Meet Our Instructors

Viveka Moon

Viveka Moon is a classical soprano, singer-songwriter and songleader, sound healer, Vocal Yoga teacher, and is honored to serve as the studio manager here at Lajja Space. She is passionate about offering healing and inspiration through her voice and empowering others to heal themselves through their own voices. As a Hatha yoga teacher, Viveka supports students in listening to their bodies and finding the teacher within – she teaches Gentle Hatha Flow class Wednesday afternoons, an all-levels class that closes with a rejuvenating sound bath. Viveka’s style is playful, warm, and encouraging. Her unique approach to voice training as a spiritual path infuses mindfulness and self-love into a practice that supports self-awareness and singing with ease and joy. In addition to teaching Vocal and Hatha yoga, Viveka holds a unique song circle and gong bath offering the first Monday of every month, and collaborates with friend and fellow songstress Relendra on medicine song circles. She also co-creates the magical third Friday Reiki Sound Bath once a month. In all her expressions and connections, Viveka aligns with the values of love, truth, peace, freedom, and healing. Find out more from Viveka’s website: vivekamoon.com

Shana Celnicker-Chong

Anyone can teach poses, but as it is with any yoga class, it is what happens inside that matters most. Shana is dedicated to creating a space for people that is safe, curious, supported, educational, empowered and community filled.

Shana has been working as yoga teacher specializing in prenatal and postpartum yoga, doula and childbirth educator, since 2001 and has taught yoga to hundreds of pregnant and postpartum parents in the Portland, Oregon area.  She has continued her education studies of yoga and movement in fertility, pregnancy, birth, pelvic floor and core health, postpartum recovery and Perimenopause/Menopause. In addition to her prenatal and postpartum classes at Lajja Space, she also offers a Hatha yoga class Thursday mornings that focuses on core stability and is open to all.

Shana lives in Milwaukie, Oregon with her husband and (sometimes) her adult children.  Her teaching and community of parents has helped her to see the importance of movement, stillness, and empowerment in one’s life in order to live the life they want to live. Find out more at fromyourcenter.com

Jillian Kae Nelson

As the founder and Temple Tender of this holy Lajja community practice space for its first five years, Jillian continues to guide the Tuesday morning Grateful Dead Roll Around and is part of the collaborative team of facilitators holding the Sunday morning Women’s Temple.  As always, these gatherings are joyfully offered by donation, a gift of devotion to the community that has called them.  Once named a “Permissionary” by a dear friend, she celebrates that description and brings play, curiosity, and wonder to the spaces she shares with others.

Mimi Schaper

Mimi Schaper is an ordained interspiritual minister who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She was raised in the Christian faith and moved to Oregon in 1979 where she spent most of her professional career as a minister in a Christian Community Church. She eventually left the Church, finding it too confining, and now considers herself a mystic, looking for God within and in everyday ordinary moments. Mimi has practiced meditation for many years and is an advanced student of Dr. Joe Dispenza; she now leads weekly Monday morning meditations at Lajja inspired by his teachings. Mimi also leads the inclusive Church for All gathering on second and fourth Sunday afternoons. She lives in Milwaukie with her husband Steve, four other family members, and five dogs – this ‘family commune’ keeps her grounded. She and her family enjoy music, travel, movies, humor and a touch of madness.

Carolyn 

Saffire Bouchelion

Saffire Bouchelion is an Embodyologist, a deeply devoted Rhythmatist, and a Music/Movement Alchemist who sources the love, joy and healing of Spirit into all that he does.  Be it classes, workshops, or performances, Saffire’s commitments to service is clear and inspiring. As a First Degree Black Belt, he has taught Nia, and his Dance into Being Workshops, in over 17 countries. As a professional percussionist he has performed on over 47 recording projects and had bands open for numerous International acts.  Saffire holds weekly Drumming sessions, for both groups and for private students. His Children’s book, The Groove Goblin, truly encapsulates Saffire’s life philosophy, and it is this philosophy that he brings into his work as a music therapist for Hospice clients near transition. Join Saffire for Nia dance every Wednesday morning at 9:30!

Zachariah Strickler, aka “Huck”

Zackariah Stickler has been an ardent meditator for over 14 years and spent years living in various monasteries around America. He ordained as an Anagarika at the Temple Forest Monastery in New Hampshire, where he practiced Theravada Buddhism and resided for over three years. Although his knowledge of the direct teachings of the Buddha are expansive, he’s also spent years approaching the practice creatively, as well as working with things like Chakras, energy, auras, lucid dreaming, astral projection, and more! His offerings, including a weekly Tuesday afternoon meditation class, can include anything from a well organized crash course about everything he’s learned from so many excellent teachers, to classes where we all study together, to just simply sitting together in community, allowing each other to be in one another’s presence with a sense of intentional silence. Although meditation has been his primary focus, he’s also been practicing tarot for over 10 years, and would love to offer any spiritual services to the community that help all of us heal, grow, introspect, and find our own spiritual path. Ecstatic dance has also been a serious passion, and he hopes to be able to start hosting more personal ecstatic dance experiences for those who love to move authentically with one another!

