About Us

Katie Maldonado

Katie is the founder of Bloom Healing Arts. With over 20 years in the medical field, she has a deep appreciation for prevention and wellness, the power of intentional living, and strength that is found in community. Katie has experienced individual wellness in all of the areas Bloom offers, and hopes to share this as an opportunity for families and individuals to gather, move, and create. As one of the yoga instructors with Bloom, her yoga practice began as a student in her young 20's, with a life-changing yin class that provided a centering, strengthening practice for her mind and body during a difficult time. She is invested in sharing this healing movement with others and establishing a place for all people to come along their own unique path as it evolves. Katie completed her Yoga Teacher Training in 2023, and has additional training in Yin, Adaptive, and Kids Yoga. Katie loves spending time with family and friends in the beautiful Colorado outdoors.  

Drew Maldonado

Drew is Bloom Healing Art's resident art, music, and meditation instructor. He’s passionate about bringing together Colorado’s creative community and loves to share his knowledge and experience in the field of the arts. Drew has held an eclectic career with a variety of disciplines ranging from dance instructor, choir director, sound engineer, musician, artist and designer. He’s committed to helping others reach their fullest potential and desires to cultivate personal healing and growth through new and traditional forms of creative expression.

Jamie Montoya 

Jamie has a background in Behavioral Science, in addition to her role as an Integrative Somatic Practitioner and Life Coach. Jamie has a passion for the mental health field. She is excited to support her clients in their pursuit of greater connection to self, community, and higher power.  Jamie is a proud mom of four boys and three dogs. She enjoys nature, art, music, and being with family. 

Stacy O'Connor 

Stacy began her physical practice of yoga as a way to help her body stay strong and mobile while she pushed it with running, playing ice hockey, hiking, lifting weights, and keeping up with her kids. When life got hard, she took the suggestion to turn inward and began a meditation practice, something she never thought she'd be capable of doing. Once learning to always start again and breathe, her inner life truly changed. This led Stacy to look deeper in everything, including yoga. Now as a registered yoga instructor, she is beyond excited to share what she has learned as she continues to deepen her practice and understanding of herself and the world we live in.

Stacy has added to her yoga credentials by completing a 100 hour training for kids. Together with her background as a special education teacher, wisdom gained from parenting, and the new knowledge from this training, Stacy brings compassion, kindness, mindfulness, self-confidence, self-compassion, and calm to the next generation.

Carol O'Brien 

Carol began studying and practicing 22 years ago with Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Therapy. In early 2018 she completed training with the Vibrational Sound Association and became a certified practitioner of healing with vibrational sound therapy.  She has practiced over 1,000 hours in individual and group sessions facilitating healing with gentle vibration and subtle sounds.  In the spring of 2020 Carol completed a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training, 2021 added Energy Medicine Yoga, and 2022 Yin and Traditional Chinese Medicine healing modalities.  Her practices and healing modalities will softly challenge you to grow in awareness as you explore your physical and spiritual growth.  

Bekah O'Brien

Rebekah began practicing 10 years ago, found out that yoga was a resource for all and wanted to share it. In 2021 she began her journey through trainings with Reiki level 1. Rebekah quickly then moved through to level 2 in 2022 and Reiki master healer in the beginning of 2023. In 2021 Rebekah finished the first part of her 95 hr children's yoga teacher training, this led to her finding that she really wanted to share the gift of yoga to all ages. In 2022 she finished her 95 hour Children's training as well as her 200 hour yoga teacher training. Rebekah is still hoping to find new paths and opportunities to share her amazing gifts that she has come to acquire over the years. 

Nichole Urbatchka

Nichole has been an educator for 25+ years, but recent trends in education had left her feeling completely drained.  She knew she had to do some serious self-care! The "Breathe for Change" program allowed Nichole to acquire her 200-hour certification while also helping to embed yoga and meditation techniques in the classroom.  Since completing her certification in 2022, she has had the pleasure of instructing both kids and adults in yoga, breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness.

Priya Meraki

Priya began her spiritual journey in 2019 with a desire to reinvent herself and the world
around her. After overcoming many hardships including addiction and domestic abuse, Priya's new path led her to yoga. She dedicates her life to her two children, Reiki business and the pursuit of her truth.
Through yoga, Priya hopes to create a space where others feel secure and supported in
their own journeys towards self-discovery. She hopes to help others find comfort and
compassion for their unique bodies and journeys. 
Priya is filled with gratitude for her family and friends unwavering support as she pursues
her dreams. Priya completed her 200hr YTT through Cambio; whom she holds a deep
appreciation for all the knowledge that they imparted to her. Priya is currently teaching classes for the Phoenix which is a sober community helping to change the world.

Maxie Newton

Maxie grew up in Evergreen, CO and began her personal yoga journey over 15 years ago, quickly realizing the immense healing benefits yoga had to offer. Yoga helped increase her confidence and alleviate the daily stresses and trials we all know too well, becoming absolutely essential to her everyday life. Maxie completed her 200 hour YTT in 2023 at Cambio in Colorado Springs, when she decided it was imperative to share her love of yoga with others so they could experience the same peace, clarity and acceptance she experiences from her own practice. Maxie believes yoga should be accessible for everyone, in any body and at any stage of life. She believes you must go within to discover your own inherent wisdom and strength, be present in the moment and to fully realize you are the one you have been waiting for – consistent yoga practice does just this! Maxie aims to ensure you walk away with more understanding of yourself, a sense of belonging, and connection to your own body. When she is not sharing or practicing yoga herself, Maxie loves to enjoy the Colorado sunshine through camping, hiking, and paddleboarding. 

