TEACHERS

Amanda Serene Dozal co-owner/director.
Everything I have learned and have been trying to attain, I am finally beginning to understand. Through my teachings I hope to cultivate and hold a space of total acceptance and understanding of the true authentic self. My creativity is expressed through my love and devotion for the principles and practice of yoga. I invite you to come find and share the freedom within the body, mind, breath and heart.

Beginning with a 2 year teacher training, Amanda became a certified instuctor in 2001. She has studied yoga for over 13 years and has taught throughout the U.S. for the past 6 years. She is currently a student of Anusara yoga mixed with her own Creative Hatha Blend. She studies with Senior Anusara teacher Darren Rhodes and his Tucson Kula along with myriad others. Her deepest love and gratitude goes to her son Gaige and the Chivalrous Buffalo Jonah. You have shown me unimaginable beauty. amanda@wildmtyoga.com
530-305-1023

Mandy Lucchese co-owner/ director.
Wild Mountain Yoga Center has been home for me for over 10 years. As a dedicated student, as a teacher and now as co-owner. I share the vision with the founder of WMY, Katie Carter, in celebrating our unique "wild grown yogis" of the Sierra Foothills. Recently, I discovered the joy of inner wildness through Anusara® Yoga, using the universal principles of alignment, and heart felt, life affirming themes. My classes are designed to explore and celebrate each person's beauty and greatness. Every class is full of playfulness, detail, and a strong commitment deeply grounded in self-honoring, acceptance and community building. My love of yoga is shared with my time at my ceramic studio and with my husband building our solar home. Currently, I study with Senior Anusara® teacher Sianna Sherman, on the long journey to be Anusara certified. Mandy completed her Ashtanga training at Green Path Yoga in San Francisco in 2005. yoginimandalini@gmail.com
530-277-9835

Deborah Bry

Deborah has been exploring what it is to be a body since birth. Whether it be in the realm of movement arts, psychotherapy, outdoor adventure, or meditation, Deborah is always dancing. Deborah strives to create safe containers where the truth of the moment can show itself and the fullness of one’s expression can unfold. She is lit up by music, bees, and travel, alchemy, Truth, and nonsense. She is humbled by most things. Deborah graduated from Connecticut College with a degree in religion and dance, and received an MA in counseling psychology (with a focus in somatics) from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She has trained in Anusara yoga, Hakomi (a mindfulness-based body-oriented psychotherapy), Continuum movement, Breathwork, and a variety of bodywork modalities. Deborah recently moved to Nevada City from the Bay Area and is in the process of building her body-oriented psychotherapy practice.

Elke Brown

Received her yoga teacher training at the Yoga Room in Berkeley, CA and brings over 13 years of teaching experience and passion to her yoga classes. Elke first learned yoga according to the principals and practice of BKS Iyengar. During her 2 year teacher certification program, as well as studying anatomy, asana and pranayama, Elke took courses in Back Care Basics, Restorative Yoga, Yoga during Menopause, Pre- and Post Natal Yoga, and Seeing and Understanding Bodies. The practice of Yoga is a living process and Elke has developed her unique style by studying with a variety of teachers. Her gentle and non-forcing approach to Yoga make her classes a safe, healthy way to connect with your body, mind, breath. Yoga is a state of being, beauty and grace, a path to becoming whole. It is an invitation to the whole being to release patterns of tension and stress and to experience freedom. Yoga is for Every Body. www.elkebrownyoga.com

Gabrielle Pullen
Gabrielle comes to the teaching of Yoga Nidra Meditation with over 20 years of practice in a variety of meditations. Begun out of a need to survive the ravages of growing up with severe alcoholism, and heal from the devastation of a debilitating drug addiction, her practice has always been of a very practical nature. This journey led her initially to working with horses as a means of practicing compassion, and massage as a modality that expands awareness. Later she was drawn to explore the embodiment of human consciousness over a four-year Feldenkrais Training. That led, additionally, to the study of Qigong, giving her a rootedness in moving meditation, and Toaist Practices. The encounter with iRest Yoga Nidra brought her a further means of ‘paying it forward’ by passing on a very accessible means of transforming limitation and profound suffering into deep healing and peace. Recently, in her private practice, her focus is on seniors with balance issues, and people recovering from injury, surgery or trauma related to abuse or active duty combat (P.T.S.D.).Gabrielle Pullen, GCFP, NCMT
guild certified feldenkrais practioner
nationally certified massage therapist
530 263-3323

