Our story
Planted in Chardon.
On October 20, 2018, Freia and David opened the doors of a sage-green building and planted a studio the way you'd plant a tree: for the people who'd sit in its shade years later.
Taproot is a woman-owned small business.
About us
Where breath, movement & community weave together.
Rooted in the heart of Chardon, Taproot Yoga grew from a simple vision: to create a sanctuary where breath, movement, and community weave together. What began eight years ago as a humble intention has blossomed into a vibrant studio dedicated to holistic well-being, somatic movement, and compassionate self-discovery.
At Taproot, we believe that true transformation begins from the ground up. Just as a tree draws strength and nourishment from deep within the earth, our practices are designed to help you drop out of the busyness of the mind, anchor into your body, and connect with your inner landscape. Whether you are stepping onto the mat for the first time, exploring therapeutic somatic sequences, or diving deep into teacher training, our space is built to meet you exactly where you are.
We are more than just a movement studio: we are a living, breathing community. From our community garden and square gatherings to our shared practices inside the studio, Taproot is a space for healing, connection, and growth. Welcome to your practice. Welcome home.
What we believe
Three things we'd never compromise.
Every body welcome
Beginners, chronic pain, seventy-somethings, kids, classes meet you where you are, not where Instagram is.
Rest is medicine
The antidote to a fast, loud life is connection, mindful movement, and genuine rest for the nervous system.
Community first
Free summer yoga on the Chardon Square, sliding-scale workshops, a full calendar of community events, the door stays open.
The circle
The teachers & practitioners of Taproot.
Who Are the Yoga Instructors at Taproot Yoga Chardon?
Our yoga instructors are experienced practitioners dedicated to helping students deepen their practice through customized instruction. Many offer private, one-on-one sessions tailored to your needs and goals, with personalized guidance and support for practitioners at every level.
- Instructor expertise: experienced yoga professionals dedicated to student growth.
- Customization approach: private instruction that adapts to your specific needs and goals.
- Support model: expert guidance throughout your yoga journey at Taproot.
That focus on the individual sits at the center of how we teach. As BKS Iyengar put it, growth begins with the person, and from that personal growth, community follows. Our instructors carry that spirit into every group class and private session.
"Yoga is firstly for individual growth, but through individual growth society and community develop."
The founders
Co-founder
Freia Ramsey
Yoga therapist (C-IAYT, ERYT500), teaching since 1997. Art, psychology & Ayurveda woven into everything she leads, from group classes to teacher trainings.
Co-founder
David Ramsey
Energetic medicine, healing touch & spiritual direction, decades of study in religious traditions and therapeutic bodywork, offered with warmth and zero pretense.
Yoga faculty
- Steve JohnsonYoga instructorSee his classes →
- Natasha LoveridgeYoga instructorSee her classes →
- Jorja VornhederYoga instructorSee her classes →
- Nicole MalanaphyYoga · Reiki · coachingSee her classes →
Healing practitioners
The front desk (the real bosses)
- Patricia LeistikoStudio manager
- Lili LoxtermanFront desk
Come try the studio, 3 weeks for $39.
Come meet everyone in person, three weeks of unlimited classes for $39.
Freia Ramsey
ERYT500, RPYT, Yoga Therapist
Freia Ramsey has studied many forms of yoga since 1997. She is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Yoga Therapy Association. She sees clients privately and in small individualized classes and also teaches Yoga Teacher Trainings and workshops. Freia's yoga classes are based on the needs of the students in that moment; facilitating self-awareness and giving each student the tools to create positive change in their whole being: body, mind and spirit.
My yoga teaching comes from a sincere desire to help people to alleviate suffering in their bodies and their minds. Yoga has helped me to overcome anxiety and depression, to realign my spine, to feel strong and resilient in my body and to feel a sense of deep inner peace. The greatest benefit of my yoga practice however, is how it helps me to be kinder with myself and others. I want to share this life changing practice with others who are ready to be their best selves.
Freia also offers Yoga Therapy private sessions
Yoga Therapy uses gentle movements combined with the breath to bring the body into a state of balance while soothing the nervous system. It's widely known that Yoga can enhance your physical and emotional well being, but when Yoga is practiced with a therapeutic intention in the form of Yoga Therapy, it can help prevent and aid recovery from physical and mental ailments.
