Your support
Sara HazzardSara Hazzard is the owner and primary instructor at Free Spirit Yoga and Trapeze. She found yoga over 6 years ago – her practice started as a simple fun date and ended up a place of peace and refuge. In yoga, she found a much needed place to escape her mind. Sara had always enjoyed exercise, but yoga provided more than just a workout. She found it to be personally medicinal: it increased her mood, eased her mind, and relieved tight muscles due to sitting at a desk all day.
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Sara spent 10 years in the Washington Army National Guard where she became a Master Fitness Trainer in 2016. As a result of this experience, she found enjoyment leading group fitness, yet it wasn’t exactly what she hoped to do as her life’s work. Seeking a rich life experience, Sara attended and was certified through Yoga Teachers College in Barcelona, Spain in January of 2018, earning her 200 hour RYT certification. In March of 2018, Sara finished a 50 hour Yoga Trapeze Teacher Training Certification also through Yoga Teachers College. When she left the Military in June of 2018, Sara came back to Prosser where she was born and raised. Sara saw a need for Yoga in the lower valley, and she is excited to be able to share this passion with the community.
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Shari ammermanShari has always loved movement! Dance, gymnastics, the outdoors, and wide open spaces. She has practiced Pilates and Yoga since her teen years, and has found her personal practice as a place of healing, grounding, and strength while raising 4 children.
Certified Body Arts and Science International (BASI) Pilates Instructor(Comprehensive 500 hour) since 2012. Certified Yoga Instructor, YA 200 hour Sellwood Yoga Portland 2017. Owner of Blue Sky Pilates (Richland studio Uptown Shopping Center) a fully equipped Pilates Studio specializing in full body strengthening, mobility, balance and breath. In her classes you will find a blend of strong, mindful, aligned movement and breath, along with mobility and myofascial explorations. She desires to create a safe space for all levels of movers, and give lots of modifications and variations to build “a way in” to the movement for everyone. She desires to always bring strength, balance, and harmony to my classes, and to her own life. |
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Angela benjertAngela Benjert began practicing yoga 3 years ago and it has transformed her mind and body. As a person who has struggled with anxiety and depression since childhood, yoga has offered her a quietness of the mind while providing strength and flexibility of the body.
Angela received her Yoga Trapeze Teacher Certification in May of 2019 from Yoga Teacher’s College. In October 2019, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through YogaFaith. She plans to receive a Trauma Sensitive Specialty Training and hopes to offer yoga therapy to survivors of all kinds of trauma including domestic violence, trafficking, and PTSD. |
Above all else, Angela has a heart for people. Making others laugh and encouraging people to reach their full potential is an endeavor that she has dedicated her heart to. Angela believes that yoga is for everybody and every BODY. Self-love, body confidence, fun, and variety are her top priorities when instructing a class. Be well. Do Good. Speak Life.
Megan Tyler
Megan Tyler was born and raised locally in Sunnyside, Megan moved to Seattle in 2009 to attend the University of Washington where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts and Communications. Possibly better known in association to her creative ventures through Free Expression Studio - Megan has previously brought her unique take on mindful artistic expression to our studio with her Meditate & Create events Read more about Megan’s story below:
“My yoga journey began in 2012 when I was convinced to attend a hot yoga Hatha class with roommates wherein after realized how beneficial the physical work can be. I soon fell in love with the practice as it became a sacred space where I could return to when in need of grounding and connection to myself. Over the years I have found love, forgiveness, compassion and so much more while on my mat. Yoga itself is an amazing teacher if you let it be. My personal practice is now almost 8 years in the making while my teaching journey officially got its start in March 2019 with having completed my first teacher training through Hot Yoga Inc.. I acquired my RYT-200 certification in Vinyasa and most recently received my certification for the Yoga Trapeze at the start of May. I am beyond excited to be joining the local yoga community while able to bring my experience to the valley and share the magic of yoga with others!“
“My yoga journey began in 2012 when I was convinced to attend a hot yoga Hatha class with roommates wherein after realized how beneficial the physical work can be. I soon fell in love with the practice as it became a sacred space where I could return to when in need of grounding and connection to myself. Over the years I have found love, forgiveness, compassion and so much more while on my mat. Yoga itself is an amazing teacher if you let it be. My personal practice is now almost 8 years in the making while my teaching journey officially got its start in March 2019 with having completed my first teacher training through Hot Yoga Inc.. I acquired my RYT-200 certification in Vinyasa and most recently received my certification for the Yoga Trapeze at the start of May. I am beyond excited to be joining the local yoga community while able to bring my experience to the valley and share the magic of yoga with others!“
Katie henry
For the past 8 years, Katie has been the Athletic Director at Auburn High School in Auburn Washington. Prior to becoming AD, she was a PE/Health and Leadership teacher, swim and gymnastics coach, and Activities Coordinator for 22 years!
