Instructors
THE YOGA TEAM
Our team of professional and talented yoga instructors makes International Orange your best resource for Yoga in San Francisco.
Nicole Cronin fell deeply in love with yoga in 2007 when she began a regular Ashtanga Vinyasa practice at It’s Yoga in San Francisco. Her teacher Larry Schultz, Founder of Rocket Yoga, led classes that encouraged his students to “get ready for take off and…fly!” “Flying” is exactly how Nicole feels when practicing yoga. After breaking her back in early 2012, Nicole had a profound understanding that we are so much more than our bodies and our minds. Yoga was her gateway to meditation: seated and moving, both on and off the mat. Once she was back on her feet, Nicole was inspired to share yoga: a practice that set the tone for many of the tools she used during her recovery. The practice has helped her release into and find power in the present moment, be with “what is”, and to let go. Nicole strives to lead a class which nourishes the soul, invigorates the body, and calms the mind. Combining asana practice with a commitment to the inner spiritual journey is the foundation of her classes.
Jacquie Duncan has been practicing and studying the art of yoga for almost ten years. After more than a decade of successfully navigating the corporate waters at Bain and Google, Jacquie was inspired to begin teaching by Rusty Wells and is certified in Bhakti Flow. Jacquie is an avid student of Anusara yoga and incorporates the principles of this practice in her teaching. She has studied with John Friend, including a specialized training in yoga therapy, and completed additional teacher training with Sianna Sherman. Jacquie has also embarked on an intensive study of Shiva/Shakti Tantric philosophy with renowned scholar Hareesh Wallis. In pursuit of bringing the wisdom of the ancient sutras to everyday life, she has come to understand that through alignment of our bodies, our minds and our intentions, we are able to maximize our human potential.
Allie Edison began her relationship with yoga as a longing for self-healing. As her practice deepened, the physical, emotional and mental layers began to peel away, leaving space for a more peaceful and lighter state of being. Yoga transformed her life and she is beyond delighted to share the magic! Her class is playful and rejuvenating and it reminds us that wherever we are on our journey, in the magic of each moment, is exactly where we need to be. She received her Vinyasa training and certification under the love, light, and wisdom of Jasmine Tarkeshi and Dana Flynn – creators and founders of Laughing Lotus. She has a heart full of gratitude for the many teachers along her path who have helped her discover her own inner teacher. Allie is also a Registered Nurse and is currently coordinating care for seniors at Sequoias San Francisco.
Tina Foster offers warm and mindful restorative yoga classes. Her teaching style is lucid and down–to-earth, drawing on her own experience and struggle of learning to rest and meditate. As we rest, we give ourselves permission to do nothing. In doing so, we effortlessly polish the lens through which we view our lives. Tina has studied several contemplative styles of yoga with many teachers and has been especially influenced by Judith Laster and neurobiologist Roger Cole. Tina uses imagery and language to help practitioners integrate philosophical knowledge and body sensation. Her classes have ambient soundtrack to contribute to the meditative atmosphere and she places props to support each individual practitioner.
Rosemary Garrison began her practice in the traditional Astanga style with Tim Miller. Devoted to the intensity and purity of Mysore, she spent years with the 1st and 2nd series. Over time, life called her to explore Vinyasa. Now… the free form creativity and expressive nature of Flow are the foundation of both her practice and her teaching. Like so many of us, Rosemary was drawn to the mat for inexplicable reasons. She soon realized that while her body was happily opening and strengthening… her mind, heart and spirit were also undergoing a transformation. Slowly, she became ever more intimate with a power greater than self, an energy coursing thru the body~heart~mind, and has since been devoted to the cultivation of that energy. It is her hope that, by aligning with this innate inner force, each practitioner will have the experience of his or her own divine, radiant nature.
Jason Gillenwater took his first yoga class in 2001, hoping to resolve chronic upper back pain from working as a professional saxophonist. Since that time yoga has become a strong pillar in his life. Jason loves sharing the benefits of a consistent practice, with a focus on creative, intelligent sequencing and proper alignment. Jason has a 500 hour RYT certification with David Vendetti and is currently working toward a 300 hour RYT certification with Shiva Rea. In addition, his classes are inspired by his studies with Janet Stone and his practice with Les Leventhal. Jason’s classes also draw on his experience studying Jivamukti, Anusara, and Forrest yoga.
