About Us

Roberta

Roberta is a very enthusiastic teacher and decided to teach Yoga to offer others the wonderful experience that the practice creates physically, mentally, and emotionally. She founded Bird Rock Yoga in 2003 and she believes in combining different Yoga traditions to create a well balanced, safe and a comprehensive Yoga practice that is accessible to everyone. She received her certification at the White Lotus Foundation studying with Ganga White and Tracey Rich, she has been certified and studied with Tim Miller, attended seminars and workshops with Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest and completed her certification with Indigo Yoga For Children.

Verena

After many years working as an animal trainer (from beluga whales to tigers), Verena’s intuitive sense of the beings around her was her inspiration to pursue a Vinyasa teaching certification in 2006. Having fallen head-over-heels for her new passion, she immediately began teaching full-time Vinyasa classes of all levels, as well as yoga sculpt.  Additionally, she was asked to lead posture clinics for a successful teacher training program right here in San Diego. 
Originally European, Verena (“V”) has lived and traveled extensively throughout the world.  Repeatedly adapting to new cultures and surroundings has taught her the importance of flexibility in the mind, above all else! Drawing on the mind-body connection she began practicing and instructing power vinyasa flow, matching breath to movement and focusing on “being” rather than “doing”.  Having participated in workshops and classes with Steve Ross and Budokon’s Cameron Shayne, V’s style of teaching can be described as light-hearted and personal.  Caring deeply about her students’ growth and well-being, her classes will allow you to flourish in your own personal yoga journey at a pace that works for you.
If she is not in the midst of teaching Surfer Flow or training in her new-found passion, Capoeira, she’s most likely working on her newest play list, a bit of chill…with a touch of the obscure.

Kristen

Kristen first moved here from Wildwood Crest, NJ in 1999 to attend the University of San Diego. Having swam competitively for 10 years, and rowed for USD' division 1 crew team for 4 years, when she graduated in 2003, she sought out her next means of physical activity and community. She began to practice yoga as a way to move again, but found something more. She found a practice that left her feeling complete: physically, mentally, and spiritually connected, as well as giving her a tool to begin to reconnect with her true inner self and let go of what was not.

Discovering Jivamukti Yoga, and their founders, David Life and Sharon Gannon, has been life changing for her. After taking her first class with them in San Francisco at the YJ Conference 2006, she found a sense of freedom, as well as the feeling that she had "come home." It was then Kristen decided to take the Jivamukti Yoga teacher training being held the following year. With the closest Jivamukti teacher being in LA, Kristen began to drive there as often as she could to practice with Liz Hage, whom she expresses her deepest gratitude for. After a year, with her intention in mind, she recently attended and finished her 350 hour training with Davidji and Sharonji in May 2007. Kristen is excited about joining the Bird Rock community and so thankful to Maral and Roberta for always welcoming her with open arms. Following in their example, she wishes to create a space where she hopes others can feel free to be their true authentic selves. She hopes that by living and practicing karuna, love and compassion, she can open the hearts of her students to the world all around them, bringing the recognition that all beings-in all forms-are ONE!

Lokaha Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu: May all Beings everywhere be happy and free. Kristen can be found giving hugs and smiles at Bird Rock Yoga, ObNamaste, University Of San Diego, and at local Dance jams and Kirtans near you!

Melissa

Melissa has practiced a wide range of yoga styles since she began her yoga journey eight years ago. Her practice has served as a catalyst for and compassionate companion during phases of great personal growth, and, feeling deeply changed by and called to her practice, in 2006 Melissa became a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher through Don and Amba Stapleton's Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. Inspired even more by the transformative power of yoga, she returned to her job at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C., gave notice, and began teaching. Her path led to a cross-country transition to San Diego, where she has been immersing herself in the world of holistic health and wellness, pursuing a Holistic Health Practitioner's license and Clinical Nutrition certification. Melissa is constantly amazed at the ways in which yoga enriches her life and illuminates the harmony between body, mind and soul. Her organic Vinyasa-style flow aims to create a comfortable environment within which the mind can begin to find stillness and each unique body can reveal its inherent balance, wisdom, and wholeness.

Atsuro

Atsuro was born and raised in Japan. While living here in San Diego he discovered Yoga in his mid 20's and practiced different styles of Yoga until he found Ashtanga, which touched him deeply. He focuses on practicing a daily Ashtanga practice, meditation, and constantly reviewing the Yoga Sutras to deepen his awareness. With this his life has changed and continues to change, realizing that he can solve any problems around him. Yoga has so many great qualities that Atsuro loves to share with others in a way that ALL people can understand.

 

Chad

For more than 20 years Chad Nellis has been dedicated to the path of human revolution. A revolution not against anyone else, but a personal revolution to transform and challenge all forces into a force for value creation. Through this journey he has transformed the lives of thousands of individuals through his music, one on one mentoring, life coaching and the teachings of yoga.

After pursuing a professional sports career Chad suffered major injuries which forced him to re-evaluate his path and purpose, a time to which he now has immense appreciation. As he puts it, "Injuries may have derailed me from my first dream, but it opened the door to my ultimate dream I didn't even know I had." An introduction to his first yoga class in 1996 at Bikram Yoga in Los Angeles opened the door to an unexpected cascade of opportunities for massive personal growth.

Over the last 12 years Chad has studied and practiced various forms of yoga with teachers such as Brian Kest (poweryoga.com), Seane Corn (seanecorn.com) Baron Baptiste (baronbaptiste.com), Paul Grilley (PaulGrilley.com) and Bikram Choudhury (Bikramyoga.com). From these studies Chad has now created a versatile blend of power vinyansa yoga, which addresses the need for challenge, fun, self-honor, self reflection, self-confidence, discipline, flexibility and strength. Chad says of his teaching style, "I never make people do anything, I simply encourage them to honor what they need. Sometimes you need to push yourself to get to the next level and sometimes you just need to back off and rest, only you know what you need. Yoga is a doorway to enlightenment, an invaluable tool to bring out your fullest
potential. For more info on Chad visit http://www.shakabuku.com