Adam Sewell
Adam has been involved professionally in the wellness industry since 1990, once owned his own fitness center in Colorado, and has written several fitness manuals. He has trained various "special populations" from children to para-Olympic athletes to seniors. Having spent many years training with Billy Blanks, training in TaeBo and Karate, Adam spent years focusing on martial arts style fitness programs but has now gravitated to Tai Chi and Yoga for his own personal fitness/wellness training. He practices Tai Chi for health and as a martial art. Adam's original training in Yoga came via Dao Yin and Iyengar Yoga, which he used to rehabilitate a back injury. He received very strict Iyengar training without the usual props commonly used in that style. He has also practiced Yoga with John McAfee, the yoga guru and creator of McAfee software at his Relational Yoga Mandiram in the mountains above Colorado Springs. Adam's self-described teaching style is to "keep your ego out of the studio and just have fun with your students," which is why he calls it 'playing' Yoga. He is quoted as saying, "I'm not a teacher. I just play Yoga... some people follow."
Being an animal lover, Adam enjoys supporting various international animal charities and can frequently be found chatting with dogs on the streets of Los Gatos where he currently resides.
To see Adam's schedule click here.
Amber Henzi
Amber Henzi is a RYT 200 hour Yoga Alliance certified instructor with 125 hours of Bhakti training. She has a non traditional, creative and playful vinyasa style. She emphasizes on moving from the heart from a compassionate place within. Through the practice, Amber helps students find joy and laughter even through the most vigorous practice. Her commitment is to bring awareness into the community. "By loving ourselves, being joyful, and feeling better physically and spiritually we are better equipped to be the change in which we hope to witness on this earth."
To see Amber's schedule click here.
Anne Jelinek
Yoga found Anne in Flagstaff, Arizona, overlooking the San Francisco Peaks in 2005. Since then, Anne has studied Vinyasa and Jivamukti Yoga and Meditation in Arizona, Virginia and California and is constantly amazed by the physical and emotional transformations possible through both physical practice and mind training. She has taught yoga since 2008 and is also an RKC Certified Kettlebell Instructor and Certified Personal Trainer. Passionate about providing an empowering environment for all her students, Anne encourages everyone to honor their limits and their ability to break through those limits...as well as be brave enough to just be still.
To see Anne's schedule click here.
Barbara West
Barbara came to Yoga through the health and fitness doors of various gyms where she found boundless possibilities in each class she attended. She practiced yoga off and on for many years and in 2009 made the decision to enroll in a 200 hour HathaYoga Teachers Training at Mind Body Zone. During her teachers training, she realized that yoga was unique and something she could take beyond the physical practice on the mat and extend into her day-to-day life. For her, Yoga presented this beautiful opportunity to accept where you are and acknowledge the opportunity for growth. She's grateful for the amazing teachers she's been blessed to practice with and continue to learn from.
Barbara has been a part of the fitness industry for over 12 years. She's a certified Personal Trainer Counselor through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). She provides private and group training sessions in addition to teaching classes in Gliding, Mat Pilates, Body Sculpt and Indoor/Outdoor Bootcamp. Her experiences tell her that deep learning comes from teaching experiences in which "students" are also "teachers" that helps cultivate your practice. Her yoga philosophy is simple "every single person can do yoga; they just need to show up".
To see Barbara's schedule click here.
Charina Cabanayan
Charina is a dedicated teacher, active practitioner and life time student of Yoga. Charina began her yoga practice in 2004 in a desire to find calm and equanimity in her fast paced life as a designer, business owner and mother of two daughters. From her very first practice on the mat, Charina found how yoga provided an unparalleled reprieve from stress and reminded her of the opportunity for calm and reflection during difficult times.
For the past 9 years, Charina's relationship with Yoga continues to evolve through a vibrant and varied practice, daily study of Asana and Yoga traditions and continued studies with her teachers.
Recognized as a mindful communicator, compassionate instructor and creative thinker, Charina is known for her playful, flowing sequences inspired by her teachers past as well as her students. Charina's classes are focused on initiating movement with breath and utilizing progressive, intuitive, challenging and core strengthening sequences as a form of mindful, moving meditation. Charina is passionate about sharing the healing and rejuvenating powers of yoga and she encourages her students to connect with the practice in all its dimensions to find freedom and space both on and off the mat.
To see Charina's schedule click here.
