+ Risa's Bio

Risa has over 20 years of experience as a student and teacher of yoga. She currently holds an ERYT-500 with the Yoga Alliance and is the founder and owner of Tiny Buddha Yoga.

Risa has an extensive training background in Vinyasa, Iyengar, and Ashtanga styles and has studied with many world-renowned teachers. In 2018 she travelled to Mysore, India to train at the Mysore Institute with Saraswati Jois and continues her education of the Ashtanga series by working regularly with certified Ashtanga teachers.

Risa has taught tens-of-thousands of hours of in studio vinyasa and ashtanga classes and has been leading Teacher Training cohorts since 2016. Risa and the Tiny Buddha Yoga Teacher Training Program have graduated hundreds of successful yoga teachers who can be found the world over. Her extensive teaching background and years as a student of the practice shine through in her teaching. As a self-described “goofball” she brings energy, laughter, and wit to her teaching, while still demanding a whole-hearted effort from her students. She will be the first to tell you as a teacher she is strict but fair. Students can expect her classes to be well-rounded, powerful, and alignment-based.

+ RACHEL'S BIO

Rachel was an attorney before deciding to stay home to raise her children. It was at this time she discovered the profoundly healing mind-body benefits of yoga. Rachel completed a 200 hour certified yoga teacher training program in 2006 and has been teaching in the Ann Arbor area ever since. She teaches vinyasa, a dynamic, flowing style of yoga which incorporates breath and movement.

+ Sarah's Bio

Sarah started her yoga journey in 2015 as a way to deal with growing anxiety and depression. The practice offered her a way to reconnect with her body and find a deeper relationship with herself. In 2017, Sarah pursed her RYT-200 through Tiny Buddha Yoga and started teaching at TBY in 2018. As a student of yoga, Sarah enjoys practicing to find stillness in discomfort and mental balance in all postures. This practice of equanimity guides her on and off her mat. As a teacher, Sarah supports students as they delve into their personal journey of yoga and self-understanding. Her classes focus on finding calm by guiding students to let go of their reactions; working to connect to their breath. Expect a physically and mentally challenging class with an emphasis on nonjudgmental acceptance.

+ Maureen's Bio

Maureen was first introduced to Yoga during her pregnancy 17 years ago. She was a competitive mountain biker, and had such a hard time going from training and racing to walks around the neighborhood. Yoga started as a way for her to get into her body and into her zone without getting her heartrate too high and developed into so much more throughout the years. It has been a path to connect with her true self and as a result be more authentic and present in all aspects of life. She completed her 200 hour training in December 2016 with Risa Gotlib at Tiny Buddha Yoga. She will be practicing yoga until I take my last breath. Maureen can’t wait to share her love for yoga with the students at Tiny Buddha Yoga!

+ Katherine's Bio

Katherine began practicing yoga in 2009, searching for ways to cope with stress while working as a high school teacher in Chicago. As her practice deepened, she realized how much the breathwork in yoga was helping ease her anxiety and insomnia. After relocating to Ann Arbor in 2017, she took her first class at Tiny Buddha Yoga and was captivated by the engaging classes, passionate teachers, and welcoming community. She completed her 200RYT in the Fall of 2019 at TBY. Katherine continues to be a student of yoga and treasures the time on her mat as a time for reflection, moving meditation, and a chance to process her thoughts and feelings. Katherine’s students can expect her classes to be energetic and mindful, combining the physical challenges of asana with self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-confidence.

+ Rachel's Bio

Rachel found yoga when she was seeking out some “me time” after the birth of her son and postpartum depression diagnosis. It was in a basement studio that she met Risa and fell in love with yoga! Over the next several years Rachel continued to practice through two pregnancies which helped her deepen her understanding of herself and gave her a deep appreciation of the benefits of this practice! Rachel began teaching Vinyasa at a local YMCA and gained a wide variety of skills and knowledge. She received her 200hr certification through Tiny Buddha Yoga and has found her passion teaching with TBY energy and style! In Rachel’s classes you can feel the influence of her teacher Risa G., but also often times woven with the teachings of Ram Dass or the insights of indigenous teachings.

