Mary Bastien
Mary Bastien began her yoga practice in 1997 in Venice, CA. She completed her first teacher training with Shiva Rea, Max Strom, and Saul David Rea. Shortly after Mary met Rod Stryker and has since been his student studying Yoga in the Tantric Lineage. She also completed the 108 hour Immersion in Anusara Yoga. In 2005 she came to Hawaii to share the Vinyasa Flow/ Tantra Hatha Yoga approach to practice and opened Open Space Yoga. Mary has also been studying Ayurveda under Dr. Suhas and applies basic Ayurvedic principles to asana practice. She just recently finished her 500 hour with teacher Rod Srtyker, founder of Para Yoga and is Level 2 certified.
Jennifer Reuter
Jennifer Reuter’s style is a fusion from her two main teachers: Shiva Rea and the Anusara System. Her style integrates the biomechanics of alignment, pranic energy, movement and heart. Besides her passion for asana, she is equally fascinated with yoga’s other components: philosophy and meditation. She is currently a teacher trainer at OSY where her enthusiasm takes students deeper into themselves as well as deeper into her own heart. Her certifications include ACE and 500ryt. She is a registered Prana Vinyasa teacher under Shiva Rea.
Laura Dunn
Laura Dunn draws an enthusiastic following of students to her Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow classes, which she has been teaching in Honolulu for the past six years. Laura completed teacher training at Yoga Hawaii in 2004 and continues her training today as an apprentice to Cathy Louise Broda. She made her first visit to study Ashtanga in Mysore, India in 2006. In addition to her Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow classes at Purple Yoga, Laura teaches at Yoga Hawaii. Laura has a BA in Religion and studied Sanskrit for three years under Professor Rama Nath Sharma at the University of Hawaii. She integrates this knowledge of Sanskrit language as well as yoga scriptures into her classes.
Heidi Hopkins
Heidi Hopkins fell in love with yoga after experiencing incredible ease and harmony brought on from practicing. She began to change without any effort. Heidi was drawn to teach in 2003 and has studied with Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea, and Raman Patel. Her unique teaching style encourages students to explore their edge while staying centered in the breath. Heidi’s inspiring yet gentle guidance allows students to unfold into their own unique experience of inner beauty.
Yoko Fujiwara
Yoko Fujiwara started yoga while in the IT industry in her hometown in Tokyo, Japan. She moved to Oahu in 2005 and decided to devote herself to the study of yoga. She graduated from Yoga Hawaii’s teacher training in 2006 and extended her teaching skills with Yoga for Kids from Yoga Ed., and Prenatal Yoga with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa of Kundalini Yoga. Yoko has practiced Ashtanga yoga at A.Y.R.I. in Mysore, India for 3 months in 2008. She also studied Sanskrit and Yoga Sutra chanting under Dr. M.A. Jayashree while she was there. She has completed an apprenticeship in Pregnancy Yoga, and is currently her Ashtanga apprentice, both with Cathy Louise Broda at Purple Yoga.
Sarah Van Der Vanter
Sarah has been studying with Senior Ashtanga Teacher, David Williams. I was mentored by Tracy Keenan, owner of Kihei Community Yoga Center and encouraged to begin teaching in 2004. She continues to study with Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini, owners of Maya Yoga. Her teaching combines the flow of Vinyasa, the strength of Ashtanga, structure of Asana, alignment of Iyengar, meditational qualities of Pranayama and philosophy of the Yoga Sutras to create an enjoyable, creative practice. You will be supported in a safe, light-hearted way while encouraged to expand your limits, uncover new strengths and inspired to transform body, mind and spirit.
Monica Ross
Monica Ross began the practice of yoga at the age of 17 but didn’t find the other spiritual layers of yoga until several years later while living in South East Asia. Surrounded by the less fortunate served as a motivation for her to practice Asana with the intention of delivering positive energy back into the world. With the help of a Jivamukti book and a mentor, she found herself saluting the sun everyday to share the power of yoga with the world. From her dedicated self studies it was a natural progression to continue her studies in a 200 hour teaching training at Open Space Yoga. Upon completion of her training she is now working with local teachers to further grow and develop her love for yoga. Monica’s practice and teaching is influenced by diversity and love for the world.
Rachel-Piano-Pooley
Rachel Piano-Pooley first discovered Yoga in ’00 while studying Psychology and Theatre at UC Santa Cruz. Since then, Rachel completed her Masters in Social Work from UH Manoa in ’07, her yoga kids certification with Brynne Caleda of Yoga Ed. in ’08, her 200-Hour certification from Open Space Yoga in ‘09, and her LCSW in ’11. Rachel plans to continue her Yoga education by completing her Ayurveda Certification in ’12 and hopes to continue to learn more about Tantra Yoga by studying ParaYoga with Rod Stryker one day soon! For Rachel, Yoga acts as a mirror to provide a means of self exploration, awareness, connection, balance, and fulfilling ones desires. Rachel is passionate about bringing yoga to the community, helping to be a part of and a witness to the positive change it brings to the lives of all.
