Bindu Yoga Studio in Del Mar

Katie Brauer

Katie Brauer is a  teacher of Kripalu/Vinyasa Flow Yoga and  a practitioner of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. Her introduction to Yoga came during her career as a Professional Snowboarder and her explorations continue to quench her thirst for knowledge and quest for Truth. As an ambassador for Lulu Lemon and owner of Bindu Yoga Studio , Katie ‘s committment is to inspiring people on and off their Yoga mats, and to live a life that is full of love and laughter.

Katie’s studies in the Kripalu and Krishnamacharya linage, Ayurveda, Bhakti, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and somatic movement infuse her progressive approach to the embodiment of Yoga on and off the mat.

Known for her inspirational teaching style and ability to create a safe and sacred space, her classes are a blend dynamic movement infused with yoga philosophy, technical alignment and her heart felt humor she draws on her own life experiences, her many teachers and her numerous adventures around the globe to bring you a truly multi-dimensional practice and experience.

Originally from Sydney Australia, Katie is Certified as a Teacher of Kripalu Yoga, Vinyasa/Prana Flow, Pre/Post Natal Yoga, Journey Dance, and Yoga Trance Dance. A Certified practitioner of Thai Yoga Bodywork, Massage Therapy and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. She has also studied Reiki Level 1 & 2, Reflexology, Chi Nei Tsang, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu in China. She is Certified in Classical Pilates and studied Anatomy, Physiology and Functional Movement at University in Sydney, Australia. (A.C.P.E.) Katie teaches and leads workshops Internationally and throughout the USA.  www.OpentoSource.com

Lauren Duke

Lauren began her training in San Francisco through the Yoga of devotion or Bhakti Yoga with Rusty Wells. She later lived within the community of the Nosara Yoga Institute in Nosara, Costa Rica where she studied and trained in interdisciplinary Yoga, Lauren says that, “Yoga is everywhere, we just need to wake up and see all of the beauty around us even in the most difficult shift or movements.” She has studied with Donn and Amba Stapleton of the Kripalu Institute and teaches a free flow class, full of energy, creativity and music that makes you want to move. “Movement is life. That is one thing that we can never deny ourselves.” She adheres that if the practitioner can just be open to whatever may be coming, then the practice of Yoga as life can be simple yet profoundly satisfying.

Lauren’s classes provide a platform for growth. Guided by the energy of the group her classes can be rigorous or slow and deep. She encourages that students listen to where their bodies and minds are at in any given moment. This inquiry is the foundation of Yoga. Knowing that yoga can help people to break down the boundaries that they have created around themselves and reignite their own fire and love within. It is not until we separate from everything else, that we can then find union.

Paisley Close

Paisley Close is a sweet and dedicated practitioner of Anusara yoga who has been on the mat since 1996 and teaching since 2000. As an instructor recognized both by Anusara (Anusara-inspired) and Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 200), Paisley is a yogini who inspires dramatic deepening and transformation in all of her students. Her technical knowledge, shining heart and devotion to the study and practice of asana is evident in her ability to articulate postures and to sequence poses. She creates an environment of safety and encouragment and, as a result, her students often walk away from her classes amazed at what they have accomplished. Classes with Paisley are offerings of spiritual and physical transformation that have profound and lasting effects. Paisley is in the final stages of full certification with Anusara yoga, one of the highest levels for teachers across the globe.

Kristi Petersen

Kristi teaches a blend of Hatha Yoga, integrating Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kripalu and Kundalini into her practice. Her classes embody these principals and are then incorporated into a Vinyasa flow which is tailored towards her students needs. She believes in the invigorating power that yoga offers the mind, body and spirit.

Kristi Petersen is a San Diego native. She has spent most of her time near the ocean and has found a deep spiritual connection with it. After studying dance since the age of three, she found yoga as a deeper way of going inside and connecting with her one true self. After her first class she was hooked. When a car accident left her with fractured vertebrae she drew upon her knowledge of yoga to help heal and relieve the intense pain caused by her injuries.

She began her practice of yoga seven years ago and completed her Yoga Alliance certification through the Nosara Yoga Institute located in Nosara, Costa Rica. Her practice is inspired by the teachings of her instructors which include but are not limited to: Tim Miller, Shiva Rea, Don and Amba Stapleton, Stephen Cope, Jon Friend, Dharma Mittra and Ana Forrest. Kristi finds her journey as a student of yoga and life to be never ending. She is currently completing her B.A. in Psychology and is continuing her education in ayurveda, massage therapy, and nutrition.

