Instructors
Donna Blue
Donna is an Anusara-Inspired teacher whose peerless sense of alignment principles is matched by a presense of calm and assurance.
Donna is one to come to if you want extra encouragement, precise attention to the "ins and outs" of your poses, or assistance with an injury or "problem area." Easy going by nature, Donna can also offer you a carefully guided challenge!
Ramaia Collins
Ramaia has been practicing yoga 37 years. He began his yoga training with an Indian teacher named Bala Krishna, and started teaching yoga in 1974 at the University of South Florida. In 1980 he moved to Maui and began to study with Patabi Jois. He has been practicing and teaching Ashtanga for 29 years, and has studied with several leading Ashtanga teachers including David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, Tim Miller and David Swenson.
Ramaia has also had extensive training in the Anusara Yoga Style and incorporates those alignment principles and heart themes into his classes.
He has been teaching on Maui for over 23 years, and has recently relocated to Sonoma Valley.
Mark Dennis
Mark Dennis started his yoga studies in his teens, studying under Lilias Folan of PBS fame. Mark starts with the premise that yoga doesn't have to be so serious. His classes emphasize the natural extension of joints and muscles in poses, alternating active strengthening and flexibility poses with passive relaxing and restorative poses. Since all people are anatomically different, individualized experience of poses is emphasized over idealized form. Mark has a bachelor's degree in Preventive Health Care and Psychcology, is a certified massage therapist and has been involved in the pain management field for over 30 years. He is a performing musician and artist the rest of the time.
Melanie King
Upon moving to the Bay Area from "Back East" in 1995, Melanie began her yogic journey. Her initial interest in the more dynamic practices led her to her first teacher training in Asthanga Yoga. However, over time, she craved a more spiritually centered practice that could integrate her training in yoga with a very influential experience she had learning Vipassana Meditation in Bihar, India. This desire led her to Kripalu Yoga, which she is certified in. She continues down this path studying Yin Yoga and Vinyasa Flow with her current teachers, Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley. Her teaching intention is to blend the needs of both the physical and subtle bodies while respecting each individual person's own expression of the art of yoga—and, of course, keeping humor and lightness in the mix as well! In addition to being Yoga Alliance registered and a member of the National Association of Yoga Therapists, Melanie is also a PADI Certified Advanced Open Water diver, is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM), and has a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her true passion is travel, which she indulges in every chance she gets.
Beth Lambert
Beth is a certified Yoga instructor through the Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200 hr certification through Yandara in Baha, Mexico where she learned Hatha yoga with Iyengar precision allignment and an emphasis on heartfelt awareness. Beth is also certified in Prana Flow through Shiva Rea where she incorporates the five elements into her practice in order to balance the body, mind, and spirit. While Iyengar is fundamental to her practice she also brings awareness to the chakras helping to bring vitality to the physical and subtle body. Her classes are a colorful weave of asana, pranayama, mudras, and meditation with a focus on awakening your true inner self by being a neutral witness of your practice and by learning to listen and trust your own inner guru.
Lisa Murra
Kristine Marchus
Krissy Marchus is a graduate of Yoga Programs Teacher Training, has a BFA from Boston Conservatory and an MA from U.C.L.A. She is on the faculty of Santa Rosa Junior College and has been teaching children and adults for over 10 years. Krissy has studied extensively with Shiva Rea, Anne O'Brien, Ramaia Collins and has attended the Primary Series workshop with Sri Patabhi Jois. Krissy brings her background in dance into her vinyasa style of yoga emphasizing alignment and flowing breath. She nurtures her students along with a sense of humor that makes class for any age fun and challenging. Krissy believes in the healing and empowering practice of yoga to transform and enlighten from the inside out.
Lisa Murray
Lisa Murray is a certified teacher in the Walt Baptiste Method of Raja Yoga, Sherri Baptiste's Power of Yoga Teacher Training program, and has studied extensively with Dr. Mehrad Nazari, Michele Hebert and Sherri Baptiste-Freeman, and Swami Veda Bharati . She is currently enrolled in an advanced teacher training program with The Himalayan Yoga Tradtion. She teaches a wide range of students from ages 5 to 88, and specializes in the importance of breath work as the foundation of a strong Yoga practice. In addition to teaching and co-managing Yoga Community, Lisa runs the children's Yoga program at Kenwood School and works with the 55+ community in Sonoma.
Leslie Tippell
Leslie Tippell is currently studying Anusura Yoga with senior certified teachers Christy Burnette and mentor Sianna Sherman. Leslie holds a BS in Psychology from UCI and uses this to connect with her students. Her focus is to bring joy with poses that are an expression of a deep artistic feeling inside. Emphasis is placed on the spiritual purpose of Hatha yoga while reconnecting to our own innate goodness, power and beauty. Off the mat, Leslie is a wife & mother to seven-year old Max and an Architectural Color Designer.
Carol Tomlinson
Carol is an Anusara-affiliated teacher and has also studied Parayoga with Rod Stryker for the last seven years. She invites her students to pursue the yogic path and practices most suitable for that individual, and enjoys helping them discover those postures, pranayama (breath) and visualized meditations which will serve them the best not only in class, but "off the mat" in everyday life. Off her mat, she is a mulitple pet owner and loves to indluge her passion for opera. She is the owner of Yoga Community.
Rhys Wade
I've had many injuries. Each one brings a change that must be respected. I believe in making a class fun, in recognizing poses that may cause discomfort, and adjusting them accordingly. Only you can be aware of how a pose makes your body feel. I expect students tolisten to their bodies and move toward a pace that suits them.
Marlie Wesner
Marlie's Anusara classes are a blend of heart, mind and body. She brings a love of Yoga philosophy to the mind, a celebration and respect for life to the heart, and a love of moving and achieving joy in the body through the practice of asana. She has a strong dedication to awareness in Yoga and the use of Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment as a safe way to learn and expand our abilities. People of all sizes, shapes and abilities are welcome in her classes. Marlie's sweet chants at the end of class are a treat, and a tribute to her love and thankfulness to life and Yoga.