meet the fire station team…
Djordje “George” Citovic
founder + fire chief
Djordje’s hope for this space: To bring together a community that encourages others to break through their own physical and mental boundaries.
In yoga and in life, Djordje enjoys taking it to the edge. Djordje believes that a person’s edge is where true change can be found. His greatest joy is seeing those around him transform and grow in their own practice.
In February of 2020, Djordje brought The Fire Station to life in Astoria with the help of his wife, Trudy, and business partner, Jamie. As the fledgling studio faced a global pandemic just one month later, he was truly humbled at the outpouring of support, as countless friends and fellow yogis donated the time, treasure and talent to see the studio through the storm. It was a tribute to the power of community that became and continues to be the heart and soul of FSY.
In the early 2000s, as a former collegiate athlete with lingering injuries, Djordje had been searching for a way to remain in top physical condition without adding further wear and tear to his body. In 2004, he discovered heated yoga, which allowed him to bring intensity to his workouts with lower impact. Beyond that, he found great joy in the mental and spiritual benefits of the practice. But it wasn’t until becoming a certified instructor in 2015 that he found his calling to help others grow in their own practice, culminating in this unique community that has come together against all odds, fueled by a shared passion for yoga.
Trudy Citovic, CVMT
co-founder + Instructor
Trudy’s hope for this space: To foster skills that can be carried off the mat and into the world
While Trudy was initially drawn to the physical benefits of yoga, the psychological and spiritual benefits are what has kept her practicing since 2004. Today, Trudy is honored to guide FSY’s Zoom Audio Meditation three mornings a week, as well as offering the Himalayan Institute’s Vishoka Meditation Course semi-annually. She is a certified Hatha yoga instructor, primarily teaching the Hot Hatha 26x2 sequence.
Trudy’s intention is to help others discover the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga through the combined practice of asana and meditation. She is grateful each day for the inspiration she receives from this incredible yoga community.
Outside the studio, Trudy works for her family’s business with her father and brother, as well as assisting Djordje with the marketing of their wedding venue & vacation rental, The Rosebriar Mansion. She is honored to be an elected Board of Education Member for Clatsop Community College. In her free time, you’ll find Trudy with Djordje and their two young children walking their labradoodle, Gigi, at the Sunday Market or on the Riverwalk, enjoying life in her hometown of Astoria.
Jamie Savva
co-founder
Jamie’s hope for this space: To build a community of compassionate, driven, and powerful people who aren’t afraid of stepping into the fire and creating intentional change.
Jamie received her 200CYT in 2015 with the focus on Power Vinyasa. Her love of yoga has only grown since then. Additionally, she has completed various trainings in Advanced Teaching, Yin Yoga, Pre/Post Natal, Kids Yoga, Yoga for Trauma, and Art of Assisting. Her love of yoga and movement stems from her beginnings as a dancer. She feels that the true path to ones heart and mind is through the physical barriers of the body. She believes yoga is for everyBODY and the sooner we can connect within, the more genuinely we can connect throughout.
Jamie’s main reason for practicing yoga is to create the space to be a better mother, wife, and human. Her time on her mat is precious and essential to her commitment of keeping life full of light, laughter, and love.
Dixie hairSton
Studio manager + instructor
Dixie’s hope for this space: To create a space, community, and practice where everyone feels welcome and free to show up authentically, whatever that looks like for you. Come as you are!
Dixie (she/her) is a Baptiste Power instructor and has been practicing hot yoga since 2008, when she first walked into a hot Hatha class in college. She found Baptiste power yoga in 2014 while living in Dallas, Texas and got her 200-RYT three years later from YogaSport Dallas. Dixie has also completed her 300-RYT at the Center for Trauma and Embodiment and is a Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F).
Dixie brings a friendly, fun and approachable atmosphere to her teaching, her practice and her life. Yoga is a way that Dixie shows up for herself. While on her mat practicing, teaching or assisting, Dixie is learning to accept herself wherever she is that day emotionally, mentally, and physically. She exudes the kind of sincere joy for living that lights up any room without overpowering it. Dixie’s teaching philosophy is that power yoga is one way you can add movement to your life.
She moved to Astoria, OR in 2021 with her partner and dog from Austin, Texas. When she isn’t at the studio, you might find her at a coffee shop downtown, hanging out at Sunset Beach, or working in her garden.
Taylor bowyn
instructor
Taylor’s hope for this space: My hope for the studio and my Sankalpa (intention of teaching) is to share and honor the ancient practices and traditions of yoga with honesty and authenticity while being a part of a community with a common belief that compassion is always the answer.
Since childhood, my brain has never seemed to shut off. This was due to trauma, to anxiety, to depression, and to an inability to focus on what felt good within my body and mind. That all changed when I walked into a 105’ room filled with half-naked people who all seemed to be breathing heavily and loudly. “What is this strange place? Why was it so hot? Why do these people seem to be so at peace?” Questions raced through my thoughts, and then the instructor walked in. She guided us through a series of postures and taught us a few breathing techniques to help us hold the more challenging poses. After class, I lay silently as footsteps passed my mat and tears streamed down my face. For the first time in my life, I felt peace. It’s been 15 years since that day, and yoga has helped me through the darkest times and given me some of the most joyous memories. I feel tremendous gratitude for the privilege and ability to study this ancient tradition and philosophy. My classes are a vinyasa-based class that sprinkles in mudra, mantra, and thematic sequencing. Through the power of yoga, I believe we can change the world by finding our breath and inner peace. I can’t wait to practice with you.
KERRI Hartnett
instructor
Kerri’s hope for this space: To create a space where everyone in the community feels welcomed, included and empowered to become the best version of themselves.
