teachers

Erin brings a joyful spirit and a sense of commitment to Maya. The owner of Maya remembers feeling a sense of achievement and playfulness the first time she was able to stand on her hands in a yoga class. She returns to that feeling each time she is able to do something new or rediscovers something about her body or mind in her yoga or pilates practice. Erin's enthusiasm for sharing the fulfillment that stems from incorporating movement in your life continues to grow.

Always an avid athlete, Erin participated in a wide array of sports, including swimming, tennis, snowboarding, running and lacrosse. Her journey into whole health began in college, where she obtained an undergraduate degree in Cultural Studies with an emphasis on social work and focused her senior work on people struggling with eating disorders. She would later go on to work with populations suffering with conditions related to lack of touch in infancy. Her interest in touch and body awareness, in relation to its role in human development, eventually led her to study massage therapy, pilates and yoga. By offering a gathering place for people to play, grow, heal and strengthen mind-body connections - she hopes to help people individually and the community at large.

Erin is known to teach with precision and humor. Students refer to her classes as invigorating, fun and carefully crafted to maintain interest and to ensure variety. Erin's philosophy is to personally invest in each client and tailor custom workouts, while also teaching people about their own bodies. Erin is invested in her clients and committed to supporting them in achieving their wellness goals.

Jude is dedicated to self-study. She was introduced to yoga in 1992 and was especially drawn to the concept of breath control (pranayama) for relieving stress and pain. She finds joy in teaching and encourages her students to open themselves to the vitality of life. Jude's teaching focuses on cultivating awareness and exploring freedom, both on a physical and mental level. Her classes are for students at any level but she believes that each individual is unique and encourages everyone to develop a practice that meets their needs. Her practice and teaching style incorporate her studies and experiences, producing an intense, flowing, integrated class that consist of a warm-up, vinyasa (integrating several poses together in a series) and held poses. The classes will apply principles of Hatha Yoga, Energy Therapy and Physical Therapy and the benefits will be better balance, energy, concentration, flexibility, and stamina.

Jude gladly shares her knowledge of yoga with all of her students. She graduated from the Yoga Tree Teacher Training in 2002 and is certified with Yoga Alliance. She has been teaching yoga classes throughout Seattle for the last 4 years. In addition, she has attended workshops with several senior yoga teachers, around the country, including Rodney Yee, Aadil Paklhivala, Baron Baptiste, Dona Holeman, and Donna Farhi.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn't make any sense. —Rumi

Paul strives to dispel the myth of "I'm not flexible enough for yoga". He believes that yoga is for everyone and that you can start wherever you are. Paul's teaching style and training is an amalgam of several styles largely from the Krishnamacharya lineage. You can expect a vinyasa based class coupled with intuition and heart, as Paul strives to hold a space for devotion to self-study while nurturing joy.

As a runner, cyclist, mountaineer, etc., Paul's focus had never been on flexibility, and upon starting Samadhi's teacher training in 2006, he couldn't touch his toes in a forward bend. When once, in a class with his mentor, Eiric Orvid, Paul pointed out that he could finally touch his toes. Eiric said, " that's good, now let it go."

Paul first resonated with yoga through Ashtanga in 2002 and again while studying Thai Massage in Thailand with Asokananda. He came to yoga after an eclectic background working as a construction worker, Naval Air Crewmen, Aerospace Engineer, High School Science Teacher, Thai Yoga Massage Body Worker, EMT, and most recently finishing nursing school prerequisites. Paul is on a path of self-discovery and honored to share his practice with others, while appreciative of feedback and questions after class.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
—Mahatma Gandhi

Eza strives to be present, at peace and open to the moment and to cultivate a sense of slowness, contentment and clear intention. When teaching, she looks for beneficial alignment and pathways to access innate, inner wisdom. Thoughtful and eclectic, classes encourage strength, flexibility, balance, breathe awareness, and relaxation. The acrobat in her loves to create opportunities for people to be playful, to communicate, and to build things together. Students are encouraged to try new things and to express variations of poses that they already know and enjoy. Eza has studied a variety of yoga styles and is certified through SF Yoga Tree and AcroYoga of the Bay Area. She is available for individual questions and instruction, and private flying sessions. Feel free to introduce yourself, to enjoy yourself and to find the divine within one other. eza@acroyoga.org

Laura came to Yoga after years of exploring traditional education and careers. With years of training in dance and movement, it was in Yoga she first discovered the power of breath and that realization began to penetrate and inform her life. Immediately after completing her BS degree she began the 200-hour/ 2 year American Healing Arts teacher training program. She would later go on to participate in a 5-week Living Yoga Training intensive and a summer work-study program at Shambhala Mountain Center, CO.

