TEACHERS
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Andrea
Matros
Andrea
embarked on her path of yoga in 1978 when she joined the Sivananda
Yoga Vedanta Organization. Enthusiastic about yoga from
the start, she came on board at the Sivananda Yoga Center by quickly
becoming a staff member. There for almost two years, she devoted
herself completely to the unfolding and embracing path of yoga.
Practicing karma yoga the path of selfless service, bhakti
yoga the yoga of devotion, hatha yoga the practice
of asanas and pranayama, meditation, the philosophy and study
of teachings, and ancient yoga texts. Certified as an instructor
through the Sivananda Organization, Andrea has continued on this
journey of learning and teaching to this present day.
Andrea
primarily teaches hatha yoga, the branch of asanas (postures)
and pranayama (breathing techniques) which is a vast study in
itself, and encompasses many forms and styles. Having now studied
and practiced yoga with many well known names in the field, she
has diversified her practice, complemented her style and broadened
her approach to teaching yoga. Yoga as a path and hatha yoga as
a metaphor to life, continues to expand and enrich not only the
physical but all aspects of her everyday life and it is this philosophy
that she teaches her students. Along side yoga and Buddhist meditation
practices Andrea enjoys dance, hiking, music, and movies.
Andrea
Matros is the founder and proprietress of Living Yoga Center,
a licensed massage therapist and a reiki and healing touch practitione |
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Ashley
Fiala
Ashley's
teaching style is playfully challenging. Her classes create a
safe and supportive community environment. She believes there
is a guru in all of us, and it is through the support of being
and working together that we evolve and unfold our bliss. A student
of John Friend since 2001, Ashley is a certified Anusara teacher
and RYT 500.
Ashley
lives in Murrieta with her husband, two children, two dogs, and
two chickens. Aside from her family and her yoga practice, Ashley
enjoys gardening, vegetarian cooking, and hiking. She also loves
chocolate! |
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Stephanie
Gilliland
A
thirty year veteran dance teacher and choreographer, Stephanie
Gilliland began her serious study of yoga in 1996. Encountering
the aches and pains of an aging dancer's body, she began to seek
alternative movement systems to support a dynamic physical expression.
It was during this time she began to practice and study with Tim
Miller, the first certified American teacher of Astanga Yoga.
The unexpected profound impact of the practice, inspired Stephanie
to deepen her study into other realms of yoga science. In 2003
Stephanie began to explore other yogic traditions and approaches
taking Iyengar, Vini Yoga, Anusara and Vinyasa flow workshops
and classes including a fundamental Anusara teacher training with
Ashley Fiala. She discovered great benefits and growth from working
in a more varied and experimental way.
As a student of dance she is trained in ballet, modern and jazz
techniques as well as contemporary movement systems including
Bartinief Fundamentals, Alexander technique, the Klein technique
and Feldenkrais.
She is an award winning choreographer whose work has been supported
by numerous granting organizations including the National Endowment
for the Arts. The Irvine Foundation and the California Arts Council.
Described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the most inventive
minds in LA Dance" she has created her own contemporary dance
technique .
She brings a knowledge of the body and an intuitive and experimental
approach to movement. Her vinyasa flow classes offer a well rounded
practice that emphasize the cultivation of awareness, concentration
and the connection of breath to movement.
Her faculty work includes UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount
University, Riverside Community College and the Idyllwild Arts
Academy where she is currently in her thirteenth year teaching
modern dance technique, dance composition and yoga.
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Doreen
Wolf
Doreen
grew up in East Berlin, Germany. Yoga became part of her life
in the year of 2000 and she completed her first 200 hour Teacher
Training with the White Lotus Foundation in 2005. Thanks to Andrea
Matros' open heart and trust she was able to teach at the Living
Yoga Center ever since.
Ashley Fiala introduced Doreen to Anusara Yoga. The precise
biomechanics resonated with her German heart the most. She deepened
her knowledge by studying the therapeutic aspect of Anusara yoga
with John Friend, Noah Maze, Martin Kirk and Naime Jazzime After
listening to the teachings of Douglas Brooks in 2007 ,which literally
ignited a fire of desire to learn more about the philosophical
part of yoga ,she spent and will spend hours and weeks with Douglas
to study and learn to integrate the wisdom into her teachings
and into her own life. In her mind Yoga Therapy and Massage Therapy
are a perfect combination. She became a Massage Therapist LMT
in 2008.
Doreen is also a endurance athlete and has competed in local multisport
races all the way to a 70.3 Ironman in Pucon/ Chile!
This unique combination of being an active Yogi / Therapist and
an active Athlete gives her the skills and knowledge to help everybody
that likes to run , bike swim or kayak to stay in good alignment
and prevent injuries.
People say my accent is fun.
