Akousua Aset
Akosua is of Jamaican descent and was initiated into this divine practice in 2012. She now certified in the Kemetic Systems of Thef Sema Paut Neteru, Yoga Skillz and Hudu by PIMAY. Hudu is a rhythmic flow that connects the physical and spiritual body with the elemental forces to enhance focus, fluidity and our inherent powers for manifestation.
She is so joyful to have connected with Black To Yoga and to able to share this ancient practice with the descendants of this great and spiritually elevated culture. She believes there is an undeniable energy when we come together - even when it’s in a virtual space, the presence of our ancestors is tangible. She is grateful for those who always share their experiences with her after the session. We are healing together.
~Hetep~
Jill Bates-Moore
Jill (she/her) is a midwestern transplant living between coasts. There is lots of going and coming in her life. Yoga found her at a time when she very much needed to stop and be here; to, as her great granny used to say, “go somewhere and sat down” within herself. The practice invites her to explore the singular place where she is,always being reminded that there is plenty good room … right here. Her intention in teaching is to extend that invitation to you.
When she’s not on her mat, she can be found lawyering, sewing, reading or making something - preferably near water, but never far from cake. ;)
Kirsten Rogers ( Black to Yoga Co-Creator)
Kirsten (she/her) is a lifelong yoga student and a yoga teacher who loves guiding vinyasa flow, gentle yoga, yin and restorative yoga. Kirsten turned to yoga in 2009 solely as a means to get in shape, and after practicing regularly she noticed that she was able to better cope with the stress and anxiety of everyday living with more ease. Since then, yoga has been a staple in her life. Kirsten became a yoga teacher in 2017 with the intention of sharing this practice with Black people and communities that have historically had little exposure and access to this practice. Along the way, she has learned from many wise yoga and meditation teachers including Brenna Geehan, Spring Washam, Oren Jay Sofer, Aimee Echo and many more..
Armani Donahue
Armani highly values, respects, and considers wholistic, wellness practices to enhance her quality of life and encourages others to find practices that work for them. In class experiences, she empowers students with tools and actions to support their unique, wellness journeys. Before completing her 200-hour yoga certification in early 2020, she began to intentionally integrate aspects of the yoga lifestyle -- postures, breathwork, self-study, and meditation -- into her habits.
Armani teaches from a compassionate, yet empowering, place. Oftentimes, we are more difficult on ourselves than others; which can avert us from believing in our own power. Re-energizing our awareness of our mind-body-soul connection is how we start to transform. She aims to provide descriptive classes so all levels are able to join in this practice of mindfulness and movement.
Maureen Miller (Black to Yoga Co-Creator)
In 2013, Maureen fortuned upon a shiny little studio surrounded by windows on the third floor of a downtown Oakland building, named Barefoot Movement. In a short time, she became hooked on the practice and registered for the studio's yoga teacher training program in 2014. Through this program, Maureen learned that yoga was so much more than physical postures: yoga, or “union” is a way of life. Black to Yoga allows Maureen to share this way of life with her Black and Brown brothers and sisters. Teaching yoga is her calling in life, and she intends to answer this call to the best of her ability each and every time she teaches.
Nadine Shaw-Landesvatter
Nadine (she/her) started her yoga journey many years ago as a way to "keep up with the latest trend or fad." However, as a dancer she found yoga to be a bit "slow" for her liking. She paused for a moment and then decided to give yoga another try. As she continued practicing yoga, she found the flow and ebb in movements to be calming, centered, refining, strengthening and meditative. She decided to teach yoga, with an emphasis to teach to the BIPOC community, as she wanted to share with people of all types of bodies, races and ethnicities, all levels of fitness, and people brand new to yoga. It is her hope that the benefits of this ancient practice guide them towards a place of wholeness, peace and a feeling of completeness. As Mahatma Gandhi once said "...when you are in that place and I am in that place, there is only one of us.
Rondy Issac
Rondy (he, him, dude.) is your brother, show him some love, and give him a hug! Yoga got into him like a high school crush. It felt sooooo good. He took his first Vinyasa yoga teacher training in 2014 and then completed a 200-hour Power Yoga teacher training, and never looked back! He led classes in Stuttgart Germany for refugees, opened (and closed) a yoga studio, became an ambassador for fitkids.org and Black Boys Om, helped develop a trauma-based yoga program for male-presenting youth with Art of Yoga, and started his own brand of yoga - Barbershop Yoga (yoga for Black men & boys). He is still crushing on yoga, and is excited to share his love of yoga with BTY. His class features a deep warm-up and upbeat, energetic flow, dope playlists, emphasizing power, movement, and balance asanas. Focusing on mind, body, and breath-connections, students will benefit from a traditional yoga practice with a soul-full spin.
Contact: www.rondyoga.com