Budah, Owner
Ashtanga, Bikram , Vinyasa, Power & Yin Instructor
In 2004, a friend introduced me to a yoga practiced in a hot room. The intensity and discipline of this Bikram class blew me away and I was hooked. My dedication to the practice led me to complete my Bikram Teacher certification in 2008 in Acapulco, MX with Bikram Choudhry – founder of Bikram Yoga College of India. As I continued my yoga journey in practice & teaching, I also explored other styles such as Ashtanga, Power, Vinyasa & Yin. And, after completing a Vinyasa Flow training in Costa Rica with Vidya Jacqueline Heisel of Frog Lotus Yoga in 2011, I decided to pursue the opening of my very own studio, Xplore Yoga. In 2013, I received my 500 Hour Teacher Training certification through the Absolute Yoga Academy in Thailand. It is my hope that practitioners will benefit, both mentally & physically, from the yoga practice as I have. Expect my classes to be tough, challenging & sweaty.

Amy Ploeckelman Mosbey
Rhythmic Cardio & Vinyasa Instructor
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2002 with a degree in Kinesiology and Athletic Training/Sports Medicine. After accumulating well over 2000 hours in the Athletic Training setting and passing an 8 hour exam, in June of 2002 I became a Certified Athletic Trainer. Over the years I have worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer for many sports teams, athletes, weekend warrriors, all shapes, ages and abilities. From the Milwaukee Professional Ballet Co. where I worked as the head trainer, to traveling tournaments for USA Volleyball, on the sidelines of College/high school football, soccer tourneys, or seeing patients in Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy Clinics. They all started me on the path to finding something deeper in the healing and injury recovery process as well as the multi-faceted training and maintenance needs of different bodies.

I moved to California from Wisconsin in 2004 after life changing events shifted my focus to healing myself and facilitating healing in others through bodywork, yoga and exercise. I became a certified Acupressurist in 2007 and studied many different bodywork modalities. In 2010, after practicing yoga for over 10 years I found myself motivated to teach. Having gained wisdom from the injuries and stories of my clients and myself, I went through The Yoga Company’s 200-hour yoga teacher training and advanced studies programs.

My extensive background in the mind-body-spirit connection, orthopedics, physical therapy, yoga, energy work and healing have opened new doors for me when teaching, coaching and in life. I am honored to motivate, educate, inspire, support, and empower others on the journey to being the BEST version of themselves possible. When I teach I love to create a space for freedom and safe self-exploration. By being upbeat, positive and energetic I maintain the focus of always honoring your inner teacher and respecting who and where you are. I am currently teaching Mindful Flow Yoga and BarreSculpt at The Studio in Danville. I have also been selected as a Yoga Ambassador for Lululemon in Walnut Creek. I see clients privately for bodywork, personal training, and yoga guidance. When I am not teaching you will find me living a very active, outdoor lifestyle with the loves of my life…my husband, our 2 boys and our dog. Besides practicing yoga I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, SUP and SUP yoga, rock climbing, snowboarding, slacklining, cheering on the Green Bay Packers and laughing often. For more on me and the services I offer feel free to check out my website at www.amyploeckelman.com

Namaste!

Annette Iglecia
Dayton Method Instructor
After competing in collegiate gymnastics and earning a Master of Science degree in Health and Exercise Science from Wake Forest University I knew I wanted to start a career in the health and wellness industry. I have been very fortunate to hold many different positions throughout my career as a cardiac rehab specialist, cardiopulmonary stress testing technician, functional fitness personal trainer, and most recently in the medical device industry as a clinical specialist helping to further cutting edge technology. I found Bikram Yoga one year ago when a dear friend of mine encouraged me to try it out after I began suffering from chronic lower back pain. I came for the physical work out in hopes that it would help my back… little did I know how powerful this journey would become. It has changed my life! Yoga means the union of mind body and soul. The greatest lesson for me and one I hope to share with many others is the gift of breathing – it is your 1st aid kit. Just breathe, quiet the mind and stay in your own body. Trust the process and all will come into balance. Words from my teacher, Jason Wilkerson, that have inspired me and continue to each and every day. I received my 200 hour hot yoga teaching certification from Huntington Beach Hot Yoga August 2013 and am excited to participate and share in the yoga experience.

