Faculty
Ricky Tran
Ricky Tran, BBA, E-RYT, CBA, founder of Krama Yoga Center, Standard Yoga Training Co., Breakfast Yoga Club and TranBand is widely recognized as an inspirational leader and accomplished yoga practitioner. Coming from addiction, he found yoga as a way to heal, transform, and awaken his body, mind and heart to true freedom. His lectures and workshops on external and internal yoga covers many aspects of yoga with illuminating perspectives on many levels of postures, breath, mind, philosophy, and yogic lifestyle. His teachings of Sanskrit and the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali are easily digested by the Western mind. His rich personal experiences offers expert guidance on healing and transformation.
Ricky earned a BBA in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management and Real Estate from the University of North Texas. The yoga teachers to whom he lends loving credit include, but not limited to Srivatsa Ramaswami, David Williams, David Swenson, Sri Dharma Mittra, The Amazing Kumar Pallana. He has led programs at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Texas Yoga Conferences, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and the Aananda School of Hatha Yoga in South Florida. He currently lives in Dallas, TX.
Ricky earned a BBA in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management and Real Estate from the University of North Texas. The yoga teachers to whom he lends loving credit include, but not limited to Srivatsa Ramaswami, David Williams, David Swenson, Sri Dharma Mittra, The Amazing Kumar Pallana. He has led programs at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Texas Yoga Conferences, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, and the Aananda School of Hatha Yoga in South Florida. He currently lives in Dallas, TX.
Arun Deva
Arun Deva
Arun Deva, DASc, AYT, ERYT-500, YTRx is a senior Ayurvedic Practitioner, yoga therapist and a certified teacher of Vinyasa Krama Yoga. He has served both the National & State Ayurvedic Associations: NAMA & CAAM, and currently heads NAMA's Committee on Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Standards. Arun teaches internationally, lectures at Conferences, writes articles for different publications; including peer reviewed Ayurveda Journals, and has been featured as an expert on both radio and television. Arun currently chairs the NAMA Committee for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy studies. Born and raised in India where he began his yogic studies, Arun has made his home in Los Angeles since 1977. His work may be found at www.yogarasayana.com
Eden Goldman
Dr. Eden Goldman
Dr. Eden Goldman, D.C., C.Y.T., Y.T.R.X., E-RYT500, is a wellness-based chiropractor, certified Yoga therapist, physical rehabilitation specialist, and owner of the Yoga Doctors Mandiram wellness center in West Los Angeles, California. The co-author of Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine: Where Ancient Science Meets Modern Medicine and author of The Secret Art of Adjusting Yoga Poses, Eden was raised in the Kriya Yoga tradition of Paramahansa Yogananda and he has been teaching Yoga for over 15 years. He opened his first center, The Jai Ma Yoga Lounge, in his hometown of Aventura, Florida where he was also the co-founder and director of Karmapalooza, a 501(c)(3) non-profit Yoga charity that raised nearly $50,000 for other charities including The Nature Conservancy, Trees for the Future, and The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Professionally, Dr. Goldman completed his Doctorate in Chiropractic at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and co-developed The Yoga Doctors Method of Chikitsa Vinyasa Yoga, or Therapeutic Flow Yoga, while personally mentoring under the founding president of the International Association for Yoga Therapists, Dr. Larry Payne, Ph.D., and Dr. Craig Liebenson, D.C., former team Chiropractor for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. His current healing work integrates classical Eastern Yoga therapeutics, Thai massage, and myofascial release bodywork with Western advancements in movement-based mind-body medicine, sports science, athletic training, prevention, rehabilitation, and chiropractic. Co-director of Loyola Marymount University’s prestigious Yoga and the Healing Sciences 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and a team member in a collaborative study linking Mars Without Borders, UCLA, and the University of Texas applying Yoga Therapy for Astronauts and Space Health, Dr. Goldman has been featured in many forms of print, media, and books on Yoga and Yoga therapy.
