Our Scheduled Instructors
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Claire Livingston
Claire Livingston is also known as Dalip Kaur, her spiritual name given by Yogi Bhajan. It means "compassionate princess" and it is her higher purpose. Claire is a certified kundalini teacher with 8 years of practice of Kundalini and she teaches weekly adult classes as well as senior classes and children classes (Radiant child yoga program). Claire is passionate about kundalini yoga and eager to share it with all who come to her so they too can experience the light of their own soul through these life giving technologies. SAT NAM. |
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Cynthia Lamborne
Cynthia Lamborne's background and training has encompassed over 30 years of Teaching, Coaching & Counseling for thousands of men, women and teens. Meditation, Conscious Relationships, Tantra, Spirituality, Family & Couple Mediation, Breath work Therapy, Somatic Intuitive Training, Dance Movement Therapy and Bach Flower Essence Therapy are some of the teachings she utlizes to support her clients. Cynthia's teachings focus on releasing negative emotions and patterning, and therefore, freeing the body and mind to the Awakening state of Inner Peace and Well Being.
In October, 2006, Cynthia traveled to Southern India to live for several months in silent retreat. This is where she was granted the honor of being initiated to provide the Oneness Blessing (Deeksha) by Shri Amma and Bhagavan. Deeksha, a sanskrit word that means "Benediction," is an ancient process common to all spiritual traditions. |
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Daniella DeVarney
A yogi-dancer, Daniella DeVarney began her yoga journey and study in 1995 while dancing on a student scholarship with Alvin Ailey in New York City. Shortly after returning home to Los Angeles, she studied Ashtanga and dance with Shiva Rea at UCLA and graduated with a degree in World Arts and Cultures with an emphasis in West African dance.
Daniella recieved her yoga certification from Maha Yoga in Los Angeles with Max Strom and Steve Ross. For the last ten years, she has studied and taught various traditions of yoga including: Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Anusara, blending her yoga and dance experience into a vinyasa flow class with emphasis on breath, alignment and fun! In 2002, Daniella was twice featured in the national newspaper USA Today exploring yoga therapy with professional athletes called, "Reconstructing an All-Star".
Daniella has had the privilege of teaching professional dancers from Cirque du Soliel, Celine Dion's "A Brand New Day," Los Angeles Dodgers, Philidelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and celebrities including Julia Roberts. While continuing her study in yoga, Daniella taught modern, lyrical, jazz and West African dance classes while in Los Angeles.
Daniella recently moved here to San Diego for LOVE! She is excited about starting a new journey combining her artistic expression with yoga, liberating one's creative life forces through breath, movement, and music! |
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Daryl Regalbuto
Yoga has brought miraculous healing to my life, and allowed me to overcome the symptoms of polio. It has been a gift without measure. I feel a deep and humble gratitude that I am able to teach yoga and see the gifts that yoga brings to my students. I have studied various styles of Hatha, and have trained extensively in the Anusara, Ashtanga, and Synergyï½® styles. I specialize in assisting individuals to overcome physical limitations, helping students deepen their practice with individual attention and attention to detail, helping students to break inhibiting patterns and habits.
Aside from the many classes I teach each week to every level of students, I am also involved in some exciting yoga projects. I head a program at the La Jolla VA hospital, providing hatha yoga and pranayama instruction to low-back patients. Additionally, I have developed techniques for teaching yoga to children and I am now training apprentices. I have also been a mentor teacher and led workshops and clinics in other teacher training programs.
Beauty in nature inspires me to realign with the beauty of my own true nature. At every opportunity, I find natural and beautiful places where I can more easily remove myself from the pressures and distractions that surround daily life. I love to practice yoga on the rocks, in the trees, in waterfalls, and on the beach. I rekindle my connection to the Earth, and through her, I reconnect to my Self.
