About Us
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Haute Yoga was founded by a small group of friends and all of us have discovered that yoga has made profound differences in our lives. We are also business people from a wide range of arenas, but we all agree that the stresses of life can be balanced by the benefits of yoga, giving us renewed energy and improving our general physical and mental well being. Our collective yoga practices span decades, come from numerous countries and incorporate teachings from many of the world’s great yogi masters. At Haute Yoga, we have created a studio which blends design and influences from around the world with state-of-the-art environmental controls. You’ll find a variety of yoga styles here with amenities to serve all the needs of the modern yogi. We are here to offer you an inviting community and comfortable spaces in which all can practice, relax, unwind, renew and leave our stresses far behind. To learn more about our studio and stay up to date on community events |
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All of our instructors are seasoned yogis who were invited to unite with us because of their deep and ever evolving practices, positive energies and competent abilities to teach and motivate others.
Photos and Bios
(In alphabetical order by last name)
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Summer Bates
 Summer’s first experience in a Hatha Yoga class illuminated the path she would then embark on. After moving to Encinitas from Virginia Beach, VA she realized her dharma was to teach yoga. Dedicated to her practice, Summer has studied various styles of hot yoga, vinyasa flows, Jivamukti, and Anusara. In addition, Summer has completed a 200-hour Anusara and Tantric based training with the beautiful Sherry Schreck. She continues to be inspired by many teachers and shares her knowledge and energy in every class. Summer encourages students to connect with their inner teacher and to allow the breath to guide them through their practice. She believes that yoga goes beyond the postures into finding the bliss within. Summer continues to grow everyday through meditation, love, yoga, and happiness.
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Olivera Bogdanovich-Flacco
 Olivera has been athletic since starting gymnastics at four years of age in Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia). She started swimming at eleven and had developed her own work-out routine which she performed in her bedroom when the severe Serbian winters kept her indoors. Her other passion since childhood has been the piano. After receiving her Master’s degree in Belgrade in piano pedagogy (teaching) Olivera continued her studies in London and has been a full-time instructor since.
In January of 2000, Olivera relocated to the U.S. with her two small children shortly after the three of them had endured 77 days of American air raids and bombings. Not long after arriving in America, she found hot yoga and was hooked from the first class. She pursued teacher training and obtained her certification in Hatha. She has now taken her skills from years of teaching and explaining the intricacies of the piano and combined them with her knowledge of yoga and leads exhilarating and informative classes. If you're American however, she will make you suffer for the bombings!
Olivera teaches both adults and children in her music studio when she is not at Haute Yoga teaching. Visit her website at www.pianoli.com
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Noel Brady  Noel is a native of Ireland who has called San Diego home since 1999. Always interested in health and fitness, he was introduced to yoga ten years ago and immediately began to embrace harmony between mind and body. He is Yoga Alliance certified and has been teaching a variety of yoga styles since 2008.
Through his study of structural integration at the International Professional School of Bodywork, Noel has a strong understanding of anatomy and movement. He studies various aspects of yoga, from traditional postures to deep meditation, and is always keen to learn more. Noel believes the practice of yoga provides everyone with the potential to positively transform their lives, physically and emotionally.
He teaches clearly and confidently with the hope to inspire students to pursue their highest potential.
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Katie Brauer
 Originally from Sydney Australia, Katie teaches Kripalu/Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Known for her inspirational teaching style and ability to create a safe and sacred space, her classes are blend of Kripalu/Vinyasa Flow Yoga infused with yoga philosophy, technical alignment and her heart felt humor she draws on her own life experiences, her many teachers and her numerous adventures around the globe to bring you a truly multi-dimensional practice and experience.
Katie is a Certified Teacher of Kripalu Yoga, Shiva Rea Vinyasa/Prana Flow, Pre/Post Natal Yoga, Journey Dance and Yoga Trance Dance. A Certified Practitioner of Bio-Dynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Thai Yoga Bodywork and Massage Therapy. She has studied Reiki Level I & II, Reflexology, Chi Nei Tsang, Qi Gong, Tai Chi and Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu in China. She is also Certified in Classical Pilates and studied Anatomy and Physiology at the University in Sydney, Katie teaches and leads worskshops Internationally and throughout the USA.
