Mary Strong

Warrior 1 (Founder, The Green Yogi™ + Green Guide)

When you walk into the Zen Garden after a long day and think, "Oh, thank goodness," you may want to think, "Oh, thank Mary." She's the dreamer behind what has now become The Green Yogi, and none of us would be going with the vinyasa flow without her!

Mary first fell in love with yoga in college when she needed an extra credit and thought, "Lying on the flow for an hour, how hard could it be?" That yoga class not only sealed her diploma, it changed her life forever. She used yoga to heal injuries as a volleyball player at LMU and on the AVP tour. Her first career in Broadcast Journalism took her across the country working for CNN, NBC, FOX Sports and NFL, but yoga was always her passion, and man-oh-man are we thankful.

Yoga grounded Mary throughout her career as a journalist and an athlete, and that force inspired her to open The Green Yogi, to inspire conscious living and quality yoga. She continues to teach strong classes on a simple philosophy: Listen to your body….it will tell you exactly what you need at every moment. Yoga is all about self-exploration. Enjoy it!

Her classes are a combination of:    power yoga (strength)

vinyasa flow (sweat)

yin relaxation (ahhhhh….)

all set to music to inspire a creative, healing, stress-free, fun environment.

*Mary is also a Manduka Ambassador & a lululemon Ambassador

Julie Rader

Green Guru

www.muktiyogaschool.com

You know how classes here at The Green Yogi have a way of connecting you with yourself or something greater? How, despite the sweat and the fatigue, you somehow feel ready to take on more? You can thank Julie Rader, our Green Guru and lead teacher.

Julie is the founder of Mukti Yoga, a teacher training program that has developed a number of our fabulous yoga guides. She first discovered yoga and meditation as a teenager, using it to enhance sports performance. These tools helped Julie perform at the collegiate level. After receiving her formal education, she spent 33 days in silence learning the Kriyas from Swami Janakananda, and then traveled to India to meet her guru, Swami Satyananada.

Julie has served as a lululemon ambassador since 2007, was named as one of "8 Angelenos You Should Know" by LA Confidential Magazine in 2011, has developed two iPhone yoga applications and looks forward to every day as a yoga teacher and, always, student."

Tamal Dodge

Green Guide

www.tamalyoga.com

Who puts the "power" in "power yoga" at The Green Yogi? That would be Tamal Dodge, whose challenging classes never fail to make us sweat, but always seem to make us laugh, too. Oh, and have you heard him sing yet? Stick around for savasana in any of Tamal's class to enjoy a special treat.

Tamal has been practicing yoga his whole life. Born and raised in his family’s yoga ashram in Hawaii and California, he has been teaching for the last 10 years. Tamal has developed a strong following nation wide. His vigorous vinyasa classes are filled with humor, music, and meditation. His yearly retreats, workshop, and teacher trainings are a way into the life and times of being a modern yogi. Tamal’s goal is to help you be in the world but not of the world, to be truly peaceful and happy. Aloha and Namaste!

Heather Archer

Green Guide

www.heatherarchersyoga.com

www.thesolriders.com

If you ever wished to be a cool, Californian yogi, Heather will be your role model. There's no mistaking her presence here at The Green Yogi (she's kind of tall), and we just can't get enough of her good vibes and, oh yea, awesome classes.

Heather is a native Californian; growing up in Manhattan Beach, she was always active as a child with dance, volleyball, swimming, and those monthly family surf trips.  Camping up and down the coast, she was most comfortable in these natural settings, just going with the flow.  Her parents encouraged her free spirit.  After college, she pursued a creative career in the fashion industry.  In 2006, after 4-years at the helm, she found herself yearning to get back to her roots and gain an outlet from her fast pace life. That's when a friend suggested yoga.

A year of yoga practice, and Heather had once again found her flow  The positive physical, mental, and spiritual effects of her practice lead her to becoming a teacher. The gift of self awareness that her teachers shared is the most vital aspect of her yoga journey, and the most cherished.  In 2007, Heather became a certified teacher through the Mukti Teacher Training School with Julie Rader.  The practice of yoga transformed Heather’s life and allowed her to achieve her goals of balance, strength, and tranquility (no seriously, she's really cool.)

Heather uses the asanas (poses) to support mental, spiritual, and emotional peace, as well as physical strength. Heather's goal is to help lead her students down their path of personal growth (physically, mentally, and spiritually), strength and understanding.

Amy Beausang

Green Guide

www.shapeyoga.com

Amy is The Green Yogi's rockstar. Not only does she have the best arms we've ever seen, she can help you get those muscles yourself in her weekly high-energy classes.