Out there, there is no space for silly thought patterns and drama. When that creeps in, I look to the immense mountain, bow at the foot, then bow inwardly, and it is then that I know no thoughts. I practice yoga to maintain this essential connection to the Self in the midst of what each day might bring. |
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Debra Hodgen
Since beginning tap dance classes at the age of five Debra Hodgen has always been a mover. She received her Bachelors Degree in dance from UCLA and taught and performed extensively. After meeting her meditation teacher in 1983 she began her study of hatha yoga. Debra has a 250-hour teacher's certificate from Yoga Mountain in New York and a 200 hour Anusara Affiliation. She has taught all levels of yoga and classes for children and teens, prenatal, gentle, and restorative. She also enjoys teaching private classes to aid students therapeutically or to help them move into a greater level of expression in their practice. Debra teaches with an abundance of enthusiasm and humor. Her greatest joy in teaching is seeing her students "blossom". Debra is an active member of the Yoga Alliance. |
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Dennis Frate
Dennis entered the yogic life via the pathway of body work and massage therapy. Having completed a 500 hour massage therapy training at the highly respected National Holistic Institute in Sonoma, he left for Costa Rica for the Nosara Yoga Institute founded by Amba and Don Stapleton. Dennis completed a 200 hour training, followed by an advanced yoga training of 100 hours. Nosaraç—´ yoga training was eclectic and interdisciplinary, and his own yoga style incorporates the acute body awareness from massage training, that has produced his eclectic style. "Yogash Citta Vritti Nirodah" is at the heart of his yoga, from the Yoga Sutra, meaning thru the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind,one discovers the quiet place where peace is found.
- National Holistic Institute 500 hour massage therapy training
- Nosara Yoga Institute, 200 hours
- Nosara Yoga Institute, 100 hours Advanced training
- University of California, Berkeley B.S in Social Sciences
- Yoga Alliance Registered 200 hours
- Massage Therapist 18 years
- Yoga Teacher, Fitness Elite Spa, 7 years
- Yoga Teacher, Soul of Yoga, 2 1/2 years
- Kirtan workshops with Jai Uttal
- Immersion with John Friend, Costa Rica
- Anusara Teacher Training, Sherry Schreck
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Devi Adea
Devi began her study of yoga very early in life. Raised in a yogic family, she began meditating as a young child. In 1998, Devi found Hatha yoga and loved it. In 2000, she traveled to India with Deepak Chopra’s group and practiced yoga and meditation in Agra. Shortly after, she was initiated into Kriya yoga by her godfather and teacher, Swamiji Shankarananda. Devi completed the Anusara Teacher’s training program with Sherry Schreck and is continuing her yogic education with other great teachers in Southern, CA. She is currently in immersive trainings with Lisette Hart and Michael Fukumura.
Devi believes that ultimately, our first and best teacher is the spirit within. She brings a playful, soulful and loving presence to her classes, with the intention of reawakening a healthy aligned body and unconditional self-love and awareness within her students. She sees herself more as a guide to using the student’s own inner wisdom as their true teacher in yoga.
Devi has a deep love of music and feels that the vibrations of the voice are as healing to the individual as the vibrations created through yoga. Through her presence, music, and teaching she shares with others the gift of self-discovery and a fabulous self-created life experience. |
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Heather Keely
Heather's journey with yoga started as a pre-teen and has developed over the years into a devoted practice and passion for learning and sharing. Faced with serious health challenges in her mid 20's, she turned to the practice of yoga for support and healing. She was personally moved by the significant positive effect yoga has on stamina, strength, healing, and awakening. Inspired by this experience, she immersed herself in the study and practice of Anusara Yoga, and answered her calling by creating a sacred space for community to awaken, heal and play together. Heather is an Anusara Inspired Instructor, as well as the Founder and Director of "Bodacious Living".
Heather has trained extensively with Certified Anusara Instuctors, Jim & Ruthie Bernardt at Yoga Kula in Berkley. Her passion guides her continued training with acclaimed Master of Anusara Yoga®, John Friend. In addition, she loves to expand her understanding of this comprehensive style by participating in classes and workshops with Certified Anusara Instructors Noah Maze, Sianna Sherman, Kelly Haas, and Michael Fukumura. Her studies of yogic philosophy and meditation are guided by renowned scholars Carlos Pomeda, Douglas Brooks and Sally Kempton. Heather has a playful attitude, feels called to share her passion through teaching and holds this as a valuable offering and practice. She invites students to experience yoga as an expression of their Divine Heart as they travel the journey of Self Discovery & Love together in a creative way. |
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Jennifer Waters
After eighteen years of dance training, performing, choreographing and competing, Jennifer sought to find a sustainable essence for her practice. While completing her Bachelors Degree in Communication from Oakland University, Jennifer was introduced to yoga. This was the spice she found to make the perfect recipe for her life practice. Once discovering that the journey is where the happiness lies, magical, inspiring and expansive experiences have been flowing towards her. Jennifer teaches with a fascination of the subtler levels, exploring all the different ways to integrate and balance one's yoga practice.
