After five and a half years of government work, Heather decided that it was time to throw in the towel (and move to the mat) to do something more rewarding. She decided to move back to California, where her original journey of yoga began almost 10 years ago. Drawn to the more dynamic and challenging styles of yoga she began practicing Bikram yoga and progressed to Ashtanga, in which she got her teacher training certificate. Constantly learning, practicing, and evolving, she has found a her new love in Vinyasa. Teaching Vinyasa is amazing in that it allows each individual instructor to add their own style and personality to the class. Heather is excited to share her style and love of yoga with others and is extremely proud to have found Bird Rock Yoga! She is extremely proud of each of the instructors and students that have become part of the Bird Rock Yoga family...and we're always welcoming more, so grab your mat, settle in, and come home...

Laura Sparaco has been a student of yoga since 1995. Certified through Yoga Alliance, she began teaching in 2000 and has had the opportunity to study with many highly regarded yoga teachers including Tim Miller (Ashtanga Yoga) and Ana Forrest (Forrest Yoga). Laura’s love and passion for yoga shines through her teaching. Her presence in the classroom is energetic, yet gentle, and she encourages embracing the present moment through breath while safely and playfully exploring the asanas. She emphasizes that what is learned on the mat can be incorporated into everyday life.

Laura is also a Certified Massage Therapist and has been practicing massage since 2006. She received her training at the International Professional School of Bodywork, specializing in several different styles of bodywork, including Thai Massage. Through her extensive experience and training in bodywork & yoga, she hopes to help others deepen their connection between the body, mind, heart, and spirit. Laura believes that it is in this deep connection where healing is truly facilitated and our most authentic selves can emerge. Please visit her website at www.laurayoga.com.

My initial interaction with yoga was in the fall of 2004 when a friend suggested taking a surfer's flow class at the original Bird Rock Yoga studio. As a high school resource specialist, my job has always added degrees of stress to my life, so I figured that it wouldn't hurt to give it a try and justified trying with the thought that it would help my surfing at the least. I felt a glow from that first class which rivaled the peak moments ive experienced in the ocean, and I immediately realized that there was much more going on and available through what yoga created in that mind/body connection through the breath. From there I adapted a regular practice into my life in order to go "within" and stop going "without". Enhancing my surfing and physical health is and was only the tip of the iceberg of what Yoga has done for me. Yoga has allowed me to recongnize, listen and live in my own truth and has helped me grow spiritually, mentally and emotionally. It has helped me to let go of stresses and difficulties that life constantly presents and instead recognize and appreciate all of the beautiful and positive things that are present in every experience. It has helped to cultivate the positive light within me and in teaching has allowed me the opportunity to spread that light to others. I have practiced in studios all over San Diego and feel blessed to be a teacher at Bird Rock yoga! It is an honor to be in a position to guide students through vinyasa flow, and my intention to help my students to be present through the breath on thier path to finding their own balance, stillness, truth and peace through their own yoga practice.

An accident about 8 years ago left me with 4 crushed discs. Surgery and years of therapy did nothing to alleviate the pain or bring full movement back to my limbs so I decided to give yoga a shot. I didn't know when I started this journey how much I would grow and how my life would change. Physically, I enjoy the improvement in my strength and flexibility. Mentally, it helps me develop a better ability to focus and find calmness that I integrate into other aspects of my life. Yoga is now my faithful companion, transforming my body and spirit. It is an honor to serve yogis with the intention of learning how to meet life challenges by relaxing more and using yoga as a means to explore yourself more deeply so you can see the beauty and strength within. My classes are light hearted and upbeat but supportive too. Presently my journey is being enriched by joining the amazing BirdRock Yoga team. Live life Big and Bright, without limitations

For Jeni, spirituality and faith has always been integral to all aspects of her life. An athlete from childhood, Jeni began her yoga journey at the gym in the mid 90s and initially approached yoga as she had with dancing, running, and soccer thinking of yoga as a purely physical practice. Yet, when Jeni began to practice Bikram Yoga in 2006, she suddenly felt the power of yoga: the physical, mental, and spiritual paths in her life blissfully merged. Left wanting to know more, Jeni studied Ashtanga and Anusara-inspired Vinyasa yoga disciplines and has found a beautiful medium in her practice and teaching. Her classes are vigorous, creative, safe and uplifting while empowering students to seek inner paths of discovery and improvement. Jeni completed her 200-hr yoga teacher training at Prana Yoga Center in La Jolla under the direction of Gerhard Gessner and Jeanie Carlstead. As the practice of yoga is an on-going self-discovery, Jeni continues to be inspired by her two primary mentors and takes classes with master teachers wherever she goes. She has received her 500-hr certification through YogaWorks under the mentorship of Stacy McCarthy. It is her passion to continue to grow and share in the journey. Jeni, who is fluent in Korean, has traveled widely and enjoyed success in a variety of careers: from singing to teaching overseas. She currently teaches ESL and children's literature at schools in La Jolla and Sorrento/Carmel Valley in the day time. It is an utter joy to know that the triumphs and struggles on the mat can also translate to life off the mat: be still, surrender, let peace reign, always learn, build, accept, and love.

