““Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life.”
― B.K.S. Iyengar”
JACQUELINE WEEKS
CERTIFICATION & EDUCATION:
Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200
Usui Reiki Master Certification
Jacqueline has dedicated herself to the practice, study and teaching of yoga since 2006, is a certified Reiki Master and has a 200-hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification through YogaWorks. Her love affair with yoga began from the first time she stepped onto her mat and will be forever a devoted student of the practice as she believes the practice is what helped her overcome body image issues, and health challenges, keeping her grounded, healthy, and positive. Jacqueline teaches with a warm,light-hearted spiritual approach, weaving into her classes philosophy, breath work, alignment cues and sequences of postures that integrate a balance of both precision and flow. She believes in offering her students a safe and well-rounded practice that builds strength, flexibility and balance, leaving students with a level of stillness,improved self-awareness and rejuvenation. Jacqueline makes her classes suitable for every body and respects where each individual is in their body by offering the use of modifications and props. She enjoys sharing with her students the beautiful practice and unique ability of yoga to benefit the mind, breath, body and spirit-creating an integrated whole. “Health is wealth, Peace of mind is happiness. Yoga shows the way”
consciousconnection-reiki-yoga
MIA HERNANDEZ
CERTIFICATION & EDUCATION:
Yoga Alliance RYT 200
Mia fell in love with yoga immediately after taking her first yoga class. Being so passionate about yoga she decided to study and share her love for the practice, completing two 200 hour teacher trainings from Saddleback College and CorePower Yoga. She believes that connection of body, breath, and movement is so healing and so important in life . She hopes that everyone is willing to have an open heart to give yoga a chance, “If you can breathe, you can do yoga” -Krishnamacharya.
JULIE MURRAY
Certification & Education
Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 Hr
Julie Murray has served our local community as a professional Yoga Instructor since arriving in Mission Viejo in 2012. Originally, she is from beautiful St. Charles, Illinois. She grew up climbing trees, catching critters and running through the forest. To this day, the woods and trails are still where to find her when she has free time. She completed degrees in Marketing and Psychology at NIU and had a wonderful 11 years in marketing before focusing in on raising 3 children and caring for her mother. Her love affair with yoga began in the 90's and progressed through each principle style and lineage to land here today in a balanced blend of Restorative, Yin and Vinyasa Flow. Julie is an E-RYT 500, YA-CEP and Certified Relax & Renew Restorative Yoga Teacher. She is currently learning extensively about brain health, Alzheimers/dementia prevention and physical therapy by regularly attending seminars, reading and interacting with hundreds of students over the years. Her goal is to provide a program that teaches how yoga practices and principles help protect the brain from losing cognitive function and build a support community that fosters a commitment to protecting our minds from this devastating disease. She cares deeply for her students and is dedicated to supporting their intentions, peace, joy and vibrant health.
KEVIN STARNES
Certification & Education
Yoga Alliance RYT 200
Kevin was a high school teacher for 31 years. After retiring from education he felt a need to come back into teaching and his path this time was yoga. He continually works on his personal practice and teaching skills daily. He has been practicing yoga since 2010 and teaching since 2018. He earned his 500-hr teaching credential through Yogaworks from 2016-2018. He further was certified in teaching Yin Yoga in 2018. He loves what he does and tries to convey that feeling with his students through each session. Yoga means union and his teaching emphasis is continually on the mind-body connection and self-reflection through physical and mental awareness. He makes his classes suitable for all levels by adding as many modifications as necessary to accommodate all of his students.
JANET KUHN
Certification & Education
Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200
Some people’s paths go straight, mine never has. Whether it has been my education, career, home, or family, I have always taken a different route than most. Yoga has been one of the only constants in my life for decades. It was only within the past 7 years, however, that I realized my deep passion for yoga and what I am learning from it each day. Over the years yoga has given me tranquility in my chaotic life, energy when I was beyond exhausted, balance in what can be a stressful life, and more strength each day in my physical and emotional body. In 2011 I did my first 200-hr RYT teacher training with Ubuntu in Napa, Ca. In 2017 I decided to go a step further and completed another 200-hr Teacher Training in Annie Carpenter’s Smartflow under the direction of my teacher, Tiffany Russo. In my teaching I believe yoga is an inquiry into the self. My classes are about strengthening from the inside out and discovering what each pose can teach us in that moment. In addition to teaching, I took ownership of this wonderful studio in March 2021 and feel lucky to have found my new home among such great instructors. You can always reach out to me at janet@shaanti.yoga if you have any questions.
When I'm not on the mat, you'll find me hiking the hills with my two dogs or hanging at the beach with my daughter.
MELANIE FAUGHT
Certification & Education
Yoga Alliance 500 RYT
Melanie started practicing yoga to enhance her well-being and quickly developed a deep passion for the practice. She is a certified 500-hour teacher and holds additional certifications in Yin, Restorative and Memory Maintenance Yoga - a practice aimed at promoting brain health. Her classes are infused with motivational words and uplifting music to nourish the soul, providing a nurturing environment for setting intentions and fostering self-connection. Melanie encourages each student to listen to the wisdom of their own body to guide their practice, to cultivate awareness of breath and believes the ability to listen and turn in leads to a state of joyful presence both on and off the mat.
MARISA COMMERFORD
Certification & Education
Yoga Alliance 200 RYT
Marisa’s yoga journey began amidst the chaos of a high-pressure legal career and a series of health hurdles. Determined to find a soothing balm for mental and physical burnout, she stumbled upon yoga. Marisa soon discovered the profound healing powers of the practice, witnessing firsthand its transformative effects on both body and mind.
Inspired to share these remarkable benefits, she hit the pause button on her legal career in 2019 to complete her 200-hour yoga teacher training. Equipped with powerful new tools for managing burnout, she returned to her profession with a restored work-life balance and ignited passion for sharing the magic of yoga.
Marisa’s classes are a spirited concoction of creative sequencing with a pinch of playfulness. She strongly believes in the power of storytelling, and you’ll find her infusing metaphor to deepen the class experience. She aims to create a space where students can choose their own adventure of self-exploration through breath and movement, leaving the mat feeling strong, refreshed and connected.
KARA WILLINGHAM
CERTIFICATION & EDUCATION:
Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200
Kara Willingham is an experienced teacher, who specializes in slow flow, gentle and prenatal yoga. Her journey to the mat began in 2013 during a transformative retreat, where she learned to turn inward, listen to her body, and discovered the profound benefits of yoga and meditation. This experience sparked a deep passion that has continued to grow as she actively learns and creates within her practice.
Having managed a yoga studio in San Diego, Kara brings a wealth of experience to her teaching, infusing her classes with a nurturing spirit that focuses on what feels good for each individual. Kara finds joy in sharing her love for yoga, chanting mantras, and building relationships within her community.