For more information on Katie visit www.opentosource.com
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Matt Caron Matt has many passions; music, art, science, history, nature and holistic body awareness to name a few, but first and foremost is his love of yoga. At age 16 in his hometown of Dacula, GA, Matt discovered eastern philosophy. meditating and since then, he strives to connect to his inward Self and gain more understanding of the true meaning of happiness. He firmly believes that there is nothing more important than finding your own true purpose in life. With that principle in mind, Matt has become a yoga teacher and a ISSA certified personal trainer. Although both hold different paths to health, by combining the two he has come up with a way of training that is versatile, effective and works with both the mind and body. Constantly striving to improve, create, discover and grow, Matt is a work in progress!
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Jenna Carpenter
 Jenna’s passion for yoga helped her to grow spiritually and continues to transform her life. She is deeply committed to her practice and enjoys sharing her knowledge that she has cultivated with others on and off the mat. Yoga continues to sculpt Jenna’s humility, confidence, and independence. While growing up in The Woodlands, Texas, she played a variety of sports and pursued gymnastics and water polo. Then in 2004, Jenna moved to California and transitioned her love for movement into other forms: yoga and surfing. After doing some soul searching on a trip to southeast Asia, she knew teaching yoga was the next step in her life. Several inspirational teachers gave her guidance in deepening her studies. The beginning of Jenna’s training started in 2008 with Lynda Light which resulted in a 200RYT. Her passion for learning is consistent and currently is completing a 500RYT in Anusara Inspired yoga with Michael Fukumura. Her commitment as a student and teacher continues to uplift her and others daily through love, support, and dedication while making the connection between mind, body, and spirit. When she isn’t physically practicing asana, she enjoys being submerged in culture and embracing nature, traveling, surfing, and art. Jenna is also completing her B.A. in Visual Arts at CSUSM where she is able to manifest yogic philosophy through art into something tangible. Please feel free to connect with Jenna at flowart.net |
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Kenna Crouch
 Kenna Crouch is a yogini and performing artist. She grew up dancing, primarily classical ballet, jazz and tap. In college, she expanded into contemporary dance and found yoga along the way. She now happily dedicates herself to the creative and complimentary practices of yoga and dance—teaching, performing, creating, learning, combining…. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Dance & Sociology from UC San Diego (‘08), Kenna has completed 200-hour teacher training with Sherry Schreck in the Anusara style. Kenna is also a professional modern dancer and teacher with the Patricia Rincon Dance Collective, with whom she performs through out San Diego. Nature, healing arts, music and meditation inspire Kenna as well as her yoga practice… she blends these elements into class to inspire students to connect mind-body-breath-soul during practice. om namah shivaya…
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 Roxanne DePalma Honored to have begun her yoga practice in 1993, at age 16, Roxanne continues to be in gratitude of her fellow yogis and teachers. She has been teaching in the NorthCounty yoga community since 2002. She is a dedicated, heartfelt instructor who brings a wealth of knowledge to her classes. Her background in functional body alignment and compassion to share with others brings a unique spirit to all of her classes. As an instructor for yoga-teacher certification Roxanne has been instrumental in the graduation of yoga teachers across the globe.
In addition to teaching yoga, Roxanne maintains a studio where she offers various types of bodywork, including massage (Pre-Natal, Thai, Myofascial release, Deep Tissue), Yoga Therapy, and Private Yoga instruction. roxydoesyoga@yahoo.com
- Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP), Licensed Massage Technician (LMT) from Healing Hands School of Holistic Health, Escondido (1998)
- Vitality School of Massage, Jin Shin Jitsu I & II (2003) Solana Beach
- Body Mind College Training with Dr. Barry Green (2005), Sorrento Valley
- 3000 Hours Certified Advanced Yoga Teacher, (2007) Synergy Yoga, Encinitas
- Anusara Yoga Training with Sherry Schreck, (2009), Encinitas
- Studied various styles of yoga including: Ashtanga, Anusara, Kundalini, Vinyasa Flows, Hot Yoga, since 1993.
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Alexis Ferrier
Lex Ferrier is a h
 ighly charismatic teacher who fuses an enthusiastic and playful intensity with compassion to bring harmonious and powerful energy to her
classes. Her intuitive sense of sequencing and flow creates a generous balance
of both rigorouseffort and profound expansion for students of all levels.