This year, she and her husband bought a vineyard and moved to Benton City, where she has taken on a position at Hanford High School teaching Kinesiology/Exercise Science, and Health Education. It might go without saying that Katie has a love for sport and fitness all starting as the daughter of a football coach, continued as an athlete, instructor, and trainer, and has evolved into finding new challenges both inside and outside of the studio as an adult. This included owning a Pilates Studio turned CrossFit gym for 9 years and has worked as a Yoga instructor, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor for over 25 years. She has taught almost every class format you can imagine and has continued her education/experience through each new phase of the fitness industry 💯
When asked about the ‘Why’ that motivated her to travel down the path of teaching she had this to say -
“After disabling injuries from years of abuse to my body through athletics and fitness, I found Yoga as rehabilitation to both body and my mind. For years I did Yoga and Pilates in addition to my more vigorous fitness routines, but I never fully understood its depth until my injuries forced me to embrace it. After gaining an understanding of the postures and movements, I was able to explore the mind-body connections that I now practice daily. In my classes I love to tap into my depth of experience and knowledge, and create an atmosphere of acceptance, guidance, and most of all, peace.”
This year, she and her husband bought a vineyard and moved to Benton City, where she has taken on a position at Hanford High School teaching Kinesiology/Exercise Science, and Health Education. It might go without saying that Katie has a love for sport and fitness all starting as the daughter of a football coach, continued as an athlete, instructor, and trainer, and has evolved into finding new challenges both inside and outside of the studio as an adult. This included owning a Pilates Studio turned CrossFit gym for 9 years and has worked as a Yoga instructor, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor for over 25 years. She has taught almost every class format you can imagine and has continued her education/experience through each new phase of the fitness industry 💯
When asked about the ‘Why’ that motivated her to travel down the path of teaching she had this to say -
“After disabling injuries from years of abuse to my body through athletics and fitness, I found Yoga as rehabilitation to both body and my mind. For years I did Yoga and Pilates in addition to my more vigorous fitness routines, but I never fully understood its depth until my injuries forced me to embrace it. After gaining an understanding of the postures and movements, I was able to explore the mind-body connections that I now practice daily. In my classes I love to tap into my depth of experience and knowledge, and create an atmosphere of acceptance, guidance, and most of all, peace.”
Katherine Ammerman
Katherine is a Pilates instructor and contemporary dancer based in Prosser, WA. She began her Pilates practice with the intention of building strength and mind-body connection to support her dance training, but has been amazed at how much other good it has brought into her life since then!
Her journey began while dancing professionally in Portland, OR from 2016-2020 - during that time, she completed her Balanced Body Pilates certification with Angelie Melzer of Team Pilates 🌟
Becoming an instructor has been motivated by the desire to share this beautiful system of movement and mindfulness with more people, and to connect with those around her!
Her journey began while dancing professionally in Portland, OR from 2016-2020 - during that time, she completed her Balanced Body Pilates certification with Angelie Melzer of Team Pilates 🌟
Becoming an instructor has been motivated by the desire to share this beautiful system of movement and mindfulness with more people, and to connect with those around her!