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| Siddhi |
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Siddhi has a confident and nurturing style. Her
grounding presence combined with her sense of humor and a strong
healing power creates a sense of calm and peace in her class. She is
committed to each and every one of her students. Siddhi’s class
is a perfect balance of spiritual and physical workout, which allows
the students to feel strengthened, rejuvenated and centered again.
In the late 70 Siddhi found her spiritual
master in Osho through whom she got introduced to meditation, and since
then she has been facilitating meditation classes. Siddhi holds a
degree in Social Pedagogy, is a p ublished author with a book on
adolescent sexuality, a certified Tantric Shiatsu practitioner, KRI
certified to teach Kundalini Yoga, Naam Yoga and certified to
teach” The Khalsa Way” Pregnancy Yoga. Siddhi has three
children and one grandchild.
http://www.siddhisyoga.com |
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| Deb Dobbin |
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As one of Santa Barbara's most loved and
respected teachers, Deb Dobbin’s students often refer to her
classes as transformational, humorous, creative and profoundly
powerful. She has taught Vinyasa yoga for 18 years, studying with
masters like Erich Schiffmann and Sarah Powers, as well as Ganga and
Tracy White. Drawing on Ashtanga, Iyengar and Yin Yoga traditions, she
weaves the gifts offered by her mentors into a potent and unique style
of teaching.
Deb is most recognized for inspiring her
students to take responsibility for their practices, while coaching
them to translate their learning into every area of their lives. She
boldly addresses the habits that impact their everyday lives, and
challenges them to shift their limiting beliefs to generate courage,
full self-expression and self-realization.
Living life from the inside out, Deb blends
her passion for yoga mastery and jewelry design into a seamless
expression of her creative capacity. In fact, it’s not uncommon
to find Deb in her yoga studio at the break of dawn building a piece of
jewelry inspired by a dream the night before. Her gemstone designs
arise from an exquisite eye and a spontaneous, intuitive wisdom; a
creative process that mirrors the intensity and challenge of her packed
yoga classes.
Deb lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and the youngest of her three sons.
Link: http://www.debdobbin.com/ |
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| Zyrka |
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Zyrka has been practicing yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2002. Zyrka teaches primarily in the Saraswati River Yoga style, a system that integrates the paths of Hatha, Jnana and Bhakti yogas with wisdom traditions. Her classes are taught in a flowing style offering multiple variations that allows each student to move at their own pace. Zyrka will often incorporate the practices of mantra, pranayama, meditation and visualization offering a holistic yoga experience. As yoga is meant to be a direct experience Zyrka seeks to create an atmosphere where students can integrate these teachings and discover their own path.
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| Paul Ehrlich |
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Paul was first exposed to Buddhist Philosophy and meditation while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand.
He was later trained to be a Transcendental
Meditation teacher by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He taught meditation and
practiced yoga for many years before taking 3 consecutive yoga teacher
training courses in Santa Barbara in 2000 and 2001. The first was with
Sara Powers, followed by Eric Schiffmann and then the 16 day White
Lotus Yoga Teacher Training Course. Paul currently teaches yoga at the
Santa Barbara Athletic Club where he is also the Director of their yoga
program. |
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| Kristin Jordan |
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Kristin is a devoted yogini who imparts her
wonderful passion for life in her teaching. Her style pulls from
multiple yogic disciplines, and is both intuitive and steeped in the
traditional aspects of yoga.
Her love lies in learning - she has a B.S. and B.A. from CU, Boulder
and M.A. in journalism from USC. While she continues to enjoy writing
and film making, her commitment is to her yoga practice and teaching.
Kristin is always living life to the fullest and believes in boldly
facing apparent fears - dissolving the illusion that they exist.
Whether it's running with the bulls in Pamplona or swimming with great
whites in South Africa or logging over 50 flights in sailplanes. She is
passionate about living life courageously and living truth fearlessly.
www.kristinjordan.com |
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| Francesca Hunter |
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Francesca’s love and appreciation of yoga has grown from the knowledge and wisdom generously imparted from her inspiring and dedicated teachers for over 20 years.
