About

A Practice That Became a Way of Life

When I stepped onto my first yoga mat, I thought I had simply found a new way to move my body. What I didn’t realize was that I had begun a journey that would transform the way I experienced life.
With a background in gymnastics, dance, and diving, I immediately connected with the physical practice of yoga. But it was the quieter lessons – the mindfulness, compassion, and self-discovery – that truly captured my heart. Yoga became far more than exercise; it became a way of living.

In 2011, I opened Evolve Yoga with one simple vision: to create a welcoming community where everyone feels they belong. Whether you’re stepping onto a mat for the very first time or have been practicing for years, my hope is that you feel seen, supported, and inspired every time you walk through our doors.

My path eventually led me to New York City to study with my teacher, Sri Dharma Mittra. His teachings and lineage profoundly shaped not only the way I practice yoga, but the way I strive to live – with compassion, humility, gratitude, and service. Those lessons continue to guide every class I teach and remain at the heart of Evolve Yoga.

Above all, I believe yoga has the power to help us live with greater awareness, kindness, and joy. It has changed my life in ways I never imagined, and it is one of my greatest privileges to share these practices with the incredible community that has grown around Evolve Yoga.

Cinda Lark
Founder & Director, Evolve Yoga
E-RYT 500 • LOAY 800
Student of Dharma Mittra

Meet our teachers…

Compassionate. Experienced. Authentic.

Together, we create a space where every body can grow, heal, and evolve.

Lori Shoha

Lori had been practicing yoga for 15 years before she decided to take Cinda’s 300 hour teacher training course. With her two children mostly grown, there was finally time to pursue this dream. The main goal was to deepen her practice and learn to quiet her very busy mind, but she quickly found that she had a passion for teaching.

Lori is an obstetrician/gynecologist and has incorporated yoga into her medical practice; teaching relaxing breathing as well as certain yoga postures to relieve back pain in her pregnant patients.

In her spare time, Lori enjoys knitting, water skiing, and watercolor painting. Music is a huge part of her life and she really enjoys putting together playlists to accompany her classes.

Jim Stout

James brings a balance of intensity and ease to his classes. Finding his inspiration through the practice of Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Slow flow several years ago, he became a teacher in 2009 with Jonny Kest, and has since been teaching on a regular basis. He brings a compassionate yet disciplined approach to create freedom, well-being, and the ability to live more authentically in the moment, providing a strong foundation for facing the challenges in life.

What to expect in class? Breath-based, creative flows designed to open the body in a heated space.

Structurally sound sequencing and postures adaptable to any level of physical ability.

Linda Hawkins

E-RYT 200, RYT 500, Diploma in Sound Therapy, Level 3 Reiki. Linda discovered yoga through meditation and breathwork while searching for a way to slow her thoughts and find relaxation and balance. She found that – and so much more. After falling in love with the practice, she became an instructor at Evolve in 2018. Linda enjoys teaching students of all abilities and loves guiding them toward their center of self-awareness, balance, and energy. She was drawn to the healing vibrations of sound therapy and the profound benefits this practice offers for the mind, body, and spirit. Linda shares these vibrations in each of her classes and workshops. Her classes are rooted in breath, awareness, and self-exploration.

Brandi Vander Eyk

Brandi is an E-RYT 200 with over a decade of teaching experience in Michigan. She has a multi-faceted background in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Slow Flow and Yin Yoga classes.

She believes whole heartedly that yoga is for everyone and everyone is welcome. She brings a sense of fun and energy to her classes with big music and creative flows.

Classes will offer students various challenges, but all modifications and opportunities for rest are embraced and encouraged.​

Sandra Riccardi

My yoga journey began over 25 years ago when I took my very first ever class. From that moment forward, I knew I was home, both in my body and spirit. After retiring from teaching in the Waterford School District for 30 years, I attended yoga teacher training at the Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, North Carolina. During my time in the classroom, I received a Trauma Healing Certification and find it deepens my connection to the power of yoga. Off the mat, I am an avid golfer, reader and love to cook. My husband (of 32 years) and I also love to travel, bringing our rescue cats (Owen and Henry) whenever possible.

Emma Hampton

Emma has been practicing yoga since she was 15, and it has remained a steady companion through every chapter of her life. After discovering Evolve Yoga and forming a meaningful connection with Cinda, she felt inspired to deepen her journey and completed Evolve’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training last year.

Emma is passionate about weaving yoga philosophy and intention into her classes, and she strives to create a warm, welcoming space where students of all bodies, backgrounds, and experiences feel supported in exploring their practice.

Allie Cecott

Allie began practicing yoga in 2018 and found her true home at Evolve in 2023. She quickly saw how yoga was positively impacting her life and, inspired by Cinda and her approach to the practice, enrolled in her 200-hour yoga teacher training.

