Amy Pancake, M.A. and eryt-300, was first introduced to yoga in 1992 while studying Vipassana meditation at Wat Suan Mokkh Buddhist monastery in Thailand. She has been practicing yoga daily since 1998, and has taught over 3,500 yoga classes since 2002. She enjoys teaching several different styles of yoga, including hatha, pre- and post-natal, kids yoga and restorative. She completed advanced yoga teacher training with Ana Forrest in July 2006, and has been exploring Continuum Movement with Emily Conrad since 2007. Amy is currently pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Kinesiology at The University of Texas to broaden her study of movement.

Amy's yoga class is designed to awaken and enliven every cell of the body so that fresh energy can flow and old fears and blockages may be released. We do this by learning breath awareness, internal alignment, creating space in the joints and moving from the core. Learn how to balance the yoga dichotomies of stillness and movement, support and surrender, grace and structural integrity. Get rid of stiffness, old movement patterns, and tightness!

Amy has practiced yoga most of her adult life; mainly as a compliment to sports. As a lifetime runner, cyclist, swimmer and competitive triathlete she came to realize that yoga is a perfect compliment to repetitive motion sports. She considers herself a "reformed type A", mainly due to the balance and awareness yoga has brought to her life. Amy became certified to teach yoga three years ago and loves it so much she is now pursuing her 500 hour advanced degree. She specializes in teaching teens and athletes. "Teens are in such a unique stage of development, it is a wonderful time to introduce yoga and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle," says Amy. She feels yoga provides teens time out from competition, curriculum and keeping up with the hectic demands placed on them. By learning how to breathe, get centered and listen to their own internal wisdom, she feels yoga teaches teens great life skills. Her vinyasa flow style classes are designed to move the body, calm the mind and ignite the spirit! Amy considers her greatest life blessings and joys to be Steve, her wonderful husband of 25 years along with her three children, ages 17, 13 and 12.

Bio Coming Soon!

Brandy Arena, RYT experience includes fifteen years in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sector expressing her passion of helping others achieve wellness and discover the many gifts the ancient art of yoga still offers modern practitioners. Brandy brings a wealth of knowledge to her students that includes dance,yoga, meditation, movement therapy and the wisdom of esteemed teachers in these fields. Brandy is registered with the Yoga Alliance, is an ongoing student of eastern philosophy and of Waldorf School Teacher Training. Explore www.bealoveyoga.com.

Cary grew up in a colorful and loving family, flanked by two athletic and active brothers who fostered her love of "playing" to stay healthy, and this learned playfulness is infused in both her yoga practice and teaching. She began practicing yoga when in her teens, then reignited her practice after becoming a mom. She received her yoga teaching certification from Gioconda Yoga at Castle Hill Fitness in 2009 and is also certified to teach children's yoga, which she weaves into her daily preschool classroom and her volunteer teaching at the Helping Hand Home for Children. Cary's class will offer a stretching, calming yet energizing flow that will enhance strength, flexibility and peace of mind to carry off of your mat and into your day. Smiling, laughing and being at home in your personal practice is encouraged, and you will enjoy exploring new territory in a safe way, through the use of props and partner poses - couples are welcomed and appreciated!

Off the mat and out of the classroom, Cary enjoys life with her tennis-playing husband, two teenage sons, extended family and a house full of animals.

Chelsea is a native Southern Californian who has been practicing yoga for over 13 years. She brings to her classes an authenticity of love and awareness of living in the moment. Her classes can be fun, fast, and upbeat like the Hip Hop yoga class, set to funky jams...or smooth and rhythmic like the Sunday afternoon Vinyasa flow class (which is meditative, therapeutic, but will make you sweat!) She also teaches children's yoga and says that teaching toddlers sometimes inspires her language for her adult classes! No matter what age her students are, Chelsea loves sharing in the journey of self-discovery that each student experiences in yoga. She is so thankful to be a part of the amazing Austin yoga community, and to get to teach at this special studio.
www.yogawithchelsea.com

Connie Hausman-Nishimura, director and founder of CAN DO YOGA™ (www.candoyoga.com) in Redwood City , California , has studied and taught Iyengar Yoga for over fifteen years. She began her teacher-training in the two-year Advanced Studies Program at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco. Thereafter, Connie apprenticed for five years under internationally acclaimed Iyengar instructor Yelena Fedotova. In the spring of 2001, she had the honor of working with Geeta Iyengar, BKS Iyengar's daughter, and in 2003, Connie traveled to Pune , India to study with the Iyengar family. For the last ten years she has apprenticed and studied with world-renowned senior Iyengar instructor Manouso Manos.

Connie teaches orthodox Iyengar Yoga in a systematic, professional manner. Her classes build a strong foundation in the poses. Like constructing building blocks, the poses become more refined as methodically new details are added. Her enthusiasm and love of Iyengar Yoga is obvious in all her classes. Connie's ultimate objective is to impart how Yoga creates choice--a choice for greater physical, mental, and spiritual health and well-being.

