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In Los Angeles... |
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Formerly a competitive UCLA gymnast, Joe brings 18 years
experience as an athlete as well as a
natural creativity to his bodywork. Having worked
through various difficulties and injuries in
gymnastics, he believes that when it comes to the
body, less is more, and applies this philosophy to all
of his holistic bodywork modalities.
Trained in Swedish and Thai Massage at the Institute of
Psycho-Structural Balancing in Culver City, he is also a
graduate of legendary yoga teacher John Friend and City Yoga's
Anusara Teacher Training and Advanced Studies Program.
His mentors, Saul David Raye, Sue Elkind, Anthony Benenati,
and Naime Jezzeny, who introduced Joe to John Friend and Anusara,
continue to bless and inspire his yoga practice and life with wisdom, knowledge, and joy
which he in turn hopes to share with you.
A native of Oklahoma with mixed Vietnamese ancestry, Joe brings a fun-spirit and knowledge of alignment principles to all of his classes. He teaches mixed Anusara yoga/tai chi/meditation classes and practices massage in the spa at Equinox Gym in West Hollywood. He is also available for private sessions.
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As a member of the International Association of Infant Massage, Thea specializes in Pregnancy and Infant Massage as well as Polarity Healing Arts - Raindrop Technique. A former Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing (IPSB) Massage Instructor, Thea combines extensive knowledge with a warm and nurturing touch and takes special consideration into the comfort and security of all her clients. She works privately as well as at Kinara Spa in West Hollywood.
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While the past 10 years as an actor/producer has seen Sammy on such shows as Seinfeld, Profiler and The District, his love for bodywork and touch therapy has pulled him further and further into the world of therapeutic healing. Having originally studied Shiatsu-Anma therapy at the Shiatsu Massage School of California, Sammy continued to expand his knowledge at the Institute of Psycho Structural Balance. With 650 certified training hours, Sammy has developed his signature "Bliss Therapy" massage which is a fusion of Shiatsu, circulatory, deep tissue, reflexology and what he refers to as intuitive massage.
Sammy believes strongly in the relationship between physical exertion and optimum health. He regularly studies yoga, he has a blue belt in Japanese style katabami Ju-Jitsu, he ran the Honolulu marathon in December 2001 and is currently studying the art of Trapeze. With a strong belief that our bodies are fully capable of being in a state of homeostasis, ultimate health and well-being, Sammy does not consider himself a "healer" as much as a "helper" in finding the body's own unique way of healing itself.
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Naomi, given the name Indra (an ancient deity
from the Vedic Scriptures who symbolizes human life
qualities of "courage, strength, and protection")
by her yoga teacher, brings a balance of strength
and grace to all that she does. In addition
to certification as a Yogi Siromani by the Scientific
Yoga Center, she is a certified Personal Trainer with
the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Naomi is also
training in Capoeira - a graceful combination of
dance and martial art, an Afro-Brasilian tradition
that builds strength, balance, rhythm, and
coordination. She studies at the Capoeira Brasil
Academy under Mestre Boneco.
With her wide variety of training in physical fitness,
yoga, capoeira, and various other modalities, Naomi
brings willpower and discipline to her challenging
fitness and yoga sessions. She is available for one on one sessions.
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Coming to holistic bodywork from a career in
professional photography, Laura found a sense of
balance in yoga and massage which in turn brought her
new invigoration for her creative work. Knowledgeable
and focused, she has studied Swedish, Thai Therapy,
and Advanced Techniques at the Institute of
Psycho-Structural Balancing, where she is currently
pursuing Advanced Studies and Assistant Teaching.
Laura brings a warm, fun, positive energy
to all of her clients, along with intuitive hands and
a healing touch. She is currently pursuing careers in
both holistic massage and in photography,
and enjoying the balance they provide for one another.
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A native of Philadelphia and NYC, Hillary comes from the worlds of fashion and design. Salvation came when she discovered the practice of yoga. It taught her that her Metropolitan lifestyle and her spiritual path were not different. She has been practicing hatha yoga for 9 years. She moved to Los Angeles from New York two years ago to study Anusara at City Yoga and she is now an Affiliated Anusara Teacher. Hillary has also completed Level 1 Teacher Training and Therapeutics with John Friend.
She loves to offer her students the gift of seeing the beauty within while guiding them through the journey of their practice. Her philosophy is that life is a practice on and off the mat. She is extremely grateful to all of her teachers, students and the Kula who have offered their support for her to shine and take the seat of the teacher.
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In Manhattan... |
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Narween Otto took her first hatha yoga class in 1995, while still
living in Australia. When she moved to Los Angeles in 1996 she
continued to practice asana, exploring various styles and teachers. In
2002, after completing her first Anusara Yoga teacher training Narween
left a successful feature film producing career to teach asana full
time.
In 2004 she went to Ganeshpuri, India to study and do seva in the
ashram of her guru Swami Chidvilasananda. She spent 8 months living and
traveling in Nepal and India, studying asana, ayurveda, meditation and
yoga philosophy. Narween continues to study and practice asana within
the Anusara and Iyengar systems although chooses to not limit her teaching
style to either system. Most recently her understanding of the body
and its movement has been informed by intensive study and practice of the
authentic Pilates Method.
In 2005 she will complete her
instructor certification in the authentic Pilates Method through Romana
KryzanowskaÌs apprenticeship program. Narween teaches private clients
and group classes for Equinox Fitness. She currently resides in NYC.
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Edward Vilga is the creator of series of yoga books and DVDs, the first
of
which, YOGA IN BED, premiered in May 2005. The second, YOGA FOR SUITS,
will appear in Fall 2006. Edward Vilga has entered an exciting
partnership with the W-Hotel Chain, beginning with his appearances at
W-Happening Events in San Diego
and San Francisco.
Edward Vilga is a nationally certified yoga instructor. He completed
his
training at the Laughing Lotus, where he currently teaches. He has
taught
at numerous venues in New York City, but focuses now primarily on
private
clients, workshops and the community of the Laughing Lotus. His
workshops
have ranged from "Yoga for Health Professionals Seminar" at Mt. Sinai,
to
Partner Yoga (with Stacey L. Brass) and Yoga for Dudes introductory
weekends for stiff guys. His experiences as a teacher include
beginning
students in their mid-70s to third graders; pregnant women to
individuals
with life-challenging illnesses and disabilities. He is a Yale
graduate.
As a teacher, Edward's goal is to combine a vigorous physical practice
with his love of yoga philosophy, the Sufi poets Hafiz and Rumi, and
irony. His classes offer a challenging physical workout, with generous
options for people at all levels of the physical practice. Edward
prides
himself on an eclectic approach with individual students, enjoying the
process of discovering the right path for each one.
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Tribute to a Friend
Vince Virzi, a friend, teacher, mentor, and massage therapist
colleague was tragically taken from us this past spring. Vince was a very special person, knowledgeable and wise beyond
his young 34 years. He taught all of us what it means to be a holistic healer, often saying that as bodyworkers we do not 'heal' people but help
others to heal themselves through our love and compassion. We feel very thankful and
blessed that our paths crossed, and we had the honor of befriending and working with Vince. May his kind, generous, caring, loving spirit be passed onto the many students, clients, and people he worked with, taught and mentored. May he always remain in our hearts while he returns to the one heart that holds us all. Vince, we all LOVE you and will miss you greatly.
~Namaste
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Copyright yogaLOVE™ 2002.
All Rights Reserved. |
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