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.
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.
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 (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.
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.
Suzana Maia
Suzana’s love story with Yoga started in 1994 when she was introduced to meditation at her hometown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She continued her practice of Yoga when she moved to the U.S. in 2000. She received her yoga teacher certification in 2007 from Yoga Hawaii. Meanwhile, she continued to attend many workshops and conferences with different amazing teachers and styles that influenced and inspired her teachings. She has practiced at places like the Hawaiian Islands, Bali, California, Brazil, Nepal and beautiful India. Suzana is also a licensed Massage Therapist and a Reiki practitioner.
She describes yoga as being an experience of combining the awareness of the body with concentration in the breath that leads to a state of meditation in motion. She believes that yoga taught her strength, connection, flexibility, hope, health, compassion, inner peace and sense of community. It is a path that enlightens life while clearly creating immeasurable benefits in the soul, mind and body.
Soraya Farris
Soraya has studied and practiced different styles of yoga since 1997. She has been teaching yoga since 2006 and is certified to teach 3 styles: Sivananda (Hatha), Kundalini and Yin Yoga.
Originally from England, she has lived and worked abroad for the past 9 years. She feels blessed to have had the opportunity to teach Yoga to various communities in England, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Hawaii. Her classes generally incorporate the many styles she has learned and experienced over these years of teaching. She is currently studying Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and is beginning to incorporate the benefits of these studies into her yoga teaching.
Lindy Carpenter
Lindy’s inspirational teaching style incorporates fluidmovement, meditation in the flow, alignment cues, and humor. She has been thestudent of Shiva Rea since 2008 when she began the journey of obtaining aRYT-500 with the Prana Flow® Tribe. She embraces the Prana Flow® style becauseof its deep connection to Bhakti, Tantra, Ayurveda, tribal dance, and music tofacilitate a more authentic and spontaneous life. She is extremely grateful toShiva for her encouragement, inspiration, and teaching her how to trust theinner teacher. Originally from Philadelphia, she began her practicestudying Ashtanga Yoga in the traditional Mysore style. In 2007, she received aRYT-200 from Dhyana Yoga inPhiladelphia. In addition to her yoga practice, she has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistryfrom Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from Vermont LawSchool. She specializes in environmental law.
Mitra Somerville
Mitra Somerville’s journey in Yoga began with meditation. Meditating became a useful tool to de-stress after work and find some inner peace. He was drawn to community living in Australia where he explored all aspects of Yoga and organic farming. He became an Integral Yoga Teacher and moved to the city to practice teaching. The adventure continued by moving to Yogaville in Virginia. After taking more trainings, time was spent in a Health Retreat in Australia and then in New York City at the Integral Yoga Institute. New York provided lots of opportunities for teaching and learning from a variety of teachers from many traditions. Yoga has become a way of life. Mitra loves to share these ancient and sacred teachings. He is passionate about chanting, meditation and the science of the mind. He moved to Honolulu with his wife Sakina in early 2012.
Ye Nguyen
Ye Nguyen’s first yoga class was over 15 years ago, while studying naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University. She has been teaching yoga for 10 years. She studied yoga at the Iyengar Himalayan Center in Dharmasala, India and apprenticed with Dr. Lori Kimata, midwife, naturopathic physician & yoga therapist. She has had the honor to study with Dr. Pema Dorjee, one of the Dalai Lama’s attending physicians. She is also a naturopathic physician, doula, cranio-sacral & massage therapist, surfer, lover of nature, mother of a toddler, wife, sister & daughter. She taught pregnancy yoga throughout her own pregnancy. She believes in coming from a place of her heart, no matter what she is doing. Her deepest passion is to help individuals access peace deep within themselves through yoga & meditation.