YOGA TEACHERS
ACE EASTER
Alicia "ACE" Easter discovered her love of yoga in the summer of 2006 while on a work assignment in Chicago, IL. After only a few heated yoga classes, ACE noticed the profound effect yoga had on her personal growth and knew she wanted to share its effects with the world. It took her some time to make the leap to become certified, but once she completed her 200-hour teacher training, there was no turning back. She is certified, through Yoga Alliance, to teach heated and non-heated Power and Yin Yoga.
ALEX HALENDA
Professional yoga teacher and motivational speaker since 2008, currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Alex is known for her ability to lead dynamic classes for all-levels groups, and deeply healing one-on-one sessions. Her clear speaking voice and comforting approach to the practice, make students feel capable and at ease no matter their skill or ability level. Alex’s students display and report a multitude of positive results from practicing with her. Through classes with Alex you can expect to build strength and confidence, lose weight, develop better posture on and off the mat, learn self-soothing practices, and techniques to improve focus and daily motivation.
Alex has been hired to work with large groups by Disney (2014), Macy's (2015), University of Central Florida (2016), The W Hotel (2016), and Okeechobee Music Festival (2016 & 2017). She has also trained and apprenticed under Baba Hari Das, Bhagavan Das, Ashley Turner, Seane Corn, Hala Khouri, Suzanne Sterling, and Mark White among many more master teachers in her local communities. Alex hosts retreats and teacher trainings periodically throughout the year, offering students and aspiring teachers a unique opportunity to study with her.
Alex is an E-RYT 200 with Yoga Alliance with over 5,200 hours of teaching. She offers classes in Power Yoga, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Meditation, Pranayama, communication, and everyday life skills. If you would like to work with Alex, please contact her via email at alexhalenda@gmail.com
AMANDA PETRO
Amanda Petro is a Healing Arts Practitioner, currently residing in LA. She was introduced to yoga in 2009 and immediately loved the physical aspect of the practice. It wasn't until she moved away in 2012, when she started practicing Ashtanga & Vinyasa Yoga regularly. After two years of continuous dedication, she became captivated by not just the physical aspect of yoga,
but the mind, body and spirit connection. In 2014, she began her journey to becoming a teacher. After completing her RYT 200, she craved to learn more and to dive deeper into yoga philosophy. She graduated from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Tempe, Arizona, where she finished the 800
hour Holistic Health Practitioner diploma. She's now a certified *RYT
500*, *Holistic Nutrition Specialist* and *Reiki Master Teacher *and specializes in Prenatal, Yin, PTSD, Aromatherapy and Sound Healing.
ARACELI CONTRERAS
I have been practicing yoga for five years. Ever since my first class, I fell in love with this prodigious practice; that is why I now call myself YogAra, and why I have been devoted to teaching yoga for over a year.
My mother tongue is Spanish, and I am committed to sharing the wisdom of yoga in my own language. I introduce my practice as “Yoga sin límites” (“No-boundaries yoga”), with the motto “Don’t let language limit your yoga practice”.
I am looking forward to improving my practice. I will be taking the 300-hour YTT soon. I am prepared for the next step.
I’d love to share YogaraFlow with you!
He practicado Yoga por cinco años, Desde mi primera clase, me enamoré de esta práctica prodigiosa; por eso me he nombrado YogAra, y he dado clase por mas de un año. Mi lenguaje nativo es Español, por eso mi compromiso es compartir la sabiduría de la Yoga en mi propia lengua. He introducido my práctica como “Yoga Sin Limites “ “No Limites tu práctica de Yoga, por tu lenguaje”. Mi propósito es mejorar mi práctica y estaré tomando 300-horas YTT próximamente. Estoy preparada para el siguiente paso. Me encanta compartir YogAraFlow contigo.
BREE VANZUTPHEN
Bree VanZutphen is a healer, teacher, creator, and artist.
Bree combines somatic and embodiment practices in all of her teachings and is passionate about addressing the physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects of Self in everything she facilitates. The intention at the core of her teachings is to hold space for others to deprogram their bodies and their minds of conditioning from upbringing, society, and the collective consciousness that inhibits the unique soul expression of each individual. She values freedom, authenticity, truth, conscious choice, community, and connection to the Self & the divine above all else.
Website: www.breevanzutphen.com
NACERA MEKKI
Nacera's commitment to making yoga accessible and relevant is reflected in her classes. She offers challenging sequences that empower students to explore their boundaries and overcome obstacles. Nacera encourages students to look inward and tap into their own wisdom and strength to guide their practice. Her classes are suitable for all levels, with modifications and emphasis on proper alignment. Each class with Nacera provides an enriching and meaningful experience.
RICHELLE BEING
Richelle is a Yoga and meditation teacher empowering people to access their inner peace and highest selves through mindful movement and attention to subtle forms of energy within the body. She received her teacher certification at a residential ashram in Uvita, Costa Rica, and has over 4 years of teaching experience from boutique studios and virtual offerings to outdoor adventures and unique event experiences at festivals, rooftops, and parties. With an undergraduate degree in Foreign Affairs and Political Science, her passion is to share the karmic teachings of Yoga to foster social change and collective healing.
