Jennifer Alvarado (RYT 200)
Jen Alvarado practices, teaches and lives yoga. It feeds her body, mind and soul. Her path to yoga started in 2002 after taking a Bikram class with a friend. The beauty and physicality of the practice led her to explore other styles including Power, Vinyasa, Bhakti, Ashtanga and Acro. Her early inspiration was Rusty Wells, founder of Bhakti yoga. In 2006 she completed her first 200-hour teacher training with him in San Francisco. Years later, Jen completed her second 200-hour teacher training with Mark Stephens, author of Teaching Yoga, and a teacher’s teacher for over 15 years. Jen’s curiosity brings her to advanced classes and teacher workshops all over the Bay Area.

Jen’s classes are known for their informal, positive atmosphere. Sharing her optimism and enthusiasm, she coaxes out the best in her students. Jen offers hands on adjustments and encourages everyone to stay positive and believe they can succeed.

Outside of yoga Jen is an aerialist, fire dancer and acrobat performing with several local troupes. In her free time she can be seen celebrating life and hula-hooping all around San Francisco.

Edna Barr (E-RYT 500)
Edna was born & raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where her formal introduction to movement began at age 5 at The Punahou Academy of Dance. Martial Arts was added shortly after combining grace with strength. Leading such a disciplined and active lifestyle naturally led Edna to a career as a group fitness instructor & personal trainer where she could share her passion for movement along with compassion and understanding of what it feels like to struggle to reach and maintain one’s personal goals. As rewarding as this career was, there was still something missing that her soul was craving. She found it in her first Sun Salutation in a Vinyasa Yoga class. Even with a lifetime of physical fitness coupled with the spiritual discipline of martial arts, Edna still faced the same challenges as every other beginner to yoga. Then a lower back surgery in 2007 brought about a whole new learning curve to her practice. With 20 years of teaching experience coupled with the influences of master instructors Anirudh Shastri, Shiva Rea, Duncan Wong along with many other Bay Area greats, Edna has developed a creative, lighthearted yet challenging style where everyone can continue to grow in their practice.

Clive Beavis (RYT 200)
Clive began practicing yoga in 2002 and became immediately hooked. He studied extensively with the best Iyengar and Vinyasa teachers in the Bay Area and was certified by Avalon Yoga in Palo Alto. Choreographed to carefully selected playlists his teaching style mixes these two disciplines in a continuous flow with an emphasis on alignment. Clive believes yoga should be fun, so watch out for the British sense of humor.

Clive became a teacher to share his love of yoga with the world. Since discovering yoga nearly half a decade ago it has transformed his life and those of the people around him. Clive believes that Yoga, in any form, will change the way a person feels, looks, thinks and even the way she eats. The total well being of mind and body through the practice of yoga eclipses anything Clive has ever experienced through sports or other activities. As a teacher Clive is able to share it with as many people as possible. Clive has been honored to teach at several of the Bay Area’s finest yoga studios and also offer private sessions for smaller groups looking to deepen their practice. His classes range from beginners looking for their first taste of yoga through to the very experienced looking to be challenged further in their practice. Clive can be found on the web at http://oldmoonyoga.com.

Bill Carter (RYT 200)
Bill has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and teaching the style of Power Vinyasa Yoga developed by Baron Baptiste since 2008. He didn’t like his first few Power Vinyasa classes–the room felt too hot, the workout seemed too hard, and he kept slipping around on his mat. For reasons he didn’t understand, though, he kept going back. Before long, he learned to stop struggling against the practice and how to surrender to the flow instead. He believes that real yoga should be taught for real people–not just for dancers and athletes–so that all of us can experience the power of yoga. Ultimately, he believes that the goal of this yoga isn’t just to make your body more powerful or your mind more focused–though that will happen–but to empower you throughout your whole life.

Bill loves the challenge of Power Yoga. He received his certification in Power Vinyasa Yoga under the guidance of Bill Raup, founder of Power Yoga Works in Philadelphia. Bill has also earned continuing education credits in Ashtanga yoga with Beryl Bender Birch, and he has practiced Ashtanga off-and-on since 2001. He has taken numerous workshops and intensives with Bryan Kest, who, along with Baron Baptiste and Beryl Bender Birch, is considered one of the founders of Power Yoga.

Bill earned his Ph.D. in History from Princeton University and currently is a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford, where he teaches humanities to first-year students . When he isn’t teaching anywhere, Bill enjoys vegan cooking, snowboarding, cycling, going to the beach, and spending time with his partner and their children.