Professionally, Dr. Goldman completed his Doctorate in Chiropractic at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and co-developed The Yoga Doctors Method of Chikitsa Vinyasa Yoga, or Therapeutic Flow Yoga, while personally mentoring under the founding president of the International Association for Yoga Therapists, Dr. Larry Payne, Ph.D., and Dr. Craig Liebenson, D.C., former team Chiropractor for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. His current healing work integrates classical Eastern Yoga therapeutics, Thai massage, and myofascial release bodywork with Western advancements in movement-based mind-body medicine, sports science, athletic training, prevention, rehabilitation, and chiropractic. Co-director of Loyola Marymount University’s prestigious Yoga and the Healing Sciences 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and a team member in a collaborative study linking Mars Without Borders, UCLA, and the University of Texas applying Yoga Therapy for Astronauts and Space Health, Dr. Goldman has been featured in many forms of print, media, and books on Yoga and Yoga therapy.
Maria Villella
Maria Villella
Maria Villella LAc, Dipl OM, ERYT500 knew from her first sun salutation that she would be a dedicated practitioner of Ashtanga yoga. Having studied with several notable teachers including Ron Reid, Maty Ezraty, Chuck Miller, Sharath Rangaswamy and Maya Heiss, Maria shares with her students not only their teachings but also the lessons she’s learned from her daily commitment to the practice. In addition to teaching Ashtanga, Maria is a licensed acupuncturist in the state of California. Maria's years of study in Oriental Medicine and Ashtanga yoga inform one another and are reflected in the way she teaches yoga and treats patients in her clinical practice in helping them bring balance and harmony to body, mind and spirit.
Siva Mohan
Dr. Siva Mohan
With an MD (focus in psychiatry) and a Masters in Public Health, Dr. Siva Mohan brings a unique and integrative approach to ayurveda. This combined with her personal and professional studies in Vedic thought have nurtured her niche: expanding ayurveda with psychospiritual healing.
Siva teaches at festivals and conferences (e.g. Bhaktifest, Bali Spirit, Moksha, Assn. of Ayurvedic Physicians); develops curriculum and teaches for YogaWorks; and teaches at the nation's premier Yoga Studies Masters Program at Loyola Marymount University in LA. Siva is the founder/director of LA’s annual celebration of the Vedic arts, Veda MeLA.
As a speaker, Siva's quite versatile. Her focus tends to be on the integrative possibilities and approaches with ayurveda & Western medicine, and psychospiritual aspects of healing.
Dr. Mohan's perspectives have been recently featured in Marie Claire, Well + Good, LAYoga, Real Simple, First for Women magazines, amongst others. Her private practice has been featured on KCLA TV, Veria TV, and she is a featured expert on several online wellness portals (LivingHealthy, BanyanBotanicals, Curejoy, Ayurvedanextdoor, Mom.me). Learn more about her private practice and live events at doctormohan.com
Siva teaches at festivals and conferences (e.g. Bhaktifest, Bali Spirit, Moksha, Assn. of Ayurvedic Physicians); develops curriculum and teaches for YogaWorks; and teaches at the nation's premier Yoga Studies Masters Program at Loyola Marymount University in LA. Siva is the founder/director of LA’s annual celebration of the Vedic arts, Veda MeLA.
As a speaker, Siva's quite versatile. Her focus tends to be on the integrative possibilities and approaches with ayurveda & Western medicine, and psychospiritual aspects of healing.
