Meet The Pride of NAYC
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Malisa Szaliewicz
Studio Owner
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MEd, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT
Malisa, owner of Northern Arizona Yoga Center, holds a Master’s in Education and has been training yoga teachers in Flagstaff since 2011. A tenured yoga teacher, she is passionate about advancing yoga education and co-founded Inner Atlas, integrating yoga therapy into medical settings to support patients with chronic pain alongside neurosurgeon Dr. Whitney James and yoga therapist Kori Moore-Gibson.
Adam Hawes
Power Vinyasa & Hatha Flow
MEd, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT
Energy, positivity, growth, motivation: a class with Adam is full of fun, sweat, breath, and movement, with a well-earned high-five or two sprinkled in. As a professional athlete in his late teens and early 20s, Adam first came to yoga as a method of recovery and healing. What he discovered was an incredible new world of connection, community, opportunity, and challenge, that he has been committed to building and fostering ever since. With over 15 years of teaching experience, in a wide range of yoga, fitness, and movement styles, a class with Adam is always new, always exciting, and forever supportive towards advancing your own personal journey, regardless of experience level. Let’s flow!
Tahany Huerta
Yoga For Climbers
CYT 200
Originally from San Diego, I began my yoga journey 7–8 years ago, finding it to be one of the most transformative paths I’ve taken. Recently moving to Flagstaff from SLC, I seek connection with nature and community. My breath-focused teaching aims to reunite mind and body, fostering inner peace and compassion in daily life.
4o
Maggie Hopson
Athlete's Flow to Yin & Slow Flow
PT, E-CYT 500
Maggie has been a registered yoga teacher since 2001 having completed her training with Integrated Yoga Therapeutics. As a physical therapist she became interested in integrating Yoga practices with Western Medicine. Her focus is on teaching classes that include all aspects of a yoga practice, meditation, pranayama, asana and relaxation techniques. Her background in physical therapy is helpful in promoting correct anatomical alignment during the asana practice making this yoga practice one of healing and not harming. Maggie is also certified in Thai Yoga bodywork.
Karoline Moriarty
Vinyasa
CYT 200
Karoline has been practicing yoga for over ten years. Inspired by her yoga teacher while studying nutrition in college, she earned her 200-hour RYT in 2018. Karoline has since taught in studios, gyms, and internationally at yoga wellness retreats.
Her training is primarily Hatha-Vinyasa, with additional certifications in Restorative and Yin Yoga. Karoline’s classes leave students feeling stronger, balanced, and revived, fostering a deeper connection to the self for greater confidence, clarity, and self-awareness.
Bruce Bowditch
Hatha
CYT 500
An author of five yoga books, he teaches workshops nationally and abroad. His alignment-based approach emphasizes body awareness for a safe, therapeutic practice, with yoga therapeutics as a core focus.
Beginning in 1978, his journey integrated yoga, martial arts, and meditation. After a career in advertising, he fully committed to yoga in 1996.
Now based in Flagstaff, he teaches at Northern Arizona Yoga Center, creating a playful yet focused environment where students push past limits, cultivating joy, confidence, and a deeper connection to themselves.
Jackie Labanok
Monday Morning Momentum & Yin
CYT 500
Jackie has been teaching yoga since 2007 and completed over 950 hours of yoga teacher training. She is also a Faculty Associate at ASU, teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Management, and holds a Master's in Social Work.
Initially drawn to yoga for scoliosis pain relief, she found much more—tools for navigating life’s challenges. Jackie’s skilled, mindful guidance helps students restore balance, reconnect to inner peace, and transform their lives.
Heather McCleester
Flow to Yin
CYT 500
As someone who is deeply devoted to helping others reach their highest potential, Heather pulls from an abundance of modalities to curate each class. With nearly 30 years of yoga practice, she has an extremely wide range of experience. Her supernatural intuition coupled with over 500 hours of yoga teacher training in Baptiste Power, Jivamukti and Tantra come together to bring you a delightful experience that you can carry into your life, on and off the mat!
Annie Jacobson
RYT 200
After the birth of her son in 2004, yoga helped her alleviate back pain and regain strength. As her practice deepened, it brought balance, contentment, and confidence.
In 2016, she earned her RYT200 certification with Vertical Soul Yoga and now teaches Vinyasa flow, focusing on balance, growth, and Pranayama breathwork.
With over 230 classes taught in Flagstaff, she emphasizes heart and hip opening for strength and contentment. Outside of yoga, she enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, and spending time with her kids.
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Flow II
Cassidy Emmert
RYT 200
As an avid outdoor athlete the majority of her life, Amylee has found deep value in caring for her spirit, mind and body through the healing powers of yoga.
Amylee has been teaching rock climbing to a diverse background of people for over 15 years and is so excited to bring her teaching abilities and love of yoga to Northern Arizona Yoga Center.
Her classes are fun, engaging and heart centered!
Yin & Flow
Amylee Thornhill
RYT 200
As an avid outdoor athlete the majority of her life, Amylee has found deep value in caring for her spirit, mind and body through the healing powers of yoga.
Amylee has been teaching rock climbing to a diverse background of people for over 15 years and is so excited to bring her teaching abilities and love of yoga to Northern Arizona Yoga Center.
Her classes are fun, engaging and heart centered!
Flow to Yin
Gabrielle Arseneault
RYT 200
As an avid outdoor athlete the majority of her life, Amylee has found deep value in caring for her spirit, mind and body through the healing powers of yoga.
Amylee has been teaching rock climbing to a diverse background of people for over 15 years and is so excited to bring her teaching abilities and love of yoga to Northern Arizona Yoga Center.
Her classes are fun, engaging and heart centered!
Intuitive Flow
Laura Mastroianni
RYT 200
As an avid outdoor athlete the majority of her life, Amylee has found deep value in caring for her spirit, mind and body through the healing powers of yoga.
Amylee has been teaching rock climbing to a diverse background of people for over 15 years and is so excited to bring her teaching abilities and love of yoga to Northern Arizona Yoga Center.
Her classes are fun, engaging and heart centered!
Flow to Yin
Edgar Cisneros
RYT 200
As an avid outdoor athlete the majority of her life, Amylee has found deep value in caring for her spirit, mind and body through the healing powers of yoga.
Amylee has been teaching rock climbing to a diverse background of people for over 15 years and is so excited to bring her teaching abilities and love of yoga to Northern Arizona Yoga Center.
Her classes are fun, engaging and heart centered!
Prana Vinyasa