Julie Dakin (RYT 200)
Julie was introduced to yoga ten years ago by a friend. She was attracted to the grace and fluidity of a thoughtful yoga practice. As her interest in yoga grew she felt a strong desire to share it with others. Julie is a graduate of the Avalon Yoga Teacher Training and Certification Program in Palo Alto. During her training she apprenticed with John Berg, founder of the Samyama Yoga Center and highly regarded teacher’s teacher. Later she trained with Max Strom, author of “A Life Worth Breathing” and with Desiree Rambaugh creator of the popular DVD series “Yoga to the Rescue”.

Julie’s style is best described as Iyengar combined with Vinyasa. She begins her classes with gentle stretches to warm up the body. Then she progresses to more vigorous asanas designed to build heat and concentration on the present moment. Julie inspires her students to experience yoga and rejoices in the transformation yoga brings about in their lives.

Along with her yoga teaching credentials, Julie holds a BA in Art History. In the spirit of giving back to the community, Julie teaches yoga and art to at risk teens with The Art of Yoga Project www.theartofyogaproject.org and the the Niroga Institute www.niroga.org.

When Julie isn’t teaching yoga, she enjoys hiking, oil painting, cooking healthy food and spending time with her son Zach and adorable dog Coco.

Jill Glikbarg (ERYT-500, RYT-500)
Jill has been practicing yoga since 1986 in the Hatha traditions of Ashtanga, Iyengar, Power and Vinyasa. She completed her first teacher training in Vinyasa Flow with Mark Stephens of Santa Cruz Yoga center and has completed intensive teacher workshops with Susi Aldous, Dharma Mittra and Shiva Rea. Jill is formally continuing her training in the Sri Vidya lineage under Yogarupa, Rod Stryker of www.parayoga.com. She has dedicated her life to teaching yoga full time in the Silicon Valley/Bay Area providing not only public classes but corporate and private sessions.

She focuses her narrative on the intimate conversation between breath and body that is often drowned out by the musings of the mind. Her class sequencing physically and energetically culminate into a peak pose and then she guides her students toward relaxing into release and stillness. Practitioners are led with verbal cues and hands on adjustments into safe alignment while deepening their practice. Her narrative takes the mystery out of yoga and allows all levels of students to experience the practice with humor, grace and joy. Jill can be found on the web at www.yogajill.com

Emily Galvin (RYT 200)
Emily Galvin RYT has been developing her yoga practice since 2002. She was first drawn to yoga after numerous sports injuries and a need to take control of a body that was working against her at such a young age. From the moment she stepped onto her mat her passion for the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of yoga lead her to study with some of the leading teachers in Southern and Northern California. Her practice then led her away from the corporate world and into a place where she wanted to share this beautiful gift of yoga. She received her 200 hour certification in Interdisciplinary Hatha Yoga with Don and Amba Stapleton at Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. She then packed her bags and her yoga mat and took her exploring and teaching through South America were she taught at an Eco Farm in Argentina, the Jangala retreat in Peru, and in the mountains of Chile. A call from home took her teachings back to the Bay Area where she was excited to take her discoveries and share them with her students. The insight of numerous teachers allowed her to practice in styles from Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, Yin, and mixed styles of Hatha (Power and Gentle Flow).

Her relationship with yoga continues to grow, change, inspire, center, balance, and bring love and light. Her intention as a teacher is to help others to learn/heal from the inside out. She is working to start a non profit that brings yoga as physical and mental therapy into the hospitals. Movement and laughter are essential to life and thus the basic structure of her style of teaching. She is known for her easy flow and transition between poses and ability to help students listen to their bodies and explore in their practice. This style allows Emily to guide in her Beginners classes and her more advanced morning flow classes since it is the student that learns become the real teacher. Her yoga classes encourage students to tap into their own creativity and to stay present and rejoice in the NOW.

Doron Hanoch (E-RYT 500)
Doron is a Certified 500 hour Yoga Teacher (E-RYT). He discovered yoga and meditation in 1992 during a two year trip to the far east. Since then he has studied and practiced under the guidance of Pattabhi Jois, Richard Freeman, Rolf and Marci, Tim Miller, Shashadri, and Mark Stephens. In addition to Ashtanga Yoga, Doron regularly practices Osho, Vipassana and Zen meditation.

Doron’s teachings are rooted in tradition, but presented in a practical and non-dogmatic way. He draws from Krisnamacharya’s lineage, incorporating the best of Ashtanga’s Tristana, Iyengar’s alignment and Desikachar’s doctrine. The result is a deep, blissful experience. Classes are fun and informative, with emphasis on alignment and safety. Deep movements flow from one to another in rhythm with the breath. Doron’s classes emphasize grace as the path to a meditative state.

