I am the proud founder of The Little Yoga Studio. My background is in marketing and advertising, a field I worked in for seven years before I moved to the United States in 2000. The Little Yoga Studio is my dream come true. When I discovered yoga in 2001, a whole new world opened before me. My intention is to create a space for personal growth and share the gift of yoga and all its benefits with the community. I am trained in Vinyasa Flow.   I received my instructor certification in November 2007 through a 200 hour teacher training program at Corepower Yoga. My certifications include a 200hr training with Corepower, Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson, and a 300hr training with YogaWorks.

I am proud to be part of the teaching staff at "The Little Studio"! I have been teaching yoga since 1991. My first teacher training was through Yoga Works in Santa Monica, and it has been ongoing ever since. I have BS degrees in both Physical Education and Exercise Science, and a Master’s Degree in Health Education.

Currently, I am part of the faculty at Grossmont College and Southwestern College. I have developed the yoga programs at both campuses, and I am enjoying watching them thrive. I have also been associated with The Golden Door and Rancho la Puerta for 18 years as a yoga and fitness consultant. I enjoy specializing in teaching students to be empowered in their practices in terms of safety, alignment, breath, and energy. I also enjoy incorporating the metaphors of yogic philosophy into my teaching---so we can all “take it off the mat”, too!

Shauna MacKay, BPE, RYT-500, received her Bachelor of Physical Education from Dalhousie University in Canada and spent the next 10 years as a Health and Fitness Consultant. After completing the 200 and 300-hour YogaWorks teacher training programs (http://www.YogaWork.com), Shauna continued her yoga education studying Functional Anatomy with Aadil Palkhivala and Rachel Krentzman; Yoga Cancer Therapy with Ingrid Yang; Yoga Philosophy with Kori Fletchner and Meditation/Yoga Nidra with Richard Miller.

Shauna teaches an alignment-based class that emphasizes stability and strength as well as flexibility and moving with breath. Although she enjoys teaching an energetic class, her ultimate goal is to help students experience the peace within. Trained in the evidence based iRest© meditation and relaxation technique, Shauna is skilled at helping students experience rest and deep relaxation. (http://www.irest.us)

Almost a decade ago, Shauna hobbled into her first yoga class with tight hamstrings, chronic neck and shoulder pain, and a heavy heart. Yoga not only opened her hamstrings and released her shoulder pain, but it also opened her heart and lightened her emotional load. She is grateful to share the power of yoga with others.

Shauna leads Yoga for Rest, Relaxation and Better Sleep, Yoga for Migraine and Headache Relief and Integrative Restoration – iRest© workshops. She is a member of the Yoga Alliance, YogaWorks Alumni Association, and The International Association of Yoga Therapists.

A student of yoga since 2001, Jano’s study of hatha yoga, meditation, yoga philosophy and pranayama led him to become a 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 Choudhury and Sri Dharma Mitra (the teacher of teachers) and Vinnie Marino for his vinnyasa flow and musical style. Most of all Jano would not be where he is without the love and support of his beautiful wife Lorraine and his newborn son Azlan.

Liza DiGaetano, E-RYT 500, has been teaching yoga since 2003. Liza is currently a member of Tripsichore Yoga Theatre (www.tripsichore.com), an international performance company that is known as the "Cirque de Soleil" of yoga. She has studied a variety of yoga styles through which she derived her own creative approach to Power Vinyasa.

Liza's classes place a large emphasis on powerful, evenly metered ujjai breathing that creates seamless, interconnected movement. The combination of proper ujjai breathing and creative, gymnastic, Ashtanga-based vinyasas make Liza's classes invigorating and fun for a wide range of students. She believes that through the breath, we can gain a heightened level of awareness that brings peace and tranquility. If we breathe correctly, we are able to execute poses that otherwise would seem impossibly difficult. When that moment occurs we free ourselves from the limitations the mind imposes upon the bodies physical abilities. This liberation brings us closer to our own true nature which is self accepting, gracious and blissful.

Liza has had the opportunity to study with great teachers including Tim Miller, Jimmy Barkan, and Dharma Mittra among many others. Her most influential teacher is Edward Clark, founder of Tripsichore Yoga Theatre. A master yogi, artist and innovator, Edward has created the most powerful, creative and challenging vinyasa variations even seen.
Liza runs a small studio out of her home, Kalya Yoga, where she teaches highly advanced Power Vinyasa classes to a select group of students. She also frequents back and forth to London to study with her teacher, Edward Clark. To learn more about Liza visit www.kalyayoga.com.

Janike teaches yoga with an uplifting, sincere and improvisational approach that reflects the way she approaches life. Janike has been studying ashtanga under Tim Miller since 2000, and was certified as a teacher in 2003. Janike remains a passionate student, and teaching yoga has opened her heart and mind to ways of helping others improve their practice and further harmony and balance in their lives. Forever optimistic, open-minded and enthusiastic, Janike's goal is to help her students embrace yoga as a celebration of our own "yet to be discovered" potential.

Deborah Ignacio was born and raised in Brazil, she's been living in the US since 2007. Deborah graduated in Physical Education and has a major in Exercise Physiology at the Federal University of Sao Paulo. She is currently completing a Master's Program of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology at San Diego University for Integrative Studies. For five years she worked for Laborfit, a company specialized in Quality of Life programs. As part of their Employee Wellness Program, she provided Chair Massage to a vast number of employees at Visanet and Intel Brazil. Deborah recently completed a 200 hour certification with Prana Yoga Center, she is proud to be a staff member and instructor at TLYS!