Brittany Elise Plaven
Vinyasa & Yin Instructor
Brittany Elise (Elise) was introduced to yoga at the ripe old age of 12 as a cross training for competitive figure skating. Her first impression of yoga was doing Nadi Shodhana breathing in a freezing cold ice rink! Ever since, she has been hooked and a regular practitioner. While studying nutritional science in Colorado, Elise found a hot yoga studio and loved it so much that she enrolled in the teacher training program. She completed her 200 hr. Vinyasa Flow training in 2009 and has been teaching ever since. Elise then went on study for 6 months in New Zealand, where she was blessed enough to begin her teaching career. Since then, she has taught a variety of classes including classes for figure skaters, circus artists, rock climbers, and to her local community members in Colorado. She recently completed her degree in Health Promotion and Education with minors in Holistic Health and Nutrition, in 2011. She is also certified in Plant-Based Nutrition. Elise is passionate about nutrition and helping others learn how and what to eat to promote optimal health and vitality. In her yoga classes, Elise focuses on flexibility, working deeply into the hamstrings, hips, spine, and shoulders. Elise is also an aerial yoga instructor as well as a professional figure skater and aerial dancer. She has been on previous figure skating contracts in Chile and Colombia and with the help of a daily yoga practice has been injury free! Off the mat, Elise loves to be outdoors rock climbing, biking, or backpacking. She also loves to travel and cook healthy raw, vegan meals. Elise is looking forward to seeing more of her new home in California and practicing/learning/and teaching with the lovely community of XploreYoga! Namaste and see you soon.

Candace Conley
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
I started my journey into yoga about 6 years ago and right away began to notice the connection I felt to my true self. Always a more quiet and shy person, Yoga has taught me how to be comfortable and confident in my own skin. In my life I find great value in connecting with the present moment. In class I invite you to focus on your breath as we move through the postures; I find it’s the best way to stay present in the mind and body. We will create heat, we will challenge ourselves physically and mentally, and we will enjoy the healing benefits of our practice. Expect the room to be 85 to 90 degrees, filled with music and lots of heart. I welcome you to your mat; to yourself.

Carey Richardson
Power Instructor
Carey got hooked on yoga after attending yoga classes to heal an injured knee. Practicing since the late 90’s, she deepened her experience by training at Los Gatos Yogasource to become a certified power/vinyasa instructor under the direction of Linda McGrath. Carey’s inspiration comes from her love of being with people, enjoyment of physical movement, and a desire to be in peak physical condition. She brings a lighthearted yet strong & challenging approach to a power vinyasa flow series. Her classes focus on breath, core work, lengthening and strengthening. Carey has attended workshops and teacher trainings with Baron Baptiste, Chuck Miller, Maty Ezraty, Kathyrn Budig, and currently mentors under Rebecca Bara at Yogasource. Carey teaches private and group classes.

Carrie Brackin
Bikram, Power & Vinyasa Instructor
Carrie’s love of yoga began when a close friend brought her to her 1st Bikram class. Being a competitive soccer player since the age of 10 she figured yoga would be a simple work out, something on the side to “de-stress” and “meditate.” After that 1st class she was in love, the physical, emotional, mind, body connection was something she had never experienced in any exercise form. Besides loving heat the structured sequence of the Bikram practice was an ideal fit for her. From that point on Carrie has expanded her Yoga practice into different forms including, Anusura, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Power. While her 1st love is Bikram she is a strong practioner of Power Yoga. She took Yoga Source’s teacher training in 2008 and has been teaching Bikram Yoga ever since. Carrie’s Bikram class consists of strategic music picks to create a general flow from each of the 26 poses. Carrie plans to expand her practice and teaching hours in the coming years. “Yoga has changed my life, my views, my body and mind- I want to be able to share this with my students each and every day.

Daryl Cotton
Power Instructor
I studied under the tutelage of Linda McGrath at YogaSource Los Gatos in Fall 2012. I was a gym rat for several years and then took up running. I was introduced to yoga in late 2010 through the P90X training program and found myself looking forward to the yoga workout each week. When asked to try yoga at a yoga studio, I was initially resistant because I had a lot of misconceptions: yoga was mainly for females, I wouldn’t get a good workout because it was only stretching, and I didn’t want to chant in class. Once I tried it, it quickly became my workout of choice and I became a member of that yoga studio. Nagging injuries sustained from weight training and running have been healed by my yoga practice. The body awareness and focus I’ve gained through my yoga practice is something I hope to bring to others as a yoga instructor.

