Teachers
Carol Sele, BS, LMP
Owner
I have lived on Whidbey Island for over 20 years now, starting my yoga teaching for the US Navy in Feb 2002 as the Fitness Director at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. I am all in with my commitment to Navy personnel and their families, retirees, vets and all that is this beautiful community on this beautiful island. My belief that yoga is an incredible gift for healing and transformation keeps me excited to teach all bodies with a sense of humor all while offering a personal touch with our signature cool lavender towel at the end of class.
I am also the founder of Chrysalis Yoga Shala Academy, A Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS) with a triple-major in Creative Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin Yoga.
Because my own love for heat in my practice, I started hot and warm yoga. My first extensive training was “Viniyoga” under Sabrina McIntyre. I have completed many other continuing education trainings including a 500 hour comprehensive training of the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition with Doug Swenson at Sadhana Yoga Chi, & Dave Swenson, along with a 50 Hour Yin Yoga Training with Biff Mithoefer and more.
I feel quite blessed to be able to offer all classes and our yoga teacher training online for our families that have had to move elsewhere to keep part of our yoga community!
Bonafacio (Bon) Bainco
I took up yoga as an outlet after an injury in 2013. That is when I started an unexpected mind-body journey with amazing healing results. A few years later, I turned my positive complete healing into a passion to teach others through my overall discipline and results. I graduated with 200 Hour Anasara Yoga Alliance Registered School April 2016 and have been teaching at Chrysalis Yoga Shala ever since. I love teaching self-compassion, peace and calm in all my classes with absolute safety to all bodies, injured and not.
Erica Schulle
I discovered yoga over a decade ago and began taking classes at Chrysalis Yoga Shala. Within a short time, I felt fully connected – mind, body, soul – and observed the difference the practice of Yoga makes in my disposition and how I show up in the world off the mat. Over time, I was compelled to deepen my practice and completed Yoga Teacher Training at Chrysalis Yoga Shala, where I also began guiding classes.
My approach to Yoga is about guidance more than teaching. Regardless of the type of class you attend, you can expect to find sequences that focus on mindfulness, self-study, mediation, and mobility. I’m beyond grateful to practice with all who come to the studio and for the community we hold here.
Devri Ray
I have always loved the combination of being active and creative, and before I began my yoga journey, I had over 20 years of dance experience. I have trained and instructed extensively in social and competitive ballroom styles, as well as ballet, folk, contemporary, and jazz – a background that has helped me easily transition to practicing yoga. In an effort to improve my own practice and deepen my understanding of yoga, I completed my Yoga Alliance 200 hour training at Chrysalis Yoga Shala in December 2020 and began teaching shortly thereafter. I love seeing the positive transformation it brings to myself and others.
Ed O’Keefe
I teach from my passion of the Ashtanga Yoga Tradition specializing in creative vinyasa, as well as hatha and yin. I thread in my 3000 hours of Vipassana Mindfulness courses into all my classes while encouraging individuals to enjoy, learn and grow as they practice. My lifestyle of climbing peaks in the Cascades and solo sea kayaking expeditions are key elements for grounding with life, time and nature, all which serve to create my beautiful class narratives and styling.
Dina Baloyan
Back in 2003 after attending my first yoga class I knew I really liked yoga, but didn’t know that yoga would stay with me for many years to come and support me at the various stages of my life in all the different ways. Whether it was to balance out 8 hours of sitting at a computer or running around with the kids, yoga was always there to help improve my posture, strengthen my arms and back. And it wasn’t just the asanas that helped me; I loved how yoga and breathing exercises brought on calmness and patience to everyday situations. I have always searched for balance in life and while I do believe this is a continuous process, I feel yoga helps me on my journey.
After diving deeper in the study of Yoga with Carol Sele, I fell in love with yoga even more. I am grateful to be part of the community here at Chrysalis Yoga Shala on beautiful Whidbey Island, bringing this ancient philosophy and practice to our modern lives.