Doron is honored to be teaching the 200 hour Yoga Alliance Teacher (RYT 200) Training at Peacebank. A unique opportunity to share all of his experiences and secrets for a blissful life.

Doron is a trained chef, a certified nutrition consultant (registered with the AADP) and a photo artist. He uses all of his skills to create a meaningful and complete yoga experience for his students. Doron shares his passion for yoga, philosophy and life on his website www.doronyoga.com

Lauren Hanoch (RYT 200)
Lauren’s love of movement began early in life. She was drawn to dance at a young age, eventually becoming a classically trained ballet dancer. As she matured Lauren realized that to experience life she must be open to it. Yoga provided a path to living life fully. She discovered yoga’s transformative potential. It’s ability to open up the body, to release tension and to reveal what was previously unseen. Yoga now plays a central role in her life. She strives to incorporate the wisdom of yoga in everything she does.

Lauren graduated from Avalon’s teacher training in Palo Alto in 2007. Her efforts to expand her practice have brought her to teacher trainings with a variety of world renown teachers including Ben Thomas, author of “Iyengar Yoga: The Integrated and Holistic path To Health”, Richard Freeman, owner of the Yoga Workshop, a top Ashtanga teaching institute, Max Strom, author of “A Life Worth Breathing” and her husband, Doron Hanoch, the teacher’s teacher at Peacebank.

Sharing the gift of yoga was Lauren’s motivation to become a teacher. Guiding her students along their path and witnessing their discoveries is a great joy to her. Lauren’s style is best described as Vinyasa with Ashtanga influences. Her positive outlook and playful attitude come through in her classes.

She thoughtfully designs the sequences she teaches to build strength, flexibility, awareness and confidence. Lauren stresses the importance of coordinating breath with movement. Most importantly, Lauren wants her students to find their edge. A place where they work hard without losing focus on the present moment. A place where they feel grounded and at peace.

Lauren believes that yoga class is a place to practice, smile, explore, and enjoy being alive. In her free time, Lauren likes to dance, run, cook, write, travel and spend time with her husband.

Cheryl Morgan (RYT 200)
Cheryl began practicing yoga in 1997. After discovering Bikram yoga she noticed how it helped her physical condition improve after more than a decade of serving the public as a flight attendant. She began a regular practice & decided to enroll in Bikram’s Yoga College of India in 2003 for the nine week training program. Since her certification, Cheryl expanded her knowledge by training with Paul Grilley (Yin Yoga), Judith Hanson Lasater (Restorative Yoga) and Erich Schiffman (Hatha Yoga).

In 2007 she became certified as a teacher of Sivananda Yoga and lived at one of their ashrams. The experience inspired her to change her life by aiming to follow the “Five Points of Yoga” by Swami Vishnu-devanada: proper exercise (asanas); proper breathing (pranayama); proper relaxation (savasana); proper diet (vegetarian); and positive thinking & meditation. All are needed to truly experience yoga.

In 2009 she enrolled in the Kerala Ayurveda Academy to become a Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. Ayurveda translates to the science (or wisdom) of life and emphasizes the importance of creating and maintaining positive health. This goes along very well with the path of yoga. Cheryl enjoys teaching new students and encouraging experienced students to continue on their path to health. Cheryl is also passionate about protecting the environment and the other beings that inhabit the planet. She enjoys volunteering as an animal adoption counselor.

Talei Loloma Morgan (RYT 200)
It is Talei’s heartfelt intention to support the well-being of our community. She warmly welcomes all to the mat. Talei is a Mom, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Holistic Wellness Coach, trained Doula, Blossom Birth Provider and a Professional Member of Bay Area Birth Information. She is passionate about supporting moms on their unique journey through Pregnancy, Birth and early Motherhood. Formerly the Design Director of a sustainable apparel company she has lived, worked and explored the yogic path in Australia, China, Hawaii and Southern California. She continues to consult with businesses in design and development. She finds inspiration in her primary teacher Shiva Rea and teaches Pre/Postnatal, Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Corporate and Mom and Baby Yoga throughout the Bay Area. She is thrilled to be growing her private practice as a Holistic Wellness Coach. www.taleilolomayoga.com

Soraya Orumchian (RYT 200)
Soraya began practicing yoga in the Iyengar tradition in 1992 with Yelena Fedotova. Coming to yoga from a background in dance and gymnastics, she was drawn to this deep physical and spiritual practice. Every teacher with whom she studied encouraged her to teach. She has developed her skill and very personal style over the last twenty years and designs her classes with the unique teachings that have changed her life as well as her practice. Her approach is guided by the philosophy of her most recent teacher Arkady Shirin, which stems from the Krishnamacharya lineage. Her goal is to help practitioners clear their mental and physical blockage and to find their true, individual, creative and free spirit. Soraya is certified by the White Lotus Foundation 200 RYT and is also a certified Thai Yoga Massage Therapy practitioner.

