I’ve been teaching/assisting for: since 2014

It was early 2013, a year after a health crisis drove me to abandon my legal career that I found my way back into a yoga class for the first time in a decade. It began as a primarily physical practice for me - a desire to come into more balanced relationship with my body - but from there a yearning to go deeper into the practice began to grow. Within 6 months I found myself exploring teacher training options and ultimately found my way into one of Janet’s classes. By the end of that year, after a powerful opening during my first 5 day training Janet, I knew without a doubt that I had found my teacher and the place my journey was meant to deepen. It was truly a soul-level calling. I abandoned the other more “practically” oriented teacher training I had originally signed up for, and instead found myself immersing simultaneously with Janet, in Tantrik Shaivism and Shadow Yoga practice, where I was rapidly falling in love with the dharmic and wisdom, not to mention the devotional, aspects of the practice that Janet’s teaching had opened me to. I was also drawn to explore the practice of assisting - of using skillful and compassionate touch to support others in asana practice, for the ways that had felt so very healing and supportive to me - and found yet another of my root teachers in one of Janet’s longtime students and assistants, Jody Greene. And with assisting something else fell into place, internally, for me…something powerful. A way of dropping out of my over-active mind and into my body’s wisdom and stillness that felt like magic, like pure joy, that became a powerful teacher and practice for me in its own right… I began assisting regularly in Jody’s classes and then Janet’s and then to assist in Janet’s local trainings, and in this, I began a practice of creating altars to hold the sacred space and intentions of our gatherings - something that had already become a steady part of my home practice - and taking pictures to document these potent times of transmission, and in so doing came to know two additional joyful outlets of creative and heartfelt expression. In the years since I have spent thousands of hours practicing, supporting and/or attending classes and trainings with Janet - making altars, taking pictures, putting hands on people, holding space, sharing experience - primarily in San Francisco, and elsewhere in California, with our growing sangha of beautiful souls. What a gift! In this time, I have also furthered my own practice and study in the areas of Conscious Leadership, Zen Buddhism, Archetypes of the Divine Feminine, and in the art of creating and holding ceremonial space. I occasionally teach about creating altars and sacred space as well.

I am most experienced in:
– Assisting – all aspects, from hands-on to space-making/holding, what it means to take this on as a practice and path in and of itself
– Altar making / Devotional practice…an extension (at least for me) of assisting practice…the practice of, really, paying attention….of moving from the heart…placing the small self in service of something greater – a teacher, a community, a teaching, the greater Self, the great mythic/divine archetypes… creating potent focal points with which to entrain the dristi and create a container for what we are up to in practice
– Sitting (meditation) practice – what it is we are up to when we sit for meditation and how to allow that to be a liberating practice, rather than feed into our existing patterns. How to support and also help open the body to find some physical ease when sitting.
– Dharma / Wisdom teachings study/application – exploring what it really means to live into the dharma teachings, to not compartmentalize our yogic/spiritual practice or form an identity around it, but fully integrate this practice into all of life.

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in…
In a word: Life…. I find just living my practice in day to day life to be my greatest teacher on this path….to stay compassionately awake to my own doings and the ways I get caught or stuck, my reactivities, the patterns I fall into, the things I grasp after or push away…. Learning how to show up for all of it, and myself within it. Ahimsa, satya, svadhyaya, brahmaçarya, and adhikara have been and continue to remain core themes of this work for me.

My mentoring style or approach is…
I am most interested in how your yoga journey is showing up in your life, how the practice is speaking to you, personally, where it is challenging you, where it is awakening you, and where you feel the edges are for you to work with. I see us meeting one-on-one – whether via videochat or in person – at regular intervals to talk about where you’re at in your personal journey and what’s coming up as you move through the curriculum of the 300/500 hour program. I will hold space for you to share and be present with what’s coming up, offering clear reflection, perspective, and other guidance – illuminating blind spots you may not be seeing, suggesting resources for your further exploration and deepening with, challenging you around any places I see where you may be unconsciously holding yourself back. If you have a specific interest in assisting, altar-making or sitting, I can offer more in-depth guidance and opportunities to play and practice in those areas. Whether you desire to be a teacher of yoga, or simply deepen into the practice for its own sake, I am here to help you better see / hold / understand YOURSELF so that you might more fully embrace and embody your own true gifts and live into what this journey is about for YOU, what is truly yours to offer.

Learn more about me on: Facebook (Ellen Strzalkowski) or instagram (ellen.strz)

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I’ve been teaching/assisting for: 10 years

I found myself first interested in yoga as a child. A favorite Aunt traveled to India and I was fascinated upon her return. The idea of meditation and yoga stayed with me for years. I dabbled in yoga classes 25 years ago and finally found a consistent practice in mindfulness over the last several years. What I mean by mindfulness is to know that this practice is constant and everywhere. I met Janet right before I began teaching and found my way back to our Sangha to complete a 500-hour training. My teaching is often fueled by the silver linings in life and deep devotion to compassion for all beings. I find even when I have strayed away my practice waited for me. The asana has felt like home and I have also resisted it at times. I find yoga shows up everywhere for me: in motherhood (I have two teens boys), in partnership (there is life after divorce), in friendships, and in all the ways grace seeps into my life. I have the teachings and self-study to thank for the ability to see the world as I do now. With wonder, observation, and returning to self when I have wandered too far. I teach, write, and also recently returned to a corporate gig. While this life is full, it has become more full and balanced by facing grief, death, divorce, and hope all sometimes in one breath.

I am most experienced in:
Teaching vinyasa yoga with devotion (Bhakti - thank you Janet), Yamas, and Niyamas, beginning again in each breath, day, or decade.

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in…
Seeking out compassion and understanding for others and myself. The deities hold a special place of interest for me as well. If you have heard Janet's storytelling when together you most likely agree.

My mentoring style or approach is…
My mentoring style is one of unconditional love and understanding. I am honored to hold your hand as we walk through, to be a soft place to land, and encourage you to do the work you need to believe deeply in yourself and the magic of this practice. I will keep my commitments to you in however we choose to meet. Understanding time is sacred.

Learn more about me: emilyrobinsonwrites.com (website); emilyrobinsonwrites (instagram)

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I’ve been teaching/assisting since 2008

Erika Van Gemeren is a San Francisco-based, full-time yoga instructor who has been practicing since 1999. As a child, she could feel the mind/body connection through dancing, hiking, and snowboarding. Yoga was a natural extension of her embodied movement practices and she developed an immediate passion for her practice.

I am most experienced in:

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in…
Yoga, music, psychology, mysticism

My mentoring style or approach is…
Loving, grounded, (still working on firm boundaries)
Learn more about me on: www.erikavangemeren.com

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I’ve been teaching/assisting: since 2014

My name is Fernanda (Ferny, for short!) and I am a psychotherapist + yoga teacher living in lovely Austin, Texas. I have always felt a strong connection to the process of helping others through authentic connection and conversation, and I became a counselor and teacher with the intention of providing those in need with just that — a space to connect, be fully heard, and a chance to dig into their inner landscape.

My love affair with yoga came to light in 2008, right when I moved to Austin and was experiencing big (and sometimes difficult) transitions. I found my voice and strength in vinyasa yoga, and was immediately drawn to the fluid practice of connecting breath with the body. Its healing benefits began to extend way past the physical, bringing peace to an anxious mind and teaching me how to cultivate more self-acceptance and self-awareness. Because of this, I started down the road to become a teacher myself -- which is eventually how I found the powerful + life-changing teachings of Janet and her sangha, back in 2016.

My personal healing practice has taken many forms over the years: meditation, reading, journaling, ritual, retreats, trainings, and of course, yoga -- all of which have served me in indescribable ways. My soul purpose to help others find deep healing, transformation, and growth through the practices of therapy, self-compassion work, mindfulness, and yoga. It is my hope that through personal exploration, facing our fears, value-based behavior, mindful practices, and a heavy dose of self-love, I can help guide others towards a more wholehearted and authentic way of living. And hopefully make their journey through life a bit more light-hearted.

I am most experienced in:
Vinyasa yoga & sequencing
Mindfulness
Spiritual psychology
The yamas & niyamas
Working with deities
Holistic entrepreneurship

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in…
The wide lens that is YOGA -- which for me means the physical practice, but more importantly the spiritual elements, like meditation & ritual, dedication (tapas), self-acceptance, and honoring our own divinity. Learning more about the power of the deities is also something deeply important to me, as well as living yoga as a daily practice through my work with the yamas & niyamas. And of course, I'll always be deeply invested in the inner work, cultivating a deeper knowledge and relationship with myself through the tools offered by spiritual psychology, mindfulness, and self-inquiry.

My mentoring style or approach is…
Empathic, warm, straight-forward, light-hearted, enthusiastic, and non-judgemental.

Learn more about me on: Instagram: @fernybarcelo // Website: fernybarcelo.com

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I am a native San Franciscan, professional dancer, Certified Pilates Instructor, and yogi who lives and breathes movement.  As a young dancer training rigorously for a professional career, I was always drawn to the powerful practices that connect mind, body, and spirit.  A lifelong love for dance and movement brought me to study yoga (taking my first class at the Yoga Tree Castro in 2009) and then to Pilates, and I have been on the path of studentship ever since. While I started teaching Pilates in 2015, and have gained incredible experience from working with and witnessing so many different bodies, it was my personal yoga practice that led me to be the teacher I am today.  After more than 10 years of simply “practicing” yoga in studios, I decided to dive deep into studentship and completed my first 200-hour YTT with Janet Stone through the 2020 Virtual Sadhana.  It has been this study, of life as yoga, that has given me greater permission to listen to the deep wisdom in my body and emanate and share from that place.  I believe in the profound power that comes from connecting deeply to one’s body, and cultivating a healthy relationship between our physical, emotional and energetic selves is at the core of my work.In addition to dancing and performing (which has taken a bit of a hiatus due to COVID), I teach individual and small group Pilates and Yoga, specializing in injury rehabilitation and prevention.

I am most experienced in:

teaching from an integrated and authentic place. I am deeply committed to my own personal practice.  I teach from the experiential wisdom of living in my own body as well as the experience of working with so many others, who have had totally different experiences than mine! With all my students, I try to cultivate a dialogue of inquiry and permission so that we can find new pathways of understanding and diving deeper. -Teaching from an anatomically safe and alignment based perspective. I am a total anatomy geek and have a background in injury rehabilitation and prevention, so I take extra care in my teaching to offer sequences, cues, and modifications that are effective and accessible for ALL bodies.

I am committed to:

self practice and self study; daily sadhana.  To teach from a place of feeling full, embodied, and clear. To  quote Ram Dass, to keep "polishing the mirror."

my mentoring style is:

I strive to be completely present for my students, and to offer my wisdom as well as my big challenges. I love working rigorously, but am also loving and generous (and sometimes tireless, too!). I aim to meet people exactly where they are at in this moment. If someone needs to be pushed lovingly, I can certainly do that but I can also be soft and grounded if that is what is needed. In the midst of working hard or pursuing a goal, I like to ask myself or my clients, "Can we soften into that a bit more?"

isabelrosenstock.com

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Jen began her teaching career in Cleveland, OH in 2008 after 15 years in nonprofit management. She is honored to practice with extraordinary teachers yet she maintains that the most exceptional teacher continues to be life itself. Jen believes it is a privilege to teach this ancient & sustaining life practice.  Jen is currently the co-owner of The Atrium Yoga Studio in Houston, TX.

Born in Santa Cruz California, I was lucky to have so much yoga at my fingertips at a young age. I attended my first yoga training in 2004 right after high school and started to travel the world and teach where I could. Eventually my feet landed me here in New Zealand in 2007. I went home the summer of 2008 to visit family and attend my first Wanderlust in Squaw Valley. All my yoga friends said you have to take Janet Stones class. So I did and all I remember is getting goosebumps within the first few minutes of Janet chanting. After that class, I continued to following Janet, bought her CDS and sold them at the studio. Eventually I went to India with her and Jody Greene in . Later she gracefully came to NZ to run a teacher training.  I have ran two successful yoga studios in NZ and on top of all the yoga adventures so far, I have two wild children, an awesome and supportive husband and a dog named Maverick who knows nothing but unconditional love.

Look forward to sharing yoga with you!

I have been practicing:

Since 2004 with Bikram yoga in Santa Cruz. My first class with Janet was at the Wanderlust in 2008 with my best friend, Jody Greene encouraged us to go.. all I remember is getting goosebumps within the first few minutes of Janet chanting. that class lead me on the path to vinyasa and more yoga Philosophy.

I am most experienced in:

Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa, Nidra

I am most committed to:

I love yoga philosophy, so much to learn and relearn. keeping an open mind and heart. As well as listening, and connecting the dots where I can.

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I have been practing for:

7 years

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Jessy began her yoga journey back in 2005.  The curious nature of the physical practice coaxed her along, until a teacher opened up her world to the 8 Limbs of Yoga.  At that moment it was as if the transformative journey she'd been on finally had a foundation to grow from.  In 2014 she dove into her first RYT.  By the end of the first weekend she knew she needed to extend these teachings to many.In the spring of 2015 she launched Ventura Pop Up Yoga, Ventura's first and only outdoor yoga studio.  The elements of nature woven with the ancient teachings of yoga created a platform that has reached 1,000 of individuals; both new and seasoned to the practice.Jessy has gone on to continue her education with The Janet Stone School of Yoga where is is completing her 500 hour RYT.  She has over 500 additional hours in yoga + healing modalities including: Breathwork, Meditation, Life Qi Renewal, + Trauma Informed Yoga.  She hosts both private bodywork sessions, public offerings, workshops and retreats around the world through Venture Well Yoga.

"I look forward to the relationship that we can build through our shared experiences"

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I am most experienced in:

Yoga Asana, Breathwork, Meditation Techniques.  I love weaving the teachings of yoga philosophy into everything I create, to help others explore what these ancient lineages can truly open up for us.

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I am committed to:

I live through this practice and it's opened up a world of possibilities for me.  I've kept a daily Sadhana since our Bali journey back in 2018.  It keeps me grounded and rooted into my truth.  In addition, I'm in a committed mentorship with my Life Qi renewal teacher.  We continue to open up the spiritual path and its possibilities to overlay the teachings into the modern world.

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My mentoring style is:

I love both 1:1 and group work.  My passion is seeing the gifts an individual has within them and with permission we open that up for them to explore.  In my private practice I often help individuals overcome blocks + challenges they're facing both on the mat, in their studies, and in everyday life.

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You can learn more about me at:

www.venturewellyoga.com

Can I adjust myself serenely to what is? Can I find contentment with where I am at?

My yoga journey began in 2000 with the integral yoga institute, looking for a way to connect and escape. A safe place to stretch, meditate and simply be. After 3 years of weekly practice and scheduled study, I paused my yoga program. Still attending classes at random studios, every now and then dropping in for a "feel good about myself" practice.
In 2014, I came to Yoga Tree and started practicing Dharma Yoga with an inspiring teacher. The memory of having a strong foundation, a regular meditation practice and an ease in movement, I felt connected to myself, like coming home. It became clear that I wanted to share this feeling with other people.
I completed teacher training with Yoga Tree in 2017 and very soon afterwards I took my first class with Janet Stone. Soon after I took my first immersive class, 5 Deities in 5 Days and a clear path opened up. It was simple to sign up for the 500 hr program with Janet, guiding me towards owning my own expression of yoga and acceptance of it.

In 2019 I had an injury in my lower back, an accident from my childhood that finally caught up to me. It was a difficult journey, my physical yoga practice had to modify. With the tools of yoga that I've learned, it's been a learning to ask myself; where am I at today, what is possible and can I adjust myself to where I am today. Love, compassion and tolerance. Finding a new depth and a beauty in the different expressions of yoga has been a wonderful surprise.

I have been teaching of assisting for ______.

4 years

I am most experienced in...

Assisting, meditation, yoga as a diagram for living, philosophy.

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in ...

Meditation and therapeutic yoga

My mentoring style or approach is...

Meeting people where they are at and listening.
Reflections and sharing experience, strength and hope regarding the yoga journey.
Sharing the similarities and differences; learning together.
Take what you like and leave the rest.

The best way to learn more about me is through...

talking... :)

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I’ve been teaching for: 8 years and going

My name is Jolisa, but I invite you to call me Joli. I am a holistic health practitioner, teacher, and lifelong student currently based in California. I was introduced to yoga postures and mindfulness practices at 8 years old and I've been teaching yoga, meditation and breath work since 2012. My own healing journey catalyzed my deep dive into yoga and formal study of related mind-body practices.

My enthusiasm in exploring Eastern traditions led me to pursue degrees in South and Southeast Asian Studies and the academic study of Religion (Buddhism and Hinduism) at the University of California, Berkeley as well as intensive classical training in Sanskrit language and literature at Deccan Postgraduate and Research Institute in Pune, India under fellowship at the American Institute of Indian Studies.

I am an active and passionate advocate for preventative care, clinical applications of traditional healing arts and holistic wellbeing of mind-body-spirit. This led me to study Ayurveda under Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath, BSC, BAMS, Usui Reiki energy healing under Reiki Master Lara Elliott, M.S. LAc, medical Qigong under Dr. Peter Caughey, DTCM as well as applications of trauma-informed yoga with Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed, under whom I piloted the first holistic healing and yoga program for survivors of sexual-related trauma at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz supported by the institution’s Title IX funding.

My approach to the practice combines personal experience and classical eastern medicine with research, science-driven methodologies across integrative fields. The focus of what I offer is based around building trust and understanding to inspire a genuine commitment to personal health, growth and well-being. My purpose is to help individuals meet daily challenges with greater ease and facilitate a return to balance, harmony, and wholeness where healing is possible.

I am most grateful to my teachers Janet Stone, Edna Barr, Maty Ezraty, Sri Dharma Mittra, and Sally J. Sutherland Goldman for their generosity, wisdom, guidance and support along my journey. Thank you could never be enough.

I am most experienced in:
integrating ancient wisdom with contemporary teachings and modern science. Translating difficult philosophical concepts into relatable, practical, and relevant working knowledge. My experience is mainly working with classical Sanskrit texts (The Ramayana & Upanishads especially), all things Ayurveda, subtle body energetics (mahabhutas, vayus, chakras, koshas, nadis...), practices of meditation as well as trauma-informed approaches to yoga as a psychosomatic healing practice.

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in…
Yoga as a healing art and science. Exploring the body as a vessel for human potential. Studying the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual aspects of Yoga for better understanding of self.

Ayurveda, physiology, philosophy, self-inquiry. Deepening my relationship with chanting which has led me to pick up the harmonium with childlike curiosity! Again and again the practice brings me back to finding presence through connection to breath.

My mentoring style or approach is…
empowering! Dependent upon on your needs and learning style; in-person or virtual. My intention is to hold safe space for open communication, exploration, reflection and integration. Practically speaking, I can offer goal setting and personalized assignments to bring you deeper into your area of focus as well as support you in studying the primary texts. Sanskrit pronunciation, understanding subtle body, mythology, history and spiritual philosophy are my strongest areas of support. Most of all, I am here to be of service and embody the practice the best way I can.

"I am only here to share my knowledge with others and to help them make rapid progress on the path of yoga." - Sri Dharma Mittra

Learn more about me at: dailyritualyoga.com / @dailyritualyoga

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I’ve been teaching/assisting for: 5 years

Katie Jacobson is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Ayurvedic Health Consultant based in her hometown, Santa Cruz, CA.
It was her love for movement and fascination with the mind-body connection that first sparked her interest in yoga. As a State Champion runner and avid soccer player, she appreciated the profound physical benefits, but it was during her challenging college years that the yoga mat became a place of refuge and she discovered the deeper transformative powers of the practice.
Katie studied with Yogrishi Vishvketu at the Anand Prakash Ashram in Rishikesh, India and continues to study with Janet Stone in San Francisco. She teaches Hatha Flow and Yin Yoga, and her classes are typically seasonally inspired. As an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor, Katie intertwines her knowledge of this ancient system of healing with the Yoga wisdom tradition to promote balance of body, mind, and spirit. She is passionate about empowering people with the tools to harmonize with the rhythms of the Earth and return to their true Nature.
Katie’s warm presence creates a nurturing environment in which she encourages students to explore with curiosity, return to their breath, and listen to their inner wisdom. She brings compassion to each posture, inspiring students to look inward and move with authenticity and ease. After facing sports related injuries, Katie embodies sincere empathy and concern for students’ safety. Currently, Katie is deepening her studies as she works towards her Master’s in Integral Counseling Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies.

She loves hiking in her redwood sanctuary and swimming in her ocean temple – Nature is her greatest teacher!

I am most experienced in:

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in…

My mentoring style or approach is…

Learn more about me on: http://www.katiesjacobson.com

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Born in rural Germany I grew up with a very performance-oriented mindset, functioning always the priority, kickboxing my movement-practice of choice and exhaustion the only way to get out of my busy mind. it was my body that showed me its need for more softness - first silently, finally screaming at me through a psychosomatic pain disorder.

When I found Yoga I slowly began my path of befriending my body, dealing with depression and finding lightness instead of fighting all the time. It´s a path I am still on, eternally the student of the practice in all its varieties.

Practicing with Janet for three years now I completed my 300hrs in 2020 and could not be more grateful for this amazing Sangha.

While I am not teaching myself anymore, as a corporate executive and systemic business coach I am now able to integrate my personal practice and hold space for people in the different realms of life.

I have been teaching of assisting for:

I taught a steady class in Cologne for a year, subbing for two years before that. I was able to assist Janet herself on a few occasions and regularly work with local teachers in Cologne.

I am most experienced in...

Yoga philosophy and the integration with other schools of thought in the realms of psychology and personal development

Vinyasa and physically challenging, flowing classes

Alignment-based practice and cueing

I am committed to studying and deepening my practice in...

With my local teachers in Germany I am studying alignment with a holistic, sustainable focus instead of achieving the "right" look and steadily deepening my breathing practice.
My main practice and what I appreciate most about Janets offerings, though, is the integration of Yoga beyond asana, watching what happens on the mat as a mirror of all that is life off the mat and understanding my samskaras unfold, continuing the work of softening.

My mentoring style or approach is...

an attitude of servant leadership and the firm belief that you hold everything you need already within you. As a mentor I aspire to empower you to find your own voice, further develop your unique gifts and I hold the space for you to leave your comfort zone and believe in what you have to offer.

The best way to learn more about me is through...

@petrieowl

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