Marie Buck

Marie was brought to yoga as a child, through her godparents teaching her various poses when she would visit their house. Without really realizing that it was yoga, she'd go into those poses because it felt so natural. It wasn't until she took her first elective yoga class in college that she put the pieces together. From there she started a more consistent practice, which helped her body fight off Fibromyalgia flare-ups and better handle the stresses of the outside world. She's has been practicing for over 7 years and has experience profound benefits both physically and mentally. After some serious life-changes, Marie committed to deepening her practice for herself and for the benefit of others. She completed her RYT 230 hour yoga studies training through Asheville Yoga Center under Stephanie Keach and considers it an honor to guide others in yoga. It's through Stephanie that Marie learned to bring a meditative approach to her teaching while remaining light-hearted and fun. She believes that yoga should be accessible to all levels and allow individuals to reach beyond their fear and find the inner and outer strength that is waiting to shine through.

Anything you need in your life can often be found on your mat.

Marie teaches Beginning classes.

Wendy Davis

Wendy first discovered yoga in 2009 at Yoga Madre. After taking her first class she knew this was the right fit for her. As a mom to 6 kids and having been an avid cylist, she very quickly became aware of both the physical and calming effects that yoga brought to her busy, active life. Wendy went on to work privately with Rene Quenell for 2 years, working to build the foundation for her own practice. As she continued to study under her mentor Rene, she realized that the gift of yoga in her life was one that she too wanted to share and she went on to complete her 200 hour RYT training.

Wendy teaches Prenatal and Postnatal classes.

Denise Leinen

Denise found yoga at the age of 16 and, after having her son, received her 200- and 300-hour certificates from YogaWorks in Los Angeles.  She is curently furthering her education at Loyola Marymount University to receive her certificate in Yoga Therapy, as well.  She continues to study with her mentor Carmen Fitzgibbon and has been able to study with senior teachers such as Lisa Walford and Annie Carpenter.  Denise's style of teaching focuses on alignment, breath, and encourages her students to listen to their body.  She integrates her knowledge of Yoga Therapy, as appropriate for her students, so everyone can feel welcome and confident while in class. 

Denise teaches Prenatal Classes.

Mallory Leitner

Mallory Leitner has been studying and practicing yoga for 16 years, here in the US and in India. She holds many teaching certificates in Kundalini and Hatha Yoga (including yoga for pregnant women and children�s yoga). Her style of Hatha is Vinyasa with an Iyengar approach to alignment. A consistant practice of Yoga is responsible for changing Mallory�s life in a very positive way and she wishes to share this ancient tradition of self-realization with others. She is firm yet fun in her teaching style. Her greatest influences are B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar, Erich Schiffmann, Sunil Kumar, and Yogi Bhajan. Mallory is a nationally registered Yoga Alliance instructor.

Mallory teaches Private Yoga Sessions.

Erica Majtenyi

Erica Majtenyi stumbled upon her first Vinyasa Flow yoga class in 2004.  It was in the final pose of Savasana that she realized this was what had been missing from her life.  She could feel the stress in her shoulders actually melt into the floor and out of her body, as well as the always active mind chatter becoming quiet.  As she continued her studio and home practice for the next few years, it was at Arizona State University, while completing a Bachelor's degree in theatre, that Erica discovered the benefits of yoga not only in life, but in performance as well.  She began leading her fellow theatre students in a yoga practice before each rehearsal and was elated by the positive responses from her peers about yoga's benefits in performance.

In the summer of 2009, Erica fulfilled her desire to share the same stress release and body awareness that she found through her own yoga practice by completing At One Yoga's 200-hour RYT training in Scottsdale, Arizona.  She considers herself extremely fortunate to have studied with some remarkable and influential teachers, including Alex Austin, Anton Mackey, Jenn Chiarelli, Cheryl Hall, Gila Shire, John Salisbury, and Johanna Epps.

Erica's classes incorporate the beautiful flow of her vinyasa yoga practice with an eclectic selection of music and love of what she does.  Her classes will leave you feeling energized and relaxed at the same time, while increasing your flexibility and strength through powerful and fun sequences.  She encourages her students to breathe often, laugh daily, and to follow their dreams whenever possible.

Erica teaches Vinyasa Flow, All Levels and Yin Yoga Classes.

Ellen Mathews

Ellen teaches a strong beginning class that emphasizes her love of alignment and precision and is a blend of Iyengar, Ashtanga and Anusara influences. mShe believes that through intention, focus, hard work and patience we can achieve anything we desire both on and off the mat. Her classes provide a non-copetitive and nurturing atmosphere. She discovered yoga in 1996.  Since taking that first class, she knew yoga was for her.  She received her formal training at Yoga Works in Santa Monica under the direction of Maty Ezraty and Lisa Walford. She has also had the privilege to study with John Friend, Erich Schiffmann and David Swenson. Ellen continues to be a student of various styles of hatha yoga and study with other yoga luminaries in an effort to broaden her own classes and personal practice.  When not teaching yoga, Ellen is probably learning something new and profound from her greatest teacher of all, her daughter Sofia. She lives in Sierra Madre with her daughter, her loving husband Martin and their black cat.

Ellen teaches Beginning classes.

Rebecca Miller

Practicing yoga for many moons & teaching for over a decade, Rebecca Miller is a Certified Yoga Instructor (CYI), who received her teaching training through YogaWorks, Yogafit and Power Pilates. She participated in the Yoga works mentorship program for a year. She also assisted in the Yoga Works teacher-training program Spring 2006. Always a student first, Rebecca continues expanding her education. As a yogini and a teacher she pulls from multiple yogic disciplines, steeped in the Iyengar alignment she interweaves flow. She encourages students to witness the journey of self-discovery in yoga.

