfulness, and yoga as part of a supportive practice for healing, grounding, and connection with myself and all my relations–plant, human, animal (especially horses!), water, sky.
Stephanie's classes are slow, intentional, and accessible. Stephanie encourages students to ask how movements and awareness feels in our bodies, not “ am I doing this right?” When not practicing or teaching yoga, Stephanie is a horse girl. She also works at a nonprofit supporting tribal forestry and natural resource programs, and is also often outside backpacking, learning new plants, reading and generally enjoying living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, dog, and cat. 

Bemidji, MN

Ziibiins is an Ojibwe language activist and teacher from the Red Lake Nation in Red Lake, Minnesota. She is mikinaak clan. She currently works as a Kindergarten immersion teacher at Endazhi-nitaawiging Red Lake Charter School and is the Adult Immersion Academy Coordinator for the Ojibwemotaadidaa Omaa Gidakiiminaang program in Fond du Lac, Minnesota. She is passionate about movement as a form of healing and works to share this passion with her community. She helped to start Red Lake’s first middle school cross-country ski team and plans to continue bringing movement and outdoor opportunities to youth. She strongly believes in the “Well for Culture” movement and works to combine her love of movement and language reclamation work through the incorporation of Ojibwemowin in her yoga classes.