FreeSpirit Yoga Teachers, White Lotus trained teachers, Shiva Rea teachers, Erich Shiffman teachers

Andrea Testa is the founder of FreeSpirit Yoga. Her dream was to open a yoga space where people can learn the many benefits of yoga. Andrea has studied and practiced Yoga since 1992 and received her teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara in 1998. She began her studies with Irene Holsters of The Long Beach Yoga Centre in 1992 until 1998. She then completed 2 modules of Iyengar training with Karin O'Bannon in 1999 and has also had the privilege to study with Steve Rogers, Shiva Rea, David Swensen and Ana Forrest. Andrea has completed another 10 day training course this time with Erich Shiffman in 2004. Andrea has been teaching all of this yoga information since 1998 and teaches with enthusiasm and a concern for safety and most of all, FUN. Andrea is a Registered Yoga Teacher (500 hr.) with the Yoga Alliance.

Melannie Brennan began her yoga studies in 1995 in a search to move deeper into her practice a friend suggested she enroll in the UCI yoga studies program. After her first quarter she decided she wanted to share her knowledge with others. She helped to open, manage and taught at “& Yoga” in 2004 then joined the FreeSpirit Yoga family in 2005. Melannie still continues her journey by taking many classes and trainings from different yoga teachers like Max Strom and Jillian Pransky.

Peter Kornhaber
began his Yoga practice in 1977 in preparation for a foreign study experience in Pune India. While in India he practiced Raja Yoga and also studied at the Iyengar institute in Pune with BKS Iyengar. His independent project was on Yoga and Vedantic philosophy giving him a grounding in the essential philosophy behind the Yoga practice.. He returned to the US and practiced on his own and with friends for a number of years before beginning a family and stepping back from Yoga. He came back to the eternal science about 8 years ago on his own and has been practicing at FreeSpirit Yoga regularly since 2003. During the years away from Yoga Peter studied the Martial arts and always stayed active. He credits his return to Yoga with the end of hip, knee and wrist pain that was beginning to impede his other activities such as his other passion, sailing.

Peter has been practicing Ashtanga Mysore style since 2006 and is currently halfway through second series. Peter has attended Ashtanga workshops with David Swenson, Tim Miller, and his primary teacher Diana Christenson. Peter has been a teacher at FSY since 2003.

Sally Burns has been a dedicated practitioner and student of yoga since 1997 and a teacher since 2002 (Yoga Alliance registered). Her teaching style is influenced by the Ashtanga and Iyengar traditions. In each class Sally teaches, whether it is for beginners or advanced students, she emphasizes the union of mindful movement with the breath, as well as proper alignment. Sally provides a safe and supportive environment in which to explore the asanas and encourages her students to accept where they are while simultaneously challenging them to work to their fullest potential. She also encourages her students to cultivate inner peace while on the mat that they can then take out into the world with them, becoming an instrument for peace wherever they go. Sally studied with David Swenson in the Ashtanga tradition and Karin O'Bannon in the Iyengar tradition. In addition, she has taken many other teacher training workshops with notable teachers such as Saul David Raye, Max Strom and Angela Farmer, and continues to independently study yoga philosophy and therapeutics.

Erin Chappell began practicing yoga in 1999, as a supplement to her dance and aerobic regimen. Finding strength, balance and confidence through her practice, she decided to share her joy of yoga with others. Initially certified through YogaFit® in 2003, she continues to study by adding certifications to work toward becoming a registered yoga teacher (500) with the Yoga Alliance. A member of Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), Erin teaches power yoga at various health clubs and Core Yoga at FreeSpirit Yoga.

Linda Willis RYT teaches our 6:30am classes. She has been studying and practicing Yoga since 1999 and has been a Yoga Alliance registered teacher since 2002. Linda received her Yoga Teacher Certification from Equilibrium Yoga Therapy™ by YOGAVERSITY™ of California. Her practice is rooted in classical Hatha Yoga in its original, therapeutic and transformational nature. Her class is a gently paced flow. Through the use of meditation and breath the student is taken through floor asana’s, sun salutations and the traditional standing postures. The goal is to aid the student in becoming calmer, more flexible, energetic, inspired and focused. This will leave you with more relaxed energy and supply you with more patience for the tasks and people you deal with throughout your day. It is the best way to start your day.

Chelsea Chelsea De Vere is a long time student of yoga and yoga philosophy finding herself connected to it everyday. She is a life student and teacher who enjoys practicing yoga and sharing her knowledge of it with others.

