Meet The Board

Lisa is the founder director of Soul Yoga Foundation. She has been passionate about sharing the tools of yoga and mindfulness in Sonoma County since 2001 when she first began her yoga teaching career.

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Lisa grew up in Sonoma County, attended UCSB where she received a BA in Sociology and then went on to become a personal trainer, massage therapist, graphic designer, small business owner and yoga teacher. After a divorce in 2012 with two young children she made the decision to pursue yoga as a career which provided for her and her kids financially, emotionally and physically. 

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As the years went by and our Sonoma County community was impacted by fires, loss and then a global pandemic Lisa saw a need in our community to bring these tools of health and wellbeing beyond the walls of a studio. She began teaching yoga and meditation in local elementary schools and other community based locations and Soul Yoga Foundation was born.

Lisa lives by the mantra "movement matters" and you can find her hiking, working out, playing with her kids or dogs at local parks and out and about in the 'hood often. She is motivated and driven by how impactful these tools have been in her own life and loves nothing more than to practice, teach or talk about yoga!

Christine Strong is an engineer by day, with a background in residential structural design and a few years of specialty experience in the construction industry designing temporary structures. Outside of work she fills the hours pursuing hobbies that encourage cultivation of the self as well as connection with others. Christine lives for time spent outdoors, experiencing a deep connection with nature and the wisdom that it shares with listening ears! The care she brings to her work, relationships, and life stem from a passion for service and a deep love for others. Christine currently volunteers serving as the International Project Lead for Sonoma County’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders. She leads the local design team, partnering with communities in the Amazon rainforest to bring clean drinking water to the villages via engineered rainwater catchment systems.

Christine completed with her 200 hour yoga teacher training certification in 2025 and is passionate about expanding access to yogic teachings to all people, especially those who are not typically represented in the Western studio environment. She is proud to serve on the Soul Yoga Foundation Board to further the mission of providing tools that support community health and wellness.

Ken received his BS in finance and then his MBA from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1969. He was a Loan Officer for Manufacturers Bank in Los Angeles and Managed various Dental 

groups in the Long Beach area until his move to Santa Rosa. He was the Administrator for The Surgery Center of Santa Rosa from 1984 to 2012 at which time he retired. He currently manages a Medical Building in Santa Rosa. 

He and his wife, Paula, have two children who graduated from public schools in Sonoma Co. and three grandchildren, two that are currently going through the same public school system. Ken enjoys nature, walks with his wife (and various dogs), golf, (retired from tennis), family gatherings, investing, and anything with grandkids.

A Santa Rosa native, Nina grew up and attended Santa Rosa schools since third grade. She graduated from Sonoma State University and received her Teaching Credential (‘04) and began teaching 5th grade at a local elementary school. She went on to receive her Administrative

Credential and Masters in Educational Leadership (‘17) and has served as a local elementary school principal since 2017.

She is a passionate advocate for children's health and well-being, with a deep commitment to promoting mindfulness, physical activity, and emotional resilience. Nina enjoys spending time in nature with her husband, two adult sons, and dogs. She believes in the importance of self-care

and mindfulness in all aspects of life.

Jeff is a Sonoma County native and graduate of Montgomery high school.

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A lifelong athlete he has spent most of his adulthood coaching youth sports, and sees the benefits that yoga and mindfulness contribute in athletic performance.

He also has a passion for the implementation of yoga and mindfulness in the world of rehabilitation and recovery from addiction. Although he was only introduced to yoga at the age of 47. He has seen the profound impact it has both physically and mentally.

Ted is a retired educator and athletic coach; he has taught middle and high school

classes in Physical Education, History, English,  and Academic Language Development, as well as coaching a combined total of 43 seasons of middle and high school sports, including 26 seasons as a wrestling coach. He currently continues to serve as a volunteer wrestling coach at Montgomery High School.

Ted’s experience with youth in education has taught him the importance of movement as part of student development; the mission of the Soul Yoga Foundation fulfills his passion to provide opportunities for students to experience the benefits of physical activity. Ted’s exposure to yoga began when his mother embraced the practice decades ago as part of her own personal fitness routine; at the age of 75, she still teaches weekly yoga classes, a testament to the benefit of yoga for personal health, wellness, and longevity!

Brianna is a 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher and holds her Master’s in Education for School Counseling with a PPS Credential, currently working as a mental health therapist for students in K-12th grade. She has a long-term background in youth development and is passionate about bringing the practices of mindfulness and yoga to youth as an intervention against the effects of ACEs and trauma, as well as keeping this practice accessible to all bodies and abilities. Her passion is to be an advocate for those who need it and she strives to carry out the values of yoga in her daily practice, both on and off the mat. 

Gail Bowers is a Native of North Dakota where she received her BA in Music Education from Minot State University.  In 2006, she received her Masters of Education from Graceland University. 

​​She was nominated three times (2004, 2011, 2017) by her peers for the "Santa Rosa Excellence in Education Award".  She was awarded the "Choral Educator of the Year" award by the Bay Area California Music Educators Association in 2006 and in 2012 she was awarded the "Music Director of the Year" award by the Northern California Band and Choral Directors Association.  Her latest award was presented to her in 2018 as the CMEA Choral Educator of the Year for the State of California.

​​Mrs. Bowers is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the California Music Educators Association and the Northern California Band and Choral Directors Association.  She is an adjudicator for CMEA Choral Festivals and a clinician for CMEA and ACDA conferences.   

​​Mrs. Bowers directs the Handbell Choir at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where she also sings in the Adult Choir under the direction of Janet Bertoli.  Gail designs and creates beaded jewelry and loves spending time with her husband on their Lake Sonoma Houseboat - “It’s a Boat Time”!!

​​Mrs. Bowers is in her 37th year of teaching (her 28th at MCHS!).   

My name is Jennifer Meyer. I founded Red Roost Yoga in 2020, during the heart of the pandemic, to create a community focused on health, happiness, and conscious connection. For the past four years, until June 2024, I taught online classes and have now decided to offer private classes exclusively. Before the pandemic, I taught at Soul Yoga & Wellness in Santa Rosa, California.

I was hooked the very first day I stepped on a yoga mat. At that time, I felt like I was always on the move and never could quite catch a moment to myself. Yoga became my saving grace, teaching me to slow down and connect with myself—both body and mind. I learned to use my body in ways that challenged yet relaxed me. Now, 25 years later, my practice is still going strong. Every time I step on my mat, my practice is different because every day, my body and mind are in a different place. I’ve learned to meet and respect my body where it is at that moment, not judge it, and move it intelligently and respectfully.

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​Yoga is a personal practice. It can be extraordinarily healing, transformative, and empowering. It helps you hang in there when your world gets chaotic and tough, and it teaches you to stay present so you can enjoy the “glimmers” in life—the moments of joy, contentment, and happiness.