Pacific Cultural Center and Ashtanga Yoga Institute - a community center in Santa Cruz

HFS Spotlight

Free Yoga Sutra
classes at MMC,
Tues., 9:00-10:30am.
See Directions

Ashtanga Yoga Institute Instructors

	Annica Rose RYI 500 & Certified Hypnotherapist Professional Member of The International Yoga Therapist Association. Annica was born in Scotland. She was raised, educated and began her yoga practice in Canada in 1970. She traveled throughout Eastern Europe studying Yoga, Dance & Philosophy, and came to Santa Cruz by way of Naropa Institute in 1977. She is presently a very appreciative student of Baba Hari Dass. The unique style Annica has developed since she began teaching in 1990 blends traditional postures, gentle flows and adaptations and props to enhance each individual’s opportunity to discover their compassionate inner wisdom. Call prior to class attendance 831-423-9642. Annica sees Private Clients on Request. Yogaannicarose@yahoo.com
	Aruna Peters "The body is a boat which carries the soul in the ocean of the world. If it is not strong, or it has a hole, then it cannot cross the ocean. So the first duty is to fix the boat." - Baba Hari Das Aruna's practice and method of sharing yoga is a result of her years of study under the guidance of Baba Hari Das and Bhavani Maki in the traditional Astanga yoga system. She is deeply influenced by her time spent in India studying at the Bihar School of Yoga, as well as, by the number of other master teachers she was blessed to have studied with along the way throughout her years of exploration and training. Aruna uses the science of yoga to cultivate purity of body and mind creating clarity with which one may lead a good life. Her classes involve a flow of postures rooted in the idea of cultivating strength while allowing for a sense of ease leading us to a state of balance and equanimity. Aruna encourages the idea of letting go, both physically and mentally, while maintaining integrity and awareness, and, of course, space that invites the possibility of play. arunalove@gmail.com
	Eric Vineberg Eric began teaching Yoga 13 years ago after practicing a variety of styles including Sivananda, Ashtanga Vinyasa, and Kundalini Yoga. He received his teacher training in Kundalini Yoga and since then, he has explored more of an integrated approach to yoga, stressing the overall benefits for mental and physical health and encouraging students to use their practice as a springboard to discover the Spiritual that resides within them. He has had the privilege of working and residing at the Mount Madonna Center and the Pacific Cultural Center for the last four years and has been greatly enriched by the presence and teachings of a Master Yogi, Baba Hari Dass.
	Delana Thompson From the moment she discovered yoga, Delana was drawn to the blend of physical practice, philosophy, and mind training it provides. Her inspiring classes are primarily formatted in the vinyasa flow style but can also incorporate pranayama, meditation, Sanskrit chanting, and yin style postures. Delana enjoys blending these techniques with yoga and Buddhist philosophy to create a meaningful practice that integrates body, heart, and mind. Her current influences include Sarah Powers, Scott Blossom, and Kelly Blaser. She dedicates her teaching to the benefit of all beings. For more information, please visit http://www.yogawithdelana.com
	Jamie Ackley Jamie is a certified massage practitioner and yoga instructor who completed teacher training with Donna Farhi and through Integrative Yoga therapy. Her classes create a supportive space for students to gently challenge themselves and reconnect with their own internal wisdom through body-mind centered movement.
	Kathryn Keller Practicing yoga since 1990 and teaching since 1993, Kathryn is a registered yoga therapist. Her experiences with yoga, mediation, Feldenkrais, and gerontology allow Kathryn to offer a diverse and non-dogmatic approach. Kathryn has personally experienced yoga to be a powerful way of learning, healing, and transformation and she encourages a playful and noncompetitive attitude in all of her classes. Her style is inspired by a blend of Anusara, Integrative Yoga Therapy, and the Feldenkrais method. As an offering she states, “In gratitude to all of my teachers, I bow to the power and beauty of the practice of yoga.”
	Kelly Blaser Kelly Blaser has been studying Yoga since childhood, under the tutelage of her mother, who is also a dedicated practitioner and meditator. Kelly's formal study of Iyengar Yoga began in 1989 and she began studying with Kofi Busia, Senior Iyengar instructor in 1995. Kelly began teaching after completing her first teacher training at Mount Madonna Center in 1997. She has continued her intensive yoga training with Sianna Sherman and John Friend. Kelly has been deeply influenced by the teachings and approach of Anusara Yoga. Kelly has a background in meditation, primarily guided by the Zen approach of Cheri Huber, with whom she has studied since 1999. Kelly has taught publicly and privately throughout the Bay Area and has also led dozens of retreats, many of which have been week-long international retreats. Kelly has become a sought-after and respected teacher, in great part due to her deep knowledge of philosophy and of yoga therapeutics. Kelly is a Marriage Family Therapist Intern, having received an MA in Counseling Psychology from JFKU in 2007. The study of Shaivism, Buddhism, and Classical Yoga Philosophy has shaped Kelly's therapy practice as she has a keen interest in how these teachings are directly pertinent to healing in the Western mind and psyche. Despite all this rather intense study, Kelly remains mostly amused by the life experience.
	Lisa Garratt Lisa’s classes require determination and focus on increasing strength, balance, flexibility, and deepening the connection with the breath. Her primary teacher is Kofi Busia. Other notable influences include Leeann Carey, Erich Schiffmann, and Maya Lev. Her classes are further influenced by her training in Asian Bodywork, Vipassana meditation courses, and yoga service programs at MMC and PCC. Lisa is a Certified Massage Practitioner and has over 500 hours of yoga teacher training. Lisa views yoga as a lifestyle—a path that can be chosen to help free oneself from the challenges of the body and the bondage of the mind.
