Welcome to Cloud Nine Yoga!

One thing is for sure, a Yoga class is different everywhere you go! If you haven’t found a teacher or studio that really feeds your soul, don’t get discouraged. Keep looking, experiencing and seeking out a place to practice this beautiful art and magical healing movement. There is a teacher out there for every student.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AT CLOUD NINE YOGA… We are like a big, loving family. Most of us have been together for lifetimes! Look around here and enjoy all the inspiration. Our homes, studios and locations are mostly in Southern California. We provide classes, yoga teacher training, retreats and various workshops from Laguna Beach to Torrance, Long Beach to Hollywood, Huntington Beach to Gardena!!

APRIL MATULICH, RYT 500 (Long Beach Branch)
April has had a passion for movement and play her whole life. With a B.S. in Kinesiology from CSU, Fullerton, she specializes in anatomy and exercise physiology. April teaches for L.A. Fitness and Total Woman in various locations throughout Orange County. She also teaches anatomy for the Cloud Nine Teacher Training Branch in Long Beach. She teaches with enthusiasm and laughter. April is also an avid surfer and brings a “go with the flow” approach to all aspects of her teaching style.

ATHENA ENGELMAN, E-R.Y.T. 500 (West Side: Venice/Santa Monica)
Athena Engelman is an Advanced Certified Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer for Cloud Nine Yoga School. Athena loves creative expression and uses different genres of music and pranayama to help create a truly unique experience. She has a playful approach and enjoys teaching a class that integrates different techniques as well inspirational quotes that help the student to deepen their own practice by becoming aware of their whole being. She teaches all levels of classes including Yoga classes at Vistamar Independent High School, Vinyasa, Restorative, and Yoga on the Beach, Seniors yoga, and so many more. Athena is excited to share her love of yoga with everyone and encourages yoga practitioners to listen, honor and respect their bodies and the beauty that comes from the divine within. Hosting Yoga retreats locally and internationally she integrates her love of yoga and travel. Most recently Athena has embarked on a Holistic Teacher Training Program with Saul David Raye applying the principles of Tantra Yoga and celebrating your inner spirit. www.liveyouryoga.org

BILL ‘YOGIBILL’ GOULD, R.Y.T. 200 (West O.C. : Huntington Beach)
Yogibill began the art of living yoga in October of 2005. While on vacation in Hawaii, he found hot yoga. Back home he continued practicing regularly 3-7 classes per week. While searching for a more compatible style, he discovered Yoga Shakti in August of 2006. There he trained to teach and was certified by Diana Pipaloff. Now with the beautiful Co-Op at Cloud Nine, Yogi Bill is having another rebirth. You’ll enjoy his soothing guidance and loving presence as he teaches from the heart.

BRUNA SAKANOI, R.Y.T. 500 (Los Angeles: Hollywood/Fairfax)
Bruna Sakanoi is an Advanced Certified Yoga Instructor, Reiki Practitioner and Teacher Trainer for Cloud Nine Yoga School. She has a background in Dance and Capoeira. Bruna’s passion is to hold a sacred space, where one feels safe to explore what is under the surface in order to heal and re-connect with one’s Divine Essence. Bruna teaches all levels and enjoys teaching a class that integrates meditation, breath, visualization, vocal release, music, poetry and inspirational reading. She also loves to share her therapeutic grade aromatherapy oils with her students. Bruna has been studying with Erika Faith Calig, Julian Walker and has recently completed a teacher training with Seane Corn. www.brunasakanoi.com

CARMEL MORGAN, R.Y.T. 500 (Los Angeles: Santa Fe Springs/Downey)
Carmel was first introduced to yoga as a way to help alleviate the chronic pain & trauma that she was suffering from having been a passenger in two serious car accidents within one year. She was surprised & overwhelmed with the success she had with reducing her pain and improving her health & emotional well being. Carmel’s passion for Holistic Health continued to grow as she was introduced to Holistic Nutrition and Professional Massage Therapy & Bodywork and specializes in Mind/Body Therapy for Stress Reduction and Restorative Yoga.Carmel loves trekking around the globe with her hubby, cooking awesome organic meals, expressing creativity and spending time with fur children - Jiva/ Dog, Rumi/ Kitty & Mrytle the Turtle.

