Instructors
THE YOGA TEAM
Mick Diener is a certified yoga instructor who has studied in Mysore, India with Pattabhi Jois, V. Shishadri and BKS Iyengar, among others. His background includes training in journalism and theater. He is currently a film and television commercial director in San Francisco. Mick’s IO class features great music and a supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere. “I’m very interested in finding the balance between a vigorous workout and staying very relaxed and at ease through rhythmic breathing,” remarks Mick. “In my class you’ll enjoy a flowing Ashtanga sequence that lengthens muscles, builds core body strength, and leaves you feeling purified, balanced and refreshed.”
Allie Edison first discovered yoga in 2001, but it wasn’t until 2003 that the seed began to flourish and grow with a consistent practice. By continuously returning to her mat, her physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being became nourished and nurtured. She now begins each day with conscious breath and awareness to bring a sense of peace throughout her day. Her practice has created space for self healing and she believes that yoga can peel away the layers which no longer serve us, revealing our true selves. Her Thursday lunch hour class is playful and rejuvenating and reminds us that where we are on our journey 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 in San Francisco. Allie has also been a Registered Nurse for over a decade and is currently coordinating care for seniors at Sequoias San Francisco.
Tim Floreen Tim first came to yoga looking for just another form of exercise to incorporate into his gym routine, but he soon saw the practice transforming his life in ways he never expected: he felt healthier, more relaxed, and more in touch with himself than he ever had before. He began teaching yoga full-time in 2000 and has taken teacher training programs with Bikram Choudhury, Baron Baptiste, and Rusty Wells. He has been on the teaching staff at studios in Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston and San Francisco, and he’s also appeared as a yoga model in several publications, including Yoga Journal. Tim teaches a vigorous, lightly-heated flow class, but always with the understanding that students should modify and take breaks as needed. He also makes sure to incorporate plenty of fun, humor, and music.
Tina Foster Tina’s interest in restorative yoga comes out of an interest in the nervous system and the surprising intensity of healing activity that goes to work below-the-surface of a genuinely resting human body. Her teaching is drawn from her own experience of learning to rest, her meditation practice, studies with Judith Laster and neurologist Roger Cole as well as other contemplative asana styles such as yin yoga and the meditative movement of viniyoga. She began practicing yoga in 1986 and teaches more vigorous styles of asana as well. Her warm, mindful classes are always guided by the principles of simplicity, generosity, creativity and authenticity.
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.
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.
Allison Hodge views yoga as a spiritual and mental journey that connects to the authentic self and as a means for attaining inner peace. Yoga therapeutics and yoga philosophy have led her to discover a keen sense of mind and body awareness. Her classes cultivate a sense of love and liberation to empower oneself by freeing the mind of all unnecessary thoughts. Inspired by her passion for yoga and music, Allison teaches a challenging yet playful flow class that encourages students to move through this sweet life with grace and compassion. She continues to explore and study the benefits of yoga and is forever grateful to her teachers, Rusty Wells, Andrea Maltzer, Amme Hill and Stephanie Snyder who continue to inspire her practice and teachings.
Erika Hollister has always been passionate and inspired by the union of body, mind and spirit. She grew up studying many forms of dance and believes the blend of movement and vibration in the body inspires health and balance, and prevents stagnation. Erika first turned to yoga seven years ago and found that it brought her towards a path of truth, balance, and empowerment. After several years of practice in New York City, Erika encountered Alan Finger’s BeYoga and became a certified ISHTA yoga teacher. Erika now resides in SF and recently completed a second teacher training with Ana Forrest. As a result of her diverse background and training, Erika integrates an honest light and joy to her classes alongside a strength, alignment and breath focus. Her approach influences students to brighten up and live in their own truth.
Jennifer Jarrett discovered Hatha yoga in 2000 while living in Chicago. This discovery occurred without expectation but since the first moment that she experienced the sense of peace, connectedness and acceptance that comes from integrating breath, movement and complete presence, yoga has been an integral part of her life. The practice is a gentle reminder to quiet the mind and open to love, devotion and gratitude. She completed Baron Baptiste’s Level I Teacher Training in August, 2007. Jennifer continues to study Bhakti Flow with Rusty Wells and completed 200 hours of training with him in November, 2008. Her classes are physically challenging and vigorous, while finding a balance between peaceful surrender and energetic devotion.
