People

Julie Buckner - Chief Executive Officer

Julie Buckner is owner and chief executive officer of InYoga Center, a yoga studio and boutique in LA's San Fernando Valley. Uniting and bringing into alignment her entrepreneurial endeavors, dedication to service and commitment to personal and spiritual growth, Julie opened InYoga in April 2010. The Center is the product of Julie's experience in two distinct and seemingly divergent disciplines -- politics and yoga. With both businesses blossoming, Julie is cultivating a symbiotic relationship between communications consulting and yoga practice - strategic savvy and steady mind.

While running InYoga, Julie also continues to work in politics and public affairs. Julie has 20 years experience in business management, strategic planning, corporate communications and marketing; her expertise is in California politics and policy. Along with partner Celia Fischer, Julie founded Laurel Canyon Media Group in 2008; Julie is LCMG's president. Julie and Celia have worked on campaigns at the national, state and local levels on behalf of myriad candidates and clients, including President Bill Clinton, California Senator Barbara Boxer, LA City Controller Wendy Greuel and former LA Unified School Board Member Marlene Canter, among many others. Julie is recognized as an accomplished strategist and spokesperson for corporations and executives, political campaigns and candidates, and public officials at the national, state and local levels. She has appeared on national TV, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and numerous local TV and radio news & public affairs programs. Over the years, Julie has been a go-to source for print and online media; she's been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, People, Newsweek, Time, Los Angeles Times, Calbuzz, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and the San Jose Mercury News.

Julie began her yoga journey in 1989 while living in New York as a college student; over the years, she has studied Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Anusara and other forms of yoga in Washington DC, the San Francisco Bay area and throughout LA. In addition to her daily yoga practice, Julie enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, rock climbing, interior design, and fashion (shoes, especially). An LA-native and original Valley Girl, she is a cum laude graduate of UC Berkeley, and has two sons, Sawyer and Mays. Her home, children's school, yoga studio and consulting firm are all within walking distance. She received her 200-hour RYT certification at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement with master teacher Annie Carpenter in SmartFLOW Yoga.

Kelly Simonsen - Chief Operating Officer

Kelly Simonsen is InYoga Center's chief operating officer and a co-owner. Kelly oversees all day-to-day business, financial, human resource, design and marketing operations for InYoga. With a background in strategic communications and project management, Kelly is uniquely suited to run InYoga. She is multi-talented, multi-tasking and dedicated to InYoga's growth and success.

Prior to joining InYoga, Kelly was an executive with GolinHarris, a national public relations firm. At GolinHarris, Kelly's work focused on the areas of healthcare, environmental and energy issues. Kelly and Julie have a strong working relationship and deep friendship. In 2006, Kelly helped Julie start-up and launch another business, Collabor8: Julie Buckner & Associates, a communications and public affairs consulting firm.

Kelly Simonsen was introduced to yoga 11 years ago by Julie, taking classes at studios around Los Angeles, and privates in Julie's home. Always curious and careful, it was not until Kelly began studying the non-physical side of yoga that she became a full-on devotee and student. Kelly completed YogaWorks' 200-hour Teacher Training at Center for Yoga in November, 2012 with senior teacher's Jeanne Heileman and Thomas Taubman. A lover exploration and inquiry, Kelly's classes are grounding and thoughtful.

Kelly serves multiple roles at InYoga - serving as its chief operating officer, and now as a teacher. Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Pepperdine University. Her interests are many - culinary adventures, gardening, woodworking and graphic design. She lives with her fiancé Jordan in Mount Washington.

Erin Hoien - Studio Manager

Erin is one of the first people you'll meet at InYoga. She has been involved with InYoga since its inception, and she was instrumental in helping to get our doors open. In addition to working the front desk, Erin also has the responsibility of managing InYoga's facilities. Erin grew up in Orange County and graduated from Golden West College. She spent time working in the entertainment industry, working as professional sound editor. Also a friend and neighbor of Julie's, Erin has been practicing yoga steadily and seriously for six years. Erin has a background in personal fitness; she's worked as a personal trainer and taught "mommy & me" programs in the park. She recently received her 200 hour teaching certification at InYoga Center, and is leading the studio's TT Graduates class program. Erin lives with her son, Braden, in Valley Village - and she knows almost everyone in the 'hood.

Kelsey Adams

Kelsey was stoked the day she learned a yoga studio was opening across the street from her house - and she's been part of the InYoga scene ever since. With an extensive background of working the front desk at numerous yoga studios, Kelsey declares InYoga Center to be her favorite. Originally from Arlington, Texas, Kelsey has her BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College. In 2006, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, Kelsey took both her 200 and 300 hr yoga teacher trainings in New York with one of the great fathers of modern yoga, Alan Finger. She is certified at the 500 hr level in ISHTA yoga. Kelsey is a funny, fun-loving, grounded gal who in her spare time enjoys playing softball, football, pole-dancing, snowboarding and of course yoga. You can occasionally catch her performing in improv or comedy shows around town. She lives in Valley Village with her dog, Toby, and her cat, Olive. Kelsey is very happy to be a part of the InYoga community and is happy to have you here, too!

InYoga's supportive, friendly staff also includes Arati Patel, Alyx Garda, Jessica Russell, Kathy Bukzar, Anna Frazier and Chrissie Endler. They're amazing.