Karen Voepel is the founder of “Yoga at the Ranch” specializing in yoga instruction, self-care retreats, sleep dysfunction and test anxiety. Her primary business has been as a court reporter where she discovered yoga as a method of healing repetitive injuries. For more information, please go to www.yogaattheranch.info

Karen is certified as a Yoga instructor, Retreat coach and Family Mediator. In 2003, she released a 20-minute Yoga CD focusing on neck and back pain. She has spoken to various organizations on the healing effects of yoga for repetitive stress injuries.

Karen and her sister-in-law, Tonya Voepel, founded "Share the Spirit Foundation" in 2003.  All proceeds from Karen’s Yoga CD go to Share the Spirit Foundation.  “We enjoy giving 100% of the monies raised to those in need,” comments Karen. Together, they have raised thousands of dollars to help needy people nationwide.

Tonya Voepel is a graphic designer and owns Voepel Publication Services, Inc. in Springfield, Illinois. She offers professional publication assistance as well as design, production and distribution. Tonya spent many years working as a graphic designer and art director for several associations before starting her own business in 1992. She received her BA degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield (formerly Sangamon State University).

Tonya enjoys traveling with her family and has had the opportunity to attend several yoga retreats hosted by Karen Voepel, her sister-in-law and co-founder of Share the Spirit Foundation.

She plans to continue the tradition of giving and sharing as she helps educate her daughter and the younger generation to "keep the spirit alive."

Julie Anderson is an actuary and works for a property and casualty insurance company based in Sarasota, Florida.  She works from her home in Easton, Maryland.  Julie began working as an actuary in Springfield, IL in 1989 after receiving her B.S. in Actuarial Science at the University of Illinois in Urbana, IL.

In 2003, Julie met Tonya Voepel and through that friendship, she met Karen Voepel and learned about Share the Spirit.  She has been truly inspired by these two women,  the co- creators of Share the Spirit Foundation,  and is incredibly excited to be a part of this organization.