STEPHANIE SMITH
Stephanie has been practicing 26 & 2, Vinyasa and Hatha yoga since 2001. She is RYT 200 certified and studied kundalini and Ayurveda at Yoga Farm in Ithaca, NY. She teaches privately and group classes at Kinship Yoga. Grateful to deepen her practice by studying she was moved to teach in recent years to share the positive emotional, spiritual and physical affects of the practice with others. Her focus is to get you into a meditative state on the mat - so focused you are truly present in your body and breathe for one blissful hour. When she is not practicing yoga she enjoys being a mother, her photography work, nature, and cooking. You can connect with her on IG @mindtomovementyoga
MEG SHOEMAKER
Initially, I came to my mat in art school as a simple way to calm my mind from anxiety and uncertainty. What I was surprised to find was an entire universe of awakening, from an unthawing of movement and breath, strengthening and aligning my physical body, and ultimately a continued fine-tuning of the subtle body and energetics of my mind. The working through Samskaras, the Sanskrit word and idea of “mental impressions and psychological imprints” is what I’m interested in offering to my students. What you’ve come into the world with and onto your mat with has a chance of transformation everyday just by incremental shifts in continued showing up.
After intense study for about ten years in various methods, I felt called to become certified to teach. I completed my 200-hour training at Kula Yoga Projects in New York City, led by my incredible teachers Nikki Viella, Schuyler Grant, Nikki Costello and Erin Dudley. As well as study in various methods of meditation, from workshops in meta-meditation at Om Yoga in New York, to training in transcendental meditation through the David Lynch Foundation. My intention with every class is to wake up dual-action in the body with clear and intelligent alignment, to keep the practitioner safe in the uncovering of fresh territory within the mind, body and the changing relationship of the two through the elixir of deepened breath, and most important, to leave my class shining!
SKYLER BURKE
Skyler has been teaching since 2008. Specializing in strength and power, his classes are challenging and high spirited. Outside of Kinship, Skyler is an avid outdoorsman with a 4x4 hobby and soft spot for old cars that need love. His attention to detail and care is present in everything and his “progress is perfection” philosophy is backed up by an uplifting kindness and welcoming nature making you feel like you’re in the right place at the right time in his class whether you’re brand new or an advanced yogi.
Madison (Maddy) Kirkpatrick was first introduced to yoga as a teenager growing up in Los Angeles. She felt even then that something was pulling her towards this practice of mind, breath, and body connection, and yoga gave her a sense of center as she navigated early adulthood. She was a student of yoga for six years before completing her 225 Hour Teacher Training at Kinship in 2020 and since has taught private students, public classes, and at special events. Kinship though, is her spiritual home and community and she is so grateful to teach and practice here. Maddy loves to lead classes that are accessible to all and that allows students the space to slow down, move energy and emotions through their bodies, and find a bit more presence- on and off the mat. Along with her practice, Maddy holds a BA in Sociology, is a Reiki Practitioner and loves spending her time in nature, reading a book or sharing a meal with her beloveds. You can connect with her through Instagram at @_maddy_moves_
VERONICA DESOYZA
Veronica deSoyza is an E-RYT and an LMT. She is a former Broadway dancer/singer/aerialist. She has been practicing Yoga for over 20 yrs and teaching for 14yrs. Her certifications include Kundalini, Vinyasa, and AIReal Yoga. She has led Kirtan workshops and teacher trainings in Vinyasa and AIReal Yoga. She has been inspired by teachers such as Brian Kest, Seane Corn, Ira Rosen(Govindas), Baron Baptiste, Yogi Bajan, BKS Iyengar, and Lea Kraemer, to name a few.
Veronica discovered Yoga while honing a career in the performing arts. Her practice started off as just another way to move her body through space. She was obsessed with movement. Dancing gave her so much joy for so many years and here was one more way to find ecstatic movement on a daily basis. It wasn’t until years later that she discovered what a vital role Yoga was playing in her mental and spiritual health and evolution. Yoga became her church. It was where I went to find peace of mind, to seek higher purpose, and to connect deeply with community.
Yoga has helped her live truthfully with passion and compassion. With yoga as my foundation, she was able to launch her career as a dancer, singer, and aerialist into success. There is no greater path for her now than to share her joy and success with others.
She believes that yoga is our way back to community. It is our way back to understanding our connection to all life around us, way beyond our physical realm. It's a way of really knowing who we are, discovering our full potential, and understanding the power we hold to heal ourselves and our world.
