Instructors
Photo Credits: Peter Prato – www.peterprato.com
Laura Camp (Owner, Director)
Laura began movement training in her early teens, and was a professional contemporary dancer for 15 years. In the late 90′s, a dance injury led her to yoga. She was mentored by Robert Boustany in Houston, a physicist who had been teaching an eclectic blend of Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Qigong since the early 70′s. Laura began her teaching practice in 1998, and she enjoys uniting classical hatha yoga with the dynamics of contemporary dance, the core integration of Russian and Chinese acrobatics, the body tension principles of rock climbing and circus aerials, the softness of release technique, and the mindfulness of Vipassana meditation. She has been co-directing and teaching at Monkey Yoga Shala since 2001, and thinks she has the most wonderful job in the world (for her!). She’s over the moon about opening Flying Yoga. Laura also enjoys her work as a circus aerialist and writer.
Michelle Cordero
Michelle Cordero, MFA, CFYT, brings many years of yoga, bodywork and fitness experience to her yoga teaching. She is a graduate of three yoga teacher training programs and is a certified Forrest Yoga teacher. Deeply committed to high quality instruction and to evolving her practice, Michelle continues to study with some of the most accomplished yoga masters in the country including: Ana Forrest, Shiva Rea, and Sarah Powers. A dedicated mover, Michelle also studies pole dancing, aerial rope and tissue. For more information on Michelle, visitwww.yogaluz.com. You can follow her on Facebook/Michelle Cordero Dance and Yoga. CONTACT INFO: yogaluz.com
Jennifer Epiphany
Jennifer began her adventures in the healing arts after a traumatic car accident in 1997. Plagued by chronic pain and depression, unable to walk a street block, 40 pounds overweight, and with limited answers from medical doctors, she began searching for relief on her own across a wide range of healing modalities, including therapeutic massage, acupressure, clairvoyant meditation, Neurolinguistic Programming, hypnosis, and yoga. Two years after the accident she began teaching her own yoga classes, incorporating all that she was learning from her own healing process. Today, 12 years later and having taught over 10,000 hours of classes, workshops, and privates, she has developed a powerful and integrated approach to her teaching, an approach that blends her intimate knowledge of anatomy and physiology, her training in energy and trauma release work, with her embodied sacred outlook, all of which contribute to a full body-mind-spirit experience for her students. For those students in her classes who have injuries or physical limitations, she draws from her wide range of healing modalities, offering empathic, non-aggressive, person-specific approaches for cultivating their practices. Her exacting instruction and broad classroom awareness, along with her deliberate and therapeutic adjustments have helped facilitate the healing and well-being of hundreds of students over the years. Furthermore, as the former owner of Vara Healing Arts in Albany, CA and Epiphanies Wellness Centers in Fremont, CA, her training of other yoga instructors and healing arts therapists have made her positive contribution to Bay Area wellness even more far reaching. Jennifer has been blessed to study with numerous yoga teachers, some world renowned, others more localized in their influences. For all their knowledge, wisdom, and compassion, she offers her gratitude to Chuck Miller, Maty Ezraty, Shiva Rea, John Berlinsky, Leah Watkins, Larry Shultz, Ramanand Patel and to all others who have provided her with guidance and inspiration. In addition to her public yoga classes, Jennifer also offers private instruction, workshops and retreats. Jennifer is also a Hypnotherapist, NLP Coach and Massage Therapist. For more information about Jennifer Epiphany, including her full teaching schedule, Hypnotherapy Sessions, Neurolinguistic Programming Coaching Sessions, and Bodywork Sessions, visit her websites at www.epiphanyyoga.org and www.epiphanycoaching.org. Email: jenniferepiphany@gmail.com (510) 776-0448
Andreina Febres
Born and raised in Venezuela, Andreina is very passionate about Latin music and dancing. In 2005, she also added Samba to her training and performed with Sambamora. She decided to become a Zumba instructor when she realized that she was actually having fun while exercising. She got certified in 2009 and teaches in various locations in the Bay Area. CONTACT INFO: andreinafebres@yahoo.com
Shakthi Ganeshan
Shakthi Ganeshan feels riveted by Yoga! You will experience gentleness and vitality in her yoga class, warmth and laughter. She invites self-love into practice, integrity, and keeps Indian roots in yoga. Yoga keeps unveling itself to Shakthi at various points in her life: As a small child, she accompanied parents to Indian temples and Vedanta talks. Shakthi’s mother, seeing Shakthi’s love of dance, enrolled her to study Indian classical dance. Bharatha Natyam dance animates sacred stories of India and Shakthi continues to study and practice Bharatha Natyam. Shakthi also has the phenomenal training of being board-certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, and having a Masters in Public Health. Late nights post-call working as a physician…tired and completely depleted, Shakthi discovered yoga(!!) As she began taking yoga classes, she felt astounded that she had never encountered chakras or energy body awareness in medical training. Embodiment remains her great fascination. Shakthi has trained with many great asana teachers…including Rodney Yee, Sarah Powers, Shiva Rea, and Ramanand Patel. She studies meditation with the teachers at Spirit Rock, especially Sharda Rogell and also studies Tibetan meditation practice. Shakthi delights in making ayurvedic food, writing poetry and prose, and studying singing. You’ll leave her class feeling open, re-vitalized, and excited about life! CONTACT INFO:shakthiyogicarts@yahoo.com