+ Shannon's Bio

Shannon took her first yoga class in high school and practiced on and off throughout college as a way to stay active and manage stress. After moving to Ann Arbor, Shannon found Tiny Buddha and developed a consistent vinyasa and yin practice. The more she practiced, the more she noticed that the sense of calm, presence, and balance she felt on her mat was showing up in other parts of her life. In 2020, Shannon completed her 200 RYT training at TBY to deepen her personal practice and share her love of yoga with others. Shannon believes that her journey as a yoga teacher is deeply intertwined with her continued learning as a student of yoga, so TBY students are likely to see Shannon taking class in addition to teaching it. Students who come to Shannon's classes can expect a safe, peaceful environment where they can hold space for the emotional, mental, and physical challenges that come with finding stillness in yin postures.

+ Lena's Bio

Lena has travelled internationally teaching, practicing, and studying yoga. She completed her 500HR training in Montreal in 2013 and has since completed trainings in Vinyasa, Level 2, and Yin. For Lena, the practice of yoga surprises her time and time again, as a profound way to ground, heal, and embody what she is moving through on and off the mat. Lena focuses on creative and intelligent sequences, and the power of intention to transform how we practice. She integrates a warm and playful teaching style and live savasana songs when she's feeling bold. Lena aspires to never stop learning, so she can bring inspiration and a personal connection to every class she teaches.

+ Danielle's Bio

In 2015 Danielle began her journey to radically improving her personal health. It was during this time that she first found and fell in love with yoga. After seeing how it changed her life she knew she had to share her passion for natural health and yoga to help others get heathier and happier too!

A few months after her yoga journey began, she took an ashtanga class and has been hooked ever since! Dani (as her friends call her, you can too 😉) has since continued to deepen her practice and completed her 200 RYT with Risa Gotlib at TBY in early 2022.

Danielle’s classes have an encouraging environment that allows students to explore new challenges and discover new limits while deepening their connection to their practice. She is continually deepening her knowledge of yoga and aims to maintain the authenticity of the practice with every class.

+ Rebecca's Bio

Rebecca has found joy in movement all her life. Since taking her first yoga class almost 20 years ago she has studied many different types of yoga. Rebecca’s practice began to really deepen in 2020. While pregnant with her third child she found relief from anxiety, stress, and physical pain in yoga. Her journey brought her to Tiny Buddha in the Spring of 2021. She quickly fell in love with the amazing Tiny Buddha community and completed her RYT 200 with Risa Gotlib in early 2022. Rebecca’s classes focus on deepening the mind- body connection, while finding ways to challenge your body. She looks forward to seeing you on your mat!

+ Janae's Bio

Janae began practicing yoga in 2002. Like many yogis, she began to practice yoga when parts of her life were shaken because she felt more grounded and clear minded after practicing. She tried several types of yoga but kept returning to vinyasa flow. In 2016, Janae attended the 200RYT teacher training at Tiny Buddha Yoga where she fell in love with Yin Restorative Yoga. Every yogi can expect to find a safe and accepting environment in Janae’s Yin classes. Her goal is for each yogi to leave feeling like the class was built just for them.

+ Samantha's Bio

Samantha began practicing yoga the summer before her sophomore year of college as a suggestion from her mom who noted that she always seemed "grumpy". Later that year, Samantha would move back to Ann Arbor to take her first vinyasa class at TBY and instantly recognized the emphasis TBY placed on correct body alignment. She completed 200-hr YTT in the Winter of 2018 as a way to deepen and understand her own practice and body. Through years of practice and renewed self-love, Samantha aims to help students receive the same love and acceptance yoga brought to her. As a student herself studying to complete her PhD in Neuroscience at UMICH, student's can expect an educational and self-focused practice designed to give students an understanding of the foundations so that they have the capability to explore their own practices safely.

Fun fact - Samantha is a triplet and has a little brother.

+ Becca's Bio

Becca was introduced to yoga first when she was invited to tag along with a friend during her senior year of high school in 2017. After that she was hooked and continued to explore her practice when she moved to Michigan from Dallas, TX for college at U of M. Thankfully, Becca found Tiny Buddha in December of 2019 and continued to deepen her practice during a hard 2020. Her mat became her safe space. She believes each time you step on your mat it is a chance to learn more about yourself.

