Vinyasa Flow - Level 1/2

Building off of the basics taught in Level 1, this class will move at a moderate pace, with less teacher demonstrations and more hands on adjustments. Sequences and postures are kept simple and stable, working towards more complexity.

This class is taught by:

Elisa Mott

Elisa discovered her passion for teaching and pedagogy as a dance minor at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. While integrating various styles of yoga into her practice, she stays true to her original training roots and fully embodies the Kripalu motto of “meditation in motion” in each of her classes. Elisa is an E-RYT 500 and most recently completed her 300 Hour training at Downtown Yoga with Kate Coughlin. She is a Master Reiki healer and has Masters and Specialist degrees in Mental Health Counseling, a certificate in Spirituality and Health and Arts in Medicine and is a published author and national speaker on yoga, body image and eating disorders. Her educational background, compassion and belief in the transformative power of yoga allow her to lead a healing yet challenging class for all levels. In her class, you will be inspired to slow down, deepen, breathe and truly be present.

Elisamott.com

Laurie Gallagher

“I practice yoga because it works. It keeps me strong and supple. It quiets the crazy woman who lives in my head. It orients me at my center where I am more kind and patient.” Laurie Gallagher

Laurie sees yoga as a living tradition – a practice that continues to evolve at the intersection of ancient and modern. She loves that yoga is both tried and true, and also surprisingly adaptable. She believes that yoga practice – now more than ever – can offer a relevant and much needed tool kit for skillful and happy living. She enthusiastically embraces her role as a yoga teacher and loves sharing the power of this practice with others.

Laurie’s experience as a teacher began in 1996 as a Group Exercise Instructor and Personal Trainer. She expanded into the yoga world, completing her 200-hour Teacher Training Program with Clayton Horton, within the Ashtanga Tradition of yoga. Over the last decade she has explored other disciplines of yoga and teaching methodologies and has had had the honor of studying with some brilliant and revered yoga teachers. In 2007 she opened Cosmic Dog Yoga in Livermore with her business partner, Lisa Gray, and worked for three years as Co-owner and Program Director. After selling the studio, Laurie is branching out around the Tri-Valley, teaching classes and educating upcoming yoga teachers in the art and science of Vinyasa Flow Yoga through 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training programs. Always a student, Laurie is currently studying in the Yoga Works 300-hour Professional Teacher Training program, to be completed in April 2013.

Laurie’s classes are intelligently sequenced; marrying breath, mindful movement, and stability work – all designed to draw students inward. She instructs with accuracy, at a moderate pace and offers modifications so that class is accessible to all bodies. She is welcoming, open-minded, and leads class with a rhythmic and dynamic voice. A bhakti yogi at heart, Nada Yoga is part of her practice - you can expect her to sing!

When she’s not on the yoga mat, Laurie is busy earning her title as Meanest Mom Ever to three growing kids, killing green things in the garden, and dabbling in photography. She’s a sucker for needy animals, smart non-fiction, and British television. Steamy baths, good chocolate and one egalitarian husband of twenty years make her yoga world go round.

Shawna Scizak

Early in life Shawna began exploring the benefits of exercise, particularly those associated with improved emotional and mental wellbeing. She worked in the fitness industry for seven years, taught exercise classes, and was certified by several nationally recognized exercise organizations. Although acquainted with the basics of yoga, it wasn’t until 2008 that she discovered a teacher who inspired her into a deeper appreciation of the practice and revealed that what she had always sought at the gym was actually waiting for her in the yoga studio. Yoga has turned out to be the mind, body, spirit connection that she’d been seeking and so, in 2010, she graduated from Brentwood Yoga Center's Advanced Yoga Studies Program and became certified with the Yoga Alliance. She also took her pursuit of yoga half way around the world when she accompanied Jim, Kate, and her teacher Sandy on their spectacular retreat to India. As a student first and a teacher second, she hopes to use her knowledge and enthusiasm to bring the life changing benefits of yoga to others. She currently lives in Discovery Bay with her husband, Mike, and two dogs, Jazmine and Bodhi.

