Meet Our Team
Sam Smigelski – E-RYT200
Studio Owner, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Practitioner, Continued Education Provider
In 2010, while working in the architecture field, Sam held a second job working at a yoga studio. While there, she fell in love with the teachings, the physical practice, the mental peace, and the personal growth that had been missing in her life prior to yoga. She told herself that someday, when she was ready to retire from architecture, she’d own her own yoga studio.
Since 2010, Sam’s been practicing in different capacities at various studios, eventually finding her home at Spirit Rising Yoga & Meditation after moving to Brighton in 2018. After being laid off during covid, Sam completed her Yoga Teacher Training at SRYM, then began teaching at SRYM, and shortly thereafter, was offered the opportunity to take over studio ownership. While much earlier in life than anticipated, a forced architectural retirement laid the ground work for Sam to start her dream and share the wonderful yogic tools she had learned with others.
Business ownership, while challenging, has been rewarding in so many ways. She’s been able to partner with some amazing like-minded business owners in the area, become a bigger part of the local community and it has allowed her to be home more with her husband and daughter. OwningSRYM has given Sam the opportunity to grow more individually, be more present in the things that mean the most to her, and carry on a studio legacy of community, support, and overall well-being.
SRYM’s history has created a nurturing space with an emphasis on exploring yoga poses and yoga beyond the physical practice. SRYM works with students to safely practice the poses in their body while also incorporating meditation, breathwork, self-discovery, intentional behavioral modifications, energy work, and so much more into the practice. Looking forward, we will continue to build a spiritual community with the intent of bringing all of us closer to a blissful, healthy, and present life through a full class schedule, monthly workshops, special events, book club, and other community activities
Samantha is available for corporate, private, and group yoga sessions as well as private reiki sessions.
Kim Haas – 200HR-CYT
Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master
Kim Haas, 200-CYT, has well over 1000 hours of teaching experience, and is also a Reiki Master. After tip-toeing around the edges of yoga for almost twenty years, Kim fully committed to a yoga practice in the Fall of 2012 which quickly led to the Spirit Rising Yoga Immersion program.
It resulted in her teacher certification, just in time to help fill her looming empty nest. Kim enjoys offering unique classes and workshops that sometimes combine yoga with meditation, writing and even Reiki.
As a writer, she discovered so many connections between the practices of yoga and writing that she designed a class that combines both, creating space for her students to dive deep into their practice and their lives. She firmly believes in the power of yoga to transform on levels well beyond the physical.
Living her yoga both on and off the mat is a daily practice that helps her to create a life of depth filled with clarity, grace and ease and her intention is to offer that same opportunity to her students.
Kim is available for private group yoga and private Reiki.
Laura Deierlein, RYT-200
Yoga Teacher
Most importantly, Laura is inspired by the creativity of her mentors and enjoys teaching joyful and mindful classes that offer a deeper and more harmonized relationship with our physical and energetic bodies. She has taught hundreds of yoga classes, including at Spirit Rising. She has continued to develop her yoga methodology with unique training opportunities, including an immersion in Kundalini-style practices at a yoga ashram in northern India, Partner Yoga and Energy Medicine practices through the Kripalu Center for Yoga, and a certification for leading Laughter Yoga from Laughter University in Bangalore. Laura is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and she received her 200-hour teacher certification in 2012 from Stacey (original founder of Spirit Rising). One of her favorite things to do is catching photos of her doing yoga poses everywhere she travels. This pic is doing yoga on a camel! She is excited to reacquaint with the space at Spirit Rising!!!
Becky McVey, RYT-200
Yoga Teacher, CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist)
If you want to ground and soothe both your mind and body on a daily basis, Rebecca’s instruction will fill your soul. She first got into yoga nearly 30 years ago, when she received an ashtanga yoga video from her mom, a longtime practitioner. For the next several weeks, Rebecca did it every day and felt amazing. For the past six years, she has taught adaptive yoga, completing her RYT 200 in June under Kelli McMullin. Her classes feature a variety of themes and music, seasoned by her creative spirit and bold intention. Students will learn to trust their bodies, enjoying all of the movement and the stillness that class brings. If you are a student in her class, your time and energy will be treated with the deepest honor and respect. Rebecca lives in Brighton; and her loving home is blessed to include her spouse, children and many friendly pets. When she’s not teaching or practicing yoga, she loves to spend time in her extended family’s home away from home near Traverse City, reading and relaxing by the river.
