About Our Practitioners
About Dr. Marchiol
“Dr. Julie has a heart for healing and for guiding people to live a fuller, healthier, richer life.” This center became her life purpose after her first trip to the chiropractor (at 16 years old) for a sports injury. Dr. Julie was fascinated with the body’s ability to heal itself once it was guided in the right direction and stabilized.
Dr. Marchiol graduated from Princeton University and then received her degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College. She has studied under International Acadamy of Medical Acupuncture and a wide range of chiropractic physicians, nutritionists, researchers and medical doctors.
Professionally, Dr. Marchiol is a member of the Colorado Chiropractic Association and a past legislative committee member. She is a National Board Certified Chiropractor and constantly strives to improve and update her knowledge in the field of integrative medicine and alternative healing.
She is very excited to be a part of the growing Lowry community and looks forward to serving the families and athletes of Lowry and surrounding areas.
Laeslie Stokes, Massage Therapy
I began my education in California in 1998. I moved to Colorado and finished my education in 2002. I have worked as a massage therapist for six years, four of which were here at Ascent Health Center. I specialize in deep tissue massage, and focus on injury recovery working directly with Dr. Marchiol.
I believe that massage not only assists with recovery and wellness of your body, but also your mind as well. I provide my clients with a very relaxing environment so they can quiet their mind, and decompress from theirevery day stresses. I also believe if your mind is quiet then there is a better chance for your body to recover more quickly. I believe in educating my clients on stress management, and different techniques to help them live a life of health and wellness.
Amy Andrews McMaster, Yoga
Amy is a credentialed high school teacher with over eight years of experience working on the Navajo Reservation as an Americorps volunteer in Arizona, in the inner city of Los Angeles, rural Boulder County and currently in Denver public
schools with The Wellness Initiative. She began practicing yoga in 1998 and teaching in schools in 2006. Amy completed the Yoga Angels level one and two teacher training for kids, tweens, and teens in 2004.
This summer she is enhancing her knowledge of teaching yoga to kids with a week of Yoga Ed. training expanding from grades K-12. She recently completed a Yoga Alliance teacher training at Samadhi Center for Yoga where she also teaches.
Amy’s teaching is infused with playfulness, humor and insight to help students connect with and nourish deeper parts of themselves. Practicing yoga helps her not only soften toward her own true nature, but also to find more gentleness
with each person she encounters, thus living the truth in Thich Nhat Hanh's motto, "Peace in oneself, peace in the world."
Buffy Barfoot, Yoga
Buffy was drawn to Yoga five years ago as a means to cope with the physical and emotional stress that came with being a professional dancer. Her MFA in Dance concentrated on the application of somatics, which fueled her interest in restorative work. She became a devoted Yoga practitioner, seeking ways in which she might find a more healing lifestyle. Yoga has become a huge source of nutrition in Buffy’s life.
Buffy received her teaching certificate from the Samadhi Center for Yoga under the direction of Chris Muchow, of whom she remains a devoted student. It was here she was introduced to Anusara Yoga – a style that combines Specific Principles of Alignment with the unfolding of the heart. In Buffy’s class she weaves the influences of Anusara Yoga, Ayurveda, Tantric teachings, and therapeutics. Her classes encourage an exploration of the body, mind and spirit, and help guide students to a greater understanding of their own awareness.
Buffy believes Yoga can be available to ANYONE, no matter what age or physical condition. There is always a way to modify and specify the practice of Yoga to the individual. Yoga can open so much space, both in our bodies and our hearts, which can fundamentally change the quality of our lives.
Emily Derks, Pilates
I began teaching Pilates after I personally experienced the amazing benefits one can expect from Pilates. I lived in pain for several years following a car accident. Pilates has enabled me to move freely and without pain. Pilates has improved my body both functionally and aesthetically. Pilates has made it possible for me to feel good both in and about my body. It is an honor to be able to share with benefits, among the many other additional benefits Pilates has to offer with my clients. My classes are held in a comfortable and supportive environment. Please join me in the journey for inner and outer health.
Renee Ellis, Yoga and Pilates
Renee is a unique instructor with a passion for uplifting and inspiring others to live better lives. She is a professional in both Health and Wellness and Psychology. She is a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer with nine years of experience working with people of all ages. She specializes in Mind/Body Fitness and helps her clients experience the full benefits of Pilates and yoga. She has a Master's Degre from the University of Colorado at Denver in Counseling and is a Certified Smoking Cessation Counselor. In addition to her group classes, she offers private Pilates instruction, health coaching, including weight management and individual counseling.
Karen Lerner, Yoga
Karen moved to Los Angeles and began practicing yoga with Shiva Rea and Bryan Kest in 1997, while recovering from surgery for a herniated disc.
She moved back to Denver and enrolled in her first Yoga teacher training course. She received certification from Hansa Knox, a Kripalu-based training in 2002. Drawn to the Anusara method, she then studied with Madhuri Martin and John Friend.
In 2006, Karen received a scholarship from the University of Denver to study in Israel with Orit Sen Gupta for Vijnana Yoga and with Diane Bloomfield for Tora Yoga and Kabbalah Yoga. The same year, Karen attended Level One training with Tias Little in Santa Fe.
In 2007 she attended a 300-hour Jivamukti teacher training with David Life and Sharon Gannon.
read Karen's full bio at her website!
Allison Zuelke, Yoga
Allison's intention as a teacher is to create a space in which each student can develop the ability to listen to that inner voice that we all possess. Through guiding gentle manipulation of the body with conscious awareness, she provides an environment in which the individual can become comfortable to observe the messages of the body thereby living life to its fullest in a happy and relaxed state.
She holds a degree in Health and Wellness from Metro State College, and completed the Contemplative Yoga and Pre-natal Yoga Teacher Training Programs at the PranaYoga and Ayurveda Mandala Training Center in North Denver.
Allison's teaching style is focused on full, steady breathing in combination with gentle, fluid movement. She has found that the awareness of breath in cooperation with movement has an enormous impact on helping to maintain the very valuable intention of staying fully present in each moment, on and off the mat.
In this class, ‘Yoga as Therapy’, each student is encouraged at the beginning of class to share their experience and request ways for the class to unfold. The class is then guided to support each individual’s needs using conscious breathing to encourage relief of tension through gentle and mindful movement of the body. This class is appropriate for everyone, including people new to yoga or wanting to get back in shape, those with prior injuries or health issues, seasoned yogis, pregnant women, and anyone interested in experiencing an opportunity to participate in a practice suitable for your current and changing needs. Enjoy taking the time during class to foster a connection between your body, mind, and spirit, become more aware of the present moment through meditative practices, experience relief from tension in the muscles, and learn to reduce the impact of stress from daily life.
3D Spine Simulator
Launch 3D Spine Simulator