The Studio
Was created as a safe space for any and every single person to come and dive into an enjoyable physical and mental practice that removes the outside world in order to focus on what is within. We don’t have any mirrors, the lights are low and the music is just loud enough to feel like it’s just you and those poppin’ tunes. We teach Ashtanga Vinyasa roots adapted into a modern way to move with music that creates and teaches how to tap into your intuition. Each class from start to finish is an integrated experience working your own intuitive movement all the while. This is another reason our doors lock right when class time starts, each part of class is integral and maintaining the peaceful environment (no doors opening and closing, letting in cold and light) is key; they open 15 minutes before class, so please arrive on time. :)
MEET OUR TEACHERS!
Whitney Raybould
Hi! I'm Whitney Raybould, I am married to a potato farmer and we have two daughters. I founded the studio in September 2019. It was never my intention to open a studio when I walked into one in Salt Lake City that spring for my Yoga Teacher Training. After a pretty specific experience I knew how needed it was in this area and rather than having that knowledge haunt me forever, I went to task that summer after I graduated and opened its doors a week within my own graduation. I taught all of the classes until my mentor at the time was able to come help lead a training at the studio where I hired Betsy, who now runs the studio as well, Stephanie, who opened her own private practice in partnership with the studio October of 2021, Dustin and Shelby! My OG teachers.
I co-created Contemporary Yoga, The School of Contemporary Yoga and its curriculum with Ashley St. John from Utah. Betsy and I are facilitating the studio’s 4th round of our 200hr YTT and we cannot wait to see how this community continues to add to the experience The Yoga Studio brings.
As for me, I have always been into sports, exercise, fitness and mindfulness. I have a Bachelors Degree in Health Science; Public Health, am certified in group fitness through AFAA and am a certified personal trainer through the National Association of Sports Medicine. I am a Yoga Alliance registered eryt200, finished my 300hr advanced teacher training, a specialized inversion 50hr training and am now a ryt500 as well as owner of a registered Yoga School though Yoga Alliance.
Yoga healed me in many ways. I found it because I sought relief from chronic plantar fasciitis and ended up with a daily practice over the last 8 years that has healed several more injuries. Beyond the physical benefits, yoga has given me an internal peace and purpose that I am constantly grateful that I have these tools to navigate life. It can be so hard and so beautiful and through this practice of the emotional, physical and spiritual I can see it clearly. Which allows for a better understanding of life and my place in it through all of the ebbs and flows.
I created this space, this studio for you. For everyone seeking to obtain a greater connection to themselves and thier higher power. I am humbled to be a part of it in any way. Thank you for trusting us.
Stephanie Shirley
Yoga has been a part of my life since high school. I was your typical wild child and free spirited teenager looking for new activities and decided to try yoga for winter sports. I was also on the dance team in high school and wanted to work on flexibility for dance. Yoga happened to be a big thing in the hippie town I grew up in, so I decided to give it a try and fell in love!
While in college, I took yoga classes through the university as well as at different yoga studios throughout Salt Lake City. After moving back to Idaho, I focused my practice on kundalini yoga and a lot of beachbody yoga workouts at home. Yoga was not a constant practice in my life until I stumbled on The Yoga Studio two years ago. I happened to be a part of a book club at the time of the studio opening and we were discussing attending yoga as part of our spiritual growth. I posted information about the studio in our Facebook page and ended up going solo to my first class, which scared the crap out of me and brought up every insecurity I needed to face in order to get to where I am today.
Luckily, I fell in love with the contemporary style of yoga offered through the studio as well as the healing and connection I started to experience within myself. I have not looked back and have since taken two 200 hour yoga teacher trainings through the studio and currently teach one class per week in addition to subbing various classes for other teachers. I love combining my passion for trauma and grief work as a counselor with contemporary yoga and look forward to continuing to offer more healing yoga classes through Align Counseling (my private practice I opened October 2021) at The Yoga Studio.
Shelby gubler
Hi!! I’m Shelby! Shelby Gubler, I recently married the most amazing man out there!
I started practicing yoga for the physical and health benefits, and then continued to practice when I fell in love with the meditative and self reflection aspects of it!
Yoga gave me the foundation to reflect on tougher things I was going through, and see the brighter side to hardships — this is one of the things I love most about yoga, it can be anything to anyone! You get what you need from your own practice. Sometimes it’s internal healing, others it’s a good workout and stretch!
I did the studio’s 200 hour yoga teacher training at the beginning of 2020 so I could expand on my own personal practice, but felt called to share what I had learned and teach it to others. I started teaching yoga May of 2020!
Along with finding solace in yoga, I enjoy being outdoors. I love to hike and also find my inner self when I’m hiking! I love to explore and find new places. I’m always down for an adventure!
teresa moldenhaur
Hello! My name is Teresa Moldenhauer. I'm the proud momma of 5 amazing kids, ages 8-21. It's the best job in the world!
