Shanti Yoga Studio - Sacramento, CA

Natasha Sedykh lived in the Satyananda Ashram in Munger, Bihar, India where she was trained in this yoga tradition in 1995. Natasha started teaching yoga in America back in 1996. She has been sharing her practice that is a fusion of various styles such as Satyananda, Sivananda, Iyengar, and Forrest yoga. Natasha's particular approach emphasizes the meditational aspect of yoga practice whether the class you take from her is basic or challenging.

Natasha was born and raised in Central Russia and makes yearly summer trips back to her homeland. This picture was taken during the summer of 2006 and was used on the cover of the Yoga Journal in Russia.

Robert Hallworth has been teaching yoga in Sacramento for 4 years and most recently arrived from India at the beginning of March 2006 having gone through the yoga certificate program at the Satyananda Ashram in Munger, Bihar, India. He received his spiritual name of Ganapati and learned a much more traditional approach to yoga that emphasized more of a yogic lifestyle that includes: Asana, pranayama, mudra, bandhas, and the more subtle techniques of meditation and concentration.

His practice has been evolving toward a more in depth understanding of yoga as a spiritual practice or sadhana and his classes whether basic or vigorous reflect this framework.

Leah Briggs is a certified teacher of Ashanga Vinyasa and Raja Yoga. She has traveled and studied Yoga, Buddhism and Eastern philosophy and psychology in Thailand, Burma, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. She has a black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu and is attuned in Reiki, energy healing.

Leah has been exploring the mind~body~spirit connection for more than 15 years and shares her experience with compassion and humor. She believes the practice should be a playful exploration. Her classes are a fusion of Vinyasa Flow, dance, martial arts and philosophy.

Ruthie Blacksea began taking yoga in 1996, her first instructor being Natasha Sedykh. It wasn't long before she began experiencing yoga's profound benefits. With her two children on their way to being grown, she decided to become an instructor of yoga. She completed her training and certfication in Hatha Yoga, at Let it Go Yoga in Santa Barbara in 2000. Her original plan was to instruct children in yoga, and this grew to include all ages and levels including, restorative yoga, teen yoga, and yoga to seniors.

Ruthie has a gentle, fun, yet serious approach to yoga, not afraid to laugh in class while reminding students to remember that "yoga will never be in the Olympics, so enjoy". She believes in "gently" adjusting students on a regular basis, assisting them to feel their growth, their abilities. In addition to being a teacher at Shanti, Ruthie also teaches at Del Norte Tennis and Raquet Club, Christian Brothers High School and private sessions.

Harsha Gandhi received her first lessons in yoga from her father, under whose guidance she practiced hatha yoga through her high school years and beyond until she immigrated to USA in 1976. She received her training and teaching style from a residential course at The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India. Harsha teaches traditional hatha yoga which enhances strength and flexibility with emphasis on mind and body connection of yoga.

Yvonne Macias was originally trained as a modern dance and children's creative movement teacher who started to incorporate yoga principles into her work. After college, she began practicing yoga seriously and in 2004 completed her yoga teacher's certification at Canyon Spirit Yoga Studio in Auburn, CA.

She currently teaches beginning level yoga, gentle yoga and children's yoga classes. She shares her love of yoga with her two year old daughter, who has recently mastered the one-legged downward facing dog pose!

Jessie Ramirez's interest in physical and mental balance started in her early years during the practice of martial arts, yoga and modern dance. This encouraged her to initiate her journey as a Massage Therapist. She graduated from the Boulder College of Massage Therapy as a Certified Massage Therapist with an Associate of Occupational Studies in Massage Therapy including; Prenatal, Postnatal and Infant Massage training. She is also certified in Sports and Orthopedic Massage. She has an enormous respect for the body as a whole being therefore Jessie expanded her knowledge in Oriental Techniques. She studied Internal Organ Shiatsu at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics, Traditional Chinese Medicine Principles and Kriya Hatha Yoga in Colombo,

Sri Lanka

and is certified in Thai Massage. Whether teaching a Yoga class, recovering from an injury, coping with stress, chronic pain or others, her work and instruction embodies deep peace and integrates all levels of the human being. She was moved to share and teach Prenatal Yoga by the enormous benefits she experienced during her own pregnancies and labors.