Amy is an energetic being who brings a holistic approach to life-living through yoga. Her expansive course studies include 400 hours of Yoga Teacher Training, Arhatic Yoga, Pranic Healing Levels I, II, III, Higher Clairvoyance, and Advance Pranic Psychotherapy… whoa, smarty! 

After years of physical weight training, Amy was introduced into the Power Yoga family at Brian Kest studio in Santa Monica where she fell in love with the amazing benefits that a solid yoga practice has brought her.  Amy has since studied and received her Yoga teacher certification through The Brian Kest’s Power Yoga under Tamal Dodge with continued education through Julie Radar’s Mukti Yoga  and a month long trip to India, learning Kriya Yoga at the Bihar School of Yoga. Amy teaches using, Ashtanga and Hatha styles of yoga providing a well-balanced yoga experience for her clients and students. You'll sweat, you'll laugh, you'll flip upside down. You'll love it!

Jamie Horgan

Green Guide

www.jamielovesyoga.com

Jamie is our flying yogi. Her arm balances will knock your socks off… of course, you don't wear socks in yoga, so that's a good thing. She can help you get into those poses you'll eventually use as party tricks - just ask her to show you her Peacock pose.

Jamie was first introduced to yoga in college and fell in love with it immediately.   Many years later in 2006, Jamie signed up for Mukti Yoga’s 200-hour teacher training certification program and has been teaching and continuing her education ever since.

It seems like Jamie is always training and learning, with a focus on the areas of vinyasa flow, advanced asana, and meditation.  In addition to completing her 500-hour certification, she continues her education through classes, workshops, assisting in teacher trainings and plans on leading teacher trainings in the near future.  

Christine Kane

Green Guide

You may think yoga is all about sitting cross-legged. In this case, meet Christine, the girl who'll get you on your feet, then get you jumping through the air, switching feet, standing on your hands, flipping sides, and listening to killer music the whole time. You may be thinking, "She's crazy," but we have a suspicion you'll be coming back for more.

Christine developed a passion for yoga more than 10 years ago while trying to balance the demands of a hectic career in the music industry.  She fell in love with yoga and eventually decided to become an instructor, studying with New York-based teacher Greg Gumucio of Yoga to the People, and later earning her certification with Tamal Dodge in Santa Monica.

Christine is thrilled to bring her warm and accessible teaching style to the Green Yogi.  "I want people to love yoga as much as I do. You don’t have to have a perfect practice to gain all the benefits of yoga, which can enhance every other aspect of life, all you have to do is practice."

Wendy Garafalo

Green Guide

www.wendyjyoga.com

She's got style, she's got grace, she… knows every muscle in the human body. Don't let Wendy's blond hair and sweet smile fool you, she'll have you working your 'transverse abdominus' as you perfect every pose. Wendy is The Green Yogi's alignment guru, so get ready to find that perfect posture.

Wendy danced professionally in LA, teaching a variety of dance styles for 10 years.  During her time as a professional dancer, Wendy discovered the amazing benefits of yoga.  She has been practicing for 8 years and received her teacher certification under Julie Rader.  Wendy’s classes focus on alignment to build strength, empowering students with different flow sequences to encourage creativity and movement while focusing on the breath.  Wendy is constantly increasing her knowledge of yoga through workshops and trainings.  She is excited to share her passion and energy for yoga with students of all levels.  

Genevieve Fischer

Green Guide

www.genevievefischer.com

Genevieve is one of our seasoned yogis, and she knows exactly how to teach a well-balanced, athletic and rejuvenating class. When you look at her….you can tell she was trained in classical ballet…always poised and elegant.

Genevieve received her teacher training in 2003 at Yoga Works, Santa Monica, CA, under the guidance of Lisa Walford and Annie Carpenter. Living in Southern California, she is blessed with the opportunity to study with a wide variety of master teachers, all of whom have shaped her teaching style and her practice. Genevieve balances athleticism, alignment and movement in her classes, with strong attention to breath and mindfulness. She also leads frequent yoga retreats, guest teaches at conferences and corporate seminars, and teaches private clients.

Matt Rothert

Green Guide

www.yogalovefood.com

If you ever find yourself stressing out, Matt is the teacher for you. His relaxed smile and go-with-the-flow attitude make him the most natural yogi we know, and we love blissing out in his relaxation class.

