Instructors
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Our Urban Yoga Warrior Team is certified in CPR & AED & Yoga Alliance.
Live Long, Safe & Love!
Live Long, Safe & Love!
Kristin Olson is the founder of Urban Yoga Center (UYC). She and her loyal following of teachers and students celebrate 19 years in 2020. UYC is now (during the covid pandemic) offering 12 Zoom classes a week of Hatha Yoga, at all levels and varied styles, from the Desert Aids Project Studio, Ruth Hardy Park and yogi's homes. For many years Kristin and UYC have been associated with the Desert AIDS Project, AIDS Assistance Program, and 100 Women. UYC students and the Teens are the focal point for the Desert AIDS Walk, doing an Urban Yoga Warrior Team warm-up onstage involving all several thousand participants. Kristin and UYC have also been an integral part of the Bhakti Fest fabric since its inception. UYC is host to many superb Pre Bhakti Fest Parties, kirtans, performances and other events. Kristin cherishes the opportunities to teach Heaven Bound Heart Urban Yoga. She loves to weave her experiences and her teachings of the past 40 years, to be an inspiration and companion in the dance of sung prayers, yoga asanas, community gathering, breathing together at Bhakti and Shakti Fests. Kristin's first yoga teachers were Indra Devi, Dr. Anne Marie Bennstrom and Catharina Hedberg. Urban Yoga is sporty, humorous, spiritual, and loving. Kristin Olson's Urban Yoga Center welcomes you to a happy healthy holy experience. Drop In anytime! Kristin Loves All! |
Kristin OlsonKristin offers ‘Urban Yoga’
• Sunday 8:45 am • Tuesday & Thursday Noon |
Leo BrayLeo Bray has been teaching yoga since 2015, mostly in the Boston area, until July 2019, when he moved to Palm Springs. Like many, he first came to the practice seeking relief from chronic pain and stiffness. Early on, Leo was blessed with amazing teachers who introduced him to the broader range of benefits yoga brings us, such as helping us heal from trauma, and enhance recovery from substance abuse. He trained at Akasha Yoga School, and received his first Reiki trainings from Akasha's founder, Anthe Kelley. Leo has taught a wide variety of students in all kinds of settings. Early on, he became known as "yogi on the spot," often stepping in on short notice to deliver whatever practice would best benefit the students present. Leo's Classes Monday and Wednesday 8:15am on Zoom Simeon Den
Simeon's Class
• Wednesday 10:00 am Tommy Bosch
Tom Bosch is a registered Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher (200 Hours) and taught in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2017. He moved to Palm Springs with his family to escape corporate life and experience the slower paced Desert Lifestyle.
Tom credits his mentors with instilling emphasis on safety, support, and modifications throughout the practice of Hatha Yoga. His style is a progressive Vinyasa (flow) with focus on building a strong foundation for poses while slowly building, adding on, and offering modifications and adjustments for yogis of all levels. He emphasizes guidance through breath work, conscious transitions between poses, and cultivating self-compassion to cross over beyond your practice into daily life. He believes that calm is found in getting outdoors as much as possible, practicing yoga with your dog, and not taking yourself too seriously especially while on your mat! Tommy's Classes
• Tuesday 8:45 am Angela de SarneauxAngela is a yoga certified graduate of I.Y.I (Integral Yoga Institute) also known as "Yogaville" in Buckingham, Virginia; Teacher Training Program of 200 hours since 2000. A certified fitness instructor specializing in yoga, aquatic exercise and core strength training. For more information on Integral Yoga click HERE Angela's Class
• Monday Noon Sherry RappoportSherry Rappoport first came to the yoga mat in her twenties. After more than forty years of practice Sherry embarked on the path of the teacher and completed the Yoga Alliance 200 hour teacher training through the Alana Kaivalya Method. She is happy to help and eager to teach what she knows. Lucky to have learned the art of asana from some very solid people including Nicole Fortier and Valerie Moselle, Sherry’s style of teaching is to take what teachers have taught, apply it to her body and then offer what comes out with sincerity and joy. She believes that when we come from a place of stability and alignment we can express ourselves fully with creativity and ease. The spiritual aspects of yoga have aided Sherry in the never-ending search for peace, calm, and positivity within. She is passionate about sharing these tools with others. Sherry is intentional about taking yoga off the mat and loves finding the bridges between the heart and mind, the individual and community, and mindfulness and expression. Sherry's Classes
