MEET THE MYC TEACHER COLLECTIVE
Sarah Nelson
Leader of Midland Yoga Collective
Hot Forrest Yoga
Yoga Remix
Breath, Core, & Pelvic Floor
MyoYin Yoga
Yoga Nidra
Sarah (E-RYT200) is the leader/owner if MYC and specializes in Forrest Yoga, Yoga Tune Up ®, and Roll Model Method ® myofascial release, as well as other mindful movement and meditative practices. Her goal as a yoga teacher and dharma as a human is to support and inspire others to feel more at home and empowered in their own bodies, and to hold space for her students to cultivate curiosity about their own inner experiences and facilitate a nourishing mind+body+spirit connection.
Sarah has been practicing yoga since 2011 and teaching since 2016. She is a huge anatomy nerd and loves to educate others about their bodies, so her classes are often infused with functional movement and embodied exploration of the body’s inner mechanics. You can expect to be given choice and autonomy, use plenty of yoga toys, learn a little somethin’ about yourself, and maybe giggle a little with (or at) her terrible corny jokes. Sarah's teaching style is from a functional approach, and is always inclusive, body-positive, and trauma-informed.
On a personal level, Sarah is a Florida girl at heart, an animal lover, nature enthusiast, and creative spirit with a background and degrees in architecture. When not teaching and practicing yoga, she can often be found spending time outside exploring Michigan’s abundant natural beauty with her husband or working from home in her plant-filled mid-century modern house – probably with a cat snuggling in her lap.
For more information about Sarah's classes, please visit her website sarahnelsonyoga.com or email her at Sarahlissanelson@gmail.com
Akiko Dykhuizen
Slow Flow
Yoga for Better Health
Yin Yoga
Gentle Yoga Flow
Hands-on Deep Restorative Yoga
Akiko began her personal practice and study of yoga in 2003 after she moved from Japan. She has been teaching various styles of Yoga in the Tri-Cities area since 2009. With more than 3000 hours of teaching experience and continuing to take additional training, she creates a friendly environment and provides individual attention with care to her classes.
Akiko's classes emphasize alignment, mindfulness, balance, and a gentle approach for increasing body awareness, safe and sustainable practice for every body. She completed a 200 hour YTT, and is a certified yoga teacher for Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Yoga For All (body positive inclusive yoga for all).
For more information about Akiko's classes please email her at Akikodyk@gmail.com
Julie Pierce
Beginner Friendly Yoga
Gentle Stretch & Restore
Gentle/Yin Yoga
Restorative Yoga
Care for Your Back
Yoga for Neck & Shoulders
Full Body Stretch
Julie Pierce received a M.S. in Physical Therapy in 1993 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and practiced PT clinically for 13 years. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher (YTT-200, YogaRenew) and Group Exercise Instructor (Athletics and Fitness Association of America) with more than 27 years of experience instructing a wide variety of class formats and yoga-based personal training sessions. For the past 18 years Julie's focus has been leading fitness classes for older adults (age 50+), including mat yoga, chair yoga, balance/fall prevention, SilverSneakers, Pilates, low-impact aerobics, step aerobics, cardio kickboxing, and strength intervals, although her passion rests in YOGA! She believes in “adding life to your years”.
Julie and her husband, Jeff, moved to Midland from the upstate of South Carolina in July 2021. Since residing in Midland, Julie has been developing her brand, which she calls “YogaPeace with Julie”.
Julie's mission statement: to glorify God and honor Jesus Christ by promoting peace and wholeness through exercise for body, mind, and spirit.
Julie is a self-proclaimed “science nerd” and a lover of nature! When not instructing yoga and other fitness classes, she enjoys studying the Bible, hiking, birdwatching, cooking, and gardening. Julie and Jeff have one adult daughter who is married and works as an RN in Nashville, TN.
All are welcome in Julie's classes. She enjoys the challenge of creating practices based upon what students request and need to meet personal goals. Yoga is a PRACTICE in which we can grow toward being the best (NOT perfect) versions of ourselves.
For more information regarding Julie's classes, please email her at: julieannpierce69@gmail.com
Amy Phoenix
Gentle Yoga & Meditation
Amy Phoenix is a seasoned mom of five, artist, Mindfulness facilitator and Trauma Recovery coach offering gentle yoga practices as a way to cherish the body and nurture the soul. She has been exploring the benefits of yoga since 2002 during her second pregnancy to support an empowered birth, planting a seed to someday become a teacher to share yoga with people of various ages and abilities. Following that dream, Amy has completed YT 200 hour training with Keri Kenney, Yoga to Transform Trauma teacher training with Catherine Ashton, and Well-Bean Children’s Yoga & Mindfulness teacher training with Jen Rapanos.
Amy's style of facilitating yoga focuses on gently deepening the ability to care for ourselves, our bodies and each other with courage, awareness and compassion. She has a passion for supporting moms, families and youth, people who have experienced trauma, and those with physical or mental health challenges. Amy aims to support people in unburdening from stresses that weigh them down, so they can tap into their strengths and values to deal with life’s challenges and live fulfilling lives.