Rebecca teaches All Levels and Beginning classes.

Mike Nalick

Like many others, Mike found yoga along the path of injury rehabilitation. He fortuitously discovered a fresh mindset  -  one that embraced a longer, broader view and that helped him realize the rewards of patience. Lessons of acceptance became a primary theme. Mike teaches classes informed by, and inextricably linked to, his personal yoga practice and his understanding of anatomy and movement gained through several years working as a board certified practitioner of Structural Integration. Mentors and teachers of great influence include Mary Bond, Tom Myers, Neal Powers, Erich Schiffmann, and Rod Stryker.

Mike teaches Gentle classes.

Vicky Partridge

Vicky is passionate to - and all about - the core. Her 45-minute Pilates class blends breath and movement in a specific way to strengthen and tone the entire body and to create all-important support for the low back. Vicky's bright demeanorand easy humor keep the atmosphere light while she keeps you focused during these shorter but intense, energizing workouts.

Vicky teaches Pilates Mat classes.

Marti Jo Pennisi

Eleven years ago I wandered into my first yoga class and it resonated so deeply with me that two years later I sought my teaching certification from the masterful Erich Schiffmann, thus deepening my journey.

Yoga has been the most profound and transformational experience of my 40 years.  Not only does it complement my background in theater, music and dance, but it has also proven an essential tool, a reliable friend and potent medicine to the chronic health disorder I developed in my early 20s (with which I still contend, but have grown to accept).  The gifts of yoga are so numerous and deeply layered that language fails to sufficiently describe its blessings.  Only through experience and continued practice do you glean and begin to reap yoga's rewards: wellness, stillness and softness.  It is the greatest elixir I know!!

 My classes are a yoking of the various Hatha styles I've studied.  I focus on deep breath work, proper alignment and Vinyasa sequences with freedom to explore your own unique, expressive body.  The musician in me enjoys infusing music to bolster the yogic experience.  I teach from my own intuition, instinct, personal discovery and deep respect for this ancient healing modality.

Yoga, first and foremost, is a meditation through movement, but has many bountiful benefits: it reduces cortisol/stress levels, increases blood flow/oxygen to the organs, de-stagnates blocked energy, cleanses the cells, boosts the immune system and serves as an overall salve.  Mostly though, it is "a way in" to the deepest, most authentic part of you.  If cultivated, grace will become you and gratitude will abound!  See you in class . . . 

Marti Jo teaches All Levels classes.

Sonya Perry

Sonya believes that everyone can experience the benefits of yoga, regardless of a person�s physical or emotional condition. She seeks to provide a safe place for introspection and expression and offers guidance working through the body to inspire determination. Sonya's mission is to help others rediscover the connection between the mind, body and spirit and experience the soul's inner peace, love, and innate creativity. "The aspiration of breath motivates, grounds, and calms the body, providing inner strength and determination that gets us through challenging situations. By stilling the mind and working through the body, we can surrender to the support of Earth, to trust and discover the creativity and ability of our soul nature, separate from whatever is going on in the world outside.� Sonya blends hatha yoga and vinyasa flow. She is a registered Yoga Alliance teacher (RYT).

Sonya teaches All Levels and Restorative classes.

René Quenell
Owner and Founder of Yoga Madre

René Quenell is a certified Structural Yoga Therapist who began her yogic journey through an exploration of eastern philosophy, ayurveda, and the healing arts. René's classes are an inspired blend of vinyasa flow combined with the healing power of Structural Yoga Therapy.The result is a vibrant, fluid class infused with humor and everyday wisdom with special emphasis on the needs of the student as an individual, guiding them to develop a practice that they can tap into beyond the mat and into their everyday lives.

In addition to holding a Structural Yoga Therapy and Reiki Master certifications, René is certified through the White Lotus Foundation and continues to explore advanced trainings in yoga and ayurveda with her teachers Rod Stryker, Shiva Rea and Mukunda Stiles.

René teaches All Levels and Beginning classes and provides private yoga instruction.  She offers individual Structural Yoga Therapy sessions and Reiki/Energy treatments. René also leads wellness retreats and seminars.

David Wells

David Wells is a Registered Yoga teacher and Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist who graduated from the California College of Ayurveda. He also has a degree in Biology and received advanced Yoga Certifications from the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in Lonavala, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Madurai, the Yoga Institute in Mubmai and the Yoga Research Center of Rishikesh in India. He also studied "Reusi Dat Ton" (Traditional Thai Yoga) in Thailand. He has been teaching Yoga for 15 years and can adapt the Yoga teachings to the needs of each individual class.

David teaches Gentle and Beginning classes.

Maggie Welsh

I have been practicing yoga for eighteen years and received my teacher training at Santa Monica Yoga under the tutelage of Nancy Goodstein, Kyra Haglund and Shari Friedrichsen of the Himalayan Institute.  My training is largely Ashtanga- based but my approach is interpretive and individual.  No hamstrings are too tight, no person too new!  My enduring love of yoga finds its roots in integrating this ancient asana system with the modern, western psyche.  Yogis have always "known" what the world is discovering in the fields of neuroscience and biology right now: that the mind/body connection is a fact and that we are physiologically disposed towards transformation of our own design.  I feel fortunate to have come to the practice those many years ago and seek to share what I've learned in a spirit of playfulness and community. My class aims at building strength, flexibility and cultivating breathing techniques. 

Maggie teaches Beginning classes.