Learn More About Us
Rachel Friedman, E-RYT 500, YACEP, MSW, CST
Rachel stumbled upon yoga in 2000 after graduating from her masters program in clinical social work. Working in a psychiatric hospital she was seeking ways to destress from long chaotic days. Soon after starting her yoga journey, she fell deeply in love with the practice. Having been a competitive gymnast through her childhood, the practice landed powerfully in her body. Shortly after, she began to experience the mental and emotional benefits.
In 2010 after moving to Georgia she embarked on her first of many yoga certifications with Peachtree Yoga. Since 2011 she has trained under Baron Baptiste, and assisted his trainings, as well as Sean Corn, and recieved her 500 hour certification with School Yoga Institute in Peru.
Rachel founded the Somatic Coach School where she trains healers to integrate somatics into their practice, as well as offering somatic therapy to clients 1:1 to heal and transform.
Stephanie Wright RYT-200
Stephanie is a travel junkie, health nut, foodie, and lover of animals, family, and life. She believes that yoga should be accessible to all and strives to create a positive supportive environment for a true mind-body connection.
Her path to yoga began after taking her first class at a local gym in Baton Rouge, Louisiana over 20 years ago. It was not until she moved to Alpharetta, Georgia in 2009 that she revisited the practice by taking a few classes a month at a local gym. In 2014, she discovered Lift Yoga Studio where she was able to learn from Kim Saunders and other amazing teachers. In this space she deepened her yoga practice on and off her mat.
After a minor back surgery in 2015, she struggled to find her balance and flexibility, and found it difficult to touch her toes. In Yoga, she found strength and peace every time she stepped onto her mat, and learned that all things take time, consistency, and love.
Life experiences and completing her 200hrs at Lift Yoga Studio with Kim Saunders has allowed Stephanie to follow her childhood passion and dream of helping others. She feels coordinating movement with breath during each asana, encourages acceptance and flexibility, not only in the body, but also in the mind.
Stephanie Rivera E RYT200, RYT 500, YACEP, Certified Breath Coach & Writer
Stephanie Rivera strives to give back to the community what her own practice has given to her. She believes our bodies are always speaking to us and yoga facilitates that communication. With over 1400 hours of teaching experience she is known for her cuing that fosters confidence through transitions. She infuses the idea of moving like water with music to entice students to move fluidly through life on and off the mat. She holds space for every student to dive deeper, tune in and to ultimately listen to and observe themselves. She often includes her own poetry and writing in her classes to deepen the experience. Stephanie travels and teaches a wide range of creative workshops. Her specialties are in breathwork, creative vinyasa, Bhakti yoga, sound meditation, and restorative yoga Nidra. You can follow her on Instagram @oceanflow_yoga
Aaron Brooks Pareigis RYT-200
Embarking on my yoga journey in 2016, my primary aim was to embrace meditation, an important practice of 12 Step Recovery. From this starting point, my journey has woven a tapestry of diverse experiences, each contributing to my growth as a practitioner and instructor.
In 2018 I established a solid foundation with 200 hours of training at Be Yoga in Marietta, paving the way for deeper exploration. My journey led me to specialized trainings, including 100 hours in Hot Sequence with Joe Sarty at Ember Hot Yoga, 50 hours in Yin Yoga with Douglas Johnson of Mahāpatha Yoga, and an additional 50 hours in Yin Yoga. I am also a Postural Alignment Specialist trained through the Egoscue Institute. Additional, delving into yoga literature and philosophy, I dedicated 60 hours to online instruction with Seth Powell PHD at Yogic Studies in the Yoga Sutra and the Bhagavad-Gita. This scholarly exploration deepened my understanding of yoga's ancient wisdom and philosophical underpinnings, enhancing my expertise and allowing me to embrace the profound teachings of different yoga practices.
Guided by the transformative principles of yoga, I discovered that its lessons extended far beyond the mat. Through yoga, I learned how to heal my physical body and navigate the delicate balance of strength and surrender. Simultaneously, I experienced a profound spiritual healing, rooted in self-exploration and a dedicated connection to a higher power.
Central to my journey has been an unyielding passion for guiding others on the path of self-discipline—a path that leads to the realization of one's highest potential. This transformative journey, I've come to understand, often emerges from a place of personal suffering. It is through the crucible of suffering that we find the key to growth and self-realization. The path from suffering to empowerment requires unwavering dedication, practice, patience and compassionate guidance. It's a path that has ignited within me an ardent commitment to share the art of self-mastery—a path that empowers individuals to transcend adversity and rise to their fullest selves.
My aspiration is to foster a community where the wisdom of yoga, meditation, and self-discovery converge, enabling fellow seekers to embrace their suffering as a catalyst for profound transformation. Together, let us embark on this journey of healing and empowerment.
“You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.”
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Georgia Northcutt RYT-500
Georgia is a dedicated yoga and barre instructor. She is a 500 hour yoga teacher after graduating with her 200 hours from Element Yoga in January of 2023, and her 300 hours from School Yoga Institute (in Costa Rica!) in July of 2023. Georgia’s 300 hour training specialized in Holistic Yoga Psychology and Intuitive Wisdom. Her barre training was through Pure Barre, and she has enjoyed teaching barre at multiple studios over the last few years. Georgia has a bachelor’s degree in African and African Diaspora Studies from Kennesaw State University, and spent a year in South Africa where she taught young children about health and fitness.
Georgia is in the process of receiving her somatic coaching certification and can’t wait to begin taking clients combining yoga and somatics. Georgia has a passion for teaching and one of her primary goals is to spread love for strength and body positivity.
Natalie Coticchio RYT-200
The first yoga class I wandered into was at the age of 20. I walked in completely lost, full of anger, and self-hate. I signed up for a trial week and vividly remember that moment in class where everything changed. I remember crying and not understanding why but allowing the wave of emotions to run through as though it was a deep soul cleaning. I walked out completely transformed and brought the practice home with me. A mental and physical connection that later turned into a spiritual awakening for me.
Yoga has helped me to create more space in not only my body but also my heart. It was through yoga that I was able to find self-acceptance and self-love. It has taught me to simply take the time to connect with myself and to observe the thoughts in my mind. In my class I want students to learn just how much empowerment and fearlessness reside within themselves. Finding out the ‘impossible’ was in fact possible waiting to happen.
I am very happy to be a part of the Soma Power Yoga Family and I look forward to flowing with you!
Magda Olvera RYT 200
Expressing feelings through dance has been part of Magda’s whole life . Whether is happiness, sadness, excitement and even anger, there has always been a good reason to dance. Eventually this passion was transferred into fitness, so she has been a fitness instructor for several years, leading Zumba, HIIT (High Intensive Interval Training) and Yoga, RYT200. Magda is co-creator of Yobelly Flow, a fusion of two ancient practices, yoga and belly dance. Magda’s main purpose as a teacher is to connect with her students in a level that they are able to open up to their divine self. Magda was born and raised in Mexico, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Aurora University, in Illinois and lives in the Atlanta norther suburbs with her family. One of Magda’s favorite things to do is to hike the trails of the beautiful Chattahoochee River.