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Vicki
Durst
Vicki has been teaching Hatha Yoga since 1974.
A
graduate of San Diego State University with a BA in Physical Education,
Dance and Art History, Vicki first studied Yoga at the University
of Oregon while earning a Master’s Degree in Dance and Art
History.
In
San Diego she trained and taught at the Yoga Institute for two
years and then traveled to Pune, India to study at the B.K.S.
Iyengar Yoga Institute. For the past 30 years Vicki has trained
with many Yoga masters, including Erich Schiffmann, Rodney Yee,
Ramanand Patel, Julie Lawrence, Richard Schactel, Roger Cole,
Aadil Pakhilava, Tracy Rich, Ganga White, Angela Farmer, Victor
Van Kooten and Kali Ray.
Prior
to moving to Temecula in March, 2006, Vicki was a full-time Instructor
at Clatsop Community College, where she served as the Director
of Dance and Physical Education and was Coordinator of the Arts
on Stage performing and visual arts program for 23 years. She
also spent seven years living on Catalina Island where she taught
scuba diving and yoga. She is a licensed massage therapist and
holistic health practitioner.
Vicki
uses the teaching of B.K.S. Iyengar as the basis for her classes,
which emphasizes strength, flexibility, endurance, proper alignment
and breathing techniques to help the body achieve it’s true,
balanced state. Vicki’s fluid, relaxed style reflects her
background in dance, and is appealing to students of all ages
and abilities.
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Elissa
Marshall
Elissa was introduced to yoga in 1999 and realized early on the
sense of well being both physically and mentally that it brought
to her. In 2004, she moved to Murrieta where she was introduced
to Anusara Yoga by Ashley Fiala. Elissa immediately felt deeply
connected and was drawn by the heart themes, philosophy and alignment
principles. As her passion for this practice grew, so did her
enthusiasm in sharing with others.
Elissa began teaching in 2006 and completed a two-year training
program with Anusara Yoga Instructor Michael Fukumara. Elissa
will always be a student of yoga and secondly an instructor. She
continues her yoga education through participating in training,
workshops, and her personal practice.
Elissa would like to express a deep gratitude and appreciation
to Anusara founder John Friend as well as all her other teachers
past, present and future. She looks forward to each and every
day and hopes to inspire others to find the light within themselves.
Elissa is a hairdresser by trade and lives in Murrieta with her
husband Dave and their beautiful daughter Samantha. She enjoys
camping with her family, riding dirt bikes, snowboarding, and
cooking. |
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Bonnie
Simon
Bonnie was first introduced to yoga in the seventies, where she
took classes at community centers and college. Moving to this area,
Temecula, changed her life. Bonnie found Living Yoga Center and
was so inspired by all of her teachers: Andrea, Ashley, Doreen,
Ellisa, Stephanie, and Vicki. Bonnie has been teaching yoga since
2008. She has earned a 200hr. teaching certification in Hatha Yoga.
Bonnie traveled to Allahabad, India to study with the Himalayan
Institute. There she studied theory and practice of all aspects
of yoga, teaching techniques, introduction to sanskirt, anatomy,
and physiology, stress management, mantra meditation. Also, while
in India, Bonnie traveled to Banaras one of the oldest and holiest
cities in the world. She climbed to mountain shrines and floated
down holy rivers. She met many wonderful people on her journey and
had an amazing experience. Bonnie plans to continue her studies
through reading, personal practice, teaching, workshops, whenever
possible. Bonnie also works as a flight attendant for a major airline.
She enjoys travel, reading, movies. Bonnie is married and enjoys
spending time with her husband Paul, who supports her joy of yoga. |
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Karen
Farina For
over 20 years Karen has been a wellness professional with an emphasis
on mind-body disciplines. Her early career includes roles at an
innovative hospital wellness center outside Seattle and the exclusive
Golden Door resort. Since 1997, Karen has been dedicated to teaching
the Pilates method and studied under some of the more renowned Pilates
teachers. In 1999, Karen founded TemeculaValley's first pilates
studio.
Karen was born and raised outside of Chicago in an athletic family
where she was a competitive swimmer and triathlete. This love for
athletics led her on a path to inspire others to be active...not
for competition, but for health and well-being.
She earned a bachelors degree in Exercise Science from Northern
Illinois University in 1987. She is certified with Body Arts and
Science International and the Physical Mind Institute.
Karen is thrilled with the opportunity at LivingYogaCenter to combine
two of her passions (pilates and yoga) into one practice. She enjoys
teaching formats that embrace both disciplines and help students
explore how aspects of one can complement the other; whether the
student comes from a yoga or pilates background or the student is
new to both of the mind-body practices.