Over the years Laura has taught in a variety of setting including health clubs, Yoga centers and schools. As a teacher she is humble and gentle, at the same time confident and skilled in the practice. She has a strong commitment to Yoga as a discipline, and a firm belief in its ability to change people, heal people, and work positively in people's lives. She focuses on finding ease and comfort in asana. She incorporates hatha and vinyasa elements, pranayama, meditation and deep relaxation into her classes. She has a non-competitive approach to Yoga, and believes that anyone of any size or ability has something to gain from the practice. To Laura, Yoga is much more than a physical practice, and people will leave her classes feeling not only physically rejuvenated, but also mentally refreshed and relaxed.

Laura is also a licensed massage practitioner and believes that bodywork and Yoga harmonize perfectly to help people find ease and comfort in their bodies and to better deal with the stresses of living in this increasingly busy society.

Celeste is a certified Stott Pilates instructor, with a specialized certification in injuries and special populations. She grew up in Hawaii where swimming, surfing, and long-distance running is a part of her everyday life. She believes to maintain an active and energetic lifestyle means a balanced body. With a degree in Fine Arts and as a previous CG artist, she spent long hours crouched over a computer, seeing how easily influenced your body and posture is by bad habits. She has been a dedicated to the practice of Ashtanga Yoga and Stott Pilates for over 10 years, initially to help her posture and flexibility. What she didn't expect was the improved strength in her training, a better breath pattern, the transforming results on her posture and body, and prevention of injuries. Teaching for over 2 years now she focuses on alignment, balance, and strength to help people function more effectively in their everyday life. She applies these deep core strengthening techniques and injury prevention tips as a Honolulu Marathon coach. Just like building a house, strengthening the body has to start from the ground up. No one likes to feel physically limited. Celeste believes building up proper muscle endurance and effective alignment can keep anyone active and doing the things they love for a long time.

Dr. Jim Weber completed his yoga teacher training through YogaWorks in June. Shortly thereafter he closed his surgical practice to devote the rest of his professional career to teaching yoga. You can read about his career transition in an article which appeared recently (June, 2008) in The Seattle Times.

He is familiar to many Maya yoga students, as he has been subbing for Dani and Judy over the past three months. He has taught all ages, from middle schoolers to octogenarians, at all levels from Beginner to Level II. He teaches Restorative and Gentle Yoga, vinyasa flow, and Hatha classes. He is a certified Yoga Therapist through IAYT, as well as a certified yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance.

Jim also retains his academic position at the University of Washington, where he is an Associate Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing. He is offering a course in the evolution of yoga from ancient roots to a therapeutic modality this spring and summer at UW.
He is the Senior Wellness Advisor for The Mitchell Organization, a Seattle-based corporate consulting and training firm.

Jim also is studying Ayurveda as a complement to his Western allopathic medical background. He lectures in the community on the basics of Ayurveda and yoga therapy. He is available for private yoga lessons, as well as consultations and follow-up regarding yoga therapy for specific medical conditions.

The path that brought Brent to yoga started at a very early age. Being a sun sign Sagittarius, with many planets and his rising sign in Sagittarius, he has always asked himself the "Big Questions"; Why am I here? What is the purpose of this human life? Who am I? And it was not until his early adult life that he started to find truly meaningful answers to these questions, slowly but surely, through the practice of yoga, meditation, and various other practices of the body, mind, and spirit. His spiritual thirst has taken him into many different metaphysical learning situations; He's stayed at yoga ashrams in Australia and New Zealand for over 4 months, where he lived a very simple ashram lifestyle, practicing yoga intensively, searching for Satya (truth). He's completed two separate yoga teacher trainings; One in the Sivananda traditional yoga system, which was a month-long intensive training, involving a deeper training in the metaphysics of yoga and 14 hour long days of yoga, meditation, chanting, and study; plus a teacher training with Kathleen Hunt at Samadhi Yoga in Capitol Hill, spanning 5 months of intensive study, practice, and mentorship. He's also a Licensed Massage Therapist, having trained at Cortiva (formarly Brian Utting and Brenneke) from which he's gained a thorough understanding of anatomy and movement. His teaching style encompasses all of the inspirational traditions, teachers, and teachings he has accumulated over the years, mixed into a pot, and cooked for just the right amount of time over low heat. Brent is a dedicated yogi on and off the mat.