Dr. Mohan's perspectives have been recently featured in Marie Claire, Well + Good, LAYoga, Real Simple, First for Women magazines, amongst others. Her private practice has been featured on KCLA TV, Veria TV, and she is a featured expert on several online wellness portals (LivingHealthy, BanyanBotanicals, Curejoy, Ayurvedanextdoor, Mom.me). Learn more about her private practice and live events at doctormohan.com
Tymi Howard
Tymi Howard
TYMI HOWARD 500 E-RYT is an International Yoga Teacher & Holistic Health Coach. Tymi is committed to empowering people to live their purpose and become their healthiest most vibrant self! Pioneering the Vinyasa and Bhakti Yoga movement in Central Florida, she opened Guruv Yoga Studios in 2006. Tymi is a featured teacher for YogaVibes online classes and presenter at leading National and International Yoga Conferences and Festivals. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she is known in the yoga community as a playful, non dogmatic teacher of teachers as well as a skillful practitioner. She leads ROCKIN Vinyasa Flow classes, workshops, retreats and 200/300hr Yoga Teacher Trainings all over the world. Receiving her BA from Rollins College, Masters from NYU/ Circle in the Square and Health Coach training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Tymi gives thanks to so many knowledgable and gifted teachers and students who have and continue to INSPIRE!
Peter Sterios
Peter Sterios
Peter Sterios has been part of the American yoga community for over three decades and is an internationally recognized teacher based in San Luis Obispo, California. His popular video Gravity & Grace, was honored by Yoga Journal in their top 15 yoga DVDs of all time (2008). He is the creator of Manduka, a leading eco-yoga products company based in LA (1997). Peter is a writer, with articles appearing in Yoga Journal, Elephant Journal, Fit Yoga, and LA Yoga; an award winning green architect, specializing in retreat centers and yoga studios nationally and internationally; and co-founder of karmaNICA, a charitable organization for impoverished kids in western Nicaragua (www.karmanica.org). For the last three years, he was in a select group invited to teach yoga at the White House for Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity initiative. Peter’s teaching offers a unique insight to the evolving art of yoga, and his light-handed approach makes this accessible to any with a desire to learn.
Jani Jaatinen
Jani Jaatinen
Since 2000, Jani Jaatinen has explored yoga with Janne Kontala, his life-long teacher and friend. He has practiced both Hatha and Ashtanga yoga everyday since then and they have become an integral part of his spiritual experience. Jani's passion and commitment to yoga has given him the privilege to participate in extensive yoga training from various international teachers, such as Cle Souren, B.N.S. Iyengar, Dwarka Das, Yogi Sachi, and Brahmacari Rudradev.
Jani has been practicing yoga for 13 years now and he teaches traditional Hatha, Slow yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga yoga and yoga philosophy. Known for sharing his love and knowledge of yoga in a clear, dynamic and generous manner, he receives invitations and returns regularly to teach workshops and conduct retreats in Europe, India, Australia, Bali, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, United States and South America.
Jani dedicates at least 5 hours daily to his yoga practice and can perform up to 2000 asanas. He sticks to his daily routine no matter where he is, whether he's on the road he would never skips his practice, except if he is ill. His dedication and devotion to the whole meaning of yoga is a true inspiration for everyone who has the opportunity to develop their yoga with him.
Jani is currently based in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. He started his own home-based yogashala - Gokul Yoga since 2012 when he moved to Malaysia with his wife. He is the father of two little girls and he enjoys making music, drawing, swimming and chanting.
Jani has been practicing yoga for 13 years now and he teaches traditional Hatha, Slow yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga yoga and yoga philosophy. Known for sharing his love and knowledge of yoga in a clear, dynamic and generous manner, he receives invitations and returns regularly to teach workshops and conduct retreats in Europe, India, Australia, Bali, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, United States and South America.
Jani dedicates at least 5 hours daily to his yoga practice and can perform up to 2000 asanas. He sticks to his daily routine no matter where he is, whether he's on the road he would never skips his practice, except if he is ill. His dedication and devotion to the whole meaning of yoga is a true inspiration for everyone who has the opportunity to develop their yoga with him.
Jani is currently based in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. He started his own home-based yogashala - Gokul Yoga since 2012 when he moved to Malaysia with his wife. He is the father of two little girls and he enjoys making music, drawing, swimming and chanting.
