Ecce Yoga

I opened ecce yoga in 2008 with the support of my husband Derek and with a unique partnership with my brother Mark of ecce art gallery. I’ve been practicing and studying yoga since 2002. I discovered yoga while living in Minneapolis, MN and continued studying after moving to Portland, OR, where I met my teacher Casey Palmer of Near East Yoga. I completed my 200 hour training in 2010 and have done additional trainings with De West (prenatal) and Judith Lasater (restorative) as well as Matthew Sweeney and Asha Wolf. I also completed a doula (birth partner) training in 2014. Being a professional touring singer-songwriter for over 12 years, yoga in many ways helped to ground me and keep me well in body, mind, and spirit. It has been a constant in my life through joy, loss, grief and change. Sharing yoga with others, and helping to build a community of like-minded people, has been a hugely satisfying part of me and my husband’s lives and I feel blessed and honored to hold the space at ecce for others to do their practice. I am also mother to a beautiful little girl Ruby Ann.

I was drawn to yoga in 2000 initially to redress some of the imbalances in my body caused by many years of distance running.  My first experience with Ashtanga was with Carrie Mickelson in Fargo. I completed a 500 hour training course with Mary Beth Nehl in Willmar, MN and am a RYT 500 and E RYT 200 teacher with the Yoga Alliance. I participated in group practices with Sri K Pattabhi Jois in Colorado and in New York.  I also completed a 40 hour training intensive with Manju Jois. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga strengthens the body, lifts the spirit and quiets the mind.

Stephanie is a mama to two beautiful girls, wife, 200 hr RYT yoga teacher and Horticulturist. She is a student of Yogarupa Rod Stryker of Parayoga. She is fascinated with learning the Yoga traditions and applying her knowledge in her teachings through asana, pranayama and meditation. Her passions are nature, yoga, ayurveda and spending time with her family and friends. Her lifelong passions are in study and well- being that are ever-changing and always growing.

I am passionate about the field of mind-body science and the natural tools that improve wellbeing. These tools provide access to the stillness that resides within all of us and increases our capacity for mindful/joyful living. I reap such joy by helping to demystify and mainstream meditation and mindfulness by making it more accessible. I do this through education and providing direct experience in a class or corporate setting. My formal training encompasses Transcendental Meditation or TM (2000); Mindfulness, Togetherness, Fearlessness by Thich Nhat Hanh, (2007); Meditation and Relaxation Specialty Training, Chopra Trainer (2008); Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction-U of M, MN (2011). I have been a meditator for over twenty years and credit this practice for living a more conscious, grateful life.

Jen came to yoga in the mid 1990’s while attending acupuncture school in Portland, OR. She found yoga at a time when she was feeling lost and out of her body. Yoga brought her back to present time. She practiced on and off for years. It wasn’t until 4 years ago when she was half way through her weight loss journey that she understood the profound changes yoga could bring to one’s life. Yoga brought her peace in her body, self acceptance and body positive attitudes.Jen completed her 200 hour and 500 hour teacher training with Devanadi Yoga in Minneapolis. She has also studied with Seane Corn, Rod Stryker, Rolf Sovik, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Kathryn Templeton and Lauren Toolin. Jen is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist and Yoga Therapist at Two Turtles Acupuncture Center.