INSTRUCTORS


 

 

Andrew Alter
Andrew has been practicing yoga since 2005, in addition to his lifelong devotion to movement and art. Andrew brings a deep body awareness to the practice of yoga and sees life as a dance of energy in motion.

He believes the practice of any physical movement, such as, yoga translates directly into how we choose to move through our daily experiences.

 

 

 

 

Catherine Mazurcath

An artist from an early age, committed to a healthy lifestyle and personal growth, it was natural that teaching yoga was an instant passion for Catherine.  After receiving her initial 200 hour teaching certificate at NYC's Sonic Yoga, a Jivamukti style studio, she began teaching all levels at a Kripalu certified studio in Chicago.  Continuing to explore all aspects of yoga, Catherine discovered Anusara's sound principles of alignment.  Her wide exposure to many teachers and philosophies has added depth and balance to her teaching style and she is grateful to them all.

Concurrent with her yogic studies, she studies energy medicine, nutrition, and meditation.  She has studied Gary Craig's EMT (emotional freedom technique), spent a year in Shamanic apprenticeship, and has taught workshops on energetic techniques for personal empowerment and release.

She offers a dynamic, creative practice that is designed to inspire and challenge every level of student. 

Visit Catherine's Website

 

 

David Chergosky

David Chergosky began practicing yoga in 2006 out of a personal interest in health education through holistic living. This deepened a growing fascination for the exploration of eastern philosophy, western science and general metaphysical studies. He takes great pleasure in promoting the healing and transformational arts and is a 200 hr Yoga Alliance Certified instructor as well as a practitioner of massage, reiki and the Yuen Method of Chinese energetic correction. He has trained extensively with the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in meditation and ayurveda and continues education in multiple healing modalities and styles of yoga. He is guided by an inspiration for all things promising an applicable logical benefit leading to greater idealism of life's enjoyment. His passion is shedding light on the sciences that lead to "cultivating the freedom to embrace our highest potential and the potential to embrace our highest freedom."

David's class is geared to meet the needs of the new student looking to get aquainted with Yoga and develop their personal practice while still suitable for the developed yogi and yogini looking to deepen their practice by offering options for fuller expressions of primary poses.


Debra Hodgen
Since beginning tap dance classes at the age of five Debra Hodgen has always been a mover. She received her Bachelors Degree in dance from UCLA and taught and performed extensively. After meeting her meditation teacher in 1983 she began her study of hatha yoga. Debra has a 250-hour teacher's certificate from Yoga Mountain. She is also an Anusara-Inspired teacher with over 200 hours of Anusara training. She has taught all levels of yoga and classes for children and teens, prenatal, gentle, and restorative. She also enjoys teaching private classes to aid students therapeutically or to help them move into a greater level of expression in their practice. Debra teaches with an abundance of enthusiasm and humor. Her greatest joy in teaching is seeing her students "blossom". Debra is an active member of the Yoga Alliance. She is also a certified Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist.

Visit Debra's Wellness Website



Greg Parsons

Greg was first introduced to meditation in college and immediately discovered the benefits of being in stillness. He took a few yoga classes at the Yoga Room back in the 90's and loved that too. But it wasn't until he had a son in 2006 that he started to practice regularly. Greg finished Roots and Wings Yoga teacher training with Lisette Hart in 2009 and has been teaching ever since. Most recently, he has been practicing a variety of different Yoga styles and although is not not sure where the path will take him, is enjoying the journey.

Greg also loves to surf, travel, and spend time with family and friends.


 

Marion Yanchewski 

Hi my name is Marion. I have five children and five grandchildren. I have been active in sports and living healthy for the majority of my life. Most recently I have devoted my focus to yoga due to yoga’s overall gratifying benefit. My practice is Christian based.

I work as an Occupation Therapist in geriatrics and integrate therapeutic massage and yoga in my sessions. I am happy to teach in the community of “Keep Me Organic.” 


 

Rachel Leshaw
Rachel was a competitive runner in high school and college. She was first introduced to yoga by a classmate at the University of Vermont where she was studying Environmental Science (known to her father as "Playing in the Woods.") She enjoyed yoga for the physicality, stress reduction and self-reflection. It was refreshing to be away from the competitive circuit.

As Rachel moved into various cities and jobs, she sought yoga studios and studied a range of yoga styles. To further her personal practice, she completed an Ashtanga teacher training at It's Yoga in San Francisco (2003.) For a few years she taught yoga in Bay Area public high schools. When Rachel moved to Encinitas in 2007, she started teaching adults at Frog's Fitness. She has recently completed the Anusara teacher training with Michael Fukumura.