Clifford Sweatte
Clifford Sweatte
In 1974 two things happened that would change my life, I was introduced to the path of Ashtanga Yoga and obtained my pilot’s certificate. These two events launched a life filled with the love of yoga and flying along with a career in commercial aviation. The name Prana Airways reflects these passions; prana represents the life force that will take off and grow with a daily yoga practice!
In 1974, I met David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff in Encinitas, California and began studying Ashtanga Yoga. A small group of us contributed funds for their Indian teacher to travel to the U.S. and in the fall of 1975 Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois) and his son Manju arrived in San Diego to teach daily classes to our group in Cardiff-by-the Sea, California. In addition to Guruji’s Asana classes, several of us were taught Pranayama and in the evenings we attended his theory classes.
After several months, Guruji left for Mysore while Manju stayed behind to teach Ashtanga Yoga in the traditional method, as he continues to do today. I was fortunate enough to study very closely with Manju during his early days here and credit him with many of the understandings and nuances I came to learn about Ashtanga Yoga. David and Nancy left California to teach in Maui and in the summer of 1976 were gracious enough to host me for a month. It was during that month that I learned the Advanced A Series (now referred to as third and fourth series). The following year I returned to Maui to learn Advanced B (now referred to as fifth and sixth series). I had now learned the complete Ashtanga Yoga Syllabus. I alternated the Advanced A and B Series with Pranayama as a daily practice for the next three years. Guruji returned to California for his second visit in 1978, and in 1980 I traveled to Mysore, India to study with Guruji. During that visit, Guruji adjusted then confirmed my practice of the Ashtanga Yoga Syllabus, including Pranayama, as correct and graced me with a Dhyana (meditation) ceremony, teaching me the seventh limb of Ashtanga Yoga. My practice continues daily as it has for nearly forty years. Now it is time to present my yoga and life lessons by sharing classes in the traditional Ashtanga Yoga method. I'd like to invite you to join me!
In 1974, I met David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff in Encinitas, California and began studying Ashtanga Yoga. A small group of us contributed funds for their Indian teacher to travel to the U.S. and in the fall of 1975 Guruji (Sri K. Pattabhi Jois) and his son Manju arrived in San Diego to teach daily classes to our group in Cardiff-by-the Sea, California. In addition to Guruji’s Asana classes, several of us were taught Pranayama and in the evenings we attended his theory classes.
After several months, Guruji left for Mysore while Manju stayed behind to teach Ashtanga Yoga in the traditional method, as he continues to do today. I was fortunate enough to study very closely with Manju during his early days here and credit him with many of the understandings and nuances I came to learn about Ashtanga Yoga. David and Nancy left California to teach in Maui and in the summer of 1976 were gracious enough to host me for a month. It was during that month that I learned the Advanced A Series (now referred to as third and fourth series). The following year I returned to Maui to learn Advanced B (now referred to as fifth and sixth series). I had now learned the complete Ashtanga Yoga Syllabus. I alternated the Advanced A and B Series with Pranayama as a daily practice for the next three years. Guruji returned to California for his second visit in 1978, and in 1980 I traveled to Mysore, India to study with Guruji. During that visit, Guruji adjusted then confirmed my practice of the Ashtanga Yoga Syllabus, including Pranayama, as correct and graced me with a Dhyana (meditation) ceremony, teaching me the seventh limb of Ashtanga Yoga. My practice continues daily as it has for nearly forty years. Now it is time to present my yoga and life lessons by sharing classes in the traditional Ashtanga Yoga method. I'd like to invite you to join me!
Sri K Pattabhi Jois assisting Clifford in Kapilasana
David C. Kyle
David Kyle is owner of Ashtanga Yoga Puerto Rico and founder of the Progressive Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga which honors the traditional practice of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and embraces the revolutionary philosophy of Larry Schultz. Progressive Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga was established in 2004 to promote an Ashtanga based practice that holds no dogmas or bias towards the asana practice. This method is designed to fit the individual practitioner by encouraging their inner voice to lead them. Progressive Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is all-inclusive!
