Our Studio
Mojo Studio is located in the historic Pacific Power and Light Building with gorgeous wooden floors, exposed brick and huge windows full of light. It’s the perfect place to move, create, exercise and socialize!
The studio is also available for event rentals Friday through Sunday. The perfect space for unique weddings, parties, and workshops. Contact info@mymojostudio.com for more information.
Who we are
In today’s world, it’s easy to become convinced that exercise is just one more task to be accomplished: get in shape, get thin. But when fitness becomes only about the physical goal, it can leave you feeling uncreative and detached…more screens, more machines and “push through, you’re almost done.”
Here is what we know: our minds, bodies and spirts are not separate things. They are intertwined and inseparable. So fitness for “you” isn’t just pushing your body physically, it’s also engaging your mind and uplifting your spirit. You are not just the sum of your parts…you are something greater!
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At Mojo, we see exercise as the opportunity to grow our whole selves in new and powerful ways by challenging ourselves with creativity and play. We want you to engage fully with the experience and have a great time doing it!
Science tells us that creative, varied movement is one of the best ways to stimulate neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form and strengthen new neural pathways. Research shows that engaging in activities such as dance, music, and art not only activates multiple regions of the brain simultaneously but also enhances synaptic connections, supporting learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility. These practices promote long-term brain health by reinforcing resilience and adaptability at the neurological level.
At Mojo, we believe that true fitness goes beyond the physical. By integrating creativity and play into movement, we engage the whole self—physical, mental, and emotional—so that health is not only measured in strength or endurance, but also in joy, adaptability, and connection. We see movement as a pathway to cultivating vitality, sparking curiosity, and sustaining the life-force we call “Mojo.”
Our Teachers
CAROLYN
(Owner)
-MO, Motional Intelligence
-World Beats Workout
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Carolyn Hamilton is the co-creator of Mojo Studio and Motional Intelligence. Her journey began in Wapato, Washington, where she developed a passion for music and movement. After receiving a degree in mathematics from Santa Clara University she moved to New York City to pursue acting and dance. This lead her to Cairo, Egypt, where she spent 13 years as a successful dancer and actress. There, she founded an annual arts festival and produced six albums of Arabic music, while also teaching dance around the world.
Returning to the U.S., Carolyn has focused on developing free, arts and movement programs for youth and adults as well as creating Motional Intelligence, a unique class designed to enhance brain plasticity through movement, blending creative expression with cognitive development. Mojo Studio is a combination of Carolyn’s love of science and art. She believes that movement and creativity can connect us to ourselves and others in ways we have yet to imagine.
JUDY
(Owner)
-Writing
-Meditation
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Judy Hamilton is the co-owner of Mojo Studio and the co-creator of our signature Motional Intelligence class. Judy grew up in the Lower Yakima Valley with an early love of literature, theater, and dance which has strongly influenced her approach to life.
Judy’s background as a literacy and language arts educator first sparked her deep interest in how people learn. It was in the classroom that Judy discovered the transformative power of arts-integrated teaching—where students don’t just absorb information, they sing it, dance it, draw it, write about it, and act it out. She witnessed firsthand how movement and creativity could ignite engagement, unlock deeper understanding, and build lasting confidence.
Today, Judy channels that same passion for exploration and learning into her work at Mojo, where she wants to help people connect with their bodies, creativity, and inner wisdom. Drawing from practices like Anne Green Gilbert’s Creative Movement, as well as NIA and ecstatic dance, Judy designs classes that are playful, welcoming, and empowering.
AJ
-Thai Chi
-Foot Workshop
Bio coming soon
ELAINE
-Qigong
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Elaine Boel is a Qigong instructor whose own healing journey underscores the power of this practice. For over thirty years, she lived with a malabsorption condition that caused her to drop to 98 pounds. Her health transformed through Qigong — especially following the guidance of Lee Holden (along with earlier practice under Master Mingtong Gu and others) — and she achieved six years of remission. She holds firmly that energy is real and healing.
Before dedicating herself to teaching Qigong full time, Elaine served as Director of the Pepperdine Paris Program and taught French and Western Heritage as Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University. Earlier, she was a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of Oregon, where she also taught French.
Her mission is to share Qigong with the world — hoping more people will experience the deep transformation she has.
ELLAH
-Drawing
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Ellah Hunter is a musician and visual artist entering her senior year of high school, bringing to her first teaching role both deep curiosity and a lifelong immersion in the arts. Raised with a love for creativity from a very young age, Ellah has developed her own drawing practice and is eager now to share what she’s learned with others who want to grow their skills in graphite on paper.
Though this is her first time teaching, Ellah is especially passionate about helping young adults and adults who want to deepen their drawing technique. She draws from her own work with line, shade, texture, and form—and she believes that drawing is more than just reproducing what you see; it’s a way to observe more closely, to express uniquely, and to discover your visual voice.
Ellah’s goal is to create a supportive space where people feel comfortable trying new things, making mistakes, and growing. She hopes her classes will become communities where observing, creating, and sharing are joyful, and where every student leaves with a stronger hand and a richer vision.
HEATHER
-Yogattastrech
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Heather Hein’s love for dance ignited in first grade under Mrs. Swanby with her first recital performance — dancing to The Siamese Cat Song at the Selah Center. Over the years she explored ballet, lyrical, modern, and cheer in high school, and performed with her college dance team. As a mom, she returned to the studio doing adult ballet, and later discovered yoga — finding in both practices a source of balance, creativity, and movement.