• Friday 3:30 pm Johnny JaquaJohnny's Classes
• Thursday Noon • Friday 8:45am Jennifer Coyne
Jennifer has been practicing yoga with Kristin at UYC since 2004. She earned her 200 HourYoga Teacher Certification in 2020 and has completed Zabie Yamasaki’s course on Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga as well as a 50 Hour Yoga Nidra certificate. Jennifer is a former special educator with more than 15 years experience in public education. She is a self-taught Human Design reader and certified Holistic Wellness Coach and Mind-Body Practitioner. Jennifer deeply believes in the power of yoga and other somatic practices to maintain wellness by connecting us to our sense of self through mindful embodiment. Jennifer's Classes
• Monday 8:45 am • Wednesday 5:15 pm Karol Trejo
Karol's Class
• Saturday 8:45 am Chris Bennett
Chris Bennett has been teaching yoga for over 35 years, and was a popular
teacher in LA at the Sports Club LA and Spectrum clubs before moving to Palm Springs in 2014. She has lead retreats to Maui, Hawaii, and recently attended Yoga Retreats in India and Bali to further her practice. She was trained in the Sivanada tradition, and her class features lots of deep breathing and stretching and is appropriate for all levels. Chris's Classes
• Wednesday Noon • Friday Noon Peter Clements
Judith Chapman saw her first Shakespearean Play in London, The Great Mime, Marcel Marceau in France, and her first Opera, Aida, in Rome. There was little question that she would pursue a life in the Performing Arts.
When she made the move to Los Angeles, she was introduced to BIKRAM CHOUDRY (The original Hot Yoga Guru) and her first yoga class. Thirty five years ago Judith discovered her second great passion in life...YOGA. Over the past decades she has moved on from Bikram to explore other styles of YOGA. Judith's approach is to demystify yoga. The Spiritual aspects will reveal themselves, if that is one's desire. Her Philosophy is simple..."50% of Yoga is SHOWING UP! 75% is leaving THE EGO, ALONG WITH YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR!" As we embrace the challenges of life, so too we embrace the challenges of our mat. As her great teacher told her, "By overcoming physical obstacles, we break down emotional barriers.. Tom Glaser
A longtime meditator and meditation teacher, Tom came to yoga over 15 years ago for the
physical challenge. He stayed for its emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits. Tom is also an author. and integrative licensed psychologist, he weaves resiliency, mindfulness, and mindful self-compassion into every pose. Whether teaching hatha, restorative, or vinyasa style, he believes with intention, passion, and loving kindness, yoga leads to transformational change. BOOK: www.fullheartliving.com/ FACEBOOK: Full Heart Living CONSULTING: www.tomglaserlp.com YOUTUBE: Full Heart Living Tracey EngelkingTracey is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She is a surfer, traveler and backpacker that splits time between the beach and the desert. After retiring from corporate life in 2019, she sought out teaching yoga as a way to share her love of being in the outdoors with her ability to stay calm, relaxed and focused on increasingly stressful times. Her classes are gentle and healing in nature. Designed to build strength and flexibility in the body and to reduce anxiety, stress, guilt, lift up self-esteem and reignite passions for a joyful existence. |
Debbie Chapman
I teach Restorative Yoga - In my classes, we will allow the body and mind to heal by increasing circulation to the organs and calming the nervous system using a combination of breath, meditative movement and restorative yoga. Props are used to enable a longer respite in the pose (asana), soothing the mind and encouraging an inner focus. Restorative yoga is an excellent way to balance out the stress of modern life. Expect to fee a deep sense of relaxation and calm at the end of class. this class is suitable for practitioners of all levels.
Jen Clark
Jennifer brings to her yoga practice and teaching an avid interest in Hatha Yoga, Meditation, Bhakti Yoga, Physical alignment, psychology and healing.
She also is a high school English and Psychology teacher.
Jen's Class
• Thursday 5:15 pm
• Thursday 5:15 pm
Jen Jivani
Jivani considers Yoga a life-long path, and she delights in continually growing and evolving as a teacher with the influences of her wonderful teachers. Jivani discovered the joy of Yoga in 1990 in her first year of college at UC Santa Cruz where she received her BA in Environmental Studies. She completed her 200-hour Yoga teacher training in 2003 at Mt. Madonna Center in Classical Ashtanga Yoga, the 8-limbed path, with the students of Baba Hari Dass.
