Gentle Hatha (1,2)

This class is taught by:

Seven years ago in the mountains of Canada’s beautiful British Columbia, the universe brought yoga into Gina’s life through the presence of a best friend. Gina aims to share what yoga has nurtured in her life, inner peace, connection, gratitude. She has been a dedicated traveller, yogini and DJ for the past seven years, taking in life’s lessons of yoga on and off the mat. Gina completed her 200 Hour YTT in Canggu, Bali and now resides in Southern California, where she can live the healthy, active beach life that makes her glow. Her classes are a smooth and flowing creation of powerful vinyasa and blissful yin yoga and of course, great music. Gina likes to think of her yoga classes as meditation in movement, a dance created by you, connecting to thought provoking insights from her heart to yours. Music has always been a deep passion of Gina’s, learning about and collecting sounds from all over the globe. She feels that alongside yoga, music is a similar path encouraging people to feel alive and connected to something bigger and beyond the individual. Another heartfelt passion of Gina’s is nature – being outdoors, the ocean, the sun and the fresh air. She feels blessed to be a part of Riff’s where she can immerse herself and share with others everything she loves.

Janayln Yanover

Colin Somogie

Colin brings creativity to the table here at the Yoga Yard. This multi-talented musician/yogi can be found either performing for a class or teaching it himself, and occasionally both at the same time. Fun-loving, warm, and energetic, Colin will make the class fun no matter what style he teaches.

Kristi Kuttner

Kristi’s first yoga experience was a Bikram yoga class in 2008. It felt awkward, intimidating and wonderful all at the same time. Once she felt that little bit of yoga bliss she was hooked. In 2011 after moving to San Diego she started to practice yoga regularly. She started to realize how life changing it could be. “Yoga makes me feel healthy, happy and beautiful”. She then made it a goal to share her passion of yoga with others through teaching. Kristi completed her 200-hour certification and extension program through core power and is certified through the yoga alliance. She also completed her training in Yinki® yoga (a combination of Yin yoga and reiki energy healing) through The Olivier School of Integrative Healing. “When my students leave my class I want them to feel strong, beautiful and relaxed. My goal in life is to make people smile.” Kristi specializes in gentle hatha, vinyasa and Yinki®

Shannon Purves

Shannon has been practicing yoga since 2008. She began practicing yoga as a way to alleviate stress from her studies of Accounting in college. As time went on, Shannon began to discover the many different styles of yoga and became connected with Vinyasa and Gentle Hatha yoga. She has practiced all over San Diego, and has completed her 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training with Gerhard Gessner at Prana Yoga Center. Shannon’s classes are well rounded and intended to give each student the freedom to do what feels good in their body. She loves to utilize her knowledge of Pranayama, Mantras, Bandha Locks, Mudras, and Chakras in her flows. Generally speaking, yoga helps to strengthen and stretch your muscles, increasing your flexibility and balance. It goes much deeper when you connect these physical movements to your breath. Then as you start to focus more on your breath, your mind calms. One day the breath will come naturally, and your mind becomes still. There are endless possibilities of greatness with a still mind.

Annejelina Buxton

James Hipp

James met yoga in 2009 and was immediately struck with awe at the completeness and total-body integration of asana practice and yogic breathing. As his practice deepened, James began to discover some other benefits of yoga: peace of mind, connection to an ever-present free-floating joy, and a sense of spacious inner power(and also really flexible hips.) Since then, James has watched yoga transform every corner of his life, and it is now his personal quest to help others, in whatever way he can, experience the freedom and growth that yoga can provide. James’ classes combine music and dynamic, flowing sequences that develop grace and strength without struggle or strain.

