Why “Embark”?

…Because you have the opportunity to begin again with every breath, every interaction, every day, and every year whether you realize it consciously or not. Here, you have the chance to embark the yoga that is right for you, a holistic yoga path that is unique and personalized, to live the best life possible.

Dawn Shawley,

Owner & Private Yoga Teacher

Dawn Shawley has a formal education background in English, German, and Secondary Education. After years of interest in yoga’s philosophy, she began practicing in group classes and knew it was “home”. Now working as a private yoga educator and certified Yoga Therapist, she brings over 20 years of experience adapting yoga to a wide spectrum of clientele, often those who are movement-challenged. Since 2007, she has been customizing yoga practices to client-specific needs, including injury recovery, limited range of motion, chronic pain, pelvic health, beginners, and those living with chronic illness and pain. As a Comprehensive Yoga Therapist, she guides clients toward self-agency through awareness-building practices, self-inquiry, and yoga practices and tools that show them they can navigate life's changes and stressors with more ease. Her certifications include: 

  • 2007: 200-Hour Certification, Integral Yoga (RYT200)

  • 2019: Pelvic Floor Yoga™ certification from Leslie Howard

  • 2021: 800-Hour Comprehensive Yoga Therapy certification, YogaLife Institute (E-RYT500, C-IAYT)

  • 2023: Yoga4Cancer (Y4C) certification

  • 2025: Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR)

Dawn maintains regular study and personal practice while offering private sessions, group classes, and workshops. She marries an extensive theoretical and experiential background with humor and practicality. Dawn is the area yoga teacher of choice for clients who strive NOT to be the “human gumby” but rather, for those who are interested in showing up in their life in a different way. Together they explore somatic, intentional, awareness- and breath-based movement that meets the client where they are at, along with yoga concepts and tools as a way to relate to self and the world more deliberately and thoughtfully. She regularly collaborates and refers with medical professionals in support of the whole person.

Embark’s Mission & Vision

Mission: To educate and equip each unique person with authentic yoga experiences and practical tools so each becomes self-empowered and intentional in living their best life.

Vision: To create social change, peace, health, and wellness through Yoga's great tradition, one person at a time.