Guest Teachers

Ashley Rathman

250HR REGISTERED YOGA TEACHER

After dabbling in yoga for a few years, Ashley began a consistent practice in 2013 at Pacific Yoga, enjoying the calm the practice provided in both her body and mind. After discovering a sought-after sense of community and contentment at Pacific, she decided to deepen her practice and completed her Foundational Teacher Training Program along with Yin and Restorative Certifications in Philadelphia.

Ashley’s classes are slow and sweet, settling into the breath first and using that as a tool to connect to the body and a deeper sense of Self. Ashley hopes to instill a feeling of calm and connection on the mat by guiding those who practice to meet themselves exactly where they are and then encouraging them to find their edges with curiosity, awareness and compassion.

Dawn Smelser

2000HR CERTIFIED YOGA TEACHER, REIKI MASTER/TEACHER

GRIEF COUNSELLOR, CERTIFIED SPIRITUAL HEALER & DEATH DOULA

For the last 28 years, Dawn has been offering heart-centered healing practice through yoga. She studied at the first school of yoga in the world, The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India and her classes focus on offering love to the parts of ourselves in deep need and offering curiosity to the stranger within. The slow and steady approach to yoga that Dawn offers gives time and patience to attendees in ways that help counter the conditioning of hurry and certainty that pervade American Culture. She uses knowledge of somatic therapy, IFS therapy, reiki, reflexology, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of yoga philosophy to guide her teaching, and brings in her experience as a death doula to center our collective aliveness. Classes will leave students feeling grounded, rested, and tender-hearted.

Eunmi Chang

500HR REGISTERED YOGA TEACHER & 250HR CERTIFIED SOUND HEALER

Eunmi Chang is a dedicated luminary in the realms of sound healing and yoga. Her expertise spans the profound territories of Tibetan Singing Bowls and Crystal Bowls, artfully weaving sound therapy with Yoga Asanas/Poses, Breath Work, Meditation, Nidra Yoga, Sonic Massage and Chakra & Aura Cleansing. Her enduring devotion is to craft sound vibrations that nurture deep relaxation and a sense of wholeness.

Eunmi’s mastery with healing bowls elevates the ordinary, offering an experience that is both serene and profoundly inspiring. With an extensive portfolio featuring over 150 sound healing meditation and yoga workshops/events, she has earned acclaim, even securing a prominent feature in Philly Magazine. Presently, she forges dynamic partnerships with the Fairmount Park Conservancy, UPenn, and numerous esteemed yoga studios/wellness centers in Philadelphia, PA, underscoring her unwavering dedication to the transformative potential of sound and yoga.

Eunmi is also a 500-hour RYT with extensive training, specializing in various yoga styles including Vinyasa, Restorative, Nidra, Yin, and Myofascial Release, while also holding multiple certifications in these disciplines. With over 1700 hours of teaching experience and as a registered YACEP, yoga is not just part of her profession, but her way of life. Eunmi’s distinctive teaching style blends tradition with intuition, emphasizing breath, alignment, and the mind-body-spirit connection. She guides students to explore at their own pace in a nurturing atmosphere, concluding each class with the soothing resonance of her unique Full Moon Tibetan Singing Bowls for a profound sense of peace and alignment.

Kara Szumski

DOCTORATE OF ACUPUNCTURE & TRADITIONAL ASIAN HERBAL MEDICINE
LICENSED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF MEDICINE & NCCAOM

Kara Szumski is a practicing acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and the owner of Ease Healing Studio. Kara began her training at the New Zealand School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and completed her graduate work at the New England School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, in addition to studying with numerous masters in the field.

Kara specializes in Chinese & Japanese Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and holds advanced certification in moxibustion, cupping, prenatal, childbirth and postpartum treatment, pediatric treatment, advanced gynecological disorders, and sports medicine. Kara creates an individualized healing path for each patient and takes pride in her long-standing relationships with her patients, many of whom include multi-generational families who all come to Kara for treatment.