About Us
ZenSoul Yoga
ZenSoul’s mission is born out of simplicity and respect; for both our community and the tradition of yoga. We aim to provide an inclusive, welcoming space where students may support themselves and one another, wherever they are in their yoga journey. ZenSoul instructors consistently strive to provide intentional breath guidance, alignment-based sequencing, and opportunities to tap into meditation and mantra. Our serene space encourages growth, discovery, and honors the integrity of the yogic lifestyle in its entirety. As we continue on the lifelong path of learning together, we offer students and staff monthly continuing education in the form of workshops and special events. As we collectively continue to look inward with open minds and open hearts, we seek out our greatest internal gifts and uncover those spaces that call for inner work and healing. It is through this path of self-awareness that we open our doors to those who also seek to discover and find guidance through the yogic way. ZenSoul humbly offers the gifts that yoga has offered for thousands of years and welcome all to be a part of our community.
MEET YOUR
ZenSoul Instructors
We believe in the healing powers of yoga for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. We aim to offer something for everyone and every body at all levels in a serene environment that allows all who come to check out of this fast-paced world we live in today, one hour at a time. We all need a little zen; we hope you find yours within and with us. Namaste.
Chaundra Calhoon
Founder and Owner of ZenSoul Yoga & Wellness Center, Yoga Instructor
ABOUT CHAUNDRA
Chaundra is the founder and owner of ZenSoul Yoga & Wellness Center which is located right next door to her husband Ryan’s gym, Calhoon’s Fitness. Both being lovers of all things health and fitness related, when Chaundra approached Ryan about her idea to open a yoga studio in his vacant building, the stars were aligned and the rest is history. Now a certified yoga instructor, Chaundra teaches Vinyasa and Hatha yoga along with other offerings. She trained under world-renowned teacher Amy Ippoliti, co-founder of Vesselify School of Yoga. https://vesselify.com/faculty/amy-ippoliti/. Chaundra continues her training with Amy as she feels her yoga study is a life-long journey.
When Chaundra is not at the yoga studio, she enjoys frequent trips to Wallowa Lake with her husband. The light of her life, her son Jackson, is currently a student at Montana State University in the Graphic Design program and he developed the logo for ZenSoul. This has truly been a family adventure!
Jen Crane
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT JEN
Jen first realized her passion for yoga in 2009, after taking her first hot vinyasa class at Hot Yoga Inc., in Bellevue, WA. Feeling exhausted but exhilarated in spirit, her love for both the physical and mental practice of yoga was one that grew organically and continuously. As she found herself at the studio more days than not, the invitation to complete an RYT 200 hour teacher certification program felt more like a natural progression than any kind of choice.
Since 2011, Jen has taught various forms of yoga throughout the Seattle and Bellevue area, bringing her signature style to Walla Walla in 2015. Jen takes time to personalize each experience by cultivating a practice that works with the needs of her students. Leading with breath-based flow, practitioners are always sure to feel more grounded and cared for in Jen’s experienced and compassionate hands.
Deeply devoted to the power of vinyasa, Jen prioritizes a fluid form of moving meditation, focused on the connection between body, mind, and breath. She guides her students through alignment and awareness, encouraging the practice of intention-setting and ujjayi breathing (pranayama) as a means to explore the body and heart more freely. Sessions are set to hand-picked musical selections to enhance the experience. Students can expect to work hard, breathe deeply, and leave feeling more rooted in the most authentic parts of themselves.
When she’s not practicing or teaching yoga, Jen enjoys soaking up the beauty of the seasons in Walla Walla, reading inspiring texts, cooking vegan fare, and spending time with her sweet ohana.
Allie
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT ALLIE
Allie believes when we are in alignment physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually we can access our inborn energy, creativity and personal power, find peace of mind from within, and manifest from our authentic self.
Her teaching combines creative Hatha and Vinyasa flow with the foundations of classical Kundalini Yoga Kriyas or cleansing practices to heal, energize and build radiance from within. Allie has experience teaching people of all ages and abilities and offers modifications to suit the needs of her students. She has taught Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Radiant Body Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Yoga Nidra Meditation in both Germany and the United States. Allie is a certified yoga instructor (E-RYT 200 and RYT 500) with the American Yoga Alliance, and holds a BA in Dance from the University of Washington. She began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2000 to support an intensive professional contemporary dance career, and later developed a more inclusive practice informed by Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Kundalini Yoga. She completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training at the Balance Yoga Institute in Germany in 2011, and a 300 hour training in Radiant Body Yoga with Kia Miller in the USA and India in 2018. Most recently she completed another 200 hour yoga teacher training with Kundalini University and the Kundalini Research Institute in Seattle, WA in 2020.
Heather Rodriguez
Yoga Instructor, RYT 200, TCTSY-F
ABOUT HEATHER
Heather completed her 200-hour teacher training at Revolver under the instruction of Courtney Morgan and Julie Baron. She completed her 300-hour Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F) Certification through the Center for Embodiment at Justice Resource Institute, and she is currently in the process of completing her 500-hour teacher training through 8 Limbs Yoga. Heather has been inspired by BKS Iyengar, who said “Yoga is like music: The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” First drawn to yoga for personal wellness and growth, it has also enhanced her professional knowledge as a therapist and professor of social work. The sutras closely align with her clinical knowledge, approach to therapy and as a healing agent for trauma recovery. Her goal is to create a safe and welcoming space for all to explore their yoga practice. She is passionately active in social justice and mental health advocacy in the community. She perceives everything in life as art, loves traveling, and is a connoisseur of all things tea!