His most recent endeavor for answers to those eternal burning "Big Questions" brought him to rural Massachusetts, where he participated in a 3-month long silent intensive Vipassana meditation retreat at the Insight Meditation Society. 90 days of silent meditation in the peace and tranquility of silence and nature was a profound experience, one that he'd like to transmit to others through his teaching. Brent's philosophy behind teaching yoga is quite simple; he tries to embody the teaching of Bodhicitta to the best of his ability. (Bodhicitta= May this practice be for the highest good, welfare, and happiness of All Beings Everywhere). He hopes to see you in class, it should be fun! Oh, and even though he didn't talk for 3 months, doesn't mean he doesn't like to talk. He's actually been really enjoying it ever since the retreat, and sometimes it's hard for him to stop.

Om

"In truth every-body is the universe”
—Mahanirvana Tantra

My style is unique and dynamic; I like to think of vinyasa sequencing like a song or a poem so this makes my sequences rhythmic and artistic. In my vinyasa flow classes I try to make exploration of the body and its capabilities fun. I use the breath, the mind, attention, and visualization from various practices and teachers I have met and studied under within the time I have been on my own self exploration. I have studied various spiritual practices and all different kinds of meditation that I like to introduce to my students. I have a Yoga-Works teacher certification which is based on perfecting alignment and form, and Universal Yoga teacher certification with Andrey Lappa, which is based on being creative and innovative with how you sequence, practice and live (Shiva Rea has learned from Andrey Lappa). These are two very different trainings, almost opposite so I have the capacity to understand a lot of different ways of being received by the differences in my students.

In my private lessons I offer different breath practices and meditations to add to the asana practice as well as reiki to get my clients in a deeper awareness of themselves and the world around them. I offer privates at a sliding scale of 40 to 80 dollars based on what you are able to pay. I hope to see you in one of my classes soon!

“This body is what we experience with; everything that takes place outside takes place inside as well.”

“The goal of mankind is knowledge ... Now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.”
—Swami Vivekananda

Angela Gayle is a true NW native that gets her inspiration from the Mountains and the Sea. Her favorite place to be in Yoga and to meditate is on the high peeks of Mountaintops, next to Rivers and the open beaches of our beautiful Oceans. Weather you are in a Yoga Studio or practicing with her in Natures Studio, you will be led through Meditation, Pranayama, Ayurvedic philosophy and unique flowing classes targeted to open the gates to individual development of mental and physical strength with encouragement to practice non-harmfulness of self and others.

Angela Gayle started her personal practice of Asana in 1997. Wanting to deepen her understanding of philosophy and the nature of spirit she began studying with a variety of Master Teachers of Asana and Yogic and Buddhist Philosophy in Studios and Temples in England, New York and Seattle in 2003. She became a certified Yoga Teacher in 2005 and has been teaching in Studios around Seattle, Corporate offices, Privates, and in nature ever since. “There is always more to learn and opportunities to seek out but ‘fear’ of not knowing has subsided because Yoga is in everything…that is the lesson; with clear intention everything we do becomes the path…that is why I love to teach.”

“Angela is a gifted teacher who has taken vinyasa to a whole new level for me! She has wonderful knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and a skillful, intuitive sense of how to guide me more deeply into my yoga practice. Her verbal cues and physical adjustments are always unique and spot on. I love her spontaneity, generosity, and humility!” —Meera

If you would like to contact Angela with questions about her classes or “Yoga in Nature” email the studio or Angela directly at Manarahyoga@gmail.com

April is a mat pilates instructor, certified cycling instructor, and group endurance and functional fitness coach. In her spare time she is a full time student at Bastyr pursuing and undergraduate degree in exercise science and wellness with plans to obtain a Master's degree in clinical health psychology and nutrition. After graduating from Florida State in 1997 with a degree in interior design, April spent 11 years working in architecture and construction management. This experience in corporate-America has given April a true appreciation for the stresses that balancing a fast paced career with life can have on both the mind and body. April strives to teach individuals to move in more positive ways, to relax and release tension through proper breathing techniques, and to strengthen the body through functional movement emphasizing form and core integrity.

