Our Story

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Sea Change Yoga was born from an idea formed at a Yoga Behind Bars training in November 2015, where our two Co-Founders Diana Lee and Melea Nalli and several other local yogis committed to yoga service met for the first time. A conversation amongst the group began about the dream of forming a non-profit organization that would serve, support and be a resource to the dedicated yoga teachers who had been called to offer yoga to under-resourced people.  They envisioned training yoga teachers, and offering workshops to raise awareness of how trauma affects the brain and how trauma-informed yoga can help. Sea Change Yoga quickly became a vital community of yoga teachers and other professionals committed to spreading this work. At Sea Change Yoga, we began with the belief that everyone deserves yoga and we are determined to bring about a sea-change in bringing these healing practices to the people who need them most; as well as creating community for the amazing yoga teachers who want to do this transformative work by offering professional development opportunities and clinical consult support.

Acknowledgment of Past Contributors

Sea Change Yoga wishes to recognize staff, teachers, board members and friends who have contributed to the light of the organization since it was just a dream. These include:

Board Members: Alison Beyea, Justine Carlisle, Mark Dion, Heather Dunbar, Adam Lee, Jen Queally, David Rooker

Staff: Lee Andrews, Megan Elliott, Regan Johnson

Teachers: Kristen Bailey, Myles Bullen, Erin Compton, Liz Crawford, Anne Davis, Mercedes Foster, Nicole Gordan, Elizabeth Jackson, Cayce Lannon, Diana Lee, Anna Lee, Martha Leonard, Melea Nalli, Diane Murphy, Robin Ivy Payton, Jen Queally, Dd Swan, Alexa Ward, Kate Whittemore, Lauren Znachko

Interns, Administrators & Contractors: Elizabeth Hall, Aubrey Haskell, MaryBeth Luce, Sheri Morrison, Hilary Robbins, Katie Tomer, Elise York

Wisdom Holders: Kelly Benson, Rochelle Jewell, Cathy Lee, Maria Sanchez, Barrett Takesian/ Portland Community Squash, Carol Wishcamper