Rachel's approach to yoga is "structured play." Yoga is a dance on the mat, spontaneous and expressive. Rachel loves watching her students become more comfortable in their bodies and gain confidence. Poses that begin as "impossible" become possible when approached from a place of play and good alignment. Rachel's classes are all different and cater to the needs of the students in the room.


Rachel enjoys playing with dogs, surfing, chocolate, singing/songwriting and West African dance. She feels the need to again mention dogs since she loves them like a nut.


Visit Rachel's Pet Care Website

 

 

Sandrine Gibsonsandrine

Sandrine has over fifteen years of Yoga experience in Anusara, Ashtanga, Hatha, Bikram, Iyengar and Vinyasa Yoga.  She brings a bit of every style in her teaching techniques.  She offers compassion and is nurturing, safe and fun. She also challenges her students and takes them to their edge.

Sandrine's classes combine strength, flexibility, and spirituality. Classes are free flowing and each one is different from the next depending on who attends the class and the students' needs/requests.  Class will challenge your inner soul and invite you to reconnect with your true Self.

 Sandrine has taken teacher training, workshop, and retreats from the Top National Instructors of Yoga, including:  John Friend, Douglas Brooks, Desiree Rumbaugh, Martin Kirk, Betsey Downing, Michael Fukumura, Noah Mazé, Carlos Pomeda, Todd Norian, Tim Miller, Shiva Rea, Roger Cole and David Swenson. She continues to attend training and workshop to keep her on the leading edge of Yoga.

Sandrine was born and raised in France and moved with her family to California in 1980.

 

Sophia Ludyjan

Sophia started her yoga training in 2000, studying Classical Hatha Yoga methods as handed down from Indra-Devi, a Russian yogini who earned the reputation as the "First Lady of Yoga". Indra-Devi received her training from Krishnamacharya and other East Indian teachers. Sophia has studied with Leslie Foxworth-Feree, owner of Spiritual Yoga Training whose teacher studied directly under Indra- Devi. Sophia completed the 500-hour, Yoga Alliance approved program in 2002.

Sophia also completed the Anusara Immersion and 200-hour Anusara teacher training at the Yoga Center in Carlsbad under the direction of  Michael Fukamura. Anusara Yoga is a hatha yoga system that embodies a system of alignment principles and a Tantric philosophy that celebrates our divine nature and essential goodness.

In 2004, Sophia was initiated in the First Degree of the Usui System of Reiki Healing with Jean Ferris, Master Reiki Teacher. Reiki is a system of healing using Universal Energy. Sophia has also trained with Katherine Roberts and completed her Yoga for Golfers program. Katherine Roberts is featured on the Golf Channel and various golf and fitness magazines in print and online. Yoga for Golfers is a series of golf-specific yoga poses, designed to effectively help golfers of all ages and fitness levels, utilize the many benefits of yoga to improve the physical and mental aspects of their game. Sophia is also a certified personal trainer with NASM and has certificates in Integrated Stretching and Scientific Shoulder Training from the C.H.E .K. Institute.

Sophia's teaching style is fun and compassionate. Drawing from her experience as a ballroom dance instructor and personal trainer, Sophia knows how to make her students feel comfortable, even when upside down. Her charming and dedicated presentation of yoga is truly unique incorporating elements of fitness training such as core strengthening. Students will receive personal attention as well as 'hands-on' support. She has a very patient and friendly demeanor and truly cares about her students.

 

 

Susanna Kurner

Susanna was introduced to the Alexander Technique while preparing for an operatic recital in Southern California in order to learn to coordinate her breathing and calm her performance anxiety.  Susanna loved the Technique so much that she decided to learn to be a teacher of it and go to school in Charlottesville, VA, where they combine AT with some yoga work as well.
Susanna teaches students how to become aware of their habitual movement and thought patterns, then to learn to create new and more easeful habits of coordination for the body and mind.  The Alexander Technique can help ease back pain, make movements more free, and allow you to feel light and easeful in your body and mind. Through every day movements such as sitting, standing, and bending, as well as more specialized movements like yoga and public speaking, Susanna will show you how to find a better way of being in your own body.

Visit Susanna's Alexander Technique website

 


 


3147 Roosevelt Street, Carlsbad, California 92008 (760) 434.3469