CASEY GATES, RYT (South L.A. : Long Beach/Huntington Beach)
Casey is an artist who finds joy, wholeness, and gratitude through the art of yoga as well as many other mediums. She started teaching yoga to children in the summer of 2007 and has rapidly moved into making yoga instruction a part time career. She has received her 200 hour certification from Cloud Nine Yoga and is currently working towards her 500 hour RYT. Casey believes yoga is moving from the inside out and encourages her students to find their true and authentic selves as they release tension, remove blocked energies, and express freely through their bodies. She recently finished training with Shiva Rea on the art of vinyasa flow and is so inspired and excited to be a guide of the flow.

DR MARK L VINICK, DC, C.A.S. (Faculty - Cloud Nine Yoga Teacher Trainings)
Dr Mark L. Vinick is both a Holistic Chiropractor and Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist in private practice in Redondo Beach, CA. He has successfully treated a wide variety of conditions based on his extensive knowledge of both cutting edge modern, and time proven ancient healing sciences. He is Board Certified in three multi-disciplinary specialities: Pain Management, Anti-Aging Medicine, and Ayurvedic Medicine. He currently serves as Director and President of “The California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.” He also serves on the Editorial Board of the “Light on Ayurveda Journal.” He is a speaker, workshop leader, and consultant to several nutritional and health related corporations. www.DrMarkVinick.com

ELIZABETH ROSE, RYT 500 (Seattle Branch, WA)
Elizabeth is a yoga teacher with a background in Modern Dance, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, and Circus Arts. She traveled the world as a professional performer for 10 years before settling down and starting a family and a career as an innovative teacher at the forefront of the new generation of yoga instructors. Elizabeth offers an eclectic blend Yoga, Circus Arts, Thai Yoga Massage, Reiki, and Ayurvedic Nutrition Analysis. Elizabeth completed her certification with Erika Faith at Cloud Nine Yoga and did over 100 hours of teaching internship in the California State University Fullerton Kinesiology Dept. to become a registered Hatha Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance at the 500 hour Advanced level.

FARSHAD REZAI, RYT 500 (Huntington Beach & Long Beach Branch Faculty)
Farshad began practicing yoga seriously in 2004. His early training introduced him to the importance of alignment and intention in Asana practice. He uses the disciplining, researching and balancing of the body’s energies in order to delve into the inner healing life-force and the silent witness from which wisdom arises. His classes incorporate terms and concepts from the teachings of Ayurveda, Hatha Yoga and Tantra in hopes of developing for his students the sensibilities of classical Yoga culture. As a student and teacher of self-healing and meditation, his classes are structured to enliven and unclench the body and mind as well as probe into the deeper questions of Karma through contemplative relaxation. He looks forward to sharing practical knowledge gained during his time and service in various ashrams and while studying with international teachers on his own journey.

GLEN SWINDLER, E-RYT 500 (Faculty - Cloud Nine Yoga Teacher Trainings)
Glen Swindler brings a rich blend of heartfelt knowledge and in-depth study into his classes and workshops. A graduate of Cloud Nine Yoga’s 500 RYT with thousands of logged teaching hours, Glen’s experience in adjustments and his meditative flows that change according to whatever is needed in the moment, is what students enjoy. As a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) in Thai Yoga, both in the US and Thailand, Glen brings awareness and a gentle touch that allows the student to go deeper into their practice with a sensation of ease. Glen continues his studies and personal practice of the ancient healing arts of Ayurveda “Science of Life” and is certified as an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner (AHP). Ayurveda is about the energy of everything around us and how those energies can bring us in or out of harmony. During his studies of Ayurveda, Glen also became a Pancha Karma Specialist (PKS) with a great deal of additional study in Marma (pressure points) and Nadi (energy channels) to facilitate the body/mind/spirit to naturally seek optimum health, using India’s bodywork techniques. Glen’s intuitive nature creates yoga classes and workshops that will keep you inspired by weaving the ancient foundations of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Thai Yoga to bring strength, flexibility and balance into your life.

