Staff
Alec Davis | Yoga | Trance Dance | Private Yoga
“Awaken to Life.”
World traveler, lifelong teacher and coach, Alec first began practicing meditation in 1973. Back pain from decades of long distance running brought him to yoga in 1988. “I find that yoga combined with a daily practice of meditation brings more balance to my life,” he says. “I believe yoga can be helpful for everyone.” In 2007, after completing his teacher training at the Hatha Yoga Center in Seattle, Alec awakened to another calling as a Shamanic practitioner. “I work with clients to teach them how to journey, as well as assisting them with their person healing.” He is also a facilitator in Trance Dance, certified through Trance Dance International, and a certified facilitator for Thought Patterns for High Performance (The Pacific Institute). A clay artist, Alec earned a BA in Art Education, as well as an MFA in ceramics from George Washington University. During the winter, you can find him at Crystal Mountain, where he teaches skiing.
Brandon Leahy LAc., EAMP, Dip. OM, MSAOM | Acupuncture | East Asian Medicine
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
-Ghandi
A graduate of Bastyr University’s Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program, Brandon has been practicing acupuncture since 2009. “I have a strong belief that the body is an amazing work of art with the ability to heal itself,” he says. “but sometimes, our lives get in the way of that incredible healing process.” Brandon has vast experience treating joint injuries, headaches, chronic pain management, depression/anxiety and insomnia using the tools of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). A licensed acupuncturist as well as an East Asian Medicine practitioner, his formal training includes work at Bastyr’s Center for Natural Health, Harborview Medical Center and observation rounds at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s teaching hospitals. When not treating patients, Brandon enjoys training for triathlons.
Diane Yeh (葉家怡) L.Ac., EAMP, Dipl. O.M. | Acupuncture | East Asian Medicine
“Without health, life is not life. Keeping the body in good health is a duty. You, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your own compassion and affection.”
Diane is a Washington State licensed and NCCAOM certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. During her work at various hospitals and medical facilities, Diane became increasingly aware of patient neglect due to lack of insurance coverage, community resources or quality of care. In 2009, she decided to become part of the solution to the shifting landscape of healthcare in America, pursuing the field of holistic medicine. After graduating from the University of Washington, she received her Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Bastyr University and interned at Chengdu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in China. This year, she partnered with Hwazan Buddhist Foundation to establish an acupuncture clinic, making this form of healing accessible to the underserved. Fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese, Diane is dedicated to helping people deal with discomfort in the mind, body and spirit, embracing Traditional Chinese Medicine and holistic health as a means of caring for many acute or chronic conditions. She is well-versed in Qi Gong, Tai Chi and foot reflexology, and continues to advance by studying aromatherapy using essential oils, facial acupuncture and practicing daily meditation. In her free time Diane enjoys listening to meditation music and sutra, reading mantra and travel.
Emily Fish | Yoga | Ayurveda | Meditation | Massage | Kirtan
“Flexible body, flexible mind.”
Emily has been immersed in the yoga tradition her whole life, having been raised in a home where the basement studio was reserved for her mother’s yoga and meditation classes. After graduating from the UW with a degree in psychology, Emily traveled the world, living in India and Nepal, where she dedicated serious study to the traditions of Yoga, the art of Vipassana and Samatha meditation and Buddhist philosophy. She is an International Yoga Alliance certified Hatha yoga instructor through Universal Yoga in the Northern Himalayan region and has devoted serious study to Vedanta and yogic living at the Shri Santosh Puri Ashram, located on the banks of the holy Ganga. She is also a licensed Ayurvedic wellness counselor, pancha karma technician and massage therapist, trained extensively in Ayurvedic abhyanga, Swedish, deep tissue and Thai modalities. The focus of her practice is the unification of breath with movement, which is continually impressed upon in her classes, encouraging the individual to practice with a calm and concentrated mind. She has led several retreats at her family estate in Normandy Park as well as helped guide large groups on pilgrimages throughout Mother India. She spends most of her free time engrossed with playing her harmonium and learning the sacred chants in the tradition of Bhakti.
Genevieve White-Burney BA, LMP | Massage
After running a private practice for more than four years, Genevieve is eager work in an environment that values the massage experience as an integrated part of whole health. A licensed massage practitioner in Washington State since 2005, she worked briefly in the chiropractic, sports and physical therapy settings before going out on her own. Genevieve is a Certified Massage Cupping Therapist and is working toward Thai Yoga Massage Certification. “I got into massage after years of interest in how the body moves itself, specifically in relation to sports,” she says. Her solo practice focused mainly on orthopedic injuries, chronic pain conditions and sports massage. “I love building relationships with my clients and helping them achieve their personal goals -whether it’s running their first half-marathon, achieving better flexibility, being more comfortable in their bodies- I love being part of their journey and providing positive support where I can.” Born and raised in Canada, Genevieve recently moved with her husband to Renton from the Kitsap Peninsula. She loves to travel, spending time teaching in Korea as well as trips through Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. An avid foodie, she loves cooking and anything outdoors. “I have a strong connection to the ocean. I dive, sail, paddle, swim; you name it, on it or in it, I am a water baby at heart.”