Our philosophy and understanding of this ancient practice is becoming more popular as the Ashtanga Yoga community grows and more students are learning to maintain a healthy and consistent practice that honors their bodies present moment. "We all cross when walking the same path."
David's teaching style is easy going and carries a strong physical foundation with a philosophical approach to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. There is a sense of light heartedness in a practice that demands a lot of courage to push through the dynamic structure that is in the Ashtanga Yoga sequencing, while maintaining a sense of graceful composure. Specific detail to breath and movement coordination is always a main focus in David's classes, which provides a sense of safety and control for the practitioner.
The function of the posture is where we want to bring our attention and release from the ego centered obsession with the form of the body or its external alignment. The feeling of the posture is what awakens the experience of yoga asana and draws consciousness into the healing process of this therapeutic practice that goes beyond the body. David's teachings brings a sense of ease into the subtle teachings of yoga and the experience of finding perfection no matter where we are.
David leads trainings that are based on the Ashtanga Yoga system with a strong understanding of traditional Ashtanga Yoga method, but also teaches modifications and variation to create a complete view of this practice from both a western non-traditional and eastern traditional point of views. As a 500 E-RYT, David has studied extensivily in the Ashtanga methods and can offer training to people who wish to furthur their knowledge. These trainings are desgined to give you a complete view for obtaining success in teaching and help you open your own studio location and begin your dream! David is the highest trained student by Larry Schultz in both Primary Series modifications and Rocket Series.
As co-owner of Ashtanga Yoga Puerto Rico, David and his wife Elizabeth, lead daily classes and yearly trainings on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. He also serves as a guest teacher and training director for many yoga studio locations in other places around the world. David travels throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Mexico, and occasionally in European countries, so there is always time open to travel and help "spread the love". Feel free to contact David Kyle about visiting your area or find a teacher who has trained through David for an excellent yoga experience.
"You are perfect the way you are! Just keep breathing!"
Our philosophy and understanding of this ancient practice is becoming more popular as the Ashtanga Yoga community grows and more students are learning to maintain a healthy and consistent practice that honors their bodies present moment. "We all cross when walking the same path."
David's teaching style is easy going and carries a strong physical foundation with a philosophical approach to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. There is a sense of light heartedness in a practice that demands a lot of courage to push through the dynamic structure that is in the Ashtanga Yoga sequencing, while maintaining a sense of graceful composure. Specific detail to breath and movement coordination is always a main focus in David's classes, which provides a sense of safety and control for the practitioner.
The function of the posture is where we want to bring our attention and release from the ego centered obsession with the form of the body or its external alignment. The feeling of the posture is what awakens the experience of yoga asana and draws consciousness into the healing process of this therapeutic practice that goes beyond the body. David's teachings brings a sense of ease into the subtle teachings of yoga and the experience of finding perfection no matter where we are.
David leads trainings that are based on the Ashtanga Yoga system with a strong understanding of traditional Ashtanga Yoga method, but also teaches modifications and variation to create a complete view of this practice from both a western non-traditional and eastern traditional point of views. As a 500 E-RYT, David has studied extensivily in the Ashtanga methods and can offer training to people who wish to furthur their knowledge. These trainings are desgined to give you a complete view for obtaining success in teaching and help you open your own studio location and begin your dream! David is the highest trained student by Larry Schultz in both Primary Series modifications and Rocket Series.
As co-owner of Ashtanga Yoga Puerto Rico, David and his wife Elizabeth, lead daily classes and yearly trainings on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. He also serves as a guest teacher and training director for many yoga studio locations in other places around the world. David travels throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Mexico, and occasionally in European countries, so there is always time open to travel and help "spread the love". Feel free to contact David Kyle about visiting your area or find a teacher who has trained through David for an excellent yoga experience.
"You are perfect the way you are! Just keep breathing!"