Ben Lucas started his spiritual journey with Yoga in 2001. It all started in College, while studying acting in his voice and movement classes. He was introduced to Vinyasa Flow and everything seemed to grow from there. Being able to mesh such a physical workout with your own mental health/fortitude, as well as your spirituality has been the catalyst to his Yogic Journey. Living so close to the Ocean has strengthened his spirit, in that surfing and Yoga go hand in hand on such a deeper level than just the physical. The mind/body/soul connection with a Higher Being have been a critical stepping stone in his growth as a Yogi. After taking a bit of a "Fatherly Sabbatical," Ben is excited to leap back into the Bird Rock Community with a reinvigorated Spirit. Check all of your stresses and worries at the door and find yourself living and breathing in the moment on your mat. With an eclectic mix of music and calming strength, it is his hope and drive that you will find your Flow on your own, with a little help from a friend.

Yoga has deeply nourished and transformed Kristi’s life and she believes it can do the same for you. She is dedicated to the practice and teaching of yoga, on and off the mat in her daily life, and it bring her great joy to support those who are seeking a more harmonious, balanced, and fulfilling life journey. Through personal sharing and philosophical insights, combined with precise technical guidance and warm sense of humor, Kristi provides student’s with the opportunity for transformation and self empowerment. Kristi teaches a blend of Hatha Yoga, integrating Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kripalu and Kundalini into her practice. Her classes embody these principals and are then incorporated into a Vinyasa flow which is tailored towards her students needs. She believes in the invigorating power that yoga offers the mind, body and spirit.Her understanding of the deep healing powers provided by a yoga practice was further experienced when a car accident left her with fractured vertebras. She drew upon her knowledge of yoga to help relieve and heal the intense pain caused by her injuries. Kristi became a student of yoga seven years ago and completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification through the Nosara Yoga Institute located in Nosara, Costa Rica. Her practice is inspired by the teachings of her instructors which include but are not limited to: Tim Miller, Shiva Rea, Don and Amba Stapleton, Stephen Cope, Jon Friend, Dharma Mittra and Ana Forrest. Kristi finds her journey as a student of yoga and life to be never ending and she is delighted to say that may of her own students have acted as some of her greatest teachers. She is currently completing her Masters in Psychology and is continuing her education in areas involving Ayurvedic medicine, massage therapy, and nutrition.

Born and raised in Italy, Roberta brings her Italian flare and passion to yoga teaching. Roberta is a very enthusiastic teacher and decided to offer others the wonderful experience that the practice of yoga creates physically, mentally and emotionally. She believes in combining different yoga traditions to create a well balanced, safe and a comprehensive yoga practice that is accessible by everyone. Her classes offer motivation and inspiration to all students to move beyond the physical realm of the body and to access deeper layers ultimately affecting mind, heart and soul thus developing a higher consciousness and deeper awareness... the ultimate goal of Yoga. Her Vinyasa flow classes fuse the main elements of Ashtanga tradition with other teachings and traditions to create a comprehensive, eclectic, unique flow based on the essence of Vinyasa.  The intention of Roberta's class is to allow students to experience a unique practice while sharing the same space, same dialogue, same music, same energy, to realize and appreciate the differences everyone can bring to the practice. Our ultimate intention is the same... the liberation, freedom of the mind, in this case thru excise of the body and relaxation of the senses, ultimately the practice becomes meditation. Roberta's class can be a challenge at any level, beginners can learn precise alignment of each asana, the more advance yogis can focus on deepening the practice by exploring the more subtle aspects of yoga, breath-work -pranayama- and still gain knowledge on technicalities and benefits of asanas. Roberta maintains the traditional elements of Yoga teachings fused with creative and precise sequences giving students freedom of expression in their practice. Roberta has completed teacher trainings with Tim Miller, deepening her knowledge of Ashtanga tradition, Ganga White & Tracy Rich at the White Lotus Foundation where she learned about Vinyasa Flow, Pamela Hollander with whom she learned the Indigo Yoga For Children. In addition her main teachers include Pattabhi Jois, Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rea, Ana Forest. She also holds a Bachelor in Physical Anthropology and minor in Child Development.