Kavita Patel

Kavita first discovered yoga in college when she was pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. She used yoga in her movement and vocal training. Kavita found that it grounded and relaxed her for performances. Although, it was not until the birth of her first child that she was deeply drawn to yoga. Kavita needed to reconnect with her body and find a place of peace within herself. Yoga has given Kavita that and so much more. She finds solace in her practice and sense of empowerment for having an understanding of how her body moves through space. Kavita recently completed her 200 hour training at Downtown Yoga with Kate Coughlin. She loves to teach because it allows her to share her practice and passion for yoga as a way of life. At home Kavita has two little yogis in training; a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son. They give her lots of opportunities to remember to breath and be in the present!

Lisa Cole

Lisa is a graduate of Downtown Yoga’s 200-hour Advanced Studies Program, and has been practicing Yoga since 2000. Yoga brings harmony, peaceful energy, and clarity to her everyday life. With over 15 years of experience raising and working with children and teens, she has a special gift for sharing her love of yoga with young people. She understands the importance of helping them find the balance between building strength, being playful and experiencing stillness. Lisa also takes great pride in sharing her practice with adults too! Students of all ages fully appreciate her vibrant approach as well as her open heart and the special attention she gives to each yogi throughout class.

Lisa lives in Pleasanton with her husband and their three children. She enjoys spending time with family, laughing with friends and being present in her children’s lives. She loves practicing yoga and the positive energy and lightness that come from taking class in our community.

Jessica Sinclair

Jessica began practicing yoga 17 years ago after the birth of her first child. Her love of practicing yoga blossomed over the years and led to her becoming a certified yoga teacher through Downtown Yoga’s 200 – hour Advanced Yoga Studies Program under the guidance of Kate Coughlin.

Jessica believes that practicing yoga on a daily basis not only calms the mind and keeps you present but also aids our bodies with strength and flexibility, helping to avoid injury. She teaches with certainty and safe instruction, allowing her students to feel each pose as they move through their practice. Jessica has practiced Vinyassa, Ashtanga and Yin yoga over the years but is extremely inspired by alignment based yoga such as Iyengar.

Jessica has always lived a very active and healthy lifestyle. She has trained and competed in several triathlons, half marathons and countless swim meets and open water long distance swims. Outside of sport she also enjoys quality time with her husband and two teenagers and loves to cook healthy meals.

Have a look at Jessica's yoga blog as she continues to evolve through her practice of yoga. paradiseyoga.me

Caryne Mount

Caryne dabbled in Yoga as a compliment to her competitive running and cycling career and totally fell in love with the practice 2007. She obtained her 200 hour RYT under Laurie Gallagher, Kelli Barnett, and Suzanna Spring in 2010. Suzanna also sparked Caryne's interest in her practice of Yin Yoga, and eventually Caryne pursued Yin teacher training. Always learning, Caryne became very interested in the healing power of restorative Yoga, and obtained her restorative level-one teacher certificate in 2016.

“Yoga meets you wherever you are in life. With ballet in my past, I appreciate the Yang and dance aspect of a vibrant Vinyasa flow practice - its focus, movement, and activity.” Cayrne believes that in our busy and hectic lives it is important to unplug and go deeper. She finds that the practice of both restorative and Yin Yoga allows us to target deeper inside ourselves and discover our true essence.

“People do not give themselves the permission to relax and release. It is only when our bodies and mind become so fatigued do we slow down. I personally found the body/mind/breath connection of Yoga provided an intricate part of my healing after the death of my father. I am passionate about holding space for people so they feel completely supported and safe in order to completely unplug and recharge!"

Caryne is currently pursuing her 300-hour teacher training with Kate at Downtown Yoga.

Georganne Benesch

Yoga became an integral part of Georganne’s life from the moment she first stepped on a mat. Like many, Georganne tried out Yoga to help recover from an illness. The first day she walked into the DTY studio, Georganne felt at home. She loves how a consistent Yoga practice has helped her achieve more strength and balance in her life – physically, mentally & spiritually. Motivated to share her practice, Georganne graduated from the Downtown Yoga 200-hour Advanced Studies Program and soon became a DTY teacher. In her classes, she offers supportive instruction that encourages each and every student to find energy, ease and enjoyment in their practice. Georganne built a career in high-tech marketing and runs her own consulting business; Tiger Team Marketing. She delights in balancing her professional work with practicing and teaching Yoga.