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Ansley
Carper
Ansley has been practicing yoga for over a decade and became a yoga
teacher in 2004. She is a former special education teacher and martial
arts instructor and this experience assisted Ansley in the evolution
from yoga student to yoga teacher. Ansley teaches pre natal, family
and kid's yoga, lunchtime yoga and mixed level classes. Ansley studied
and teaches a vinyasa style of yoga. She enjoys practicing yoga
with her family, reading and exploring. Ansley is an e-RYT registered
with Yoga Alliance. |
New Teachers joining Living Yoga:
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Alexandra
Probst
Alexandra has been practicing yoga for 5 years. Passionate and new
to teaching she recieved her certification through the White Lotus
Foundation, taught by world renowned teachers Ganga White and Tracey
Rich. She has also studied and trained with Judith Lasater, Saul
David Ray, Shiva Rae, Phoebe Drifler, and many more. Her specialty
certifications include pre/post natal yoga, Restorative yoga, and
Thai yoga massage therapy. Alex is commited in her yoga journey
and loves learning and sharing within the yoga community. She teaches
from her heart a flow style yoga and believes strongly in the power
of healing through this beautiful art and its different styles.
Alex is a hairstylist in Sierra Madre and moved to the area nearly
2 years ago. She resides in Wildomar with her husband and step-daughter. |
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Christina
Newman
Christina has been dedicated to the practice of Prana Vinyasa Flow
since her initial introduction with teacher and mentor Shiva Rea
in 2001. Sharing the creative freedom that Vinyasa offers, the expression
of Yoga Trance Dance, and yoga with chocolate & wine has given
Christina the opportunity to teach to a variety of people and lead
retreats in the yoga community. Christina brings a light hearted
approach to her classes and infuses humor, music from many genres
and her love of being a human in this world. |
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Suzanne
Cacanindin
Suzanne is an experienced, well trained yoga practitioner, certified
with Yoga Alliance as a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher. Suzanne
found yoga in 2001 after the tragic death of her precious 8 year
old son, Dylan. What she found in yoga, was how to connect with
her higher self and find inner peace and stillness in the midst
of pain, sorrow and difficulty. Yoga continues to be an important
part of her healing process and personal journey, where she finds
strength, courage and joy! Suzanne teaches Hatha yoga, with influences
from the Iyengar tradition, under the wise leadership of Christie
Hall, and Anusara style with Julie Wright and Doreen Wolf. For
kids and teens, Suzanne follows theYoga Calm curriculum, focusing
on the social emotional and physical needs of each child. This
mixture allows Suzanne to blend styles to better meet the needs
of her students. Suzanne has an extensive dance back ground, which
flavors her personal yoga style with strength and grace. Suzanne
sends deep gratitude and love to all the teachers who have instructed
and inspired in her along her journey! |
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Kat
Folger
Kat has 14 years experience as a certified Pilates & Yoga instructor
as well as training in a variety of pain-relieving modalities including
myofascial release. Her latest certification concerns the science
of the neurofascial system.
Kat specializes in rehab using the Pilates method and has recently
added Yoga Swing Chair Inversion classes.
Kat is a multiple world-record holding skydiver who enjoys running
and hiking with her husband. |
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Darlene
Baerg
For over 10 years, Darlene, owner of Good to Go Restaurants, has
been interested in healthy eating. She has been vegetarian for most
of that time. In her corporate role, others sought her advice on
how to eat healthier while traveling and living away from home.
More recently, the health benefits and exciting tastes of vibrant
food became her passion together with the ancient energy techniques
of the Paramitas System for improving your health. |
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Caitriona
Reed
Caitríona Reed is a teacher of socially engaged spiritual
practice and a meditation teacher, with extensive training in both
vipassana and zen. She is a clinical hypnotherapist, a performance
coach, and an NLP trainer. She has been a facilitator of personal
and organizational change for the past twenty-five years and works
internationally as a trainer and leadership consultant. http://www.manzanitavillage.org/ |
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Dee
Jay Jones
Deejay has taught tai chi for over twenty years and qigong for at
least 14 years. Because of his health issues he takes his practice
to a different level and teaches from that point of view. He enjoys
tai chi not only for its health attributes but its philosophical
and spiritual essense as well. His mission is to share tai chi/qigong
in a way that's simple, healthy and
fun to assist and support all who would like to try another way
of living and excercise. He teaches the standard Yang 32 and 108
movements and a number of others (some self created) and does special
work in active meditation and inner awareness. |
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Melissa
Lawrence
Melissa handles our newsletters, flyers and social networking at
the Living Yoga Center. Melissa is originally from Miami, FL, but
she now lives in Temecula with her husband, four cats and two puppies.