Over the years, Lex has immersed herself in the learning, practice, and teaching
of yoga. She is Yoga Alliance Certified, trained in beginner, advanced, hot
style, power vinyasa, and sculpt instruction at both CorePower Yoga and Haute
Yoga studios. She then broadened her abilities by studying the philosophical,
spiritual, and anatomical aspects of Anusara Yoga with certified Master Anusara
Instructor, Michael Fukumura. She now assists Michael through the Anusara
Immersions and Teacher Trainings. 2012 has brought a new passion for Lex, as
she is currently in a certification process of becoming a Practitioner of Phoenix
Rising Yoga Therapy – a supported exploration of one’s body/mind connection
through yoga postures and reflective listening.
Lex's innate emotional awareness enables her to recognize each student's varied strengths and limitations. This insight allows her to guide individuals deeper into their core, eliminating their would-be boundaries and exposing their vast potential. Through a deep understanding and application of Yoga in her own life practice, Lex is able to help students recognize and appreciate how to build a stronger emotional and physical self. This is a result of her limitless passion for Yoga. This passion is not just rooted in the understanding of Yoga, but her ability to translate its benefits to her students. Lex's translation of Yoga's ability to heal, strengthen, nurture and evolve her students is based on the fact that she is truly the living result of its transformative and (r)evolutionary power.
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Michael Fukumura Michael’s yoga practice has been an evolving and dynamic path. He has been blessed with the opportunity to study with many gifted teachers. Since 2000, he has dedicated himself to Anusara Yoga and his most influential teacher, John Friend. Anusara yoga and Rajanka Tantra philosophy have allowed him to view the world and himself in a way that connects body, mind and heart. He is grateful to John for being so generous with his wisdom and being the inspiration for huge internal and external shifts in his life. Michael is known for his inspiring and supportive teaching style. His classes balance a sense of play and adventure with mindful awareness of precise alignment. Students learn how to practice their yoga from the inside out so that they are empowered from their deepest resources. He encourages students to discover their natural strengths, beauty and wisdom and to celebrate every moment from the heart.
Learn more about Michael at his website @ www.loliyoga.com
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With a BA in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, Jo has been able to apply her education by teaching yoga to people recovering from substance abuse at Active Recovery. She is grateful to her mentors for guiding her on this path and is blessed to be able to help others know themselves through yoga. She continues to play and teach tennis, has made a serious commitment to growing her personal yoga practice, and loves to tandem surf. Jo strives to find the joy in every experience, and encourages everyone around her to celebrate the joy in their lives too!
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 Beth Kupanof
Beth brings great enthusiasm and joy to the art of teaching yoga. She completed her Teacher Training Certification at Sundara College through the Soul of Yoga in 2005 and has trained with Myriam Machado, Sherry Schreck, and John Friend, the founder of Anusara Yoga. Having more than 300 hours of teacher training, she continues in the Anusara tradition with strong alignments, energetic classes and unique and fresh perspectives. She loves teaching yoga and considers it an honor to introduce and guide other yogis in their practice. Beth combines her 15 years of massage therapy to offer a balanced sequence of flowing postures with an exploration of compassion, humor and letting go. |
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Cindy is foremost and always a student of yoga and secondly an instructor. Cindy received her 800-hour Hatha yoga teacher certification from Moksha Yoga Canada (member of the Yoga Alliance); pioneers of environmentally conscious hot yoga studios. Cindy is honoured to be one of the instructors in the Natural Healing Institute’s (Encinitas, California) Yoga Instructor Certification program as well as assistant instructor in their Massage Technician program. She continues her yoga education through studies in the ancient yoga texts, participating in trainings and workshops and a daily personal practice. Cindy combines her yoga instruction with other healing modalities including Reiki, aromatherapy, energy work, massage and Thai yoga therapy. Cindy believes that through the synergy of nutrition, movement and positive intention we all have the power to heal ourselves. Her approach in a yoga class is one of “ahimsa” or compassion, first for yourself and then for others. With a smile in her heart, she touches all that cross her path. |
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Cindy Lee
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Rob Lucas Rob's path to Yoga is not a typical one. Having grown up in the Midwest, he never heard much about Yoga much less ever practiced a flow. After serving in the U.S. Army for four years in the 82nd Airborne, he went on to college and earned his degree in history from Eastern Michigan University. Rob has worked in the hospitality business for the last 15 years in various capacities while his interest in yoga was growing until he made the commitment and completed his 200 hour teaching training program through the Yoga Works training program at Haute Yoga. Rob recently left his long-time career and is now devoting himself to the teaching and practicing of yoga and is working on the management staff at Haute Yoga as well. He looks forward to sharing the gift of Yoga and hopes to inspire others the same way he was by his teachers.
