OUR TEAM

SAIRA ESTRADA

Saira began her yogic journey at the Chula Vista Yoga Center in the beginning of 2011, where she completed her RYT-200 certified teacher training program.

In search of a new perspective and learning about self-love, she decided to participate in a 30-day consecutive yoga challenge. During this time a shift of energy within her mind, body and soul, created a sense of fulfillment which she attributes to a life-changing experience. As her yoga practice evolved, it was clear that yoga was her life-long path.

Inspired by her teachers, Saira’s teaching is to share the importance of each individual's personal practice that aligns with oneself and brings joy. She continues to strive within her personal journey while she applies all the teachings of yoga to everyday life; the teacher will always be the student.

BRENT HONNERLAW

Brent Honnerlaw is an E-RYT 500, holding teaching certificates in both Hatha and Kundalini Yoga. He truly enjoys teaching and practicing a variety of styles so as to encourage versatility and balance in his and his student’s lives.

Brent plays a symphonic gong, crystal singing bowls, handpans, drums and chimes that he regularly incorporates into his classes. He currently teaches studio and private classes, offers sound healings, workshops, retreats, festivals and is a guest lecturer for yoga teacher training's.

Along with sound healing, Brent frequently applies his knowledge of yoga philosophy and mythology through storytelling. As a teacher, his goal is to guide students into a deeper state of internal awareness and closer to the Divine. Brent is a Spiritual and compassionate yogi who lives his yoga on and off the mat, inspiring others to do the same.

JANO GALINDO

A student of yoga since 2001, Jano’s study of hatha yoga, meditation, yoga philosophy and pranayama led him to become a Bikram certified teacher since 2003. Jano has been based and teaches extensively throughout the San Diego area. He has also traveled, studied and taught in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County and New York. Jano comes from a strong spiritual upbringing and it is translated in his teaching. He owes oceans of gratitude to his best friend and first yoga teacher Kristyan Stjerne, Master teachers Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury, Sri Dharma Mittra and Vinnie Marino for his vinyasa flow and musical style. Most of all Jano would not be where he is without the love and support of his beautiful family.

ROBERT HAMMILL

I grew up in the construction industry, where back and hip pain seemed an inevitable part of life. I suffered my first incapacitating back spasms at age 13 and it became a fairly regular thing.

A series of fortunate events led me to find salvation through yoga. Grateful for the relief, I began to teach fellow workers on the job site each morning.

I moved to San Diego in 2000 to learn and teach. First with Beth Shaw of Yoga fit. A vigorous and athletic style. Being an athletic and vigorous person, it wasn’t too many years before new chronic injuries appeared. This led me to an interest in therapeutic applications of yoga.

I teach classic Hatha yoga as I continue my studies in the Iyengar method. I also owe a great deal of gratitude to Rachel Krentzman of Healthy Backs Yoga, who’s training greatly influences my practice and teaching. Classes often include foam rollers and tennis balls to aid in releasing stored tension in the body, as well as breathing techniques to release stored tension in the mind. Ginseng has the wonderful benefit of yoga rope walls, giving access to a whole series of techniques used to rejuvenate the spine. Exercises to strengthen and stabilize overly loose joints are learned.

DR . AMELIA CHANG

Dr. Amelia Chang, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with advanced training in Yoga Therapeutics. She brings a wealth of experience to make the practice of Yoga accessible to those interested in incorporating its principles for physical and mental well-being.

Amelia's personal journey on the transformative power of Yoga ~ began after the birth of her second daughter and realized it became more than a hobby. She extensively studied the practice of Yoga as a science toward healthier mind-body; and as an art for gracious living. Amelia is in a unique position to impart combined Yoga Therapeutics in the Iyengar tradition and Physical Therapy for rehabilitation or injury-prevention. You can find her regularly teaching Yoga for healthy aging, or Yoga Wall for Healthy Back. Her services now include corporate wellness programs for employee health and well-being. View easy to follow videos at YOGALIFE with Amelia U tube channel.

Dr. Amelia Chang, DPT, E-RYT is a continuing education provider for Yoga Alliance and Physical Therapy association. Dr. Chang conducts courses for PTs, OTs, and healthcare professionals.

HEATHER STANTS

Heather Stants is a dancer and mover. Since 1999 she has taught dance in San Diego and has toured the world extensively performing and teaching intensives, workshops, and retreats. Dealing with injury and the wear and tear on her dancer’s body led her to pilates and yoga as means of cross training and healing. Beyond the physical benefits, yoga has brought Heather a sense of calm and a greater connection between body and mind. In 2009 she completed yoga teacher training with Dana Rae Paré. Heather’s teaching style draws upon her dance performance, choreography, and teaching experience. She creates fluid energizing sequences with a strong focus on breath, core, and alignment that offer the right balance between challenge and rejuvenation. She is the creator of Dance Flow Yoga, a seamless blend of vinyasa flow yoga and dance. Find more info on Heather at www.danceflowyoga.com

DR ELIZABETH BARR

Elizabeth received her doctorate degree in physical therapy from San Diego State University. She currently works at the Pelvic Health Center at Kaiser Point Loma and specializes in men and women’s pelvic rehabilitation, treating patients of all ages who suffer from pelvic dysfunction. She is a guest lecturer at her alma mater, where she teaches a pre- and post- natal exercise course.

