Ancient Wisdom
for Modern Warriors

CALLING ALL SEEKERS! Journey deep into what is ancient, what is wise, what is true and what is you.

June 6 - 8, 2025

What if we could transform our suffering into peace?

This philosophical weekend will weave the rich ancient wisdom of the Toltecs, Buddhists and various Yoga traditions to guide you into the truth of who you are and how to move through this modern life with more peace, more love, more spark and more aliveness. Discover powerful connections and intersections as you explore your own understanding of self and sense of being. Alex and Kristi will take you on a multidisciplinary journey of movement, meditation, journaling, practical application, small group reflection, many dharma talks and even field trips so you may gain clarity and insight into this soulful journey of life.

Buddha suffering

transforming suffering into peace

The ancient teachings—from the Hindrances of Buddhism to Yoga’s Kleshas to the parasite in Toltec wisdom—acknowledged the presence of suffering embedded in the human experience. Learn to unravel our mind’s addiction to suffering so we can reclaim our own power, and ultimately, our own peace.

Toltec Buddhism Yoga

utilizing the roadmaps

The time has come to see clearly the truth of who you are. Utilizing the roadmaps of the ancient wisdom teachings from the Toltec’s 5 Agreements to Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path awaken from illusion and return to your true essence.

Ganesha Yoga

in these 25 hours, we will

Remove the obstacles that keep us from living peacefully, joyfully, creatively, honestly and uniquely. Come ready for the journey of a lifetime!


Friday, June 6 • 9a - 6p
Saturday, June 7 • 10a - 7p
Sunday, June 9 • 10a - 5p

““Our own life has to be our message.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Who are Alex + Kristi Cole?

Father-Daughter Duo · Teachers · Students · Dreamers · Guides

Alex Cole Kristi Cole 300hr Teacher Training
Kristi Cole Alex Cole 300hr Teacher Training

Who is Alex Cole?

YoYoYogi’s Founder, E-RYT 500, YACEP

Alex, alongside his wife, Terri, is the co-founders of Oregon’s premiere yoga studio, YoYoYogi. Set in the heart of Portland, YoYoYogi is a revered sanctuary for all people to explore life’s biggest questions while increasing flexibility of mind and body. YoYoYogi, which started in 2010, continues to thrive under the exceptional direction of their daughter, Kristi, and her husband, David Vote.

But, their story began decades before.

Alex began as a performer on stages around the world. His early years were filled with travels, rich experiences, and dreams of stardom. Terri, as a creative, was traveling extensively styling “for the stars”. Alex and Terri were young and deep into their professional lives when they met on a soundstage in Hollywood, California. Their union and the gift of two baby girls, set the wheels in motion for a change that would eventually lead them to their life’s work.

However, there would be many twists and many turns. From the bright lights of Hollywood to the depths of corporate America. They would live in the city, on the coast, in a small mountain town, and in wine country. They would travel the world for their personal and professional life.

Even so, yoga found them! It sneaked its way into their home, disguised as a video tape. The powerful yogi on the screen said “breathe, and feel sensation.” That they did. This seemingly insignificant tape evolved into a curiosity that could not be quenched . After years of daily practice and diving into intense teacher trainings, their insatiable desire to grow continued. It was time to expand. They dared to pondered the question... now what?

6 weeks later, these baby boomers started the blog, YoYoYogi, and chronicled the epic adventure of 2 wandering yogis searching out and reporting on masterful yoga from Seattle to San Diego. For all their fellow zen-lovin’ brethren, this highly popular and upbeat read gave insight into the vast landscape of West Coast Yoga.

Returning home, forever transformed by their travels and an uncompromising desire to share their passion, YoYoYogi, now bricks and mortar, Portland, Oregon, was born!

Alex’s Soul Shakin’ class, often called “yoga church”, has become synonymous with YoYoYogi. Blending physical and mental challenges with chanting, philosophy, demanding choreography, and heart pumping asana, Soul Shakin’ resonates! Embracing the philosophy that the true teacher is the guru inside, he invites his students to seek the answers from deep within their own soul.

Together they developed and teach a unique style of yoga that seamlessly blends spiritual and subtle energies with mental and physical strength. Alex and Terri continue to transform countless students through their world class teacher trainings, workshops and international retreats.

Alex and Terri believe that to be a great teacher, one must be a great student. They continue to draw from a wide scope of teachings. They seek inspiration from religious scripture, ancient teachings, indigenous philosophy, modern teachers and contemporary theories. Their greatest hope is to be a pebble in the pond of life and have their life’s work ripple in ways beyond their imagination. They seek to pay forward the gift that is yoga.

Who is Kristi Cole?

YoYoYogi’s Owner, E-RYT 500, YACEP

Kristi Cole is the owner of YoYoYogi with her husband, David, and the daughter of it’s founders, Alex + Terri Cole. Her yoga journey began in 2008 from an athlete’s perspective. Too tight to touch her toes and moving too fast to sit still, she worked fearlessly and tenaciously at this practice of yoga. Through the years; however, she has learned to loosen the grip, that there is no goal; that the work is in the curiosity into our ever-evolving beings.

A teacher since 2010, she has had the opportunity to guide students of nearly every background in nearly every realm from professional athletes to youth experiencing homelessness, from private lessons to events of 200+, inside the sanctuary that is YoYoYogi to all over the world.

Her teaching style is coined Awareness-Based Vinyasa, a practice that increases your connection to how you are breathing, how you are moving, how you are thinking, how you are living. Rather than the what Kristi is interested in your how and your why. She often says that helping people becoming increasingly intimate with who they truly are; giving them time and space to be alive in their own skin, live to the beat of their own natural rhythms, and explore their inner world is the privilege of a lifetime.

Kristi is also the Director of this 300hr Teacher Training, a program she deems essential. The role she holds dearest as YoYoYogi’s owner is supporting the path of a teacher as instructors, as practitioners, as humans. The ripple effect of this work exceeds far beyond these studio walls.

She remains humbled and grateful to be a thread in the long line of teachers that have come before her and will continue long after her. Her deepest hope is to be a steward of this practice, sharing forward the lessons she has learned from the incredible teachers who have blessed her with their wisdom, care, belief and passion along her path as a teacher.