Kenna Crouch

Kenna Crouch is a yogini and performing artist. She grew up dancing, primarily classical ballet, jazz and tap.  In college, she expanded into contemporary dance and found yoga along the way.  She now happily dedicates herself to these creative and complimentary fields of moving art.  In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Dance & Sociology from UC San Diego (‘08), Kenna has completed 200-hour teacher training with Sherry Schreck in the Anusara style.  Kenna has taught yoga since the summer of 2008, gaining experience working with students from a range of ages and abilities in a number of environments.  Kenna is also a professional modern dancer and teacher with the Patricia Rincon Dance Collective, with whom she performs through out San Diego. Nature, healing arts, music and meditation inspire Kenna’s yoga practice as well as her teaching… she blends many of these elements into her classes to deepen the connection between mind, body and spirit.

Cindy Lee

Cindy is foremost and always a student of yoga and secondly an instructor. Cindy received her 800-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher certification from Moksha Yoga Canada (member of the Yoga Alliance); pioneers of environmentally conscious hot yoga studios. Cindy is honoured to be one of the instructors in the Natural Healing Institute’s (Encinitas, California) Yoga Instructor Certification program as well as assistant instructor in their Massage Technician program. She continues her yoga education through studies in the ancient yoga texts, participating in trainings and workshops and a daily personal practice. Cindy combines her yoga instruction with other healing modalities including Reiki, Zen Touch Shiatsu, aromatherapy, energy work, massage and Thai yoga therapy.

Cindy believes that through the synergy of nutrition, movement and positive intention we all have the power to heal ourselves. Her approach in a yoga class is one of “ahimsa” or compassion, first for yourself and then for others. With a smile in her heart, she touches all that cross her path.

Jenna Carpenter

Jenna’s passion for yoga helped her to grow spiritually years ago and continues to transform her life. Yoga sculpted Jenna’s humility, confidence, and independence. Growing up in The Woodlands, Texas, she played a variety of sports and pursued gymnastics for four years. Jenna has practiced yoga for the last seven years and lived in California since 2004. Several inspirational teachers gave her support and guidance in advancing her yoga practice. When she came back from solo traveling in southeast Asia, she knew teaching yoga was the next step in her life. Jenna’s dedicated practice as a student and teacher continues to uplift her and others daily. When she isn’t physically practicing yoga she enjoys traveling, surfing, creating art, appreciating nature, and going to school.

Brent Skeen

Hello fellow seeker.  My name is Brent Skeen.  I am not committed to any particular school of yoga, nor can I claim any specific lineage, or to have studied under a famous instructor or guru.  What I do have is a strong desire to grow as an individual and instructor.  I am also committed to the growth of my students, however they define growth in the moment.  If you take my class I promise to put out as much energy as you.  I promise a class that offers strong asana, but I also seek to incorporate pranayama, a strong philosophical theme, meditative elements, and perhaps a little chanting/kirtan.

As the Buddha himself said, “If you see a Buddha, kill him.”  That is, don’t just accept what is offered to you as ‘truth.’  Try it on for a while, in earnest, see what works for you at this point on your path, and file the rest away for later.  I thank all my teachers, particularly the ones I could not recognize as such in my moments of weakness. Namaste.

Mikey Maile

Mikey has studied various styles of Yoga including, Vinyasa Flow, Jivamukti, and Anusara. Mikey’s passion for Yoga was evident from his very first Yoga class but it was after meeting friend and teacher Shane Robson that he was inspired to teach yoga and embarked on his Teacher Training journey with Sherry Schreck in an Anusara and Tantra based 200hr training in March 2010. Mikey will guide you in a Vinyasa Flow through the asanas with compassion and awareness, from the foundation, opening with grace and ease. You will experience his love and devotion to Yoga, calming and meditative music, chanting, and awareness to the body, breath and inner being.

Summer Bates

Summer’s first experience in a Hatha Yoga class illuminated the path she would then embark on. Realizing her Dharma was to teach Yoga she relocated to Encinitas from Virginia Beach, VA and began to deepen her yoga practice.

Recently having completed her formal 200hr anusara based training with the beautiful Sherry Schreck, in March 2010. Summer has also studied various styles of hot yoga, vinyasa flows, jivamukti, and anusara.

Relatively new to teaching (in this lifetime) Summer offers a vibrant and open hearted approach to your Yoga practice. Through movement and music (didgeridoos and various instruments) you will experience asanas incorporating pranayama, meditation, and chanting deeply rooted in compassion and a pure love for yoga.