Heather believes movement and balance are vital at every age. Seeing how modern life often leads to inactivity, she is committed to combining dance, yoga, strength, and fluid motion to help people stay strong, mobile, creative and joyful as they age. As a breast cancer survivor, maintaining strength, resilience, and wellness is central to how she lives and teaches.
At Mojo Studio, Heather’s goal is to create spaces where movement becomes a doorway to self-confidence, joy, and well-being.
JAMES
-Soundscape Yoga
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Israel James Hunter is a multimedia artist, musician, and improviser who brings sound, movement, and mindfulness together in powerful ways. Holding a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Bass Performance from Cornish College of the Arts, Israel’s work explores the interplay of perspective, the awareness of the now, and impermanence through meditative improvisation and ambient sound installations.
Israel began his personal yoga practice 10 years ago and is currently finishing his 200 hour yoga teacher training course with Yoco. He wants to share with others the benefits and body awareness that yoga has brought to him.
At Mojo Studio, James leads classes in drumming and yoga combined with relaxing soundscapes—inviting participants into spaces where rhythm meets stillness. His teachings reflect a commitment to helping students connect to themselves, deepen awareness, and explore creativity through whole-body integration.
JAY
-Make Art Mondays
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Jay Carskadden is a graphic designer, artist, and instructor who believes that art is about curiosity, play, and personal discovery—not perfection. Based in Yakima, she works as a graphic and web designer producing clean, purposeful design and marketing materials that help her clients clearly communicate who they are and what they do.
As an artist, Jay shows and sells her own work, bringing her creativity and experimentation into her personal pieces as well as her client work. In her classes, she invites students to engage both sides of their brain through varied art projects and practices—combining structured technique with spontaneous, intuitive expression.
Her art sessions are built for all levels—from people picking up a brush for the first time to seasoned artists looking to stretch their practice. Come with an open mind, a willingness to explore, and a sense of play. Under Jay’s guidance, you’ll discover aspects of your creativity you might not have known were there.
KESHIA
-Line Dancing
Bio coming soon
PRIMI
-Salsa
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Primi Castaneda was born and raised in Yakima, Washington, where her love for music began early, surrounded by a rich mix of genres that made her hips sway instinctively to every beat. Her journey into dance took a transformative turn when she discovered Salsa and Bachata in Seattle—driving hours just to attend a single class. That spark of passion grew into a mission, eventually blossoming into the Yakima Salsa Dance Company, a space where she now shares her skills and love for dance with others.
As an instructor, Primi is known for her patience, creativity, and the way she turns each lesson into an adventure. Her favorite saying, “We are all learning together,” creates an inclusive atmosphere where even those new to dance feel welcome on the dance floor. By night, she becomes a radiant dancer, gliding with grace and infectious energy to the rhythm of salsa. For Primi, salsa isn’t just a movement—it’s a force that brought a community to life.
SAL
-Salsa
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Sal Castaneda didn’t grow up dancing—but everything changed in college when friends invited him to join the Salsa Dance Club at the University of Washington. At first, he struggled with the basics, but the rhythm hooked him. Driven by passion, he immersed himself in countless private and group classes, eventually stepping up to lead UW’s Salsa Dance Club for a short time.
After graduation, Sal returned to Yakima and founded Yakima Salsa Dance Company and began hosting weekly classes and socials where for more than a decade, The Seasons Performance Hall became the heartbeat of Yakima’s salsa scene. Sal built the most vibrant and consistent Salsa dance community east of the Cascades—igniting Central Washington with unforgettable nights of music and movement.
Sal wears many hats: Instructor, sound and lighting tech, promoter, event organizer, and visionary. Every detail is crafted with precision and passion to make the dance floor come alive. He also pioneered the fusion of salsa, bachata, and cumbia on the same dance floor—a blend now embraced across the region.
Sal’s mission remains simple yet powerful: to share his love of dance, keep the rhythm alive, and the floor open to anyone ready to move. Above all, Sal is determined to give the local community the opportunity to experience something transformative: a healthy, exhilarating activity where barriers fade, friendships form, and people from every background come alive in the magic of salsa dancing.
SUSAN
-Modern
-Hip Hop
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Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Susan Arron-Brown brings a rich tapestry of dance experience to her classes. Her journey began with a deep love for ballet in childhood, which expanded through studies in jazz, modern, contemporary, and character dance. She has trained with esteemed institutions such as Oregon Ballet Theater, Bill Evans Company, BodyVox, and Centrum Center for the Arts. Additionally, Susan has explored movement practices like NIA and yoga to enrich her understanding of body awareness.
With a degree in education from California State University, Susan dedicated 20 years to teaching at Columbia Dance Academy in Hood River, OR, specializing in jazz and later pioneering their hip-hop program. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering body confidence and joy through movement, creating an inclusive environment where all students can thrive.
Now based in Yakima, Susan is excited to join a dynamic team of instructors, continuing her mission to inspire and empower individuals through the art of dance.
ROBIN
-Qigong
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Robin Hulse, RYT 500, certified Qigong instructor, is a retired pediatric nurse practitioner with over 35 years experience in healthcare. A former college athlete, runner, and busy mother of three, she came to yoga in 2005 and discovered a powerful practice for strength, resilience, and stress relief. She completed her 500-hour yoga teacher training in Kansas City, Missouri. Now based in Yakima, Washington, she has completed levels 1 and 2 Qigong training through Yoga Farm Ithaca, New York. She continues to practice with her teacher Bryan Isacks, in the lineage of his Chinese qigong masters. Robin is passionate about sharing all aspects of yoga and qigong, integrating Eastern movement practices and thought with Western approaches to functional movement. Her classes blend energetic awareness with strength, balance, breath, and mindful movement, offering inclusive practices that support well-being for all.