Instructors
Allegra Chabay
Allegra was introduced to yoga in 1994, and studied in the Astanga tradition with several excellent teachers in Palo Alto. She was very fortunate to study in the Iyengar tradition with Gabriel Halpern at his Yoga Circle in Chicago, IL. In Seattle she studied in the Jivamukti taradition at Kathleen Hunt's Samadhi Yoga, and there first began a practice of kirtan and devotional chanting, both of which are incorporated into the framework of her teaching. In years interspersed she practiced wherever she found a shala in her travels around the country and the globe, leading her to encounter many wonderful teachers of many and various varieties and styles, all of which emphasized the breadth of possibility for creativity in experiencing and teaching yoga. Most recently she has studied with her gifted and beloved teacher Alice Joanou at Loka Yoga in Oakland, CA, in the tradition of the great Sri Krishnamacharya (Vinyasa Krama- translates roughly to intelligent sequencing). Allegra's classes use breath to yoke the mind and body, moving through a rigorous and flowing asana sequence designed to open, align and nourish, to still and focus the body, spirit and mind.
Angela Pashayan
Born and raised in Compton, California. She has studied at Richmond College in London, and UCLA from which she received her BA. She studies yoga under Tias Little - Santa Fe, NM where she became proficient in the Iyengar style, Her favorite yoga posture is Sirsasana (Headstand) and the least Favored is Upavista Konasana (Seated wide-angle forward bend). In her life-before-yoga, she owned a gourmet coffee & sandwich store in East Hampton - before it became so hip! Prior to that she was a member of the Ralph Lauren Womeswear PR Team and a Professional Model with Elite Model Management. She also taught Fashion at FIDM in Los Angeles. Travel is a passion. She has traveled extensively through Europe and has visited , Bali, Japan, Dubai, Kerala, Canada, Cancun /Tulum, Africa, Tahiti, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Morocco, Oman and Antarctica. She is married and has 3 sons Intellectual Inspirations include The Bible, Patanjali's Sutras and authors Eckhart, Dyer,Williamson, Walsch, and others.
Brittany Berman
Brittany has been dancing her whole life and started practicing yoga 5 years ago. Since discovering movement as a form of healing, her life has become more vivid, exciting and full of possibilities! Brittany was trained at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, where she lived and studied what embodying a yogic lifestyle means. She believes yoga is a practice of presence and self/divine connection, and loves facilitating the process of ‘coming back to yourself.’ Brittany’s style of yoga is accessible for everyone and encourages self-exploration on the mat including listening to and following what your own body and heart have to tell you. Brittany is also a certified JourneyDanceTM Instructor, which is a playful and intuitive method of using movement to discover and celebrate ALL of your inner strengths. Brittany also has worked extensively with youth programming: creating a program to empower high school students in Massachusetts and working as a Summer Camp Director in Illinois. She has taught yoga and learned much from teaching kids and families yoga in the camp environment. Brittany’s goal is to introduce more yoga and breathing techniques into the classroom and to bring the freeing and empowering gift of movement to young women. She is currently working to become a Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga), Ambassador.
Maria Colina
Maria Colina began exploring complementary approaches to medicine to achieve health and wellness while attending medical school in Venezuela. This discovery, combined with her interest in physiology, and her love of working with people, have made her transition to teaching yoga and energy work a natural progression. Maria offers instruction in Hatha flow, Sivananda and Prenatal Yoga to students of all levels and abilities. She is also currently attending to an adaptive Yoga therapy training for Cancer & Chronic Illness. While in Venezuela, Maria obtained her practitioner certificate in Reiki healing. Here in California she has gone on to become a Teacher of this sytem. She continues to update her methods to offer inventive approaches to her clients.
Megan Gathers
Megan has been practicing and sharing her love of Yoga in San
Francisco since 2001. Yoga is Megan's favorite way to settle into the
moment, access joy, and unleash dormant energy. With a soothing voice,
calming presence, and a sparkle in her eye, Megan will guide you on a
journey of learning, play, and exploration. Megan has a BA in
Interdisciplinary Studies from California Institute of Integral
Studies. She is skilled at encouraging students to learn in different
ways - such as kinesthetic, visual, and auditory. Megan is a lifelong
student of Yoga and continues to deepen her knowledge through private
study and teacher trainings. Megan is also available for private
lessons.
Olivia Eng
Olivia Eng finds her greatest passion in performing and creating movement. Her other passions also include music, (playing the guitar, piano, and djembe), learning about other cultures and languages, photography as well as many other aspects related to the arts. She is continually inspired by traveling and befriending people from all over the world. She became a Yoga Alliance certified teacher through Yoga Works (Costa Mesa) and also holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. She believes that life should ultimately always be a journey of adventure and love. She is constantly thankful for the opportunity to help others and for the tranquility that yoga continues to bring into her life. *Never regret what once made your heart smile* *There are no shortcuts to any place worth going*
Sandy Till
Sandy trained with Ana Forrest in 2004, when she first began using yoga as a healing modality. Since then Sandy has honed her skills teaching beginner and intermediate level Forrest Yoga at her own practice, Sandy's Healing Center and in our Bay Area community. Sandy’s intent as a healer is to bring empowerment and understanding to her clients. Once pain and stress begin to affect the quality of your life, you will become interested in helping your body heal. With regular bodywork you can reduce stress, improve circulation, ease stiff and tired muscles, heal old injuries, and in general give back to your body. Bodywork often relieves common pain, such as neck pain, low back pain, carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, frozen shoulder, disc issues, fatigue, and knee pain. Chronic pain can be eased and often relieved with focused therapeutic work and some basic self-care.
Sonya Genel
Sonya's journey with yoga first began 8 years ago, when she had come to the mat seeking a solution for chronic back pain and merely expecting a physical work out. After a few weeks of regular practice she was hooked. Almost immediately she noticed improvement not only in her physical well-being, but also in her mood, concentration, clarity and efficiency on a daily basis, and she has been devoted to the path of Yoga ever since. Sonya received her 200-Hour training and certification at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Sonya’s teaching is uniquely inspired by her Kripalu training and her study of other yoga styles such as Ashtanga and Anusara yoga. Having come to see yoga as a means of transcending one's limited view of the self, Sonya believes that the practice of yoga transforms us on every level of being. Knowing that by unifying the mind, body, and spirit, we can tap into the inner-wisdom present in all of us, Sonya’s goal is to share the magnificent gift of yoga with others.
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