Soraya holds a degree in Graphic and Packaging Design, is a sculptor, the mother of two adorable boys, and loves to knit. She is most often walking, hiking or biking outdoors where she lives in Half Moon Bay.

Julia Stewart (RYT 200)
Attracted to Yoga by the idea of unity, Julia has been interested in and inspired by the idea of Om, the oneness of all beings. She studied dance and kinesiology at the University of California, Irvine, which added to her knowledge and emphasis in alignment, proper technique and injury prevention. She started taking Yoga class every day at the beginning of 2006, and by the end of the year, she had completed her first Yoga teacher training under the tutelage of Raghavan Dass in Santa Monica, California. She started instructing Yoga classes in 2007 on the Peninsula, and has loved every moment and is deeply grateful for all her students. In November 2008, she completed the Yoga Alliance certified 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at It’s Yoga in San Francisco. She continues to educate herself by studying Yoga-related literature and takes Yoga classes from a variety of instructors of different styles, which provide fresh aspects on millennia-old wisdom.

Her class reflects the methodical sequence of both Ashtanga Vinyasa and Sivananda Yoga styles, with an emphasis on alignment, breathing, and mindfulness. From the belief that strength must support flexibility, her Vinyasa classes include the Sun Salutations, standing and balancing poses, and a series of poses on the floor for stretching, strengthening and relaxation. At any level, she encourages deep breathing and equanimity of spirit on the Yoga mat as a practice for everyday life.

Part of living the Yoga lifestyle is Julia’s interest in the environment. She volunteers with non-profits to restore coral reefs and clean marine debris from the ocean. More about her and her work can be found at www.omjulia.com

Steve Schmidt (Certified Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher)
Steve has been a life-long athlete, starting with football, baseball, and wrestling in his youth and moving to mountain and road biking as an adult. Steve was drawn to Baron Baptiste’s Power Vinyasa Yoga for the integration of body, mind, and spirit in a powerful practice that applies on and off the mat. Steve’s love of the practice inspired him to share it with everyone by teaching. Steve is a Certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga teacher, is certified in hands-on assisting and is also a Certified Life Coach. In Dec 2011, Steve attended the first ever Level III teaching training with Baron, where he brought home Baron’s most recent “True North Alignment” teaching principles and a renewed commitment to teaching with Precision, Power, and Possibility.

Steve teaches at yoga studios around the San Francisco Bay Area and provides life coaching to anyone, anywhere in the world. His classes are vigorous with a strong focus on breath, encouraging students to explore and find their edge based on their experience and physical condition, while being open to inquiry and possibility in their lives. Steve loves to apply Baron’s principle of “if you can, you must” in class and throughout life. Steve is also an experienced guide to Baron’s 40 Days to Personal revolution program and has guided multiple 40 Days programs with the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute. He loves sharing the insights and breakthroughs that come about through this program by integrating yoga, meditation, nutritional awareness, and self-inquiry into daily life.

Outside of the yoga studio, Steve works full-time as an electrical engineer on the Xbox360, is an avid cyclist and enjoys hiking the bay area. Steve is also an ambassador to the Africa Yoga Project (www.africayogaproject.org), a non-profit foundation in Nairobi, Kenya that uses the transformative power of yoga to empower communities and change lives. Steve intends to visit Nairobi, Kenya in February 2012 to empower the Africa Yoga Project teachers and their communities. For more details, please visit www.YogaWithSteve.com. Namaste.

Theresa Tomlin (RYT 200)
Theresa became a professional dancer at the age of 17 and continued dancing for about ten years with such companies as Disney, Paramount Great America, and MTV. Theresa first discovered the work of Joseph Pilates in 2000 while recovering from an injury. The Pilates method allowed her to systematically train the whole body while increasing core strength and flexibility. Convinced that Pilates is an ideal complement to dance, or any sport or cardio activity, Theresa became certified in the New York Style of Pilates by Carol Appel in 2006, and currently teaches many group and private Pilates classes in the Bay Area. In 2009, Theresa also became certified to teach Hatha Style Yoga at the Avalon Yoga & Art Center in Palo Alto, and offers the following insight by Sharon Gannon on teaching Yoga: “You cannot do yoga–yoga is your natural state. What you can do is teach yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.”