An outdoor and multi-sport enthusiast, April has seen the benefits that pilates has brought to her own life. Improved core integrity and joint mobility have empowered April to reach higher fitness goals with greater ease. After a serious arm injury in 2005 April began to focus on gentler forms of movement and meditation to gain deeper insight into the mind-body connection. Understanding the emotional impact that trauma to the body can have has helped April develop as an instructor and individual on all levels. April believes the emphasis of all fitness endeavors should be to promote longevity and sustainability of body and mind.

Tiffany Berry has been practicing yoga since 2000 and teaching since 2008. She has practiced numerous styles, and primarily practices in the styles of Hatha and Vinyasa, but finds inspiration for her practice from Iyengar and Anusara Yoga as well. Her study of and experience with prenatal yoga has brought to her practice and teaching an additional element of inner awareness and respect for honoring where the body and mind are on every given day. She loves exploring and studying the anatomy and physiology of the body and how it moves, to better protect and strengthen what we all have to work with. She also enjoys taking the yoga practice off the mat, finding how to make it a part of daily life. Prior to teaching yoga full time, she was a software and systems engineer for 9 years, bringing an analytic and systematic approach to her yoga practice.

Tiffany completed her original training through Yoga Works at the Yoga Tree in 2008. She has taken additional training in therapeutic yoga approaches to back pain (particularly the low back, neck, and shoulders) and prenatal and postnatal training, as well as workshops in Yoga Nidra, Yoga Philosophy, and adjustments.

Rai began practicing yoga in Tucson, Arizona while teaching fitness classes. She teaches all levels of students and encourages students to 'tune in' and listen to their bodies and utilize modification options. She also teaches Prenatal and Teens/Youth classes and Partner Yoga Workshops. By taking what we learn during our sadhana (practice) to other aspects of our lives, we provide a method and a metaphor to discover and create the many ways of letting 'balance' unfold in our lives simply through the practice of yoga. Rai draws from a Vinyasa style of yoga incorporating free form movement with breath while integrating yoga philosophy. Trainings with Kathleen Hunt, Shiva Rea, Anne Phyfe Palmer and Aadil Palkhivala have guided her teaching. A trip to the Himalayan mountains in Northern India and the Tibetan culture in exile, inspires her to continue honoring and integrating the soul of yoga - union of ourSelves in all cultures and traditions.

“Through her Yoga teaching, Rachel creates an environment where the physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of our being increase. I highly recommend her classes to anyone wishing to explore any level of Yoga.”
—Scott Rumage, Practicing Yoga since 1980

Duane Best - My main gig is being a Dad to my two angelic boys (It's my bio, I'm allowed to exaggerate). To fill up my immense amount of free time I make art and teach Pilates. I've been teaching Pilates mat and equipment for over 8 years at various studios and community centers in Seattle. I was trained in Authentic and Stott but believe the right way is what is right for the person I'm working with. My favorite client is one who wants to be challenged, respects their limitations and wants to have some fun while working out. I work with people as individuals with individual needs and goals and do not try to fit clients into some kind of routine. I remember my first experiences with Pilates as a client as being very challenging and I'm always impressed by those who take the leap to better body awareness, strength and flexibility.

Katalin Gygory teaches both Yoga and Pilates. Her interest in Yoga developed in 1999 after acquiring a serious back injury. Over the years her practice bridged from physical healing and evolved into connecting the gap between mind, body and spirit. She has been sharing her practice in classes since 2005. Katalin has studied Vinyasa Flow and Hatha Yoga from the Krishnamacharya Lineage. Meditation and Pranayama are also a part of her regular practice. In 2005 she began her practice of Pilates and soon started seeing the benefits of combining the strong core focus with her yoga practice. In 2006 she started teaching Pilates in classes and private sessions on the equipment. Katalin teaches a blend of Traditional and STOTT Pilates and designs the sessions to fit the individuals' needs. She brings compassion and liveliness to create a fun, safe, and accessible environment in her classes as well in private settings. She is dedicated to work with each student to develop a strong and personally suitable practice.