Allie enjoys making yoga fun and welcoming, giving students a space to feel calm, connected, and energized – both on and off the mat. She loves how this practice has transformed her life and she can’t wait to welcome students in and watch it transform theirs.

Brittany Taurence

Brittany has been a devoted student of yoga for over 15 years and found her true home at Evolve Yoga in 2023. After hundreds of classes on the mat, she felt inspired to deepen her practice through Cinda’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Brittany is excited to share the wisdom, compassion, and joy she has discovered on her journey with the Evolve community.

Jamie Kayla

If Jamie looks familiar, it’s because she spends as much time as she can at Evolve. Jamie found Evolve over 10 years ago and has had a dedicated practice there ever since. Yoga has helped her through PA school and many personal challenges, providing a source of both comfort and strength. It has changed her outlook on life in ways she never thought possible and greatly shaped the person she is today. Jamie completed her 200 hour training with Cinda in April, 2018, which deeply fulfilled a longtime desire of hers to deepen her practice and expand her knowledge of what has become such a source of joy in her life. She is a Physician Assistant in the Emergency Department, and is so grateful for the balance yoga provides in her otherwise fast-paced life.

Burt Gottlieb

I began taking yoga classes on campus at MSU in the Spring of 1975, at age 18. The classes were held in the Bell Tower directly across from the building where I had started Karate classes. Those Hatha classes prepared my body for the rigors of Karate training and laid a foundation for decades of continuous Martial Arts practice. My wife Julie and I began a regular yoga practice and eventually found our way to Evolve Yoga. At Julie’s suggestion, I entered Teacher Training with Cinda Lark in 2013, where I completed my 200-hour training. Now, several years later, I feel honored to be guided by the remarkable teachers at Evolve Yoga, and I’m happy to be teaching Yin and Hatha yoga in all its forms. Namaste.

Lila Lazarus

Lila is a dedicated yogi, teacher, and wellness advocate who believes every day is an opportunity for a new adventure. An award-winning health journalist, she has inspired countless people to embrace healthier, more fulfilling lives. Whether on the mat or out exploring the world, Lila brings warmth, energy, and a sense of possibility to every class, creating a practice that is both grounding and uplifting.

Class Descriptions

Hatha Yoga

60 minutes, 75°
Hatha Yoga is a balanced, traditional practice that combines a variety of standing and seated postures to build strength, flexibility, balance, and body awareness. Suitable for all levels, this class emphasizes proper alignment, mindful movement, and steady breathing, helping students develop confidence while creating a strong foundation for a lifelong yoga practice.

SlowFlow

60 minutes, 75-80°
Slow Flow is a breath-centered practice that links postures together at a steady, mindful pace. This class offers a bit more challenge and is best suited for students with a basic understanding of yoga poses, building strength, flexibility, balance, and confidence while creating a deeper connection between breath and movement. Instruction is tailored to the needs of the class, offering guidance when needed and opportunities to move more intuitively as your practice grows. Newer students with a sense of adventure are always welcome!

Vinyasa

60-70 minutes, 80-90°
Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic, breath-centered practice that links movement and breath through creative, flowing sequences. This energetic class builds strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance while inviting students to explore a wide variety of postures—including optional inversions and arm balances—all set to uplifting music. A basic understanding of yoga poses is helpful, but adventurous beginners are always welcome!

Gentle & Extra Gentle Yoga

60 minutes, 75°
Gentle Yoga & Extra Gentle Yoga are calming, accessible classes that focus on gentle movement, mindful stretching, and relaxation. Perfect for beginners, both practices help release tension, improve mobility, and cultivate a sense of ease in both body and mind. Extra Gentle Yoga moves at an even slower pace with more time spent close to the earth, while Gentle Yoga offers a bit more movement while maintaining a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.

Yin/Nidra

60 minutes, 72°
Yin & Yoga Nidra begins with gentle Yin Yoga, where poses are held to release tension, improve flexibility, and prepare the body for stillness. The second half of class is Yoga Nidra, often called “yogic sleep” – a guided meditation that invites deep relaxation while remaining consciously aware. Led in the lineage of Sri Dharma Mittra, this calming practice is perfect for beginners and anyone looking to restore both body and mind.

Yin Yoga

60 minutes, 72°
Yin Yoga is a slow, meditative practice where postures are held for several minutes, gently targeting the connective tissues, joints, and fascia. Perfect for beginners and anyone seeking a quieter practice, Yin improves flexibility while calming the nervous system, quieting the mind, and inviting a deep sense of balance and ease.

the hardest part is walking through the door.

After that, we’ll take it one breath at a time…