Edna Barr
Power and Vinyasa Flow Instructor
Edna feels there was never time where she felt out of touch with the infinite wisdom of universal love. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii she studied dance and martial arts starting at age 5 through her early teens and there was never a time where she felt out of syncwith the body, breath and the liberation of the soul through movement.

Upon moving to California in 2002, Edna immediately dove into a daily yoga asana practice and the study of the Sutras in her free time. “Discovering yoga for me was like coming home… Everything that I have ever felt and believed finally had a vocabulary to define it”.

More self study and research came in 2007 when back surgery severely limited her physical activities. This coupled with knee surgery 6 months later brought about an entirely different approach to Edna’s yoga practice. Being an internationally certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor since 1992, Edna has an extensive background in Anatomy and Kinesiology but it only through practicing self awareness did her back start to heal. Embarking on a formal education in yogic philosophy and the healing arts has lead Edna to travel extensively throughout India, Bali and Thailand practicing different schools of yoga, mediation and Thai massage.

Weaving together all of her life experiences inspires Edna to teach classes that are full of laughter and joy. She blends classic yoga poses with unconventional joint freeing movements in order to peel away the layers of tight muscles and preconceived notions. Edna ‘s philosophy floats across the yoga studio “Living up to our highest potential is daunting; learning to surrender, accept, find inner strength to reach another level is possible… when we allow it”.

Edna brings over 21 years of teaching experience and education:

• E-RYT 500 with Frog Lotus Yoga
• Leads 200Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification Courses
• In depth studies with Mark Stephens and Anirudh Shastri
• Continuing education with Duncan Wong, Rusty Wells, Lino Miele and Shiva Rea
• Other certifications: Yoga Tune Up, ACE; American Council on Exercise, AFAA; Aerobic & Fitness Association of American, Schwinn Indoor Cycle, Zumba

Ez Yap
Vinyasa & Power Instructor
After having two kids, Ez found herself in a funk. Feeling guilty for needing time for herself, but acknowledging that time on the mat is essential to being a better wife and mother, Ez embraced her practice. At first, her husband and kids were jealous—of yoga—but they soon came to realize it brought harmony and peace to their home. These days, they push Ez out the door in the direction of the studio. No longer plagued by chronic migraines or sciatica, Ez is pain-free, out of her funk, and fully engaged in a passionate love affair with yoga. Her family and friends are supportive, and often join her. Ez received her training and certification from Xplore Yoga under the mentorship of Henry Abuda. She invites you to join her, too. Come find love at first breath, and every breath thereafter.

Fiona Bensen
Bikram Instructor
After experiencing a series of injuries to her foot – sustained from years of punishing long distance running, Fiona decided to give up running and seek a more forgiving way to stay fit and healthy. She took up Bikram yoga, and was hooked from her very first class. She was particularly attracted to the intensity of the practice and how it made her feel both physically and mentally.

Given the extraordinary benefits Fiona received from practicing Bikram yoga, she resolved to share her commitment to it by teaching others. She subsequently attended the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training program in the Spring of 2010. Since then, she has taught at various yoga studios in San Francisco and the Peninsula.

Gabriella Trujillo
Ashtanga Vinyasa & Vinyasa Flow Instructor
Gabriela has been practicing yoga for at least six times per week for almost four years. After having made a decision to retire from the stressful world of finance and tired of climbing the endless American Corporate ladder, she found relief and a sense of balance return to her life when she begun taking Bikram yoga Classes. After the first class she never stopped practicing.

In a quest of self discovery, physical, as well as emotional healing, yoga and nutrition became key ingredients to her success in finding a new sense of being alive and living the human experience to its maximum. During her years of practicing and extensive learning she discovered that body, mind and spirit are interconnected and one cannot thrive without the other. During a 30 day yoga challenge, she could not attend to her regular studio, so she decided to visit a new yoga studio to make sure she would not miss a day of yoga and that is how she learned of Ashtanga Vinayasa yoga and she fell in love!. Her practice rose to new levels and the benefits of mind, body and spirit drastically improved.