Kerri established a relationship with yoga nearly 25 years ago when she stepped into her first studio class. After discovering a love for all things yoga she was called to explore the 8 limbs of the practice and was certified in 2021 with 200 hours of Yoga Teacher Training through The Peoples Yoga in Portland, OR . Kerri enjoys a balanced practice including everything from Bikram and Baptist to Yin and Nidra with everything in between. She has personally practiced over 3000 hours of Asana since 2015 and has a passion for sharing her practice with others both on and off the mat. Kerri has lived and served in her Oregon communities since 1997 and has been a REALTOR® and industry educator and coach helping her clients move mindfully through life. Her passion is yoga, her son Makai, her cat Shorty, live music, dance parties, traveling, surfing, learning new things, meeting new people and having fun with everything that she does.
Jenelle Kremer
instructor
Jenelle’s hope for this space: To provide safe space for everyone to explore, learn, and grow. Creating and holding space to breathe, connect, and let go.
I am an outdoor enthusiast and weekend warrior. My favorite activities are mountain biking, trail running, hiking, and of course yoga. I started practicing yoga in 2006 to maintain a balanced body for my outdoor hobbies. I found so much more, and I wanted to share what I found. I completed my 200 YTT in November of 2016 from Momentum School of Yoga and my 300YTT in August of 2021 from Centered City Yoga-Yoga Soul. My yoga practice helps me navigate the ups and downs of life. Yoga allows me to connect mind and body and find beauty in all the moments of life. Yoga has and continues to broaden my lens to see more clearly, soften my heart to love more fully, and expand my mind to live more bravely. I want to give my students a safe place to breathe, tune in, connect, and move freely. In my classes, you can expect to connect with your breath and challenge yourself in asana. Coming to your mat should feel like recess for your soul!
Emily reilly
instructor
Emily’s hope for this space: To create a space for personal growth, healing, and adventure through movement.
Emily takes a holistic approach to yoga and movement practice, aiming to create a space for exploration that challenges both physical and mental health (while keeping things fun). Emily has been a lifelong student of movement arts and knows that finding the “right fit” can change exercise from a chore into a joy. Emily’s classes focus on using physical activity to enhance personal enjoyment of life and sustain/increase independence.
Emily is trained in: 200 hr RYS Ashtanga and vinyasa yoga trainings, Pilates/Reformer Pilates, as well as Aerial conditioning, aerial yoga and personal training. Emily has been teaching vinyasa yoga in since 2007. Emily’s background in public health and women’s health have focused her passions to incorporate safe body dynamics, core health and toning, and healthy body image, while still delighting in movement for movement’s sake.
For Emily, yoga and movement arts are not just a way to de-stress and tone muscles, they are also integral to the process of recovery and preventative health.
Dee Tullis
instructor
Dee’s hope for this space: To encourage and motivate one another to find physical renewal through movement, connection to self with mindful awareness and inner peace through guided breathing.
Dee is a certified Hatha Yoga Instructor and has been teaching various types of yoga and fitness classes for over 10 years.
Dee’s personal yoga journey began over 20 years ago to help treat hip and back pain she had from carrying twins. Yoga quickly became a method of healing her body and an avenue of release from the challenges of raising children. The benefits from yoga were life changing and Dee pursued the path of being a yoga and fitness instructor.
Her current yoga classes focus on aligning breath, spirit and body, with how to breathe and how to be present. Her yoga sequences are slow flows with spiritual introspect and physical awareness while combining strength and technique to find length and open space in the body. In every class there are options to increase or decrease the intensity so you can practice at your own pace and within your body’s range.
Dee and her husband recently moved to Surf Pines after living in the foothills of Mt. Hood for over 30 years. When she isn’t teaching yoga, Dee finds joy spending time with her husband and their 3 adult children. Dee loves being physically active and enjoying our beautiful outdoor world, especially hiking, paddling, skiing, and connecting to people and gaining insight into other cultures through international travel.
Dee finds the most impactful yoga practice is the class you attend, whether that be virtual, in-person, in a studio, or outdoors. Everyday life distractions fade when you are focused on your breath and body movement. There, you can discover a connection to your one fine self!
Jen Yih
Substitute instructor
I'm Jen Yih, my yoga journey began in childhood. For almost twenty years since the age of 3, I trained as a ballerina deeply studying and practicing the art of classical ballet. Starting in 4th grade, yoga became a regular part of my routine, enriching my mind-body connection counterbalancing the high demands of ballet training; thanks to an incredible teacher, Laura M. Kariotis and founder of Nomi Dance Company in Chicago. I later went on to start my 200-hr teacher training at a Corepower Yoga studio on the South Shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i and finish teacher training in Portland, Oregon in 2014. Since receiving my certification I've taught a variety of wellness retreats internationally, as well as studios in the Portland metro area and currently where I reside in Cannon Beach, Oregon. My teaching style blends the fluidity of Vinyasa with mindfulness at its core through meditation and music. I strive to "get out of the way" and allow each individual to explore their practice freely, fostering an expressive and soulful experience. I acknowledge that yoga originates from ancient Indian traditions and is a borrowed practice, I am committed to honoring its heritage and elders rather than appropriating it.
I am also a paraprofessional certified by the Nutritional Therapy Association as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, educator, & activist who believes in accessible & inclusive nutrition education for all; through a compassionate, non judgemental approach that honor’s each individual's bio-individuality, circumstances & unique life story. I believe healthcare is a fundamental human right and take a nature-based approach backed by science prioritizing natural remedies and solutions through food, movement, lifestyle, and sleep. I’m an eating-disorder survivor (bulimia, anorexia, orthorexia) & healing from endometriosis (a “non-curable” condition within the uterine lining). I identify as bi-racial, multicultural (Chinese / Italian / Brazilian), and bi-lingual (Brazilian Portuguese & English) POC. Cisgender. She/Her.