These sessions are an hour to an hour and 15 minutes and include a recording of the session, a guided meditation (MP3 format) and a short daily individualized practice for the student that addresses the issues they are working with.
David Ramsey
Somatic Coach, Spiritual Intuitive and Energetics Healer
David Ramsey is a Somatic Coach, Spiritual Intuitive and Energetics Healer committed to helping individuals and communities thrive in health and vitality.
His experience in the healing fields spans over two and half decades with over 2,500 hours of training professionally. His journey began with an introduction into conscious awareness of language patterns through NLP in 1999. David realized then that we hold those patterns in our bodies and began trainings in Massage Therapy, Zen Shiatsu, Five Element Theory, Intuitive Healing, Energetic Medicine and Spiritual Direction to help individuals release their inhibiting patterns. David's studies led to an even deeper examination of Consciousness and inquiry into our Belief Systems and how we can create and dis-create our beliefs at will to create a happier more joy full life.
David's expertise and passion lies in assisting release of chronic concerns and issues on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. His approach to personal and professional growth is threefold in Body, Mind, & Spirit. When your body feels good your mind is free to create, and when your mind is free to create, you spirit can soar!
"Each person walks a path. My aim is to honor that path and help them expand the awareness of who they are to release Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual disharmonies. My hope and desire is to inspire people and help them experience joy in their life more often than not."
David's Certifications include: Graduated Phoenix Therapeutic Massage Collage (1993), Usui Reiki and Terra Mai Reiki Master Teacher (1993), Bachelors in Religious Studies from Arizona State University (1999), Graduated Zen Shiatsu School with added focus in Five Element Chinese Medical Theory (2003), Certificate in NLP (1989), Completed Avatar Master Training (2005) and Certified in Energetic Medicine through Victoria Merkle School of Energetic Medicine (2010).
Shanna Brown
500 E-RYT
Somatic Yoga Teacher | Owner of Empowered Forever | Relationship Healer | Certified ThetaHealing® Practitioner | Reiki Master
Shanna is the founder of Empowered Forever, a transformational healing brand that supports women in reclaiming their worth, embodying their truth, and calling in the love and connection they deserve.
Shanna's work is rooted in the belief that healing the body is the gateway to healing relationships, with ourselves, our partners, and the world. Through Empowered Forever, she offers 1:1 coaching, healing sessions, and group programs that transform the way women show up in love and life.
She is a Relationship Healer, Certified ThetaHealing® Practitioner, Reiki Master, Somatics Teacher, and 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with over a decade of experience guiding others toward embodied freedom and fulfillment.
Shanna Brown has been a certified yoga instructor since 2016 with over 3000 hours of teaching experience. She has a background in dance, somatics, and intuitive energy healing, Shanna blends mind-body practices with deep nervous system work to help students regulate, release, and return home to themselves.
Her classes at Taproot Yoga combine somatic movement, breathwork, and emotional healing to support students in creating a felt sense of safety, freedom, and embodiment. She weaves her signature coaching and healing approach into each class, guiding students to explore not only the physical body but the deeper emotional patterns that live within it. Her classes are a safe, sacred space to release, reset, and return to yourself, one breath at a time.
"Yoga was the catalyst to feeling happier, healthier, whole, safe and complete. It transformed everything in my life for the better and I'm so grateful to share my healing journey with others. Anything is possible!"
Sue Corbett
E-RYT 200, Reiki ART, Integral Sound Healer
I want you to get acquainted with me, let me share my credentials and passion of energy healing through yoga, reiki and sound healing sessions. I have been enjoying fitness for the past 40 + years. I became a certified aerobics instructor in 1990, a certified yoga instructor in 2011, registered with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 200, completed a training on therapeutic yoga offered by The Cleveland Clinic Center for Lifestyle Medicine in 2012, completed my Reiki ART certification training in 2014, certified in Restorative Yoga 2016, Certificate Donna Eden Energy Medicine 2021, certified in Level One Sound Healing Therapy with Crystal Bowls in 2022 and Diploma in Integral Sound Healing with Crystal Singing Bowls 2023. Continuing education is important with recently attending certification classes 2025 on Somatic Yoga and Trauma Yoga.
