MEET OUR TEAM
Katie Shanley
(she/her)
Peak Yoga Director/Instructor
Katie is an E-RYT 500 Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher. She has been teaching for 8 years and practicing for 15 years. Katie did her 200-hour Vinyasa teacher training at Sanctuary Power Yoga in CT and her 300-hour Hatha/Ashtanga teacher training in Rishikesh, India. She has furthered her yoga and movement studies with yin, trauma-informed yoga, Buti Yoga, specialized workshops, and she's a certified barre teacher as well. Katie loves being a forever student. Her signature style is an eclectic blend - a strength and philosophy-driven flow class that is approachable to all levels.
Katie previously owned a studio in Millerton, NY for 4.5 years, with the pandemic bringing it to an abrupt close. Through her studio, she led two 200-hour yoga teacher trainings - one of which was entirely online during the pandemic. She has certified just under 20 teachers - all of whom gave her program 5 stars. Additionally, Katie is a certified health coach, aromatherapist, and vintage clothing lover - she even used to have a shop in Stowe!
Katie is thrilled to bring her knowledge, passion, experience, and huge heart to the Stowe Community. A UVM graduate, Katie always hoped she would return to Vermont and is extremely grateful that the time was finally right and she was able to move here with her husband (also a wonderful yoga teacher - whom she trained!) and their two rescue pups!
Practice with Katie:
Tuesdays 8:30AM-9:45AM
Fridays 4PM-5PM
Saturdays 11AM-12PM
Lindsey LaFrance
(she/her) Peak Yoga Instructor
Lindsey completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher in addition to The Roll Model Method certification at River Rock Yoga in 2015. She continued to teach along side and study under the compassionate guidance of Sandy Byrne until she moved to Stowe in 2019.
Lindsey’s classes take into consideration her students’ everyday, physical needs as well as their more subtle spiritual needs. She teaches now in hopes of paying it forward, helping guide others to find ease in their bodies and in their hearts, just like it happened for her.
Practice with Lindsey
Wednesdays Hatha, All-Levels 9:30AM-10:45AM
Fridays Hatha, All-Levels 9:30AM-10:45AM
Saturdays Gentle Yoga 9:00AM-10:15AM
Tracy Bechtel
(she/her) Peak Yoga Instructor
Tracy has been teaching yoga since completing her teacher training with world-renowned yogi master, Sri Dharma Mittra, in New York City in 2015. She found yoga in 2010 and discovered the practice to be a powerful set of tools for achieving physical health and wellness, emotional healing and mental clarity as well as Self-discovery. She initially practiced for many years at Sharon Gannon & David Life’s Jivamukti Yoga School in NYC. Her yoga classes follow the Dharma lineage of Hatha Raja yoga with some ashtanga-based Jivamukti influence.
Practice with Tracy
Thursdays Dharma Yoga
8:30AM-9:45AM
Meronica Cowan
(she/her) Peak Yoga Instructor
Meronica Cowan discovered yoga at age 14 and formed an immediate and lasting bond to her practice. She received her 200hr training from Fred Busch in Power Yoga in 2011 while living in Lima Peru. As a mother of two she practiced yoga throughout her pregnancies. Meronica graduated from Norwich University with her BSN which has brought more of an understanding to the anatomy and alignment into her practice. She has been inspired and influenced by Patanjali, Swami Venkatesanda, shiva, Rae, and Rodney Yee. Meronica invites all levels to enjoy a powerful yet lighthearted and positively energetic yoga experience with her.
Practice with Meronica
Mondays Warm Vinyasa Flow
9:30AM-10:45AM
Emma Matthies
(she/her) Peak Yoga Instructor
Emma has been practicing yoga for more than fifteen years. Yoga has been a constant part of her fitness routine since she was a gymnast and dancer in her early teens. One of her favorite things about yoga is its versatility. Yoga is as varied as the people who show up for class. Her practice has ranged from a spiritual Kundalini practice to a strong, sweaty acrobatic type flow. But no matter the level of exercise the greatest value she has obtained from her practices has been greater body awareness and mindfulness. She did her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Sangha Studio in Burlington, VT in 2018.
Practice with Emma
Tuesdays Strong & Slow Flow
5:30AM-6:45PM
Sadie Rock
(she/her) Peak Yoga Instructor
Sadie grew up as an equestrian and rode competitively for about 19 years. Her body went through a lot of trauma from the sport, and she had several concussions and developed chronic multiple joint pain on the whole right side of her body. On top of the pain, Sadie developed a form of diabetes called MODY when she was a teen. On a downward slope of depression and anxiety, Sadie felt miserable in her body. She found Bikram yoga as a senior in high school and instantly fell in love. It was great finding something that would help release some energy and challenge. After a few years of practicing Bikram Sadie was craving more. She started doing more at home practices and doing research on different styles of yoga. When Sadie found Vinyasa it was a yes moment. She loved it so much and it helped with personal struggles. Sadie knew she wanted to become an instructor to help others feel the way Vinyasa was helping her feel in her body. She found a studio in her hometown called Jaya Yoga, and began karma work at the studio. A year into being at Jaya she signed up for the 200hr YTT and completed her training in 2020. Yoga has helped Sadie so much with health conditions and has really improved the quality of her life. Sadie feels she doesn't know who/where she would be now if she'd never found yoga. She loves sharing her love and passion for yoga and knows from her personal journey that yoga can and will help make you feel mentally/physically stronger and help you live your life to its fullest. Have trust in the practice and trust in yourself.
Practice with Sadie
Thursdays Hippie Flow
5:30PM-6:45PM
Nicole Chemi
(she/her) Peak Yoga Instructor
Nicole took her first Yoga class at the age of eleven while attending a performing arts camp. After her daughter was born in 1997, she came back to Yoga as a way to center herself and reduce the stress of being a first time mom. Nicole began to deepen her Yoga practice and study Yoga philosophy. In 2001, Nicole studied and was trained as a teacher at Yogalife Institute, an affiliate of The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India.
Nicole has taught classes for 21 years on yoga postures, meditation, and philosophy for adults and children at all levels of practice. In 2005, Nicole was able to pursue her dream of directing her own Yoga center with her husband, Joe Finnerty. East Eagle Yoga opened January 2005 in Havertown, Pennsylvania where she shared her experience and love for Yoga in a nurturing and warm teaching style. Joe and Nicole have trained over 125 students in their 10 month long 200 hour Yoga Alliance certified Teacher Training course.
Nicole is a graduate of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in New York City. IIN is associated with Columbia University and is the largest nutrition school in the world. She is certified as a Holistic Health Counselor and works with clients interested in discovering what dietary approach works best for them and how they can live a happy and healthy life filled with energy and vitality. Since moving to Vermont seven years ago, Nicole has taught locally at several ski resorts, The Yoga Barn in Stowe, Zen Barn in Waterbury, and privately.
Practice with Nicole
Sundays All-Levels Hatha Flow
10:00AM-11:15AM