Jackie Gerster’s love of nature and living close to the earth brings a gentle, loving and playful touch to her classes. She completed her teacher training with Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley. Yin Yoga has become an important part of her practice and Jackie believes a blend of yin and yang brings balance and well-being to one’s life. 916-747-1415

Jill Hersh has been deeply involved with the practice of yoga for 15 years and is currently finishing her last year of a three-year Iyengar based teacher training program at the Yoga Room in Berkeley, where her primary teachers are Donald Moyer and Mary Lou Weprin. Jill believes that with careful sequencing, attention to alignment, gentle breath work and the use of props, poses can be made accessible for all ages, abilities and body types.  
530-265-2963

John M. Travis has been teaching meditation since 1986. He studied in Asia with senior teachers of both Theravada and Tibetan traditions and completed a four-year teacher training with Jack Kornfield. He is a the guiding teacher of Mountain Stream Meditation Center in Nevada City, California, and a senior teacher for Spirit Rock Center in Marin County. John has a private practice as a meditation counselor and is a Hakomi body-centered therapist.

Judy Fuller
I am a Holistic Somatic Practitioner in practice since 1990. My extensive training background, including Svaroopa® Yoga and Embodyment® Yoga Therapy allows me to bring a unique, integrative expertise to each class and private session. Having been through chronic pain and illness myself, I have a passion for empowering others to overcome their obstacles and to create a vibrant, joyous life! This yoga has freed me from chronic back pain. I rarely get sick, have less anxiety, more energy & more bliss!! I would love to share it with you! 530-274-2635.Please view the flyer for a very exciting workshop coming in October. Meditation made easy

Kamala Slavonic
My exploration on the path of yoga began 14 years ago in the back of The Herb Shop- a local store. We would move the clothing racks and practice before the store opened. After many years of dabbling in the practice I finally beagan teaching Bikram yoga in 2005. I continued to thirst for knowledge on this path and began studying under Katie Carter and various other teachers. I found this space I had created with all of this yoga and longed for a deeper spiritual practice. In this search I came to Kundalini yoga and found home! I immediatly took a the level 1 teacher training with Harijiwan and Shiv Charan Singh last year and more recently a level 2, again with Harijiwan. Through these teachings I have discovered a beautiful strong connection with my true self. These ancient teachings provide a way to focus the mind and energize the body and enliven the spirit. On a basic level, they help us to mantain a calm center and be happy in this increasingly challenging time we are living in. I am so inspired to share this experience with others!

Kathie Bain
Believes that yoga both shapes and reflects one’s life experience. Her classes incorporate a mix of flow, standing poses, and floor work, providing a complete and balanced workout. Kathie continues her yoga study and brings new perspective to her classes. She delights in watching her students gain flexibility, strength and focus.
530- 273-7406

Katie Carter
With a compelling desire to inspire others, Katie brings an artistic spirit, an athletic background, and spontaneous humor to her teachings. She helps students connect with their bodies in a graceful, accepting manner and her classes reflect elements of alignment-based flow, core strength, breath, intuitive expression, and yoga philosophy. She began teaching in 1995 and received her first teacher trainings from Sarah Powers and Erich Schiffmann. Katie continues to find inspiration for her practice from many great disciples of yoga and the miracle of nature.
www.katiecarteryoga.com