At the core of her practice is the use of nature-inspired languaging, just like the ancient yogis, to communicate the connection among all things and the perception of what is possible. She has acquired teaching experience with students from pre-teen to the golden years and with her infectious smile and genuine enthusiasm creates a positive environment for all levels of participation. Though she has studied different styles of yoga, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anahata, Yin and Kundalini, it was when she found Anusara Yoga® that Jennifer discovered a perfect foundation for her innate style of grace-filled and heart-centered practicing.
Jennifer invites you to join her classes on a regular basis to 'enjoy the journey' in discovering what inspires you to be the most radiant being you can be every moment. |
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Kristen Watson
Kristen first moved here from Wildwood Crest, NJ in 1999 to attend the University of San Diego. Having swam competitively for 10 years, and rowed for USD’ division 1 crew team for 4 years, when she graduated in 2003, she sought out her next means of physical activity and community. She began to practice yoga as a way to move again, but found something more. She found a practice that left her feeling complete: physically, mentally, and spiritually connected, as well as giving her a tool to begin to reconnect with her true inner self and let go of what was not.
Discovering Jivamukti Yoga, and their founders, David Life and Sharon Gannon, has been life changing for her. She recently attended and finished her 350-hour training with Davidji and Sharonji in May 2007. Currently Kristen is getting her Masters degree in Spiritual Psychology and is looking forward to combining the two into a complete therapeutic experience.
Kristen is excited about joining the Bodacious Community and so thankful to Heather for always welcoming her with open arms. Following in her example, she wishes to create a space where she hopes others can feel free to be their true authentic selves. She hopes that by living and practicing karuna, love and compassion, she can open the hearts of her students to the world all around them, bringing the recognition that all beings-in all forms-are ONE!
"May all Beings everywhere be happy and free" - Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu |
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Lisette Hart
Lisette Hart an RYT and Anusara-Inspired teacher serves as the Yoga Director of Yoga Branch in Vista, CA and will lead her 5th Annual Yoga Alliance registered "Roots & Wings Yoga" school of Teacher Training there in 2008.
Teaching yoga since 1999, she founded Vista’s first Yoga studio and ran it from 2001-2006. "I have loved every minute of my 8000 hours plus of yoga teaching time and feel blessed to do what I love and to be surrounded by so many wonderful people."
In 2001 she took her first Anusara yoga class with founder John Friend. Her practice and teaching style have been inspired by Anusara ever since. She has almost 400 hours of training in Anusara, many more hours in other styles such as Ashtanga and Kripalu and a teaching degree & honors degree in political science from her native country, Canada.
"Love & thanks to my supportive husband Coby and our son, Wilson. We are expecting a baby girl in April 2008! See you on the mat!" - Lisette |
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Michelle Bouvier
Yoga first found me in 1994, and my passion for the practice led me to start teaching in 2000. Past intensive practice has included Ashtanga, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Forest Yoga, Therapeutics, Transcendental Meditation, and Native American spirituality. I am fascinated by psychosomatics and the power of our thoughts and beliefs on our bodies and experience. My current passions and study include Anusara Yoga®, Shiva Rea's Prana Vinyasa Flow, capoeira, aerial circus arts, partner acrobatics, and hoop dance!
I am inspired by community, authenticity, playfulness, and dreaming together to co-create a sustainable world full of beauty, self-expression, and respect for Mother Earth. Live, Learn, Love, Fly! Blessed Be. |
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Natalie "Fox" Maisel
Natalie has been a certified yoga instructor (ERYT) since 1996 and began her teaching in Maui, Hawaii. After moving back to the mainland, she created Sundance Yoga Studio in TX which was named "Best Yoga Studio in Houston 2002".
She has been featured extensively in Gary Kraftsow's book Yoga for Wellness, and has been reviewed and highlighted numerous times in Luxury Spa Finder magazine and other spa publications for her teaching skills, as well as a yoga segment on Gene Simmons' Family Jewels. She hopes that was NOT her 15 minutes of fame!
Natalie also brings her yoga on the road and has taught at well renown spas such as Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, the Golden Door, Red Mountain Spa in Utah and the Oaks at Ojaii.
She also keeps it real by teaching to the masses at a local LA Fitness.
