Our Teachers
Briksha Mahendra
Tantric Breathwork, Vinyasa Yoga
Mahendra Briksha born in a small village in the Himalayas, is a yogi, a certified Rebirthing Breathwork practitioner, Integral coach, and raw vegan chef. Briksha combines Vedantic Yogic practices, Buddhist wisdom, and Integral insights in his teaching. He has been teaching and leading breathing sessions and meditation classes for 10 years.
He is a graduate of the yoga teacher-training program at the Vivekananda Yoga Research Center in Bangalore, India, and holds certificates in Integral Yoga from California Institute of Integral Studies, and Yoga Therapy from Purusha Yoga, and has over 200 hours of Yoga Teacher training through Urban Flow with Rusty Wells. Briksha is a resident teacher and manager of the Yoga Society along with co-teaching the 200hr TT. He also co-teaches the 200hr TT for Seaside Yoga Sanctuary.
Briksha’s main mission to share his knowledge and experience is to help people awaken in their body, breath, and mind and learn to live a peaceful, and evolutionary life in the midst of the busy world.
Schedule:
Monday & Thursday: 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm – Tantric Breathwork (ONLINE)
Wednesday: 9:00 am – 10:00 am – Fundamental of Tantric Breathing (ONLINE)
Marcelo Carvalho, M.A.
Pranayama
Marcelo Carvalho began teaching yoga in 2001. His yoga classes include asana (poses,) pratyahara (internalizing the focus of the mind and the senses,) and pranayama (expansion of primordial energy – prana.) He emphasizes meditation, yoga psychology, and Self-knowledge as principle tools for personal transformation and healing. Marcelo studies Yoga Scriptures with Dr. Ram Karan Sharma and the Yoga Society Sanskrit faculty. An active member of the Yoga Society of San Francisco, Marcelo has been on the board of directors since 2000 and is elected Board member for the term 2012-14. Although he did not meet Shri Brahmananda during his lifetime, he has embraced him as his Guru.
Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 5:00 am – 6:00 am – Pranayama (Cancelled)
Friday: 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Patanjali Yoga Sutras Readings (Cancelled)
John Paul Gautier
Weekend Warm-Up Yoga
John Paul is a constant explorer who has been studying various body-mind, movement, and healing practices since 2005. In his studies, yoga has remained a constant source of fascination. He finds that yoga allows him to flow with the ever-constant changes of life, allowing him to “ride the waves” rather than be consumed by them. He hopes to impart on his students a similar feeling of openness and fortitude on many levels of their being.
Warm-up to your weekend with a short meditation, gentle stretches and classical hatha yoga poses, like Downward Facing Dog, Triangle, and Sun Salutations. Class is taught in a non-competitive and welcoming way that allows you to stretch, discover how your breath affects your experience and start your weekend off right.
Schedule:
Saturday: 9:00 am – 10:15 am – Weekend Yoga Nidra (Cancelled)
Mamuka Mdvani (Michael)
Bamboo Wand (Light Stretch)/Nada Yoga Meditation
Mamuka Mdivani was born and raised in Georgia. For the past three years Mamuka turned his attention towards a more spiritual path.
After visiting many spiritual centers in S.F. He found Brahmananda ashram his spiritual home, he feel in Love with the Spiritual family, friendly ambiance. He also took Gurujis teachings, the Fire ceremony, and the programs offered in YSSF.
Bamboo Wand ( Laghu Taana ) is the tool I use to raise my energy and set the tone as a passionate yogi. As one of the elements of preparation and warm-up exercises, Bamboo Wand, addresses posture, self-image, confidence, and the physical/mental energy necessary to deliver a high energy presentation. Bamboo Wand is an intentional hybrid of traditional yoga poses and my creative, educated approach to stretching, strengthening, and balance.
Schedule:
Wednesday: 8:15 pm – 9:15 pm – Bamboo Wand – Light Stretch (Cancelled)
Sunday: 10:30 am – 11:30 am – Nada Yoga Meditation (Cancelled)
Sharon Hawley
Beginner’s Iyengar Yoga
“Balance does not mean merely balancing the body. Balance in the body is the foundation for balance in life. In whatever position one is in, or in whatever condition in life one is placed, one must find balance. Balance is the state of the present – the here and now. If you balance in the present, you are living in Eternity.”
~ Light on Life, B.K.S. Iyengar, 2006
Profoundly influenced by the referenced book, I began studying the eight limbs of yoga in the method of B.K.S. Iyengar shortly after its publication. In the ensuing years, I have been privileged to study with numerous senior teachers in the system as well as with members of the Iyengar family here and in India. I continue to apprentice with several highly knowledgeable and gifted teachers to whom I am indebted. But my greatest debt of gratitude goes, ultimately, to my students who teach me the most. To quote the 16th-century poet Louis de Camoes, “the more I give you, the more I owe you.” Namaskar.
http://www.sharonhawleyart.com/yoga.html
Schedule:
Tuesday: 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm – Iyengar Yoga (Cancelled)
Shane Scaglione
Ashtanga Yoga
Shane Scaglione teaches a breath & alignment based Ashtanga Vinyasa class that is tailored to the individual, making the rigorous practice available to most everyone. Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga is a simple yet profound hatha yoga tradition that was taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009) for 70 years in his home in Mysore, South India. Ashtanga is a practice that synchronizes breath with a series of postures or asana.
Shane studied 10 years with senior Ashtanga teacher Richard Freeman & his wife Mary Taylor in Boulder, CO, eventually teaching at their yoga studio there. He spent three years abroad in India over the course of eight Winters including a year of daily practice with senior Ashtanga teacher Rolf Naujokat & his wife Marci in Goa, India.
Schedule:
Thursday: 6:00 pm – 7:20 pm – Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga – all levels (Cancelled)
Sunday: 8:45 am – 10:15 am – Ashtanga Yoga – all levels (Cancelled)
Ian Mair (Sasi)
Dynamic Restorative Yoga
Schedule:
Friday: 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm Dynamic Restorative Yoga (Cancelled)