Lotus Levin
Lotus Levin is a healer offering yoga, meditation & massage. She is Certified by the Temple of Kriya & has completed advanced trainings in Tantric Kriya Kundalini, Classical Hatha, Iyengar & Ashtanga yoga systems. The National Yoga Alliance recognizes her studies at the Professional level. As Owner/Director of Ajna Yoga Chicago for 7 years, Lotus helped many discover yoga for Rehabilitative Physical Therapy, Stress Management & Wellness. Lotus is a Certified Massage Therapist, Thai Massage Therapist & provides Ayurvedic Body Treatments through Lotus Healing Sanctuary. She is a Raja Yoga Kriyabahn with SRF, has been a bhakti yogini since 1979 with ISKCON & began her yoga journey with Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center as a child. The 27 years teaching experience Lotus brings to her classes will support you, as will her loving intention. You are invited to participate in the vibration. 530-265-8811

Mary Jane Ryan-Connelly
Strengthens body AND spirit by linking the one-pointed attention of yoga to alignment, breath with movement, consciousness and compassion, as preparation for meditation practice and graceful meeting of life’s everyday challenges. Her classes reflect her experience in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, yoga philosophy study, and meditation. 530-272-4152

Dr.Mary Jo Cravatta
Dr. Mary Jo Cravatta, a Chiropractor, is the Founder and President of Shaktiveda. She began her study of Ayurveda over 30 years ago. She is a renowned master of Pulse Diagnosis or Nadi Vijnan - Knowledge of the subtle energies. Having taken over 35,000 pulse readings she is highly skilled in this delicate art.

Dr. Cravatta, a direct disciple of Kriya Babaji, places an emphasis on how to remove obstacles to a greater flow of awareness in your daily life. There is a level in the pulse that allows her to know what Chakra and Kosha you are working on, which indicates your karmic life lessons. She believes that bringing the light of consciousness through meditation is the most important aspect of one’s health care.
www.shaktiveda.com 530-273-871

Michele Appleby
I recently turned 30 years old and I have been teaching yoga and Pilates for the past 7 years. I believe in Fun, I believe in Joy and I believe in Healing. I have over 1,000 hours of training in the healing arts and movement. I pull from my own life experiences, including pain and injuries. I am inspired to assist you in gaining more energy and becoming a stronger and happier you.

Nancy Shanteau
Loves yoga for its ability to open our bodies to greater feeling, flexibility and connection. With a strong base in Ashtanga and Vinyasa-style flow yoga, Nancy’s classes are full of laughter and fun. She is a writing coach, a somatic bodyworker and coach certified through Strozzi Institute, and a Skills for Change Coach certified by Julia Kelliher. Her yoga teachers include: Tim Thompson, Laura Camp, Dennis Eagan, and Katie Carter. www.nancyshanteauyoga.com 273-5170

Scott Howard
Quite honestly I have the desire to suffer a little less and wake up a little more. Life is fun but surely experiencing mental and physical challenges is a great stimulating force not only towards finding those wise practices that bring one into balance but also practicing them with regularity. All that I have learned has been towards this direction of balance and all that I share are the practical things that have been beneficial to my life.
Scott received his Yoga Teacher Training at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico where he completed the 2 year full-time Ayurvedic Studies Program w/ Dr. Vasant Lad. He is a student of Vedic ritual and Sanskrit and teaches classes in reading and writing the Sanskrit script. He is also a certified Breema Bodywork practitioner and Self-Breema instructor. scott@living-breath.com 273-8970

Shari Williams
My background includes a holistic approach to Athletic Fitness, many styles of yoga, as well as a victorious personal healing journey. Her teachers include Beth Shaw, Baron Baptiste, Katie Carter and Roxanna Cohen. Her classes create a safe, caring, heart-centered atmosphere to explore magic through movement. 530-265-5033

Steven Gracia
Began practicing yoga in 2000 as a form of physical therapy. He taught the Bikram sequence in 2004 as well as training with Simone Elliot to teach Vinyasa Flow. In 2006 he began teaching the Vinyasa Flow sequence at number of studios in San Diego. His primary Teacher is Rebecca Kovacs, owner of the Yoga Hut In Pacific Beach. His sequences are influenced by Sri Dharma Mittra and focuses on returning the body back to its natural movements and awareness. Steven’s class approaches the practice with breath, alignment, and awareness, making adjustments for the student’s individual needs, body type, or injuries. He believes that with breath, a positive attitude, and an open heart and mind, anything is possible. So keep it light and have fun! 619-213-8714