Kevin Hibbitt teaches Hatha Flow classes that are a dynamic mixture of Ashtanga yoga, pranayama, deep restorative asana, and the wisdom of the Yoga Sutras. He encourages his students to continually deepen their practice and to discover the subtleties of pranayama, bandhas, concentration, and meditation. His classes move from fast paced vinyasa to long moments of stillness and tranquility. Students can expect to explore their own limits in a manner that is both rigorous and compassionate. Kevin also supports students to relax deeply and to forge an honest connection with themselves as complex beings. He holds yoga as a discipline that addresses the whole person and aims to integrate multiple layers of experience including body, mind and spirit. Kevin is a graduate of the Greenpath Yoga teacher training program and holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Bridget Kavanaugh took on a deep passion for health and well-being in her early teens and has been thirsty to learn more ever since. After years of sports, gyms, and continuous studies on health, her wellness journey led to a yoga class. It was here she found a balance: a balance of working out physically and working in mentally. Little did she know that it would transform her life from the corporate world to that of teaching yoga. Bridget is a Yoga Alliance-registered teacher (RYT200) certified in vinyasa and is knowledgeable about various yoga styles and Ayurvedic health traditions. She continues to grow as a student and teacher of yoga and mindfulness through ongoing self-study and professional development. She enjoys guiding students through various posture flows, breath work and meditation by way of music, hands-on assists and fun. Focus is given on proper alignment to create a safe space allowing students to listen to their bodies and quiet their minds.
Mandy Kondo stumbled into her first yoga class while living in Hong Kong and on the track of law and politics; her practice transformed her in body, mind, and spirit, and inspired her to completely shift her path in life. She completed teacher training and taught yoga full time in Hong Kong until moving to San Francisco in August 2012. Her training is in both the Anusara method and vinyasa flow, and she teaches classes embodying a playful, steady style — committed to the belief that a sharp mind, vibrant body, and open heart can lead each and every one of us to boundless endeavors. Expect her class to emphasize alignment and a strong foundation — setting you up to safely and playfully explore your own practice with a challenging flow and fun mix of music.
Nicky Kruse started has been hooked on yoga since she first stepped foot on the mat several years ago. She instantly fell in love with yoga and as her practice grew, so did her passion. At only 18, Nicky was trained at the Tamal Yoga School. Nicky loves guiding students through creative, methodical, and flowing classes while linking breath to movement in a vinyasa style. She focuses on cleansing, healing, and strengthening the body through yoga postures and clearing the mind through meditation. Nicky loves to share her passion and dedication to yoga with others and help them to grow in ways they never thought possible. It is Nicky’s goal to link the mind, body, and soul together in each class, leaving her students with a feeling of peace, relaxation, and happiness that they can take with them not only through the rest of their day but also throughout the rest of their lives.
Jennifer Lewis draws from the Ashtanga yoga sequence developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. She considers Devorah Sacks to be her main teacher but remains in debt to all of the wonderful teachers in The Bay Area that continue to inspire her. Jennifer’s classes aim to be a moving meditation, placing importance on synchronizing breath and movement. Her teaching style is both challenging and nurturing. Jennifer was certified by It’s Yoga in January of 2002.
Andrea Maltzer believes that music, movement, and playfulness are essential. She brings over 15 years of instruction in movement, a passion for eclectic music, and a deep commitment to the transformative benefits of yoga to her classes. Andrea strives to combine these elements in a fun, physically challenging and spiritually uplifting practice. Andrea graduated from the It’s Yoga Teacher Training program in 2000 followed by 2 months in India studying Ashtanga Yoga with Pattabhi Jois. Other influential teachers have been Bryan Kest, Anna Forrest, John Friend, Shiva Rae, David Life, Sharon Gannon and her current teacher, Rusty Wells.
Marie Murphy strives to create a space in which students have the opportunity to explore the entirety of the organism that is their Self. She believes that wellbeing requires attention not only to the physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of our being, but also to the integration thereof. When we feel integrated and whole within ourselves, we are better able to be fully alive and present in our interactions with the world around us. Marie’s classes are based upon creative, dynamic sequencing that is challenging yet approachable for students of all levels, yoga philosophy, and breath awareness. She hopes to give students the opportunity to recognize the infinite capacity for physical, spiritual, and emotional change that lies within them, and the opportunity to claim the joy that comes with these discoveries. Marie is also a Holistic Health Practitioner, and loves helping her clients find and walk their own personal paths of health. She is grateful to all of her teachers, particularly Carolina Vivas and Erich Schiffmann.
Lindsay Jean Thomson brings a warm playfulness to the dynamic practice of vinyasa yoga. Her classes emphasize the importance of moving with intention and the beauty of being in the moment. Lindsay was trained in vinyasa and prenatal yoga in Washington, DC and has also studied Thai Yoga Massage Therapy with Saul David Raye. Her teaching is guided by the joy she feels sharing yoga with her students and seeing the positive impact it has on their lives. She is honored to be on this path with you, with great thanks to her many teachers.
Kari Zabel discovered yoga in 2000 while living a hectic city life in New York City. She practiced yoga off and on while she worked at several social justice nonprofits and in law school. Kari credits her yoga practice with her decision to forgo the field of law to instead study the origins of the spirit. She first studied power yoga in Denver, under the guidance of her teacher and dear friend Alanna Kaivalya. It was through Alanna that Kari discovered the esoteric teachings of Jivamukti yoga and its founders Sharon Gannon and David Life. Kari has been teaching yoga since 2004 and is one of the few certified Jivamukti yoga teachers in the Bay Area. She is grateful to her many teachers, including Alanna, Sharon and David, Stephanie Snyder, and Dana Flynn. Kari also holds a masters degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University.
