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Ariel has studied movement since a very young age. She believes that movement is not a particular form or body shape, it is an entire human experience. This belief led her to yoga and she has been a dedicated student to the practice for 10 years. She got certified to teach in 2002. She has studied various styles with many gifted and knowledgeable teachers. Her class is a fusion of vinyasa, dance inspired inspection of the lived experience. As a way to practice Karma Yoga, in the year 2000 she joined the Peace Corps which took her to South Africa and Tonga. She created a women’s yoga class focusing on embodied being. She has her MA in Somatic Psychotherapy and has a practice in Noe Valley. She is also a certified massage therapist.

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Pretzel was born and raised in Hungary. Her background includes studies in gymnastics, dance and theater. She has been teaching yoga since 1988. She was the owner of Pretzel’s school in San Francisco for 20 years. Her teachings incorporate Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Meditation and Pilates. She brings warmth, energy and poetry to her class for you to carry home.

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Brenna began her journey with Yoga, Tantra, and Ayurveda in 1998. Originally from New York, then Chicago and now San Francisco, Brenna Geehan, ERYT, is a Level II Certified ParaYoga® Instructor. She currently assists Yogarupa Rod Stryker in ParaYoga® teacher trainings and travels nationally offering Yoga seminars. Brenna has over 700 hrs of training and over 7 years of full time teaching.

Over the past 10 years, Brenna has had the great fortune of learning from other master teachers including Pandit Rajmani Tigunait , Yogiraj Alan Finger, David Life, Shiva Rea, Doug Keller, Beryl Bender Birch, Tias Little, Ana Forrest, Tim Miller, Gary Kraftsow, Andrey Lappa, Gabriel Halpern, and Judith Lasater.

Brenna believes that we all have the right and capacity to realize a life brimming with joy, meaning and purpose. In her classes, she offers a Tantric- Vinyasa practice that encourages an “inner listening”. Her mission is to help transform students’ bodies to be stronger and more flexible and also aid in removing mental and emotional obstructions so they may have a more balanced and healthy energy flow. Her classes include pranayama and meditation practices that encourage students to find clarity of mind and peaceful dispositions. Brenna teaches public classes in San Francisco and is a respected mentor to other teachers.

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Charu Rachlis, born and raised in Brazil, has been teaching yoga in San Francisco since 1997. She teaches in a Bhakti lineage. She has over a 20-year history of Tibetan Buddhist meditation; her teachings incorporates Meditation, Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga), Iyengar Yoga, Asthanga Yoga and a MA in Psychology from Brazil.

Through the practices of Yoga and Meditation, one reaches a more subtle and refine state of being. Layers of stress and unhappiness are released – presence, clarity is born.”

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Darren Main is a hatha flow and restorative yoga instructor and author. His books include Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic, Spiritual Journeys along the Yellow Brick Road, The Findhorn Book of Meditation and Hearts and Minds: Talking to Christians about Homosexuality.

In addition to his writing, he facilitates workshops and gives talks on yoga and modern spirituality throughout the United States and abroad, and is the director of the Yoga Tree Teacher Training Program.

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Debbie Steingesser is an inspired Vinyasa Flow Yoga teacher and creator of Dansa Vinyasa ™. Common Ground Magazine recently named Debbie “An Exceptional Bay Area Yoga Teacher” for her dynamic and innovative teaching style.

Debbie’s heart-opening Vinyasa classes are infused with musicality and breath awareness. Her fluid sequencing, nurturing adjustments, unique playlists, and sweet savasana lullabies connect students to their inner sense of joy and rhythm. Her classes often feature live musicians and unite the practice of yoga with an authentic connection to daily living.

Dansa Vinyasa ™ is Debbie’s original blend of Flow Yoga, Traditional West African Dance, Kirtan, and Live African Percussion. She has been a featured presenter of Dansa Vinyasa ™ workshops at a variety of studios and conferences including: Earthdance, Harmony Festival, Yoga Tree (SF), Exhale Center for Sacred Movement (LA), Wild Lotus Yoga (New Orleans), and Bhakti Fest.

She is certified with Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour level through Saul David Raye and the Ritam School of Healing Arts. She continues her studies of yoga, kirtan, harmonium, and West African dance, with her mentors Jai Uttal, Dana Flynn, Baxter Bell, Denise Kaufman, and Alseny Soumah.