JEAN BATTAGLIA, RYT 500 (West O.C. : Huntington Beach)
Jean Battaglia became interested in pursuing Yoga after her first child in 1964. She has always had a spiritual link with Yoga teachings and has pursued increasing her knowledge since that time. Jean’s passion for Yoga came to fruition when she began looking forward to her retirement from the mainstream workforce and decided to obtain a formal teacher certification. She received her certification from Yoga Experience in March of 2005. She has been active in furthering her knowledge through the University of California Irvine and Golden West College. Jean has obtained her 500 hour Yoga teacher’s certification to be a teacher in the West Orange County Cloud 9 Co-Op. She currently teaches Yoga classes at the Boeing Fitness Center in Huntington Beach and has also taught home classes and public courses at local venues in the Orange County area. Jean has a wide range of teaching styles which vary from gentle Hatha Yoga, stimulating Vinyasa and the very demanding “Yoga with Iron” programs. Your session can be tailored to your personal requirements.

KRISTIN WERNER, MA, CMT, RYT – 500 (N. California : S.F. Peninsula Branch)
Kristin is a holistic health educator, certified massage therapist, certified Pilates instructor, certified advanced yoga instructor and teacher trainer for Cloud Nine Yoga school. She lives out her dharma by integrating her love of fitness, nature, holistic health and yoga. She has a M.A. in Integrative Health from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a B.S. in Exercise Science and Psychology from California State University, Fullerton and earned her Advanced Yoga Certification through CNY under her loving mentor, Erika Faith Calig. Kristin’s journey with yoga began as a cure for her severe back pain. Immediately falling in love with yoga and its benefits, she began practicing on a regular basis. As an active person and a former gymnast, she naturally understood the organic flow of yoga. Finding yoga was like finding home. Kristin’s classes will provide you with classic Hatha yoga instruction – including asanas, pranayama, mediation and spiritual guidance – and core strengthening Pilates exercises. Her approach in class is gentle and therapeutic. She also teaches restorative, private and semi-private yoga classes. Kristin encourages her students to find their inner strengths and to live, breathe and move with unconditional love. www.holisticfitnessandwellness.com

LAUREN JACOBS, RYT (Orange County: Tustin/Huntington Beach)
Lauren is a joyful and encouraging teacher whose daily yoga practice includes Hatha Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. She is a recent graduate of Cloud Nine Yoga and is currently working towards her 500 hour RYT. In addition, Lauren is in training to become a Birth Doula. Lauren’s main passion is working with children and she has years of experience doing so. Her love for babies and children manifests itself in many ways, currently through teaching Prenatal, Baby & Me, Kids, and Family yoga classes. She is honored to be able to serve others through yoga and is blessed to be a part of the Cloud Nine family.

LINDA CROSSLEY, R.Y.T. 500 (West O.C. : Huntington Beach)
Linda discovered yoga in 2002 on the East coast and has been a dedicated practitioner and student ever since. She recently completed her 500-hour Yoga Teacher level of certification through Cloud Nine Yoga and continues to expand her knowledge and practice of yoga, studying with numerous experienced teachers from many traditions of hatha yoga. Linda is passionate about sharing the benefits that will naturally develop in students as a regular yoga practice is embraced. She gets a great deal of satisfaction from assisting students on their personal journeys toward self-acceptance and unconditional love. She truly believes yoga provides a vehicle to attaining balance in life as well as enhancing a student’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.

LINDSEY MEEHLEIS-MATTHEWS, RYT 500
Lindsey Meehleis-Matthews is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Cloud Nine Yogi Alumni, Student Midwife, Birth Doula, Certified Childbirth Educator, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant,and Mommy to her daughter Dylyn and son River. Lindsey has supported over 170+ Orange County families with the births of their babies since 2004. She loves providing stress reduction, opening skills and support that are achieved through a regular prenatal yoga practice. Her goal in teaching advanced teacher training at Cloud Nine is to help yogi’s further their understanding of this sacred practice and help them understand the importance of education and empowerment that should be given during a prenatal class. www.ocmidwifery.com

RACHEL DOUGLASS, RYT
Rachel first discovered yoga for herself while vacationing in Maui. Almost ten years later, she is still mystified by the tranquility yoga has brought into her life. While in college at Cal State University Fullerton, Rachel moved deeper into her practice through the calm and steady voice of Erika Faith Calig. With Erika’s encouragement, Rachel made her way to Cloud Nine Yoga school where, under the guidance of Cloud Nine’s wonderful teachers, she completed her 200 hour and developed her own personal teaching style. Rachel believes that so much of life’s ailments can be solved through love, laughter, and letting go; and enjoys sharing these philosophies with her students.