Victoria Moorhouse
Victoria has been a student of yoga since the 20th century and most recently completed the 200 hour advanced studies program at Open Space Yoga. She believes Krishnamacharya’s approach of “if you can breath, you can do yoga.” Victoria is excited to bring yoga to anyone and everyone that has a desire to integrate yoga into their daily life. She is inspired by Indra Devi, Judith Lasater, and the extraordinary experience of living life in Hawaii.
Brynne Caleda
Brynne Caleda aspires to help people of all ages discover the benefits of yoga. She is a certified Yoga Ed. instructor and trainer, and completed Yoga Hawaii’s intensive teacher training as well as an apprenticeship in Pregnancy Yoga with Cathy Louise Broda. In 2003, while working in Washington DC, Brynne embraced a rigorous vinyasa practice. Seane Corn is one of the many and varied teachers on the US mainland and Hawaii with whom Brynne has studied and from whom she draws inspiration for her own teaching. Brynne is a pioneer in yoga education for youth. For her master’s thesis she implemented Yoga Ed. at a Honolulu middle school and studied the physical and emotional effects of yoga on children. She leads Yoga Ed. trainings in Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines.
Pablo Muller
Pablo has been practicing yoga for 10 years. Eight years ago he met his spiritual teacher and has spent four years living in ashram communities, dedicating his life to the study and practice of yoga. John Friend and his meditation teacher, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda inspire his teachings. His classes are fun, dynamic, and strong. He believes in yoga as a tool for transformation. His lightheartedness is contagious; his students move easily to the next level of their practice. Pablo also has a love for surfing.
Mark Medley
Mark Medley, LALC, began practicing Kundalini and Hatha Yoga in 2008 and received his 200 hour certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher with Mary Bastien, Jennifer Reuter, and Murti Hower at Open Space Yoga. While gaining his BA in History, he became fascinated with studying the cultural and religious traditions of India and began to immerse himself in these subjects. Eventually, his studies led him to Ayurveda and his interest in this healing system prompted him to gain his license as an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor with the American Institute of Vedic Studies. This course is a design of Dr. David Frawley who is one of the world’s foremost Ayurvedic scholars. Mark’s approach is based on practicality, simplicity and effectiveness in order to provide useful individualized tools to support a long, healthy, blissful life. Mark’s studies also include Ayurveda with Mary Bastien and James Bailey; Sanskrit with Dharma Widman; Kundalini Yoga with Mehtab and Guru Karam; and the SuperHealth System of Yogic Science to Break Habits and Addictive Behaviors with Mukta Kaur Khalsa. Mark brings a light-hearted and realistic approach to yoga and genuinely loves to share this amazing technology of life.
Jaime Schrack
Shortly after completing the Birkam Yoga teacher training in 2002, she was offered a job, a plane ticket and an apartment. Unable to turn it down, she found her self living in Hong Kong. This was her first big taste of what it meant to be “flowing with grace”. “Things just seemed to fall into place”. She spent the next four and a half years teaching full time at Pure Yoga in Hong Kong, during this time she attended teacher trainings with Baron Baptiste (Power Vinyasa), Paul Grilley (Yin Yoga) and Anna Forrest (Forrest Yoga). It was also at this time that she began her study of Anusara Yoga under Patrick Creelman, which has heavily influenced her style of teaching. Jaime is currently studying Cranio Sacral Therapy, a practice that continues to heighten her sensitivity and awareness in her yoga and her daily life.
Diane Anjali Halford
Diana Halford has been a Registered Nurse since 1986. She discovered yoga at a time of great transition in her life, unaware that it would lead to a new career and life. Diana came to yoga looking for a way to stay physically fit, find peace and relaxation. She became a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance in the Ashtanga tradition in May 2004. She has completed the Certification for Yoga of the Heart ® Cardiac and Cancer Therapy taught by Nischala Joy Devi in 2007, and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Diana is currently immersing herself in the Anusara tradition with Skeeter Tichnor of Maui and is an Anusra Inspired teacher. Diana’s heart, humor and devotion to her own practice guides her classes which are full of love and laughter.
Ruby Lee
Yoga has opened the doors for Ruby to develop a balance between strength and flexibility, contraction and expansion, movement and stillness in both body and mind, connecting the two as One. As an Integrated Massage Therapist with over 2,900 hours of training on the human body, Swedish Massage, Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi and Reflexology, Ruby is passionate about living a healthy well balanced life full of meaning, growth and an abundance of love. In 2010, she received her Bikram Yoga Teacher Certification in Las Vegas and recently completed her 200 hour certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher with Mary Bastien, Murti Hower and Jennifer Reuter at Open Space Yoga.
Celina Flores
Celina’s yoga journey began as a freshman in college at the University of Washington in Seattle. There, Celina studied Hatha yoga, Psychocalisthenics, and Pilates. After 3 years of practicing Birkam Celina moved to the North Shore of O’ahu where she continued her Bikram studies under Vicki Wells for another year. Celina had the feeling that she was barely scratching the surface of what yoga could offer and intuited that she needed more information on pranayama and breath. Serendipitously, Celina’s friend introduced her to Open Space Yoga and upon taking her first class, Celina knew she had found her new yoga home. She soon signed up for the OSY teacher training where she studied under Mary Bastien, Jennifer Reuter, and Murti Hower.