Over the past few years she has fallen in love with Anusara Yoga, and has been blessed to train with Michael Fukumura in the San Diego area. Jivani is actively working to weave the 5 Universal Principles of Alignment and the 3 A's (Attitude, Alignment & Action) into her life and teachings, on and off the mat. Jivani's teaching arises from her deep compassion for all living beings and a desire to share her love of the Practice. She tailors classes to meet individual needs on each new day, creating sequences that are fun, challenging, and accessible for everyone.
Over the past few years she has fallen in love with Anusara Yoga, and has been blessed to train with Michael Fukumura in the San Diego area. Jivani is actively working to weave the 5 Universal Principles of Alignment and the 3 A's (Attitude, Alignment & Action) into her life and teachings, on and off the mat. Jivani's teaching arises from her deep compassion for all living beings and a desire to share her love of the Practice. She tailors classes to meet individual needs on each new day, creating sequences that are fun, challenging, and accessible for everyone.
Jannine Young
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"My world forever changed after taking a yoga class in 2008. I was asked to breathe, I mean really breathe, a full inhale and an even deeper exhale. I was hooked. Basketball had been my entire life for over 30 years but after much physical abuse, my body was broken. However, after that initial class years ago, I had a sense yoga was the answer and indeed it was. My body grew strong, my balance increased and my flexibility deepened. Along with yoga I developed a daily meditation practice, which eventually taught me to pause my mind, release tension and to became the calm, centered and focused human that I always dreamed of being." "In 2012, I completed two 200-hour yoga teacher trainings, plus trained with Street Yoga. I began teaching yoga to middle school girls, high school athletes, plus hundreds of classes at local yoga studios over the last six years. In addition to teaching, I guide a weekly meditation circle at a downtown women’s homeless shelter, where seeing these women close their eyes, breathe and let go is one of my greatest joys. My life’s focus is to share yoga and meditation with all people, no matter their age, race, body shape or physical ability." "My classes are a combination of flowing sequences, settling into stillness while holding poses and sitting in mediation to breathe and quiet the mind. My students leave with the gift of an intention they can hold close to their hearts, allowing them to re-enter the world with a sense of self love and acceptance and the knowledge that they can tackle any obstacle that arises. To me, yoga is living every moment of my life with non-judgment, compassion and kindness." |
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Deb SullivanDeb Sullivan has practiced and loved yoga for about 16 years. She completed her YTT200 teacher training with Jayne Robertson in May of 2014. Since receiving her certification, she has had the opportunity to substitute for other teachers, to teach in the hospital, the senior center, private homes and a resort.
Deb's personal practice of yoga is a great source of strength, balance and fluidity in her everyday life. She looks forward to sharing yoga with you! Check out her new class, Adaptive Healing Yoga. This gentle practice brings specific, isolated movement to the body, adapting shapes to fit our challenges and needs. Focus on the breath shifts our awareness to the present moment, creating peace and stillness. This class is beneficial to all levels, increasing ease of movement, stability and stress relief. Deb also offers Celebrate This Day Level 2 Vinyasa. This is a more physically challenging practice of yoga. It's flowing nature improves balance and builds on personal levels of strength and endurance. There is a focus on breath/ movement connection and attention to posture alignment. Deb offers
• Celebrate This Day Level 2 Vinyasa • Adaptive Healing Yoga |
Chris BennettChris graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in dance education. Her dream to become a professional singer and dancer led her to UCLA and a career in music. She started practicing yoga from the book, "Yoga, Youth, and Reincarnation", but it was her first yoga class with Mari Gayatri at the Santa Monica Sports Connection in Santa Monica that opened a new chapter in her life as a yoga teacher. She studied the Sivananda tradition for ten years before becoming a teacher at the Sports Club LA, Howard Hughes Spectrum, and many others. A Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, Chris now lives in Palm Springs and continues to perform and compose, and believes her 35 year Yoga practice has given her the strength, flexibility, and balance to maintain a 40 year career in the music industry. Come and enjoy her Yoga classes which are suitable for All Levels, and emphasize Breathing exercises, Stretching, Inversions, and deep Relaxation.
Chris Bennett's website is www.chrisbennett.com Chris offers
• Gentle Beginning Yoga |
Judith Chapman
Judith Chapman saw her first Shakespearean Play in London, The Great Mime, Marcel Marceau in France, and her first Opera, Aida, in Rome. There was little question that she would pursue a life in the Performing Arts.