My yoga practices offer meditation, breathwork, movement, exploring, relaxation and some chanting. I want all students to know that with each yoga practice they attend, they should feel welcomed, comfortable and confident about themselves, letting them explore the amazing energy they can provide for themselves. Fun, upbeat music is usually what I like to practice in my Slow Flow classes. In a Restorative and Somatic practice, I will offer calming music to help release the mind and body to relax.
Sound medicine is an ancient science of mantras and healing. The offering of different sounds and vibrations can help return a body to homeostasis. Voice, in chanting or Yoga Nidra which is a voice guided meditation and different instruments are all powerful tools of healing and transformation. I have been offering Sound Healings to cancer patients, pre-operative and post-operative patients, patients who deal with anxiety, stress, prenatal and to anyone in need of wanting to feel peaceful. I sometimes will incorporate Reiki with Sound to enhance the power.
My family has been very supported on my yoga journey over the years, and I am so grateful for them! Being a proud Gamma now, my little Yogi's keep me on my toes, and I truly believe that my yoga practices and sound healings keeps my energy up! (especially my mind!) I am also thankful for the continual community support which fills my heart. Yogis thank me after class, but it's them that I thank! We all have a common love……being together and sharing our beautiful energy!
Peace & Love, Sue
Lyndsey Stropkey
Thai Massage, Reiki Master, E-RYT 500
Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider & Yoga Teacher Training
Lyndsey began practicing yoga in her late teens, initially drawn to it for health and fitness, but she soon discovered its potential for emotional and spiritual healing. In March 2008, she earned her 200-hour yoga teacher certification at the Kripalu Center, returning later to become a Yoga Dance instructor, where she combined music and dance into her practices. Her pursuit of knowledge led her to train in Thai Yoga massage, Pilates, and Reiki, eventually becoming a Reiki teacher and creating her own curriculum. Over five years, Lyndsey offered Reiki and yoga to organ transplant patients at The Cleveland Clinic Hospital System, where her sessions evolved to incorporate acupressure, massage, shamanism, and sound healing. She continued her studies in Ayurveda at Kripalu, completed 500 hours of yoga teacher training by 2017, and Restorative Yoga training by 2025, while also working towards a Kripalu Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher certification. In 2020, she became an assistant teacher at Kripalu and is now a Lead Trainer at The Taproot School of Yoga & Energetics. Lyndsey offers yoga and Reiki certifications, Ayurvedic workshops, private sessions, and classes in yoga dance and Pilates, and she also teaches at music festivals through her organization, OmBase. With a BA in music, Lyndsey integrates her musical talents into healing practices, sharing musical medicine with John Welton through yoga, live music, and their band, John Welton & The Awakening. Lyndsey's journey reflects her dedication to personal growth and helping others through yoga and healing arts.
Pegg McKnight
500YTT
Pegg graduated from Taproot Yoga's first 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, earned a certification in Yoga Tune-Up Balls, and is enrolled in Taproot's 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can expect to enjoy a great rock-and-roll playlist in her classes.
Pegg works as a psychotherapist and is a believer in the positive benefits of yoga.
"I came to the first class in 2020, always wanting to try yoga. There are so many benefits for myself, my children, as well as my patients. It helps with anxiety, stress relief and I am even studying to become a yoga teacher. They are so genuine and authentic here. There is a very non-competitive atmosphere and they meet you exactly where you are here."
She teaches Yoga Basics, Gentle Yoga, and Slow Flow classes, and works great with beginners.
Sara Curran
500YTT
In 2008, Sara began looking for a different kind of activity to complement her running and strength training, and discovered yoga. After becoming a dedicated power yoga practitioner, she felt a desire to dive deeper into yoga methodologies and practices. She took the plunge into teacher training with Marni Task at the Yoga Room in Little Italy whose teachings are founded in Jivasara yoga, which is based on the Anusara and Jivamukti methodologies. In 2015, she received her 200-hour teacher training certificate and in January of 2016 began teaching at Progressive's Fitness Center in Mayfield Village, OH.
