MARY BRUCE
YOGA & YOGA NIDRA TEACHER
Mary is an internationally beloved yoga teacher who creates sacred space for her students. Her teachings light us up and help us manifest our deepest desires. Through a deep connection with each of her students, Mary expresses and teaches in a way that has been described as “pouring the goddess” straight from her mouth. By being both rooted and wild, gentle and fierce, joyful and deep, Mary’s teaching helps students intersect light and shadow, the god and goddess. She guides students to find comfort in the moments of discomfort and build confidence while challenging the edges of their limitations.
Her wish is for each student to express who they truly are; to radically embody that truth; and allow it to bring greater peace to themselves and the world. Mary is a senior student of Rod Stryker’s and is Level II ParaYoga® Certified, a Certified Four Desires Trainer and a member of the Para Yoga certification board. She is also a 500 hour E-RYT Yoga Alliance teacher, a Relax and Renew trainer under the mentorship of Judith Lasiter, a certified Yoga Nidra Facilitator and a Reike Master. Mary teaches throughout the US and abroad, dedicating her life to spreading her love for yoga and all the ancient wisdom in a new and radiant light. www.MaryBruce.com
Natasha is an adventurous, life-loving, heart centered yogi who is thrilled to share her passion and love of yoga as a way of living an authentic, soulful and expansive life.
With attention to alignment and an awareness of subtle energies she holds a space of openness, of playful exploration and fresh perspective.
"Through the practice of yoga, I have found a sense of grounded foundation to support my up-in-the-clouds energy. I have found a connection with myself that is not dependent on circumstance but rather is self-generated from infinite space of heart intelligence and deep core knowings. Through the practice of yoga ... and I mean PRACTICE ... not perfect .... I have found a most loving expansive space of home within myself. I am committed to sharing this light of soul with you and holding a space for you to discover yours!
NATASHA MELLMAN
YOGA TEACHER
Daniel Stewart is a beloved yoga/meditation teacher, a Kirtan leader, co-owner of Rising Lotus Yoga in Sherman Oaks, and an holistic Mind/Body Psychotherapist. He is dedicated to studying and teaching yoga as an embodied practice of awakening - fully and playfully - to wholeness and grace in each moment. He believes that all spiritual and psychological teachings, east and west, lead to one truth: our authentic inner life is waiting to be lived, passionately and creatively, without restraint―NOW―and true happiness is achieved only in this way.
In dynamic classes, workshops, and retreats, Daniel integrates music, eastern philosophy, depth psychology, poetry, and laughter to create vibrant, healing environments where students can quiet their minds, release physically, and rediscover a deep sense of wellbeing and joy. He shares his love of music, and its power to heal and transform, though the art and practice of Sacred Music as Kirtan.
DANIEL STEWART
YOGA TEACHER
Natalie Backman, Founder of Imagine Fest, is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. A Pacific Northwest native, Natalie discovered Yoga in college and dove into the practice a few years later as a means for reclaiming her sanity while living in New York City. Yoga has been a source of health, peace and empowerment for Natalie and provided her with a purpose in life she is passionate about and fully devoted to. Natalie currently lives and teaches in Malibu, Calabasas and Agoura Hills. Her home studio is Agoura Power of Yoga. She also shares yoga and meditation with local elementary and high schools such as The MUSE School. Webster Elementary and Calabasas High School, rehabilitation and recovery centers, senior living communities, small businesses and private clients. Natalie continues to study with her teacher, Tracee Stanley, and is honored to assist Tracee in her Sankalpa Shakti Teacher Training. She is also currently studying under YogaRupa Rod Stryker to become a certified Para Yoga teacher. Natalie is honored to lead the Teen Yoga for Imagine Fest as a thank you for all the work the young leaders of this community have put into making this world a better place. Learn at www.NatalieBackmanYoga.com.
NATALIE BACKMAN
YOGA TEACHER
Yoga gives me the opportunity to discover personal healing, balance and strength not only on my mat but in my daily life and relationships. Every practice is a new journey and adventure towards freedom!
I have a tremendous respect for the practice and love for my students. To witness the beauty in the hearts and the breath in the souls of each individual is a tremendous honor and joy.
My inspirations as a yoga teacher include: The Ahimsa Foundation. helping victims of violent crimes heal themselves through the art of yoga. I also find great fulfillment teaching the facilitators at The Valley Cares Family Justice Center yoga techniques to better serve the survivors as well as themselves!