Edna Barr
Edna was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where her formal introduction to movement began at age 5 at The Punahou Academy of Dance. Martial arts was added shortly thereafter, combining grace with strength. Leading such a disciplined and active lifestyle naturally led Edna to a career as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer, where she could share her passion for movement, along with compassion and understanding of what it feels like to struggle to reach and maintain one's personal goals. As rewarding as this career was, there was still something missing that her soul was craving. She found it in her first Sun Salutation in a Vinyasa Yoga class.
Even with a lifetime of physical fitness coupled with the spiritual discipline of martial arts, Edna still faced the same challenges as every other beginner to yoga. Then a lower back surgery in 2007 brought about a whole new learning curve to her practice.
With 20 years of teaching experience coupled with the influences of master instructors Anirudh Shastri, Shiva Rea, and Duncan Wong, along with many other Bay Area greats, Edna has developed a creative, light-hearted yet challenging style where everyone can continue to grow in their practices.
To see Edna's schedule click here.
Jeff Lang
Jeff Lang is a certified Yoga Tune Up® instructor in the San Francisco Bay area. His focus is on therapeutic alignment, musculature balance, and exploring range of motion. He brings a very anatomical and physiological awareness to the classical mechanics of hatha yoga. When fun and intelligence combine with breath and compassion, Jeff leaves us with a very real deep connection to well-being and peace.
He trained at the Avalon Art & Yoga Center in Palo Alto, and has studied under Jill Miller since 2008. Jeff brings a wide variety of experience from Shadow Yoga, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Classical Hatha, and Iyengar to plyometric exercises he gleaned during his hockey-playing days and physical therapy exercises. His intense self-study gives him an authentic voice whether presenting a meditative insight or a new sequence. You will have fun, learn, and feel welcome in any of Jeff's classes.
To see Jeff's schedule click here.
Jennifer Fu
Jennifer first turned to yoga as a way to alleviate stress, but quickly realized it was a complete mind and body transformation. What started as a means for effective exercise soon also became an opportunity for personal exploration. As such, Jennifer's classes are original representations of her mind and soul. From her rigorous strength-building flow and breath-focused challenging sequences, to her eclectic music selection and a teaching style that promotes individuality and expression, Jennifer strikes a humble balance between traditional yoga formats and individual creativity.
Jennifer is Yoga Alliance certified and completed her 200 hour Power Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training under Linda Schlamdinger McGrath at YogaSource in Los Gatos. She has also trained under Paul Grilley, Ana Forrest, and Mark Stephens.
Jennifer's students have much to look forward to: a chance to breathe and be completely present, while also exploring his or her edge in a fun and supportive environment.
To see Jennifer's schedule click here.
Jimmy Halverson
Jimmy's asana practice is influenced by time spent riding a skateboard for 15 years. This lead to cultivation of attention and awareness to subtle micro movements in the body and feet, along with weight adjustments while believing and committing to a vision of possibility. To land a trick with success meant Jimmy found balance between action and surrender in the moment.
Jimmy tore his ACL skating and lived with it for five years, had surgery to fix it, then went to his first hot vinyasa class. There was a seamless transition from a skateboard to a yoga mat. Skating and eating for health for over 10 years each assisted Jimmy greatly, taking to yoga easily.
There's an over all sense for health and well being that stands as Jimmy's priority and value for engaging his own yoga practice. Jimmy wants others to take note of their experience in the moment while in class. He believes taking time to be with the body and notice how we function in our form, brings awareness to the subtle and not so subtle shifts physically and energetically that take place when we choose to engage the how, why, when, and because of what we do when on the mat. Listening to what is being communicated to us from our internal feedback system with an honest ear helps to lead us to a space where wisdom, will, strength, and flexibility occur.
Outside the studio Jimmy enjoys teaching one on one, and is an active life/food coach. He helps clients become aware of choices for their bodies with the goal of vibrant health and well being as the focus. Come to class, listen to some familiar and not so familiar music, have fun being in your skin, while you sow the seeds of intention and taste the fruition of awareness as you move deeper into the layers of your body and sense of self. This is what Jimmy wants for you.
To see Jimmy's schedule click here.
Louis Jackson
Building on 18 years of personal practice, Louis is an Integrated Yoga Tune Up® teacher who's befriended his diaphragm; the breathing buddy who retrofits your spine and brings real core strength. Bringing simplicity without dogma, join them for classes that explore the biomechanics of the shoulders, hips, and spine to create malleable global power; most importantly, in the muscle of focused attention -- every moment of every movement. With him, become a somanaut: "Like an astronaut navigating outer space, the somanaut navigates the inner space of human form, exploring the infinite worlds within in order to divine the self."
