TEACHER

Amanda Serene Dozal co-owner/studio director
1997...... I found the practice.
Somehow amongst the midst of chaos, I chose the path of yoga, or maybe it chose me. Through my teachings I hope to cultivate and hold a space of total acceptance and understanding of the authentic self. My creativity is expressed through love and devotion for the principles and practice of yoga, climbing mountains, buddhist teachings, playing music, dancing crazily, laughing and crying really loud while remembering we can all find freedom within the body, mind, breath and heart. Deepest love and gratitude to my son Gaige the Bear. You have shown me unimaginable beauty.

OM namah shivaya.

Amanda is a devoted student and teacher of Kriya and Iyengar yoga combined with her own Creative Blend. She has been certified and teaching since 2002. amanda@wildmtyoga.com

Mandy Lucchese co-owner/ director.
My classes are called Yoga Kula. "Kula," by definition, is community; a family or clan of like-minded individuals. For me, yoga is about the personal union of one’s mind, body, and breath and then the collective community that forms among the individuals. Each class is a creative sequence designed to explore and celebrate each person's beauty and greatness. Every class is unique, clear with detail, and has a strong commitment deeply grounded in self-honoring, acceptance and community building. My teaching style ranges from vigorous flow classes to gentle and restorative, always with an emphasis on alignment and the breath. My classes are accessable and welcoming to everyone just as they are. Yoga is for every single person, and when it finds you welcome it in, breathe in deep, and enjoy the ride.

My love of yoga is shared with my time at my ceramic studio and with my husband building our solar home. Certified and teaching since 2005, I continue to study. With so much to draw from, each influence becomes a part of a collage that colors my teachings. mandy@wildmtyoga.com

Arion
Bio coming soon

Alexandra Epple
Alexandra Epple is dedicated to bringing peace and clarity into people’s lives by connecting them to their body and aligning them with their spirit.

Alexandra Epple CAS, PKS has been teaching Yoga since 2002 and Anusara Inspired Yoga since 2006. After her initial Bikram Yoga teacher training in 2001 she completed a four-month, full time program in Yoga Therapy with Acharaya Venkatesha in Mysore (India) in 2003. Since then, she has studied the Anusara Yoga method exensively among others with John Friend, Sianna Sherman, Desiree Rumbaugh, Neesha Zollinger and Sundari Lucy. She currently engages in the vigorous study of becoming Anusara certified, with her mentor Neesha Zollinger.

Alexandra teaches an intentional practice that is dynamic and educates students about the precise alignment in their bodies. Her classes help people to establish a deep connection to their hearts so they return to feeling nourished, uplifted and joyful.

Alexandra is the owner of Nirvana Thai Massage in downtown Nevada City, CA where she practices Ayurvedic Medicine, Private Yoga Therapy and Traditional Thai Massage. 530-277-7519, www.connectionOM.com, www.nirvanathaimassage.com. .www.connectionOm.com

Indeera John
Bio coming soon

Isha McCaskey
Love. Laugh. and Live outside the box! This is my recipe that I live and teach by. I find that there is no deeper therapy than getting out of the mind and into the body, the temple of our soul. My zest for life and passion for dance, yoga, and adventure are expressed through my teachings. I teach because I love what I do, and I strive to share it with whomever is open to exploring themselves, their bodies, their vulnerabilities, as well as their interactions with the world in a playful manner!

My journey started with an extensive training in gymnastics that brought me to a deeper understanding of the mind body connection. My background consists of various modalities of massage therapy, injury rehabilitation, and somatic healing. I graduated from the California College of Ayurveda four years ago, which is where many of my beliefs draw from, finding balance in ourselves in relation to the world around us. I studied with Saul David Raye for my yoga training which blends the the beauty of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, with the innate wisdom that each of our own body holds. My most recent passion is Acro yoga, a form of yoga that blends therapeutic and dynamic movement. It is a partner practice that is steeped in trust, strength, and communication. This amazingly fun and inspiring practice teaches me so much about myself and my relation others, and builds a strong sense of community based on playful exploration! I am a mother of three, and have found through my experiences with them that building confidence in ourselves, our bodies, and our mind, we have the ability to accomplish anything in a loving joyful manner!

Jackie Gerster
My first yoga teacher had just returned from India where she studied with B.K.S. Iyengar. This was 1977. I still feel her influence and love spending time with a pose, discovering it's nuance. All of my teachers have contributed to who I am as a teacher today, however my teacher certification was with Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley.
As a teacher at WMYC the last 8 years, one of the things I love most is developing a theme or focus and knowing I can take any posture and apply the focus I have chosen. Whether it be shoulders, spine, feet, rooting and grounding, Breath, etc.
For the last 5 years I have competed in Natural Bodybuilding and have brought an awareness of the qualities of strength into my yoga teaching. There is a huge amount of commitment and discipline involved in this sport and my yoga practice has given me the inner strength (I call it my yogini heart) to train with commitment and integrity just as I believe each yoga pose should be practiced. 916-747-1415

Jacquie Weills
Bio coming soon!