JULIE KUNDERT
YOGA TEACHER
Meghan is the founder of Amba for Women, an embodied feminine yoga and movement school in Topanga Canyon. Meghan started her yoga journey in her teens as a way to heal her relationship with her body and connect to her essence. Many years along the road of teaching and practicing yoga, Meghan began to dive into the feminine stream of earth-based embodied awakening. As she dove deeper into the practice, and it transformed every aspect of her entire life, Meghan began to notice that the yoga world at large was greatly lacking in the feminine aspects of the practice. This awareness and passion birthed Amba. Amba is for women who desire to live in their place of power, where their light essence weaves through their physical body. From this place of power, we have access to creational energy, and can manifest much more easily. In Amba, we see our bodies as sacred: They are vessels of creation. We see our bodies as wild: They are the wisdom of nature in motion. Our bodies are loved: They are cherished in each breath we are given. ambamovement.com
MEGHAN MORRIS
YOGA TEACHER
SRI HARI MOSS
YOGA TEACHER
Sri Hari's yoga journey began in 1989 with Swamini Turiyasangitananda; founder of The Vedantic Center and Sai Anantam Ashram. Her guidance in sacred music, vedantic studies, meditation and Bhakti Yoga greatly influenced his life. He is blessed to have made numerous journeys to India and sat in the presence of great yoga masters. Sri Hari began teaching in 2004. With a focus on harmony between mind, body and spirit, he offers students an inspired understanding of yoga through a variety of techniques and styles. He leads students of all levels on a personal, and often playful journey to a place of new found awareness of energy and opening in the body.
Sri Hari shares inspirational music, dynamic stories from Hindu culture, anecdotes, and other texts to foster clear understanding. He frequently reminds his students to smile, laugh and find the "Rasa" (Sanskrit: Lit. "juice" or "essence") in their practice. “Yoga practice is transformative, what we learn in practice becomes part of our lives. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish, if you are willing to feel sensation, face challenge, live in the moment and breathe life into everything you do.” Sri Hari is co-founder and co-director of Yoga Upstairs in Agoura Hills. He also established Yoga Out Doors Activities (YODA) where he leads yoga classes on the beach and full moon yoga in Malibu, CA.
SHAWNI
YOGA & MEDITATION TEACHER
I am a Yoga and meditation teacher with 17 years of studying and teaching experience. Yoga is a life style, a life path; it is the journey of Self study and Self knowledge to reach one's highest potential. Yoga is a wonderful and unique companion on this journey called 'life'. I am truly grateful to this practice, this knowledge and all the teachers and masters dedicated to sharing and preserving this sacred Truth for the betterment and fulfillment of human kind." Since I can remember I have been rooted in a spiritual path. As soon as turning 21 I embarked on a journey to India in hopes of finding my Teacher. The path didn't lead to one teacher but to many through-out the years.
In 2010 I finally met Yogarupa Rod Stryker and I found the lineage I would call home. The Sri Vidya tradition, an ancient wisdom tradition of the Himalayan Master.
As a singer, a dedicated Yogini and student, a teacher and a woman, I wish to bring value and meaning to people's lives by sharing these teachings in a way that most can understand and be able to adapt to one's specific needs; merging wisdom from ancient scriptures and personal experience. Yoga meets you where you are today.
Blessings on your journey! Learn more at www.musicandbreathla.com & www.shawnimusic.com
Where does my yoga journey begin? The best answer would maybe be… in some other life. I was lucky enough to be born and raised in a family that lives and breathes true yoga. I grew up learning and practicing mantra meditation and yoga as a lifestyle. Having grown up living around yoga my whole life, I decided to pursue an AA degree in International Business. As the busyness of “life” began to come to the forefront, my yogic upbringing became less of an importance and focus. After graduating with honors, I soon found myself unexpectedly pregnant… Deciding to take a hiatus from the things that had primarily taken up my time and energy – college, full time work, travel and surfing – I was able to reflect on and return to my yoga roots. This is when I realized how important yoga is to me and my spiritual progression. Humbling myself I decided to embark on a 200-hour teacher training program with Tamal Yoga School to help build upon my life experiences and knowledge of yoga. After becoming a Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor, I realized this was the perfect tool to share the amazing life changing powers of yoga that have molded me into the – daughter, sister, mother, lover, and friend – I am today, with everyone.
SESA O'CONNOR
YOGA TEACHER
SESA O'CONNNOR
YOGA TEACHER
Where does my yoga journey begin? The best answer would maybe be… in some other life. I was lucky enough to be born and raised in a family that lives and breathes true yoga. I grew up learning and practicing mantra meditation and yoga as a lifestyle. Having grown up living around yoga my whole life, I decided to pursue an AA degree in International Business. As the busyness of “life” began to come to the forefront, my yogic upbringing became less of an importance and focus.
After graduating with honors, I soon found myself unexpectedly pregnant… Deciding to take a hiatus from the things that had primarily taken up my time and energy – college, full time work, travel and surfing – I was able to reflect on and return to my yoga roots. This is when I realized how important yoga is to me and my spiritual progression. Humbling myself I decided to embark on a 200 hour teacher training program with Tamal Yoga School to help build upon my life experiences and knowledge of yoga.
After becoming a Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor, I realized this was the perfect tool to share the amazing life changing powers of yoga that have molded me into the – daughter, sister, mother, lover and friend – I am today.