As faith would have it, she transitioned to teaching, to share the love of the practice. She received her 200-hour yoga certification at It’s Yoga in San Francisco California. She is currently studying psychology and physiology at California State University in Hayward. She is very passionate in learning how human emotions affect the physical body. She plans to deepen her training as well as her personal yoga practice. Her main goal is to show her fellow humans that a regular yoga practice can profoundly transform lives and eventually make the world a better place.

Hapi Yamato
Vinyasa Instructor
Hapi’s love for yoga started as an experiment with finding new forms of fitness that enthralled her, and has quickly become her area of expertise. To her, yoga is a balance that requires structure, knowledge and strength, amongst many other aspects and traits. She is an avid runner, biker, gym goer and loves all aspects of fitness. Hapi has a 200 hour certification in Vinyasa Flow through Frog Lotus Yoga under her mentor, Edna Barr. She is blessed to have trained under such an inspirational and motivational teacher who she continues to learn from. Hapi blends athleticism and grace into her classes with energetic, fun music creating a joyful and enjoyable yoga experience. She’ll make you laugh and sweat at the same time and leave your practice feeling energized and balanced.

Jenn Lagorio
Vinyasa Instructor
I attended my first yoga class when I was 18 at Las Positas College. Since then, I’d been dabbling with yoga off and on, until about 4 years ago. After the birth of my son I was consistently practicing yoga at home with DVD’s. Not long after this time, amazingly, a yoga studio opened right where I lived, in Livermore. I soon attended my first class and will never forget the experience I encountered. The class was a Sunday morning flow class I felt so alive after that class! The next day I signed up for a monthly pass and have never turned back. Approximately a year and a half later I learned I was pregnant with my daughter. I continued to practice yoga everyday. The day before my daughter was born, while in a headstand, I knew I was on the right path. It became evident that it was my calling to further my yoga studies and attend the teacher training program. I wanted to help others get to know themselves by turning inward and experiencing the calm that I had found. My life changed from “existing in negative space” to “flourishing in a positive, compassionate, and loving place.” ow, as a yoga teacher, one of my desires is for my students to experience the feeling of a positive, loving space created especially for them. Connect to your breath and focus on the present moment. Music will fill the room with anything from Reggae to Sanskrit chanting. Come with me on a journey of exploration in finding your positive, loving, inner self.

Jennifer Donnelly
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
Jennifer’s desire to find her true calling in life led her to various corners of the world at a very young age. Her hunger for spiritual understanding only grew as she learned about ancient Indian scriptures and studied under various Masters who bestowed her with their vast knowledge. She realized that in order to enhance her perception of her surroundings, it wasn’t enough to just read Vedic texts or listen to discourses but to condition her body and calm her mind to fully accept the Yogic way of life. She began practicing yoga with determination and dedication in India and has since made it an integral part of her life. Yoga has given her the ability to live in a calm and holistic manner. For this, she is forever grateful to Paramahamsa Nithyananda for showing her the path to ultimate bliss.

Jimmy Halverson
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
Jimmy’s longest lasting practice was riding a skateboard 15 years long. He’s a little sad to say that doesn’t happen much any more. But he’s happy to say when the skateboard was forced to go away, Yoga helped fill that gap! He has been teaching yoga for a couple years now, mostly vinyasa and power as a teaching practice. He’s studied with the folks at White Lotus and also with Jill Miller. In class he believes that setting your foundation is super important, as it helps to cultivate a sense of how you are supporting yourself. You will work in his class, he likes to move some, hold some, stretch some. His ultimate goal though is for you to leave the class feeling up lifted, rather than feeling like you got hit by a truck. Although he’s not opposed to a truck to the face class-so watch out he might just pull one out for you when you least expect it! He likes to laugh whether at himself or with you, and play familiar or not so familiar music when taking you through your time on the mat.

Karen Izzo
Ashtanga & Vinyasa Instructor
Karen believes yoga is for everyone. She teaches yoga from the heart with warmth and humor by inviting students to enjoy a mindful, structurally sound practice with awareness of breath in order to experience yoga as a form of celebration and an opportunity to discover greater joy and freedom within one’s Self.

Karen’s light hearted and compassionate approach to yoga helps to create a supportive and encouraging environment where students may explore their full potential, both on and off the mat. “I have learned that our yoga practice wants to feel really good, and this practice encourages me to balance the sacred with the playful. It permeates my life and touches every aspect of me in a powerfully positive way.”