To expand her foundational yogic offerings Sara attended specialized training with Anne Ondrey in Sacred Calm Restorative yoga in late 2017 and Advanced Restorative training in 2019. In early 2018, she added certification in Holy Fire II Usui Reiki Ryoho, First degree Reiki.
In 2022, she embarked on an 18 month journey at the Taproot School of Yoga and Energetics in Chardon with Freia Ramsey whose teachings are founded on the lineage of Krishnamacharya's Viniyoga and Lindsay Stropkey whose teachings are founded on the Kripalu lineage and the sister science of yoga, Ayurveda. This program offered an intense immersion into Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda, Therapeutic yoga, Philosophy and so much more which enabled her to achieve her 300-hour yoga teacher certification in June of 2023.
Through a teaching style that is welcoming and inclusive, Sara makes an effort to tailor each class to meet the needs of the students, whom she sees as her daily teachers on this journey. She frames each class with a theme, such as an inspirational reading her students can take with them off the mat. Recognizing the special reciprocal relationship between student and teacher, Sara always takes a moment to express gratitude for the inspiration and learnings from all of her teachers.
Off the mat, Sara enjoys exploring the many park trails throughout northeast Ohio with her husband, John.
Gwynne Young
200RYT, Certified Raindrop Therapy
Gwynne brings her energy to the room, whether it is teaching yoga, providing energetic care, or being with her family. Always on the move and happy to help, Gwynne enjoys being with liked-minded people in the community. Living on a small farm brings another source of joy. Taking the families dogs on walks in the parks and forests, gardening, and traveling keep Gwynne's life in motion. Working with the Great Geauga County Fair's Jr. Fair members and families is another source of connection to the community throughout the year.
Gwynne's journey to holistic health has been ongoing throughout her life. A big advocate for natural options and allowing the body to heal and balance itself with an all-encompassing approach. She enjoys finding new ways to share these processes. Engaging in education to support her love of healing, Gwynne holds many certificates including YTT 200, Advanced Energetics, Breathwork, and the essential oil Raindrop Therapy to name a few.
Always excited to meet new people, Gwynne is thrilled to be a part of the Taproot family and looks forward to meeting and working with many new friends. Join her on the mat at a yoga class, or schedule an energetic session, raindrop therapy session, or all the above.
Madison Goryance
Yoga teacher
Madison is a recent graduate of Taproots Yoga teacher training. Her 7 years of personal practice have guided her to live a more holistic life, one centered around self-discovery and the ongoing journey of returning home to herself. She is passionate about creating a welcoming space that supports self-exploration and mindful movement.
Her classes are breath-centered and thoughtfully sequenced, weaving movement with breath to create a calm, grounded space where the practice becomes a moving meditation. Students are guided to connect inward, explore their flow, and move with presence and awareness.
Melissa Anselmi
RYT-200
Melissa is a 2026 Taproot Yoga Teacher Training graduate (RYT-200) with over 5 years of personal practice, passionate about creating a welcoming, judgment-free space for all levels. Inspired by her own journey using yoga to manage anxiety and support her strength training, she aims to guide students through an immersive experience of both intentional movement and deep relaxation to unite the body and mind.
As an athlete and full-time engineer, Melissa understands the importance of balance, between effort and ease, strength and softness. When she's not on the mat, Melissa enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, or planning her next adventure.
Karen Murphy
RYT-200
Karen is a dedicated yoga teacher (RYT-200), massage therapist, and Reiki practitioner who lives in Chardon with her husband, two kids, and a house full of pets. After navigating the challenges of multiple autoimmune conditions, she discovered that yoga was a vital tool for nervous system regulation and physical recovery. Karen has a wonderful, grounded approach to wellness! By blending her background in Sociology with her knowledge of natural living, she's uniquely positioned to address both the individual and the community aspect of health. Karen strives for her classes to be an accessible and inclusive, welcoming space for everyone to have fun and decompress. With decades of experience in childcare and community programming, she finds particular joy in working with children. When she's off the mat, Karen is an active animal advocate, CASA volunteer, and youth mentor who loves reading, being creative, teaching dance, and exploring nature.
