ABOUT US
Ella Stremler
Hey :) My name is Ella Stremler and I teach yoga and mindfulness in Grand Rapids Michigan. With a yogi for a mom I have had a connection to this practice my whole life. I have incredible gratitude for all the yogis who have come before me and taught me everything I know, I am thrilled to continue sharing what I have learned. I have completed my 200 hour power vinyasa yoga teacher training at Kula Grand Rapids as well as trainings in Yin. Restorative, and Yoga Nidra. The most recent adventure has been a kids yoga training Well-Bean, having completed this with my Mom, we feel compelled to share all we have to offer. Through experiences with my own nervous system and navigating challenges around me I know how to encourage regulation and create strategies that work through difficult times. I am so excited to grow this community and connect with people of all ages through joyful movement.
Erika Pott M.D.
Hi! I’m Erika Pott, a community pediatrician with a deep love for yoga and mindfulness and its amazing impact on the mental and physical health of absolutely EVERYONE. I have been practicing yoga and meditation regularly for almost 2 decades and could not imagine my life without it. When you love something, you want to share it so I have spent the last number of years doing various trainings to gain knowledge and skill in these practices. These programs include the Mindful Schools Curriculum, Mindful Vinyasa 200 hr yoga teacher training, and more recently, my daughter and I completed an incredible children's yoga teacher program with specific emphasis on the nervous system. I have attempted to weave a little yoga and mindfulness into my practice of pediatrics for years, but am thrilled to now have Ella by my side on this journey of bringing her skills and energy.
Why YOGA
The practice of yoga and mindfulness together provide an anchor to enable kids (and adults) to better handle big emotions, including anxiety and panic. Likewise it helps boost attention and focus for all but this can be especially helpful in kids with ADHD. Yoga and mindfulness provide a way to foster the connection between the body and the mind and strengthen the ability of the thinking part of the brain to stay engaged when we are activated. Studies have shown that there are actual changes in the neuropathways and size and dominance of various key structures in the brain with regular use of these practices and this is exciting news! Studies have also shown benefit to the immune system, overall decreasing inflammatory response, decreasing chronic pain, increasing overall feeling of contentment and resilience and that is not to discount all the physical benefits. Parents ask me all the time what they can do besides (or in addition to) medication in order to help their kids with their big emotions, worries, focus, and whatever else life throws at them and THIS is something you can do. And now we have the science to back it up.