Karen has studied yoga for over thirteen years and received her 200 hour Teacher Training Certification through San Francisco’s Greenpath Yoga Studio in 2004. Her teacher, Clayton Horton, trained in India directly under Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the living Ashtanga Yoga Master. She is continually studying with new and varied teachers. Karen began her teaching practice in 2004 and enjoyed owning and operating Livermore’s Cosmic Dog Yoga Studio until its closing on July 1st, 2013.

Karen’s classes offer a style of yoga to build physical strength, stamina and flexibility while bringing an awareness of respect, acceptance and love to the many layers of the Self. She encourages healthy alignment to aid in healing and the focus that comes with the fun challenges of the yoga asanas. She has a gentle and encouraging way of coaxing deep awareness and strength out of her students. Her class music is an eclectic mix with mantras and world beats gently playing in the background. Karen is grateful for and receptive to yoga! Her practice is a joyful reflection of the play and radiant beauty to be savored in Life.

Katherine Tulloss
Bikram Instructor
After practicing Bikram yoga for only a year, Katie realized that a life of yoga could be fulfilling and fun in a way that a 9 to 5 office job, for her, could not. She took the plunge and became part of the Spring 2007 teacher training class taking place in Honolulu. Her philosophy is that yoga should be fun, challenging, and dynamic–every class is different, even when the postures are the same! She loves introducing beginners to yoga, and she also loves seeing and encouraging growth in the practices of familiar students over time.

Kelli Barnett
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
Yoga started suddenly and accidentally for me. I wandered into a yoga class at a gym in Santa Monica over 10 years ago. I loved it, I mean I really loved it, more than anything I had ever done before. Then the trauma of 9/11 the only person I knew who was dealing with it in a positive way and inspiring way was a yogi. That was the inspiration that I needed, I quickly changed my life. I quit my job and moved to a Colorado Ashram. I completed the 200 hour YA course. I knew I was on a better path. I became a certified teacher, started working for Yoga. Since then yoga has given me something different in the way of insight or clarity every day. I am a massage therapist and a member of the Guild of Hypnotherapists. I offer myself to yoga, and then to the community at large, in the capacity that I am able. I believe that yoga creates reasonable, tolerant, intelligent humans and that is the change the earth needs. I have taken many Teacher Trainings my heart is filled with Laura Camp, Suzanna Spring, Shiva Rea and Janet Stone, and Malia Hill. But one of my favorite teachers is “the moment” when you have read the poetry, studied the sutras, practiced the breath and then just let the words pore out. Being in the presence of Spirit – with each other- in that room- at that moment… is the only place I want to be. And then it’s over and you had to be there…no replay, no remembering, being there is the only way…I love that truth.

I teach as a contribution to our community and I am grateful to have a place in yoga.

Kiara McBain
Vinyasa Instructor
I was first introduced to yoga over 10 years ago. I could tell the story like a romance novel, but the truth is, I detested yoga when I began. When I arrived on my mat everyday I was forced to meet myself; and who I met was my impatience, my frustrations, my intolerances. Then, after a few months, one day I found myself in the most challenging pose I never thought I could ever get my body into, followed by a svasana where all the lights were out…pure silence. Needless to say, I fell in love with yoga that day.

Since that time, I’ve been hooked. My mat is my place where I get to love myself. My mat is a refuge and a practice zone—for my body, my mind, my heart and my spirit. From my years of practice, I have created a style of asana that mirrors who I am and takes what I appreciate most from the styles I have been blessed to practice—we open our bodies gradually by beginning slowly with gentler poses, building to greater and greater intensity to eventually bring each of us to our edge and to play at that place together.

Kristen Gage
Pilates, Power & Vinyasa Instructor
Kristen Gage has been practicing Yoga since 2004. She started her journey with Asthanga from a studio based out of San Francisco while going to college. Since then Kristen’s practice has evolved, she now enjoys teaching and taking Power and Vinyasa classes along with many other styles. Kristen is 200 hour certified from YogaSource Los Gatos. She trained under Linda McGrath and Erin Matteucci owner and senior instructor at YogaSource Los Gatos. Besides practicing Yoga, Kristen enjoys Crossfit, running, cooking and being with friends.

