Meet the HEAL Yoga Team – Utah Women’s Healing Retreat Leaders
Welcome to HEAL Yoga Studio’s instructor + team page. Based in Utah, our highly trained instructors lead trauma-informed women’s yoga retreats, blending yoga, nature, Ayurveda, and somatic healing. Get to know the people behind the heart of HEAL — guiding your journey toward renewal, connection, and transformation.
Bethany Forest, 500RYT
Founder of HEAL Yoga
Bethany guiding a circle of women during our desert retreat — weaving yoga, nature, and sisterhood into healing practices that last far beyond the mat.
Bethany Forest is a yogi, traveler, and lover of the outdoors whose passion is creating women’s yoga retreats in Utah that inspire deep healing and connection. Her journey with yoga began in college, where she discovered that fitness could be more than movement. During that time, yoga became a lifeline while she navigated major depressive disorder rooted in unresolved trauma — and it was in that space of healing that her love for yoga was truly born.
Bethany earned her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in 2010 and went on to complete her 500RYT in 2018, with advanced training in Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Thai Yoga Massage, and Ayurveda. She is also certified in trauma-informed yoga practices and is currently expanding her expertise through somatic training.
In 2019, Bethany began organizing locally held yoga retreats in Utah’s stunning natural landscapes, weaving together her knowledge of yoga, Ayurveda, and holistic wellness with nourishing meals and powerful group experiences. She believes yoga is a practice of resilience and self-discovery, and her retreats are thoughtfully designed to help women reconnect with themselves through yoga, nature, and community.
When she isn’t leading retreats, you’ll find Bethany outdoors with her husband Taylor and their two dogs, Paiya and Vajra — always seeking new adventures and moments of joy in the natural world.
✨ “I feel called to create spaces where women can heal deeply, connect authentically, and leave feeling lighter and renewed.”
Join Bethany at one of our upcoming Utah Yoga Retreats and experience the HEALing power of yoga, nature and community.
Heather Bloomquist (200RYT)
Co-Manager & Yoga Instructor at HEAL Yoga
Heather embracing the desert winds at the San Rafael Swell — a reminder of the freedom, strength, and connection we find at our Utah women’s yoga retreats.
Heather Bloomquist is a yoga instructor, educator, and co-manager of HEAL Yoga Studio, where she helps lead women’s yoga retreats in Utah that blend yoga, empowerment, and community.
A native of Ogden, Utah, Heather holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies from Weber State University and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Communities with a Graduate Certificate in Women and Gender Studies from Northern Arizona University. She spent 10 years teaching Women and Gender Studies at NAU, where she became a passionate advocate for empowerment education and creating spaces for women to learn, grow, and thrive.
After returning to Ogden, Heather discovered her love for yoga through local studios and quickly recognized its powerful connection to her work in women’s empowerment. She earned her 200-hour RYT from Lotus Yoga, training in Vinyasa Flow, Pranayama, Meditation, and Yin, and now teaches both at HEAL Yoga Studio and Gold’s Gym.
At HEAL, Heather combines her passions for teaching, personal empowerment, and yoga by helping create healing retreats in Utah’s natural settings. Her classes are grounding and heart-centered, supporting women in reconnecting with themselves through movement, breath, and presence.
When she’s not teaching or co-managing retreats, Heather loves spending time outdoors with her family, snowboarding, cycling, gardening, and hiking with her dogs.
✨ “For me, yoga is about empowerment — reminding women of their strength and giving them space to breathe, connect, and grow.”
Join Heather at one of our upcoming Utah yoga retreats and experience how yoga, empowerment, and community can transform your healing journey.
Kristie Miller (200RYT)
Yoga Instructor at HEAL Yoga
With a warm smile and grounded presence, Kristie welcomes students into the yoga studio, ready to lead practices that support healing and self-discovery.
Kristie earned her 200-hour RYT in Ashtanga Vinyasa in 2019 and is also certified in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Her journey began through martial arts, where she first explored movement as a way to manage stress and anxiety, and deepened when she discovered yoga as both a physical and mental practice of healing. At HEAL Yoga Studio, Kristie shares her passion for helping women find their practice, their breath, and their mindfulness during our Utah yoga retreats. Outside of teaching, she loves time with her three children, hiking, camping, golfing, and paddleboarding.
Candice Fink
Licensed Esthetician and HEAL Retreat Team Member
Candice is a licensed esthetician with certifications in Footzonology and Reiki who has been part of the HEAL Yoga Studio retreat team for over six years. She offers grounding energy and nurturing facials that leave participants glowing during our women’s healing retreats in Utah. Outside of retreat life, she enjoys traveling, skiing, golfing, and adventures with her husband and son.
We recommend booking facials with Candice in advance, as her time fills quickly during our Utah women’s retreats.
Shayla Reay, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist and HEAL Retreat Team Member
Shayla is a licensed massage therapist and Utah native who has been part of the HEAL Yoga Studio retreat team for the past year. With a passion for natural healing, she handcrafts her own massage products from locally sourced ingredients and brings nurturing energy to every session. Her nature-inspired approach blends mindfulness, balance, and rejuvenation — making her a guest favorite.
Patrice Shanel, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist and HEAL Retreat Team Member
Patrice has been part of the HEAL Yoga Studio retreat team for two years, bringing her nurturing energy and advanced healing skills to every gathering. In addition to being a licensed massage therapist, she is a Reiki Master Practitioner, trained in Footzonology, Hot Stone Massage, and essential oil techniques. Known for her “magic hands,” Patrice’s sessions often leave retreat participants transformed, relaxed, and renewed. She lives near Las Vegas with her three daughters and enjoys adventure, growth, and exploring her own healing path.
