Svälja Community Gathering

Keynote : On the Intersection of Grit and Place

Alexandera Houchin is an ultra-endurance athlete, artist, and citizen of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa based in Duluth, Minnesota. Known for racing some of the world’s toughest bikepacking routes, often on a single-speed mountain bike, she holds multiple women’s records across the sport’s most demanding ultra-distance races.

Beyond racing, Houchin is committed to building opportunities for Indigenous youth in outdoor and endurance sports. She is currently writing a book with Dutton (Penguin Random House), and developing programming for an Indigenous youth bike camp in partnership with the Indigefit Kids Campaign, funded by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

Organizer : Art and Poetry Exhibit

Savannah Ottillia is a descendant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. She grew up here in Duluth and is deeply connected to the land and water. 

She works in advocacy and is a lover of nature, poetry, music, dancing, laughing, writing, reading, cooking, eating, traveling, learning, and being an auntie. 

Trauma conscious yoga has played a significant role in her own healing, and it is a deep honor to share this practice with others. She earned her 250hr RYT at Svalja's Yoga Teacher Training in 2023.

Movement Practice : Deep Release Yoga

Miriam is a lead teacher at the Yoga School and a trauma-conscious guide who believes in yoga’s profound power to transform stress into awareness. A dedicated Yin practitioner since 2002 and a certified Yin Teacher Trainer under Bernie Clark, she pairs deep technical expertise with a lifelong global practice. With advanced RYT500 training focused on the Yoga Sutras and specialized certifications in adaptive and trauma-sensitive yoga, Miriam creates a soft, inclusive space where breath and movement serve as a pathway to wholeness.

Co-Organizer : Svalja Community Conference

At his core, Ed is a storyteller, spirit doula, and healer, guided by curiosity, love, joyful learning, and his own journey of healing and spiritual reconnection. With a background in violence prevention and peacemaking, his work centers on nurturing individual and community connections to spirit, healing, and wholeness as a path to thriving—now and for future generations.

Ordained in 2022 as a Rinzai Zen Priest at Anko-in by Norma Ryuko Kawelokū Wong Roshi, Ed (Koshin) Heisler is passionate about sharing spirit and wholeness practices. His core practices include Zazen, Kado, Ten Step Tai Ji, Okyo, Shodo, Reiki, and everyday storytelling that links us to ancestral and spiritual wisdom.  

Owner : Svälja Whole-Being

Creator & Co-Organizer : Svälja Community Conference

Rebecca James Alsum is the owner of Svälja Whole-Being, the creator and organizer of the Community Conference, and a storyteller and visionary. She is on a path of creating spaces where healing and deep inner wisdom can blossom through connection of one’s heart. Through many years working in advocacy and community support, Rebecca has been devoted to empowering people to find healing centered within themselves, through the re-discovery of their own deep wells of wisdom and love. She seeks to nurture deep relationships, holistic listening, meaningful communication, and connection to Spirit.

Rebecca holds a BA in Sociology, is a Certified Sexologist and Sexual Wellness Coach, a Certified Qigong Trainer, and an RYT 200 yoga teacher.

Co-Organizer: Svalja Community Conference

Seth holds a MA in Spiritual Formation & Leadership and a BA in Philosophy & Religion. He is currently in Svalja’s 300 hour YTT with anticipated graduation in 2026. He is a Certified Qigong Practice Group Leader through Spring Forest Qigong. Seth is also a Rule 114 Facilitative Mediator through the Conflict Resolution Center.

Seth is the Executive Director of Damiano Center and works with people experiencing housing insecurity, poverty and all that comes with these realities.

Co-Organizer : Svalja Community Conference

Since joining the Svälja Whole-Being community in 2021, Sam has been on a transformational journey that has deepened her connection to both her inner landscape and the world around her.

Now serving as the Administrative Director of Svälja, she is the steady hand and foundational anchor behind the studio’s day-to-day operations. As a co-organizer of the Flourish Community Conference, Sam brings her gift for organizational logistics and heart-centered support to ensure a seamless experience for every attendee.

When she isn't weaving together the inner workings of the studio, she can be found experimenting in her kitchen or enjoying life up the shore with her husband Paul, their daughter Solvei, and their beloved pup and cat.