Free to be friends

Janae Holmes

co-founder, co-owner + teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Travel overseas, deliver a TED Talk, and take singing lessons!

What makes you laugh? The one liners that come out of my 4.5 year-old daughter's mouth!

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I see nothing in the way of making a far-fetched dream a reality.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Burning from both ends, huh? Light the f'ing middle on fire too!" -a pretty great yoga teacher

What do you inspire in others? Commitment.

What are your yoga teaching credentials?
1200 Hour Tier 3 Certified Baptiste Power Yoga Influencer
Trainings: Baptiste Yoga Levels 1, 2 and 3, FIT To Lead, Art of Assisting and Advanced Art of Assisting, Certified Teachers Summit, Apprenticeship, Being of Power, Power Yoga Teacher Course and the Baptiste Kids Certification. 
The Landmark Forum.
Lululemon Ambassador Summit.
Co-Creator/Facilitator of Free To Be Power Yoga’s 200 Hour Teacher Training. 

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Kelly Boudreaux

co-founder, co-owner + teacher

What lights you up in your life right now? My kids. From the chaos to the laughter to the temper tantrums to the snuggles.  All of it. Every moment is worth it.

When you become famous, what will it be for? Developing a fortune 500 company.  Free To Be, Inc.

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? Tough. Like really kick my ass tough.  Playful, and authentic.  And it's like they're talking to me like we're having a cup of coffee.

What do you inspire in others? Action.

What is the best advice you've ever received? There is no such thing as balance. To me it's nothing is ever perfect but it's completely beautiful even if its a mess.

What are your yoga teaching credentials? 
Core Power Yoga 200 Hour Training, Core Power Yoga 150 Hour Training. Baptiste Yoga Level 1 and 2, FIT To Lead, Art of Assisting, Foundations in Action, Advanced Art of Assisting, All Day Immersion, and Power Yoga Teacher Course. Marie Forleo's B-School, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Co-Creator/Facilitator of Free To Be Power Yoga’s 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Alison Price

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? 1) Continue more yoga trainings….there’s so many!!!
2) Hike the Grand Canyon
3) Teaching as much yoga as I can

What makes you laugh? My kids, silly TikToks, and my friends.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I’m completely goofy and cuss like a sailor.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? The best advice I’ve received was from my mom when she was terminally ill with cancer. “Have no fear.”

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? Unapologetically themselves, pushing me to my edge while making me laugh.

What do you inspire in others? To show up and being ok with imperfections. Don’t take yourself so seriously!

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Anne-Sophie Ortoli

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals?  1-Buy a van and hit the road for a long-term adventure around United Sates and Canada.2- Complete Level One Baptiste Yoga Training3- Learn how to ride a bike with no hands

What makes you laugh? Dancing with friends! For Mardi Gras, in my living room, at a party, at the grocery store...

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? Cilantro tastes like soap to me.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? ''Trying is lying'' -Janae Holmes in 2018.

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? Commitment, true voice and the ability to push me to my edge.

What do you inspire in others? 
There is always a reason to smile.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Beau Himel

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals?  1. Yoga, Full-time, All Day, Everyday.
2. Complete Level One Baptiste Yoga Training (in person).
3. Visit all the National Parks with my husband.

What makes you laugh? When I make other people laugh...and Tiffany “New York” Pollard memes.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I can really get down on the dance floor, but not TikTok 2020 moves more like Britney Spears 2000 moves!

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? “When the going gets tough, the tough reinvent themselves.” – RuPaul Charles

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? Authenticity, Self-practice, Self-study.

What do you inspire in others? 
ENERGY!!!

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Chloe Blair

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals?  1. Complete level one and two of Baptiste Training.
2. Finish my degree
3. Make volunteering and traveling out of the country a regular habit.

What makes you laugh? People, animals, and LIFE.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I'm that friend that always drags them to Yoga, the gym, nature, and yummy vegan restaurants.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? To be my weird, unapologetic, creative, strong-willed self and always listen to my heart first - My Mom

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? They're PRESENT every moment of the practice. I can hear it in their voice when they give specific cues directed towards what they see is needed. At any moment they could decide to do something unexpected and it keeps me engaged in my own practice and holds me accountable to pushing to my edge. Unapologetic authenticity. The way they teach in class is a MIRROR of who they are outside of Yoga. Compassion (even if it's in the form of tough love).

What do you inspire in others? 
Individuality, critical thinking, and a desire to love oneself unconditionally.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Cindy Beerworth

 teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? 1. Teach kids and adult yoga at FTB. 2. Get certified in Prenatal Yoga. 3. Take Level One Baptiste Yoga Training (complete!).