Reno Gorman completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification Program through the Sierra Center for Yoga Studies and has been practicing yoga and meditation since 2002 and tai chi and chi kung since 2005. He works as a teacher-aide at a school for kids and young adults who fall in the autism spectrum, and also tutors high school and college students. Reno has worked in the educational field and with kids since 2001. He is a college student majoring in Sociology and minoring in Psychology. He plays the drums and percussion for a local Sacramento band and loves playing music, with other musicians. He enjoys foot-bagging, outdoor activities and reading in his spare time. Reno is originally from Portland, Oregon, but has been living in the Sacramento area for the past 12 years and he thinks it is one of the greatest places on earth!

Setareh Mahdavi Pourfard was born into a yogi household in Tehran, Iran - her father is the founder of the first and most well-known Yoga & Meditation center in Iran. At a young age Setareh decided to follow in her father's footsteps, later taking the Sivananda teachers training course in South India and is now a certified international Sivananda teacher. She now has been teaching for approximately two years. Her style integrates the teachings of her father and the yoga school, resulting in an eclectic meditative combination of Yin and Yang, Iyengar, Sivananda and Ashtanga.

Alicia Patrice, registered yoga teacher, has been practicing for over ten years and believes in the healing potential of yoga. Her multi-level classes strive to foster community and trust. They include gentle and relaxing asanas, breathing practices and meditation. Alicia's welcoming spirit and encouraging manner sets students at ease and allows them the space to turn inward, concentrate and become present. She enjoys using music and poetry to enhance the practice and utilizes a hands-on creative approach to her teaching. A lifelong musician, Alicia is also devoted to the study of Sufism and is a dance leader for the Dances of Universal Peace.

Kirsten Ferries took her first yoga class in 2000. However, it was not until the summer of 2006 that her practice blossomed under the guidance of Natasha Sedykh and Robert Hallworth. She has been fortunate to have many great teachers over the past two years that have encouraged her to listen to her body and take care of herself. Yoga has greatly reduced her stress and anxiety, increasing her ability to find joy and happiness in the present moment. While she practices many different styles of yoga her preferred style is gentle, restorative yoga with meditation and pranayama.

When not in yoga class, Kirsten can typically be found running around a playground or riding her bike with her three and half year old daughter. She loves to go to the beach, take long walks, dance, sing (although not in tune), and hanging out with her husband and friends.

Sam Scholtes is a Cal Poly graduate with a degree in Biological Sciences. In 1998, he was certified as a Health and Fitness Instructor from the American College of Sports Medicine. In 2003, he became a certified Pilates instructor and in 2004 became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Sam extended his studies to include yoga in 2006 where he became a certified teacher from Sivananda Yoga Vendante in India. His last trip was to Thailand to study Thai Yoga Massage with Nicky Smith of the Sunshine Network in Chiang Mai. His emphasis is on cultivating joy by integrating diet, exercise and a fun sense of enjoyment.

Phil Smith’s experience of yoga began with a copy of Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28-Day Exercise Plan that he picked up as a teenager and used as a guide for an on-again/off-again home yoga practice for many years. He began a serious studio practice of yoga in 2006. He challenged himself and completed 365 days of Hot/Bikram-style yoga in a row. Phil has also studied Power Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Yin Yoga. He completed his yoga teacher certification at the White Lotus Foundation with Ganga White and Tracey Rich in Santa Barbara. His classes incorporate classic yoga postures, slow vinyasa routines including various sun and moon salutations, pranayama, and use of bandhas, mudras, and relaxation techniques to enhance the yoga experience.

Michi Abday is the owner of Shanti Yoga Studio but she is usually a student in the classes! She has been practicing yoga for over 12 years and says she will be practicing for many more years.