Robin Shepard, BA, CMT, HHP, RYT - Robin attended Point Park University graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors Degree in both Dance and Psychology. After college, Robin landed in San Diego where she started searching for her next path in life. In 2007 Robin graduated from the Massage Therapist program at IPSB College. Robin enjoys inspiring her clients to take an active role in their lives by combining massage with physical exercise. It is for this reason that she chose in the fall of 2010 to obtain her Yoga Alliance Certification, obtaining a 200 hour Vinyasa Flow Certificate from Bird Rock Yoga and is excited to begin this new journey.

As a high school student Alana searched out this foreign movement called Yoga to support her dancing. Yoga was a tool to enhance and sustain her career but quickly developed into a whole new path itself. As she traveled through college she discovered that no matter where in the world she was yoga was available and a community of amazing people to practice with.

Alana graduated with a BA in Dance Performance in 2008 from York St. John University in York, England and is now a company member of the San Diego Dance Theater. She loved the Bird Rock community and completed her teacher-training in 2010. It is a blessing to be a part of a community with movement at its center, to move together, to breath together and support growth as individuals.

When Melissa first started yoga, she had no idea the profound impact it would have on her life. After studying sculpture and painting in college, yoga inspired her to embrace a new art form with endless possibilities. Through practicing asanas and linking movement to breath, she learned how to quiet the mind, strengthen the body, and to truly enjoy the present moment. As her yoga practice progressed, she became fascinated by energy healing and the use of crystal energy to realign the chakras, which lead her to complete a certification course in Reiki. Melissa incorporates her passion and love for music into each of her classes. She loves creating new playlists that are high energy, fun, and that will motivate you through those intense Vinyasa flows! Inspired by her love of dance, she encourages each individual to dance through their postures and savor the movements between the asanas. She is honored to grow as a teacher through every single yogi!

Mandy began her journey into the world of yoga on the beaches of Costa Rica and has been captivated ever since. She is deeply inspired by the strength and grace of the ocean and synchronizes her yoga classes to manifest that inspiration. Mandy infuses the rhythmic flowing of vinyasa with anusara-inspired attention to alignment, along with references to the 8 limbs of yoga and a bit of playfulness through storytelling to create her unique teaching style. She encourages her students to begin "living their yoga" by incorporating elements of their practice on the mat into their daily lives. Through teaching yoga, Mandy intends to draw you back into the present moment, bask in all its beauty and send you out of the studio feeling relaxed, renewed and ready to shine your light on the world. In addition to teaching ocean-inspired Vinyasa flows, she also loves teaching Full Moon Yoga, Yoga for Kids & Teens and Stand-up Paddle board (SUP) Yoga.

Sarah's classes emphasize clarity of alignment, a steady connection to the breath, and a mindful investigation of what qualities we are truly cultivating in our practice. Her aim is that every class allows yogis to experience balance: A body and mind that feel both strong & wakeful and yet spacious & calm. Sarah challenges herself to weave in as many aspects of all that is yoga into her presentation of the Asanas (poses) and Pranayama (breath work) by connecting to elements of her own meditation practices, such as non-reaction, concentration, compassion, and contentment. Sarah is very excited to be joining BRY! She was attracted to the studio for the relaxed, open feel of the community. Sarah recently relocated to San Diego in July 2011 from New York City. Since 2007 in NYC, Sarah had been happily teaching tons of yoga predominately at OM Yoga Center (where she completed her 200-hour certifcation) and with Private Clients, in addition to teaching at New York University and Dance New Amsterdam. She also danced professionally for modern company Laurie de Vito & Dancers for six years. Sarah loves to fnd a special teacher and is grateful for all who've crossed her path, including her students, Cyndi Lee, Christina Clark, Joe Miller, and many more. Sarah is passionately committed to deepening her knowledge of yoga; she has been certifed in Relax and Renew© Restorative Yoga through Judith Lasater & in addition, has pursued continuing education for teachers regarding Pranayama (J. Miller & C. Lee), Prenatal Adjustments (B. Conant), Yoga Sutras (C. Clark) and more.

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Sarah discovered yoga while living in Manhattan in 2005. First trying yoga as a complimentary workout to a vigorous exercise program, she immediately noticed the benefits beyond the physical. Since then it has turned into a lifestyle. Her goal is to create that same awakening within each beginner yogi and deepen the understanding of inner awareness for the experienced yogi. Sarah has experimented with and draws from various styles of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, and Anusara but loves the creativity and limitless options that the Vinyasa style allows. You can see that creativity expressed in each of her powerful classes. With each class she hopes to create a complete experience for the student, not simply a workout.