Heidi Keith | Yoga | Fusion Fitness | Private Classes
“Yoga is so powerful. Instructors guide the way, but ultimately the lessons we learn and the transformation we experience are a result of our own personal intention and effort. The power to learn and grow through yoga is within all of us.”
Heidi returns to her hometown of Bellevue, WA after spending time in the LA area studying yoga intensively. She began teaching as an extension of her own personal practice and because she strongly believes in the power of yoga and its healing, transformative qualities. Heidi practices and teaches many types of yoga -including Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Vinyasa and others- but her true love is Power Yoga. “It represents so much of what I strive for in my life – grace, strength and a deep connection to the self,” she says. Her teaching style includes descriptive instruction and focuses on breath, alignment and flow, making her Power Vinyasa classes at Maya simple, challenging and appropriate for all levels. Heidi is also a fitness coach, incorporating Pilates, sculpting, bar and daily cardio into her own fitness routine. Her experience in the fitness arena lends itself perfectly to teaching Fusion Fitness at Maya. Elsewhere, you can find her teaching indoor cycling, group fitness classes and meeting with clients for private training sessions. An avid foodie, Heidi frequently updates her blog, Real Food Now with new recipes and works as a health coach.
Janet Muniz | Communications
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase -each other- doesn’t make any sense.” ~Rumi
Janet is an award-winning writer with a distinguished career in media and marketing communications management. Her work is published in print and online, and is broadcast nationwide on network, cable and local television, program syndication and radio. Through her company Sageland Creative, she helps businesses build brands. Once a dancer in her hometown ballet company, Janet is a student of yoga and meditation, starting her practice in the early 80′s. She’s been fascinated with spirituality and health, quantum physics and philosophy ever since. “Discovering Maya is such a gift,” she says. “I’m grateful and honored to be part of this community.”
Kari Hanson LMP | Massage | Services Lead
“Health, fitness and nutrition are fundamental aspects to living a prosperous life. Receiving massage lets us relax, let go of stress and rejuvenate, finding our inner well-being.”
As a licensed massage practitioner, Kari’s passion is to make people feel better mentally and physically. “Massage is very beneficial for our bodies as preventative care, as well as healing any ailments,” she says. “Keeping our muscles manipulated through regular massage helps promote healing, decreases pain, maintains flexibility and flushes toxins from the muscle tissue.” Kari’s holistic approach to health centers around touch. A graduate of Ashmead College and Green River Community College, she has been an LMP for the last eight years, both in a spa environment and working with chiropractors, helping clients to relieve pain. She is continuing her education in Reflexology, and in Structural Relief Therapy (SRT), an advanced massage technique to decrease pain and enhance range of motion. “With each of my clients, I make it a priority to educate them about massage therapy and how they can extend the benefits from the bodywork they’re receiving,” Kari says. “As a result, I have helped many people live more comfortably throughout their daily lives.”
In addition to providing massage services, Kari is working with Maya to develop the services menu, retail support related to services, marketing and promotions.
Kristen Swanzy-O’Conner | Lead Insturctor | Yoga | Pilates | Fusion Fitness
“I found my path to balance.”
Born and raised in Burien, WA, Kristen started practicing yoga in 2002, while attending Whitman College. “I was in pain all of the time,” she says. “When I found yoga, I started to learn how to give healthy attention to my body. Some of the pain I was experiencing was coming directly from stress, so I learned how to exercise my mind in order not to feel overwhelmed by life’s many ups and downs.” She has explored many traditions of Hatha yoga, Yoga Nidra guided meditation, Vinyasa Krama/Viniyoga, Kundalini, Iyengar, Pilates and daily practices for wellness. She received her 200RYT in 2009 from Ann Basco in the tradition of Viniyoga, and her STOTT Pilates certification in 2010 from Body Center Studios in Seattle. Kristen is a creative, innovative instructor who designs a posture to fit an individual or a specific need. While she encourages students to explore their limitations, she embraces self-acceptance as a bridge between the mind, the breath and the body, awakening complete awareness throughout. She invites students to experience the daily devotions of a yogi, while creating an open and healing environment for people of all faiths, flexibilities and experience levels.
Lara Ederer | Warm Vinyasa Yoga
“I appreciate the profound spiritual and personal growth that happens as a result of regular yoga practice, and I’m compelled to share it.”
