Ashley Litecky, M.S., ERYT

Registered Yoga Teacher, ERYT®200
Interdisciplinary Yoga Studies and Kundalini Yoga
M.S. Clinical Herbal Medicine

Yoga

Ashley began her study of yoga and meditation in 1997 at the age of 18. In 2003 she became a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and since this time, has completed over 500 hours of training and 1,200 teaching hours. Her love of the human form and the inspirational qualities of yoga have drawn her to study several forms of yoga including Anusara, Hatha, Kundalini, Jivamukti, Vinyasa, and Tantric Philosophy.

As an instructor, Ashley emphases the importance of breath and presence in her classes and offers a unique style, blended from her background in yoga, herbal medicine, and the healing arts. She is known for her intelligent fusion of spirituality, humor, and attention to alignment, to move students to a place of greater freedom and joy.

Ashley enjoys sharing her love of yoga to adults and children in yoga studios, fitness centers, schools and offers classes to small groups and private clients. She has taught yoga and meditation for Anne Arundel County, Tai Sophia Institute, Baltimore City Charter Schools, and the Maryland Department of Victim Services. She was recently invited to present on the topics of yoga and meditation for Yoga Week 2010 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Ashley also serves as creator and director of the Blue Heron Wellness Yoga School Teacher Training Program.  Internationally, Ashley has studied and taught yoga in Australia and Costa Rica.

Trainings & Certifications:

2003-2004 - Yoga Center of Columbia – 200 hours – Interdisciplinary Yoga Studies
2004 – Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hour level
2005 - Radiant Child Yoga – 18 hours
2006 – Phoenix Rising Yoga School – 200 hours – Kundalini Yoga
2008 – Thrive Yoga Center – 28 hours – Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training

2009 – Yoga Alliance Registered Experienced Yoga Teacher – 1,500 hrs teaching experience
2009 – Omega Institute – 28 hours –Jivamukti Yoga Immersion
2009 – Yoga Alliance - Director of Blue Heron Wellness Yoga School

Ashley thanks her many teachers for inspiring her on the path of yoga.  She is grateful to especially to her teachers Cheryl Catranbone, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Guru Rattana & Kirin, Gurmukh, Alanna Kaivalya, Desire Rumbaugh, Yogaswari, Ashley Turner, and
many more!

Clinical Herbal Medicine

Ashley began her study of plant medicine through her education in Environmental Science at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. She is a graduate of the Masters of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine program at Tai Sophia Institute, Ashley blends her knowledge of traditional herbal medicine with modern pharmacology. Her studies included Physiology, Pathophysiology, Botany, Clinical Assessment Skills, Eclectic Herbal Medicine, and Ayurveda.

Her emphasis on partnership throughout the healing journey creates a safe and open healing environment. In each consultation Ashley is committed to helping clients uncover their own innate ability to heal and find peace in their bodies. She supports this work with customized individual herbal formulas and nutritional advice to "nudge" the body back to a state of balance. Through her work, Ashley hopes to inspire a deep sense of self-love and provides a warm and welcoming environment for clients to explore health, nutrition, movement, and ultimately, happiness.

Ashley has presented herbal medicine courses at George Washington University, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and HerbDay in Washington, DC, for two consecutive years.

Ashley currently practices and teaches in the Maryland area.

Elyse Williams, M.S., CNS

Elyse’s love of exploring the relationship between people and plants has inspired her to live and study with native people in rural Alaska, Honduras, Costa Rica and Belize. Teaching and studying nutrition, botany and the art of healing with plant medicines in these locations prompted the decision to pursue a Masters of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine at the Tai Sophia Institute, the first accredited institution in the country to offer a rigorous program incorporating medical science with Western herbalism. Around the same time, Elyse became involved in instructing SynergyDance, a dance and still motion practice based on the healing principles of Dr. Randolph Stone’s Polarity Therapy developed by dancer and healer Charmaine Lee. 

By continuing to study the science and mystery of plant medicine, and the subtle energies inside and outside the human body, Elyse holds a deep commitment to studying the universal principles behind health and dis-ease, and translating them into functional practices and remedies that allow balance and healing to take place.

Elyse is also a Certified Nutrition Specialist through the American College of Nutrition, a reflexology apprentice, and currently training in acupressure and reiki.  Elyse sees clients at Tulsi Holistic Living (www.tulsiliving.com) in Georgetown and in Dupont Center for Holistic Herbal, Detoxification, and Nutrition Consultations, as well as reflexology treatments.  

LOOK FOR ELYSE'S NEW WEBSITE AT WWW.GAIABOTANICA.COM.  COMING SOON!