Elaine holds a master’s degree in Counseling from Portland State University, a master’s degree in Human Movement from Boston University and is a National Certified Counselor.  She has been a Certified Kripalu Yoga instructor since 1997 and is Lead SUP Yoga Instructor at Alder Creek Kayak in Portland.  She is registered as an E-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, 500 hrs. of teacher training) with Yoga Alliance and co-teaches Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) at Elk Rock Yoga.

Elaine studied Mindful Yoga for Cancer at Duke Integrative Medicine and teaches Gentle Yoga for Healing from Cancer at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.  She has taught meditation, mindfulness and applied eco-psychology to people of all ages, cultures and abilities.

As a wellness professional, Elaine co-developed and implemented the first U.S. Coast Guard Work-Life Wellness Program as well as created and taught health and wellness classes at Boston University, Portland State University, University of Oklahoma’s Health Promotion Department for Native Americans, PacifiCare Wellness Co. and the Internal Revenue Service.  As Ombudsman and Associate Director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity at Portland State University, Elaine worked with diverse groups of individuals with a broad array of cultural perspectives, interests and abilities.

Nature, camping, music and movement have been a big part of Elaine’s life since she can remember.  In 2005, Elaine was diagnosed with breast cancer and found family, community and her three cats to be an essential support for healing.  With over 30 years of experience in the field of education, Elaine’s passion is to help people live full, healthy and balanced lives as well as respect and value themselves, one another and the world we live in.