Rachel Roberts initially found yoga in 1998 at the recommendation of a naturopathic doctor who suggested asana and pranayama as a way to control her worsening asthma. Over the next several years, yoga came in and out of her life until 2004 when she became increasingly dedicated to expanding her personal practice and yogic knowledge.

In July of 2008, Rachel left her home in the U.S. to travel the world through yoga, studying under great yogis throughout Europe and Asia. In 2009 Rachel continued her learning at Sri K. Patabbhi Jois’ Ashtanga Research Institute in Mysore, India and attended the Mandala teacher training in Bali with Shiva Rea. She has been blessed to count among her teachers Sandra and Marco Bianco, Katiza Satya, Katy Appleton, Mark Whitwell, Paul Dallaghan and Neil Barker.
Learning from many different teachers and through differing styles of yoga has allowed her to blend traditions and philosophies into her own method of teaching: a combination of Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow focusing on pranayama, chakra balancing, meditation, mantra and yogic philosophy. Sharing yoga with others is the greatest joy for Rachel and she lives in gratitude for the opportunity to teach and learn as she goes.
In 2009 Rachel started a jewelry line of Mantra Mandalas to help spread the healing power of mantra and leading up to this Bali retreat she is living in Hvar, Croatia and Mysore, India completing her first non-fiction book.
Rachel’s journey has been documented at www.thisendup1.com, a website about her path and the inspiring changes that have occurred in her life. The site gives Rachel the chance to share the lessons she’s learned with a broad audience and to aid others along a similar path.
 “Yoga has so profoundly and completely changed my life in positive ways that I cannot help but want to share it with others.” – Rachel Roberts

“Rachel’s infectious love of yoga inspires all she comes in contact with” – Gaby Ashwanden, founder of The Yoga Page

Shelley Smith, RYT, believes in the power of yoga to positively transform one’s mind, body, and soul, the effects of which benefit not only the student, but also all those around them. She is inspired to joyfully share the infinite benefits of yoga with as many beings as possible to promote peace, love, and positive change in the world.

Shelley has been fortunate to find beautiful and inspiring teachers in Michael Johnson, Matthew Darling, and many others she meets along the path. She has had the opportunity to study anatomy and yin yoga with Paul Grilley, and to practice ashtanga yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. She recently made the pilgrimage to Mysore, India, to deepen her understanding of Ashtanga yoga and learned directly from the source to carry on the lineage as it is intended.

In 2008, Shelley created PLAY Yoga Magazine (http://playyogamagazine.com), a free resource devoted to bringing our local yoga community together and celebrating the study, practice, and lifestyle of yoga in Metro Detroit. Join her for yoga classes and retreats that will open your mind, challenge your body, and bring a lasting sense of peace and joy to your world!