FOUNDERS

Yael Calhoun, RYT, M.A., M.S.

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Yael is the co-author of Create a Yoga Practice for Kids: Fun, Flexibility and Focus with Matthew R. Calhoun (Sunstone Press, 2006), a book Lilias Folan calls the “Best children’s yoga book on the market today. Excellent descriptions, delightful illustrations...” Judith Hanson Lasater says it is “an inspiring and upbeat book that will not only charm children but also educate and support their teachers.” She also is the co-author of Yoga for Kids to Teens: Themes, Relaxation, and SOLA Stikk Yoga with Nicole Hamory and Matthew Calhoun (Sunstone Press, 2008). Yael created the CD Yoga for Kids and Classroom.

Yael is also a coauthor on Yoga for You: SOLA Stikk Yoga (a Manual/CD). In addition, she continues to write and to direct the development of all GreenTREE Yoga DVDs and CDs. Yael is the author of The School Volunteer Handbook: An Easy Guide for K-6 Teachers and Parents (Lila Press, in press, 2010), coauthored by Elizabeth Finlinson, and is the author of Yoga Makes Me Feel... (ages 3-6), (Lila Press, 2010). www.lilapress.com.

Yael’s education includes a B.A. from Brown University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education from SCSU and a Master’s Degree in Natural Resource Science from University of Rhode Island. Her job experiences include teaching in the classroom, both at the college level (Environmental Biology/Soil Science) and the primary school level, working as a municipal environmental planner in Rhode Island, and teaching yoga. Yael is also the author/series editor of over a dozen books.

Yael has studied and practiced yoga for 20 years. Her teaching is both influenced and inspired by Judith Hanson Lasater, Lilias Folan, Charlotte Bell, Donna Farhi, and Adam Ballenger. Yael continually demonstrates her commitment to, and passion for, sharing the benefits of yoga with people of all ages and abilities in a variety of settings. Yael enjoys life at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah with her three sons. She enjoys skiing, hiking, kayaking, and is learning to rock climb.

Nicole Hamory Cavallaro, B.A.

Co-Founder
500 Hour D'ana Baptiste Certified Yoga Teacher

Nicole is the creator of SOLA Stikk Yoga, a style of yoga that incorporates a stick to enable a person to hold poses longer, balance and find proper alignment. The stick is also an artistic expression piece as people create their own “totems”. The SOLA Yoga Stikk invites people to find their creative expression, thereby wanting to continue bringing the benefits of yoga into their lives. This practice will supplement the GreenTREE Yoga as a way to reduce injuries, provide balance and create more length in the body. She is the coauthor of Yoga for Kids to Teens: Themes, Relaxation, and SOLA Stikk Yoga with Yael Calhoun and Matthew Calhoun (Sunstone Press, 2008).  Nicole also has developed Yoga for You: SOLA Stikk Yoga (a Manual/CD).

Nicole is also the creator of SOLA Sunshine.

Nicole has studied and practiced yoga since 1997. She is a 500 hour certified D’ana Baptiste yoga instructor, with a strong influence and trainings from Baron Baptiste, Ana Forrest and Anusara Yoga (Adam Ballenger).  Nicole currently teaches 6-7 classes per week at the following locations: Salt Lake Community College, Snowbird Resort, Timpanogos Correctional Facility (women inmates), Salt Lake County Jail (male inmates), Wasatch Juvenile Detention Center (teenage boys), Rose Park Elementary School (students and faculty), Huntsman Cancer Institute, and weekly with her high school rowing team as part of their cross training (Utah Junior Crew).

Nicole’s education includes a B.A. from Rutgers College in Elementary Education and American Studies, as well as coursework towards an M.Ed. in Marriage and Family Therapy from University of Massachusetts/Boston.

Nicole’s introduction to Yoga began after an intense relationship with her body as a Division I rower.  Her body was riddled with pain, injury and misalignment. Yoga quickly became a physical healing tool as well as a mental necessity. Nicole began teaching yoga to Olympians (members of the National Rowing Team) and the Northeastern University Women’s Crew in Boston before moving to Utah.  Her passions include developing and teaching motivational wellness programs for youth-at-risk and college students. In her spare time, Nicole loves to do anything in nature with friends, family and her beloved dog, Laszlo.

Nicole's Blog: http://www.blogster.com/solanikola