Instructors
Allison Smeltz
Owner, Instructor, RYT-500
Meet Allison, the passionate owner of Columbia Falls Yoga. With over 20 years of yoga practice, she has experienced firsthand the profound benefits of yoga for both physical and mental well-being. As a way to alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with adulthood, Allison found solace in her yoga practice and has been committed to sharing this with others. As a yoga teacher, Allison specializes in restorative and flow classes and is dedicated to making her classes inclusive and accessible for all levels, abilities, and body types.
In 2021, Allison followed her dream and enrolled in a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, studying under her friend Selena Garefino. Along with her training, she opened Columbia Falls Yoga in the heart of Columbia Falls and is now a 500-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance (500-RYT). Allison's warm and welcoming presence in the studio creates a supportive environment where students can deepen their practice and find peace and balance. In her free time, she loves trying to keep up with her husband and doodle dog, Ernie on a bicycle or skis.
Brienne Stekly
Instructor, RYT-500
Bri was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. She found her love for yoga in high school but it was a knee injury in her 20’s that started her dive deep in to the practice. This eventually led her to complete a 200-hour yoga teacher training which left her inspired to delve into anatomy and physiology very much informing the classes that she teaches.
Bri is currently registered with the World Yoga Federation as a 500-hour Yoga instructor. She is wrapping up schooling as a Yoga Therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner as well as completing another 1600-hour Yoga Master training. Bri is continuing her studies to gain higher qualifications and already holds certification in; trauma informed yoga, chair and kids’ yoga, meditation, and breathwork. She is also one of the founding members of the Global Yoga Therapist and Ayurveda Organization. She works as a massage therapist, always striving to help her clients and students feel their best. Bri has won Best of Columbia Falls to Essex the past two years for Yoga instructor and massage therapist.
Bri’s Hatha classes are informed by her extensive knowledge of anatomy and alignment as well as by her work as a Yoga Therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner. She has a passion for Yogic Philosophy and traditional practices which she weaves into her classes.
Emily Jense
Pilates Instructor
Emily is a dedicated Pilates teacher with a passion for movement and mindfulness. She has been practicing Pilates since 2017 and completed her teacher training through Balanced Body in 2020. Through her own practice, she has experienced the transformative power of Pilates, with increased strength, stability, and decreased pain and injury. Emily is eager to share the magic of Pilates with her clients and help them transform their bodies through intentional movement. With a supportive and encouraging approach, she creates a welcoming and empowering environment for students to deepen their Pilates practice.
Katie Rose
Instructor, 200-HR
Katie Rose is excited to be part of the Columbia Falls Yoga team! Drawing from her experience in horse-assisted life coaching, yoga, and her own healing journey, she guides students to connect with their inner wisdom and cultivate authenticity through practice.
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Katie completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Costa Rica in 2017 with an Ayurveda focus. Since then, she has blended yoga, coaching, and creative exploration into what she calls The Come Alive Approach—a philosophy centered on discovering one’s true self and bringing it fully into the world.
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Outside the studio, Katie shares her love of music at local venues, hosts open mic nights, and helps people transition to new homes through her work with East to West Realty. At home, she enjoys raising her son and baking sourdough bread (ask her for a loaf!). Teaching yoga and helping others follow their hearts brings her immense joy, and she looks forward to welcoming you in class.
Leslie Riser
Instructor, RYT-200
Leslie has been practicing Yoga for over 20 years. What started out as a love and curiosity for movement, soon gave way to the more subtle aspects of the practice where she found greater moments of calm and connection in her life. She has studied various styles of Yoga, ultimately completing teacher trainings in alignment based practices combining breath awareness and meditation. She has additional trainings in trauma-informed yoga, yoga for anxiety, yoga for beginners, restorative yoga, and
the Yoga Tune Up method, which incorporates self massage techniques with the yoga practice. These trainings, along with her degree in Physical Therapy Assisting, deeply influence her interests and class offerings. Her classes often combine traditional yoga postures with functional strength and mobility, as well as mindfulness and breath awareness. Leslie has found that her yoga practice continues to evolve and shift throughout her life to support her through different stages and transitions. She believes yoga is for everyone and is committed to meeting people where they are
and strives to make classes accessible for every body.
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Sarah Downen
Instructor, 200-HR
Sarah grew up in Montana and has been practicing yoga since her teenage years. Her passion for yoga led her to complete her 200-hour training in Whitefish, MT in 2019 where she discovered her love for Yin Yoga. Sarah believes that Yin Yoga is a powerful practice that helps to deepen the mind-body-spirit connection through slowing down and holding poses for longer periods of time. In her classes, Sarah incorporates breathwork, aromatherapy, and reiki to provide her students with a truly nourishing experience. When she's not teaching, Sarah enjoys spending time in nature with her dog Clancy or curling up with a good book.
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Suzy Aragon
Instructor