

About Us
The Adventure Yoga Studio
Wellness | Adventure | Community
Wellness In Every Adventure
Founded in 2014, Runa Yoga has always been passionate about meeting our community right where they are, whether deep within the woods, next door in local Duluth shops, or up the Northshore for an unforgettable retreat. It's time to experience wellness in every adventure, regardless of location!
Runa Yoga is found in complete collaboration with our community, offering our yoga services at varying Northland locations. Thank you for joining us and inviting wellness into every adventure!
Thank you so much to our wonderful photographers who capture the life of Runa Yoga!
Shawna Vine | Sarah Herrick-Smisek | Rachel Lea | Emma Rothwell | Cassandra Schwantz
Meet Our Team
We are so grateful for our talented, supportive, and passionate team. Everyone has such a unique background and set of skills that can not be replaced. To all our teammates, you are so valued and we are grateful to have you! Take a look below to read more about each individual, and maybe try out their personalized Spotify playlists while you are at it!

Madeline Fisher
Owner + Yoga Instructor
Madeline believes adventure is accessible to all. Madeline’s mission is to bring joy and laughter to others on and off the mat. She thrives on connection and her classes offer a safe space to feel kindness and acceptance. She offers a space to play and feel confident in any class or pose. Madeline believes that yoga can be as much a creative outlet as a mindful practice. She honors that yoga is for everyone and everybody, bringing that sense of belonging with her in life on and off the mat. Madeline has experience with Vinyasa, Yin, Trauma Conscious, and Kid's Yoga.
When off her mat, Madeline can be found exploring with her family, spending time with a favorite book, or splashing around Lake Superior.
Phoebe Turgeon
Yoga Instructor
Phoebe discovered her love for yoga unexpectedly when she stumbled upon her first yoga class at a YMCA in Brooklyn, NY. Over the course of 15 years, she discovered the profound healing and transformative effects of yoga, which benefited her both physically and mentally. Motivated by her own experiences, Phoebe hopes to inspire others to uncover the life-changing power of yoga through her teaching.
Phoebe's classes offer an energetic and fluid flow, that aims to inspire feelings of freedom and stability. She encourages her students to tap into their own wisdom, inviting them to listen to their bodies and honor their individual needs. Her goal is to create a nurturing and safe environment where students can explore their yoga practice, embrace their strength, and express themselves authentically.
Beyond the yoga mat, Phoebe finds joy in outdoor activities, gardening, mountain biking, making art, and spending time with her husband and daughter. Her love for nature and movement serves as inspiration for her teaching style. Whether you are a new or experienced yogi, Phoebe welcomes all individuals to embrace their unique selves and approach their practice with curiosity and self-compassion.

See These Icons?
Click them! Each Instagram and Spotify icon is personal to the team member. Get to know us better through Instagram. Or follow along to your favorite teachers' personal Spotify playlist!

Sophie Clock
Yoga Instructor
Sophie believes that yoga is for every body and strives to make yoga accessible, approachable, and possible for all who seek it.
She completed her RYT200 with Runa yoga and also has certification in Yin and Trauma Conscious Yoga. Sophie is currently pursuing her RYT500 with Svalja Yoga in Duluth.
Sophie is a passionate reader, writer, and nature lover. She loves hiking and spending time with her husbank, Noah, and cuddling with her cat, Loon. She brings he yoga off the mat in her day job with a local nonprofit.
You can expect to leave her classes feeling grounded, strong, and relaxed. Her flows connect breath to movement, while opening the heart and connecting with the body.
Yvonne Rutford
Yoga Instructor
Yvonne completed her training through Sutra Seekers/Runa Yoga in May 2022. She has also completed training in 5 Elements Yoga Practice (Janet Stone Yoga, July 2022), Yin Yoga Training (Svälja Yoga, November 2022), and will complete Trauma-Conscious Yoga Training through Svälja Yoga in March 2023.
Prior to training in yoga, she worked 20 years as a writing teacher, guiding students as they explored creative expression and discovered—or uncovered—their voice. She brings that same philosophy to yoga, providing a safe and supportive (and hopefully fun and casual) environment as students explore movement, breath, and presence.
Yvonne is particularly drawn to yoga that fosters connection to the outdoors, explores creative movement in nature, and deepens our respect and reverence for the natural world and our place within it.


Amanda Oja
Yoga Instructor
After many years of diving in and out of yoga, Amanda began a consistent yoga practice in 2017. The desire to deepen her practice led her to take the leap into completing Sutra Seekers 200 hour yoga teacher training at RUNA Yoga in 2022. She believes yoga is transformative through bringing peace to our busy minds and joy to our bodies through the meditation of movement. She strives to provide classes that are welcoming, nurturing, fun and with a bit of fire. She believes the whole point of being human is connecting with ourselves and others with warmth and compassion.
Outside of yoga, she enjoys hiking, skiing, officiating weddings, cabin time, and spending time with her family, pals, and genius dog, Monty. She also loves laughing—laughing is her favorite.
Aubrey DeBettignies
Yoga Instructor
Aubrey believes in the ability to heal your body and achieve optimal wellness through breath, movement, and nutrition. She credits yoga for bringing physical, mental, and spiritual wellness to her own life.
It is her hope that the classes she leads serve as an opportunity to slow down, connect to breath, and leave feeling relaxed and recharged. Aubrey completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2020.
When she is not on the mat, she is likely out exploring the trails with her Labradoodle Opie.