To see Louis's schedule click here.
Matt Sharpe
As a kid Matt Sharpe attempted almost every sport on the planet. As an NCAA Division I athlete he tried almost every training method imaginable. After graduate school Matt found yoga nursing an injury and never looked back. Nothing matched the mental and physical aspects of yoga. A graduate of Avalon Yoga's 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher's Training in Palo Alto, Matt focuses on creating a balance between strengthening and stretching to prepare for whatever life wants to throw into the mix. Matt is grateful for the opportunity to have studied with some of the Bay Area greats such as Anirudh Shastri and Kelly McGonigal. His classes reflect a mix of traditional principles and poses tied to a strong flow of movement with an easy philosophical approach. A cyclist, a runner, and a desk jockey, Matt loves yoga for its ability to tie it all together to stay young and healthy. Build strength, stretch out, mellow out, and smile.
To see Matt's schedule click here.
Stacey Roseblade
Stacey began her yoga journey in 2002 and instantly fell in love with the challenge of balancing the unification of movement and breath with the art of stilling the mind. Within 6 months of discovering yoga, Stacey began teaching Bikram, which she taught for 5 years. As her practice evolved, her desire to expand her knowledge of yoga deepened, and she decided to shift her focus to Power Yoga. Stacey became Yoga Alliance certified in 2005 through the 200 hour Yoga Source Power Flow Program and the Level One Baron Baptiste Power Yoga Program. In addition to her certifications, Stacey has been greatly influenced and inspired by teachers such as Linda McGrath, Jill Miller, Stephanie Snyder, Janet Stone, Gabriella Walters and Rusty Wells.
Stacey teaches a dynamic Power Yoga class that builds strength and flexibility while paying close attention to form and alignment. She teaches a deliberate Power class with long holds and likes to sprinkle in non-traditional movement with the intention of revitalizing the conventional asana. You will be challenged, both mentally and physically, and will leave the class feeling invigorated and alive.
To see Stacey's schedule click here.
Stacey Zawoyski
For the love of movement... Transitioning from a night life filled with dance yet lacking substance, Stacey came to find her heart in a Bikram class in 2005. Three years later she found herself immersed in everything yoga. She has been teaching both power vinyasa and hot yoga since 2008. She is a R.Y.T with the Yoga Alliance, having completed the YogaSource 200 hour Teacher Training with Linda Schlamadinger McGrath, 125 hour Anusara Immersion with Laura Christensen, 100 hour Bhakti training with Rusty Wells, and other smaller trainings with Seane Corne, Kofi Busia, Janet Stone and John Friend. She also has over 400 hours in Body Work training through Body Therapy Center in Palo Alto. With the love of touch through her massage background and the love of movement, Stacey hopes to bring forth the ability to create ones own unique expression through yoga.
To see Stacey's schedule click here.
Thoa van Seventer
An avid swimmer and yoga practicioner since 1999, Thoa completed the Avalon Teacher Training program in Palo Alto under the mentorship of Anirudh Shastri and Birgit Reimer. She has also studied many different yogic styles with a number of highly skilled teachers in the Bay area. Thoa tends to lead her classes toward the dynamic side of Vinyasa, focusing on alignment principles and breath control, but she offers lots of modifications to accommodate students at all levels and aims to encourage her students to flow with awareness and an open heart and to practice with integrity and grace. Thoa's love for Ashtanga paved the path for her teaching Power Yoga at Yoga Belly and we proudly call Thoa "Ash-Thoanga!"
To see Thoa's schedule click here.
William Cristobal
William got hooked on yoga instantly when he first started his practice in 2004. He deepened his yoga experience by becoming certified through Yoga Alliance in Power Yoga, which is based on Baron Baptiste's sequence. With so much gratitude to Christina McLeod of YogaSource, he has been teaching throughout the Peninsula ever since. His inspiration comes from his love of being with people, enjoyment of physical movement, and his love for really cool pop music. Inspired by his favorite gurus Mary Lynn Fitton, Linda McGrath, and Rebecca Bara, William's style focuses on ujjayi breath, core work, tons of vinyasas, and lots of laughter. So if you are looking for a challenging fast-paced practice, building/maintaining core strength, and you're not afraid to sweat while flowing to infectious grooves--or if you're just looking to have a fun power yoga experience, then William's class would be perfect for you.
To see William's schedule click here.