One of Becca’s favorite things about yoga is its depth and that you never stop being a student! Completing her 200hr RYT with Risa at TBY was a deeply transformative experience and she came out wanting to share the power of yoga with the world. Becca’s classes focus on challenging you in order to build a deeper connection with yourself. Yoga is a journey to the Self, through the Self, by the Self

+ Claire's Bio

Claire first found yoga in 2017, practicing on and off throughout undergrad as a way to stay grounded amidst all the essays and assignments. After falling away from her practice for a little while, Claire decided to commit back to herself; finding the Tiny Buddha community, using yoga as a form of healing again, and reigniting her love for the practice. From the moment she stepped out of her first hot vinyasa class in 2017 she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She completed her 200hr training at TBY in 2022.

Claire encourages students to discover something new about themselves in each class. Focusing on the healing and self-care aspects of the practice to encourage more openness-physically, mentally, and emotionally.

+ Doug's Bio

Doug was, as they say, a mature student when he took his first yoga class at age 58. He is now a yoga teacher, a meditation coach certified through the Radiance Sutra School of Instinctive Meditation, and a photographer. He worked for 33 years in marketing research and strategy consulting, and has spent the last ten or so years since retirement, paddling, taking photographs, and seeking a deeper connection with himself and a greater awareness of his place within the larger web of life. Doug completed his RYT 200 with Risa Gotlib at Tiny Buddha Yoga. He also has a 50 hour certification to teach yin yoga (taught by Bernie Clark), and has completed a 200 hour training to coach meditation (taught by the founders of Instinctive Meditation, Lorin Roche and Camille Maureen). His photographs can be seen on Instagram (@doug493pix).

+ Melissa’s Bio

Melissa began practicing yoga 17 years ago, as a way to soothe her migraines and to manage the stress of working in the corporate business world. Yoga has seen her through 3 jobs and 2 pregnancies, and it remains a steadying force in her life. As a proud introvert, Melissa enjoys the way yoga provides a built-in space to process thoughts and emotions, with a spiritual framework for contemplation. In Melissa’s classes, you can expect a supportive atmosphere, a light-hearted approach, and calming energy to guide you through your practice.

Melissa completed her 200RYT in the Winter of 2023 and is a longtime member of the TBY community.

+ Lisa’s Bio

Lisa began practicing yoga in 2002 and was immediately captivated by the way the practice both grounded, and uplifted her. In 2008, she attended her first silent yoga retreat and experienced a soul revolution - there was no going back.

Over the past 20 years, Lisa has remained both a student and a teacher - completing her RYT 200, 500, and logging thousands of hours teaching a variety of yoga styles. Lisa is currently studying to be a Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness practitioner (MB-EAT), and in 2024 will complete a 108 hour restorative yoga training.

As a teacher, Lisa is warm, caring, and encouraging. She believes in the power of yoga to cultivate a deep sense of compassion both for ourselves, and for others.

Lisa’s classes are gentle, and thoughtful. She strives to create an environment of safety so that students can release tension, and experience a deep sense of relaxation and restoration.

+ Lindsay’s Bio

Yoga has been a part of Lindsay’s life for almost two decades. At different times, yoga has served different purposes for her. It has been a way to manage stress and anxiety, cultivate community, a safe space to discover new perspectives, be playful, breathe, and recognize her own reactions to discomfort. Lindsay completed her RYT-200 with TBY in Spring 2017 and has been teaching on and off since then. In her classes, she encourages students to listen to their bodies and offers guidance on how to use props to support an individual’s body. She is dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and empowered on their yoga journey. Her classes and cues are thoughtfully crafted to cater to practitioners of all levels, making yoga accessible to everyone. Join her classes for a grounding and inclusive yoga experience that celebrates the diversity of each individual's practice.ay to manage stress and anxiety, cultivate community, a safe space to discover new perspectives, be playful, breathe, and recognize her own reactions to discomfort. Lindsay completed her RYT-200 with TBY in Spring 2017 and has been teaching on and off since then. In her classes, she encourages students to listen to their bodies and offers guidance on how to use props to support an individual’s body. She is dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and empowered on their yoga journey. Her classes and cues are thoughtfully crafted to cater to practitioners of all levels, making yoga accessible to everyone. Join her classes for a grounding and inclusive yoga experience that celebrates the diversity of each individual's practice.