Connie is a certified Iyengar teacher and holds a BA in psychology and English from the University of Texas . She has practiced massage therapy for over fifteen years, and is the mother of three beautiful children.

In Dana's class, you'll receive an inspiration by which to set your intention, a gentle warm up, and traditional ashtanga sun salutations to build heat. You'll keep moving with standing and challenging poses linked with an optional vinyasa flow, then have ample time to unwind and relax, as you reflect on taking your yoga and your intention off your mat and into your life.

When Dana Wills, RYT500, took her first yoga class in 2000, it felt like coming home. In yoga, she found something to challenge her athleticism, but more importantly something deep and spiritual to call upon. Her goal is to share yoga that can ground, energize and soothe her students, especially if they can learn something to safely repeat on their own in their daily lives. Dana incorporates yoga into her life wherever she is: here she is striking a pose on her boat in the Grand Canyon. Dana is a mom of two teens, and has volunteered her time teaching yoga to about 250 teens, primarily in public school. Dana was a Champions Academy gymnastics coach for 10 years, and thrives in the outdoors. You may even find her in the neighborhood doing yoga in her treehouse!

Katherine has been working with Austin-area moms since 2008, when she began teaching Hypnobirthing classes. Like most women, Katherine wears many hats in her daily life- she teaches Hypnobirthing childbirth classes, is a birth doula, Crossfit trainer, and a mom to two truly wonderful little munchkins- ages 5 and 3. She has been an avid yogi for the past 10 years and was one of the very first students here at Kula. After working the front desk a couple of years ago, Katherine is excited to be bringing her teaching experience and passion for health and wellness to the Kula community.
To find out more about Katherine, visit her blog at www.crossfitkat.blogspot.com or http://www.AustinHypnobirthing.com

Lara began dancing at 4 years old and started teaching at 13. She spent her teenage years teaching both dance and drama in New Braunfels, TX. After a year as a dance/theater major in college, our small town girl moved to The Big Apple in 1997. She attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where her journey to true self awareness began.

It was in New York City where Lara discovered yoga. Present in her body again, following a hiatus from dance, it was a return home. After four years of practicing at a number of studios around the city, she enrolled at The Laughing Lotus College of Yoga in the fall of 2007 and received a 200 hour teaching certificate in vinyasa yoga. Lara approaches yoga as an eternal student with wonder and humility and enjoys sharing it with fellow seekers.

Leigh Fisher is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500 hour level with yoga alliance. Leigh has been practicing yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. She leads fun, high-energy classes that strike a balance between fast paced vinyasa flow and strong posture alignment. Although her classes are physically challenging, she invites any student with a sense of humor and an awareness of his or her own limitations to come play with her. Leigh strives to create a joyful and safe atmosphere, offering modifications to suit many levels of practice. Leigh teaches yoga because she hopes to share the peace and bliss that she has found through her personal practice with as many people as she can. Leigh also teaches children's yoga and is an inter-disciplinary theatre artist and vocalist.

Leslie is Registered Yoga Teacher who graduated from the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program at Yoga Yoga. She began her practice in 1975 and has seen it change as she moves through the sixth decade of her life. Her studies followed a strong interest in restorative yoga and working with those with physical/health issues. She hopes to provide a supportive environment where students can learn to nurture themselves and reduce the stress in their lives.

Leslie holds a BS and MEd in Special Education; she has devoted nearly three decades to teaching Special Education students in the public school system. She is a parent as well as an avid swimmer, watercolorist, and usher for the UT Performing Arts Center.

Bio coming soon!

Matt is a full time yoga instructor mainly in the Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow traditions. He likes to call his style of instruction "yoga mutt"; taking a little bit of information from every resource possible and integrating it into each class. With over 12 years of personal practice and over 6,000 hours of teaching time, there is a lot of experiential knowledge combined with compassion and patience to be had in his classes! You will laugh as hard as you work and will enjoy a wonderful sense of community, friendship, and self awareness throughout the process!

When not teaching, Matt can be found here in Austin playing music, two-steppin, and rock climbing wherever there is available rock! Check out Matts blog for more information at... www.yoga4liberation.com

Meg is one of the founders of Austin Kula Yoga. She has a 20 year background in movement and dance. When she turned to yoga to help recuperate from a back injury, she discovered a new love. She became certified over 8 years ago in Hatha Yoga through Living Yoga and continues to learn from her teachers and students. Meg is also certified in Children's Yoga and Prenatal Yoga.

Meg flows through the postures and looks to her students in class to direct her to their needs, so each class creates a relevant experience for each student. As a result, her classes are warmhearted, fun and often times spontaneous! Meg loves teaching yoga and is grateful to all of her students and teachers for their kindness, inspiration and wisdom. Meg also has a deep interest in pregnancy and loves to share how yoga can help women through the transitions of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Come check out her Core Yoga, Hip Hop Yoga or Prenatal at Austin Kula Yoga.