Matt grew up in the South and Midwest playing whatever sport was in season. He ran track and cross country and played golf while at Wheaton College in Chicago and graduated with a BA in Business and Economics. After a successful climb up the corporate ladder in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Madison/Milwaukee, he gave it all up in search of his passion. He moved to California in 2001 and soon realized he was home.

Matt taught himself to surf and skateboard and then began practicing yoga. He quickly realized yoga improved nearly all aspects of his life, strengthening both his body and mind. Matt has earned over 500 hours of yoga teacher training with Julie Rader through The Mukti School of Yoga. He now enjoys sharing his love for yoga through teaching it to others. Matt specializes in relaxing/rejuvenating yin yoga. His students will attest to its amazing benefits, and his calming and peaceful energy. His positive energy inspires and encourages his students to become the best they can be.

In addition to teaching yoga, Matt follows his passions for cooking and surfing. He cooks healthy meals for people in the South Bay and teaches kids and vets returning from war how to surf through the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation. He also leads Surf, Yoga and Service trips locally and around the world.

Mary Fanto

Green Guide

Want good music? Consider Mary's class. She's got the playlist that makes you feel right at home, even when you're doing some core work.

Mary says she'll always be a student first and a teacher second when it comes Yoga.  She's just here to show you what she's learned along the way from some pretty phenomenal people in the Yoga world.

Mary comes from a sports background and had no idea what she was in for when she arrogantly walked into a Power Yoga class 10 years ago with Bryan Kest. He has no idea how much he inspired since that first class...especially the next day when she couldn't walk downstairs! Since then she's been inspired by many others, namely Andrea Marcum of U Studio YOGA, Tamal Dodge, and Greg Gumucio of Yoga to the People in NYC.

Mary remembers that original Bryan Kest spirit in her classes. Who knew that lifting a leg here and there, twisting to the right or left and a push up or two would be considered such a powerful "work out"? Challenge yourself and come see what she's talking about!

Greville Henwood

Green Guide

www.grevillehenwood.com

Imagine walking into the Zen Garden before class to be joined by a leather-clad yogi hopping off his motorcycle, tossing his helmet under arm, humming a Beatles tune and - the best part - rolling out a mat at the front of the class. That's Greville, our cool, worldly yogi with the accent to die for … who just happens to have a sense of humor to go along with it.

Spending his first 18 years in England, Greville was attracted to very colorful people and experiences. He dreamt of being an actor, convinced that this was a pathway to help gain self-understanding or some sort of liberation. He moved to LA to pursue this dream at age 21. No money, no return ticket, but unlimited hope and belief. This was his luggage.

Here he found Yogi Bhajan's Kundalini Yoga and a Sivananda Yoga class; once he started doing Sun Salutations, he couldn't stop. Greville's path led him to Maha Yoga and Yoga Works for Teacher Training and Advanced Teacher Training programs with Maty Ezraty, the founder, and Lisa Walford.

Greville has walked around and into the Himalayas and spent time in India, amongst her rich and poor. He's accompanied yogis in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand, Mykonos. Everywhere it’s the same. Yoga helps people. Greville loves how, in the course of a day, he sees the broadest range of humanity. Yoga, in all its many forms, can help enrich one's experience of life. He considers himself most fortunate, because as a yoga teacher, he can help people help themselves.

Anne Spinner

Green Guide

www.annesyogaflow.com

Anne is sort of a cheater. She's a gymnast, and all of us "regular people" envy her ability to handstand on a balance beam… while talking on the phone… and walking her dogs… in the dark. Thankfully, she's agreed to teach us a thing or two about it.

Anne has been enjoying the powerful benefits of practicing yoga since 2004.  Growing up as a competitive gymnast, yoga came naturally to her.  After graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in Fine Arts, Anne moved to Vail, skiing in the winter months and competing in triathlons in the summer months.  Integrating yoga into her active lifestyle she felt more balance then ever before.  It wasn’t until she moved to California that Anne decided to share her passion through teaching.

Trained under Julie Rader, Anne’s instruction is based on the Vinyasa Flow technique that creates a union between breath, movement, and strength building with a playful edge.  Encouraging her students to find peace and acceptance in their minds and body. Come with an open mind and an open heart.

Linda Baffa

Green Guide

www.yoganani.com

The world would be a better place with more Linda Baffa's in it. She is The Green Yogi's go to girl for a sweet smile, a refreshing flow, and a beautiful song. Come hear her sing sometime; you may want to bring a pillow for savasana, she'll put you right to sleep.

