teachers

ASHLEY

Ashley began practicing Yoga with Vicki Yost at the University of Utah while earning her sociology degree.  She immediately fell in love with the physical and mental benefits of Yoga along with the philosophy and spiritual teachings of the practice.  She got her first certification to teach in 2005 and began teaching at the spa where she practiced massage therapy in Park City  and at the University of Utah.      

Wanting her abilities as a teacher to grow, she completed a 500 hour training with D’ana Baptiste in 2010.  For the next 10 years, she taught Yoga in the Bay Area, Australia and New Orleans in-between having children and supporting her husband’s education.  She credits her Yoga practice for being able to thrive through those busy, hard years.       

She came into CDA Power Yoga in December 2020 after being invited by a friend and immediately wanted to contribute to the amazing community.  She signed up for the teacher training and developed a new way of teaching.  She used to have a hard time waking people up at the end of her yoga classes, but now they walk out of class with a powerful momentum to go into the world and do good.       

Her classes are full of heart.  She takes time creating each class to foster the growth of practitioners.  She loves the sense of community that is cultivated in yoga, and it brings her an enormous amount of joy to see students work hard, feel strong and have fun.  She is forever a student of Yoga and also loves reading, running, hiking the trails in CDA and spending time with her husband and 4 kids.

Jared

Jared Prevost was introduced to CDA Power Yoga by a close friend in 2019.  Struggling with weight, stress, and a multitude of everyday life issues, he first walked into the studio not knowing what to expect.  It was at his very first chaturanga, he started to wonder what he had gotten himself into.  Three classes later he was signed up for the Sgt. Dan Nevans Master Class and it was there he found his love for Baptiste Yoga.  

It is the countless hours and unwavering dedication of CDA Power Yoga owners Michelle and Kyle Cooper, towards their members and community, which inspired Jared to enroll in the 200 Hour Be Bold Teacher Training program. He graduated in August of 2020 and began teaching at CDA Power Yoga in early 2021. 

“Come from you are ready now” is one of the Three Themes of Baptiste Yoga.  By shifting your mind from thoughts of past and future and acknowledging that “right now is all I’ve got”, you will find that possibilities are limitless.  Jared aspires to teach his students from this mindset, believing presence or the “now” is where the mind and body connection are as one. His classes are challenging, fun, and full of heart. His passion for the practice is evident with his intentional sequencing and music. Jared offered options for all levels, while teaching to the highest level in the class, as he loves getting upside down every chance he gets.

You’ll often see him dripping sweat, working hard on his handstand practice, high-fiving everyone in the studio, and always helping wherever possible. When Jared isn’t on his mat, you’ll find him spending time with his three amazing kiddos, hiking, camping, cooking and/or even enjoying weekly polar dips in the lake in the winter months.

Jaclyn

Jaclyn started practicing yoga on and off in San Diego in her early twenties, but never found a studio or methodology that kept her consistently going back for more. Growing up a dancer and cheerleader, she was always active, but never loved any specific form of exercise. When she moved to Hayden a couple years ago, she was introduced to CDA Power Yoga by a friend. It was the Baptiste methodology, and the precious community of the studio that made her fall in love with yoga, making it a staple in her life.

After routinely practicing at the studio for almost a year, her intentions to deepen her own practice led her to complete the 200-hour Empower Yoga Teacher Training, led by Kim and Michelle. Shortly after starting training, she knew she wanted to teach, and give back to the yoga community that came into her life when she needed it most. Jaclyn strives to bring a wholehearted and positive spirit to her classes, motivating her fellow yogis to take chances, enjoy their paths, and be proud of the strength built along the way. She is committed to maintaining a white-belt mentality, knowing that there’s always more to learn. She loves the principle of ‘sthira sukha,’ which means balanced action between strength & ease. It’s inspired her to create a strong physical body, helped her manage severe ADHD, and ignited a sense of purpose and self-love.

Outside of the studio, she works in Human Resources, is an artist, and loves spending her time with her dog Sunny, and her kitties Pinky & Zippy. She’s obsessed with the scenery of north Idaho, and has the camera roll to prove it!

michelle 

Michelle Cooper is a 200 Hour Certified Baptiste Yoga Teacher. As a combat veteran and former teacher, she immediately fell in love with the physical and mental challenge of yoga. Shortly after beginning to take classes herself, she knew she wanted to become a teacher and share the transformative and powerful practice she’d experienced. The Baptiste Methodology has taught Michelle to live with freedom, let go of fear, and never give up. She feels energized, full of possibility and inspired by community each time she steps on the mat.

In addition to attending Level 1, Level 2 and Art of Assisting with the Baptiste Institute, Michelle completed Expand Your Power Teacher Training at Willamette Valley Power Yoga in Oregon. She has also attended the Crisis and Trauma training with the Veterans Yoga Project, along with many other trainings and educational tools to always be working to deepen her understanding of the practice, techniques, and leadership skills required to powerfully teach and facilitate trainings.

Michelle believes strongly in the connection between practice on the mat and practice off the mat outside of the studio. She is committed to sharing the practice of yoga and creating a community based on health, wellness, and healing, teaching yoga as a lifestyle and a tool to enable people to live their best life. Her classes are challenging, yet accessible for all levels- plus they’re fun! She encourages her students to stretch beyond their comfort zones and into new possibility. Alongside her husband, Michelle appreciates the hard work of first responders and works with veterans as well as CDA Power Yoga’s community of first responders and military members.

When Michelle is not in the studio, she homeschools her 3 incredible kids, enjoys time at home with all her animals, and travels whenever possible. She and her husband also own Best Life, a retail store and coffee house in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Melissa

Melissa began practicing yoga in 2022 at CDA power yoga. She quickly fell in love with the practice after noticing herself being to feel physically stronger and more confident in herself. Yoga has been her constant this past year helping her mentally and physically.

Melissa has her bachelors degree in elementary education and has always loved teaching children. It was when she came to teacher training she learned that her love for teaching was not only for children but for adults too. Melissa is constantly wanting to learn new things and take these opportunities to grow as a person and as a teacher. Melissa’s favorite thing about teaching is seeing her students learn something new by getting out of their comfort zones.

Melissa has three boys and loves to spend her time with them and her husband on the lake, camping, hiking, all the outdoor things and of course on her mat practicing yoga.