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 2004 she came to Hawaii to share the Vinyasa Flow/ Tantra Hatha Yoga approach to practice and opened Open Space Yoga. She finished her 500 hour with teacher Rod Srtyker, founder of Para Yoga and is Level 2 certified. She is certified as an Ayurveda Lifestyle consoler and has studied with Vamadeva (David Frawley) & his wife Shambhavi Tantra & Ayurveda. She continues her studies in Sanskrit with Dharma Widmann and Tantra with Pandit Rajmani Tigunai.
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. Her certifications include ACE and 500ryt. She is a registered Prana Vinyasa teacher under Shiva Rea.
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.
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.
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 Muller was first introduced to yoga philosophy as a teenager in Buenos Aires, Argentina, He was reintroduced to the practice in 1998 when he attended his first meditation satsang. In 2000, he moved to an ashram in upstate New York, devoting his life to the study and practice of yoga. Pablo spent the next four years living in ashrams, where he also learned to practice and teach hatha yoga. In 2003, Pablo completed his teacher training with some of the earliest Anusara-certified instructors, Jimmie and Ruthie Bernaert. Since then, Pablo’s teaching has been inspired by the Anusara methodology, as well as ancient yoga philosophy and his belief in yoga as a tool for transforming the mind, body and spirit.
Akaljas Singh (Mark Medley)
Mark Medley, LALC, began practicing yoga in 2008 and received his 200 hour certification as a Registered Yoga Teacher 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. Mark’s approach in Ayurvedic consultations is based on practicality, simplicity and effectiveness in order to provide useful individualized tools to support a long, healthy, blissful life. 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 Anjali Halford, a Registered Nurse since 1986, first discovered yoga in 1997. She began a consistent practice of yoga at a time of great transition in her life, unaware that it would lead to a new career and way of life. Diana’s classes are deeply informed by her dedicated study and personal practice. She has completed over 1000 hours of Yoga study and is on the faculty for Open Space Yoga Teacher Training. Teachers who have strongly influenced her are: Skeeter Tichnor, Christina Sell, Darren Rhodes, Noah Maze, Sianna Sherman, Douglas Brooks, John Friend and Nichala Joy Devi. Diana is devoted to continuing the path of yoga as a student and as always will seek out great teachers to assist her on that path. 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.
Vanice Medley
Vanice Medley; M.Ed., eRYT, finds joy in living this life as a domestic goddess, yogini, astrologist, designer, seamstress, writer, great listener, and lover of nature. Since 1999, she has practiced and studied various styles of yoga as well as Vedic & Tantric philosophies. With formal studies in Restorative, Hatha & Kundalini Yogas as well as Jyotish, Ayurveda, Psychology & Education, she has a special ability in relating esoteric and abstract things clearly and intimately. Her devotion to remembering the Divine within and around us shines through in her loving and unique teaching style. She relishes absorbing, experiencing & sharing these amazing sciences, therefore her classes, private sessions & astrological readings employ a variety of accessible yogic techniques. She firmly believes life is deliciously precious and every moment holds potential for bliss. www.akaljas.com
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.
Cecilia Ryan
Cecilia’s yoga journey began in 2000 (Hamburg, Germany) where she was an Aerobics Instructor on the search for more than just a physical workout. Not knowing what to expect of her first class, she found herself flowing through waves of sun salutations, fascinated by the beautiful dance between breath and movement, grace and intensity. Her first step into the vast ocean of yoga was planted. Each time she stepped on the mat, her passion and dedication grew, which led to a mentor ship program at her local yoga studio. Her love for people and the desire to learn and share the knowledge of yoga, made the transition to teaching almost natural. She explored various yoga styles and attended workshops with local and international teachers. In 2006 she took David Swenson’s ashtanga teacher training. In 2011 she received her 200hr RYT certification with Open Space Yoga. In 2012 she attended Core Power Yoga’s 200hr RYT teacher training.
Ki (Mary) Wagar
In 2009 KI moved from Pittsburgh to Hawaii and has been practicing Yoga since 2007. The move to Hawaii has been one the most influential parts of her pursuit of yoga. It was the move to Hawaii that really allowed the space for her to become more personally involved with the deeper nuances of yoga. Although she is new to the Open Space roster she is not so new to the studio. Her journey with Open Space began a year ago when she started taking classes at the studio. It was not long before she enrolled in the teacher training with Mary Bastein, Jenifer Reuter, and Murti Hower, in August of last year. In November 2011 she completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Certification through Yoga Alliance. After that KI continued with the apprenticeship program at Open Space in preparation for teaching. During the training KI’s presence in the classroom was always described as as grounded, centering and supportive.
Carolyn Dold
Living in Hawaii her entire life gave the gifts of natural beauty and sunshine with a mixture of cultures, customs and connectedness to the earth and people.
Carolyn started yoga 5 years ago in 2007. After noticing its benefits through a steady practice she wanted to go deeper and learn more. She participated in the Open Space Yoga Teacher Training program in the fall of 2010 and earned a 200 hour RYT certification.
Carolyn has always adored spending time with children, she recently became a Yoga Ed certified K-8 grade yoga teacher with Brynne Caleda and is currently involved with Stretch Your Imagination a non-profit organization focused on bringing yoga to school children in Hawaii. Another major interest of hers is studying Ayurveda ~ the sister science of yoga. Carolyn is currently training to become an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist with Kathryn Templeton of the Himalayan Institute.
