Frani, she/her, grew up a dancer and competitive runner and did not realize all the stretching she was doing was Yoga until she found the practice in 1996. She fell in love with Bikram/Traditional Hot Yoga after her first class in 2000. Frani found the mental benefits were even greater than the physical and decided to pursue teaching so she could share this amazing practice. She completed her 500-hour teacher training at The Yoga College of India L.A. with Bikram Choudhury in 2003 and has been teaching ever since.

Frani has also completed trainings with Tony Sanchez in the Ghosh Vinyasa series in 2016 and in the Bernie Clark lineage of Yin Yoga in 2019.

After teaching for 17 years and managing the studio for nearly 6, Frani bought The SweatBox in October 2019. It is her dharma to continue to share the yoga and lead this vibrant community for another 20 years. You can email Frani at frani@sweatboxyoga.com.

One of Frani’s favorite things is helping her students become teachers. She lead her first 200-Hour YTT in 2021 and is honored to watch her graduates grow into wise and inspiring guides.

@franiroseassaf

Chelsi, she/they, is an experienced yogi and artist with a background in design and education from Cincinnati, OH. They seek to apply a devotion to learning and creativity to vinyasa style classes. Chelsi has been committed to building community in yoga and uplifting POC voices and viewpoints. Chelsi trained in vinyasa, yin, meditation, and yoga nidra with Practice School of Magic and Poseurs Yoga. They believe that the physical practice of yoga fosters greater connectivity with our communities and ourselves.

@the.chellbee

Carey first explored yoga as a way to build better alignment and manage back pain due to scoliosis. She enjoyed the body opening and meditative benefits of her initial classes but didn’t develop a regular practice until discovering Traditional Hot Yoga at The SweatBox in 2008. She immediately fell in love with the heat, the routine and the challenge of staying focused, even when it’s uncomfortable. Over time she saw a dramatic decrease in back pain and healing of repetitive use injury in her arms and wrists. Carey trained in the Traditional Hot Series at The SweatBox’s inaugural 200-Hour Teacher Training in 2021. She is excited to bring her caring and creative nature into her teaching. Outside the studio, Carey is a student of leadership and lover of nature, movement, music and good food.

@care.sweat.create

"My path to yoga began as an extension of my fitness routine and quickly evolved into a regular practice that deeply enhances my daily life. Through yoga I have learned to observe myself without judgment and rediscover a profound connection with my body. After completing my 200-hour teacher training in Bali, specializing in Vinyasa and Ashtanga, I'm excited to share my passion by teaching Vinyasa-focused classes. In our modern culture, we often feel disconnected from our bodies, which are our greatest sources of nourishment. I aim to create a warm and inviting space where students can re-establish that connection and cultivate mindfulness through the unity of breath and movement”.

I teach yoga to help connect & strengthen your relationship with your body, nurture self-agency, and compassionately cultivate the discipline of awareness.

When I first started practicing yoga in a sweaty carpeted room in 2011, I was floored by my physical transformation and the mental calm that followed. Fast forward to summer 2017, I knew I had to do the Inaugeral Practice School of Magic 200 hour teacher training, with Poseurs teachers Emily Denton and Alyssa Yackley. I was so grateful and proud to be a part of a community that was accessible and integrated all the layers of yoga. When the pandemic hit, I switched to online teaching and eventually changed careers to become a visual designer, with a splash or radio on the side!

I am so excited to be teaching yoga again, especially yin, and I look forward to connecting with the Sweatbox community on a deeper level.

@gr3tarose

www gretaheller.com

Jennifer was introduced to yoga in college and has been practicing since 1997. You can feel her commitment in every class, because each one is unique.

Jennifer began teaching yoga in 2002 by virtue of Kim King-Zamoff’s training and generosity. She has studied and trained with Kathleen Hunt at Samadhi Yoga, Shiva Rea, Richelle Ricard, Nicole Koleshis (Seattle Kids Yoga), Bernie Clark (Yin Yoga), Tricia Murphy-Madden, Alex McLean and Tiffany Cruikshank. Jennifer teaches in studios, gyms, homes, corporations and hosts retreats in the Pacific Northwest, Mexico and Bali.

Jennifer is based in Seattle, where she offers workshops and teachers trainings. Decades of experience are woven into her inspired approach.

@jennifer.isaacson.yoga

Jess graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a BFA in Dance Magna Cum Laude in 2001 after studying dance at Reed College and the London Contemporary Dance School. She received her yoga teacher certification in Prana Vinyasa Flow from Shiva Rea in 2007 and has trained with Kathleen Hunt of Samadhi Yoga for over two decades. In 2018, Jess was awarded a grant to further study asana and meditation in Dharamshala, Varanasi and Rishikesh, India.

As a professional dancer, Jess brings artfulness, creativity and embodiment to her classes. She has been performing as a dancer and choreographer in Seattle and beyond for 20 years. Jess adores The SweatBox community and is grateful to share her love of movement with the community here.

@dancejam

Ashley found yoga after a dance injury several years ago. After searching around Seattle for studio, she found The SweatBox and the healing powers of a hot sweaty yoga practice. The SweatBox teachers and community inspired a new love for the body and mind. She continued to explore more styles of yoga and was drawn to the creative flow of Vinyasa. Ashley decided to become a life long student of yoga and completed her 200 YTT in the summer of 2018.