Yeni Lucero (AKA Jenny Lucero Rivera)
Yeni Lucero was born in the small town of Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Coming to the Bay Area later in life, she began her training in West African dance at the age of 15, and soon pursued a more versatile training at San Francisco State University, in which she obtained a BA in Dance and Choreography. Ms. Lucero also had the opportunity to extend her training at the Alvin Ailey School, summer of 2006. She is a professional dancer, instructor and an up-and-coming choreographer. She has performed work by Diamanou Coura/West African dance company, Paco Gomes, Annie Rosenthal, Jacinta Vlach, Robert Moses’ Kin, and most recently Ron K Brown. Ms. Lucero has taught at Lines Ballet/San Francisco Dance Center, teaching intermediate Afro-Modern. In addition, she has taught Hip-Hop and Latino Fusion Dance, at Fremont, and McClymond High School. Currently, Lucero is teaching at Flying-Yoga and choreographing for Diamano Coura. Yeni Lucero is Zumba certified as of December 4th. Ms Lucero can be found on facebook under Yeni Lucero, E-mail: yenilucero@gmail.com
Gretchen Mehlhoff
Gretchen practices and teaches an open approach to sequencing which retains the essential, classical elements of the ashtanga vinyasa asanas while allowing the freedom and flexibility- thanks to Larry Schultz at It’s Yoga- to incorporate asanas from different series levels. Her practice stands upon the traditions of Patanjali’s 8 limbed path, Krishnamacharya, Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar, with the understanding that “It’s your practice”. CONTACT INFO: glowplace@gmail.com
Rachel Meyer
Rachel Meyer is an SF-based yoga teacher and writer who lovingly straddles both the academic world of yogic philosophy and the “real world” of asana, meditation and service. She’s an RYT who has written for Yoga Journal, trained with Rusty Wells and Bikram Choudhury, and studied under radical theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether toward a Masters in Social Theory and Body Theologies in Berkeley, CA.
Ryn Muat (Studio Manager, Event Coordinator)
Growing up Ryn was told she was an uncoordinated, flat-footed asthmatic who would never be an athlete. The one sport she tried as a kid was soccer and she didn’t excel. Her high school athletic career consisted of: marching band. Shortly after high school, and after gaining weight while working at a breakfast diner, she found yoga and fell in love. She began her practice while working at the day care of a yoga studio in her hometown of Livermore and from there yoga slowly took over her life. Three years later she enrolled in Laura Camp’s 200-hr CampYoga teacher training program. Through the training she was exposed to CampYoga and the city of Oakland—both of which she decided she couldn’t live without. These days, she lives in Temescal, is the manager of Flying, and a student at SF State in Creative Writing. Ryn’s goal in teaching yoga is to help others discover the map of their body in order to more fully experience the richness of life. These bodies we’re blessed with are made to move! Ryn is also inspired by her meditation practice and she brings teachings from Spirit Rock Meditation Center & vipassana meditation into her classes. Her playlists are eclectic ranging from ambient to electronic to oldies. You’ll like Ryn’s classes if you enjoy getting a good hard work out in a low-pressure environment. CONTACT INFO: rynmuat@gmail.com CONTACT INFO: ryn@flyingyogashala.com
Alexis Mulhauser
As an artist of mindful living, Alexis is passionate about healing, the creative process, and empowering people to find the life that most wants to live through them. She has a degree in Human Ecology and Nutrition, and in addition to teaching yoga, she offers Nia classes and Reiki. To learn more about Alexis’ full teaching schedule, please email her, CONTACT INFO: yoginialexis@gmail.com
Pradeep Teotia
Born in a small village outside of New Delhi, Pradeep is an internationally certified yoga teacher who draws mostly from his training in India. He has practiced and studied yoga his entire life – starting with his grandmother in his early years. You can find out more on his website. CONTACT INFO: www.pradeepyoga.com
Argel Brown
Argel grew up with video games, commercials, movies, fast foods, frozen foods, candy, soda pop, cigarettes and a lack of interest in movement. In 2005, he was at his heaviest at 245 pounds. In 2009, he encountered Tony Robbins’ Personal Power tapes and was awakened to the fact that you can create the life you want. As momentum was building, and lifestyles and values were changing, Argel discovered Y O G A on a birthday dare in 2010. It was magic. He cried, he stretched, he sweated, he ached. Since then he has rapidly been absorbing and learning different activities and philosophies on how mind, body, and spirit unite: From yoga to TRX to soccer to aerial art to just breathing with intention. Argel wants to share his passion and help others find what they are looking for. He is a recent graduate of Laura Camp’s 200-hr CampYoga Teacher Training program.