Andrea Morgan began teaching Yoga in 2007 and recently completed her 500 hour Professional Teacher Training through YogaWorks Los Angeles. She has studied with many wonderful teachers including Annie Carpenter, Lisa Walford, Joan Hyman, Steve Walther, Mia Togo and Kia Miller. The passion in these incredible teachers deeply instilled Andrea’s commitment to help other people dig deep to find their inner voice. In 1995 Andrea received her Master of Fine Arts in Classical Theatre from the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program. It was in this program that she began practicing Yoga. As an actor she has worked in theaters all across the country and abroad before deciding to settle in Southern CA in 2001. Here she began teaching acting, voice and speech and directing plays. In 2006 her passion for Yoga became tantamount to performing arts it was quite clear that the next step was to become a yoga teacher. Her forte is Vinyasa Flow but she enjoys teaching many styles and levels. Her classes are rigorous and challenging and although she often uses her sense of humor to lighten the room she also encourages her students to focus on their breath to help them go inward to discover their individual strength physically, emotionally and philosophically.

Lauren Jacobs is a joyful & encouraging Cloud Nine Yoga trained instructor, whose daily practice includes Hatha Yoga & Bhakti Yoga. Her first experience with yoga was in 1995 after years of competitive swimming had wreaked havoc on her body and spirit...her yogic journey grew steadily from there. Lauren will encourage you to delve deeper into your practice by placing an emphasis on breath awareness, spiritual & physical balance, and focusing on exercising compassion towards your own body, mind, & spirit. She is a Birth Doula and a Student Midwife with a passion for women's reproductive health. Lauren is also currently acquiring her 500 hour certification with Erika Faith of Cloud Nine Yoga.

Del Leon has been practicing yoga for 14 years, is a Certified Lymphologist, Health Coach, and practices Thai Yoga Thereapy in Long Beach, CA. She has a BFA in Dance from California State University Long Beach, has taught dance and yoga to children in the LA public schools, and has intermittently choreographed, performed, and produced dance theatre in and around the Los Angeles area since 1996. Moving in wholistic and creative ways with breath is one of her passions, along with teaching others to take responsibility for their own health and healing on the physical and non-physical planes.

Veronica Silva has a passion for yoga and has been practicing since 2000. In 2003, she received her 200 hour registered yoga teacher certification (RYT200); and in 2006 her RYT500, both through Cloud Nine Yoga. She has taught a variety of classes including vinyasa flow, gentle yoga, prenatal yoga, yoga for soccer players, meditation classes and energy healing courses. She also currently teaches courses for RYT teacher certifications. Her teaching philosophy is: Honor your body--what it is able to do and not able to do. Enjoy the journey!

Yoga has been a part of Jenny Ahn's life since she was about 15, discovering her first intro to yoga in an old bookstore. SInce then her curiosity has led her to explore different avenues for movement, meditation, and spiritual awakening. Embarking on a journey around the world for 5 years, experiencing
the external world around her, only to realize that the real journey begins when we take a look at whats within. On this path Jenny has been supported by her teachers Rudra Dev, student and teacher of Iyengar from Rishikish, India, who embodies the light of Yoga and the discipline and endurance that one needs to follow this arduous path. Jenny also completed her 500 hour Teacher Training with YogaWorks and studied and continues to with her mentor Jeanne Heileman. Jenny is also certified Restore and Renew Restorative Yoga instructor under Judith Lasater and has been practicing with Rod Stryker and the Sri Vidya Tantra LIneage. Currently studying at the California College of Ayurveda, she inspires to create a union of all styles and philosophies and dedicates her practice and teachings for the benefit and happiness of all beings.

Cassandra Vitale found her way to the yoga path through a series of events which brought her to FreeSpirit Yoga and her first ever yoga class with Laura Tree. She was instantly hooked on yoga and began exploring the philosophy on her own. She began working the desk at FreeSpirit Yoga in October of 2008 and slowly but surely became well aquainted with the ins and outs of the yoga studio, as well as the many wonderful teachers and their specially designed classes. After "graduating" to Peter's Ashtanga Prep class, she felt she was ready to deepen her practice by taking a Yoga Teacher Training course with Yogafit. In order to become certified with Yogafit, one must teach a series of free yoga classes as a way to give back to the community, so, Cassandra offered to sub classes at FreeSpirit Yoga in order to get her Seva hours. After receiving some positive feedback from students and Andrea, she was offered three classes at the studio. Because of her many years of experience in childcare and being a nanny, she now teaches toddler and baby yoga as well as a beginner's class. Currently, she is working on a Master's Degree in Anthropology. Her focus is on yoga communities in Long Beach. Her goal is to create a program that brings yoga to low-income and marginalized communities in the city.