Francesca has studied Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and meditation extensively. She was very fortunate to have studied directly with the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore India.
Francesca’s regular mediation practice is as much a part of her life as is daily asana. She was initiated in Kriya Yoga by the late Paramahansa Hariharananda, a guru of the same lineage as the more known Paramahansa Yogananda (author of "Autobiography of a Yogi.")
Francesca's classes include pranayama, meditation, vinyasa flow and yin yoga. The classes emphasize awareness of breath and alignment. The result, in addition to attaining great strength and the freedom of flexability, is a feeling of calmness, groundedness and a connection to the "Divine".
Francesca is a fourth generation native of Santa Barbara California and currently resides there, enjoying all of the gifts this beautiful place has to offer. Just to mention a few . . . watching her 12 year old daughter, Violet, blossom; teaching classes at Yoga Soup in Santa Barbara; hiking in the mountains of Montecito or walking on the pristine beaches with her wild and very lovable dog Pablo. Francesca is currently teaching workshops locally and abroad. Each day she continues to practice, gratitude, compassion and humbleness. |
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| Niav Connor |
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Niav brings a depth of personal experience,
creativity and joy to her teaching. With seventeen years of personal
yoga practice experience and five years of teaching experience, she is
knowledgeable in several forms of hatha yoga including Iyengar,
Vinyasa, Power, Bikram and Forrest. Her teaching focuses on mindfulness
of breath and safety in postures with particular emphasis on developing
core strength. Currently, she teaches yoga classes in Santa Barbara, CA
while pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Prenatal
and Perinatal Psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Instiutute in
Santa Barbara, CA. |
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Natalie remembers starting her yoga path through being inspired by her mother who taught her movement and meditation at a young age. Natalie became certified as a teacher in 2002 in various trainings. These included an overseas YogaWorks training in Thailand as well as seeking instruction from Sarah Powers and Eric Schiffman.
Natalie is currently studying Buddhist and Transcendental meditation as well as Ayurveda, upon which classes are based. Her current mentor is Jasmine Lieb who continues to guide her down the path of the therapeutic approach to yoga.
In any class she teaches, meditation has a constant presence |
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Cynthia Abulafia
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Cynthia offers an open invitation to those in her class to challenge their physical bodies, their usual expressions of movement, and even their own voice. Her classes are very physically challenging, but not necessarily about the asana itself. Rather, her interest lies in the body: the intelligence of how it moves, the anatomical similarities and differences of each person within a particular pose and the physical connection to the breath, bones, muscles, and nerves. Her yoga practice has evolved alongside her body over the years and includes many traditions of yoga, some of the most influential being ashtanga, yoga therapy, vinyasa krama, and to a certain extent iyengar and bhakti yoga.
Cynthia’s classes are always intelligently sequenced- focusing on the progression of the human anatomy, both physical and energetic, throughout the class. So you’ll find a safe place for beginners and a fun place for the experienced yoga teacher alike. Come open to play- who knows what you’ll find!
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Steve Dwelley |
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Steve Dwelley began training in Buddhist
meditation in 1988. His first trip to India and Nepal in 1990 awakened
a desire to involve the moving body in the meditation process, and he
began practicing asana. In eight trips he has spent nearly two years
studying in Mysore with master teacher Pattahbi Jois and was granted
permission to teach the Ashtanga system in 1998. He bows to the Lotus
feet of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and to those of his guru, T.
