Samantha Lyman

Owner of Yana Yoga and Travel Light Studios
RYT 200, Children's RYT, and Reiki Master

Samantha has been practicing yoga for 13 years, teaching for six, and has been a Reiki Practitioner for three. Samantha’s classes and Reiki sessions range from gentle, intimate, and down to earth with mindful movement, to fiery, bubbly flows. She intertwines humor, complete freedom/permission to be exactly as you are, and genuine, compassionate leadership throughout her time with her clients and self-devotees, both on and off the table and mat. She is wildly passionate about assisting any(body) with the desire to go beyond the surface of their being, to explore their depths in a safe and compassionate environment utilizing a holistic approach.

Samantha utilizes several different methods within her practice including, pranayama , meditation,  asana (postures), energy healing and realignment, as well as bringing in lectures, deep discussions, and workshops focused around the mind, body, soul connection through epigenetics . "The mind is the most powerful tool we have, yet we never seem to put it down, as if it will not break. As humans, we have a challenging time remembering the other tools we have within. In order to explore these tools and their benefits, we must set the mind down. When we implement any of these various methods, the tools we recover wildly expand our knowledge, level awareness, and reclaimed powers that will never exhaust or leave us.”

"In 2014 I was working about 80 hours a week. Like much of society, my mindset and focus was very- money, money, money, work, work, work and was doing what I thought I needed to to be considered "successful". Caffeine, unproductive food, no time to myself, and very little sleep was my daily regime. This lifestyle eventually led me into a life-threatening illness. It was a wakeup call that helped me realize that my ability to listen to my body was my new and actual definition of success. Treating my body like my own personal temple was now my top priority. After months of learning about holistic health and the emotional body and its connection to the brain body, I realized I had put myself right where I was and that I was far more powerful of a creator than I could have ever imagined. I had stepped back into my power and deeper into my yoga practice which led me to the deep desire to share it with others. Now it's my turn to love others through it, to help remind them who they really are, and be as helpful as I can during my time here. It is literally my complete pleasure and joy to help remind people just how power(ful) they are, to remind and guide them back towards their truth and all the delicious aspects of their being to create a path of least resistance for them to explore and expand in all areas of their lives.”

Amber LaPointe, E-RYT 500

Founder of Yana Yoga, Co-Owner of Radiant Being Yoga School, and Owner of Northeast Yoga Adventures

​Amber no longer teaches regular classes at Yana, but continues to radiate her love and passion for yoga through her Yoga Teacher Trainings and Workshops here at Yana.

"In my teaching, I try to keep things light and fun and accessible to all. I strongly encourage people to listen to their body, to find a balance between effort and ease, and to breathe... can't do a pose? Just breathe. I work to help my students integrate the mind, body, and breath in a way that leaves them feeling calm, yet strong and renewed."

The first time I stepped onto a yoga mat, over 29 years ago, I walked out of class after about 10 minutes. I was bored. I wasn't aware that there were different types of yoga and gentle yoga wasn't the one for me at the time. It took me seven years to step on a mat again, but when I did it felt like home. After that, I practiced and took classes when I could and I often visited Kripalu Yoga Center in the Berkshires. During one of my visits in 2001 I noticed that every time I passed by their catalog display a little voice inside me would say "yoga teacher training". I ignored it because I hadn't done a lot of yoga at the time, but every time I went back to Kripalu it got louder. Finally, in January of 2007 I listened to my inner voice and started looking for a training program that suited my needs. I completed the 200 hour training in April of 2007 and started teaching in September of 2008. Since then, I have completed my 300 HR advanced yoga training as well as several specialty trainings and now have 15+ years and nearly 8,000 hours of experience teaching yoga classes, workshops, retreats, yoga and meditation at the office, and yoga teacher trainings.

