Teachers

Hamid had a profound experience in his first Yoga class in February 2008.  As he continued his practice and continued to discover his inner teacher, he decided to put his computer consulting business on hold and focus his energy on applying Yoga to life. This led to the founding of Hosh Yoga and Dou Yoga as a way to share this amazing path of self-acceptance in an affordable and genuine way.

A teacher must also be a student.  Hamid continues his studies under the guidance of his guru Yogiraj Alan Finger and his mentor Mona Anand in the ISHTA lineage (Integrated Science of Hatha,Tantra and Ayurveda).  A 500-hr ISHTA certified RYT, Hamid has also completed ISHTA’s Prenatal teacher training program, and has recently finished Judith Hanson Lasater’s in Relax & Renew teacher training in Restorative yoga.

When teaching, Hamid strives to create a welcoming and openhearted space for the students—where positive change can begin to take place,whether it be small or monumental. He hopes that each student may receive his suggestions with a sense of lightheartedness,an understanding that each person is his own best teacher, and a step closer to an understanding of one’s true Self.

www.hamidelsevar.com

Yuuki’s parents put him on skis when he was three and ever since he has been on his feet trying to find balance—whether it be skateboarding down the street, snowboarding through powder, hanging upside down rock climbing or just playing around. However when Yuuki was introduced to yoga in 2003, things started to shift as over time his practice became an integral part of his life. He found such great benefit from it that he enrolled in the teacher-training program at Yoga to the People and became an RYT 200-hr certified instructor at the end of 2008. At first, it was yoga’s effect on the body—being stronger, healthier, leaner, and more flexible that drew him to yoga. Yet, as his practice continued, through breath, asana and attention he came to sense the subtler transformations, realizing that beyond the physical there is more, much more. This is what Yuuki wishes to share with his students, to be curious and continue exploring the greater reaches within the human body.

In 2011, he studied Yin Yoga with Corina Benner and became a certified instructor. The training exposed Yuuki to The Yin approach which allowed him to explore the complexity of the human body structurally, emotionally and energetically from a different vantage.

Yuuki will forever be a student exploring through his own practice and with a multitude of amazing and knowledgeable teachers wherever and whenever he can. With all of this incredible wisdom in the world, Yuuki does his best to bring his understanding of it into class to share with his students. Being grateful for every moment and every breath.

www.yuukihirano.com

Apprenticing most recently to Ashtangi and Acro Yogi Olivier David made things real clear: Do not teach. Relay. Do not invent. Repeat. Keep it clear and simple. “Daily practice, all is coming.” The information passed through to students knows no ownership, only continues through a channel tuned much before our time.Robyn spent 6 months in South East Asia exploring Yoga and Thai Massage, among various health and wellness modalities. She earned her Yoga Alliance teaching certificate in 2008 from Yoga to the People and continues a search as student and teacher with unlimited fervor and curiosity. Sam Chase, S.N. Goenka, and Olivier David were integral in her process and still serve as inspirations on a continuing path.Cleanse the body, control the breath, quiet the mind. Transcend.

Christina Rufin has a 18-year practice she began at Sivananda Yoga in NYC where she immersed herself in the teachings of yoga as well as the asana practices and meditation. After receiving her 200-hr certification from Aura Yoga, RI, she pursued her goal of reaching communities to whom yoga is not easily accessible and became certified with YogaEd to teach yoga to children and educators. Thereafter, she certified through School for Compassionate Action where she was trained to teach yoga and meditation to In-Need Communities.She is currently teaching children and at-risk teenagers who inspire her through their playfulness with asanas and their embrace of meditation. She is also studying the first 108 hours towards a 300-hr certification with SCA.Christina strives to empower the student to be their own teacher by giving them the space to listen to their own bodies and minds.Christina is very grateful to all her teachers and especially Jill Satterfield for opening her up to the great Grace and is very happy to be practicing and teaching with her Brooklyn community.

Ariel grew up riding horses and getting lost in the woods in the emerald green Vermont countryside. She took her first yoga class twelve years ago and couldn’t stand it. But then after giving it another shot several years later, she found yoga to be a profound practice for transformation and revelation. She was hooked!

Ariel’s classes emphasize precise physical alignment, an open-hearted attitude, attention to the present moment and the supreme importance of having fun. Her primary intention as an instructor is to help each student merge with the truest teacher possible – the unfailing guide within.