Brynne Pass
Yoga Instructor
Brynne Pass (they/she) is a nonbinary yoga practitioner and guide. 200-RYT through Yoga Alliance with additional certifications in Yin and Trauma Informed guiding, Brynne seeks to provide equitable access to somatic healing through Yin and restorative practices. Brynne fell in love with yoga because of the somatic healing it can bring.
Yoga is for EVERY BODY.
Brynne guides and practices through a lens of patience and kindness towards ourselves while holding space to be curious and playful. Please share any concerns with Brynne before class to discuss modifications! Remember, yoga is YOUR practice. We are simply here to offer options for your journey.
Michelle Cartier
Yoga Instructor
Michelle Cartier has always held a strong belief that optimal health and wellness is achieved when the mind and body are treated and supported as one.
She feels grateful to be a lifelong student of the practice of yoga and for the opportunity to share that passion with others.
She holds space in her classes for students to explore the tools of breath + movement to peel away the outer layers and connect to themselves and the world around them on a deeper level.
She strives to remind herself (and others) not to take life too seriously by getting out of her head and seeking adventure wherever and whenever she can!
In Michelle’s classes you can expect a journey inward to be guided by an inspired playlist, strong cueing in alignment and anatomy, and an authentic heart.


Katie Knight
Yoga Instructor
Katie made her dream a reality and completed her 200-hour vinyasa yoga training through Runa Yoga/Sutra Seeker YTT in the winter of 2021. Katie is a Cardiovascular ICU nurse at Essentia Health for 7 years and understands how important the breath, movement, and mind-body connection are to maintain your overall wellbeing. Katie creates a welcoming space for you to show up as your true authentic self while encouraging and supporting your dive into your journey inward.
Marlene Weikle
Yoga Instructor
Marlene is a yoga guide and practitioner based in Duluth, MN. She began practicing yoga in 2012 and completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance teaching certification through Runa Yoga + Sutra Seekers in 2021. Marlene believes yoga is for all bodies and strives to create a friendly and fun environment integrating curiosity and play throughout her practice. Outside of the studio, Marlene is a full-time nanny and passionate about all things wild & outdoors. Camping, hiking, biking, skiing, and more...


Nate LaCoursiere
Yoga Instructor
Nate completed his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through Sutra Seekers at Runa Yoga in May 2021, after serving as a Karma Trade Yogi at Runa and a committed practitioner since 2018. Nate believes in the transformational power of yoga in everyday life: a key to building greater present moment awareness, empathy, and resilience. Nate hopes students leave his classes with new ideas, tools, and techniques for incorporating basic movement, breath, and mindfulness practices into their personal and professional lives.
Olivia Mesedahl
Yoga Instructor
Olivia Mesedahl has been dancing since she could walk! She left her life as a ballerina after a serious injury and found yoga and barre in her healing practice. A native to the Twin Cities, Olivia moved to Duluth to finish her B.A. in Communication and Hispanic Studies and happily stayed in Duluth. When she isn’t managing a restaurant on the shore of Lake Superior or teaching barre... Olivia loves cooking, mountain biking, and spending time with her family in the garden. Olivia believes in the power of movement, music that makes you want to dance, and a good sweat.


Trista Anderson
Yoga + Barre Instructor
Trista brings a background of 24 years (gulp) in the fitness industry. She firmly believes the combination of movement, music, and community is a powerful tool that aids our physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. She started practicing yoga 20 years ago through community education and hasn't looked back. Trista loves to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere and isn't afraid to laugh at herself. Her greatest joy and accomplishment in life is her family, including her supportive husband and two wonderful sons.
Saranda Oestreicher
Yoga Instructor
Saranda was introduced to yoga as a teen but truly connected to yoga as a young adult. She decided to dive deeper into both her practice and herself by completing her 200-hour vinyasa yoga training through Runa Yoga/Sutra Seeker YTT in the winter of 2021. Saranda creates a safe space that invites you to dive inward and empowers you to connect to the divine within yourself. Outside of the studio, Saranda is passionate about the wildness of life and she holds a BS in wildlife biology. You can find her camping, mountain biking, and competing in agility with her dogs.


Cassi Schwantz
Studio Manager
Cassi believes in living a well-balanced life and a life that you love! She loves all things Graphic Design and Marketing and shares her talents with multiple Duluth organizations she supports. In her free time, she enjoys camping with her family and playing volleyball with her friends. Now practicing yoga for 7 years, she is thrilled to be working with Runa Yoga and their marketing endeavors. Cassi loves the opportunity that has been given to her through Runa Yoga as she continues her passion for creating and connecting with the Duluth community!