Marco Pompeo

Marco is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), and a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) and has over 1200 hours of professional training in Yoga and Massage Therapy. He took his 200 hour spiritual Yoga Teacher Training with different teachers at the Soul of Yoga in Encinitas. For the last 2 years he has practiced independently in Germany, Italy, Thailand, Cambodia and the US. Marco started his transformational process in 2007. Before that time, he worked for over 10 years in the sales business, and felt disconnected to himself. Between 2007 and 2010 he left his job and apartment twice, sold his car and explored his life as a human being rather than a human doing. This exploration took the form of travelling. He visited different countries, experienced new cultures and learned new languages. Marco has opened up to new horizons. In March 2012, Marco realized that he still felt incomplete so he took the time to more fully explore his physical and inner self through the discovery and practice of yoga and meditation. Through his yoga practice, interest in medicine, physiology and massage, Marco found Thai Yoga Massage. He studied first at home in Munich, then flew to Thailand. Marco studied the intricacies of Thai Yoga Massage techniques with several senior teachers in Chiang Mai, Pai and Bangkok. Feeling reconnected to himself and his purpose, Marco wanted to deepen his knowledge in anatomy and pathology. While still in Thailand, he searched for possibilities around the globe and felt drawn to San Diego where he first visited in 2008. He loves the sun, the beach and the ocean. Today Marco is offering in his Yoga classes a transformational experience for body and mind. His classes have a spiritual approach in awakening the soul for reaching out to life purpose and connect to your true self. Marco is committed to a Life long learning process and continues to explore himself day by day through his daily personal practice of yoga, meditation, Qi Gong and massage. His formula for a successful Yoga class is being fully present and aware in the present moment. The present is a present that is the reason why we call it present. Come and share your practice with Marco and let you support in your transformational process.

Kathleen McDowell

Kathleen had the good fortune of being encouraged on to a mat in 2003, joining her track teammates in hopes that it would improve their sport performance. Like so many people, her initial draw to the physical benefits of the practice saw immediate returns: a greater sense of spatial and physical awareness, strength, and flexibility. As time progressed, the true power behind yoga practice took her by surprise. Time on the mat was no longer a supplement to a workout routine, but the cornerstone to ever-growing mental, emotional, and philosophical approaches to life. She believes that yoga is the best gift she gives herself, and is passionate about sharing that gift with others.

Kathleen brings warmth and creativity to her Vinyasa-blend classes, which are designed to be accessible to all levels. She believes in the pursuit of graceful strength through attention to physical alignment, dynamic breathing, and calm compassion.

Danielle Wolcott

Danielle’s introduction to yoga was simple: she was curious. Why are people saluting the sun and how does it prevent cancer? From there, she joined the fun and has been hooked ever since. Danielle went on to study health sciences and began to form a more concentrated practice once relocating to San Diego. She explored many styles and instructors before finding her passion for Vinyasa. She completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2012 and immediately began teaching to anyone who was willing to learn under her instruction. She teaches a grounded, and well-balanced class with a focused attention on alignment. Her classes can be described with a sense of calm endurance.

Shawna Schenk

Shawna Schenk has been practicing–deeply–since 2008 and truly believes in the transformative power of yoga. Yoga enables change. It enables prosperity. It enables experimentation, challenge, playfulness, and growth. These attributes have been a powerful part in changing Shawna’s practice, teachings and life throughout her yogic journey. She continues to transform–positively–every day, on and off her mat.

Flowing with the teachings of her heart, Shawna aims to provide classes that are experiences—rather than monotonous movement. Her classes honor the integrity of yoga while meshing the beautiful energies of this world. Her classes reflect each sense through providing interactive experiences that impact smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste.

You never know what you will get in Shawna’s classes as creativity guides her teachings: she may be shaking up shots of coconut water (in her Happy Hour class), teaching you to pulse with the powerful, soul shaking beats of music (in her Dub-step Yoga class), pushing you to the edge emotionally through bringing “special guests” (like snakes) to workshops, calming and restoring your energy

Dipika D

This class is designed for beginner and intermediate students.

In this class we will discover the benefit of slowing down. Breath work (pranayama) will be used to help loosen the tension that exists in our bodies. Our physical postures (asanas) will eliminate any obstructions that occur in our bodies which hinder the flow of our breath (prana/energy). The combination of breath and posture will help to focus the mind, allowing you to reach that space of serenity and calmness during practice. All poses are offered with modifications to go deeper, observing and listening to the subtle advice of your own body. This class is slower paced and the asanas will be held for several breath cycles. It is available to all ages.