Ellen Dragonette

E-RYT 500, Reiki Master Practitioner and Teacher, Co-Owner of Radiant Being Yoga School and Director of the 300 HR Advanced Yoga Teacher Training

Ellen has been with Yana Yoga since day one and has been an integral part to the growth of the studio. Ellen continues to expand her training and knowledge to enable Yana Yoga to offer a deeper experience to our clients. We are truly blessed to have her as part of our community.

An educator by nature and by training, Ellen has a BS in Education and a MS in Educational Psychology.  She has been practicing yoga for more than 25 years, has been teaching classes for 12 years, and is an E-RYT 500 (experienced, registered yoga teacher with 500+ hours of training) with more than 4,600 hours of teaching experience. Ellen has additional training in Children’s Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga for Cancer Recovery, and is a Reiki Master.

“My training was Iyengar based, so alignment is a key factor, but my classes are pretty eclectic. They always include pranayama (breath work), asana (poses) relaxation and meditation, and we explore them in a variety of ways through the teachings of many different traditions. And, since my personal yoga journey has brought me so much joy and taught me the very important lesson of not taking myself too seriously, there’s often laughter, and sometimes downright silliness in my classes; but just as often there are moments of deep silence, contemplation and connection. One of my favorite quotes from Lao Tzu is “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Yoga is such a wonderful vehicle for that journey. I encourage my students to listen to their bodies, hearts and minds and ask them to question, explore and move beyond their comfort zone. My role is to support their practice in whatever way I can and I am truly honored and privileged to share their journeys. I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else.” 

Amy Mullen

Inner Alignment Coach and RYT 200 at Yana Yoga

Amy Mullen is an inner alignment coach and RYT 200 who is passionate about helping her clients find balance, clarity and peace by connecting their inner self into the outer world. ​

She received her certification as an Inner Alignment Coach through Kim Beekman’s Inner Alignment coaching certification program. She is a Level II Reiki practitioner and dedicated yogi. Amy has over 20 years of health and civil service experience connecting people to necessary resources that assist them in their everyday life. As a coach, Amy’s work remains grounded in service. She continues to connect her clients with appropriate resources to guide themselves through a healing journey in order to live a more authentic life.

"Like many, I came to yoga during a difficult time in my life and it quite literally, changed everything. It brought me back to my breath and to my body when so much in this world simply takes our breath away. Over time, it opened not only my heart, but my mind to new experiences, feelings and beliefs. With practice, it has become the easiest way for me to reestablish internal balance and peace when the world around me seems a little (or a lot) out of control. Yoga is magick – it is the ability to increase, decrease, transform and transmute energy at will. A pose, a breath, a meditation, a movement – that realigns, recalibrates and restores. How we feel when we first step on our mat is completely different when we prepare to step off of it. As a teacher, I hope to share that energetic transformation in each class.”

Donna Evleth

Grand Tarot Master

Donna is a gifted intuitive and empath who is a Grand Tarot Master, Reiki Master Teacher, and doTerra essential oil representative. She is the Founder and Director of Saratoga Intuitive Tarot - a teaching organization dedicated to teaching tarot and encouraging others to use their gifts through its C.O.R.E Tarot Master Certification Program. Donna offers tarot card readings in-person, virtually, or over the phone.

Donna trained in the Usui Method of Reiki with John Harvey Gray (one of the Takata 22) and Lourdes Gray in NH and finished her teacher certification with Tanya LaMothe here in NY.

Donna is a student of American Meditation Institute and Radiant Being Yoga School (here at Yana Yoga) and enjoys working with breath and meditation techniques to help with the stress and anxiety that life hands us on a daily basis.

As a gifted intuitive and empath Donna is able to add a deeper level of guidance to her clients, whether it’s during a tarot card reading, training, or reiki session. Donna is excited to join the Yana Yoga tribe and offer guidance and healing in whatever way she can.

Services offered:

Intuitive Tarot Readings, private and small group

Reiki Healing with crystals

Intro Tarot Classes - group

C.O.R.E. Tarot Master Certification program (group)

Essential Oil Education and sales