	Madhu Lodha Madhu has worked with young children for more than 15 years and has also been training teachers for the past 10 years.Her "Yoga Circles" with young children include creative play, story telling, games and yogic exercises including breathing that promote body awareness and coordination, sensorial awareness, relaxation and physical well being, creativity, cooperation and language development.
	Mangala Norskog RN, RYT 500, ALC, CMT Mangala is a student of Baba Hari Dass, and continues to “Teach to Learn” as one of the senior instructors at Mount Madonna Center since 1996. Her instruction integrates devotional intention, anatomical reference, and subtle body physiology into the classical methods of traditional pranayama, meditation, and asana practice. Mangala is enthusiastic and dedicated to service as an articulate and compassionate advocate for others’ health, safety, and well-being. Her practice bridges classical training in Ayurveda & Yoga and experience as a Registered Nurse. In addition to being a yoga teacher trainer at MMC, she leads weekend workshops in “Asana & Sacred Sound” and serves on the Yoga Administration of Pacific Cultural Center. She instructs privately and in group settings to a variety of age groups.
	Phoenix Artemisia Phoenix began practicing Yoga devotedly in 1994 under the instruction of teachers from the Ashtanga tradition of Baba Hari Dass. Her personal studies in Eastern philosophy, shamanism and sacred mythology buoyed her through the completion of a BA degree in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz. Phoenix received her first teaching certificate at the Kali Ray TriYoga Academy in 1999, then completed a 200+ hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training at Mt. Madonna in 2003. She has also completed teacher training modules with Senior Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, Kofi Busia, who she considers a beloved primary mentor. In 2005, she earned a 200+ hour Certificate with honors from Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. She has been studying Vedic chanting and Indian philosophy intensively in India for the past three years and leads Yoga trips and teacher trainings in northern India to bring students to the source of Yoga by the sacred Ganga river. She holds the Reiki Master level attunements and brings her passionate interest in anatomy, subtle energy work, years of daily meditation practice, and Love to the adjustments given to each student. Her intention is to honor the individual practitioner and to create a traditional atmosphere in which one can experience the complete system of classical Yoga and enjoy a sense of sacred community, or sangha, as a support for a joyous, conscientious and wholistic life. http://www.phoenixyoga.net
	Rachel Sonnenblick Primarily trained in the Iyengar tradition, Rachel has studied with teachers from a wide range of schools to deepen her understanding of the practice of yoga. Rachel’s classes focus on body awareness and alignment, and the integration of movement with breath. Her teaching style encourages a fun, inclusive atmosphere in which students of all levels and abilities feel supported in their practice.
	Raia Kogan Raia has been practicing and teaching yoga in the tradition of Baba Hari Dass for six years and has apprenticed and taught for Yoga Teacher Training at Mount Madonna Center for the last four. Raia has also studied Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Shiva Rea, David Life, and Sharon Gannon and Tantric Hatha Yoga with Scott Blossom and Sofia Diaz. Joining the ancient tradition of Yoga with knowledge of anatomy and yoga therapeutics, Raia tailors yoga classes to meet students’ physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual goals. Her intention is to offer a practice that is in alignment with the wisdom of the sages and the needs of our modern lifestyle, that is simultaneously joyful and profound. By inhabiting our bodies more fully, our breath and heart can expand into an experience of embodied liberation. http://www.devihealingarts.com
	Allison Sirny-Guevara Allison has studied hatha yoga primarily in the Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow traditions since 2001. Her energetic Vinyasa Flow classes focus on linking breath to movement through a flowing sequence of postures that encourage creativity, flexibility, strength, balance, mindfulness, and a general spirit of union.
	Treea Clements Treea completed teacher trainings through Integrative Yoga Therapy, Mt. Madonna Center, and Erich Schiffman. Her personal practice and teaching style are influenced by Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga, as well as Anusara yoga and Zen awareness. Treea encourages students to utilize yoga asana to reveal the inherent peace within, while healing and strengthening the body. Alignment, breath awareness, positive attitude, communal transformation and support are emphasized in a fun-loving atmosphere. She is now also teaching Prenatal and Post Partum yoga.
	Tamara Lewis Tamara has studied yoga since childhood and has been teaching in the Bay area for 7 years. Her teaching is rooted in the TriYoga system (in which she is certified), informed by Iyengar alignment principles, and influenced by Integral, YinYang, and Vinyasa Flow yoga. Tamara considers yoga to be a key to a lifetime of health and well-being, and has seen and experienced yoga as an extraordinary means of transforming lives. She is dedicated to sharing yoga with others and loves encouraging people at all levels of experience. Contact Tamara at tamaraleah@cruzio.com

Pacific Cultural Center & Ashtanga Yoga Institute:
1307 Seabright Ave (at Broadway), Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Phone: 831-426-8893, Fax: 831-426-4951
Email: office@pacificcultural.org

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