When she made the move to Los Angeles, she was introduced to BIKRAM CHOUDRY (The original Hot Yoga Guru) and her first yoga class. Thirty five years ago Judith discovered her second great passion in life...YOGA. Over the past decades she has moved on from Bikram to explore other styles of YOGA. Ashtanga, with its creator, Patabi Jois, and his teachers, Tim Miller and Nancy Guilgoff. Anusara with John Friends through all of her years of study, and now teaching
Judith's approach is to demystify yoga. The Spiritual aspects will reveal themselves, if that is one's desire. Her Philosophy is simple..."50% of Yoga is SHOWING UP! 75% is leaving THE EGO, ALONG WITH YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR!" As we embrace the challenges of life, so too we embrace the challenges of our mat. As her great teacher told her, "By overcoming physical obstacles, we break down emotional barriers..." This simple phrase has served Judith in rising to the challenges of every aspect of her life.
When she made the move to Los Angeles, she was introduced to BIKRAM CHOUDRY (The original Hot Yoga Guru) and her first yoga class. Thirty five years ago Judith discovered her second great passion in life...YOGA. Over the past decades she has moved on from Bikram to explore other styles of YOGA. Ashtanga, with its creator, Patabi Jois, and his teachers, Tim Miller and Nancy Guilgoff. Anusara with John Friends through all of her years of study, and now teaching
Judith's approach is to demystify yoga. The Spiritual aspects will reveal themselves, if that is one's desire. Her Philosophy is simple..."50% of Yoga is SHOWING UP! 75% is leaving THE EGO, ALONG WITH YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR!" As we embrace the challenges of life, so too we embrace the challenges of our mat. As her great teacher told her, "By overcoming physical obstacles, we break down emotional barriers..." This simple phrase has served Judith in rising to the challenges of every aspect of her life.
Drisana DavisAfter practicing yoga for many years, Drisana traveled to India in 2013 to complete her 200 hr Hatha yoga teacher training. She enjoys an eclectic style, emphasizing gentle transitions and linking breath to movement. Drisana aims to create a nurturing space for all to practice and learn together.
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Diana GillDiana Gill has been a yogi since she was six years old. She was introduced by her father who was searching for answers at the time. Fast forward a few years later, Diana is now a 200 RYT Yoga Teacher, sharing the teachings she's picked up along her travels, her training and life with others on the path. She's studied under Master Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City and Sivananda Vedanta Center of Swami Sivananda. Her classes are relaxing yet challenging at the same time. Her special Savasana ceremony is something that everyone must try once in their life.
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Substitute Teachers
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Event Presenters
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Laura Fuller
Laura Fuller, MA,
is a therapist, writer & teacher. She has worked with people through their bodies, minds & lives for more than 20 years. Individually & in groups, she invites depth, kindness, & presence. Clarity Breathwork is a gentle, divine feminine form of breath. It is accessible to all abilities & you will be supported to find your own way. We all desire to breathe & move through life with a little more ease. This is a great way to continue your journey. More information at: lifemovesthrough.com |
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Jessie
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Marcel BassirianOver the years, Marcel Bassirian has played an important and effective role in introducing Rumi's concept to the western world. He was born in Persia, traveled to Australia and lived in India for years. His ability to recite Rumi's poems both in Persian and English adds charm and flair to his readings as well as a native language insight into Rumi's words. For more information on Marcel please click HERE |
Geof JowettGeoffrey Jowett is an intuitive medium, published author, and educator. He is the author of the books The Power of I Am Aligning the Chakras of Consciousness, What’s Cooking in Heaven Grandma and Hope for Parents Who Have Lost Children. To learn more about Intuitive Medium Geof please click HERE Geof is a host for
MEDITATION WEDNESDAYS Chakra Balance |
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Doug ReidThank you for You! Viva Mexico!
For me, finding yoga was like finding a soul mate, and you will find it influences every aspect of your life. I have practiced, studied and been influenced by a wide range of styles and approaches to yoga, including Astanga, Iyengar, Kundalini and Kriya yoga. Doug has two 200 hour trainings in 2009 and 2014.Yoga Therapy has helped shape my journey of making yoga available to anyone. I teach in hospitals, senior centers as well as studios and resorts. I believe Ujjayi Breath and Bandhas are important elements to Hatha Yoga and encourage students to learn these techniques. As we connect breath to movement and to stillness, we endlessly expand our awareness.
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Scott SarberWe lost one of our own; Scott Sarber was loved by all who knew him. His presence at UYC and in our community is deeply missed. Namaste Old Friend click below to see Scott Sarber Memorial Celebration with Desert Yogis |
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