For more information about Amy's events and services, please visit her website amyphoenix.com/yoga or email her at
Amber Laskowski
Meditation
Group Reiki
"As a nurse, reiki practitioner, and meditation teacher, I hold space for healing that honors the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. I offer these with humility and as a forever student alongside you. My approach blends clinical wisdom with heartfelt presence, inviting us to slow down, breathe deeper, and return to what's already whole within us."
For more information about Amber's classes, please email her at amberlsinicki@gmail.com
Nick Switala
Social Dancing: Latin Dance 101
Social Dance Instructor
Styles: Swing, Salsa, Nightclub, American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard, International Latin
Nick began dancing at age 7, danced through high school, and has been teaching since 2001. He teaches weekly classes and private lessons at multiple locations and hosts monthly open dances.
Nick's passion for social dancing comes from the benefits he sees people experience through dance everyday. The benefits of dancing are vast, and worth enjoying!
Nick has a unique teaching method that allows for easy learning and quick results. His method has been formed through the various companies and coaches he has worked with. His classes are a fun way to learn a practical skill. Frequently changing partners is encouraged in Nick's classes in order strengthen your following or leading, so you do not need a partner to attend.
If you are interested in trying private lessons, you can schedule your first one at no cost by calling 989-208-0225.
Nick is certified through Dance Vision International Dancers Association (DVIDA), as well as Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
For more information about Nick's classes, please email him at michigandancefever@gmail.com
MYC GUEST TEACHERS
Guest Teacher: Kelly Roy
Guest Teacher: Gina Anayana
Guest Teacher: Gina Anayana
Vinyasa Yoga
Kelly is a recent registered yoga teacher (RYT200) but long-time practitioner. She took her first yoga class in 2005 at CMU and has been practicing wherever she goes since then. She completed her teacher training in early 2024 through Citizen Yoga and has been teaching locally in Midland since June. Many of her years of practice were spent doing hot vinyasa in metro Detroit and it is what she enjoys teaching the most.
Kelly’s focus is alignment based, setting up a structure to create space in the body. Her trainings covered various styles of yoga as well as yogic philosophy and she enjoys weaving that knowledge into the classes she teaches. She continues expanding her yoga education and evolving her style of teaching. Everyone is welcome to class, she encourages agency and autonomy when teaching as only you can know what your body needs.
Kelly moved to Midland in 2019 where she now resides with her husband. She has always been active and still enjoys running, weights, stand up paddle boarding and riding her horse. During the day, she works in finance and knows the importance of getting out of the chair and into the world.
For more information about Kelly’s classes please email her at kelly@kellyroyfitness.com
Guest Teacher: Gina Anayana
Guest Teacher: Gina Anayana
Guest Teacher: Gina Anayana
Breathwork
Meditation & Sound Healing
Gina Anayana is an intuitive healer
She is also a: Certified Reiki Master
Certified Angel Card Reader
Certified Shamangelic TM Healing Practitioner
Certified Shamangelic Breathwork Facilitator
Certified Holographic Sound Healing Practitioner
Certified Advanced Theta Healing Practitioner
Certified Akashic Record Reader
Gina is the Founder and Owner of Goddess Intention, she is an intuitive healer who incorporates different healing modalities to form her unique healing practice called Inner Sensory Healing to guide individuals to their heart center, activating healing and transformation journey within.
For more information about Gina's eventsand services, please visit her website innersensoryhealing.com or email her at
Guest Teacher: Ashley Ghose
Guest Teacher: Sierra Miller
Guest Teacher: Sierra Miller
Mini-Retreat Events for Moms
Dr. Ashley Ghose is a physical therapist who has become a Transformational Coach and Mentor. Dr. Ashley realized her patients were most successful when they benefited from her combined physical therapist skills and her knowledge of personal development practices.
As a Transformational Coach and Mentor, Dr. Ashley's focus is guiding working moms to discover balance, purpose, and confidence without sacrificing their wellbeing. Dr. Ashley is a #1 bestselling author of Transforming Trauma Inspiring Stories & Powerful Tools for Manifesting Peace, Hope and Healing.
In her role as a member and Lead Assistant with the Midland Area Wellbeing Coalition, Dr. Ashley gets to promote wellbeing throughout Midland County.
When Dr. Ashley is not working with clients or with the Wellbeing Coalition, she is spending time with her family, husband, and her two children.
For more information about Ashley's events and services, please visit her website ashleymghose.com or email her at
Guest Teacher: Sierra Miller
Guest Teacher: Sierra Miller
Guest Teacher: Sierra Miller
Pelvic Health Events
Sierra is a Pelvic Floor Occupational Therapist and owner of Pelvic Wellness in Midland. She completed undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received her Masters of Occupational Therapy at Baker College in Flint.
She specializes in holistic pelvic floor therapy for women. As both a therapist and a woman, she understands firsthand the physical and emotional challenges that come with pelvic floor dysfunction. She has personally experienced issues like urinary incontinence and pelvic pain, and is passionate about helping other women find relief and confidence in their bodies.
She works with women in all stages of life—whether they’re dealing with urinary leakage, prolapse, pelvic pain, or pain with intercourse. Using a combination of bodywork, movement, breathwork, education, and relaxation techniques, she’ll create a personalized plan to reduce or even eliminate your symptoms.
Her goal is to help you feel empowered, informed, and supported every step of the way.
For more information on Sierra and pelvic floor therapy please visit her website PelvicWellnessOT.com