Her and her husband own an online media and video production company
called powerTV which is located in Murrieta. Melissa enjoys all
types of yoga, running, biking, cooking, racing cars, traveling
and video editing. You may see Melissa at one of your yoga classes
taking photos and video for the next newsletter, so be sure to keep
a smile on your face. |
WORKSHOPS
/ EVENTS
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Living Yoga Center
has relocated to Old Town Temecula
Our
New Address Is:
28544 Old Town Front Street
Suite 300
Temecula, CA 92590
We are
on the corner of Front & Fifth
Street, on the third
floor, in
the new three story building.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Did you ever think that mediation might be something that would be
useful ... to help you relax,
to help you focus, to help you keep
things in perspective? But your life always seems too busy,
or your
mind too distracted, or you simply felt that mediation might be difficult,
or weird. The
good news is that regardless of who you are, or what's
going on in your life, there are some simple
skills and perspectives
that you can easily adopt, without taking on new and unfamiliar belief
systems - to help you bring more focus, pose, relaxation, purpose,
and perspective in your life.
And perhaps, after all, you might change your belief system just a bit
... to allow for the possibility that you can take charge of your life
in ways that may have previously seemed unattainable.
Cost: $20
The Practice
with Elissa Marshall
Sunday, June 6
12:00 - 3:00 PM
Come join Elissa for a challenging, classic Anusara
sequence created by John Friend. It will be a playful few hours to explore
our boundaries and see where we can go! This is for on-going students
with a strong practice and good working knowledge of the Universal Principles
of Alignment
Regular class fee applies
Introduction
To Yoga Course
June
22 - July 27
Tuesdays, 7:45 - 8:45 PM
$65
This is a six week course designed for beginners. If you think you are
too inflexible, too old, too out of shape, too anything, this is perfect
for you. This will be a playful six-weeks of yoga for all types
of people. In this course you will learn the basics of Anusara yoga
alignment covering basic standing poses, forward bends, back bends,
twists, and maybe an inversion or two! The classes will be comprehensive
so when you register you will register for the entire six weeks. At
the end of the course you will feel comfortable going to any Level I
- II class at the Center -- maybe even a level II.
Preregistration
is required, this course can fill up quickly.
Concert
/ Kirtan with
Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe

Friday, June 25th
7:30 PM
Larisa Stow & Shakti
Tribe’s music is an East meets West mix of world beat rock fusion
in English and Sanskrit. The result is a magic carpet ride for the soul.
Their captivating style has earned them slots at numerous festivals
including Earthdance & Harmony, as the opening act for many well
known artists, as well as appearances with spiritual leaders including
Deepak Chopra. Music to make you sing, dance, think and just feel plain
good.
“A celebration
for the spirit no matter what path you travel. The music has rhythm,
passion and reverence.” –RJ Lanna, New Age Reporter
“Completely embraces the beauty of sacred chant.” —Music
Design in Review
“Engaging chants that reverberate in the soul well after the music
ends.” Michael Mollura, LA Yoga Magazine
“This is the music of the future!” -Terri Nunn, Berlin
Cost: $15 advance $20 door
Ayurveda Workshop
with Arun Deva

Sunday, June 27th
12:00 - 3:00 PM
Workshop
cost: $45 Arun will be available for private Ayurveda consultations
before and
after his workshop.
Consultation cost: $120/hr
Attention
students, teachers and students interested in teaching!
For anyone interested in deepening their study of Anusara yoga and expanding
their practice, the immersion program is an advanced studies program
for you. Separated into three 36 hour sections, this program unfolds
the transformational potential of Anusara yoga. It is a prerequisite
for Anusara teacher training which will be offered when the 108 hours
of immersions are completed.
Immersion I July 16-18, August 6-8, and August 20-22 (with Martin Kirk)
Immersion II September 17-19, October 15-17, and November 19-21 (with
Scott Lewicki)
Immersion III January 14-16, February 18-20, March 18-20
Individual Immersion $600
All three $1700
Please contact Living Yoga Center or yogaashley@yahoo.com
for more details.
Yoga
Anatomy Training
with Martin Kirk
August 7th & 8th, 2010
Sat 11:30-2:30
4:00-6:00
Sun 8:30-10:30
11:30-2:30
$165 / $160 early
Also a special Master Class will be offered by Martin
$35/$30 early
Sat 8:30-10:30am
Hands-on-Adjustments for Teachers
Friday August 6th
6:00 - 9:00 PM
$45/$40
Full Weekend $210 (Savings $35)
Martin Kirk is a Certified Anusara Yoga® Instructor
who travels abroad offering excellent and inspiring workshops, Immersions,
Anatomy, Therapy and Teacher Trainings. With a Masters Degree in Biomedical
Engineering, Martin has a special gift for anatomy and therapeutics.
He is an author of the highly successful book, Hatha Yoga Illustrated
and co-author of the upcoming Yoga Anatomy: The Biomechanics of Anusara
Yoga. Martin lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, Jordan and
his son, Jonathan.
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