Rose Allen

With over 20 years of study and practice, Rose is a Certified Instructor of Qigong. She offers a weekly class at Lajja Space every Friday at 11am. Generous with her time and knowledge, Rose has been providing students with clear instructions of this energy cultivation practice for over a dozen years. A grounded presence and vitality come across in her easy teaching manner. She offers a vast repertoire based on her independent study and training with various masters, inspired by her fascination with this moving art. Inspired by what Qigong has done for her own health and well-being, Rose’s passion is to share it with others. Feel free to contact her with any questions or concerns. rose@buildingqi.com. More information at: BuildingQi.com

Lark Pien

Ron Bushner

Ron teaches Swaroopa Yoga Foundations on Thursdays at 5pm. As an elder and devoted yogi, he is passionate about making yoga accessible to all. His gentle energy and clear instructions will help you to drop more fully into the present moment and access your inner wisdom. Find out more from Ron’s website.

Serg Vela

Serg offers a weekly kid’s breakdancing class Monday afternoons. A Texas native with over 25 years of breaking experience, he has dedicated his life to the art of dance. From battling on some of the biggest stages to teaching workshops, judging competitions, and performing shows around the world, Serg is widely respected as a high-level breaker and a trusted figure in the global breaking community.

In his classes, Serg combines the best of both worlds: the discipline that builds focus, respect, and determination, and the creativity that allows every dancer to find their unique style. Students don’t just learn moves—they gain confidence, teamwork skills, and a deep appreciation for the culture of hip hop. Whether they’re dreaming of battling, performing on stage, or just discovering their love for movement, Serg’s guidance provides a foundation they can carry for life.

Relendra

Relendra is a singer, musician, writer, and healer bringing guidance, support, and delight to the heart, mind, and spirit through her offerings. She is a practicing psychotherapist, sound healer, and reiki master. Relendra offers a sound bath journey on the second Monday of every month at Lajja Space and also collaborates with her friend and fellow songstress Viveka in leading monthly medicine song circles. Learn more about Relendra’s music, songs, novels, articles, and healing practice at relendra.com.

Hanu

Hanu leads the Ram Das Satsang every first Sunday afternoon. This gathering includes kirtan (devotional singing) and a dharma discussion. All are welcome!

Trisha Dawn Roisum

Trisha is a holistically minded veterinarian, an Adult Chair life coach, a Hoffman retreat graduate, and a Not One More Vet Lifeboat volunteer. She leads Women’s Temple once a month and developed a love of that practice in 2019 when Chameli visited Portland and her life was permanently altered towards a more grounded and centered way of existing. Trisha identifies most of all as a soul with a body trying to find balance, comfort, clarity, healing, and love.  

She says: During our time together we will settle into our skin, listen for messages from our ancestors, move our bodies, and create connection in this community. 

Thank you for showing up for yourself, thank you for sharing space with me, and my gratitude overflows to you for trusting me to guide our time together. 

I look forward to gathering for a restorative and embodied temple experience.

Audrey Marie

Audrey is an artist and facilitator holding space for those who come to the Women’s Temple on Sunday mornings. Audrey is an experienced group leader with a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and more importantly, is a seeker of the Divine Wisdom that dwells in every human. She values authenticity and aims to support you to connect, accept and celebrate all states of your being. Bring your curiosity, fear, anger, joy, pride, grief, frustration, excitement – whatever state you are in, bring it. Put down the mask and let’s support each other with what is. How might women who are able to be true to themselves in all states of being affect the circles of people they connect with? Or of the environment…animals, other systems? Supporting women to be true to themselves is Audrey’s goal when holding space at Temple, most often 3rd Sundays.

Kyle Roberts

Kyle hosts ecstatic dances at Lajja. 

He practices meditation through the traditions of Advaita Vedanta as well as by teachers that touch upon non-dual traditions, such as Eckart Tolle and Louise Kay.

He approaches life more so through the teachings of Bashar, Elan and Ryokah of the Sassani. 

Kyle incorporates the above into dance, seeing dance as a movement meditation.  When he leads an ecstatic dance, the invitation is to find flow through greeting each unique moment with curiosity and an attitude of “why not?”.

Jack Baikoff

Jack is a facilitator of the monthly men’s circle and board member of Church of Embodied Essence. A man whose dharma is creating nourishing spaces. Seeker of wisdom from many sources, such as esoterics, meditation, yoga and seeing meaning in every aspect of life. Not a teacher, but rather a man on a journey that’s interwoven with yours.