Deborah Lee completed her first yoga teacher training in 1999, adding yoga to many previous years of teaching health and wellness in New York City. Her love of yoga led her to celebrate the diversity of many styles. She has since integrated over 1000 hours of certified teacher training in Anusara, Astanga, Pre & Post Natal, Hatha, & Vinyasa. Most recently, she has completed nearly 300 hours of study with Anusara founder John Friend. An enthusiastic student herself, she has studied with and been inspired by a number of outstanding teachers, including Baron Baptiste, Rodney Yee, Tias Little, Patricia Walden and Sianna Sherman. Before moving to San Francisco, Deborah taught for the Baron Baptiste and Exhale yoga studios in Boston. With mindful attention to alignment and breath, Deborah teaches a balanced, yet challenging flow class to strengthen the body and mind while connecting to heart and spirit.
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.
Allegra Mynatt appreciates the power of yoga to holistically feed and nourish the spirit, body, and mind. She did her first yoga class in college in 2002. In 2003, she moved to Boulder, Colorado where she discovered Ashtanga Yoga with Richard Freeman’s and first saw the benefits of a cultivated daily practice. While in Boulder, she got a B.A. in Contemplative Psychology and a minor in yoga, which gave her opportunity to explore meditation, nutrition, purification techniques, pranayama, history, theory, and philosophy. With a solid foundation she returned home to California, where she formally trained and began teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 2007. Allegra’s classes compassionately welcome each level of student whether you have been doing yoga for 30 years or 30 seconds, knowing that every session provides an opportunity of growth, change, healing, fun, awareness, contentment, and relaxation. She enjoys sharing yoga as the balancing act of discovering new challenges, developing curiosity for the subtleties, having fun, relaxing into the breath, and going with the flow.
Melylah Smith is known for infusing joy, a sense of community and love into her classes. Yoga found Melylah in 1999 when she moved to San Francisco and she has been practicing ever since. The birth of her daughter inspired her to share her passion for yoga, on and off the mat, with other families. Melylah loves to teach yoga and feels honored to work with pre & postnatal mothers & their families. She teaches from her own experiences and encourages everyone in her class to tap into their own personal strength while having fun – letting go of the ambition and focusing on the intention. In her classes, your breath will guide and fuel you through a sequence of poses as your yoga practice meets you where you are. Melylah was certified at It’s Yoga (under the guidance of Larry Schultz) and later completed Jane Austin’s Pre & Post Natal Teacher Training as well as kids Yoga training through It’s Yoga Kids.
Debbie Steingesser discovered her true sense of inner ritam (rhythm) and joy in her yoga practice. She danced her way through the Holistic Yoga Teacher Training program with Saul David Raye, James Bailey, and Dr. Jeremy Brook at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in Venice, CA. In her flow yoga classes, Debbie encourages students to connect with the “Rasa” or juice, flavor, essence of their lives. She loves weaving together movement, chanting, breathing techniques, music, yoga philosophy, and meditation to help her students feel connected to their inner space. Debbie’s teaching draws on her passion for building community and bringing people together through movement and the arts. She assists her students in finding freedom in their minds and bodies by exploring their own personal expression of yoga. Debbie firmly believes yoga should be accessible to everyone as a medium for growth. Her classes are open to all experience levels.
Indigo Stray has studied and taught yoga in NYC and San Francisco since 1999. She is certified to teach Vinyasa through both Laughing Lotus College of Yoga and OM Yoga School. Her Vinyasa classes at IO are vigorous and inventive, inviting practitioners to dance at their edge and rest as they need. Indigo also works in the quieter side of the practice through restorative yoga, having received advanced certification in Relax & Renew from Judith Hanson Lasater. Her Mellow Flow class at IO incorporates gentle movement interspersed with deliciously held restorative poses supported by plenty of props. This class is perfect for beginners, those with injuries, and advanced practitioners seeking a more subtle way to move on Friday nights. Indigo loves all facets of the practice, including chant, meditation, and blending the yogic teachings into life. Currently, Indigo is a senior teacher and mentor for the Laughing Lotus teacher training program in San Francisco. She is also completing a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology at CIIS and hoping to take body-mind awareness to another level through these studies.
Lindsay 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.
Chanda Williams first participated in yoga classes 10 years ago. As an overstressed and over-stimulated third-year mechanical engineering student, Chanda sought a healthy outlet for all of the frenetic energy around her. With a consistent yoga practice, Chanda gained focus, a greater awareness of self, and a stronger spiritual connection. Now as a teacher, Chanda strives to share those qualities with her students. Her classes are safe, creative, and peaceful. Chanda was certified by The Integral Yoga Institute in New York City in 2005. She has also completed a Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Intensive with Shiva Rea and is a certified personal trainer from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Wendy Yalom practices yoga because life is much more fun when she’s dancing, singing and sweating. Every time she unrolls her mat and steps on to it, she’s reminded that this short, sweet life is meant to be a celebration! Her playful, vigorous flow classes encourage students to tap into their own creative potential and to have a good time NOW. The insight of the teachers from Rumi to Rusty Wells to Nisargadatta infuse the practice with devotion and tradition.
