Instructors

Christy Fisher, C-IAYT, C.M.A
Founder
Christy is a Certified Kripalu Yoga teacher, a Yoga and Movement Therapist (C-IAYT, C.M.A), and a certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor. She has taught somatic-based yoga and movement practices for over 25 years and specializes in working with people who live with chronic pain from injuries; neurological conditions such as MS, brain or spinal cord injuries, or who are in various stages of Cancer recovery. Her approach is gentle and collaborative, adapting to the individual needs of each student and client. She has worked for the National MS Society, Cancer Lifeline, and the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Association, and directs Wallingford Yoga and Ayurveda in Seattle, WA.
She has been a student of Ayurveda for over 30 years and has had the privilege to learn from great teachers including Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. Marc Halpern, and Dr. Rosy Mann. She sees clients individually online and in person at the Wallingford Studio in Seattle, WA.
Christy Fisher has graced my life for about 7 years now. Her gentle heart, clear teaching, and wealth of knowledge of movement, not only of yoga but also somatics, adds an important dimension to her offerings, especially for me as a somatic movement teacher. I can rest into her classes, her know how and drink deeply.
Christy continually amazes me with the wisdom of her teaching style. She empowers students to respect and listen to their bodies to guide them to connect to their own wisdom. Christy has a seemingly limitless and often subtle yoga vocabulary. In addition, she has a great sense of humor and a compassionate heart. I highly recommend studying with her.

Kalyani Julie Hsu
Yoga Instructor
Kalyani’s love for yoga began in 2003 when she discovered the asana (posture) practice of yoga. Overtime, she realized that yoga had much more to offer than just the physical benefits. As her personal practice grew, Kalyani wanted to be able to bring yoga to other people. She completed 200 hour teacher training in the Pranakriya tradition with Yoganand Michael Carroll in 2008. Kalyani’s desire to continue to learn from Yoganand led her to complete 500 hour advanced certification in 2011. Kalyani has been teaching yoga for over a decade and she also completed a 300 hr training under Dr. David Frawley and is an Ayurvedic Life-Style Consultant. In December 2020, Kalyani also completed her 300-hour yoga teacher training with Anand Mehrotra in Sattva Yoga.
Kalyani teaches a range of classes from very gentle to more vigorous, and always in a manner that allows introspection, true to the Pranakriya tradition. Pranayama and meditation, slow transitions from posture to posture, and adequate time in each posture give her classes a meditative quality. At the same time, Kalyani’s sense of humor and relaxed attitude create a laid-back environment in which to fully experience yoga. To find out more about Pranakriya yoga go to the Class Descriptions page. When Kalyani isn’t practicing or teaching yoga, she is enjoying every moment of her son’s childhood or working in her other role as a veterinarian.
“Julie has broadened my understanding of meditation and opened my mind to the possibility of spirit. Every class is a surprise and a gift.” – Lisa A

Frances Hammond
Offers On Demand Pre-Recorded Classes as Part of Our Content Library
Frances is a Seattle-based yoga teacher and barre instructor since 2009. She emphasizes comfort and ease of movement while exploring the balance of breath, effort and stillness. In June 2019, Frances completed her additional 300 hours of advanced yoga teacher training in the Art of Adaptation. She plans to continue this work by specializing in yoga for spinal health.
Yoga helps Frances find stability and joy on and off the mat, and she hopes to share that search with students of any ability or impairment. She is mother to a pandemic baby who keeps her busy and currently teaches her a lot about developmental movement. She is also the companion and co-parent of a very small Yorkshire Terrier named Mochi. After savasana, you can spot Frances at various restaurants, fitness studios and walking around Seattle.
I have been practicing yoga for many years but when I started practicing yoga with Frances a few years ago, it made a really big difference in my mental and physical well-being. I have had several challenges over the years including a hip replacement and brain cancer. Frances focuses on balance, strength and stability and I realized that after each of her classes I felt so good. Frances makes sure to always give options for each pose and by focusing on seemingly small adjustments she achieves amazing results. My hip is better than it has been since the surgery and my neck has so much more mobility. I am grateful to have Frances and my instructor and don’t know what I would do without her.” — Mary Berray

Tiina Ritalahti
Substitute Teacher
Yoga has been Tiina’s steady companion throughout life’s challenges and joyful celebrations. So, after practicing yoga for 20 years, Tiina decided to take the leap and become a yoga instructor. She completed her 200-hour Adaptive Hatha Yoga teacher training at Phinney Ridge Yoga in 2021. Her classes are informed by 25 years of experience as a massage therapist. She draws from her deep understanding of anatomy to guide students through a harmonizing practice that honors each student’s unique physiology. Tiina works to support students on their healing journey and give them tools they can take off the mat to improve the qualities of their lives.
Tiina is a wonderful and fun yoga instructor. Her classes are a combination of familiar movements with a different perspective on how to find each pose. What I find most exciting about Tiina’s classes is her passion and understanding of how the human body moves. She brings to each class something new for me to discover in my own body, changing how I move into poses, and in each session.” – Maria S.
Early morning yoga with Sharon is the best way to start the day. Sharon’s calm and quiet demeanor bring an easiness to each class. She very seamlessly incorporates our requests into the practice she has designed for that day. At the end of class I feel challenged in the best way imaginable.
I’ve been attending Sharon’s class since the beginning of these early morning classes. It’s a great way for me to start the day. She is great at describing the poses and their benefits and is very responsive to individual needs and requests. Sharon is a very talented teacher.
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