Elizabeth has been a group exercise addict since she started taking Jazzercise classes with her mom twenty years ago, and is certified in yoga, Pilates, barre, TRX, Spinning and Zumba. She loves to combine her knowledge of anatomy and alignment with challenging, fun and creative workouts.

SHAWNEE THORNTON HARDY

Shawnee Thornton Hardy is a Yoga Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Somatic Touch facilitator and Author. She is also the founder of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs and Yoga Therapy for Youth and leads training throughout the US and Internationally on these areas of focus.

Her heart's work is dedicated to supporting others in their path towards healing. She grew up in the mountains of Montana. Nature was and still is her greatest resource. She infuses the elements of nature in her classes and sessions along with yoga, somatic and embodiment practices and somatic touch to help facilitate healing. She is deeply drawn to working with those who have experienced trauma, grief and loss, cancer diagnosis and treatment, autoimmune conditions, neurodivergence, disability, eating disorders and those who are working towards healing their inner child wounds. She is also a lead trainer for Yoga for Happy Back trainings developed by Rachel Krentzman and specializes in spinal health and supporting those who are experiencing back pain.

Shawnee  believes we all have an innate ability to not only survive, but thrive, following life's struggles and challenges. Healing happens in the presence of an empathic witness. It is her greatest honor to serve as an empathic witness to those who are seeking healing.

To learn more about Shawnee's work or to connect with her go to www.shawneethorntonhardy.com

ELKA HAECKEL

Elka is a worldwide yoga instructor who has developed a juicy yoga practice like none other. She’s a certified Yoga Teacher with specializations in Ayurveda, Reiki, Prana Flow, Restorative Yoga, Tantra Yoga, The Radiance Sutras, Vinyasa Flow, SUP Yoga, Yoga Therapy and Thai Medical Massage and accredited Life-coaching.

Elka’s exuberance and passion for teaching, extensive knowledge of yoga philosophy, and holistic health, combined with her experience of having owned two successful San Diego yoga studios for 15 years, leading teacher trainings, workshops, international retreats, makes her a positive force to be reckoned with. 

The first question Elka will ask you is, "What is your intention today?" For almost two decades, Elka has been teaching yoga. She teaches more than just asana (postures) you'll gain a whole new sense of body awareness. Yoga sessions with Elka will transform not only your body but also your entire sense of well-being. She will guide you on how to breathe (an essential tool in yoga) and how to feel your body in a way you never felt before and also to understand the importance of self-care.

Coming to yoga with a background in gymnastics and dance, Lena finds that the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga aid in the never-ending search for peace, calm, and positivity within. She is passionate about sharing these tools with others and forever learning through personal practice, trainings, and workshops. Lena is intentional about taking yoga off the mat and loves finding the bridges between the heart and mind, the individual and community, and mindfulness and expression. To complement the creative practice of yoga, Lena is a TA for the Dimensions of Culture Program at UCSD and a regular contributing writer for the Chopra Center. Lena is also an avid hiker and is trained as a Wilderness First Responder and leads adventure/yoga retreats around the world. Lena offers a Hatha/Vinyasa class that includes asana, pranayama, mudras, mantras, and a philosophical theme woven throughout. Learn more about Lena: www.yoginilena.com

As a certified yoga therapist and yoga educator, I specialize in offerings that involve postural awareness, breathwork, heartfelt intention, and contemplation on how our practice can show up in our lives. Because of my love for both language and yogic philosophy, there is often an interweaving of the two within my classes to make the experience feel like a bit like poetry in motion.

With over 2000 hours of education and 12 years of experience under my belt, I find myself a forever student of this beautiful practice. It is a sincere joy and privilege to hold space for folks seeking to better understand their bodies, nourish their nervous systems, and learn about the roots of yoga.

NANCINE DECHERD

Nothing helps to uncover, welcome, and embrace one’s inherently divine nature better than practicing yoga and meditation on a regular basis. Yoga, a meditation in motion, not only opens the body, but also the mind, eyes, and heart. Nancine was born in New York and raised in Atlanta. She began her exploration of yoga and self over a decade ago while traveling in Southeast Asia and studying vipassana meditation. She is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans with a B.A. in Mass Communication and earned a high school teaching credential through National University in San Diego. Her background includes more than 200 hours of yoga teacher training with 2 Anusara immersions at the La Jolla Yoga Center. She completed vinyasa teacher training in the spring of 2010 and is a registered instructor through Yoga Alliance. Other areas of study that make their way into Nancine’s classes include dance, Pilates, and martial arts.