What makes you laugh? Puns...I love puns :).

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I am very quirky.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? The best advice I've ever received is to show kindness to all, even when it can be hard. (Mom)

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? My favorite characteristics and qualities of my favorite teachers are supportive, kind, trusting, always pushing me to do my best and always finding and bringing out the gifts within me.

What do you inspire in others? I inspire others to not take life so seriously and how to have fun!

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training Program, Baptiste Yoga's Being of Power, Level 1 Baptiste, Transform NOLA's 200 Hour Teacher Training, 40 Hour Yoga for Differently Abled with Radiant Child, 95 Hour Kids Yoga Certification with Yoga Ed., Wild Lotus Level 1 Restorative Training, Wild Lotus Level 2 Restorative Training, Master's Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education.

Heidi Malnar

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? 1. To read all of the books in my personal library.
2. To write a curriculum for tap dancing.
3. To travel to Italy.

What makes you laugh? The idiosyncrasies of human behavior.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I am "the wart." (fans of Disney's "Sword in the Stone" will understand...).

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "If there's something in your life that's not working... that's because it doesn't F*#%@!^ work!" -Dana "Trixie" Flynn

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? Pushing me to my personal edge, and inspiring me to cross over. Motivating me to want to stay. Powerful voices that fill the space, and land powerfully in my body.

What do you inspire in others? The confidence to be yourself, take up space, and laugh out loud.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free to Be Power Yoga's 200 Hour Teacher Training and 25 Hour Restorative Yoga Training with Laughing Lotus

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Julia Accetta

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals?  Finish dermatology residency, travel to at least one new place every year, and hold a handstand without a wall!

What makes you laugh? My mini bernedoodle pup named Clio. She brings my life so much joy!

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I rarely say "no" and am always down for an adventure and love trying new things.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Always give without the intent of receiving" from my mom, who demonstrates this way more than she says it.

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? Teachers that hold me accountable, push me to my edge and keep me in the work.

What do you inspire in others? 
I believe in manifesting a life that I want, not one that I am settling for. I hope to inspire by leading by example that anything is possible if I put in the time, energy, and work to overcome obstacles to achieve those dreams.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Julie LaBerge

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals?  1. Start my health coaching business.
2. Make a living selling my art.
3. Month long road trip from Arizona To Canada

What makes you laugh? Animal videos!

What is something your best friends would tell us about you?I'm obsessed with red curry.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? My most memorable high school teacher, Coach Lawler would always say: "If you keep doing what you've been doing, you're going to keep getting what you've been getting."

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? I love when teachers share their personal stories about why yoga is important to them & how it has significantly impacted their lives. I also love when teachers don't take it too seriously & have fun!

What do you inspire in others? 
I inspire others to be their authentic selves & that ANYTHING is possible.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Lauren Ferrand

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Love. Play. Travel.

What makes you laugh? Boxer puppies.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I’m always there when you need me.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Live in the present” -so many people.

What does it mean to you to be Free To Be? Connected to my true self.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be’s 200-Hour Teacher Training.

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LIZZIE PERCIFUL

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Receive my special education teaching certificate. Get my level one Baptiste certification. Travel more.

What makes you laugh? My one year old preschool students. They are the world's best comedians.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I am a really really talented sleeper.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Don't waste your energy on things that do not serve you." - My momma (AKA the greatest human to walk this green earth)

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? I love when a teacher pushes me to my edge.

What do you inspire in others? I inspire people to be a goofier version of themselves and not take life so seriously.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training, YOD Teacher Training.

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Maggie Conley

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? 1. Become a Baptiste Certified Teacher. 2. Travel to South East Asia. 3. Live in a different city.

What makes you laugh? Funny looking dogs.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I am a great listener, independent and a dedicated friend.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Rather than saying you are tired - say you are abundant! I often have so many great things going on and I am so busy that I feel tired. It is all good things so rather than resorting to tired, turn it to a positive by saying "I am so abundant!"" - Janae Holmes (c/o Kelly Boudreaux)

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? She's all in, she truly cares about her students, and she can laugh at herself.

What do you inspire in others? I inspire others to make the choice in how they want to live their life. Happiness is a choice, how you show up is a choice and it is up to each individual person to make that choice.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training Program, Baptiste Yoga Art of Assisting and the Baptiste Yoga Power Yoga Teacher Course.

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MEREDITH OWENS

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? To travel outside of the U.S., to sing at an open mic night, and to learn more about puppetry and animation. And then write a children's theater show with those skills.