Kristin Bibat
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
I fell in love with yoga in 2007 when I took my first Bikram class with one of my cousins. Since that day 6 years ago, I have been practicing yoga – evolving, growing & going with the flow. I am aware of my breath, and feel more alive and connected to my true spirit. My practice in Vinyasa, Power, Hatha, Restorative, Meditation & Bikram adds to the richness & many facets of my teaching. Inspired by my own personal discovery & the desire to share my passion with others, I pursued my 200-hour teacher certification at Yoga Source, Los Gatos under the guidance of Linda Schlamadinger-McGrath in August 2009. I have studied and worked with Rebecca Bara, Daniella Cotreau, and Garry Kissiah. I have also attended workshops taught by Kathryn Budig, Seane Corn, Brian Kest & Shiva Rea. My Power & Vinyasa classes are flowing, energetic & dynamic; balancing strength & elegance. I focus on breath – recognizing and connecting to it, and allowing the breath to guide the flow through the asana practice. I also have a love for music, which reveals itself in my playlists, that are integrated into the movement & pace of the class. Recently, I completed a 45-hour Pre/Post-Natal Training with Jane Austin of Mama Tree at Yoga Tree, San Francisco. As a Pre-Natal Yoga instructor, I hope to create a space for mamas to simply be. I also encourage a healthy well-being through increasing strength, body awareness, relaxation, compassion & love. Off my mat, I love finding new adventures, traveling, sharing a bottle of wine with good company, and expanding my musical horizons & yoga playlists. I also treasure spending time with my husband & family, especially my two younger sisters.

Visit me online at http://kristinbibat.wordpress.com/.

Lyana Blokhina
Bikram, Power & Vinyasa Instructor
I discovered yoga at the age of 15 after looking for a new workout. I initially started taking Bikram classes as a form of exercise; however, with each class I realized that yoga is a spiritual discipline and it quickly became a huge part of my life. Years later I decided to further deepen my practice and received certification in Hot vinyasa flow, power and Bikram. Yoga creates a sense of peace, balance, and harmony in my life. Every day I learn and uncover new things about my body and mind through practice. I love helping people discover how yoga can change their lives, and teaching allows me to spread my love and knowledge for yoga to others. I travel throughout the world and have studied in London, Copenhagen, Beijing, Paris, Tokyo, and many other parts of the world. Through yoga and foreign languages I am able to discover each country in a different light. I hold a BA in International Relations and work as a meeting planner; however yoga was and always will be my number one “job”. I am married to a wonderful man and have two children who also love yoga and practice with me.

Mandy Ansari
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
First introduced to yoga in 2003 as an alternative therapy for back pain, and noticed immediate improvement in her physical body. Mandy fell in love with the practice and has been practicing ever since. She recently finished her 200 hour certification under the guidance of Louis Jackson at Avalon Art & Yoga in Palo Alto. Off the mat she enjoys baking, painting, and spending time with her husband and two kids. She hopes that through yoga, her students will experience a sense of ease, not only on the mat but off the mat as well. Come and practice with her on building strength, balance, and breath awareness and discover freedom in your practice with an open and humble mind and heart.

Marisa Religa
Bikram, Power & Vinyasa Instructor
I started practicing hot yoga in 2007 in my hometown Niagara Falls, NY. I moved out to San Francisco in the January 2013 for a change of scenery and to move to what seems to be the yoga goldmine of the U.S.! Yoga is my true passion. When I’m not teaching yoga I’m practicing yoga. I love yoga because it’s helped me to connect my body and mind and create happiness in my life both on my mat and in the outside world. My main objective right now is to share this gift with others through teaching. I also enjoy writing, learning different languages, and traveling to new places.

Monica Lopez
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
I have always been very dedicated to health and fitness. I love to experiment with nutrition and exercise, trying to find out what works best. In 2003 I took my first yoga class and from that one class everything seemed to shift. Practicing yoga helped me to become more fully present in the now. I wanted to share that same feeling and experience; so I decided to become a yoga teacher. In 2007, I received my 200 Hrs. yoga teacher certification with Avalon Art and Yoga in Palo Alto Ca. through Yoga Alliance. I am always seeking ways to expand my knowledge about yoga so I can share this gift. I’m also a certified PiYo (Pilates/Yoga) instructor through Xplore Yoga with Henry Abuda. In my class, you will be challenge to be soft, flexible and surrender to your breath, leaving you with a feeling of having built strength and power with your body and mind.