“The shining spirit known as Debbie Steingesser is an activated and soulful being who will inspire you to find your inner light and wisdom, because she has found hers! Her positive healing spirit is infectious and I recommend her work to all those seeking healing, joy and playfulness.” –Saul David Raye, Master Yoga Teacher and Sacred Activist

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Elise Collins is a graduate of Rodney Yee’s 2-year teacher training and has a Relax and Renew certificate from Judith Lasater. A student of many healing modalities, meditation, and visualization for the past fifteen years, Elise teaches an integrative Hatha yoga style utilizing precise alignment and inner focus. As the mother of a five year old, she finds the journey of bringing a child into the world one of great spiritual transformation and enjoys supporting mothers in developing strength, flexibility, and connection. She teaches workshops and classes in pre-natal yoga, mom and baby yoga, yoga for young children and restorative yoga. Currently Elise is writing a book about healthy yoga drinks for Conari Press, which will be published in the summer of 2005. She has contributed to Yoga Journal, writes a monthly column on health and spirituality for Psychic Reader Newspaper and has been a guest on the Seeing Beyond Radio Show talking about Restorative Yoga. Elise lives with her son, Krishna, and partner, Ragi Dindial, in San Francisco.

Articles by Elise Collins:
Prenatal Yoga
Restorative Yoga

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Elizabeth feels most at home in the outdoors. She finds inspiration for her yoga practice while connecting in with the natural world. Her classes offer a rigorous blend of creative sequences designed to warm and open the body while uplifting the spirit. She has been teaching yoga throughout the bay area since 2001. Initially influenced by her Ashtanga roots, her teachers also include Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest, and Steph Snyder. Dancing, singing, and acting since she was young, Elizabeth brings a melodic blend of chanting and flute playing to her classes. Come prepared to breathe, sweat, and open.

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Ethan’s exploration into Eastern arts and culture began more than 10 years ago when he started studying traditional Japanese Karate. That interest took him to Japan where he lived and trained for more than three years. After obtaining his 3rd degree black belt and teaching license, Ethan returned to the United States to begin a Masters program in East Asian Studies.

It wasn’t until a serious back injury that led to surgery that Ethan began to practice yoga. Ethan says, “I started practicing yoga to help recover from back surgery; little did I know that yoga would become an integral part of my daily life and something that I’m extremely passionate about.” Thus his journey as a yogi began.

Ethan is grateful to his teachers: Janet Stone (Radiant Flow), Dijon Carew (Integral Yoga) and Shiva Rea (Prana Flow). He has also been inspired and influenced by Stephanie Snyder (Vinyasa), Scott Blossom (Shadow Yoga) and Jason Crandell (Vinyasa). “I’ve been extremely lucky to be surrounded by wonderful teachers since the beginning of my journey as a yogi. They inspire me to not only become a better yogi but a better teacher and a better person.”

Ethan teaches a vigorous but mindful style of Vinyasa Yoga. He incorporates meditation, yogic philosophy and pranayama (yogic breathing) into his classes. In the true spirit of traditional Hatha Yoga, Ethan believes that yoga without a spiritual connection is just exercise and misses the more profound point. “First and foremost, I hope that people have fun in my class, and if they leave my class feeling grounded, aware, and content then I’ve done my job.”

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Jeremi McManus is a passionate lover of life and it shows in his exuberant, playful, and wholehearted teaching style. He is also a Relationship Coach and holds a Masters in Counseling, which he draws on to fuse mindfulness and a connection to the whole self in his classes. Jeremi loves mentoring new teachers and finds it is one of the greatest ways to stay curious and maintain a beginner’s mind. His union with yoga began in its birthplace of India, where he spent 10 years as a child, so don’t be surprised if you hear him chatting with someone in Bengali. “I am incredibly grateful to my many teachers, including Keith Borden, Jasmine Tarkeshi, Darren Main… and my five year old niece.”

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In the late 90s, Kerri found yoga, and with it found a powerful tool for healing her own body and a spiritual tool for changing her life. Yoga led her to a risky next step: leaving a successful, high-powered marketing career to dedicate herself to empowering others through yoga. Kerri is the founder of Yoga Catalyst, a movement-inspired coaching program to help individuals reshape their body and reignite their life. Since joining Off the Mat more than five years ago, she has been instrumental in building the community around yoga and activism and mobilizing the global community to create positive social change.

