More About The Experts

Nyoka Samuels is an award-winning masters-prepared registered nurse educator and healthcare culture transformation specialist with over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience. As American Heart Association training center coordinator for a Central Alabama hospital, she brings expertise in bridging clinical excellence with organizational wellness. 

Through her nearly 30-year partnership with Wawa Aba Wellness Corporation, Nyoka helps C-suite healthcare executives create painlessly impactful solutions for nurses and burned reduction. Her innovative approach positions nurse educators as strategic culture architects rather than just trainers, delivering measurable outcomes in retention, patient safety, and organizational performance. 

Drawing on her extensive front-line nursing background and integrative nurse coach certification, Nyoka combines evidence-based healthcare practices with culturally-grounded principles to drive sustainable transformation. A co-author of "The Courageous Pursuit of Authenticity," she is recognized for her authentic leadership style and ability to translate complex healthcare challenges into actionable strategies for executive teams.

Robin DeMarco is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach with a deep passion for helping people reconnect with their health in sustainable, life-changing ways. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and holds multiple certifications through the nationally accredited organization AFAA.

Previously based in Los Angeles, Robin served as the Head Trainer at CBS Studios and was featured on Good Day LA and the KTLA Morning Show. Today, her greatest joy comes from witnessing meaningful transformations in her clients’ lives—not only physical changes, but improvements in energy, sleep, confidence, and overall health. 

At this retreat, Robin brings a grounded, supportive presence and a wealth of practical tools to help participants pause, reset, and feel stronger, more confident, and more connected to their bodies—both during the retreat and as they transition back into everyday life.

Michelle Arington, NBC-HWC, C-IAYT, is a national board-certified health and wellness coach and trauma-informed yoga therapist. Her work integrates yoga, creative movement, mindfulness, and somatic practices to empower people to release chronic pain and stress, manage moods, and reconnect to their personal power and purpose with grace, strength, and ease.

Michelle’s over 20 years of extensive training includes Sivananda Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Chopra Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda Health, Integrative Nutrition, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Yamuna Body Rolling® and Foot Fitness, Mat and Reformer Pilates, Nia®, Moving to Heal®, and Ageless Grace®, Yoga Warriors™, NASM, MedFit, and Silver Sneakers™, SMART Recovery, Recovery Dharma and Yoga of 12-Step Recovery.

She is the founder of Holistic Health Revolution, Core Integrity Yoga, Pilates, Fitness, and Health Coaching and Healthy Rebel Recovery. Michelle is the owner/operator of Elevate Online Studio, based in Athens, Georgia, where she offers live online and on-demand classes, courses, coaching and teacher trainings, and celebrates movement as a joyful, life-affirming daily practice, where you can connect to a caring community, and cultivate a lasting commitment to your well-being.

Laci Carlson is a certified registered yoga teacher teaching weekly, permanently at A Garden for Wellness in Clarkesville, Ga - While also hosting pop-up experiences across the state (and occasionally across oceans). No matter the location, her intention remains the same: to create a complete  yoga experience -- not just a yoga class.

Her ultimate dream? To keep creating soft-landing spaces - places where you can arrive exactly as you are. No judgement. All support. A space where your nervous system exhales before you even unroll your mat. In addition to being a registered yoga teacher, Laci is also Reiki certified and tuning fork certified, thoughtfully weaving energy work and sound healing into her offerings when appropriate. 

Laci takes the responsibility of teaching yoga seriously. She believes in strong foundations, intelligent movement, and authentic connection. She cares deeply about her students - not just how they move, but how they're living. Her hope is that every person leaves class feeling steadier, softer, stronger, and more at home in themselves.