When she's not teaching yoga, being fed by her chef husband, or cuddling with her two cool cats, she's performing massage and also facilitating rituals for the lunar phases and seasonal sabbats. You can learn more about her by visiting her Goddess loving site goddessdownload.com |
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Nicole Kirian
Nicole feels the most alive and inspired when moving her body in any form of dance. To Nicole dancing means taking the music inside her heart and twisting and spiraling it outwards through the rest of the body. Nicole’s favorite dance toy is the hoop. There is something about the circular structure of the hoop that helps Nicole tap into another state of being. A state where her mind is still and she is overcome by joy, focus, beauty, peace, and purpose. Nicole also credits HoopDance with her body being in the best shape of her life and the back pain she experienced since she was 12 years old to be virtually gone! Nicole’s personal experience of the benefits of HoopDance led her to co-found a San Diego based HoopDance company called HoopNectar, with the goal of introducing others to their own spiraling potential.
Nicole is also a Holistic Health Practitioner specializing in sports massage and craniosacral work. Nicole is also enjoying currently being a part of the staff at Bodacious Living. Nicole has come to value the incredible experience of life, mother earth, her friends and family, being honest with herself and others, and living life as authentically as she can in the moment! |
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Sophia Ludyjan
Sophia's teaching style is fun and compassionate. Her charming and dedicated presentation of yoga is truly unique. Students will receive personal attention as well as 'hands-on' support. She has a very patient and friendly demeanor and truly cares about her students. Sophia has completed the 200-hour hatha yoga teacher training in the Anusara style at The Yoga Center in Carlsbad under the direction of Sherry Shreck, Michael Fukumura, and Debra Hodgen. She is currently working towards Anusara Yoga® Teacher Certification. |
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Our Substitute Instructors
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Alana Pejouan
Alana took an interest in yoga after her first daughter was born 12 years ago. She completed her Teacher Training at the Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, CA in 2005. Alana is versed in many styles of yoga including Hatha and Anusara and continues to practice regularly with several of the most proficient Anusara teachers. Alana has done several workshops with John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga,as well as Desiree Rumbaugh, Noah Maze and other leaders in the yoga world.
Alana brings to her teaching an integrated, light-hearted and hands-on approach for all levels, combining breathing, meditation and asanas. "Yoga is food for the body, mind and soul and connects us to the natural joy we are born with." |
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Amin Rokni
Amin has been practicing yoga since 1997. His background in yoga began with a strong focus on meditation. Prior to his first yoga class he had been studying both Tibetan Buddhist and Vipassana meditation techniques for several years. His interest in these forms of meditation is what led him to the yogic path. He began studying intensely with Doug Keller, one of the first certified Anusara teachers, in 2001.
Doug taught undergraduate philosophy for several years before moving to India where he spent seven years living at the Gurudev Siddha Peeth ashram in India practicing and studying yoga in all its aspects. During this time, he became a master in the art of pranayama, meditation and yogic philosophy, writing several books on all three subjects. Doug's knowledge and teaching style had an enormous impact on Amin and led him to explore ashram life for himself.
In 2003 Amin moved to an ashram in Nederaland, Colorado. There he continued his study of philosophy and gained a deeper understanding of what it meant to live a yogic lifestyle. Amin spent several months living on the ashram, where meditation, pranayama, mantra and yogic rituals were the primary focus.
After leaving the ashram, he continued his training with Doug Keller, Desiree Rumbaugh, and John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga®. He has since trained directly with John for over 200 hours and completed both levels of his teacher trainings as well as his immersion training.
Amin's teaching style focuses on Anusara principles, with a very strong emphasis on how yogic philosophy, meditation and pranayama can enhance and transform your life. |
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Elizabeth North
Elizabeth has studied many different types of yoga and meditation throughout the past 28 years. She received certification in Hatha Yoga, in March 2000, from the Shambhava School of Yoga in Eldorado Springs, Colorado. Shambhava is registered with the National Yoga Alliance and is a form of classical yoga with a very meditative, spiritual focus.