Ashley discovered yoga as a teenager and has been practicing for over twelve years. She completed her 200-hour teacher training at Kripalu in Lenox, MA in 2007. In 2011 she received her 85-hour prenatal teaching certification through Sacred Shape in Brooklyn, NY. She has had the opportunity to study numerous styles of yoga with many wonderful teachers and all have informed her practice and teaching. Ashley’s classes focus on breath and alignment and encourage students to explore and discover their potential and self-expression as well as some lightness in their practice.Ashley is available to teach private classes for students of any level as well as prenatal. For contact and more information please visit her website.

wix.com/acorbinteich/yoga

Linnea has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and is honored to be able to share its gifts of transformation with others. She received her yoga teacher certification at Kripalu Yoga Center after an amazing 30-day, heart-opening intensive. Linnea creates a fun and loving space for practitioners to explore and deepen their yoga practice. Her classes integrate a strong foundation of alignment with a balance of heat-building vinyasa to challenge the body and silence to still the mind. Such stillness allows us to hear the voice of our inner source of quiet and strength. In 2010 Linnea received a reiki level one attunement. This healing energy enhances her yoga instruction.As well as being involved with yoga and reiki, Linnea is a drummer, singer and painter. Her band Cliffie Swan has released three albums and toured across the US and UK. Linnea’s relationship to her body as a rhythmic and tonal instrument helps her create interesting and dynamic yoga flows.

Holly Ramey has been drawn to music, dance and movement since childhood. Always inquisitive about the mind-body connection, she was naturally drawn to yoga when she moved to NYC to pursue a career in fashion. A few years later, Holly received her 200 hour training at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center and a 300 hour certification at YogaWorks in NYC. She also recently finished Jillian Pransky’s Teacher Training in Restorative Yoga. Her classes are a fun and challenging vinyasa flow, with strong focus on breath and alignment. Her teaching is infused with devotion, love and laughter.

Nisha’s first experience with yoga was in 2004. She was randomly given a book called Hatha Yoga while riding the muni in San Francisco. Soon after she was building her own lessons and learning to become attuned to the subtle and energetic qualities of the poses; albeit at the time not fully understanding the philosophical significance. Nonetheless, that book would mark the beginning of a practice that would ultimately transform her. Nisha credits Yoga for helping her to develop space, balance, and stillness in the areas of life that need it most.The consistent inspiration she finds in the practice of Yoga motivates her to teach classes that are designed to enhance moment to moment awareness; in addition to weaving the calm of yogic philosophy onto the streets of New York. Nisha completed the teacher training program at ISHTA Yoga (Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda).Outside of Yoga, Nisha hails from a rich multi-cultural background that has influenced a love of good music, good food, and belly laughs. Nisha is also the Artistic Director for ReniGraef Productions, an entertainment company that produces shows at various New York City venues.

“What is here is elsewhere. What is not here is nowhere.”-Vishvasara TantraAfter years spent as a member of full-time touring punk bands, an animal rights activist, and just generally rambling around the United States and Europe, David Silverberg discovered a consistent yoga practice at ISHTA (Integrated Science of Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda) Yoga in the winter of 2009. After completing the ISHTA 500-Hour teacher training program, he continues to study Tantra and Kriya yoga on his own and with countless teachers, including Yogiraj Alan Finger and Yogiraj Jean Koerner.His class is a strong alignment and breath based flow practice rooted in the philosophy of ISHTA. Integrating a no-nonsense approach to asana and meditation with a sense of humor and ease, he hopes to help students discover their own personal practice and the perfection that already exists within each of us. He is a full-time musician and teacher in New York City. He finds writing in the third person tacky.

He completed the 200 hour teacher training at Yoga To The People in 2009 and has been teaching ever since! Never being content in his thirst for knowledge he is currently completing his 500 hour Yoga Teacher Certification at Ishta Yoga. Roque teaches a vigorous, compassionate Hatha, Vinyasa blend with an emphasis on the breath and awareness of the self.

Through his personal practice he has come to see that yoga is the most effective tool for self-discovery, pain/injury management, clear and effective thinking, strengthening  and maintaining ones over all physique and  balancing the mental and emotional status of anyone who practices.
Roque L. Rodriguez is also passionate about people. He LOVES people! He believes yoga, like life, is about finding balance. While being naturally boisterous and exuberant, he finds comfort in the quiet he experiences through yoga and meditation.  Not only had it eased his pain it had helped clear his often cacophonous mind. He has brought yoga into the lives of many friends and loved ones and wants to touch as many lives as he can. He believes that yoga is for everyone and is enthusiastic about helping people develop their own practice!