Instructors
Lisa Tokarz, E-RYT
Lisa is the Founding Director and Senior Teacher at the Yoga Studio of Shelby, RYS. She received her BBA from Walsh College and has been a professional adult educator for 26 years, working in the financial markets during the great Bull Market’s of the 1990′s. During that time she became interested in the question of, “where true happiness and peace of mind come from”. This hunger for knowledge lead her directly to Yoga. Her study of yoga, philosophy and dharma began in 1993. She retired from Corporate life in 1999, to raise a family with her spiritual partner and husband, Drew. Lisa began teaching yoga in 2000.
Over the last 20 years she has studyied with the foremost teachers from around the world, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She has studied with, and the works of, Geshe Michael Roach, Lama Christie McNally, and Lama Sumati Marut from Yoga Studies Institute, in Arizona. She completed a 2-year study (100 hours) of the Yoga Sutra’s, the main book of yoga (2007-09) with her teacher Mira Shani, also a Senior Teacher at the Yoga Studies Institute, and received a certificate for 200 hours of training from Clearlight Yoga Shala’s, Michael Johnson in 2005. During the last two years she has spent 50 hours with John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga, as well as Desiree Rambaugh, Sara Davidson, and Heidi Peters, Anusara Inspired Teachers.
“Yoga is not just a physical exercise, it’s a lifestyle, with an emphasis on the subtle body.” I strongly believe that through ethical living, combined with the physical and mindful practices of yoga, everyone can receive the many benefits yoga has to offer. All you need to get started is your ability to Breathe.”
The Yoga Studio of Shelby was the first yoga center in Macomb County. My goal in founding the Studio (2002) was to share an authentic lineage of yoga with the residence of the surrounding cities, and to use the peaceful yogic philosophies of generousity and kindness to run the business end. Here, people always come first. Our student’s and teacher’s love the compassionate atmosphere, which is always candle-lit, and humming with vibrational music. Students have come from all over North America and say their experienc here is ‘one’ of the best they have ever had.”
Namaste’
Liz Fulsher, E-RYT
Liz is a dedicated student and teacher of yoga for 10 years. She completed her 200 hour training in 2009 with Yoga for Life’s, Heidi Peters, Anusara-Inspired, E-RYT, ND. Liz holds an associate degree in Radiological Technologies, which compliments her teachings with a strong professional background in anatomy and skeletal alignment. Liz is a wife and mother of two growing boys and is highly active in her community.
Marilyn Bird, RYT
Marilyn became a dedicated student of yoga in 1998 after the loss of a dear loved one prompted her to reconnect with her spirit.
Marilyn received her Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1986 from Wayne State University. She has worked in mental health for the last 25 years and has incorporated the healing benefits of yoga in her therapeutic interventions with people of all ages and abilities since the beginning of her professional career. After her oldest son graduated from high school, Marilyn completed her certification in massage therapy at the Flint School of Therapeutic Massage followed by her yoga teacher training in 2007 at Namaste’ Yoga in Royal Oak, under the guidance of Linda Makowski, E-RYT. Registered with the Yoga Alliance, Marilyn also received her certification in Prenatal Yoga and is a Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She completed an Anusara Immersion and Anusara teacher training under Katherine Schaefer in 2009 and also completed several teacher training hours with Karen O’Donnell Clark, John Friend, Jamie Allison, Desiree’ Rumbaugh, Douglas Keller and Arthur Kilmurray, as well as with several other knowledgeable and gifted yoga practitioners. Marilyn was recently accepted as a member of the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit and is excited about this opportunity to share her passion for yoga throughout the greater Detroit area.
Marilyn has been blessed with many opportunities to teach students that are new to yoga and has been inspired by the light of awareness shining in the hearts of all students of this divine practice and fellow students of life. She hopes to assist her students in discovering the wisdom of the teacher within.
Alyssa Davis, RYT
At a young age, Alyssa knew her calling in life was to help people. While following a healthy lifestyle, Alyssa needed a little more in life… particularly how to be happier and become more relaxed.
At the age of 20, she enrolled herself into Yoga Teacher Training at The Yoga Studio of Shelby. Studying under Lisa Tokarz, Alyssa completed training and earned her RYT-200.
Alyssa has studied with many teachers including Benji Masson and Rick Powell and looks up to her many mentors. Alyssa brings a variety of knowledge to her classes including experience in Pilates, partner yoga, and yoga for children.
Thomas Machi, RYT
Thomas has been a dedicated student of yoga for 9 years. He completed his 200 hr. training in 2009 at Yoga for Life with Heidi Peters. Thomas’ quiet, calm Warrior nature enhances the power of his teachings. He is a loving and devoted husband and father of three grown successful boys.
Paula Kreuger, RYT
Paula has been practicing yoga as a student since 2006 and while, since that time, she has always desired to be a yoga teacher, her life path had not simply not taken her down that road until 2012. In October 2012, 6 months after the birth of her first child, deepening her practice and studying to become a yoga teacher became a reality. Studying under Lisa Tokarz, Paula completed training and earned her RYT-200. Prior to being a yoga teacher, Paula studied at Central Michigan University, earning a degree in Logistics Management. She put this degree to work for almost 15 years in the business world and while she liked what she did, it was not fulfilling for her personally and spiritually.
Paula is a wife and mother to a beautiful daughter. Motherhood has opened Paula’s eyes to the natural birth, motherhood, and lifestyle community. She feels very passionately about a woman’s strength – both inner spiritual strength and outer physical strength – and feels compelled to share this path with others for all the joy it has brought to her.
Phyllis Dabiero, RYT
Phyllis found her way back to her yoga practice after having spinal surgery in 2011. Both her and her family/friends were amazed at the benefits yoga brought her both physically and spiritually. She is a dedicated student; wanting to share her practice with others she studied under Lisa Tokarz and earned her RYT-200. Phyllis truly enjoys caring for others and is a Registered Nurse. She brings a strong medical background and compassion to her yoga practice. Phyllis is a wife and mother of a teenage daughter.