Sheila Miles
Sheila came to Open Space Yoga in 2008 to escape the corporate world of business. Once there she became so inspired by the philosophy and stress reduction in her life that in 2009 she completed the OSY 200 hour RYT certification. She’s grateful to her first teachers of yoga, Mary Bastien, Murti Hower and Jennifer Reuter for their encouragement and support. Her love of learning has taken her to yoga’s sister science of Ayurveda that she incorporates in her private practice as a licensed therapist, specifically Structural Integration aka Rolfing. Sheila continues to deepen her understanding of yoga, specifically the tantric lineage. She is currently in a 500 hour Parayoga training with Yogarupa Rod Stryker. Sheila loves the feeling of expansion and well-being she experiences with yoga and wants to share that with her students.
Vasana Chiu
“Vasana began practicing yoga in 1992 while pursing a business degree at the University of Hawaii. She taught yoga in New York City from 2005 until 2012, when she moved back to Honolulu to be closer to her family and reconnect with the beauty of the islands. Vasana completed the Yogaworks advanced teacher training program in 2006 and her classes are inspired by the fluidity of Ashtanga and mindful alignment of Iyengar yoga. Her goal as a teacher is to share the therapeutic benefits of yoga in a manner that’s accessible to students of all ages and abilities.”
Jove Watson
As a Wellness Coach (AACC) and Yoga Teacher (500 Registered Viniyoga Teacher, 500 and ERYT 200 Yoga Alliance) Jove’s teaching will bring you in from outer space to your deep inner space. His teaching will provide you with the strength and awareness for personal transformation. Jove’s teaching will start with the physical body but is designed for the primary focus to be the mental body, helping you unlock your true potential and purpose in life with joy and bliss. All of his classes are focused around the breath and allowing it to be the tour guide of how your body should authentically move and feel, not letting the intellectual mind be the master, allowing for breath centered movement in and out of postures, also called Asana. Each class will contain the use of sound, Pranayama and leave time for meditation, guiding you to move inward and create a deep internal experience and connection. Due to his visual impairment, he experiences the postures (Asana) differently than others and by sharing that experience with his students he creates a light and joyful environment, which allows for a deepening of your practice.
Amanda Painter
Amanda came to yoga through dance, needing an alternate outlet for mind-body movement after college. She started taking Vinyasa and Anusara Inspired classes and fell in love with the practice of linking body, mind and breath through a heart-felt, pranic connection. Shortly after moving to Oahu from Northern California, she decided to dedicate her life to healing, and to helping others heal themselves. Her interests range from Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, to Ayurveda, and she recently finished a training to become a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist through the HImalayan Institute. She is devoted to teaching student-centered classes that strive for balance, self-inquiry, and engagement with the higher Self. She recently graduated from the 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training offered here at Open Space
Sara Kova
Sara established her love for Yoga at age 13. In her early 20′s she went on an esoteric journey, on which she became a Certified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master, and Pranic healer. This journey landed her in Hawaii, were she felt a deep earth energy connection. Sara left the island to continue her studies in Venice, CA; training with some of the top teachers in the yoga community such as Shiva Rea, Annie Carpenter, and Saul David Rea.
Sara has taught Yoga around the world including: India, Germany, California, New York, Florida, and Hawaii.
Nanz Maidee
With 200- hours yoga practice, alliance at Yoga To The People in San Francisco in August 2012, her practice emphasizes on Hatha yoga, Vinyasa Flow and alignment. Other yoga experiences have been practicing Hot Yoga (Bikram Yoga) for 6 years since she lived in Bangkok, Thailand. “My first encounter with yoga was in Thailand, and I found out that yoga is my journey to connect myself with my spirit and it is such a great work out.” After She finished the training with Yoga To The People (YTPP), she had an opportunity to lead a class in San Francisco studio and Berkeley studio several times.
Jamie Leigh
Now a Movement and Yoga Therapist as well as a Bodyworker, I trained for 16 years as a Ballet Dancer. At the age of 20, after being struck by a car while on my bike, I received the crushing diagnosis that I would never dance again . Not one to be told no, I spent the next decade immersed in the studies of Human Anatomy and Eastern Medicine, re-learning how to use my body and in the process, learning to use it more efficiently and effortlessly than ever before. I strive to empower my students and clients in finding a more easeful life, inhabiting their bodies and expressing their souls to the fullest using Yoga, Ayurveda and Bodywork.
Katrina Yoder
Katrina has been teaching yoga in since 2004. Her journey with yoga started when she was 17 as a way to spend time with her mom. To deepen her own yoga practice, Katrina attended a 200 hour teacher training at Yoga Hawaii. When Katrina started teaching yoga it felt like she had truly found her calling. To strengthen her skills and knowledge in teaching, Katrina designed her B.A. at the University of Hawaii to tailor her career in yoga with classes in Indian and Buddhist philosophy, anatomy, and biomechanics, psychology, and anthropology. She has also studied with Pattabhi Jois in India, completed an Anusara teacher training with Skeeter Tichnor in Maui, and is currently attending the Physical Therapy Assistant Certification program at KCC.
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