Charles “Chaim” Lev

Charles has been dedicated to cultivating embodied unity consciousness through holistic healing Taoist internal arts for 32 years.  He serves as an acupuncturist in OHSU’s Family Medicine neighborhood clinics in SW and SE Portland since 2008. For 12 years he taught as a clinical supervisor at NCNM (now NUNM) supporting the magical beings in grad school on the path of becoming acupuncturists.  Charles teaches workshops in sound healing via planetary tuning forks placed on acupuncture points at places such as the Oregon School of Massage (OSM), The Multnomah Arts Center, and as a featured workshop for the Idaho Acupuncture Association’s annual conference for continuing education. 

Charles is jazzed to bring offerings at Lajja Space including Dancing Like a Tree Qi Gong and Community Acupuncture with a Soundbath.

Jillian Brown

Jillian Brown is a multidisciplinary artist with a lifelong passion for music, dance, and visual arts. In 2020, she began a powerful healing journey through meditation, ecstatic movement, and painting and crafting — practices that supported her recovery from addiction, trauma, and houselessness. What started as personal healing has blossomed into a vibrant offering she now shares through her “Move It!” event every second Wednesday, and her “Recess” gatherings every third Wednesday evening.

Jillian is passionate about creating inclusive, joy-filled community spaces where everyone is invited to move, create, and express themselves in whatever way feels most authentic. Her number one rule? “You do you, boo-boo (respectfully!)”

Laura Allmacher

Laura is an acupuncturist with more than 25 years of experience in the healing arts and offers group community acupuncture, sound healing and qigong at Lajja Space. Laura’s journey has woven many threads of care — from nearly two decades as a bedside nurse, to her time as a traditional naturopath including energy medicine, to her deep studies of East Asian Medicine. Since 2008, she has also practiced as a professional astrologer. Each chapter has shaped the way she meets others in their healing. In her one-on-one sessions, Laura creates a space that opens beyond the physical body into the emotional, energetic, and spiritual realms we all move through. Her work is an invitation back to self — to touch what is true within, so that greater healing can unfold. Incorporating Astrology into her practice can serve as a guiding compass in this process, offering insight into the deeper patterns of life and helping clients reconnect with their own inner rhythms. She currently practices at Heart Spring Health in Sellwood and also welcomes clients into her private practice in southwest Portland.

Sydan Aguacielos

Sydan Aguacielos is a sound healing facilitator and co-creator of Temples of Sound, offering guided singing meditations that move through the 7-chakra system using sustained tone, breath, and simple vocal resonance practices. Sessions are structured and participatory, inviting attendees into accessible toning experiences that support nervous system regulation, embodied presence, and deeper self-attunement. Through sustained sound, silence, and integration space, Sydan creates grounded containers rooted in coherence, integrity, and relational care.

Jenny Siegel

Jenny Siegel is an art maker and space holder. She is one of the rotating Women’s Temple facilitators on Sunday mornings. Her intention is to support women in honoring their inner knowing and connecting to their unique creative impulse. Jenny’s devotion for this work emerged when she began studying with Chameli Gad of Awakening Women Institute in 2016. Since that time Jenny has attended and assisted several trainings, retreats and workshops worldwide with Chameli Gad and Simone Rita, of AWI. Her art making practice is an exploration, allowing curiosity and spaciousness to inform her process. Forms found in nature, humanity, and interconnectedness inspire her. She facilitates Somatic Art Exploration, drawing from studies with somatic educator Liz Koch of Core Awareness, and personal inquiry. Jenny also serves as a board member of the Church of Embodied Essence. Find out more at jennysiegel.com

Kana Hattori

Based in Portland, Kana Hattori is a devotional singer and kīrtan leader who offers this practice as a path of joy, bliss, devotion and deep emotional honesty from lived experience and deep gratitude.

Rooted in Bhakti, guided by heart, her offerings invite others to connect deeply within themselves, with each other and with the sacred.

Kana leads kirtan at Lajja every first Thursday evening, starting at 6:45pm. Join her in discovering the joy and healing that awakens when we sing together, remembering that our own voices are medicine, and that devotion can be both powerful and tender.

Lulu Mosman

Lulu has been singing her whole life, usually in groups of people, where the sounds and the magical stories behind songs can come alive. Since discovering Singing Alive in 2013, Lulu has led song circles, channeled songs fresh from Spirit, taught emotional wellness song remedies to clients and friends, and instigated overflowing joy through the voice.

Come third Thursdays to join her unique song circles, paired with playful movement, and see how rich life can sound and feel! Hear music and learn more about coaching offerings at linktr.ee/lulovehealing