Ten years ago, Lara left her first-ever yoga class inspired by the physicality of asanas and the mental clarity from pranayama breath work. Over the next several years, she ventured in and out of different styles and studios before finding her “home” in Vinyasa yoga. In 2011, Lara created a yoga program at a 48-bed chemical dependency treatment facility for adolescents, teaching yoga to at-risk youth. The experience proved so rewarding that she enrolled in Be Luminous’ 200-hour Teaching Training in January 2012, to deepen her teaching experience as well as her knowledge of yoga’s rich history and philosophy. Lara has completed a Teacher’s Assisting Program (TAP), Teacher Training, and Foundations of Baptiste Yoga with Lisa Black at Shakti East. She also completed workshops with Master Teachers Baron Baptiste, Krista and Brock Cahill, Bryan Kest, Amy Ippoliti, and Tiffany Cruickshank. Recently, she has begun practicing Ashtanga with Troy Lucero and continues to find inspiration from her mentors Tina Templeman, Liz Doyle, and Lisa Black. When she’s off the mat, Lara spends time with her husband Mark and her toddler son Liam.
Michelle Peterson BFA, RYT200 | Yoga
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach. It is something I have wanted to do for many years, and now seems to be happening all on its own.”
Michelle began practicing yoga 10 years ago after she tried a class at her local community center. Experiencing her body and physicality as positive with ever opening potential got her hooked, and in 2004, she began a deeper practice with Elizabeth Rainey and Denise Benitez at Seattle Yoga Arts. After that, her co-workers asked her to lead a morning stretching program at the metal fabrication shop where she works. “It was then I enrolled in the 2009 teacher training offered at Seattle Yoga Arts, which became my yoga home,” Michelle explains, “with the desire to pass on what had been so generously given to me through the practice of yoga.” Michelle completed the 200-hour training in 2010, and is currently listed with the Yoga Alliance Registry. Ever a student, she also studies with Doug Keller, Betsy Downing, Noah Maze, Christina Sell, Martin Kirk, Sarajoy Marsh, Sarah Powers, Ross Rayburn and Robert Svoboda.
Tiffany Berry RYT-500, RPYT | Yoga
Tiffany has been practicing yoga since 2000 and teaching since 2008. She first trained through YogaWorks at The Yoga Tree, followed by training from Robin Rothenburg in aspects of the therapeutic application of yoga, then in prenatal yoga with Anne Phyfe Palmer at 8 Limbs Yoga, and a second YogaWorks training at The Yoga Tree in 2010-2011. A student and teacher of Hatha, prenatal and Vinyasa yoga, Tiffany uses her love of anatomy and kinesiology to create a safe and strengthening class. While physical alignment is often her emphasis, as Tiffany has transitioned from a full time software/systems engineer to a full time mom, she has learned the importance of incorporating techniques that work the mind and breath. Now, she incorporates Pranayama, meditation and real-life application of yoga philosophy into her asana classes.
Tripat Chawla | Acupuncture | East Asian Medicine
“Through participation and careful observation, treatments can illuminate much about one’s health.”
Tripat practices multiple styles of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to create an optimal treatment plan for mental, physical and spiritual health. This multi-faceted approach to diagnosis allows him to adapt treatments to each individual’s body type. Tripat graduated in 2007 from the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine. Board-certified, Tripat is a Preferred Provider for many health insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, Premera/Lifewise, Uniform, L&I and PIP (auto insurance). “I believe it is important for patient and practitioner to work together,” he says. “This process can help a patient learn how best to achieve equilibrium between themselves and the external world.” Tripat’s passion for medicine comes from a deep desire to help people. He believes each human has amazing potential and derives great joy from helping to smooth out bumps on the road of life. A Seattle native, his idea of fun is relaxing in the beautiful outdoors, swimming and spending time with his family.
Wendy Ray | Studio Coordinator
Wendy is a graduate of the Euro Institute of Skincare, recognized as one of the premiere holistic and naturopathic esthetics schools in the nation. Graduating at the top of her class, she is a full service esthetician trained in all aspects of skincare; specializing in European naturopathic and Ayurvedic facials, manual lymphatic drainage, aromatherapy, lash and brow tinting, nutrition, rejuvenating body treatments and body sugaring (a gentle, healthy alternative to conventional waxing). “I’m passionate about quality skincare and enjoy meeting new people,” she says. “The inviting warmth and gentle spirit of those dedicated to the Maya vision gives me great satisfaction and pride.” Outside of Maya, Wendy enjoys quiet evenings at home with family, wonderful meals with close friends, meaningful conversation, books, movies, music, travel and “trying something new as often as possible.”
MAYA MANAGEMENT PARTNERS
Shannon Aldrich Payne | General Manager
Doug Payne | Financial Manager
Ikemefuna (Ike) Udeze | Technology
Azur Koteen | Erin Usher
