Sierra hollister, Founder
Sierra Hollister brings a life-long desire to serve, elevate and participate in creating equity, justice, and access to wellness for all to Light a Path. In 1995, Sierra began teaching yoga in Asheville. Sierra holds multiple certifications in several yogic traditions, is a featured teacher for Yoga International, a lead teacher for the Asheville Yoga Center Teacher Training, on the teaching staff at Warren Wilson College and an ambassador for Lululemon.
Sierra studied Environmental Ethics at University of Maryland and Health Arts & Sciences at Goddard College. This intersection of ethics and wellness led Sierra to found Light a Path in 2014, knowing that connection creates resilience, and wishing to see resilience manifest throughout WNC. Sierra volunteers each week, sharing yoga with residents of Swannanoa Correctional Facility as well as serving on the Board of Light a Path. |
Amanda Hale
Amanda has volunteered for Light a Path teaching yoga to youth and is honored to be a new member of the board. She is Co-Owner of the Asheville Yoga Festival, and Light a Path has been chosen as the festival's non-profit partner for the past two years, with a percentage of proceeds being donated to help further LAP's work.
Amanda believes deeply in the value of the work of LAP, and the mission statement, 'connection creates resilience'. She is also is motivated by a personal connection with the incarcerated, along with a keen awareness of how dysfunctional our correctional system is. Amanda is passionate about serving LAP through fundraising and networking to help further their reach to more communities. |
Janelle RaileY
Janelle is a psychodynamically trained therapist interested in the capacity of language to shape experience and allow access to new ways of seeing the world. She has also made an extensive and ongoing study of yoga and meditation since her first trip to India in 1995, where she participated in a cultural intersection that ignited her interest in other people, their personal narratives, and the way these narratives live within the body. Janelle has channeled her collective passions into many workshops and teaching environments, exploring the somatic presentations of trauma and other psychological conditions. She had utilized psychology, yoga and physical movement to help other professionals explore and understand how best to treat trauma.
Janelle's primary interest in Light a Path is best expressed in its stated mission to create resilience through connection. Janelle has had the privilege to witness many times over how a connection with our selves, our community, and our past can lead to healing. She maintains a local private psychotherapy practice and enjoys spending time in the wilderness with her husband, children and puppy. Janelle is honored to be a part of the LAP endeavor. |
copland arnold rudolph
Copland began her yoga journey in 1986 with Asheville yoga pioneer, Lillah Schwartz. After several years working for Outward Bound, Copland became a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor as she completed her M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Body- Centered Psychology. She has been teaching and training in the field of wellness for over 25 years. She currently serves as the Development Director for the Asheville City Schools Foundation and teaches at the YMCA as well as the Swannanoa Women’s Correctional Facility.
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Lisa Sherman
Lisa has been a board member since Light a Path's inception in 2014. As board secretary, she brings her organizational skills to bear on steering the board, and making sure that LAP’s administrative and interpersonal systems work well together.
Lisa's first degree was in molecular biology, and she spent five years working in medical bioscience research and publishing, before moving on to run a web design business. Her interest in tai chi led her to a second degree in acupuncture, and after completing her training, she co-founded Arc Integrated Health, a multidisciplinary complementary health practice in central London, which she ran as a director for six years. She is currently a North Carolina licensed acupuncturist, a meditation teacher at Heart of Insight, and a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher. Lisa believes in the transformative power of mindful movement practices, in which body, mind and spirit are connected and cultivated, so that the practitioner may experience wellbeing, and in turn be of better service to all beings. |
Lisa zahiya
Lisa is based in Asheville, NC where she is the founder & owner of Studio Zahiya, four time winner of "Best Place to Take a Dance Class" in Asheville, NC.
As a movement instructor, she travels, teaching workshops, performing and developing curriculum. She also specializes in women's empowerment workshops and as a team-building facilitator. Lisa is also known for her work with children and women, using dance as an impetus for change. Lisa serves as the senior Teaching Artist with the Lake Eden Arts Festival and is also a Guest Dance Instructor with the Buncombe County School System. She travels nationally teaching in school systems and for children's organizations. Lisa has completed training in Developmental Assets and 21st Century Skills. |