Vanice (Akaljas) Medley
Vanice “Akaljas” Medley is a humanologist and certified Kundalini and Hatha yoga teacher. Since 1999, she has been practicing and studying various styles of yoga from which she incorporates all aspects of each into her classes. She delights in sharing the amazing transformational technology of yoga with all who are interested. Her joy resides in guiding individual students on a path that is appropriate for them and her private sessions are perfectly tailored to help students reach their specific goals while building a home practice simultaneously. Including a variety of yogic techniques in all of her classes, from physical postures (asana) and breath work (pranayama) to mental focus and meditation, her goal is to present various ways for students to find health, happiness, focus, strength, calmness and a deep internal connection. She strives to challenge students toward experiencing their Truth and consciously connecting to their ultimate potential.
Brenda Kwon
Brenda Kwon first came to yoga after falling ill in 2008. Amazed by yoga’s ability to heal beyond the physical body, she became a dedicated practitioner, exploring all aspects of it including asana, meditation, and spiritual growth. Her love for yoga led to her increasing desire to share it, and studying under Mary Bastien, Murti Hower, and Jennifer Reuter, she completed her 200 hour teacher certification at Open Space Yoga. With a background in energy work and twenty years of teaching writing and literature, she is continually amazed at yoga’s ability to bring people to their best selves. She is committed to yoga as a lifelong journey and believes in making it available for all who seek it.
Claudia Castor
Having grown up in Europe and lived in & traveled to many different countries, Claudia started practicing Yoga at the beginning of the new millennium while sailing the Sea of Cortez, realizing a much more simple life style. In 2010 she completed the 200 hour Teacher Training certification at Open Space, as well as a 3 month apprenticeship and continues to mentor with Murti Hower, growing her knowledge and practice through various workshops. Lifeʼs journey being equally important as the final destination, Claudia enjoys life with spontaneity and is most influenced by the tantric Hatha style Yoga as taught by Mary Bastien in the lineage of Rod Stryker, and Murti Howardʼs zen like Yoga, in the lineage of Rodney Yee, and very functional style in an Iyengar fashion. Her motto is “be the best you can be and be grateful for everything” she wants her students to feel better in their bodies and have zest for life.
Chanti Tacoronte-Perez
Chanti has been studying and teaching yoga in the Tantric Hatha Linage since 2005 with her teacher Rod Stryker, founder of Para Yoga. He has taught her that everyone has the ability to know their destination and find that road to walk on. She has currently completed the Para Yoga Certification (level I) & her Restorative Yoga training with Judith Handson Lasater, whom she has assisted in workshops in the United States. Her study of Sacred Art with Mavis Gewant and Pieter Weltevrede merges her love of Yoga with her passion for painting and education. Chanti hopes to inspire others to re-discover their shiniest self, by sharing her knowledge of art and yogic philosophy.
Helen Babalis
A traveler and natural athlete, Helen comes to yoga with an innate teaching ability, sharing her experiences with a play-full, loving vigour and a keen sense of awareness. After teaching aerobics (3 years), gymnastics (1 year), and shotokan karate (14 years), Helen took to yoga like a fish to water. Helen’s goal is to bring everyone to a level of empowerment where they feel everything is possible and can find the means to do it. Her ability to make people laugh while doing the seemingly impossible is a strong point.
Ani Young
Ani’s love for movement and dance started early. She was in her first performing group when she was 10, doing USO shows and TV variety acts. In her 20s she began her yoga journey, looking for something deeper with which she resonated. She began with prenatal yoga with Gurmukh Kaur while pregnant with her daughter, then went on to Iyengar and later Ashtanga with Bhavani Maki on Kauai. She is a graduate of Yoga Hawaii’s first Ashtanga Yoga teacher training with Prem Carlisi and Rupali Embry. To Ani’s students, her encouraging presence makes even difficult poses seem possible.
Cecilia Ryan
Cecilia’s yoga journey began in 2000 (Hamburg, Germany) where she was an Aerobics Instructor on the search for more than a physical workout. Not knowing what to expect, she found herself flowing through vigorous Sun Salutations, fascinated by the beautiful dance between breath and movement, grace and intensity. Her dedication and passion for yoga allowed her to attend a mentorship program at her local studio. She explored various yoga styles and attended Workshops with local teachers as well as international teachers, Michael Gannon, Bryan Kest, Lance Schuler and David Swanson (whom she took a 40 hr ashtanga teacher training from). She recently received her 200hr RYT certification with Mary Bastien, Jennifer Reuter and Murti Hower and currently continues her studies and practice with them. Inspired by the words of her teacher Mary: “LIFE IS YOGA”, she desires for everyone to experience their fullest potential through Yoga.