ABOUT US

Yoga Plus LLC is a yoga studio in Caledonia, Michigan offering yoga and fitness classes for all levels. If you’ve come to make changes or improvements in your life, it is our goal to give you the tools, encouragement, and support in which to succeed.

Our Instructors

Donna Evans, owner of Yoga Plus
I’ve always had a passion for health and fitness. I have 17 years experience teaching group fitness classes. I’ve taught aerobics, step, muscle toning, kickboxing, Spinning, Pilates, Zumba, and Yoga. When I started Yoga about 8 years ago, I found that it gave me more total body conditioning than any of the other forms of exercise. Plus I gained confidence, body acceptance, and more clarity to my thinking. My goal is to help bring yoga to this area to touch others lives like it has mine.

My yoga training certification is through YogaFit, Levels 1, 2, and 3.
I have specialty training in prenatal yoga, and senior’s yoga.
I have been Ace certified since 1997 for group exercise.
I am certified in Pilates, kickboxing, and Zumba.

Rachel Carter
Anusara-Inspired Yoga Instructor, RYT 200
Zumba Certified Instructor
Originally from Alabama , then living in Orlando and New York City , and finally Michigan. Rachel has been practicing Anusara since 2002 and teaching since 2004 under the tutelage of Behnje Masson, owner of From the Heart Yoga, in Grand Rapids . “After years of dealing with a neck and shoulder injury, these simple, yet profound principles, enabled me to heal my body and taught me the poser of community, compassion, and humility. It has been, and continues to be , an honor to watch students reconnect and align with their bodies, as well as discover the freedom and joy that lies within their heart, mind, and body. My intention is to continue to grow as a teacher and to share this mindful, yet enthusiastic system of yoga!”

Shaina Smith
Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor

I consider myself a student of yoga first and foremost. My experiences connected on and off of my yoga mat, inspire me to share the diversity that lives within the practice. Yoga reminds us of our internal peace, and teaches us to hold this space of peace throughout all of the qualities in our lives. When we feel nourished, we can live, think, act, explore, work, play, rest, and serve others to our fullest potentials and freedoms.” Yoga Alliance certified, Shaina Smith currently studies the aspects of Iyengar, Vinyasa, and Ashtanga Yoga. She will expand her teaching education at Cascade Yoga Studio this fall, through the 200hr Prairie Yoga Teacher Training School. She hopes to share her journey of yoga in respect and love, as she authentically grows and learns as a teacher.

 

Deanie Pettengill
Yoga Instructor, RYT 200
Certified Yoga Instructor through YogaFit Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Specialty training in Senior’s Yoga. She is currently working towards RYT 200 hr. acceptance with Yoga Alliance. She has attended clinics by: Gabriel Halpern (Iyenga Yoga), John Friend (Anusara Yoga), Katherine Florentine-yoga therapist, Katherine Lucas ( Detroit ), and several other clinics. She is also a Secondary Education Teacher in Biology, Chemistry, and Art.

12 years ago a friend suggested that I try yoga as a kind of non-competitive exercise. Thus: I came to yoga the usual way-through the poses. As my body improved physically, I discovered my mind was more relaxed. I was calmer during times of stress. I found myself telling others about yoga, and how it could help them feel better. As a result, I started teaching yoga in the fall of 2009. I am particularly attracted to Iyengar yoga. This yoga is alignment oriented with the use of props. I’m also very attracted to Anusara yoga, using very few props, but using the Universal Principals of Alignment. My class is not fast paced. The time is spent going into, holding, and coming out of a pose in the best alignment possible. I feel once the body learns the pattern, only then can you move faster. As one student said about my class, “she likes the pose break-downs.” Yoga means “to yoke” the body, mind, and spirit. I hope by helping your body experience the benefits of yoga, I can inspire you to discover the other benefits that yoga has to offer the mind and the spirit.

Namaste’

Jill Fox
Vinyasa Yoga Instructor, RYT 200

I found yoga and began practicing when I was 28 and instantly started noticing transformation in my self. As I applied more of the other principles of yoga to my daily life, I noticed even greater healing and awareness. I wanted to be able to share this gift of bliss with others, so in August of 2009, I traveled from my hometown of Grand Rapids , Michigan , and landed at an asram called Mount Madonna in California , and became a certified Vinyasa yoga teacher. I now teach yoga at Seva Yoga in East Grand Rapids , Yoga Plus and other various places. I love my jobs!!

Brandy Rice
Zumba Instructor, B.S., CSCS, CMT

Brandy has been in the exercise business for over 6 years. She obtained her Bachelors of Science from Western Michigan University in Exercise Science and Psychology. Brandy has a background in dancing and was on the dance team while attending WMU. During her time in college Brandy Brandy started working with the strength and conditioning coaches through this she decided to get certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Assosication. After college Brandy attended Blue Heron Academy and became a Certified Massage Therapist. Brandy started teaching group exercise in 2007. Through her love of dance she started teaching Zumba classes and has never looked back. Now she is certified to teach Zumba, Turbokick, PiYo, and strength and conditioning. Brandy absolutely loves teaching and would love to see you in her class!