Krishnamacharya, and so on... |
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Ken Gilbert |
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Ken Gilbert, MA, is a Nia Black Belt and Nia Education Trainer; a Movement and Creative Integration Professional who applies the practice of Nia, Pilates and The Ron Fletcher Work to develop and evolve the conditioning of body, mind and spirit. Ken holds a Master of Arts in Dramatic Art from the University of California, Davis in 1983. Currently in Santa Barbara, Ken owns EmBODYment, A Studio for Movement and Creative Integration located at Yoga Soup; developing and evolving the study and practice of personal empowerment through the conditioning and expressivity of physical movement stimulating body/mind integration, emotional agility, and spiritual awakening. Ken is one of the 15 International Nia Education Trainers teaching and presenting Trainings, Workshops and Master Classes in the United States and throughout the Pacific.
www.embodyment.com |
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Heather Tiddens |
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Heather, RYT500, teaches yoga and leads ceremony to support people in embodying their most authentic selves. Her classes are known for their physical intensity and detailed instruction, as well as being a safe, compassionate space for students to explore their spiritual, emotional and physical healing and growth. Her teaching is grounded in her own experience, healing process and training which integrate Forrest Yoga, Yin Yoga, hands-on healing, mindfulness practices and Indigenous ceremony ways. She is passionately committed to turning people on to embodying spirit in their yoga practice and in their lives. Heather is based in Santa Barbara, CA, and travels nationally teaching courses, workshops and retreats.
www.heathertiddensyoga.com |
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Mary Elliott |
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Mary became a certified yoga instructor through Ananda in 1999 and began teaching yoga in the Santa Ynez Valley where she was living with her 2 children. After moving to Santa Barbara, Mary found her yoga home at Yoga Soup. Her desire to teach yoga was inspired by the transformative potential of yoga she found as a student and she continues to embrace the humbleness and mystery of the practice. Mary’s gentle nature and knowledge of the body, as a licensed massage therapist, enhance her students’ experience of the yoga asanas creating a unique experience in her classes. Mary offers workshops of self-care for the everyday person to educate all on the simple techniques one can use to ease and release long held pain in the body. www.maryelliott.org |
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Suzanne Marlow
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Assisting clients in personal healing has been a lifelong journey for Suzanne Marlow. Her trained specialties—integrative yoga therapy, clinical psychology, homeopathy—form a powerful triad of healing modalities that has been successful over the years in helping her clients live a healthier, more heart-based life.
Suzanne earned her Masters Degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Integrative Yoga at Antioch University-Santa Barbara in 2000 and a Masters Degree in Homeopathic Medicine in 1994. An accomplishment Suzanne is most proud of is completing the Intensive Quadrinity Process at The Hoffman Institute in 2002. A Master’s in Clinical Psychology awarded in 2007 has made Suzanne a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist intern. She is currently gaining hours at the Community Counseling Center in Santa Barbara.
Suzanne has taught integrative yoga for the past 8 years and has had the opportunity to teach at various studios in Santa Barbara as well as Cottage Hospital and in private one-to-one sessions. Suzanne has also taught about natural medicines at the Homeopathic Society of Santa Barbara and her written work has appeared in well-respected journals.
Residing in Santa Barbara affords Suzanne yet one more modality of healing—the natural outdoors. She may be discovered hiking the local mountain trails or enjoying the sand and sea with her two sons and their dog, Dude.
Link: http://www.suzannemarlow.com/ |
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Maureen Clair |
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Maureen Clair embraces a heart-centered approach to Yoga. Through a creative blend of Hatha, Gentle, and Restorative Yoga, Maureen hopes to instill in her students feelings of strength, peace, openness, and overall well-being. She also teaches Children's, Pre & Post Natal, and other family-focused classes.
She participated in the teacher training program at the Santa Barbara Yoga
Center and lives locally on the Mesa. Maureen has worked professionally with children for 7 years, maintains an up-to-date CPR/First Aid certification for infant/child, has 16ECE units, and a warm, loving heart towards children.
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Yoni Berk |
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Yoni has been instructing yoga since the summer of 2007. He began his teaching experience at a summer camp providing yoga to kids, teens, and adults. Coming back to Santa Barbara he dove straight into instructing at UCSB, assisting at Santa Barbara City College, and leading free outdoor classes for everyone and anyone. When he is not instructing or practicing yoga, you might find Yoni shredding the bass guitar in a music trio with Marc B.