@asana_kromm

Manzi's passion for yoga, meditation, and supporting individual growth informs her classes and workshops. She trained with The Sweatbox in their inaugural 200 Hour Training in 2021 and has practiced yoga since 2004. With a background in psychology, meditation, massage, and herbology, she seeks to show up for each practitioner with a wide breadth of understanding and caring for the human condition. Manzi is the Operations Manager for The SweatBox and can be reached at manzi@thesweatboxyoga.com.

@allisonmanzanita

Janet began her yoga journey in 2002 by taking her first Traditional Hot Yoga (Bikram) class in Dallas, Texas. Furthering her stretch for more knowledge, and the desire to pass it on, Janet completed her first teacher training in 2012; soon after, adding 200 hour Yoga Alliance RYS trainings in Vinyasa and Iyengar based styles. As her practice matured, she has been drawn to the softer side of yoga, expanding her certifications with a Restorative Yoga teacher training.

@janetkomen

In February of 2009, Mary walked into a yoga class and never looked back. In 2011 she completed her 200-hour Kripalu Yoga teacher training with Prem Shakti in Florida. Since then, Mary he has continued to deepen her knowledge of yoga; studying various traditions within the vinyasa and hatha yoga styles, as well as pranayama (breath work), philosophy and meditation. Over the years, Mary has studied therapeutic movement, strength training, and body work and after moving to Seattle in 2014, completed her certification in Massage Therapy. Mary’s goal is to help her students find their own unique flow with life. She encourages her students to move, breathe and create the balance they need to navigate the everyday winds of change.

@flowyouryoga

Natalia started practicing yoga in 2002 and continues to marvel at the lifelong, ever-evolving journey of yoga that parallels life. She received her teaching certification in Hatha/vinyasa in 2008. Natalia teaches an Ashtanga-based, anatomically-informed practice, with intelligent sequencing, mindful precision and creativity being some of the components.

“Practicing with and teaching yoga to other humans has been my favorite way to practice and I feel honored to share my passion and knowledge with my community.”

Natalia has worked as a cardiac and electrophysiology RN for 14 years, a type of work that requires a deep sense of compassion and empathy, taking care of patients and their families at their most vulnerable state.

Natalia was born and raised in Bratislava, briefly lived in Austria, then Canada, but the majority of her adult years she has lived in America.

@i_am_natalia

Parvanah took her first Traditional Hot (Bikram) class ever at the Sweatbox in the Spring of 2006. She fell in love with the practice immediately. It gave her the same rush of endorphins that she had when competing in sports as a college athlete. She became a dedicated student right away and it has helped her in so many ways ever since. After years of working in finance, Parvanah decided to take a chance and try her hand at teaching this beloved Yoga. In the fall of 2014 she got certified in Thailand, and is thrilled to be focusing on teaching as her new profession. Parvanah adores The SweatBox community and feel blessed to have the opportunity at a career that feeds her soul.

Parvanah is our Operations Manager and can be reached at manager@sweatboxyoga.com.

@parvanah83

Erik had never tried yoga before stepping into The SweatBox in the Spring of 2018! After leaving his first 90-minute class he immediately knew that he had discovered something very special. Through regular practice in the hot room he began to notice that not only was his body healing and becoming stronger, but his mental and spiritual health were also improving.

In the Fall of 2021 he completed the 200-Hour Traditional Hot Yoga Teacher Training offered by The Sweatbox, where he was taught and mentored by the amazing family of instructors here! As a new teacher he loves guiding students through their practice with a little bit of humor and a lot of humility. He wants to share the magic of hot yoga with anyone curious enough to try it, all while acknowledging the rich culture and history from which the practice comes.

@heymeow_heymeow

Simone advances the mission of the eight limbs of yoga with a strong daily asana practice and a Metta meditation practice. Simone has been a yoga practitioner for 20+ years. Simone was introduced to Bikram Yoga at the age of 18 in her hometown of Kailua, Hawaii. Simone has since studied Ashtanga + Hatha + Vinyasa Yoga.

Simone received her 200-hour RYT certificate in 2009 from Kathleen Hunt and Steve Davis, who owned Samadhi Yoga. Simone was prolific in the rise of Yoga Behind Bars (YBB) serving on the Board of Directors as the founding Social Media Manager and donation procurer. This was when Simone first practiced Karma Yoga.

Simone is always eager to guide students in deepening their yoga practice. And has been called to deepen her own practice through education. Simone is currently enrolled in Koya Webb’s Get Loved Up 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training. She is also a student at the University of Washington. Simone has dedicated her life to steward people to align with their higher power through the practice of yoga. She has a desire to obtain her PsyD in Neuropsychology, where she hopes to continue her work with former professional athletes.

Alongside yoga, Simone enjoys being physically active (swimming, surfing, skateboarding, running, hiking) in nature and reading voraciously. Simone also takes pride in holistic cooking and baking; you will often find her perusing the weekly farmers markets.

Todd took his first hot yoga class in 2012 and absolutely hated it:) He remembered hearing a teacher from the past tell him that you need to try something at least 5 times, so he persevered. After seeing and feeling the benefits of the practice and having compassionate instructors guiding him, Todd became a believer and made it his goal to become a teacher. After a life-threatening health event in August 2021, Todd is convinced that yoga and meditation are what saved his life and made for a fast recovery.

In January 2022, he completed a 330-hour teacher certification program. He is excited to share his love of Traditional Hot Yoga to others with compassion and empathy, and is grateful for every opportunity to do so. Todd recently retired from full-time dentistry after 32 years. His other interests are travel, cooking, playing clarinet, and cats.