ARIANA TORRES

As a former professional NFL and NBA dancer, Ariana found yoga while in search for a restorative practice that would help her cultivate more body awareness and heal her severe anxiety. Since 2009, she has experienced the intangible benefits of yoga through conscious breath work and movement meditation. During her yoga classes, Ariana offers creative sequences suitable for all levels. Her intention is to help you build strength while focusing on proper alignment. Students can expect to leave her classes feeling empowered, supported and with a new sense of presence.

STACEY FILICE

Stacey teaches various styles of yoga, meditation and sound healing. Her years of teaching have included many studios throughout San Diego, full-time instruction at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, BC, Mexico, online through the Insight Timer app, and working with students therapeutically one-on-one. Stacey enjoys empowering her students to go inward and connect to the calm, safe place that exists within them. Her passion is using ancient practices to help people therapeutically so that they may find true, deep healing.

Yoga inspires Karissa to live each moment mindfully. Her love for Yoga began in Northern California where she first started practicing and teaching. Karissa’s teachings are creative, intelligent, inspirational, and challenging; influenced by her gurus, practices, and trainings. In Auburn California Karissa embarked in a kundalini 250 RYT RYS with Karen Barbarick through her devotion and meditation she then gained insight to move to Maui, continuing her studies she completed a 50 hour intensive focused on advanced sequencing with Clover Love, 250 RYT RYS with Maureen Gildersleeve, as well as a shakti weekend immersion with Jasmine Judson. Karissa’s energy is contagious. You will leave her classes feeling a deeper mind body connection and a sense of ease, grace, and strength

After doing my initial 200 hour yoga teacher training at Center for Yoga, I quit acting and modeling and went back to school…lots and lots of school! If I was going to do this work, I wanted to do it with as much depth and integrity as possible. I was introduced along the way to other powerful approaches to healing such as therapeutic massage, holistic nutrition, somatic experiencing, mindfulness meditation, and transpersonal development.

I completed an additional 1,000 hour yoga teacher training certification and graduated with my B.A. in Traditional Eastern Arts/Somatic Psychology from Naropa University. I graduated as a Massage Therapist with a 550 hour certification from The Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing, graduated as a Holistic Health Coach from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and graduated with my M.A. degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University. I was truly blessed with an amazing education! Each program was instrumental in supporting the next level of my personal growth while also strengthening the quality of my work.

I’ve taught classes and led retreats in Los Angeles, Hawaii, India, Costa Rica, Africa, Greece, Mexico, and Panama.

I’m currently based out of San Diego and pursing more exciting education at Somatic Experiencing International.

Drawing on 20 years of experience, I'm happy and inspired to offer you the healing practices that have had such a profound impact on my own journey towards health and wholeness. I’m dedicated to offering you in-person and online sessions that empower your innate capacity to heal and transform!

Kelly is a DONA certified Birth Doula and a Yoga instructor specializing in the perinatal period.

Kelly studied Kinesiology in college, worked as a personal trainer specializing in progressive bodyweight training, and continued her education of the body at Equinox Fitness Academy.

A fascination with and deeper understanding of the physical body led her to grow more curious about the mind and the spirit, inspiring her to travel to Bali to complete her Yoga Teacher Training with Zuna Yoga.

Kelly continued to expand her understanding of the human condition, studying under Oprah’s very own spiritual mentor and life coach, Martha Beck, to become an intuitive life + wellness coach. On her pursuit to pull all of the pieces of her trainings together she had a realization that childbirth is the ultimate expression of the human body, mind and spirit; and she became obsessed. Kelly went on to complete her Birth Doula training at Bini Birth in Los Angeles and is currently working on her CLEC (Certified Lactation Educator Course) through UCSD.

She currently teaches Vinyasa, Restorative Yin + Reiki, Prenatal specific classes and offers her Doula services all around San Diego.

NICOLE ROERICK

Originally from Fargo, ND, relocated to San Diego in the fall of 2018 after living abroad in Cairo, Egypt for 4 years. She is a passionate teacher and Yogini. She found Yoga through Dance and has benefitted from it in more ways than she thought possible. She has been practicing since 2007. She also completed 200 hours towards her advanced certification in Thailand in November 2016 and completed her Teen Yoga certification from the UK in October 2017. She has studied Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin styles, and has also worked with Anusara and Iyengar teachers. The diversity comes through in her teaching.

Nicole focuses on working towards proper alignment and muscle usage in the body while also focusing on individual needs and adjustments. Her teaching is fluid, direct, and very light hearted. Nicole gives much gratitude to her teachers that helped deepen her knowledge of the practice and teaching of yoga.

PETRA BEALS

Petra founded her solace in the practice of yoga, as a contrast to her hectic vocation as an ER Nurse. A Yoga Teacher training changed her life. In her classes, Petra focuses on proper alignment and incorporates pranayama to achieve a deeper relaxation. To Petra, yoga is a state of connection that allows us to connect to anything.

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