Click to view Music site |
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Deborah Donohue
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Deborah Donohue is a Professional Writer and Editor, Certified Integrative Yoga Therapist, Certified Yoga of the Heart Practitioner, Certified Reiki Practitioner and Transition Doula sm (midwife to the dying and in support of their loved ones). She is registered with the Yoga Alliance and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists as well as the National Federation of Spiritual Healers.
Her empathic and therapeutic approach to her teaching evolved through decades of dealing with her own profound and exceptional health issues that both humbled and gifted her life. She has worked in the healing arts for three decades, many of those years caring for people with acute and chronic challenges: AIDS, cancer and cardiac among them. She has spent over ten years personally attending to the dying at Sarah House, a social model hospice in Santa Barbara, California.
Her private sessions, classes, workshops and retreats encourage deep transformative healing and rejuvenation through a blend and integration of Yin and Restorative Yoga,guided meditation, breath work, healing touch, journaling and reconnecting with nature. |
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Kaita Lepore
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Kaita Lepore loves to move. She received degrees in both Dance and Psychology before discovering yogaas a vehicle for her continued exploration of the relationship between body and mind. Drawing on her experience in pilates, fitness, and professional dance, Kaita’s yoga instruction is infused with a rich understanding of the human body.
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Jason Handler
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Jason Handler graduated as valedictorian of Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, an elite Chinese Medical School. Jason's teaching draws from his many years of studying Hatha Yoga, Medical Qi Gong and various forms of Internal Martial Arts. Learning all of these systems has lent a deep appreciation for honoring the true definition of the word Yoga, where all teachings become unified within the heart. Jason has lectured at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, CSUN, and many other local studios. He currently holds a private practice in Summerland, CA.
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Felicia Paige
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Felicia combines her background in massage therapy, dance and yoga in order to provide a well-rounded yoga program. Her integrative techniques allow for a creative, spirited approach to yoga. She is passionate about working in the health and wellness environment, as she attributes much of her own personal growth to this nurturing, positive atmosphere. She hopes to inspire you to take action, challenge yourself in new ways, hold yourself accountable for your own enrichment and above all, have fun doing so. Felicia encourages you to be kind to your body, breathe, and live more fully in each moment. She emboldens you to foster positive feedback between your mind and your physical body, both on the mat and in life. Felicia considers the opportunity to serve you a great honor.
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Yanoula Athanassakis |
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Yanoula began practicing yoga in the cold winters of Illinois and
decided to start teaching soon thereafter. She completed her
certification at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and studied under Erich
Schiffman and Sarah Powers. She'll readily admit, however, that it's the fluence of a wide variety of local teachers that has kept her
practice and dedication alive. In 1998 she began studying Tibetan
Buddhism under B. Alan Wallace and this interest easily translated
into a path towards yoga (with some prompting by her mother).
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Cybil Gilbertson
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Cybil Gilbertson is a White Lotus Certified Yoga Teacher, Pilates Instructor, Licensed Massage Therapist, Doula and Professional Dancer with over 10 years of private and group teaching experience. Cybil has danced professionally with Santa Barbara Dance Theatre since 1997, teaching and touring locally and internationally. She has also performed with Cirque Destino, The California Coastal Project and several local choreographers. Cybil's lifelong love of movement has led her to study an ecclectic blend of modalities. Cybil has taught at Blue Star Rising, Simpatico Pilates and Gyrotonic, UCSB Department of Dance, Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, La Playa Pilates and Wellness Center, The Esalen Institute, in Big Sur, CA, as well as classes in China and The Dominican Republic.
www.cybilgilbertson.com
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Kristen Hoye
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Kristen studied Interdisciplinary Yoga with Amba and Don Stapleton, the creator of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training program, at Omega Institute, where she gained her 200-hr teacher certification. In addition, Kristen has also trained with Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Cyndi Lee, Mark Whitwell, Richard Gold, Biff Mithoefer, Jason Nemer & Jenny Sauer-Klein, and Johnathan Urla, and has received her teaching credentials in Pilates, transformational dance and Acroyoga: combination of partner yoga, Thai Massage and acrobatics. Kristen has also had extensive training in Nuad Bo-rarn, a form of Thai Massage that incorporates yogic stretches, deep compressions, pranayama and meditation to offer her clients deep relaxation and physical and emotional relief.
