About Us

Karen has been a practitioner of yoga for many years, and in 2016 decided to go for her 200-hour certification through Heart Space Yoga under the guidance of Andrea Thibodeau. She then began teaching classes in her community regularly. In 2017 she traveled to Barcelona to become a certified Trapeze Yoga teacher through Yogabody. In 2020 she became a certified yoga coach. In 2021 Karen became a certified Aromatherapist and in 2022 earned her 300 RYT through the Kaivalya Yoga Method. She has taught classes in gentle yoga, chair yoga, all levels yoga, trapeze yoga, gravity coaching, and restorative yoga. She also teaches mindfulness classes and offers aromatherapy consultations.  Her dream of owning her own studio became a reality when she opened Sweetwater Studios in East Burke in the fall of 2022.

  A yogi since childhood, Madeleine began the formal study of yoga in 1999 and began teaching in 2004. 

Madeleine has been engaged in the healing dimensions of the spiritual world from a young age, attending large outdoor mediation retreats as a child and participating in a solo wilderness vision quest at age 17. 

Madeleine’s primary teacher is Shiva Rae, founder of Prana Vinyasa Yoga. 

Prana Vinyasa Yoga draws on the wisdom of the Shakti (feminine) lineages that focus on the subtle body and energetic alignment. Prana Vinyasa classes are themed with the elements of nature and offer the full spectrum of yogic arts, engaging your body, breath, heart and mind. 

Madeleine is also a Rostered Psychotherapist in the State of Vermont and Registered with the Yoga Alliance as E-RYT 200 (teaching 1000+ class hours) and RYT 500 after recently completing a 300 TT and Soulful Wellness Certification. 

Classes may include Tantra-Hatha based mindful breathing, movement mediation, one-breath one-flow movement patterns, dance and kriya. Some workshops may also include journaling and life navigation or rituals to honor the seasonal transitions, such as the lunar cycle. Madeleine’s teaching empowers students to learn practices they can do at home to cultivate their own wellbeing.

  Sorrel is a firm believer that yoga is for everyone, no matter what their age, fitness level, flexibility, gender or background, and ensures that her classes are designed with this in mind. Yoga has always been a safe haven for Sorrel and this nurturing element is something that runs through each of her classes. Expect flowing sequences that offer the chance to reconnect with yourself, whilst enjoying some great music and a welcoming atmosphere. 

An English woman based in Vermont, she completed her initial 250 hour teacher training in 2017 under Keren Cooksey of Falmouth Yoga Space in the UK, but is on a continuous journey to learn more about the practice of yoga and the many ways of teaching it. 

  Michelle found her way to the practice of yoga during her college years, when she discovered how supportive the physical practice was to her passion for riding horses. Her connection to the practice quickly grew as she discovered the array of ways that it supported her being transcended far beyond the physical, and led to a more wholesome, empowered manner of showing up in the world.

After a number of years of practice under the guidance of an Ashtanga instructor, Michelle attended her first 200 hr teacher training in Ashtanga Yoga through Yoga Vermont in 2015.

For Michelle, yoga isn’t only found when you show up on your mat. It is a way of being in the world that enriches your experience, encourages you to grow, connect to yourself more deeply, live present, have increased awareness of your surroundings and develop a deeper connection with others and the natural world. 

In a pursuit to delve deeper into her own authenticity and creativity, in 2023 Michelle enrolled in “Authentic Movements” 200hr yoga teacher training in Hatha Vinyasa; a training that invites creative expression and freedom of movement to bring enrichment to life and the practice.

Michelle’s passions extend beyond yoga with a delight for being in nature whether that means being with or riding her horses, hiking mountains, swimming in rivers and lakes, or sitting and enjoying a sunset.

She is the dedicated and compassionate manager of the “Mountain View Farm Animal Sanctuary” for over 10 years, representing and supporting the world of animal rescue. 

She also holds a certification as an Equine Gestlatist in which her business, “Journey Within Equine Healing”, is motivated to guide individuals on their personal journey of healing and empowerment, with the powerful guidance of the horse as a co-active coaching partner.

 Shelly Watts is a passionate individual who has recently embarked on a new journey to become a trapeze yoga instructor.

She is an experienced professional with a background in cosmetic sales spanning over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has developed strong communication skills, enabling her to effectively connect with others and create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.

In June 2023, she became a certified trapeze yoga instructor through Yogabody, solidifying her expertise in this unique form of yoga. Shelly is also an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying activities like hiking and biking, which align with her healthy lifestyle.

Shelly's return to Vermont three years ago has been a fulfilling experience, particularly in the vibrant community of Burke. She has found a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the community and at Sweetwater Studios, where she feels inspired to grow and share her knowledge of trapeze yoga.

Sam  was first gintroduced to yoga when she was about 15; she would regularly attend a weekly PiYo (pilates - yoga) class that her Mother invited her to. It was the poses that drew her in, but the savasana that made her stay. There was just something about someone giving her permission to lay in stillness for 10 minutes, and to work on turning off the constant noise. She began diving into an (almost) daily self practice. In her late 20s she dreamed of taking a yoga teacher training, but didn’t feel confident to become a teacher so she never pursued it. In February of 2022, Sam’s dog was healing from a very intense leg surgery, which led her to discover trapeze yoga at Sweetwater Studios, as she needed to find something to occupy her mind and fulfill the time she was missing out in the woods with her dog. Her love for trapeze grew deeply and in turn, re-discovered her love for a daily self yoga practice at home. It was almost two years later when she finally decided to take the leap and complete her 200hr RYT with Bodhi Yoga Academy, which is a Colorado based yoga studio that she was able to complete online, in March 2024. She is now registered with yoga alliance and is pursing the yoga trapeze training with Yogabody!