Anastasia Christman
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT ANASTASIA
Anastasia came to yoga as an accident—or, more accurately, because of an accident—when a gentle Hatha practice helped her rebuild my body and her confidence. In the 25 years since, her practice has expanded to include vinyasa flow, restorative, and athletic styles of yoga. She earned her 200-hour teaching certification under the guidance of Courtney Morgan and Julie Baron right here in Walla Walla. Her teaching emphasizes complimentary strength, flexibility, and alignment in order to move safely and to learn attentiveness to balance and compensation in the body. She starts from a premise that a yoga practice begins on the mat and deepens when we incorporate the teachings in our daily lives, including other athletic practices; breath and mindfulness techniques build the focus and awareness that enable a flow state when we are in motion during any physical pursuit. When Anastasia in not on her mat, you can find her pedaling our back roads, hiking up summits, baking gluten-free goodies (with mixed success), or on daily runs around Bennington Lake with her very energetic dog, Piper.
Sarah Helm
Pilates Instructor
ABOUT SARAH
Sarah first discovered her love for Pilates in college when we took a Pilates class as an “easy” elective. She soon learned that, although Pilates is graceful and low-impact, it is anything. but easy! She couldn’t believe the strength her instructor had, by doing moves that seem easy to a bystander, but are definitely challenging!
Her love for fitness and Pilates continued to grow from there. After college she became a certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor and then obtained her Pilates certification as well.
Sarah has been teaching Pilates and other fitness classes since 2018 and loves to share her passion with others.
One thing she especially loves about Pilates is how it can be done at any stage of life. She was able to do pilates before becoming pregnant, during her pregnancies, and postpartum as well. Pilates can be done by people of all ages as well!
In her Pilates classes Sarah focuses on strength, stability, and flexibility through a series of exercises performed on mat. These exercises are partially done laying on the mat and partially standing up.
When Sarah is not teaching Pilates she enjoys spending time with her family, going on walks, visiting friends, trying new recipes, and practicing Pilates herself!
Tara Slusher
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT TARA
When Tara first tried yoga at a local gym, she did not instantly become hooked. She did become very curious, however, and wanted to learn more about this “practice”. In 2004, a co-worker recommended she purchase Kino MacGregor’s Ashtanga Primary Series DVD. She bought the DVD and ended up watching in awe instead of actually attempting the postures. As soon as she was able to afford more than ramen noodles, she joined a yoga studio in Clarksville, TN and fell in love with the practice. Yoga helped her with stress and taught her how to breathe when the anxieties of life. With her husband in the military, Tara had to move and lost the yoga instructor whose class she regularly attended. She spent the next 5 years doing yoga online and missing that connection. Once she moved to Walla Walla, she immediately joined ZenSoul Yoga Studio. Tara felt so refreshed and instantly connected! Shortly after, she had the opportunity to complete a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Kenny Landis of Yoga Dharmanation. The experience deepened her love for yoga and now she wants to share that with all of her students by helping them to move better, breathe better, and enjoy all the benefits yoga has to offer.
Afrose Ahmed
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT AFROSE
Afrose Ahmed is a writer and teacher. She believes that we can find more joy, be more productive, and have better lives if we all slowed down and made time for stillness. Afrose has been meditating since 2005 and teaching meditative practices to unlock creativity since 2015. She is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher.
Off of the mat, Afrose enjoys spending time with her partner and their two dogs.
Leslie Snyder
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT LESLIE
“Is the life that I am living the life that wants to live in me?” This quote directs my life, especially when it comes to health, wellness and movement. With over 20 years in the health and wellness, I bring thousands of hours of teaching and coaching to you. Trained in Pilates, Yoga, Group Exercise, Personal Training and now as a Board-Certified Health Coach, I bring you the best I have to offer.
Leslie owns Redefine Fitness & Nutrition and contracts with Better Up as a Care coach for mental health coaching. In her free time, you’ll find her cheering on her son at swim meets, hiking in the mountains or snuggling with her new pup, Ozzie. Leslie is married to Jim and has three children.
Sarah Williams
Yoga Instructor
ABOUT SARAH
I was born in Anchorage, AK but grew up in Wenatchee Wa.
Went to Western Washington University to study Art and Graphic Design.
Post college, all I wanted to do was travel. 14 years ago is when I began my adventures. Living abroad in Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia.
While primarily working in Hospitality I began developing an interest in wine and the last few years working a bit on the production side.
Yoga has been in my life for over a decade and during the pandemic was one of the most important tools for my personal healing and maintaining my health and mental sanity. I felt I owed it to myself to learn more and that is when I decided to participate in a YTT Program in Rishikesh, India this past spring. To date, it is one of the most meaningful events in my life. I am so grateful to continue my yoga journey with more knowledge to share with others.
I have been a nomad now for several years and I am happy to have found myself in Walla Walla.
I came here to house sit and ended up getting a job working Harvest at Tranche Winery this fall.
Everyone I have met in town has been so kind and I am excited to meet more Walla Wallians. 😉
In my free time you will find me painting (Just started using watercolors), jogging (when it’s not 100 degrees), practicing yoga and wine tasting!