What makes you laugh? Too many things. My family, my friends, my dog, myself, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, and all of life's little absurdities.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I am a passionate, supportive, accepting, delightfully awkward human who strives to see the good in all that surrounds her.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "What makes you different or weird, that's your strength." - Meryl Streep (by way of a coffee mug from my mom, so the advice was a gift from her.)

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? A teacher that sparks possibility and strength through positivity, humor and fire.

What do you inspire in others? To embrace what makes you You. To take action. To search for the good. And to laugh at yourself.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training

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Mermaid (Lauren) McCabe

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? I start the first Lake Pontchartrain surf club (hang ten, y'all). I revamp my blog, mermaidchronicles.com, to explore how classical wisdom applies to modern life (hello plato, aristotle, wollenstcraft and all my fave philosophers). I do a split.

What makes you laugh? The beautiful, wonderful, musical, delightful, dazzling city that is my hometown, New Orleans.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? She's a mer dat, a cross between a mermaid and who dat.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Sometimes you don't know your path until you're on it." - the merman, my husband.

What does it mean to you to be Free To Be? Dropping what I think I should be, how I think I should act, so I can just be who I am in this moment. Pure authenticity.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200-hour Teacher Training. Baptiste Yoga's Art of Assisting and Power Yoga Teacher Course. Apprenticed to teach Ashtanga Yoga, Mysore Style.

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Michele Orr

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals?  1. Travel to new a new place (or 2) every year 2. Learn French 3. Volunteer with an animal rescue group.

What makes you laugh? My dogs...and this guy named Mike (my husband).

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I've got my ish together (even though really I don't LOL).

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Don't worry. Be happy." - Bob Marley

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? That they're tough, but out of love. They want me (us) to be stronger/better!

What do you inspire in others? 
That anything is possible, as long as you practice, have patience, and believe.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Michelle Bandoni

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Train my dog to be a certified therapy dog, lead yoga retreats in Utah, and do crow pose.

What makes you laugh? My family, my dog, and Ronnie Chieng. (Look him up)

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That "Supersonic" by J.J. Fad is my theme song and I've never met a stranger.

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "We're going regardless" - my father.

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? My favorite teachers challenge me while smiling with me.

What do you inspire in others? "Be That Girl" (or boy) is my moto. You know that person that you see going to yoga or doing the thing? You are that person. You just have to show up.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Michelle LaCaze

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Learn how to dive, learn how to sail , travel to Northern Europe and Bali, and live a simple life. 

What makes you laugh? My husbands laugh .... it’s infectious. 

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I am fiercely loyal and passionate about my health and wellness. 

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? My father said, “Don’t let anyone ever dim your big bright light“ ... I never knew how much this would mean to me.

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? That they can make you laugh and cry all in one minute.

What do you inspire in others? Passion about yoga and mindfulness.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be Teacher Training, Baptiste Yoga Level 1 and 2, Baptiste Yoga Art of Assisting.

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Sarah Riviere

teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Graduate from my master's of counseling program and start on the path toward opening my own private practice, TRAVEL (anywhere and everywhere) with the people I love, complete more yoga trainings to learn more about myself and my practice and how to become a better teacher!

What makes you laugh? Otis (my absolutely insane boston terrier)!!, rewatching New Girl, and funny TikToks

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? I love making people laugh and am probably one of the quirkiest/weirdest people ever, and I am a really good person to go to if you need to have a meaningful conversation or to get advice!

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "You don't need to set yourself on fire just to keep others warm" - my therapist

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? I LOVE when teachers show up fully as themselves, can make me laugh, and can encourage me to be intentional and to reach my fullest potential in every pose.

What do you inspire in others? I inspire others to set perfectionism aside and find what they're capable of (on their mat and off) - but also to not take themselves too seriously!

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be 200 Hour Teacher Training.

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Zoë thibeault-stone

downtown studio manager + teacher

What are your top 3 five year goals? Lead a yoga retreat, buy land (& baby goats) with my husband, and start a wellness blog.

What makes you laugh? Dad jokes, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and sarcasm.

What is something your best friends would tell us about you? That I'm as loud & outgoing as I seem, and that I always try to make everything a fun competition. (Hey! I grew up with an older brother!)

What is the best advice you've ever received (and by whom)? "Remember that your purpose in life is always to give and leave the world a better place than how you found it." -My mom.

What are the characteristics or qualities of your favorite teacher(s)? I love when teachers' personalities shine through, when they have both humor and humility, and when they empower me to discover something new in my own practice.

What do you inspire in others? I inspire in others their ability to laugh at themselves and not take life so seriously. I also hope to inspire others to find balance in their lives through health and wellness.

What teacher training(s) have you attended? Free To Be's 200 Hour Teacher Training, Baptiste Yoga Being of Power and the Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher Course.

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