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Since 1998, Lauren Slater has been a joyful practitioner of yoga, and continues her studies with Arkady Shirin in the Krishnamacharya lineage. Past teachers include Jennifer Morrice in Restorative and Stephanie Snyder in Vinyasa styles, as well as Ashtanga and Iyengar lineages with teachers throughout California. Currently an Ambassador for lululemon and The Art of Yoga Project, outreach within various populations is a passion to spread the joys of yoga to all. Another passion is wildlife rehabilitation, in which Lauren has been an active advocate, volunteer and intern with WildCare Bay Area since 2007.

A trained Classical dancer since childhood, Lauren danced professionally with the San Francisco modern dance company, LEVYdance and uses her knowledge of dance, Pilates, and physiology to enrich both vigorous and passive teachings of asana.

“I believe anyone can be transformed through yoga, with each path unique and to be cherished as a gift of an enlightened life.”

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From a young age, Maralle has been drawn to movement and self expression. Starting with ballet, basketball, then swimming and crew, she has enjoyed moving, breathing, being active, around friends and nature.

Maralle is a 500hr Certified Vinyasa Yoga Teacher and a Certified Yoga Life Coach. She has completed over 500 hours of training and apprenticeship with her beloved teacher Baron Baptiste. In September 2012, Maralle has continued her journey by starting her second 500hr certification with Yoga Master Sri Dharma Mittra. Maralle teaches yoga in San Francisco and the South Bay, and has coached beautiful beings from around the world. She is also an experienced guide and coach for the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program.

As a student and teacher of yoga, Maralle is always reminded of the powerful practice of removing the blocks from our way of being and living our True and Fullest expression of our Selves. “I believe that the power of yoga is in cultivating a deep listening in and connecting to our inner wisdom to uplift everyone around us. Everything that we are seeking; happiness, love, richness… is already within each one of us! Through the practice, we connect in to our essence, and share and express from that source out into the world fearlessly and generously!” Maralle’s teaching is filled with breath, self expression, devotion, community, fun and sweat!

Monique has been practicing yoga for 11 years, and was inspired to teach as she discovered the inner peace that yoga can bring. She realizes the potent benefits of mind-body connection, and the possibility of finding harmony – physically, emotionally and mentally. Monique teaches Yin, Hatha flow and Restorative yoga. She encourages her students to find ease and compassion in their practice, focusing awareness on the breath. Monique completed her 500 hour certification at Yoga Tree in San Francisco, where she continues to draw inspiration from the InnerYoga teachings of her mentor, Dina Amsterdam. Monique is also pursuing a Master’s in Somatic Psychology at CIIS. She is an Ambassador for Africa Yoga Project and Lole.

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Sean Haleen (RYT-500, ERYT-200) is a celebrated Hatha yoga teacher and practitioner. Having practiced yoga from a young age, his understanding of the practice runs deep both on the physical and philosophical levels. Having taught thousands of hours of public classes and workshops, yoga is his full time job and passion.

Sean’s classes are noted for their humor and depth. Focusing on alignment, students wishing to learn about their bodies and the different concepts of yoga philosophy in detail will enjoy his public classes.

Sean teaches classes, workshops, and privates across the Bay Area and beyond. He has taught yoga to a variety of people including high schoolers, homeless groups, recovering drug addicts, and queer youth. He offers deep gratitude with each class to his main teachers, Katchie Ananda, Christine Price Clark, Chris Chavez, Brent Kuecker, and Paige Faraci.

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Tim first came to yoga looking to add a little stretching to his gym routine, but he soon found the practice transforming his life in ways he never expected: he felt healthier, more relaxed, and more in touch with himself than he ever had before. He began teaching yoga full-time in 2000. He’s taken teacher training programs with Bikram Choudhury, Baron Baptiste, Rusty Wells, Janet Stone, and Dharma Mittra, he’s been on the teaching staff at studios in Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston and San Francisco, and he’s appeared as a yoga model in several publications, including Yoga Journal.

Tim teaches a vigorous flow class, but always with the understanding that students should modify and take breaks as needed. Two more ingredients he likes to incorporate into every class: a sense of fun and a good soundtrack.