Bethany Clemen
Bethany Clemen’s teaching philosophy is based on her experience that the study of the body is a constant process informed by persistent interest and attention to every aspect of our lives and movement. She has ben enamoured with the human body and it’s movement since her introduction to ballet at 4 years old. She intensively pursued ballet to a pre-professional level when, at age 19, she sustained injuries that gave rise to a pathway studying anatomy, Body-Mind Centering, Franklin Imagery, Pilates, Feldenkrais, Bartenieff Fundamentals, and other healing arts. While at Mills College for her BA in dance, Bethany earned her Pilates Teacher Certification from Ellie Herman Studios in 2002. Since then Bethany has been teaching pilates, injury rehabilitation, anatomy workshops and pilates teacher training. She is currently in her second year studying Hendrickson Method of Orthopedic massage and Manual Therapy. She opened Divine Proportion Pilates in 2009 and continues to dance professionally as well as perform as a concert harpist and composer. She used these methods of study to help heal her injuries and re-structure her body. The improvement in her comfort and capability caused her to investigate further neuro-muscular re-education, the process of maximizing efficency and strength through optimizing the mind-body connection. In 2002, while studying at Mills College for her BA in dance, she earned a Pilates Certification through Ellie Herman Studios. Since then, Bethany has been teaching private pilates sessions, injury recovery/ therapeutic movement, pre and post-natal movement, dance conditioning, Proportional Anatomy with Clay and Pilates Teacher Training. She continues her study of the human body through developing and implementing innovative workshops, and is on the faculty of Balanced Body University. She runs her own studio in Eugene, OR, and continues to dance professionally and perform as a concert harpist and composer.
Lily Dwyer-Begg
Lily has been practicing yoga for thirteen years, and teaching yoga for six. Her teachings are inspired from her studies with Don and Amba Stapleton, Shiva Rhea, and Ana Forrest. As a professional dancer, she brings a lifelong study of the bodymind, a wealth of knowledge about biomechanics in movement, and a creative, soulful and artful approach to yoga practice. Lily loves a sweaty, fluid, vigorous vinyasa sequence as much as she does a spacious, soft internal moment in practice, checking in with the internal flow. Her classes support a space for exploration, expansion, integration, and selfinquiry. Having encountered and healed several orthopedic injuries in her dance career, Lily is dedicated to teaching compassionately and believes that your body is the model for your investigation, not some universal ideal. She is a whole-hearted optimist who deeply believes in the healing power of movement. Lily’s work is a labor of love and has brought her to teach in yoga studios internationally, to work therapeutically with private clients, and to offer yoga to homeless women and children at the Women’s Daytime Drop In Center in Berkeley, where she regularly organizes donation based yoga fundraisers. For more information, visit www.lilydwyeryoga.com
Jessie Hurd
Jessie has a deep appreciation and respect for the practice of yoga. She is both humbled and encouraged by the practice, which continues to have a positive effect on her life off the mat. Drawn primarily to an ashtanga-based practice, she’s been on the mat since 1997. Jessie is grateful for all teachers and teachers’ teachers; she’s been especially influenced by David Vendetti, William Holtby, David Williams, (Hareesh) Chris Wallis, Alice Joanou, Larry Shultz and It’s Yoga, Monkey Yoga, and her primary teacher, Laura Camp. She’s an RYT and PE; she’s completed 200-hr yoga teacher trainings with It’s Yoga and Laura Camp and is a practicing environmental engineer. Jessie can be found in yoga shalas and at yoga workshops throughout the bay area and far beyond. CONTACT INFO: jessiehurd@hotmail.com
Rocky Patten
Connect with your inner Super-Hero! Rocky’s passion in life is focused on fitness and inspiring others to follow their dreams. In the spirit of mind-body connection Rocky has been involved in health and fitness for the past 15 years and is a certified Personal Trainer, Certified Life Coach, and Certified Massage therapist. Her certifications include, NASM, IFPA, AFAA, and IPEC Coaching School. Rocky teaches Bootcamp and TRX classes here in the east bay. She also does one on one Personal Training and Life Coaching. Rocky has a vibrant and inspiring energy that she brings to her class’s and is committed to always keeping the energy fun and uplifting, while delivering high quality teaching. She has also been doing yoga for 10 years and was in Laurie Broderick Burr’s first Yoga dance troupe in Santa Cruz called “Yoga Motion”. She has also attended the “Circus School of San Francisco”. Rocky also completed the University of Santa Monica’s Spiritual Psychology program in 2006. This two-year comprehensive, intensive process could be called a spiritual boot camp. Through course study and hands on learning, Rocky not only underwent a personal transformation, but now possesses the skills and tools to help others transform their lives. Rocky helps to unleash and ignite the Super-Hero within, connecting you to your divine life force energy. You can contact Rocky through her website at ImagineBlissCoaching.com.