Kristen combines her social work and massage skills, with her leadership in health and fitness, to award her students the most empowering, self-actualizing and stress reducing experiences. She is best known for her knowledge, healing abilities and awareness to her studentís specific needs. http://www.kristenhoye.com
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Mary Cate
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Mary Cate received her 200 Hour Teacher Training Certificate in 2007 through Yandara in Todos Santos Mexico. Yandara is a traditional yoga teaching style inwhich teahcers work with each individual according to their needs. The emphasis of the program is an immersion into yoga/nature lifestyle to help promote inner peace.
Mary Cate's intention as a yoga teacher is to integrate the systems of Hatha Yoga, Ayureveda, and Tantra in order to create practices that are personalized to meet the needs of each individual. Inspirational teachers include BSK Iyengar, Yogi Balak Nath, Rod Stryker and Alan Finger. |
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Sarah Bloom
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A Vinyasa style class with intuitive movement and spaciousness, freedom, and stillness of mind and body. Sarah expresses and emphasizes the benefits and other offerings that practicing yoga has given her over the years; a correlation between a free moving, open, flexible body and a free open thinking unstuck mind. Simply put- unsticking your body allows for unstuckness of old thought patterns, habits, tendencies etc.
Though it is yoga and she holds postures for long periods of time, the space and fluid moving practice allows the practitioner to really move intuitively with their OWN body and space wherever they are on that day.
Sarah encourages people to move their body with what feels good, and healing. So rather than lifting an arm when the teacher says do this-do that, students are checking in with themselves, taking care and responsibility for their own bodies and well being.
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Megan DeAinza
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Megan De Ainza tuned into Yoga and Meditation in 1999. Having practiced at home and in the studio, she decided to take herself on the road. Megan's path brought her to study primarily with Saul David Raye, Shiva Rea, and Mark Whitwell; becoming a certified Thai Yoga Therapist in 2003, and a Young Persons Yoga Instructor with Indigo Yoga in 2004. Living through yoga, buddhist and tantric meditation, surfing and creativity, Megan continues to promote health and wellness in all stages of life.
It wasn't until after experiencing a severe physical injury did Megan begin to truly surrender to the foundations of yoga. Wanting to share the vision and awareness found in the practice and study of the Yoga Sutra, Megan has been teaching a style of total integration. Megan's yoga works to align the human being with healing and transformation by presenting challenging and grounding postures. Keeping a balance between work and play, connecting within relationship, Megan welcomes you to her Breath of Yoga.
Yoga Instructor Megan DeAinza is leading a retreat with Redback Travels to India from February 26th through March 24, 2010 to attend the festival! Click here for more info.
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Jim Cutsinger
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Jim Cutsinger brings a lifetime of discipline, study, practice and teaching in human development at the intersection of health, psychology and spirituality. Starting in childhood with religious training and sports, then moving to strength training, musicianship and studies in consciousness in adolescence, at 21 he turned to regular yoga, meditation, running and backpacking.
At 31 he began 5 years of solitary spiritual practice at the Mahatma Gandhi Yoga Ashram. He then studied Bodywork, Depth Psychology, Shamanism and Deep Emotional work. At 38, he created the “Conscious Deep Bodywork” method which he taught at the Diamond Light School of Healing and Massage in Marin County for 5 Years. He has shared his teachings through retreats, seminars and trainings and is the creator of Golden Lion Qigong.