Jo Anne Hunter

Jo was a competitive gymnast until the age of 12, and then began focusing on tennis when she moved overseas to Japan and Korea with her family. A back injury ended her collegiate tennis career at UC San Diego in 2001, and after traditional medicine and physical therapy failed, she turned to yoga. She started as a student of Svaroopa yoga, a style known for it’s compassionate approach to profoundly change the body, mind, and emotions. After practicing intensely for 6 months, she was once again able to start playing competitively and started coaching tennis at Mesa College. She continued with Svaroopa yoga, but broadened her practice by studying Bikram, Vinyasa, and Anusara. She eventually choose to become certified in Vinyasa; receiving her training at the Prana yoga studio in La Jolla under the guidance of Gerhard Gessner and Jeanie Carlstead. Currently, she is training in Anusara yoga with Michael Fukumura, working towards her 500 hr RYT.

With a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, Jo has been able to apply her education by teaching yoga to people recovering from substance abuse at Active Recovery. She is grateful to her mentors for guiding her on this path and is blessed to be able to help others know themselves through yoga. She continues to play and teach tennis, has made a serious commitment to growing her personal yoga practice, and loves to tandem surf. Jo strives to find the joy in every experience, and encourages everyone around her to celebrate the joy in their lives too!

Claire Petretti

Claire Petretti has been practicing, studying, and teaching yoga since 1999. Like many fitness enthusiasts, she was initially drawn to yoga for its physical benefits of strength, balance, and flexibility. Once Claire realized that serenity, peace of mind, and a general sense of happiness were predominant results of the practice, she was hooked.

An E-RYT Yoga Alliance instructor, Claire teaches a dynamic vinyasa flow, combined with fun, upbeat music. She utilizes her dance background in her flow sequences so that the movement never stops. Breathing and alignment are key. Claire is a certified Pilates instructor, who apprenticed with Julian Littleford, and also holds a NASM-certification for personal training. Mind-body fitness is her passion.

In the last few years, Claire faced several health challenges, including a diagnosis of breast cancer in January 2010. Yoga has aided her healing throughout surgeries and chemotherapy, and will aid her as she finishes radiation in August 2010. Learning to live with cancer inspired her to earn her Yoga for Cancer Therapy certification and she now teaches classes specifically for people living with cancer.

In addition, Claire used yoga and Pilates to help her heal from a car accident that resulted in having a disc surgically replaced in her neck. Her personal experience dealing with spinal damage helps her relate to her clients recovering from injuries.

Claire enjoys working with clients on a one-to-one basis. She offers private yoga, Pilates, and private training with a yogic twist either in studio or in her clients’ homes. You can learn more about Claire on her website at www.oceansoulyoga.com.

Tim Flood

Tim Flood brings to Bindu his gift of music. He plays at different events including Yoga Flow with Live Music on Sundays. Tim plays music from and for the soul. A talented multi-instrumentalist with a special love for the guitar, Tim has been making music for more than 20 years. Influenced by his love for nature, people, yoga and Love itself. He recently recorded and released a new EP, “All Beauty Surrounds.” When he’s not making music or practicing yoga, Tim can be found riding the waves and loving the Earth. If Tim isn’t at the front of class strumming his guitar there is a great chance he is on the mat next to you in downward dog. A devoted Yogi and a talented musician as a community we are grateful to have him in our kula.

Questa Li

Questa Li began her yogic journey over ten years ago, drawn to its transformative potential for body, mind, and spirit, and to the deep connection to Source that it brought to her. She has studied many different styles of yoga & meditation, and has completed the 200 hour teacher training in Anusara Yoga. Questa specializes in teaching yoga as a tool for growth, healing, self-empowerment and transformation. Her classes utilize movement and meditation as a path to discovering each person’s unique beauty and inner light, and empowering the divine within.

Rennie Levine

Rennie recently completed an intensive teacher training with Srivatsa Ramaswami, Krishnamacharya’s longest standing student. The training covered Traditional Yoga including 700 vinyasas (variations and movements). The training, based in ancient texts, also included chanting, meditation, pranayama, subtle anatomy, yoga’s effects on internal organs, and sequencing or Vinyasa Krama from which Vinyasa Flow and many other modern yoga styles have evolved.

This portion of her training now brings her grand total up to 700hrs and counting. Her study of the healing arts also includes Medical Anthropology at UC Berkeley, an apprenticeship with Erin Kirk (a shamanic yoga teacher in LA with strong Peruvian influences), a 200hr training with Annie Carpenter in Smart Flow, and a 300hr certification in Yoga Therapy from LMU. Rennie’s teaching style weaves together poses and breath, integrating the diversity yoga has to offer into a dance of movement and fitness. She looks forward to being your guide as you embark on the journey of yoga and self-discovery. To see more, check out her website at www.rennielevine.com