Teachers

CARPE DIEM RETREATS - TEACHER PROFILES

Relax ~ Release ~ Rejuvenate

Annie began the study of yoga in 1974, and has been studying and teaching about the body and its movement ever since. She has studied the Iyengar system extensively, and as an Ashtanga practitioner, has studied with Sri K. Pattabi Jois in India. Formerly a professional dancer, Annie has taught at the Martha Graham center in New York as well as many leading studios in Europe and Asia. She has studied anatomy, kinesiology and developmental movement and emphasizes clarity of body mechanics in her classes. Known as a teachers' teacher, she has developed an intelligent blend of sequencing with detailed instruction that maintains her love of movement and flow. Annie has a playful spirit and encourages a balance between working hard and a light, joyful exploration into one's own practice.

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Malachi is a senior yoga instructor at Yoga Works, where she has taught since 1999, and conducts teacher trainings. She has been both a practitioner of Ashtanga and Iyengar and most currently is working with a blend of practices that care for her old sports injuries. Her experience with injury has helped her become sensitive to creating a practice that nurtures the individual. Having previously worked as a massage therapist, she is well known for her hands-on adjustments. Malachi is influenced by Maty Ezraty and Lisa Walford, and places strong focus on alignment, breath and moving with deep awareness. She guides her students with a clear & precise detail to alignment.

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Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.
-Japanese proverb

At the age of three, Jamie began to play with, explore and study what made her most happy: movement. She began her formal dance training at the age of eight, and at fifteen moved across the country to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied classical ballet and modern dance techniques. While in North Carolina, she was introduced to Vinyasa-based Hatha yoga and principles of Pilates-based work. In 1998, Jamie moved to Los Angeles to complete her degree in dance from the California Institute of the Arts. Upon graduating, she joined the Los Angeles-based Helios Dance Theater. While working through a back injury, Jamie sought out yoga classes in the area, and eventually stumbled into a Max Strom class. The joy she found in this class was unlike any practice she had experienced. He soon became her main teacher, and the practice of healing became her main focus. Jamie completed her Yoga Teacher Training with Max Strom and began assisting him in 2001. That same year, she completed her Pilates certification at Long Beach Dance Conditioning, studying under Marie-Jose Blome Lawrence. Her practice and style of teaching has also been greatly influenced by the work of Sherry Brourman, PT, focusing special attention on alignment of the body as a means to openness and balance. www.jamieelmer.com

Mia Togo has been studying yoga since 1996 and teaching since 2004. Formerly a professional dancer, her love of movement and breath led her to the practice of Vinyasa flow yoga. She has studied many styles of yoga, but she feels most influenced by the Yoga Works style that draws from the Ashtanga and Iyengar traditions. Balancing movement with alignment is a strong focus in her teaching as well as connecting to the philosophy and spirituality that is at the heart of the yoga practice. Having received a degree in psychology from UCLA, she continues to pursue the art of communication. She believes that every time we step onto the mat we have an opportunity to create, heal, and encourage openness in every aspect of our lives so that we can live from a place of love and compassion.

Birgitte Kristen has been studying and practicing yoga for over 15 years, and has been teaching since 1992 at Yoga Works. She has assisted several Yoga Works’ Teacher Trainings and for the past 6 years has played an important role in the Apprenticeship Program helping to guide future teachers on their path. Birgitte has studied with a variety of renowned teachers of whom Lisa Walford, Gabriella Giubilaro, and John Friend influenced her style the most. While she is very inspired by the Iyengar system’s emphasis on therapeutics, her teaching also draws from the fluency of both the Viniyoga and Ashtanga systems. She stresses the importance of creating a practice for the individual, instead rather than forcing a body to meet a particular form. Birgitte continues her studies of Hatha Yoga, and is also presently studying the psychology of yoga and meditation.

Shelley has been an active student, practitioner, and teacher of movement for over 12 years. She is a certified teacher of Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, the Pilates method, and the GYROTONIC® Expansion System. She is a graduate of UCLA’s World Arts and Cultures program, and her education emphasizes modern dance, intercultural performance, West African Dance, and integrated arts education. She co-owns The Pilates Room and Yoga Lounge in Hermosa Beach.

Shelley has been fortunate to study in-depth principles of yoga with inspiring masters such as Shiva Rea, Max Strom, and Matthew Cohen. Her teaching is also influenced by her experiences within Reiki, Ba Gua Zhang Tai Chi, surfing, and as a dancer. Shelley coordinated the Integrated Arts outreach program for at-risk teens within the El Segundo Unified School District, and continues to facilitate the program, which includes both a Vinyasa Yoga unit, as well as a West African drumming and dance unit.

Her passions include surfing, snowboarding, traveling, and sharing experiences and laughs with friends and family. Shelley enjoys utilizing all of her diverse experiences to bring a unique and expressive approach to the flow of yoga.