A professional musician since age 16, the founder of Meadowgate Music Productions in Montecito, a leader with the Council Circle Foundation and the Mankind Project Santa Barbara, Jim also apprenticed at the Santa Barbara Management Training Company. In 1994 he began and has maintained the study and practice of Taoism and Qigong integrated with Core athletics and Strength training.
click here to view his site
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Vanessa Isaac
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Vanessa's art is a reflection of her personality, background and philosophy of life. Inspired by Brazilian, modern/contemporary music and dance, she believes in creating community with art, inspiring people of all ages to share their journey with each other. The Independent stated: " Isaac's success has a lot to do with her warmth, charm and knack for making people feel at ease, but it is her skill and knowledge of the culture that that truly brings an authentic experience.
click here to view her site
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Amythyst Fritzler
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Beginning to dance at age 5, Amythyst immediately developed a love of the moving body. She went on to earn a degree in dance from Cal State Long Beach as well as an advanced Pilates certification from Long Beach Dance Conditioning. She currently choreographs and dances professionally while also teaching modern dance and Pilates.
Amythyst has experience teaching Pilates to people with all levels of experience as well as Pilates for scoliosis, pelvic floor, and breast cancer. She especially enjoys teaching and has found that her background in dance has made her a natural instructor. She teaches with humor, patience, and kindness.
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Kat Connors-Longo
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Kat is deeply committed to enhancing the lives of her students through a mindful, dynamic approach to yoga, integrating mind, body and spirit. She has been practicing Hatha yoga since 1992 and teaching since July 1999. Kat is a Yoga Alliance ERYT-500 registered yoga teacher with over 10,000 hours of yoga taught as of December 2008. She was first inspired to teach by Ana Forrest, who imparted the fundamentals of Forrest Yoga - encouraging honesty, integrity, strength and the healing process.
Kat has completed teacher trainings with Ana Forrest, Donna Farhi, Sarah Powers, Erich Schifmann and Lisa Walford. She was deeply influenced by Donna Farhi who gave her the gift of internal alignment (applied developmental movement patterns) and as a result her teaching style draws upon the intention to connect each individual to their unique inner wisdom. She also conducts therapeutic yoga classes at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara and at Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital. Kat lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband Tony Longo, dog Bello Amor and two cats Mr. Tom and Silver City. http://www.katconnors-longo.com
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Dorothea Lasswel
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A native of Germany, Dorothea comes to yoga with a background in nursing and theatre arts. She received her training at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and has been teaching since 2002. She believes that life has a thousand springs and that it's never too late to learn something new in order to transform life to the highest spiritual level. What she loves about yoga is that it combines mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual elements to produce a synergy that can have powerful effects on all these aspects of life.
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Karena Ryals
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Karena became a committed Kundalini Yoga practitioner after discovering the practice in 1996. Since 1999, she has been a Kundalini Research Institute (KRI) certified instructor teaching locally in many different venues. Karena’s classes are joyful and inspired helping to make a very precise and powerful yogic technology approachable by everyone.
Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan combines kriyas (sequences for specific benefits) including breath work (pranayam), active exercises, passive postures (asanas), sound current (mantras), mudras (hand postures) and meditations into a powerful mode of self healing that maintains general physical and emotional well-being and fosters spiritual growth.
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Marty New
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Marty New is a recent transplant from New York City who specializes in gentle, vigorous yoga that leads to a smooth Vinyasa flow. Methodically warming up each of the joints and muscle groups Marty encourages variations so each person may be guided by their own needs and abilities while also being attentive to their breath. She teaches three levels of Hatha yoga, incorporating sound vibration, breathing practice and deep relaxation.
Marty began practicing Yoga twenty years ago as a young actress learning to reduce stress for performance and increase her strength and flexibility as an actor. After graduating from the Yale School of Drama, Marty began teaching acting at NYU, incorporating Yoga into her classes. Her fundamentally physical approach synthesized techniques drawn from Yoga, Alexander technique, and Swiss Balls with a deep understanding of performance and high-level performance flow.
Marty is a registered Experienced Yoga Teacher, trained and certified at Integral Yoga in New York (levels I, II and III Hatha yoga), where she made a profound decision to balance her passions for food, teaching and parenting with her love of Yoga. ClimbTime Yoga, (a parent/child partnering program) was inspired and created with her son Somerset. Marty continues her Yoga practice with Somerset attached and together they've developed a new frontier in parenting and Yoga.
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