Yoga has always been what I needed. Twenty-one years ago it was a vhs in my basement apartment (and usually in my jammies). It was a life-line in my new world of motherhood. Over the years I've upgraded the old basement carpet to a yoga mat and shelved the VHS. I'm now blessed to practice and teach in the beautiful space at The Yoga Studio, where I find healing and connection... everything I need.
My background and degree is in Elementary Education. I never dreamed it would lead me to connecting teaching kids and yoga! I've been teaching yoga at a local elementary school and am heading up a school-wide yoga program for all kids! How cool is that?! I'll be heading up the Yoga Studio's kids program as well, and I can't wait to bring the life-changing benefits of yoga and this space to children! Boy do they need it!
anja folkman
Hi! My name is Anja Folkman. I have many titles, beginning with wife to the most supportive and amazing husband, and mother of two wonderful, mostly adult, children. Also- yoga instructor… from Firth!
I fell in love with the Yoga Studio the first time I entered the space. After an accident that prevented me from staying as active as I had previously been , it was such a blessing to find a yoga style and an environment that encouraged the intuitions of my own body. I was able to connect with my body and feel and move in the best way for me with0ut pressure or comparison.
Two classes in, I knew that I wanted to learn how to teach others to connect and become aware of themselves as well! And…. Here I am!! Sharing and receiving love from this amazing community on a weekly basis!
People ask me why I will drive so far to teach at this studio.. of the community, beautiful warm ambient environment, cued intuitive style of teaching, amazing music, the hands on (mini massage)… so many things!
It is worth every mile!
kylie jeppson
Hey I’m Kylie!! I started teaching at the Yoga Studio this summer of 2021!
I started getting into yoga when I first started college and absolutely fell in love with it. It is what kept me grounded and sane through nursing school. I currently am working as a Registered Nurse and have seen the benefits of yoga in my own emotional and physical body.
I took the Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training earlier this year at the Yoga Studio and absolutely loved it. I found out I was pregnant towards the beginning of teacher training and haven’t stopped coming to yoga since. I noticed moving my body kept me the most comfortable through pregnancy. I became a Momma October of 2021!
Felicia Zalesky
Felicia has been practicing yoga since 2018 and felt the call to make it a bigger part of her life during COVID-19. She graduated from the CYTT Program in April of 2022 and loves teaching classes. She truly found her love for restorative movements and healing dynamic flows during two stressful years of her Master’s degree in history. She believes that yoga helps everyone in some way– whether it’s slowing down mentally or recalibrating physically. Felicia teaches high school history by day and does as much yoga (teaching or being a student) by night. Teaching is her favorite thing in the world because she loves to see people be changed or begin to see something in a new way. Whether it's yoga, history, or some random hobby– you can find Felicia learning how to do it better so she can share it with others.
Felicia claims some Idaho residency through her paternal grandmother- but the last of her relatives living in Eastern Idaho died before she moved here from Utah. She lives in Rexburg with her nurse husband and two fur babies.
Dustin Perry
My passion and appreciation for yoga and its many benefits started at a young age when I found a “Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Beginners” DVD on a shelf in my parents house in the mid 90’s. The next 20 years of life was filled with ups and downs, tons of change and development, career changes, heartbreak, and loss. A serious car accident leading to some pretty serious neck and back pain combined with other health challenges, anxiety, and depression propelled my occasional hobby of doing yoga into a meaningful pursuit and lifestyle over the last decade. In 2018 I attended a 10-day Vipassana silent meditation course (as taught by S.N. Goenka) in Ketchum, Idaho. My desire to attend was fueled from a desire to gain a greater understanding of meditation, mindfulness, self-awareness, and the teachings of the Buddha. Attending the 10-day meditation uncovered a more powerful significance, and the many benefits, of practicing yoga and meditation.
After contemplating enrollment in yoga teacher training for years while living in Colorado, a friend notified me after moving back to Idaho that a new yoga studio had started down the street from where I was living. After experiencing the healing, growth, and development I had from persistently attending classes at The Yoga Studio for several months, I made the decision to attend their rigorous yoga training. It made a huge impact on me and inspired me to keep learning, growing, and investing into yoga. Shortly after completing the 200hr certification, I accepted the offer to begin an apprenticeship with Whitney Raybould and now feel extremely privileged, humbled, and excited to be part of the team of passionate teachers at The Yoga Studio. The benefits of a regular yoga practice combined with meditation has had a tremendous positive impact on my life and I believe everyone can benefit similarly. I intend on, and am fully committed to, practicing yoga religiously for the rest of my life and sharing it with others. I believe that yoga can create meaningful change for everyone. It nurtures better physical and mental health while providing a source of mindfulness to help ease the stress and anxieties that tend to weigh us down.
I have been a fan of music the majority of my life and spend a lot of time listening, discovering, or making music with old friends. I also love camping, hiking, snowboarding, snowshoeing, nordic skiing, and fishing. I have a deep appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife; loving travel, taking pictures and video, and seeing new and beautiful landscapes.