Mandy Koeninger

When I decided to incorporate Yoga into my life, it was admittedly intimidating at first. I was entering what I perceived to be a new chapter of my life, and wanted nothing more at first than to find the peace of mind and physical health Yoga can bring. As I became a part of my local community, however, I was engrossed at how comfortable, fun, and uplifting the practices could be. It not only changed the way I move through my life, but the way I perceive the world around me. Now certified in Yoga training and Reiki healing, I find myself wanting nothing more than to encourage others to begin their journey, wherever they may be starting from, to reap the benefits of a more mindful lifestyle through Yoga.

Melissa Reslock

Melissa is a mama of four amazing kiddos.  She homeschools and has a small homestead with her husband in Black Forest.  Melissa loves helping and empowering those around her. She left her day job as an environmental engineer back in 2014 to raise her kids and help others around her find their way on their wellness journeys.  She’s a 200+ hour Registered Yoga Teacher and also a Registered Children's Yoga Teacher, specializing in prenatal, postpartum, family, kids, and gentle movement yoga.  Melissa also has a great passion for supporting other mamas and their growing families. She teaches various childbirth education classes and has worked as a prenatal and postpartum doula.  She loves sharing evidence based information and life experience with those who are expecting or raising little humans. Meet her on the mat or in a workshop to learn how to find joy and peace in each moment in the mind, body, and soul you were blessed with.

Steffany Butts-Boucher

Steffany Butts-Boucher of ECHO Studio in Manitou Springs, CO is a certified sound practitioner-coach, meditation guide and licensed spiritual healer. She is also certified in complementary - esprit -modalities that she blends into each session. These modalities are curated within a unique session, tailored for you.  At ECHO Studio, Steffany offers individual and small group sound sessions and sound journeys, small group sound baths and meditations. She can also provide these offerings at private events and retreats. 

Find out more! www.echofrequencystudio.com

Lisa Richardson

Miss Lisa absolutely loves to teach dance! From a young age dance has brought joy and
healing to her soul. She trained with Carlos Stroia in Minnesota and moved to South
Dakota when she began a family. At a local dance studio she began a beautiful journey of
teaching the youngest dancers. She and the director developed an early childhood teaching
program for ages 2-12 including Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop and Creative Movement. She also has
extensive experience in teaching Home School dance series. Her grandchildren inspired a
move to Colorado and new opportunities to dance with the youngest dancers in one of the
most wonderful times of their precious lives. Lisa believes we can always dance like we are
young, and how wonderful to learn from those who are there right now!

Mara Patrick

Mara is a belly dancer and belly dance instructor, relocated from Orange County California to beautiful Colorado Springs! She is looking forward to sharing her experience and love of belly dance with new students. She has been teaching belly dance classes in Southern California for over 15 years and has been performing for over 25 years.  

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Tati McAlister

Tati's love and passion for all things nature began as a child and has blossomed into a relationship with the More-Than-Human World as a Forest and Nature Therapy Guide.  She is certified through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, a global certifying organization, and holds a Wilderness First Aid certification. As an avid hiker, paddle boarder, and yoga instructor, she seeks to incorporate some of these techniques into her Forest Therapy practice. Tati has 25+ years of experience in fitness as a former group fitness, yoga, and Zumba instructor, in addition to teaching P.E. for grades K-6.  She also previously owned a fitness/dance studio in south central PA. Tati is mom to 2 grown men and 2 grandchildren. She loves photography, traveling and currently volunteers as an Environmental Educator at Bear Creek Nature Center. 

Yuko Saga

Yuko is owner of Yuko Blossom Florals and Healing.  She is a floral designer with a strong interest in healing the body, mind, and spirit. Yuko began her floral journey at the age of 19 when she started studying the art of Ikebana. She then proceeded to train to become a floral designer. Yuko has experience working as a wedding floral designer at sought after wedding florists in Japan and Los Angeles. After a break from the flower business to raise her two young kids, she started practicing the healing art of Reiki. At Bloom Healing Arts, Yuko plans to share a unique healing experience through the use of flowers and Reiki.

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Elizabeth Hangan

Elizabeth Hangan was born and raised in Southern California. Music has been a part of her life since birth!

Elizabeth is a performer and music educator. She has been teaching voice, beginning bass and piano at the Folk Music Center, in Claremont CA for 11 years, and performing around Southern California for 30 years. In addition, she is a graduate of LA Music Academy now known as LA College of Music in Pasadena CA. This is where Elizabeth was first introduced to Circle singing. In 2023 she was reintroduced to Circle singing when an event was held at her church. The experience was so positive and healing that when an opportunity came to attend The Circle singing school in San Francisco, she went and set an intention of introducing circle singing to her students and the rest of her community. Elizabeth says, “The journey has been so uplifting thus far,” and is encouraged by the joy and sense of community that happens around Circle singing!