Linda began practicing yoga in 1997 as part of her drama training at New York University 's Tisch School of the Arts.  From here, it was love at first down dog.  Not only was she fascinated that one could move their body in such a beautiful, open, and healing way, she was also instantly hooked on the mental release yoga provided and the invaluable power of living in the present moment.  She has since explored all different schools of yoga throughout NYC and Los Angeles, however most of her teaching inspiration comes from Julie Radar (Mukti Yoga), Sherry Brourman (Yoga Therapy), Jennifer Webster (Anusara Yoga), and Jo Tastula  (Vinyasa Flow Yoga).   Through the Yoga Alliance, Linda has earned over 500 certified training hours from Julie Radar and Sherry Brourman.  She teaches a vinyasa flow style that is challenging yet gentle, balanced yet freeing, and safe yet playful.  Linda is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and enjoys connecting the beauty of music with the beauty of yoga. 

Dani Dumani

Green Guide

www.daniyoga.com

If you want to "Be Inspired," Dani is your girl. Her classes never fail to help us reach that edge of "Can I do this?" and move to "Yes I can!"

Yoga found Dani when she reluctantly attended a 6 a.m. class when a friend suggested it for her back injury. It took three classes before Dani walked out the door with an intriguing combination of energy and tranquility …she was hooked. Her back pain improved and, more importantly, the anxiety she had always battled began to dissipate through the experience of connecting with her body, breath, and becoming present in the miracle of the moment.

Dani wanted to share the experiences she was having with others. She took a leap of faith, leaving the corporate world and became a teacher through Corepower's 200- hour Yoga Teacher Training Program in San Diego. Dani has settled into the inspiring Los Angeles yogi community as both student and teacher. In addition to teaching yoga, she works full-time as lead day therapist (M.S., MFTI) and yoga teacher at an eating disorder treatment center in Santa Monica, and has completed a yoga training to become certified in treating eating disorders, body image issues, and anxiety through the healing powers of yoga.

Whether it be in a therapy session or on the mat, Dani works with students and clients to cultivate awareness of stagnant emotions that can be alleviated through physical asana and pranayama, and believes it is vital to explore the student's strength and passion, so that students may begin to catch a glimpse of their own personal power that can move them beyond their physical or emotional "stuck" place.

Dani's classes are never the same twice, as each day brings a new energy. Students can expect a combination of challenge, compassion, and plenty of sweat! Dani encourages her students to reach for their own personal edge, in hopes that this will cultivate a sense of awareness and contentment that is not always easy to come by in the midst of daily routines.

Prerequisite for Dani's class: Come prepared to find out what your body and mind have been up to lately!

Samantha Beech

Green Girl (and Green Guide)

Samantha is the one in the front of the class standing on her hands. No, we don't know how she does it, but she is slowly teaching us all! You'll see her behind the desk when she's not upside down, and you may just find her leading a class.

It did not take long for Samantha to realize that she loved yoga. She cultivated her own personal practice and stumbled on a path that would lead her to teaching. The courage she found on the mat began to manifest itself in her life and there was nothing like it! Born and (still being) raised in Southern California, Samantha spends her time outdoors climbing trees, stand up paddleboarding, teaching Spinning and practicing LOTS of yoga.

Trained through the Mukti School of Yoga with Julie Rader and Shelley Williams, Samantha is inspired by liberating and fluid sequences that open the heart, stimulate the core and produce a nice sweat. In the karmic sense of yoga, her teachers have given her a priceless gift. It only seems fit to give that gift back to others. She inspires her students to be filled with love and courage, because through courage we do not eliminate fear, we surpass it. She places a big emphasis on the "vinyasa karma," the steps on the ladder to a specific asana (pose) or state of being. If we were to skip too many steps on that ladder, we may not be able to embody the end result as fully. However, if we take the time to climb to the top together, we can do anything! Be happy. Be filled with love.

Szymon Wojcik

Green Guide

It's "Shh-Moan," and he's the coolest Polish yogi you'll ever meet (or maybe the only, but he'd still be the coolest if you met others). Szymon is our go-to guy to teach a rocking class when we need a little fun, and boy-oh-boy does he deliver!

Szymon was born and raised in Poland, then moved to Los Angeles in 2003 after spending almost three years in London. Yoga became an essential part of his life in 2007 after a close friend surprised him with a private Yoga session, and he hasn't stopped practicing since!

Szymon is a graduate of the YogaWorks 500 hour Teacher Training Program. He has studied closely with some of L.A.'s finest yoga teachers, including Patti Asad, James Brown, Annie Carpenter, Jasmine Lieb, Chris Stein and Lisa Walford. Szymon also completed the Mini Yogis "Yoga for Kids" foundation and advanced certificate programs, and works with children and adults throughout the city.

