meet OUR SANDPOINT DANCE & YOGA TEACHERS
Meet Brietta Leader
Brietta offers dance in its many forms of healing, prayer, play and conditioning. She grew up as a dancer and discovered her passion as a healing artist in 2000, while traveling in Asia. Brietta is the founder of WildCore™ Movement, the Director of Gypsy Diva's Dance Troupe, author or 'Wildcore: 12 Keys to Unlock Your Untamed Expression' and a Massage Therapist. Brietta is based out of her studio Embody and loves to get Sandpoint dancing.
Meet Devjeet Kaur
My Kundalini Yoga journey began with an inner knowing that I had sovereignty over my physical, mental and emotional well being. The search to realize this truth led me to the incredible teachings of Kundalini Yoga. The astounding benefits that resulted from a daily practice prompted me to pursue the KRI Kundalini Yoga Level I teacher training with Sat Dharam Kaur N.D. in 2012. I’ve been devoted to the practice ever since and my teaching style is based on a foundation that comes from an authentic and heartfelt personal practice. I share these teachings with complete sincerity as a service to my community because I believe in Kundalini Yoga’s power to transform lives and improve health. I am here with this offering as a committed friend, walking alongside you on your journey Home. I am also an herbalist, organic farmer, business owner, certified flower essence practitioner and doula.
"Devjeet is such a joyful, kind-hearted, knowledgeable, intuitive human being.
She brings a grounded yet light, fun energy to the work, always pouring so much into her classes. Not only does she offer guidance in the physical postures but goes into kundalini and yogic philosophy, providing understanding and learning to deepen the practice. It’s been such a gift to have her as an instructor and guide for these classes; I always look forward to them!" ~Hannah Greenfield
SAT NAM
Meet Julie Wise
One of my greatest passions – teaching Tribal Fusion Belly Dance comes from my biggest obsession, dancing it! A powerful and healing dance form, TFBD is steeped in sensual and ancient traditions and infused with modern, dynamic and creative genres. There is a freedom of feminine expression in this practice that creates an acceptance and a celebration of your body. I Love witnessing the empowerment women feel as they grow in strength, flexibility, confidence and a supportive sisterhood as we dance together.
I have been belly dancing for 13 years and teaching for about 4 years and loving it! I studied with Sabrina Fox who has toured with Belly Dance Superstars, Zoe Jakes and Beats Antique.
Come Shimmy with us!!
Titina van Hoorn
Are you are feeling stuck, confused or in emotional pain in your current life? Energy medicine is a powerful and deep way to release old stories and patterns in order to allow you to create the life you want with grace and ease. As a practitioner, I work energetically and creatively to identify what is unconsciously in the way of expressing your whole and authentic self. Hi, my name is Titina and I am a Shamanic Practitioner and trained Life Coach. I studied with Berta Kuhnel, a former teacher from the internationally known Four Winds Light Body School. I am also a mother of two, dancer, former language teacher (I speak 4 languages), artist and professional jeweler, and graduated from Middlesex University in London, England with a degree in Jewelry Design.
For more information about my work, go to www.titinavanhoorn.com or my Facebook page: Unshakeable Soul Clarity
Testimonials:" With her guidance I was able to break through some energetic blocks that had been hindering me for a very long time. Titina is a gifted and highly intuitive healer!" ~ Karen A.
“I felt safely held by you, almost like a rocking, soothing sensation leading me to my inner world. I felt you with me, present, every step of the way, gently and expertly guiding me. “ Dyanne K.
Elizabeth Ruff
I believe once people learn to love all the parts of themselves, we can then heal the earth.
I have long devoted my life to reminding those around me of the healing powers of love. Before I focused on yoga and bodywork, I sought to better understand and seek connection with the natural world. To that end, I earned a Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources from Colorado State University and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines.
In 2003 I completed my first Massage and Reiki course at the Gate Key Institute of Mind-Body Therapy. I also completed my first yoga teacher training at Kalani on the Big Island of Hawaii. In Hawaii, I also finished trainings in Polarity Therapy and Thai massage. In the years since I have become an RYT E-500, and completed hundreds of additional hours of trainings and mentorship. Combined with additional extensive training at the Soma Institute of Neuromuscular Integration, I love to consider the whole person through the lines of fascia and the multi-faceted Yogic approach of the persons mind, body and spirit.
Today, I focus on a practice that helps people experience long lasting relief from pain and greater joy in life. I teach online
at www.modernyogatribe.com and live at Embody Studio in Sandpoint, ID.
As much as possible, I play with my two kids and partner outside, enjoying all the mountain biking, hiking and skiing that I can in the wild spaces that I call home.
Charis Ramirez
Charis had been teaching ballet since 2009. She has a degree in Dance, performed professionally with Nevada Ballet, and has taught beginners through pre professionals at the University level. Ballet is her first language. Her priority as a teacher is to facilitate an experience where her students can remember their joyful movement language and build relationships as a class.
Arleen Erland
I am a 20-year diversely trained, trauma focused clinician with a vast amount of experience in working with various clinical presentations. I am licensed in four states and while in the process of relocating to one of them, I began to fall in love with Sandpoint after my first unsuspecting visit to Evan’s Brother’s for a quick coffee. Sandpoint is now my home and I love it here!
I am a clinician who believes that a good practitioner is one who has been on their own healing journey. I believe that a practitioner cannot fully show the way to place they have not yet been themselves.
I recently experienced and began to understand the need to incorporate somatic and specifically nervous system healing when working with, not only individuals who have experienced their own definition of trauma, but also have accumulated stressors, unprocessed emotions and even limiting beliefs that they are not aware of.
I am also a certified HeartMath practitioner who understands and incorporates the need for heart coherence and teaches heart rate variably training as part of healing the central nervous system that controls over 90% of our bodily functions.
Why do I do this work? To heal connection. Connection to ourselves first so that we can fully connect to others and to create space within so that we can fully experience this life.
Rachel Nabors
I had the joy and privilege of practicing dance throughout my childhood, and I have always found healing and expression through movement. Yoga became an important part of my life in college, where I could bike to my local studio multiple times a week. I discovered that yoga was so much more than a series of poses. I found peace in the moving meditation of yoga and found it to be a life-changing practice. I took my yoga teacher training in Ecuador in December of 2023, where I studied Vinyasa, Hatha, and Ashtanga yoga. After a decade of practicing, I wanted to deepen my relationship with yoga. I want to approach teaching as a compassionate witness, offering suggestions and modifications and honoring your practice. I humbly embrace the role of teacher, hoping that students feel safe in their bodies and connected to themselves and others during and after class. When I am not teaching yoga, I work as an organic farmer and psychotherapist.