Elizabeth has studied yoga with Rukmani Devi, Lilias Folan, Gary Kraftsow, TKV and Kaustub Desikachar, and Eric Schiffman; and Thai Yoga Massage with Saul David Raye. She enjoys expanding her personal practice with on-going training --- in meditation and yoga-related courses such as ayurveda, pranayama, tantra and Structural Yoga Therapy. |
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Ishwari Gonnot
Ishwari Gonnot is a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher, American Council on Exercise, (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor and Institute for Personal Empowerment Coaching, (IPEC) Certified Empowerment Coach. She has spent 17 years studying and teaching spiritual practices in various ashrams, including two years in India, immersed in meditation and intense spiritual disciplines. Using her intuitive knowledge and modern science she founded Celebreath and Yogabhāva to help people return to a life of purpose and fulfillment. She is a national public speaker and has appeared on TV and radio shows to share her wisdom. She's released her first yoga DVD "Heart Yoga Flow" and is now working on her first book. |
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Kathleen Bentley
Kathleen Bentley offers her efforts in yoga at the lotus feet of her teachers. Having an interdisciplinary yoga background, over the years she has studied with many yoga teachers devoted to a variety of different styles. Kathleen is deeply honored to be a certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher (studied under her beloved teachers Shri Sharon Gannon, & Shri David Life), she is Anusara Yoga teacher trained under the expert guidance of Sherry Schreck , studied Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy with the amazing Elisa Cobb, Sanskrit Studies with Shri Manorama, certified in the heated hatha flow of Synergy Yoga, and earned a BA in history in '00. Kathleen hopes that her students experience that they are completely whole, divine beings, and know that this state of yoga is our true natural state. |
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Myriam Machado
Myriam has been practicing yoga and meditation regularly for over eighteen years. Myriam started studying with Master Hermogenes in 1986, an internationally honored Brazilian Yoga teacher.As a mentor teacher, Myriam has facilitated the graduation of hundreds of yoga teachers and has taught more than 3500 classes.
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 1980 University Souza Marques, Brazil
- 1982-Post-graduate studies Physical Therapy
- Kriya Yoga Initiation, LA, CA, USA, July 1988
- Senior Yoga teacher, Certified,
- Hermogenes Yoga (Brazil, 1997)
- Synergy Yoga (Encinitas, CA, 2000) - Senior teacher
- Anusara Yoga (Carlsbad, CA, 2004 till now ) Anusara Inspired teacher
- Omega University, NY--PaRama Health Care System practitioner
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Sandrine Gibson
Sandrine, Yoga Instructor and Personal Trainer, was born and raised in France; moved with her family to California in 1980. She attended the University of Hawaii ay Manoa while studying psychology with a marine mammal emphasis. During her College career and Internship training dolphins at Kewalo Marine Mammal Laboratory, she was first introduced to Ashtanga Yoga through Atman. Sandrine brings over twelve years of Yoga experience to her teaching. She has been taught by the best instructors in the Nation. She gives a sense of ease and calmness to her students with a challenging touch. Sandrine believes the breath, Ujjayi, is essential to the practice of Yoga and to life. Her motto has always been: "Improving the quality of one's life: Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually". Her main approach is being truthful (Satya) to each stage of her students and her practice. With honesty one will attend a deeper truthful practice, Satya Yoga.
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Our Anusara Featured Instructors
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Michael Fukumura
Director of Immersion & Teacher Training Programs at Bodacious Living
Michael's yoga practice has been an evolving and dynamic path. He began study in the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition with Tim Miller in Encinitas. He then proceeded to study extensively with other yoga teachers in the Ashtanga and Iyengar Yoga traditions.
In 2000, he met John Friend and was introduced to Anusara Yoga®. Anusara has transformed his practice and teaching by magically blending biomechanical principles with the artistic expression of the heart. After doing multiple workshops, retreats and Teacher Trainings with John Friend and his most senior techers, Michael is dedicated to the study and practice of Anusara. He is now a Certified Anusara Instructor.
Michael is known for his inspiring and supportive teaching style. His classes balance a sense of play and adventure with deeper awareness of the body and True Self. Students learn how to practice their yoga both inside and out so that ultimately, they are empowered and transformed. He encourages students to develop new insights about themselves and to discover their natural strengths, beauty and wisdom. |
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Carlos Pomeda
Carlos Pomeda received formal and traditional training in yoga during his nearly 18 years as a monk of the Sarasvati order, 9 of which he spent in India, in the Siddha Yoga Ashram. During this time he learned the various systems of Indian philosophy and immersed himself in the practice of yoga. Having earned two Masters' degrees: one in Sanskrit from UC Berkeley and the other in Religious Studies from UC Santa Barbara, he is able to fuse his academic background to the traditional trainings. As a teacher, Carlos is known for his love of the Indian yoga traditions. Using his insight, humor and deep empathy with his audiences, he has the ability to convey the deepest scriptural teachings in ways that is clear, meaningful and applicable. Studying with Carlos is truly a delightful and enlightening experience.
"Carlos Pomeda is a world-class teacher of Eastern Philosophy who has tremend |
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| Phone: (760) 720-YOGA (9642) |
300 Carlsbad Village Drive,
Suite 205,
Carlsbad, CA 92008 |
| Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved. |
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