Andi Clothier, ERYT-500
Andi has devoted the better half of nearly two decades to practicing, studying and teaching yoga. She is best known for her concise teaching style, creative and methodical sequencing, humor and relatable messaging. Andi holds a deep reverence for the roots of yoga and believes the most spiritual thing you can do is to be in your truth.
Sarah Nussdorfer, RYT-200
Yoga Teacher
Sarah Nussdorfer is a trauma-informed RYT 200 yoga teacher, sound healer, and educator who blends movement, mindfulness, and nervous system healing to create spaces of safety, softness, and transformation. With more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, literacy leader, and facilitator, Sarah
brings a compassionate, intuitive, and grounded presence to her work with children, teens, and adults.
As a survivor of domestic violence and assault, Sarah specializes in supporting women on their healing journeys. She deeply believes in the power of combining somatic therapies, such as yoga, breathwork, and sound healing, and nature immersion with talk therapies to support the full integration of mind, body, and spirit. Her signature program,* Whispers of the Wild,* weaves restorative yoga, sound therapy, breathwork, and nature-inspired ritual to help participants reconnect with their inner voice, release stored trauma, and awaken the wild wisdom within.
Sarah brings a nurturing, trauma-informed approach to the studio community. Alongside her private work, she leads *Whispers of the Wild* retreats across the United States, with international retreats beginning in 2027.
Rooted in gentleness, empowerment, and a belief in the innate resilience of the human spirit, Sarah creates intentional spaces where individuals can slow down, feel deeply supported, and return home to themselves.
Sarah is available for private individual or group yoga sessions as well as private healing sessions that blend yoga, sound healing, meditation, and holistic wellness practices.
Shawn Archer, MA, LPC, RYT-500, TCTSY-F
Private Yoga Instructor, MA, LPC, NBCC (Licensed Professional Counselor and National Board Certified Counselor)
Shawn Archer (she/her) is a therapist, certified RYT-500 yoga teacher, Trauma Center – Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator, and founder of Gentle Spirit Yoga, LLC. In addition, she is currently enrolled as a Clinical Extern at the International Institute of Yoga Therapy and will be certified as a Yoga Therapist in January 2025.
As a therapist, Shawn has 20 years of experience with individuals who have a history of complex trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Her clinical experience and training have fostered a deep understanding of how trauma disrupted an individual’s sense of safety, not only out in the world but also within the body.
Shawn is dedicated to guiding people on their healing journey and compassionately assisting them in exploring the healing aspects of yoga movement while incorporating mindfulness, breathwork, and body awareness into each session.
If you’re struggling with complex trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, or loss either individual or private small-group trauma-sensitive yoga sessions are available. For more information or to schedule a trauma-sensitive yoga session, contact Shawn by email at gentlespirit.sa@gmail.com.
Ina Stacy
Customer Experience Concierge
Hi, everyone! I am so excited to be joining the team! I’ve been the office manager for Hands on Health Chiropractic for almost 5 years. It is my passion to help, heal, and be of service to the people and world around me. My goal is to learn and practice reiki and cupping. Also, I have an interest in life and wellness coaching. Coming from a very difficult background, I have a unique understanding of trauma and an uncanny ability to connect to others. I hope to use my natural talents and gifts to help, heal, and fulfill my life’s purpose. I am very spiritual and love to be in nature whenever possible. Originally from Indiana, I moved here about 6 years ago. With so many cool places to visit and beautiful sights in Michigan, I have a very long list of must sees and future trips. I look forward to getting to know everyone as I come to classes and expand my role in the studio. Thank you for the opportunity to join your team!
Alex Becker, Crystal Singing Bowl Practitioner
Alex is a crystal singing bowl practitioner who creates transformative sound bath experiences. Drawn to the healing power of sound, Alex finds deep fulfillment in witnessing the peaceful shifts that occur when people immerse themselves in vibrational therapy. There’s nothing quite like the moment when participants open their eyes after a session – lighter, more positive, and reconnected to their inner calm. For Alex, playing the crystal singing bowls isn’t just a practice; it’s a calling to help others discover the restorative peace that sound can bring.
Alex is available for private individual or group singing bowl sessions.
Gina Livingston, Marketing Manager
With a background in digital marketing, Gina loves capturing the heart and energy of the studio and sharing it with the community through creative content. She is passionate about yoga and believes in the power of movement, connection, and creating welcoming spaces where people can come together. When she’s not at the studio, you’ll likely find her spending time outdoors, enjoying nature, and exploring new places.