MARLA WEDGE, E-RYT 200 (South Bay: Hermosa Beach/Manhattan Beach)
Has been in love with yoga since first practicing in 1976. Over the last 10 years she has dedicated her practice and her life to in-depth learning and teaching. She has studied with some of the top teachers in the World including Pattabhi Jois, Richard Freeman, David Life, Sharon Gannon, David Swenson, Shiva Rae, Erich Schiffman, Paul Grilley, Julian Walker & Rodney Yee. She is an experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and a Certified Yoga Therapist through Loyola Marymount University. She brings poetry, playfulness and a touch of humor to each class. Her public classes at Harmony Yoga and Yoga Works are strong vinyasa flow with a balance between challenging yourself and nurturing yourself. She is now Director of Teacher Training at Cloud Nine Yoga, South Bay Branch. www.downdogyoga.net

NELOFER FAROOKI, R.Y.T. 200 (Orange County: Fullerton/Huntington Beach)
Nelofer discovered Yoga in 2001, and over the past seven years, Yoga has been one of her primary tools for self-exploration, spiritual growth, fitness and overall health. Her passion for learning about herself and helping other people inspired her to take the Yoga teacher training with Erika Faith Calig at Cloud Nine Yoga School in 2007. She is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling at California State University, Fullerton. It is through her personal practice of Yoga and psychotherapy that she is developing as a loving, gentle and intuitive guide for others on their personal journey through life. For the past year, she has been teaching private sessions in her home and loves to tailor her classes to her students’ individual needs. Teaching is her art and a 90 min class is the canvas. She sprinkles some invigorating aromas, healing sounds, and gentle touch with pranayama, and asana to build peace and strength. Whether you want to workout, heal yourself or both, come unwind, relax and center yourself in one of her classes.

NICHOL FIELDS, RYT
Nichol has been practicing yoga since 1998. After learning that she had a heart condition, she turned to yoga to reduce stress and improve her physical and emotional health. Through yoga, Nichol also found pain relief from sports injuries. She has developed a passion for yoga, and believes in living her yoga “off the mat”. She believes in the restorative and healing power of yoga, and is thrilled to have the chance to share her peace with her students. In January 2009, Nichol received her Yoga Teacher Certification through Yoga Alliance. She studied with Cloud Nine Yoga in Huntington Beach, California. She is so thankful to her family and friends for their support in her journey.

RAAKHI MOHAN, MD MPH AHE (South Los Angeles: Long Beach)
One of Raakhi’s life goals is to learn and propagate cultural knowledge and traditions. Another is to work towards greater health, both in herself and through interactions with others. In this vein, she choses to transition from medicine to community health and development in international public health. During her work and travels, she’s been blessed with multifarious opportunities to learn about indigenous healing. In fact, her grandmother and uncle are ayurvedic healers, and she grew up with a holistic and balanced approach to health. Now that Raakhi completed her professional studies in ayurveda and yoga, she’s been incorporating her family’s art into this learning. She’s already begun to experience the benefits of this ancient wisdom in her own life and looks forward to sharing it with you. Visit Raakhi’s health center in Long Beach, CA at: Svastha Health

REBECCA “Rebe” TAYLOR, R.Y.T. 500 (Las Vegas, NV/Oklaholma City, OK)
Rebe is an Advanced Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer for Cloud Nine Yoga School. She began practicing yoga in 1997 and integrated it into all aspects of her life. In 2004, she began teaching with her newborn son and created the Yoga Mommies Hiking Club in Las Vegas. Realizing yoga as her life path, she pursued her advanced yoga certification. Rebe is a Reiki Master, Radiant Child Yoga Instructor, and Blessed Mother. She loves hiking and being close to nature. Her specialties include Meditation, Mantras & Chanting, Reiki Workshops & Attunements, Kids Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Mommy & Baby Yoga, Yoga to honor the Divine in you, and Spiritual Guidance. She is the webmaster for Cloud Nine Yoga and founder of Yoga Mommies and BEinYOGA.com.

STELLA TRYON, R.Y.T. 500 (Los Angeles: Cypress/Huntington Beach)
With over ten years of Reiki Love, Stella’s healing hands are full of compassionate warmth and energy. She serves all ages and abilities to her sense of humor and contagiously creative approach to yoga. Stella holds a BA in Movement and Theatre Arts and has several national certifications in group fitness. She teaches for a variety of wellness programs including the Center for Successful Aging, at Cal State University, Fullerton. Honored to be a part of this co-creation, Stella is blessed.