Jai Dev Singh
is a yogi, teacher and practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine. He has been teaching Kundalini Yoga for over ten years and possesses great knowledge and experience of the yogic and ayurvedic sciences. He is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and formerly served as the Clinical Director at the California College of Ayurvedaas well as the director of the college's Pancha Karma Centerand Ayurvedic Spa.

Jai Dev lives in northern California with his wife, Simrit Kaur, and their son. He teaches live classes and workshops regularly, as well as online and audio courses.

Jai Dev's classes are powerful and effective. He carries a striking wisdom and clarity with him as his teaching presence is direct and authentic mixed with a unique sense of humor and artistic subtlety.

Jenny Bath
has been teaching yoga for the past 3 years. Her classes offer a joyful exploration of yoga asana and philosophy through vinyasa flow, breathwork, and partner play. Her studies began with traditional Ashtanga in India in 1999. As she became steeped in a personal practice she completed a teacher training with the Samarya Center of Seattle, WA where she also studied Integrated Movement Therapy. Jenny is a certified thai and table massage therapist which contributes a knowledge of anatomy and alignment to her yoga teaching. More recently she has begun practicing Acro Partner Yoga and incorporates this acrobatic/thai massage/yoga fusion into her classes.

John M. Travis
has been teaching meditation since 1986. He studied in Asia with senior teachers of both Theravada and Tibetan traditions and completed a four-year teacher training with Jack Kornfield. He is a the guiding teacher of Mountain Stream Meditation Center in Nevada City, California, and a senior teacher for Spirit Rock Center in Marin County. John has a private practice as a meditation counselor and is a Hakomi body-centered therapist.

Kamala Slavonic
My exploration on the path of yoga began 14 years ago in the back of The Herb Shop- a local store. We would move the clothing racks and practice before the store opened. After many years of dabbling in the practice I finally beagan teaching Bikram yoga in 2005. I continued to thirst for knowledge on this path and began studying under Katie Carter and various other teachers. I found this space I had created with all of this yoga and longed for a deeper spiritual practice. In this search I came to Kundalini yoga and found home! I immediatly took a the level 1 teacher training with Harijiwan and Shiv Charan Singh last year and more recently a level 2, again with Harijiwan. Through these teachings I have discovered a beautiful strong connection with my true self. These ancient teachings provide a way to focus the mind and energize the body and enliven the spirit. On a basic level, they help us to mantain a calm center and be happy in this increasingly challenging time we are living in. I am so inspired to share this experience with others!

Kathleen Ames
received her yoga teacher certification at the prestigious White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara California in the Vinyasa style. Kathleen has been practicing yoga since 1992 and teaching since 2000. She has had training in a variety of yoga styles including; Vinyasa, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Power Yoga, Yin Yoga and Viniyoga. She has personally worked with Paul Grilly, Doug Swenson, John Friend, Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste, David Life, Sharon Gannon , Dharma Mittra, Sean Corn and many other wonderful teachers. Kathleen has continued her yoga education by studying Anusara Yoga for the past five years doing extensive work-shops and intensives studying with John Friend, Desiree Rumbaugh, Ross Rayburn , Naime Jezzeny and Julie Dohrman including five of nine teacher training weekends with Christy Burnette and Emma Magenta in South Orange, NJ before moving back west to California. Kathleen received her Holistic Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Kelli DeFlora of Wise Woman Birthways in New Jersey. She has been teaching Kids Yoga ages 8 through 11 for the past few years as well. Kathleen has also been a practitioner and instructor of Pilates (group fitness certification through AAAF), Martial Arts (Nevada state champion in 1988 & 1990) and Belly Dance. Whatever she teaches she does with a warm heart and a sence of humor. If you have any questions please call Kathleen at 530.559.0806. MindfulMovement@hotmail.com .

Mary Jane Ryan-Connelly
Strengthens body AND spirit by linking the one-pointed attention of yoga to alignment, breath with movement, consciousness and compassion, as preparation for meditation practice and graceful meeting of life’s everyday challenges. Her classes reflect her experience in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, yoga philosophy study, and meditation. 530-272-4152

Maya Cordes
I am thrilled to be returning to teaching after an extended "maternity leave". My son has been an amazing teacher to me and becoming a mother has deepened my relationship to yoga in beautiful and transformational ways. My practice has always been that 'place' where i know that i can tap in and find peace and balance and celebration of life. When i am able to carry that experience into the whole of my days, i feel so fulfilled and joyful. I hope to hold a space where each student can find that connection within themselves and continue to weave it into the fabric of their own lives.

