Board Members
Meet Our Board Members
Asheville Community Yoga takes pride in our community outreach and ability to provide valuable services to Asheville and the surrounding area. At the heart of our organization are are board members that help guide Asheville Community Yoga.
Its growing campus is host to accessible and inclusive yoga classes and trainings, yoga teacher and continuing education certification programs, mindfulness-based workshops and events, nutrition education, and affordable clothing—all enjoyed by over 20,000 participants.
President and Treasurer: Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy is an accountant, insurance agent, business consultant and tax adviser with over 25 years of experience. He is currently president, founder and owner of Platinum Group based in Asheville, North Carolina. Michael has served on a number of nonprofit boards. He is the devoted father of four amazing children. Michael’s yoga practice began in 2004 and completed his yoga teacher training in 2012 at Asheville Community Yoga!
Secretary: Mitch Orland
Mitch Orland is the dad of two amazing girls and the husband of a goddess wife. He was the Executive Chef as well as the Deli, Bakery, Meat and Seafood Director for Earth Fare for 6 years, The Healthy Supermarket.
Mitch has been on the Board of Directors of numerous non-profits. He is just coming off a 4 year run at Wild South(Protecting Forests for Life). Mitch is also a member of “Chefs Move to School.”
Mitch and Michael Greenfield, Asheville Community Yoga’s Executive Director, have been friends for over 25 year. Mitch started practicing yoga 6 years ago with Michael in a men’s Group. He is now devoted to his home practice which includes chanting and meditation. Since starting his own yoga practice, his life has blossomed with love, service and endless possibilities.
Board Member: Sonya Costello
Sonya has been a member of Asheville Community Yoga since 2010. She found the studio a few months after it opened and quickly fell in love. Her involvement has grown from student, to Program Director, to teacher and now onto the Board of Directors.
Sonya graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication. She has been involved in multiple non-profits in the Asheville area over the past 13 years. Her involvement has mainly been focused, but not limited to, event planning, volunteer coordinating and logistics for events such as Downtown After Five, Blue Ridge Pride and currently working for LEAF Community Arts.
“I feel deeply blessed and honored to be a part of Asheville Community Yoga. The studio and community hold such a special place in my heart. I love to teach and share my passion for yoga. Yoga is a huge part of my life. It has taught me self-love, self-awareness, to pause and breathe, and to live more kindly and compassionately towards myself and others. I am forever grateful for my practice, the community and my teachers.”
Non-Voting Board Member: Michael Greenfield
Michael Greenfield moved to Asheville 21 years ago. He loved the opportunity Asheville provided to be among nature and saw this community as a place he would like to raise his family. Michael is the father of three incredible children. He has over 25 years of business and entrepreneurship experience through working as a community financial advisor and having owned a multi-million dollar furniture business, a B&B and a pre-owned vehicle business. Michael has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. He became a yoga teacher in 2002 and has been teaching ever since.
“Starting a yoga practice marked a pivotal point in my life. I strive to dedicate my life to service & love in every waking moment.”
Non-Voting Board Member: Amber Acheson
Amber has served Asheville Community Yoga since the organization opened in 2010. She began her journey with Asheville Community Yoga offering a donation class one night a week. Soon, she began working as a part time employee to help out at the front desk and that role very quickly escalated to her becoming Asheville Community Yoga’s Associate Director.
Amber graduated from Appalachian State University in 2005 with a degree in Non-profit Communications. After college she traveled throughout Europe and Asia and completed her yoga teacher training in India.
Having the opportunity to combine her passions, serving in the non-profit sector and teaching/practicing yoga, is one of the greatest blessings in Amber’s life. She has demonstrated dedication and commitment to Asheville Community Yoga’s mission and community during her time as Associate Director and she receives no greater joy in life than witnessing yoga’s transformative power at work in students day after day.
Amber’s other blessings include the opportunity to reside in the beautiful blue ridge mountains with her partner, Michael, and their little boy Asher. She is grateful beyond words for the abundance she receives daily serving as a mother, partner, teacher and friend to her entire community.