Our Team

From Cancer Researcher to Yoga Teacher

Hi! I’m Kim, the Founder of Empower You, a Cancer Researcher, HeartMath Practitioner, and Certified Yoga for Cancer (Y4C)Teacher.

Hello! I’m Julie, a Holistic Nutrition Consultant, Certified Culinary Nutritionist, and Exercise Physiologist.

I believe that magic happens in the kitchen! The recipes I have prepared for Empower You were designed and refined specially to meet your unique needs as a cancer patient. My goal is to use creativity, empathy, fun, and delicious recipes to help you fuel your body back to health. I love breaking down complex issues in nutrition and health into realistic changes you can easily integrate into your life no matter what health challenges you’re facing. I love to dive into the “why” behind nutrition so I can help you choose nourishment for your mind, body and soul that fits your health needs and dietary philosophies. Having faced my own serious health and digestive challenges, I’m passionate about helping you fall in love with food while teaching new and refreshing ways to look at nutrition and health. You can learn more about me at www.juliewalton.ca

strengthen Your Inner Cancer Warrior so you can thrive

Hi! I’m Jessica, a Certified Yoga for Cancer (Y4C) Teacher, LYT™ Yoga Teacher, and Two-Time Cancer Survivor. 

I’m a warrior on a mission. As a two-time cancer survivor, I’ve seen firsthand the power that yoga has to transform our bodies, our minds, our ability to heal, and the limitless potential we have to thrive. I’m bringing LYT™ (Lara’s Yoga Technique) Yoga to fellow warriors of all walks of life – athletes, cancer warriors, and those with warrior spirits, driven to feel their best and move with intention – and tenacity – every single day. The LYT method is functional movement medicine to remap our imbalances, come back into alignment, strengthen and stabilize our bodies, and make ourselves more resilient and adaptable to change. In my collaboration with Empower You, I’m offering yoga classes for warriors who seek gentle movement, as well as those who are receiving in-patient care.  I’m combining my personal experience and training in y4c (yoga4cancer) to help fellow cancer thrivers harness their strength to heal and step forward into what’s next. When not on my mat, look for me outdoors on a run, on my bike, or on a hike with my kids and pup. I know how precious this life is and how fortunate we are to be here. That fuels me every day (along with green tea and 80s rap) and I can’t wait to share that fire with you! Learn more about me at www.jessicahensleyyoga.com

 Start Right Where You Are to Find More Strength and Peace

Hello! I’m Sari, a Certified Yoga for Cancer (Y4C) Teacher and Cancer Survivor. 

As both a cancer survivor and a yoga teacher, I know first-hand that yoga does not have to be difficult to be beneficial on your cancer journey. I am now collaborating with Empower You to guide you through gentle Chair Yoga movements right in the comfort of your own home. I have been teaching yoga since 2007 and hold certifications in Gentle Therapeutics Yoga®, Adaptive Yoga for Clinical Settings, Yoga for Cancer (Y4C), Yoga for Eating Disorders, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Trauma-Sensitive Heartmath®, Integrative Somatic Trauma Therapy and I am currently pursuing my clinical yoga therapy certification with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). If you are new to yoga or are still finding your stability after diagnosis, I hope my classes will be a source of empowerment and inspiration that you can come back to each day. You can learn more about me at www.sariomyoga.com. 

connect your body and breath for healing and recovery

Hi! I’m Leona, a Retired Medical Oncologist, a Cancer Survivor, and a Certified Yoga for Cancer (Y4C) Teacher.

During my career as an oncologist, I often saw patients struggling with how their diagnosis and treatments impacted their bodies, minds, and spirits. Even though I had been practicing yoga for many years, it wasn’t until I went through my own breast cancer diagnosis and treatment that I realized the positive impact yoga can have during this challenging time. I am committed to sharing how yoga empowers us, helps us regain strength and flexibility, calms and quiets our minds, reduces fear and anxiety, and so much more. Yoga does not need to be hard to be beneficial, but seeing my strength grow as I worked towards challenging poses helped me to feel healthy and alive during my cancer journey. In my collaboration with Empower You, I offer guidance on taking your yoga journey from medium strength practices all the way to vigorous and advanced practices when you are ready.  My hope is that yoga will help you reconnect with and trust your body again, and that your “new normal” will be even stronger, healthier, and more resilient than ever! You can learn more about me at www.yogawithleona.com.

Meet Yourself with Compassion to Find More Strength and Courage

Hi! I’m Ellie Rose, a Masterful Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher, Ayurveda Wellness Counselor,  Retired Professor of Theater, and Two-Time Cancer Caregiver.