Since my initial studies with yoga in the mid 90's, I have been graced by amazing teachers in many traditions. I am certified to teach through Rod Stryker's Parayoga, and continue my studies with Rod, who is an inspiration to me, as well as Karina Ayn Mirsky and Melissa Spamer, who are equally inspirational. In addition to yoga, I had a massage practice for 13 years and during that time learned so much about the body and the spirit. I was fortunate to massage many women throughout their pregnancies and I bow eternally to the wonder of pregnancy and childbirth. I have also studied herbal medicine and women's health extensively and am forever influenced by those teachings. I am honored to be a part of this community and look forward to our time together. I give thanks to my partner, Adam, for encouraging me always to grow. Namaste

Mia Matthews
Mia's Love of dance and mindful movement led her to find Yoga. For Mia the gift of Yoga is joy, health, Love, passion, strength, clarity, and a connection to the divine within us. It is a path that continuously reminds us of our wholeness and our most natural state of being in harmony. Yoga is union with all that Life is for us, be it challenging, joyful, painful, deep, and honest.
Mia has been teaching Yoga for 7 years and hopes to do so for the rest of her life. Trained in the Iyengar, Ashtanga and Shadow Yoga lineage she blends precise alignment with a playful Vinyasa practice. Her classes are centered around the breath, with a slow and steady pace to build warmth and Prana from the inside out. Cultivating both inner and outer strength, her intention for each class is to safely bring forth a state of balance, union, and wellbeing.
All of her classes are apropriate for all levels of Yogis.
Mia is also a Nutritionist, Chef, and Wellness Consultant.
Learn more about what she does at www.wellnesswithmia.com

Nancy Shanteau
Loves yoga for its ability to open our bodies to greater feeling, flexibility and connection. With a strong base in Ashtanga and Vinyasa-style flow yoga, Nancy’s classes are full of laughter and fun. She is a writing coach, a somatic bodyworker and coach certified through Strozzi Institute, and a Skills for Change Coach certified by Julia Kelliher. Her yoga teachers include: Tim Thompson, Laura Camp, Dennis Eagan, and Katie Carter. www.nancyshanteauyoga.com 273-5170

Scott Howard
Quite honestly I have the desire to suffer a little less and wake up a little more. Life is fun but surely experiencing mental and physical challenges is a great stimulating force not only towards finding those wise practices that bring one into balance but also practicing them with regularity. All that I have learned has been towards this direction of balance and all that I share are the practical things that have been beneficial to my life.
Scott received his Yoga Teacher Training at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico where he completed the 2 year full-time Ayurvedic Studies Program w/ Dr. Vasant Lad. He is a student of Vedic ritual and Sanskrit and teaches classes in reading and writing the Sanskrit script. He is also a certified Breema Bodywork practitioner and Self-Breema instructor. scott@living-breath.com 273-8970

Sarah Robinson
Sarah received her yoga teachers training through the Sivananda Ashram in Grass Valley, Ca. Here she studied classical Ashtanga yoga, and continues to consider herself a student, learning daily from life's lessons bringing yoga off the mat and in to all areas of life.
Sarah's desire is to share her experiences of what she has learned through her practice of yoga in hopes to inspire and empower others to walk the path of life with love joy peace and equanimity in their heart.

Shari Williams
My background includes a holistic approach to Athletic Fitness, many styles of yoga, as well as a victorious personal healing journey. Her teachers include Beth Shaw, Baron Baptiste, Katie Carter and Roxanna Cohen. Her classes create a safe, caring, heart-centered atmosphere to explore magic through movement. 530-265-5033

Simone Star
Bio coming soon

Steven Gracia
Began practicing yoga in 2000 as a form of physical therapy. He taught the Bikram sequence in 2004 as well as training with Simone Elliot to teach Vinyasa Flow. In 2006 he began teaching the Vinyasa Flow sequence at number of studios in San Diego. His primary Teacher is Rebecca Kovacs, owner of the Yoga Hut In Pacific Beach. His sequences are influenced by Sri Dharma Mittra and focuses on returning the body back to its natural movements and awareness. Steven’s class approaches the practice with breath, alignment, and awareness, making adjustments for the student’s individual needs, body type, or injuries. He believes that with breath, a positive attitude, and an open heart and mind, anything is possible. So keep it light and have fun! 619-213-8714

Suuzi Webb
Suuzi serves her classes from a deep love for people, and curiosity about life. For Suuzi, Kundalini Yoga is an experience of human potential in action: strength, empowerment, and wisdom. Suuzi's classes create the space to build physical strength, calm the mind, and open the heart. Her classes are challenging (you will sweat!) yet suitable for all ages/levels. Kundalini Yoga is a dynamic practice that interweaves asana, breathwork, and meditation. This tantric Himalayan yoga emphasizes spinal movement, core strength, and deeply opens and balances the hips, legs, and sciatic nerve. Kundalini yoga increases immunity, balances hormones, relaxes the nervous system, and yes, it will give you abs and buns of steel! Kundalini yoga releases endorphins - you may experience joyful "altered states," a healthy natural high. Suuzi's Goddess Class is a women's space, where we focus on asana and teachings related to women's health, including practices to increase beauty naturally, ensure graceful aging and balance hormones. Suuzi has been a registered Kundalini Yoga teacher since 2006 (KRI/Yoga Alliance certified). She trained with Guru Raj Kaur and Dharm Kaur at Yoga West, Canada's "home" of Kundalini Yoga. Suuzi's other loves include her family, vintage clothing, and her flock of unusual and adorable poultry. Suuzi is also a Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, currently transferring of her credential from Canada to California. Suuzi is always available on her cell or by email: (530) 913-6611 / suuzihazen@gmail.com