Keith Borden is consistently turned on by the stillness within movement, the silence hidden in sound, and the esoteric in the everyday. As one of Laughing Lotus’ Primary Yoga School Instructors, Keith continues to learn through the transformative process and dialogue of teaching. Keith strives to live, breathe, and offer the devotion—rich yoga that comes out of his own daily practice. His goal is to help his students develop a content mind, a strong body, and a healthy, joyous spirit to reunite with their true self.
Nadine Johnson has been living as a true urban yogi – working full-time and teaching yoga while maintaining a strong practice and balanced life. Safety, patience and inward focus have been key elements of her practice for over 16 years, which is grounded in Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in India. Practicing for life, not just for now is a key inspiration in her teaching.
Nadine has completed teacher trainings with Clayton Horton at Greenpath Yoga and David Swenson She also continues her education through workshops and trainings with senior teachers such as David Williams, Richard Freeman, Jonny Kest, Ana Forrest and Sarah Powers.
"Dee has been teaching Hatha Yoga for over 10 years. She received her certification through the Integral Yoga Institute and is also experienced in teaching Iyengar and Bikram styles of Hatha Yoga. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute, a member of the California Yoga Association. Her classes are flowing and instill a great feeling of inner peace, balance and harmony. "
LaMott Atkins is a Certified Bikram method hatha yoga instructor. An Afro American - Black Yoga Teacher, LaMott graduated from the Bikram training program in November 2000, and he began his yoga teaching career in San Francisco, where, for two years, he taught yoga classes in as many as four yoga studios simultaneously including Mission Yoga and Funky Door Yoga. He later worked for Bikram Yoga College of India traveling throughout the United States teaching at yoga studios in Oakland, Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas, and Baltimore. In September 2004, LaMott returned to San Francisco full-time when he chanced upon the opportunity to open Bikram Yoga Castro.
Maya Breuer, RYT, a Certified Kripalu Yoga teacher with more than 20 years experience, is the founder and director of the Santosha School of Yoga and the national Yoga Retreat for Women of Color™. She has studied extensively with yoga masters in the Kripalu tradition in India . Maya is a member of the International Association of Black Yoga Teachers, the Kripalu Yoga Teacher's Association, the International Women of Vision and Action Group, and the National Yoga Alliance. She is also an affiliate of the International Yoga College and serves on the Kripalu Center Board of Trustees. In 2004 she received the first Yoga Trailblazer Award from the International Association of Black Yoga Teachers. Maya is a contributing author to Stephen Cope's "Will Yoga and Meditation Really Change My Life?" and the just published "Kripalu Yoga On and Off the Mat" ( December 2005). She is also a jazz singer and visual artist whose yogic philosophy incorporates these aspects of her creativity. Presently Maya is completing her first book, Soul Yoga.
An Afro American Yoga Teacher, Ava Gallon-Reed. is certified through Powerhouse Pilate's and the American Council of Exercise (ACE). She is certified in mat and reformer Pilate's and is currently and always will be a student of Pilate's She has trained in New York through Polestar Pilate's and just recently returned from a trip to Miami working on her second certification in the advanced reformer work from Polestar Pilate's She has over 5 years of experience using the Joseph Pilate's method and over 7 years in personal training.
"I am very passionate about Pilate's and Personal training and I love to instruct others. My mission is to share and practice mind/body fitness, which I like to call artistic fitness to those who are just beginning as well as those who have experience. I believe that integrating mind/body fitness in one's life only help the mind, body, spirit connection, that which aids in reaching ones full potential."
Phoenix Soleil
Phoenix is deeply passionate about building healthy communities. Her cuddle workshops are a place where silly is valued; she strives to make each party a time where people can question, experiment and transform by creating a sacred and playful space. Bringing her training in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), talents as a performer and kinesthetic wisdom as a dancer to create safe and touch-fantastic friendly options for others.
Brooklyn-born Phoenix Soleil graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Cultural Anthropology.
Ben Thomas has been practicing yoga since 1976 and has been teaching yoga classes for
over 25 years. He is a Senior certified Iyengar yoga teacher by Yogacharya, Dr. B.K.S. Iyengar of the Ramamani
Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India. His original certifications was granted by B.K.S. Iyengar in
1983. He has traveled to Pune, India to study with B.K.S. Iyengar, his daughter, Dr. Geeta Iyengar, and his son,
Praschant Iyengar, on ten occasions:
