our community
Rachel Rajput, E-RYT 500
Founder + CEO / Instructor
Rachel started Left Coast Power Yoga in 2013 to bring Oakland its first heated Power Yoga Community! Over the years Left Coast has grown to include two vibrant locations, Teacher Trainings, local and international retreats, and more. Left Coast’s outdoor studio, Silent Disco Yoga Oakland, was formed in 2020 in response to the need for outdoor wellness and continues to offer weekly classes (Feb - Oct). Rachel got her RYT-200 from Laughing Lotus SF, RYT-500 from Yoga Tree SF, and is a certified Mama Tree Pre and PostNatal teacher.
Angela Craven
Grand Ave Studio Manager
Angela has been practicing yoga since 2007 and has found it to be a great source of personal healing, growth and discovery. When not working or practicing at the studio she is either at her “day job” as a behavior analyst for the state of California, swimming, reading, cooking or adventuring with her dog Taco. She plans to take Left Coast Teacher Training in 2023.
Senia Lee
General Manager
Senia is passionate about healthy living and especially enjoys cooking and baking wholesome recipes. Her toughest critics are her three young Foodies. An Occupational Therapist by background, Senia now works full-time as a Mom and part-time in administrative support roles. Senia loves “to do'“ lists, going for long walks, listening to podcasts, and finding healthy recipes to justify her dark chocolate obsession.
Nina Portugal, RYT-200
Instructor
As a public school educator, Nina is passionate about all her students, whether they are 9th graders or adults, see their strength and find their joy. In 2015, Nina earned her 200 YTT with Its Yoga International in Nicaragua to deepen her study of Ashtanga Yoga. In 2017, she studied Smart Flow with Annie Carpenter and in 2019 alignment with Jason Crandell. Nina is also a certified restorative Relax and Renew® Teacher with Judith Lasater and Mama Tree prenatal teacher with Jane Austin.
Anthony Reed, RYT-200
Instructor
Anthony found yoga in 2012 and was pleasantly surprised to find a great workout, deeper awareness, and for the first time ever, the ability to reach down and touch his toes! He was hooked on the practice right then and there. He has been passionately teaching since 2019 while working in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and product strategy for various Fortune 500 companies. In April 2022, Anthony stepped away from the corporate matrix in order to focus on a journey of yoga and healing. Pull up to class for a vitalizing balance of strength, flow and chill vibes.
Carlita Pena
Instructor
Carlita is an artist and dancer turned yoga instructor when a low back injury brought Carlita to yoga for healing. In 2015 they received their 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification through Yoga District in Washington, DC, where Carlita was based for 9 years before packing up their car and driving solo across the country to relocate in the Bay Area in 2021. Carlita seeks to provide a safe, supportive space for students to practice radical self-acceptance and offers an upbeat music-driven practice that is equal parts adventurous, challenging, and meditative.
Kaushik Dash, RYT-200
Studio Manager / Instructor
Kaushik discovered yoga at a very unhappy time in his life. Very unhealthy and immobile, he struggled through his very first yoga class. However, between the heated room and challenging postures linked with breath, he found a higher sense of purpose - something clicked and he found himself taking class every single day.
Caroline Bernardi, RYT-200
Instructor
Originally from Normal, Illinois (yes, that's a real place), Caroline first found yoga in high school as a way to relieve back pain from years of distance swimming. She soon found the benefits of yoga were far beyond physical. In 2015, Caroline received her 200 hour teaching certificate from Sanctuary for Yoga in Nashville, Tennessee under the direction of Daphne and Tom Larkin. Her training is rooted in vinyasa and her classes focus on intentional sequencing as well as yoga philosophy, which she believes can enrich everyone's lives regardless of background, religion, etc.
Malka Lew, E-RYT-500
Instructor / Massage Therapist
Malka has been practicing yoga since she was 21 years old when she stumbled into an Iyengar Studio. She began focusing on alignment and later fell in love with flow.
In 2013, Malka moved to Thailand and discovered herself as a teacher as she started to teach everyday at a healing center. Feeling the call to heal more, she traveled to NYC in 2014 and received her 500 hours Yoga Certificate from the Master Dharma Mitra.
Yoga for Malka is a way to live this life in the most sacred way possible. It's about being present with each moment and deepening our capacity to love ourselves, and each other.
Whitney Walsh, E-RYT 500
Lead Teacher Trainer / Instructor
Whitney’s alignment-based classes are vigorous and lighthearted with intentional and intelligent sequencing. She provides structure to transition her students safely through modified and advanced movements. Whitney is one of the original Left Coast teachers, creating community since 2013.
Tanya Clark, E-RYT 500
Instructor
Tanya has been a student of the practice since 2011 and teaching since 2016 in San Francisco. Her classes are challenging yet accessible and there is an air of lightheartedness in every class. She believes that everybody's body is different and considers herself a guide for her students to practice safely in a welcoming environment. Tanya encourages her students to honor their body in each moment. Music is a big part of her classes! Get ready to move to smooth beats and remixed classics. Tanya also has a strong social media presence! Follow her on IG at @jiggeranddash.
Tako Oda, RYT-500
Instructor
Tako's teaching style is attentive, exploratory, and playful. Reflection, introspection, and critical thinking are encouraged, as practitioners and their inner voices are ultimately their own truest teachers. Valuing collaboration in the student/teacher relationship, Tako gives hands-on support on an enthusiastic consent basis, offering physical support when asked for with a yes (not simply the absence of a no).
Having originally apprenticed under Alek Trail, Tako also completed an additional 500 hours of teacher training under Tamlyn Cohen, as well as Yoga Nidra with Deepa Negi Mira and Yin Yoga with Pawan Mahashwari.
As a singer and capoeirista, Tako emphasizes the inherent joy, musicality, & self expression of embodied practice. Fun fact: “Tako” is the Japanese word for Octopus, which has 8 limbs, just like yoga!
Lyz Keating, RYT-200
Instructor
The first time Lyz found yoga, she was an aimless teen looking for something to do. The second time Lyz found yoga, she was recovering from serious hip injuries that left her immobile for entire chunks of her 20s. The third time she found yoga, Lyz was again aimless, this time at 30, seeking a new approach to discipline, focus and growth. We change constantly, and yoga is always there to catch us. That's why she practices, and why she leads. Inspired by her ballet teacher Kat, and influenced by many yoga forces along the way.
Sadie Verley, RYT-200
Instructor
Sadie has been practicing Yoga for over 12 years. She holds a 200-hour certification from YogaWorks and is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. Over the years she experienced many forms of yoga and has particularly enjoyed Vinyasa style classes. In class, she teaches an energetic and strong modern yoga sequence with fun & funky moves to keep the mind engaged on the breath and body. She pulls from her Rocket/Ashtanga background to guide students in a moving meditation.
Odisa Walker, RYT-200
Instructor
Odisa has been teaching yoga since 2002 and has been deeply influenced by her first teacher, her father, since childhood. She completed her 200 hour training in Washington DC at Down Dog Yoga, a Baptiste Power Vinyasa affiliate studio. She co-owned BelovedYoga, a studio in Reston, Virginia for over seven years where she taught, led teacher trainings and facilitated several retreats before moving to the Bay Area in 2013. Since moving here she has slowed way down and is enjoying teaching Yoga more than ever.
Deb Hamilton, RYT-200
Instructor
Yoga has been a constant in Deb's life for over 30 years. Born in London, she has lived internationally since 2000. A move to Washington, DC during the pandemic created the time and opportunity to study for her YTT-200 remotely with LCPY. What started as pure curiosity in the process ended in a passion for teaching and sharing the enduring benefits of this practice. She has been teaching regularly since becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher.
Adriana Cerundelo
Instructor
Adriana is a kundalini yoga teacher, sound healer, and 7Directions dance ceremony facilitator. Adriana is also deeply influenced by earth-based ceremony, intuitive dance, and background in vibrational healing. When we are full unto ourselves, we can overflow to serve the world.
Patricia Wright, RYT-200
Instructor / Reiki Practitioner
Born in a tent on a beach in NoCal, Patricia was raised by hippies. Mom was a yoga teacher and by 8 years old her dad had taught her to meditate. Patricia has a diverse career history, ranging from the corporate world, to adventure travel/hospitality, to higher education. She is known for her color and brightness, and her fun and funky style. "More than a passion, it is my lifeblood to develop and enable the success of others." Patricia is a graduate of Left Coast’s Yoga Teacher Training 2021.
David Farias, RYT-200
Instructor
David believes that Yoga is a practice that creates space for healing and empowerment. His classes emphasize mindfulness, flow, and alignment. His intention is to share Yoga so that each student can incorporate insight and connection into their lives, on and beyond the mat. David is a graduate of Left Coast’s Yoga Teacher Training 2021.
Mike Napolitano, RYT-200
Instructor
Mike came to yoga in 2012 to heal a bulging disk. He found so much more: a vehicle for reflection, personal growth, and greater flexibility and balance on and off the mat. Mike brings his love of music and yoga together in classes that build strength and flexibility through long sweaty holds, standing balances, and danceable vinyasa flows. Mike is a 2021 graduate of Left Coast’s 200-hour Teacher Training Program.
Mike Hearn, RYT-200
Instructor
Mike graduated from the Left Coast Power Yoga Teacher Training program in 2020. He is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and certified nutritionist. For Mike, practicing Yoga has led to greater peace of mind, and it has complimented all the different forms of movement and exercise he enjoys. His classes are structured in a functional manner to safely open the door for others to discover their own unique approach towards well being.
Rosa Wan, RYT-200
Instructor
Rosa has a diverse background in yoga, pilates, and aerial arts. Her classes are informed by her movement practice, past and current teachers, and most of all—students. She invites you to breath deeply, move sumptuously, and explore fearlessly. Her classes are nothing short of empowering. Rosa is a graduate of Left Coast’s Yoga Teacher Training 2022 and is a RYT-200 through Yoga Alliance.
Ekaterina Petrova, RYT-200
Instructor
Ekat began practicing over 15 years ago, as conditioning for ballet. Since then, she’s become a full-blown yogi, obsessed with exploring every facet of yoga from the physical to the metaphysical, from asana to mantra, and even to non-dual classical Tantra. Her classes are powerful and expansive alignment-based vinyasa flows, with creative sequencing and clear cues.
Amy Whoa, RYT-200
Instructor
Overcoming childhood obesity and three near-death bicycle accidents as an adult fuel Amy's fun and functional classes. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT 200), and Certified Health Coach. She found yoga in 2007, right before one of her accidents. That beginner's practice helped her heal a broken neck and other injuries, and transformed her into a lifetime yogi. HIIT Yoga Flow burns calories, builds strength and endurance, and enhances your traditional flows. Amy is a graduate of Left Coast Yoga Training 2018
Katie Troy, RYT-200
Instructor
Katie is a 200hr RYT international yoga instructor and 200hr RYT trauma yoga instructor. She found her practice while traveling through India, after which she completed her training and went on to teach at a yoga school in India, develop community classes in Kathmandu and lead classes during disaster relief programs in the Philippines, Dominica and Texas. Katie teaches a strong flow class that pull from her degree in exercise physiology, traditional yoga studies and trauma yoga studies.
Vanina Mood
Instructor
Vanina was born and raised in Argentina and currently lives in Oakland. She's been a ZIN™ Member since the beginning of 2014 and absolutely loves teaching Zumba classes! Zumba is her church, her therapy, and her pursuit of happiness! Vanina has been dancing since the age of 4, practicing ballet, contemporary, tango, folklorico, -- you name it! She feels blessed to share her passion and love of dancing with her students.
Lorin Tailor
Instructor
Lorin, formerly Laura Camp, has been involved in movement since the 80’s. In 2000 Lorin moved to Oakland, and begane teaching and co-directing at the popular Monkey Yoga Shala on Lakeshore Ave for a decade. After hosting their first teacher training in 2010, they opened the first of three Flying Studios in May of that year — helming a beautiful band of merry teachers and offering yoga, dance and strength classes to the community. Now having taught for over 35 years, Lorin feels more like a beginner than ever, teaching a blended and active style of practice that’s focused on building bodyweight strength, creating deep energetic grounding and cultivating a peaceful, happy heart.
Dana Lawton
Instructor
Practicing yoga since 1990, Dana has studied Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Hatha Yoga. Bringing her extensive investigation of the body through her dance training, multiple anatomy courses and various somatic studies, Dana is excited to share her knowledge with students studying asana.
Dana has been a guest teacher at numerous yoga retreats and is a tenured Professor of Dance at Saint Mary's College
Kiko Nascimiento
Instructor
Kiko is a Yoga instructor, Reformer Pilates Instructor, Certified Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Crossfit Coach, as well as an accomplished MMA fighter. He has been involved in fitness for decade, during which he has amassed an amazing number of skills and certifications. Kiko os a veteran Left Coast teacher, formerly leading classes at our Uptown Studio. and we are excited to have him back at our Laurel Space. His classes combine a sweaty, vigorous flow with breath work and intention.
Mike Giannico
Instructor
Mike Giannico is the founder of Outdoor Yoga Berkeley, a donation based outdoor yoga program started in May of 2020 in response to community needs and studio closures. Mike uses and shares his practices to help people find peace and joy. MIke's style is straight forward, fun and empowering.
Jessie Saenz, RYT-500
Instructor
Jessie is happy to be practicing and teaching right in her little Upper Grand neighborhood. She teaches a strong flow-based class. Drawn primarily to an Ashtanga-based practice, she’s been on the mat since 1997. Grateful for all teachers and teachers’ teachers, she’s been especially influenced by her trainings, workshops, and years of practice with Larry Schultz and It’s Yoga, Alice Joanou, and Lorin Tailor (formerly Laura Camp). Jessie is also a practicing environmental engineer, and can be found in yoga shalas and workshops throughout the bay area and beyond.
Samara Reynolds
Instructor
Samara believes in teaching humans not poses, and that yoga can meet any student where they are. In addition to instructing, she is an assistant of Judith Hanson Lasater in Restorative yoga and Non Violent Communication workshops and trainings. Samara has studied accessible yoga, alignment, pranayama, meditation, and NVC, all of which inform her accessible, alignment and rest-based teaching style. She feels her mission is to bring rest to the world through Restorative yoga, breath work, meditation, easeful communication and intentional alignment-based movement.
Kaylee Van Deusen
Instructor
Kaylee is a graduate of the Left Coast Yoga 200 HR Teacher training & Doctor of Physical Therapy. Throughout college and her Physical Therapy program, Kaylee relied on her yoga mat for peace, self-development, and community. Kaylee is humbled by the gift of sharing this practice, and eager to provide students the same feelings of peace and community she felt. A life-long athlete, Kaylee blends her knowledge of anatomy and alignment with fun, flowing sequences and challenging physical practice.