My heartfelt intention in any space I teach is that everyone feels welcome, supported, safe to feel how they feel, and encouraged to meet themselves with a soft kindness that begins the deep work and healing of yoga. As a humble student of life and what it means to be human, I had the beautiful honor of taking care of both my mother and sister after their cancer diagnoses. I am collaborating with Empower You to help guide caregivers  to deeper levels of peace, courage, and compassion. I am passionate about sharing the wisdom of yoga, Ayurveda, and mindfulness and living my life in a way that inspires healing for all people, creatures, and the planet. With lots of compassion and definitely some humor, we will practice and grow together. You can learn more about me at www.yogiblossom.com 

Feel Confident and Strong in your body

Hi! I’m Tona, a Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist, a Stroke Recovery Specialist, and a Nutritionist with an Emphasis on How to Heal the Body with Food.

I am a woman dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Though I have never had cancer myself, I lost my cousin at 37 to breast cancer. My drive and commitment to helping people recover from cancer and its treatments have been fueled by my loss. My deep passion is to guide individuals to regain their life balance and well-being through exercise. I greatly value every individual’s journey and understand what it takes to help build confidence and awareness after diagnosis. Helping you be the best you can be is truly my life’s purpose. I am collaborating with Empower You to bring Functional Movement and Strength Training to patients so you can perform your daily activities with ease and confidence. I am here to help you feel strong and whole in this next chapter of your life. Together we can do anything. You can learn more about me at www.rebuildingaftercancer.com 

Support your Energetic Patterns to Enhance Healing

Hi! I’m Megan, an Advanced Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner and Teacher, Reiki Practitioner, and Holistic Health Coach.

The energetic systems in your body may be invisible but they are powerful! While I practice several energetic modalities, my favorites are those that may appear to work like “magic” but are actually grounded in science. Using ancient techniques with a modern understanding of how and why they work is what allows me to bridge the gap for skeptics and introduce this work to a wider audience. For Empower You, I hope to offer a vast range of information and exercises to help you overcome any adverse side effects you may be feeling from treatment and to get your body back into a state of healing and thriving. Energy medicine is deceptively simple to do (and fun!) but generates profound results. You can learn more about me at www.energymedicineseattle.com

Feel More Relaxed One Massage at a Time

Hello! I’m Rachel, a Board-Certified Massage Therapist, Popular Wellness YouTube Host, and Amazon Best-Selling Author.

Getting a massage is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind. But most of us can’t get massages as often as we would like. That is why I collaborated with Empower You to bringing you a wealth of engaging videos that will guide you through easy, but powerful self-massage routines to alleviate anxiety, ease pain in all parts of the body, and improve your overall wellness. My biggest goal is to alleviate your pain and physical restrictions, so that you can perform your day-to-day activities with ease, and continue do the activities you love! I have extensive bodywork experience, and hold advanced certifications in medical, sports, prenatal, and Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy. I have treated over a thousand clients in person and millions more on my YouTube channel, Rachel Richards Massage. You can learn more about me at www.rachel-richards.com

Tap into your Power to Create Beauty and Magic

Hello! I am Kayla, a Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

During times of uncertainty and overwhelm, engaging the parts of us that long to be creative can help us feel stronger, happier, and more relaxed. For over 15 years I have been intertwining my passion for art, healing, and building community into my own artistic processes and holistic living. Through my personal and professional experiences, I have seen firsthand the powerful impact integrating art and essential oils into your routine can have on your emotional and physical wellbeing. It gives me a new sense of control in a world that often feels overwhelming. I hope the information I have shared through Empower You will do the same for you. You can learn more about me at www.kaylahelenske.com

Feel More Confident and Empowered with Each New Drawing

Hi! I’m Leah, an Art Teacher and Founder of Muddy Moose Pottery & Art Studio.

People often tell me, “I have no artistic talent” or “I can’t draw!” After years of teaching drawing classes to both adults and children, I know this simply is NOT true, as art is for everyone! There is nothing more rewarding to me than hearing the excitement in both children and adults when they finish a drawing they didn’t think they could do. As a military spouse who moves often, I founded the mobile Muddy Moose Pottery & Art Studio to allow myself a creative outlet and to share the magic of art with others wherever I go. My mission with Empower You is to provide simple drawing classes that can be done by anyone at any time. Whether you sit down with your child to take one of my classes together or dive in alone to take your mind of things while you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, I hope you will trust your artistic process and have some fun! You can learn more about me at www.muddymoosepottery.com.