Natalie Do
Power Instructor
Natalie aims to help her students find mindfulness in her classes, while still providing a physically challenging practice. When taking Natalie’s class, you can expect a strong focus on the breath, awareness of the body, and how to tap into every pose to help you tap into your mind and the present moment. She hopes to create a space that is joyful, and helps students rediscover their love for yoga every time they step onto the mat.

Natalie completed YogaSource’s 200 hour, Yoga Alliance Certified training with Linda McGrath in the Fall of 2011. She has also taken numerous workshops with Bryan Kest, Seane Corn, Rusty Wells, Stephanie Snyder, and Mark Stephens. When Natalie is not doing yoga, you can find her reading, traveling the world, telling dirty jokes, or enjoying a great glass of wine.

Nicole Javier
Vinyasa & Power Instructor
I began my journey in physical yoga during college, and have let it become a part of life until today. While primarily practicing at XploreYoga, I became even more passionate about yoga, and received my 200 HR Teacher Training for Hatha and Vinyasa with School Yoga Institute in Bali, Indonesia in November 2013. With this reawakening of how yoga empowers me to feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually better, I want to help others with their own journey of self awareness. My classes are designed to guide every yogi to achieve any version of a posture through simple direction, breath work, music, and lightness of heart.

When I am not on my mat, I am working as a Bay Area actor and Teaching Artist with surrounding theater companies. I believe one needs spontaneity and discipline to live the fullest life, so you can expect class to awaken the body to achieve relaxation in our gathered energy.

Nitya Chuang
Yin Instructor
Nitya is a passionate and dedicated yoga instructor who is fully certified both in India and the U.S. Her certifications include 1,500 hours certification from the International Center for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER, Ananda Ashram, India) in 2005-2006, and 200 hours certification from Avalon Arts & Yoga Center, Palo Alto, in 2011. The ICYER teacher training courses were originated by Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri, a founder of modern yoga. Training courses are now led by his son, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, who is also a trained and certified medical doctor, and Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani. Gitananda Yoga is known for its extensive training in classical Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and Yoga Therapy. Nitya has participated in yoga educational DVDs for ICYER in 2005-2006. Nitya continues to study under the guidance of Dr. Ananada of ICYER and since relocating to the US, she has been an advanced practitioner under the guidance of her California mentors, Anirudh Shastri and Louis Jackson.

Nitya first started to teach corporate yoga in 2002. Her classes provided holistic solutions to modern stress complaints, imbalance issues and physical pains. Since then, she has conducted classes and workshops in Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and Yoga Therapy in both Taiwan and the U.S. Nitya incorporates her background in traditional yoga teaching and practice with modern approaches. Her style is unique, as many of the techniques she uses are not commonly taught in the U.S. Students describe her as patient and her classes are energetic, fun, unique and detail oriented. She combines yoga philosophy, sutras and many breathing exercises while demonstrating asanas with clarity. She intends to make students’ learning fun, exciting and interesting.

For her, yoga is not merely the performance of a few Asanas or Pranayamas, but is a means for the evolution of the human mind into further states of consciousness and awareness. Yoga is a journey in self-study and realization. Nitya is interested in many types of mind training, focusing on spirituality and the quality of the mind. When she is not teaching or practicing yoga, you will find her hiking, gardening, working on her Chinese painting, and studying nutrition and cooking. She likes to study Chinese medicine and herbal treatments and is now a lifetime volunteer teacher at Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation.

Serenity Prajnadhara
Ashtanga, Vinyasa & Power Instructor
Serenity Prajnadhara first became a student of yoga in 2008. Her first class was at a climbing gym in Santa Cruz, and it completely transformed her life. Since then she began to explore many different traditions and expressions of yoga. She completed her 200 hour teaching training with Clayton Horton founder of Greenpath Ashtanga yoga teacher training at the Yoga Society of San Francisco in August 2011. She is inspired by her Ashtanga yoga training of P. Jois, as well as Triyoga a system of yoga founded by yogini Kali Ray that emphasizes posture, breath and focus. After her training, she began to express Bhakti yoga classes, (devotional) singing while playing her harmonium.