His classes are both physically challenging and a playful exploration of perceived physical limits as a gateway to happiness. Szymon aims to bring the transformational power of yoga into the lives of all of his students.

Megan Madeux

Warrior 2 (Studio Director + Guest Relations)

Need some water? Megan's got it. Have a question about your class? Yep, ask Megan. Want to come by and chat? She'll be there. Megan is the glue that holds this whole operation together. She is a Warrior in every sense of the word!

Megan grew up in the South Bay, spending her free time in a variety of different forms of dance. She went to Arizona State University to earn her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. While there, she practiced with the ASU dance team and became President of the Yoga Club. Yoga helped to strengthen her dance skills and showed her how to balance college life.

Upon returning to California after school, she continued to practice yoga in San Francisco while she led the creative team in advertising efforts at an integrated marketing agency. Megan was able to combine her passion for yoga with her work when she came back to Southern California and became a part of the seasonal team at lululemon athletica in El Segundo. Megan believes what Confucius said, "If you do what you love, you will never work another day in your life." She is honored to manage the team at the best yoga studio in the South Bay.

Chelsea Welch

Green Guide

www.myglobalnamaste.com

Chelsea is our original traveling yogi. If you're looking for travel recommendations, ask Chelsea, and she's also a great gardening adviser, and pretty awesome at showing you how to do gomukasana. Basically, ask Chelsea anything you need to know!

Chelsea left her small town in Ontario Canada 10 years ago and never looked back. Many travels later, fate landed her on the Big Island of Hawaii where she spent the last 6 years diving into the depths of the islands secrets, and ultimately uncovering the depth of her own true spirit. It is there where she developed a yoga practice that blends together all of the earths elements; reminding her students through breath (prana) and movement (asana) to connect to their organic selves.

After returning from India, Chelsea landed in Manhattan Beach, where she plans to plant some roots and watch them grow within the South Bay community. Chelsea has over 500 hours of yoga training with Julie Rader through The Mukti School of Yoga. Her classes offer grace, strength, and originality fused together with playfulness and humor.

Chelsea teaches our Friday night "Happy Hour" Yin (resorative) yoga class, which encourages students to let go of their workweek and sets the tone for a relaxing weekend. Chelsea also continues to travel the globe taking her yoga off the mat and into the world in search of new knowledge and spiritual growth.

Kelly Chrisman

Green Guide + Green Girl (that's a lot of green)

Did your high school chemistry teacher also teach yoga? Yea, ours didn't either, but the world would be a better place if they did! Kelly is a yogi and a teacher, which is a pretty good combination for a yoga teacher. She is one of our multi-talented team leaders. You can find Kelly behind the desk on some evenings and read her posts on our Daily Greens Blog, and follow her on a focused asana journey on the weekends.

Yoga found Kelly when she was just 14 and studying at the Princeton Ballet Company. What began as a mandatory class ended up being a liberating part of her dance training. Kelly took this passion to the University of Colorado, where she continued to dance both on the Dance Team at school and as a Denver Broncos Cheerleader.

Kelly used yoga as a grounding force while maintaining her dance schedule and working as a registered dietician. She studied with Bryan Kest's Power Yoga while completing a Masters in Education at Pepperdine, then took a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Yogaworks while she was teaching high school chemistry.

Kelly uses her knowledge and passion for the physical sciences to enhance her classes, allowing you to explore the physiology of your body while dancing to some pretty awesome music. She'll make you sweat but give you time to nurture yourself, enabling you to live your best life.

Rachel Acosta

Green Girl

Rachel is just one of those people you want to be around ALL the time! The only way to describe her is like a ray of sunshine. She emanates love and light, and her warmth can be felt through the phone as she says with a smile…"The Green Yogi this is Rachel, how many I help you?

Rachel was born and raised in Manhattan Beach and was taught, at a young age, about the amazing benefits of meditation. Throughout her life she has cultivated her meditation practice and was naturally drawn to the spiritual aspect of Yoga. While working at The Green Yogi, Rachel began to explore the possibility of teaching yoga, and eventually became a certified yoga instructor through the Mukti School of yoga under the instruction of Julie Rader and Jamie Horgan. Rachel's teaching style reflects what she embodies….a joyful sense of lightheartedness with free-flowing and energizing elements. You would expect nothing less from sunshine.

Jerry Chan

Green Guy (Web Design + Branding)

hire.jerrytchan.com

Jerry doesn't know any yoga, but he is happy to handle The Green Yogi's web design and branding needs.