Teachers

Carissa Drummond

Carissa’s yoga practice started several years ago when she went to a yoga class with a friend; since then, yoga has been a gentle source of grounding and a beloved personal journey for her. She believes yoga should be fun and strives to create a playful, joyful experience for her students. Carissa is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher trained in several styles of vinyasa and yin. She has been actively teaching since 2018 and continues to evolve her personal practice and her teaching practice. For Carissa, yoga is about coming back to the relationship with oneself and an opportunity to courageously experience the breath and body, heart and soul. Her classes encourage her students to find their authentic power within by listening to their inner voice and leaning into the sweet and steady of a yoga experience through intentional, creative movement and breath.

Justin Craft

Justin views yoga not simply as a physical practice, but as a way of life–a tool to move through this world with integrity and compassion. His reverence for yoga can be felt in the way he expertly guides his students through a well-crafted sequence, occasionally weaving in yogic philosophy and using the vibrations of the Sanskrit language. He facilitates a safe and loving space for the practitioners to connect with themselves on a deeper level and encourages them to explore the universe within. Justin is a 200 YTT certified instructor and Holistic Nutrition Consultant.

Kayleigh Baldwin

Kayleigh began her practice in 2010 through a yoga class at Folsom Lake College. During this time, the stillness was difficult, and she yearned for more high-paced activity; she cast aside the practice, concluding that it was not for her. In hindsight, her youthful outlook on movement lacked the fullness of what the practice of yoga could bring and how it would change her outlook on exercise and life. Kayleigh soon realized there were multiple types of yoga. She fell in love with the heated classes and felt fulfillment in ending each class drenched in sweat. The sessions brought her attention to becoming more attuned with her mind and body. However, Kayleigh didn’t quite realize the power of yoga, that it is not only the hour spent on her mat but a daily practice that seeps into every fiber of life. Kayleigh continued her practice through her pregnancy with her daughter; during this time, she began to notice the more profound effects yoga had on her life, practicing patience, kindness, and above all, a ceaseless joy. While her body grew with new life, she discovered that exercise and sweat were the least important things she gained from yoga.

Shari Whisler

Hi my name is Shari Whisler. I’ve been in the fitness industry for 18 + years. Bringing the physical from power to injury to healing or body mind and soul. bringing it all together.

My mantra — “I’m not delicate like a flower I’m delicate like a bomb! “

Zakk Ontiveros

Hello there! I’m Zakk. I started my yoga journey in 2021 and I fell in love for multiple reasons: the flexibility and mobility, the tranquillity of being present and grounded, the connection with the community, and the intensity of pushing myself mentally/physically to being stronger every day. I used to wrestle and I was a wildland firefighter so I love the heat! Being of service and helping others is a huge passion of mine, which has lead me to a career in healthcare. My other hobbies include lifting weights, video games, running, and hiking.

Jessy Lucena

Since the mid-2000s, I’ve embarked on a journey as a yoga student. Initially drawn to enhance my flexibility and overall health, my quest led me to a studio conveniently located next to the ballroom studio where I taught dance. What began as a simple exploration of physical practice swiftly unfolded into a profound immersion of emotional and spiritual self-discovery. Witnessing the transformative impact of yoga on my own life over the years ignited a desire within me to share this enlightening path with others. I am committed to facilitating self-discovery and promoting a holistic lifestyle that integrates yoga, nutrition, mindfulness, meditation, and continual personal growth.

Cassey Wagner

When Cassey arrives to her yoga mat there is a sense of coming home, her goal is to lead you to a similar space. Cassey views yoga as the journey inward. Yoga has helped Cassey distinguish the difference between her inner being and her mind/ego. Cassey believes that yoga has the ability to heal the body, clear out stale energy and bring oneself in touch with their inner being

Sid Fogal

Sid began his practice of yoga in 2011.Shortly after he signed up to be an assistant in yoga classes. In those years as an assistant he expanded his understanding of the physical asana and had opportunities to connect and help other students with their practices. In 2013, he went back to school to become a massage therapist with an interest in eastern philosophies and modalities. In 2015, he officially took the steps to become a yoga teacher. Sid draws inspiration for his practice from various lineages of yoga, martial arts, nature, the 5 elements, and even pop culture.

Kate Adams

Kate’s journey on her yoga mat began at age 19, at a gym in El Dorado Hills, California, and her ardent love & respect for the practice has deepened over the years. Her mat became a place of peace, self-discovery and a place to quiet her mind amid the chaos that is often life. She doesn’t know what she would have done without Yoga over the years, and wishes to share the amazing benefits and the gift of Yoga with others.

Vera Okhlyakovskaya

My yoga journey began as a middle school student. I first saw a photo of a Buddha statue sitting in full lotus, a serene smile on his face. I immediately tried to fold my legs that way but failed miserably. Nevertheless, that image was forever imprinted in my memory. Years passed without getting any closer to enlightenment or full lotus. Then, one day in 1995, I attended my first class in a hot yoga studio. Soon after I started branching out into Vinyasa, yoga Nidra, Kundalini, pulsing Vinyasa, aerial yoga and acroyoga. Sometimes life got in the way of regular yoga practice, but I always came back to it. In 2016, I completed my first 200-hour yoga teacher training, followed by another 200-hour teacher training in 2023.