Krista Brown
RYT 200, Reiki Level I
Hi, I'm Krista! I'm a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), Reiki Level I practitioner, and a mom of four who believes yoga has the power to help us reconnect with ourselves, no matter our age or experience.
I teach both adult and children's yoga with a focus on creating a welcoming space where everyone feels seen, supported, and encouraged to move in a way that feels good for their body. I also had the privilege of leading a children's summer camp at Taproot, where we explored mindfulness, movement, creativity, and plenty of fun together. I'm currently continuing my education as I work toward my Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (RCYT) certification.
Whether you're stepping onto the mat for the first time or returning to your practice, my hope is that you'll leave class feeling a little more grounded, a little more at ease, and inspired to carry that feeling with you into your everyday life. I look forward to practicing with you!
Anna Wade
Yoga instructor
Hi, I'm Anna! I'm a 2026 graduate of Taproot's 200hr training. I have been practicing yoga for 7 years, and in that time I have found the profound effect that a healthy relationship with your body can have on your mental and physical well being.
In my classes, I invite you to explore movement as a means of coming home to your body and mind.
Together, we will use breath techniques alongside meditative movement, finding balance and regulation in the nervous system. Being regulated is the first step to bringing real awareness and ability to understand ourselves and our bodies.
I dedicate myself to providing a structure for you to deeply explore your own personal practice in a safe, relaxed, and beginner friendly environment. I am blessed to be able to share my practice and grow alongside others in this beautiful community. I hope to see you soon!
Sarah Inzano
Yoga · aerial & Reiki
A graduate of the Taproot Yoga Teacher Training (200-HR) in 2022, Sarah Inzano embodies the spirit of our community through her dedication to growth and healing. Specializing in Aerial Yoga (certified via Yoga Body Training), Sarah guides all of Taproot's aerial events with a mission to turn the "intimidating" into the empowering. She finds true joy in witnessing the transformation that occurs when a student moves past fear to find their wings.
Sarah's practice is deeply rooted in energetic connection, bolstered by her Reiki II certification under Reiki Master Lyndsey Stropkey. When she isn't fostering mind-body integration in the studio, she is out in the wild, hiking and camping with her husband, two sons, and their German Shepherd, Vishnu. Sarah believes in the inherent goodness within us all and is honored to support your journey toward balance, fulfillment, and authentic expression.
Julianne Loxterman
LMT, Energetics Practitioner
Jules has a true passion to be of service to others by sharing her knowledge to enrich lives, one person and one session at a time. Her unique ability to treat her clients with a "whole person" approach by combining modalities comes from her extensive training in the Taproot School of Energetics, her certifications in Massage Therapy, Reiki II and as a 200 hr Yoga Instructor while also having a background in Psychology, Human Development and Inner Wisdom®. Jules is a co-creator striving to empower her clients to be the best version of themselves for themselves, and for the world.
Julia Baucco
Energetics practitioner
Julia Baucco is an intuitive healer who incorporates a blend of psychology, physics, and eastern esoteric practices to promote wholeness and vitality in her clients. She is a graduate of The Taproot School of Energetics and holds a certificate in Reiki I. She brings leadership experience as a business owner, many years in a medical environment, and women's healing circle guide.
Her primary tenet of practice is that every human life is structured by a belief system, conscious and unconscious, and belief systems can be altered through the individual's decision, growth, healing, and loving support.
Julia's clients include those ready to respond creatively to "the stuff of life" that just is not working any more, along with those who are curious about the possibilities, and those who desire passive hands-on healing.
She enjoys creating art, including painting, collage and print making. As retired business owners, Julia and her husband reside in beautiful Geauga County, and travel often to the desert and mountains of Arizona.
Susan Swartwelder
Reiki Master
Susan's journey with energy medicine began in 2016, sparking a deep passion for understanding its healing power. That's when she discovered Reiki, a practice that transformed her life. Since then, she has trained with some of the most respected teachers in the area, mastering techniques that have not only helped her heal but have also deepened her ability to support others on their healing journey. Now, Susan is dedicated to helping others seeking transformation find harmony and balance, peace, and renewal.
Training & Certifications
- Reiki Third Degree Master/Teacher
- Foundational Energetics - 100-hour training
- Integrative Energetics - 75-hour training