SIMONE MARKET, E-R.Y.T. 500 (West Los Angeles: El Segundo/Marina del Rey)
Simone Market is an Advanced Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer for Cloud Nine Yoga School. She is known for creating a healing space for yoga students of all levels and methodologies. Her extensive background as an advanced Yoga Therapy Rx Instructor helps her to create a personalized practice for sports enthusiasts as well as those dealing with specific body injuries. Simone’s approach in a group class varies from gentle and Restorative to advanced as well as reflective Meditation, Pranayama and Chakra opening. Simone encourages each student to follow their own inner guide while cultivating and developing their practice on their spiritual journey. She has been lucky enough to have studied extensively with Erich Schiffman, Julian Walker, Gurmukh, Paul Grilley, Rod Styker, Saul David Raye, Rodney Yee, and so many other amazing teachers of yoga. She feels truly blessed that she is able to be a positive light and able to follow her path on this beautiful life journey. www.simonesyogaclasses.com

THEA STEIN, BA, CBS, RMT
Intro-Biofeedback-Seminar-PDF
Thea Stein has been practicing Quantum Biofeedback and Reiki since 2001 and yoga since 1992. Believing we are responsible for our own health, Thea coaches and empowers her clients to achieve balance and Rise Above Stress.With passion and desire to help others, Thea was inspired to create Wellness and Stress Management Programs and establish a Quantum Biofeedback Energy Healing practice in Orange County. Thea has recently partnered with the Cloud 9 Yoga Co-Op in Huntington Beach. We hope you will come experience one of her healing sessions soon!

TRINITY STUART, RYT (Los Angeles: Pasadena/Glendale)
Trinity lives out her dharma by integrating her two passions — her love of yoga and her love of literature, throughout her everyday life. She has a B.A. in English from California State University, Fullerton, earned her yoga certification through Cloud Nine Yoga School under Erika Faith Calig and is also a certified Reiki Practitioner. Her classes are often peppered with the philosophies of literary teachers and beyond; she integrates stories, poetry, and life lessons into the space that she shares with her students. Trinity believes that a yoga class should be a place to meditate, laugh, sweat, and connect with the divine. She currently teaches Introduction to Hatha Yoga and Intermediate Hatha Yoga classes at Pasadena City College and is honored to be Co-Director of the Cloud Nine Yoga Branch in Central Los Angeles.

TOBI BECERRA, E-RYT 200 (Orange County: Orange/Huntington Beach)
Tobi was a professional dancer at the age of 11 and earned a BFA in Dance & Theatre from Chapman University and her yoga teacher training certification through CNY under Erika Faith Calig and Mackenzie MacSween. She began practicing yoga as part of her dance training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York . After her dance career ended she discovered that yoga was the healing practice that her body and spirit needed to recover from the physical trauma associated with dance. Her Vinyasa Flow style class will challenge you both mentally and physically all the while showering you with love, nurturing and most importantly, fun! She is currently a lecturer for the Cloud Nine Yoga Teacher Training Program.

VALINDA COCHELLA, MA, E-RYT (South Bay: Redondo Beach/Torrance)
Founder of South Bay Yoginis, has a Master’s Degree from UCLA in Dance/Movement Therapy and has been practicing yoga since 1994. She has completed six Yoga Teacher Training Programs since 2000. One year long intensive with Erika Faith Calig of Cloud Nine Yoga School, in 2002 her second through Santa Monica Yoga and in 2002 she also completed her Advanced Teacher Training with Julian Walker in Core Sequencing (of the Ana Forrest Lineage). Valinda began studying Kundalini Yoga in 2000 and became certified with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, at the International Level in Kundalini, & Pre-natal Yoga in 2003. Her most recent Love is her daughter Bellina Faith born in 2004, so she is now cetified and teaching Radiant Child Yoga to children ages 3-7. She currently teaches exclusively at Lyfe Yoga Center in Hermosa Beach, CA. Her unique training at Clearsight Clairvoyant School, as a Reiki Practioner and Dance Therapist allow her to guide people to explore yoga on a deep personal level to heal the body, mind and spirit. She creates a safe spiritual, therapeutic environment. Come take a journey into yourself! “Still Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Speak Your Truth & Live Your Dreams”. www.southbayyoginis.com