Roberta is a very enthusiastic teacher and decided to teach Yoga to offer others the wonderful experience that the practice creates physically, mentally, and emotionally. She founded Bird Rock Yoga in 2003 and she believes in combining different Yoga traditions to create a well balanced, safe and a comprehensive Yoga practice that is accessible to everyone. She received her certification at the White Lotus Foundation studying with Ganga White and Tracey Rich, she has been certified and studied with Tim Miller, attended seminars and workshops with Durham Miter, Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest and completed her certification with Indigo Yoga For Children.

I have been a certified yoga instructor since 1997. Since then I have studied many different styles of yoga, dance, and exercise. I enjoy combining techniques from all three to create an ever evolving discipline with emphasis on core strength. My classes are challenging but the goal is always just to have good time.

Jen Peters has an extensive background in fitness though dance, yoga and group training. Her creative and challenging classes have made her one of the most sought after teachers in our community.

Teresa's classes allow her students to delve deeply into many aspects of the practice of yoga, including asana, pranayama, chanting, and meditation. A teacher of World Mythology for many years, Teresa regularly yokes Indian mythology into her classes. Teresa is thankful for all her teachers, especially those who have taught her the true nature of the ancient practice of Yoga: the spiritual journey back to the true Self. Teresa also volunteers at Shakti Rising and The Sean O'Shea Foundation.

Karson has had the privilege of studying and practicing yoga in New York, New Jersey, California, and Costa Rica. She is a 200-hr RYT with Yoga Alliance, and has been sharing her love of yoga with students since 2002. Karson is currently teaching at several studios in San Diego, and is available to teach private and group classes in the following styles: Vinyasa, Power Yoga, Gentle Hatha, Gentle Flow, Level 2/3 Yoga, Dance Yoga, and Hip Hop Yoga.

Rachel comes to the yoga mat with extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of fitness, nutrition, and personal health. Upon incorporating yoga into her life, she quickly felt the benefits inside and out and immediately wanted to share this gift with others. Rachel blends her enthusiasm for living a healthy lifestyle with a more meaningful practice through yoga. Rachel earned a degree in Kinesiology from San Diego State University and has worked as a fitness trainer and personal wellness coach for six years. Rachel served as the Fitness & Spa Director at the Crosby Country Club and holds certifications in Personal Training, Group Fitness Instructing, and CorePower Yoga. Rachel’s boundless energy and warmth provides a safe, comfortable environment for others to move deeper into their own practice in finding strength, balance and joy. She looks forward to guiding others and learning more about herself and her practice through teaching and continued education.
“We stand in our light, live our light, and the light grows within us.”

Michael is a certified Kundalini instructor, a marriage and family counselor as well as an accomplished musician and songwriter.

Sara has been practicing yoga since 1999. Like so many people, she began yoga for physical benefits. With numerous knee and shoulder injuries from competitive tennis and running, she turned to yoga for rehabilitation. The therapy went far beyond her joints, and started to resonate in her mind and spirit. From surfing, to traveling, to being a student of natural medicine, she has been able to integrate yoga philosophy into all aspects of her life. She received her certification from White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA. Her classes are inspired by her well-renowned teachers Ganga White, Tracy Rich, John Friend and Gerhard Gessner. She creates energetic classes by balancing strength, flexibility, and enjoyment. She challenges her students with vigorous flow sequences, breath work and core strengthening, leaving them strong, calm and ready to deal with daily stress.

Listening to our heart, finding out who we are is not a simple task. It can take our lifetime to work on quieting the chatter of our minds. In the silence of not doing we begin to be able to look inside ourselves to better understand what we feel. If we listen to what is offered then our lives can become our guide to better understanding ourselves,and the universe around us. For me, yoga is my guide. I began taking yoga classes in San Francisco in the year 2000, and was hooked on the fluid,cyclical movements that the practice offered me. The space that it created inside my mind, body and soul blew me away, and I was unable to stop from thereon my journey to better understanding myself, and all that which surrounds me. So, upon moving to New York in 2004 I became certified at the Laughing Lotus. The creativity and endlessly open directions to take my practice that the Laughing Lotus gave me, along with some specific teachers in NYC have completely broadened my horizons and continue to inspire me in ways that I could have never imagined. I continue to grow every day in my journey of life,using my sweet, buttery, cyclical guide known as yoga.

My name is Deana Graff, I have been practicing yoga for approximately seven years. I have a background in modern and classical ballet. I currently am a full time special education teacher. I hold an elementary school teaching credential, a special education teaching credential, and a masters in special education. I also hold a certification of completion of The Fine Art of Teaching Yoga to Children form Indigo Yoga. My kids yoga classes will empower children to take responsibility for themselves and maintain equanimity in the face of life’s challenges. My yoga classes will allow for a safe, interactive, loving environment where children will learn to respect the differences in others and grow as individuals, through self-evaluation and self-direction.

I began practicing yoga ten years ago and instantly feel in love with it. I have taught children's yoga here in San Diego in elementary schools, yoga studios and children's boutiques. I got my certification from Pamela Hollander in Encinitas through her Indigo Yoga training. Yoga promotes confidence, encourages imagination, and develops body awareness for children. I try and incorporate music, stories and dancing.

Born and raised in Japan, Atsuro discovered Yoga in his mid twenties after moving to San Diego. He practiced a variety of different Yoga styles until he found Ashtanga, which touched him deeply. His daily practice of Ashtanga continues to change his life in a positive way and he has come to view it as a wonderful science of the body, mind, and spirit. He finds great pleasure practicing and teaching Yoga to his students who, in turn, apply his classes and evolve their own practice. Atsuro feels that as his students' practice develops, their lives improve, which is the part of teaching that brings him the most joy. He completed the 2nd series of Ashtanga yoga teacher training with Tim Miller in 2008.