Michelle Thompson, Vinyasa Flow and Hatha Yoga instructor, has been teaching yoga at Ballet Austin's Butler Community School since May 2008. Michelle achieved a 200 hour certification and 100 advanced hours through the Yoga Alliance. She is currently attending an advanced yoga training at Dharma Yoga. She has enjoyed seven seasons with the Ballet Austin Company, and she is also a teacher in the Ballet Austin Academy. Michelle is currently an ambassador for Lululemon Athletica, and loves taking part in community outreach. Michelle has also hosted two yoga benefits for the SafePlace Organization, led a Yoga for Dancers workshop at Kula Yoga, and recently taught yoga at the Active Life Movement Festival.

Michelle has found that practicing yoga helps her strength, flexibility, balance, focus, and breath as well as many other aspects in her life, and she hopes to provide her students with the knowledge, optimism, courage, and guidance to discover how yoga can help them in their lives.

Paula has been studying yoga since 1997 and teaching for the past 8 years in Austin. She is certified through Healing In Yoga and studied and practiced with her good friend Murti. Paula has also studied with Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea, Angela Farmer, John Friend, David Swenson, Ramanda Patel, Anna Forest, Gary Craftstow, and Jason, from Acro Yoga. Her style of yoga flows from one asana to the next using the breath, and strikes a perfect blend between nurturing and challenging, in a non-competitive atmosphere. Paula incorporates many different styles together to create a unique and eclectic flow which is always new and fun. The music in the class is a mix of fast beat for flowing to inspiring meditative music to take you deeper into that sacred heart-space of love and compassion, to find that intelligent edge within. Students who take Paula's class feel happy and relaxed and at peace with themselves when they leave.

The feeling of community created through yoga classes is what drew Sara to become a teacher. She grew up dancing and playing sports. Vinyasa Yoga combines the athleticism and gracefulness of each and incorporates a spiritual aspect that enhances the practice. During college, Sara studied in Los Angeles with Annie Carpenter and fell in love with Vinyasa . Upon moving to Austin 10 years ago, her practice grew with many great teachers and guides including Gioconda Yoga where she earned her yoga teaching certification. After having her first son Mac, she attended postnatal classes where she was able to bond with other mothers and continue her yoga. She said, "When kids came into the picture I felt it only natural to include them in my practice. The best part of postnatal yoga is that anything goes, we've all been there and we are here to support you and help you grow."

Born in La Jolla, California, Susan spent most of her life in the Boston area before landing happily in Austin 5 years ago. She is currently pursuing her 500 hour level training in Hatha Yoga and 200 hours of training in Kundalini Yoga. Intensive teacher training has contributed to Susan's own yoga practice, as well as deepened her teaching. In her Hatha Yoga classes, Susan combines different Hatha traditions, so her students can get a sense of all that yoga has to offer. Rooted in the belief that yoga is for everyone, Susan encourages students to consider the various traditions and practices of yoga, and ultimately to follow their own inner teacher. Yogic philosophy is combined with mantra, asana, and meditation for a fun, eclectic yoga class.

Tracy, seeking warmth, moved to Austin from Denver and has found a place to call home. She began working in the fitness realm in 1997 as the director of a children’s gymnastics center. In 2001 she moved on to the pilates world as a program director. The pilates studio also offered yoga which inspired her to learn more. Shortly thereafter she completed the Yoga Yoga Teacher Training as a Certified Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level. Tracy taught hatha classes until she began a new role in life as a mom and found it natural to become certified in prenatal yoga with Leslie Lytle. In 2005, Tracy began teaching prenatal as a new mother. Then, in 2006 she was blessed to have been on the same journey as her students, teaching prenatal yoga while pregnant with her second son.
Tracy’s fun loving teaching style is that of rhythm and flow. She encourages her students to fluidly move through vinyasa while deepening postures and finding the ease through the effort. Tracy looks to her students for direction, personalizing each class she teaches.
Tracy, her husband, two boys, and two dogs all love life in Austin. She credits yoga with giving her the energy, balance, and peace to keep up with all of them.

Zakiyyah (RYT-200) first fell in love with yoga (eight limbs and all) while studying psychology at UT Austin in the late 90s. That love blossomed into passion during an inspiring yoga class in a jungle on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2006. In 2008, Zakiyyah became a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance. "My yoga practice has carried me through so many challenges and changes. As a teacher I hope to impart to my students the joy and benefits of a personal yoga practice."

Zoe Mantarakis has been teaching vinyasa flow in Austin, TX for nearly a decade. Known for her uniquely sequenced and challenging classes, she infuses her practice a knowledge of yogic philosophy. Some of her most profound influences have come from the Anusara tradition of yoga, with its eye for anatomical alignment and appreciation of tantric yoga philosophy. She is a Lululemon Ambassador and tours with the Texas 2-Stepping Across America Yoga Tour. She and musician Oliver Rajamani have combined their talents to create "Rhythm of the Soul;" a workshop series in which yoga flow is enhanced by live Indian music. Her most recent focus has been learning to play the harmonium; a classic indian instrument used for mantra meditation. Zoe holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. She is the proud and loving mother of two beautiful
boys.