STELLA HAN
Sharing yoga wellness locally. Instagram handle: @yogihantas and @socialworkeryogini, check it! Her email is: stella4yoga@gmail.com Experiential background: Stella became a passionate Full-Time Yoga instructor in 2012. She was a government Children Social Worker for Los Angeles County and has extensive experience in working with Foster Youth and Group Home system. She earned a Master Social Work degree from University of Southern California (USC) and collectively attained well over 15+ years of social work/psychology field experience. Currently, Stella continues to dabbled in her Social Work hat of providing yoga-wellness to emancipated foster, social worker staff, and wellness community. What brought Stella to Yoga? Due to high stress nature of her past life, Stella ritually turn to Yoga, Hot Yoga, and Fitness practice to maintain her mental and physical well-being and spirit. From this experiential healing path, Stella was able to heal and refuel her sense of balance and self-love. She Vows to share the healing arts and science of Yoga to her local Friends and family for the rest of her life! She feels this is her calling and highest truth! Stella is grateful for her experience in working with countless children and families of many backgrounds. For it has awarded her to become a keen multifaceted culturally awared human being in which naturally added to her qualities to become of more empathic, intuitive, and compassionate yoga teacher and peacemaker of this world.Stella claims that yoga has helped her find endless love and peaceful journey to the self. She is beyond excited to share her impartially driven attitude and loving vibe with her local community and at a international level. Stella understands that sharing yoga, peace, and kindness is an endless practice. It is a way of life that she wears on her sleeve and embedded deep in Stella’s heart. Because Stella has witness, received occupational casualties, and has been able to recover from natural frontline trauma from her occupation in the past; she feels is fully capable to share from a place of true braveheart. Stella is gifted with the ability to lead others in their own experience of healing, transformation, and empowerment. Yoga Education:Stella received her first 200hr yoga teacher training in 2012 by “It’s Yoga” teacher training in Thailand , now known as “All Yoga Thailand.” Her specific teachers were Ricardo and Joy. The program’s format was richly based in the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition and was founded by the late Larry Schultz, whom has traces back to lineage with Ashtanga Vinyasa Guruji, Pattabhi Jois. Since 2012 Stella has never stopped teaching and her humble rendition of the primary series from the Ashtanga practice.Additionally, Stella has invested over 400+ hours of yoga education by Yogamazé school directly received by master teacher Noah Mazé and has practiced countless hours with the gifted, Nichol Chase, also from the Yogamazé dream team. Stella is lovingly trained to provide safe and intelligent sequencing style that helps bring many difficult postures into play and accessibility. Stella has acquired the skill to empower students in her class by offering clear and concise direction and variation of poses that work uniquely in your body by highlighting alignment and educating student by postural deconstruction. Demystifying poses practically to help students find accessibility of challenging poses. Ultimately, teaching in a way to preserve the integrity of your mind and body with the idea of investing in your yoga practice for the long run and lessening the need to quench immediate gratification as to live a more healthier and balance true self.Meditation:Stella is a old student of Vipassana meditation and has completed a 10-day noble-silent retreat course. She holds space for ritual building and meditation for healing and for increasing your magical powers of imagination and healing arts.
LINNEA SABLOSKY
Linnea is an LA-based acrobat. Obsessed with the practice since 2016, they’ve developed fluency in a variety of L-basing styles, and proficiency in hand-to-hand technique. An acro-nerd at heart, Linnea enjoys acrobatics as a joyful practice of communication, connection, and creativity. They specialize in mono-limb shoulder balances and hands-free flying.
KATHLEEN CRUGER
I originally came to yoga as an additional form of exercise. After practicing for a few weeks, I noticed a mental and emotional shift in my life and a positive change in the way I interacted with the world around me. Yoga quickly became part of my lifestyle and I am grateful for the ability to share my passion and knowledge as an instructor. I recognize the tremendous benefits that a regular yoga practice brings into one's life - I encourage everyone to give it a try. My focus while teaching is to provide a safe, judgement-free zone where both new and seasoned yogis may develop a stronger connection with their mind, body, and spirit - on and off the mat. In addition to yoga, I am a certified Reiki practitioner, Vibrational Sound Therapist, lover of nature and music.
CHONA BERNARDO
Chona’s approach to teaching comes from the belief that how well we take care of ourselves is an offering to our world. A yoga experience with her brings awareness to the body so that it can reveal where healing is needed and transformation can take place. Chona believes that the way in which we explore our edge on our mats is connected to how we can better control our emotions and connect to our spirit. In order to reach our edge, we must go deeper within the mind and explore the uncomfortable places in the body using asana and meditation. Her friendly and spunky personality brings forth inspiring words to create a safe space, allowing students to be tuned in, strong, and authentic on their mats.
CAT HAMILTON
Cat grew up in the San Fernando Valley and was involved in a lot of athletics growing up, but the high impact of traditional sports left her with recurring tendonitis that made even walking for extended periods of time a painful challenge without the help of supportive braces. When Cat was in college, she learned about a procedure that could help her walk without the braces, and following the surgery she decided to start practicing yoga to improve her balance, mental health and mobility during her recovery. She wanted to share with others what she had found in Yoga through teaching.
When completing her 200 HR teacher training in Vinyasa Yoga in 2013, one of the teacher trainers introduced her to AcroYoga and she fell in love all over again.
Cat completed her AcroYoga International teacher training in Rio De Janeiro in the Summer of 2018, and since then, Cat has taught classes and workshops all over the world, across 4 different continents, all while working full time in Post Production for reality and documentary TV. She loves L-basing and basing standing acrobatics, but you can catch her flying sometimes too!
When she’s not helping make broadcast television, she’s sharing her love for partner acrobatics and yoga with her students here at Kinship.