Serenity is first and foremost a student of yoga. She draws upon her inner resources to provide a foundation of strength and courage in her classes. The clarity and compassion that she shares can be felt by many of her students. She emphasizes the breath as a tool for greater awareness and understanding of one’s own true nature. As she became more focused on her training, she found that a strong asana practice was the glue that held everything together, a true catalyst for transformation. Serenity is devoted to the path of yoga, and has made it her purpose to see that she applies the deep wisdom that comes from practice to all life’s experiences. Her goal is to assist her students in their own self-discovery and personal mastery.

Shannon Cummings
Ashtanga, Bikram, Power, Vinyasa & Yin Instructor
Shannon Cummings began her practice of Ashtanga yoga because she saw such beauty in the strong bodies of Ashtangis. Five years later, she is now devoting her time and energy to teaching the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of a regular yoga practice. She completed teacher training in the Ashtanga Primary Series, as taught by Pattabhi Jois, through Jeff Tiebout at the Blue Ridge School of Yoga. She then received her 25 hour teacher training through Manju Jois at the Chicago Institute for Yoga. By integrating her study with numerous workshops with teachers like Kino McGregor, David Sweson, Doug Swenson, Manju Jois, Simon Park and Desiree Rumbaugh, she brings their knowledge into her teaching practice. Shannon wishes to serve yoga practitioners seeking physical health, spiritual growth, and those just looking for something fun and different!

Shauna Harrison
Power & Vinyasa Instructor
Shauna is a sweat junkie, a challenge seeker, and an endorphin addict who finds balance on her mat. After playing sports throughout her childhood, she segued into the fitness and yoga world at the age of 18 and hasn’t stopped since. Shauna has taught a wide range of classes including step, hi/lo aerobics, Pi/Yo, indoor and outdoor boot camps, mat Pilates, Hip Hop Cycle™ (which she owns), core, yoga and aerial yoga. She has also taught in a wide range of areas including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Baltimore and even in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Shauna was originally introduced to yoga as a way of combatting stress and anxiety as an undergraduate student and she continued to utilize her time on the mat as a way of keeping her sane throughout almost 8 years of graduate school. Two masters and a PhD later, yoga had secured a permanent place in her life right along with fitness and sports and Shauna finally had time to dedicate to a teacher-training program. In March 2011, Shauna completed her 200-hour training at the renowned White Lotus Foundation, studying under the amazing Ganga White and Tracey Rich. A few months later she also completed the Level 1 Unnata Aerial Yoga Training with Pik Chu Wong. As a perpetual student and teacher, Shauna is always looking for new things to try and new ways to challenge herself and others. She is a “practice what you preach” and “preach what you practice” type of person, so she can often be found taking classes in TRX, SPX, Pilates reformer, and Vinyasa, power and aerial yoga and doing a lot of athletic and interval-based training on her own. Shauna uses her varied background to fuse styles, philosophies and principles into strong, athletic, and fluid classes set to bold (usually hip hop and R&B) beats.

Tony Nguyen
Power Instructor
Tony began practicing yoga in 2009 after an injury to his lower back. When months of chiropractic care did not help, a friend encouraged him to try yoga to help with the pain. After months of hesitation to try his first yoga class (because he thought Yoga was “girly”), he gave in and signed up for his first Bikram class. After his first session, he was hooked (and humbled!) on the physical and mental benefits that Bikram provided. After developing a solid practice with Bikram, Tony decided to explore other styles of yoga, including Gentle, Yin, Vinyasa and Power Flow. Given his athletic background, he grew a particular fondness for Power Flow and has since dedicated much of his time to that particular practice.

In Tony’s class, students will find a challenging and fast-paced approach to Flow, highlighting the physical benefits of this yoga practice. He encourages students of all levels to focus on the importance of steady progression – that by allowing one’s practice to grow steadily over time, students will benefit from the gradual strengthening of their joints, muscle tissues, tendons and improved overall cadence, which will ultimately lead to a higher quality yoga practice and better quality of life through increased strength and mobility. He believes there are no quick fixes, and that months of steady progress is key to maintaining a high quality, injury-free yoga practice.

Tony completed his 200 hour teacher training under the expert guidance of Linda McGrath at Yogasource Los Gatos in the Fall of 2011. He is also a Crossfit Level 1 (CF-L1) Trainer. Off the mat, Tony is a Finance lecturer at Santa Clara University. He is an avid fitness enthusiast and enjoys training in Crossfit, Gymnastics and various forms of Martial Arts.