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Krish is from Boca Raton Florida where he began his yoga journey in 2000. A nagging running injury and his mom convinced him to try a Bikram Yoga class. He didn't know exactly what he liked about it, but he stopped running and started going to yoga 6 days a week. In 2007, after being introduced to an ashtanga/vinyasa class, his eyes were opened to a dynamic flow of asana and philosophy. Krish expanded upon his newly found connection to yoga and as his practice advanced influence from his teachers, James Kigar, Carol Butler and Judy Weaver, motivated Krish to participate in a yoga teacher training. He came to San Diego to attend the YogaWorks RYT 200 hour training at Haute Yoga and decided to stay in California. Dedicated to his practice, Krish focuses on foundation, alignment and breath and believes yoga is therapy for the body, mind and soul. |
Krish Maharaj
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Melissa (Mel) Merchant Mel's passion for yoga developed after noticing her practice's amazing benefits to her mind and body. She received her yoga teaching certification through YogaWorks at Haute Yoga and is RYT200. Her style embodies safety in postures, engaging meditation through breath and movement, and inspiring her students to find their edge and discover what yoga means for themselves. She believes that there is a style of yoga for everyone, and that it can bring people to their true potential, both mentally and physically.
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Jeanette began studying yoga at the age of seventeen. She became a dedicated practitioner of yoga in Santa Cruz, California where she underwent a teacher's training process beginning in 2004 and subsequently received her yoga certification in Warrior Yoga in 2006 studying under the instruction of the founder instructor, Sensei Jeremy Corbell and his top student Sensei Kevin Snorf. In a commitment to her continued growth as an yoga instructor and practitioner, she is currently partaking in a teacher training process through Yoga Works under the guidance and instruction of Stacy McCarthy and Jessica Seabern.
Throughout her yoga journey, Jeanette has had the opportunity to study multiple styles of yoga including Hatha, Warrior, Ashtanga, Anusara, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Synergy, and Bikram yoga in various settings including Northern and Southern California, Turkey, and Thailand. She has had the priviledge of studying under and being influenced by several extraordinary instructors including Michael Fukumura, Reverend Tom Kelly, Jessica Seabern, Stacy McCarthy, Peri Ness-DeFay, Sensei Jeremy Corbell, and Sensei Kevin Snorf.
In addition to guiding yoga classes, Jeanette is a life coach which has gifted her with the tools to support transformation both on and off the mat! She is also fortunate to be the Manager of the Haute Yoga studio in Solana Beach. She feels honored and blessed to be a part of such an incredible community of yogis!
Outside the studio, Jeanette's interests include dancing, decadent meals, rock climbing, backpacking, hoop dance, and sharing boundless laughter and joy with the world! Jeanette’s classes offer a dynamic flow series that focus on cultivating presence, consciousness of breath, and joy.
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Jeanette Pearson
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Stephanie Powell Stephanie discovered yoga a number of years ago, and has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 16 years. Through asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), ujjayi pranayama (breathing) and vinyasa (movement) she has found a rhythmic way to bring the art of yogic connections and breathing benefits into a vigorous, exhilarating all over workout. Her diverse fitness knowledge combined with extensive athletic teaching style offers a program to tone and stretch the whole body, to relieve stress and create a deep experience of physical and mental balance. Classes focus on breath work, creating heat from within, core strengthening, flexibility, balance and one's ability to feel the poses with total grace and power. She encourages students to challenge themselves with enthusiasm while cultivating a self awareness of the proper alignment within each pose. Influenced by master teachers Baron Baptiste, Shiva Rhea and Rodney Yee, she will help you discover your strength and awaken your spirit! Specializing and certified in Ashtanga, Power Vinyasa and Yoga for Athletes, beginners will be encouraged and the advanced student will be challenged. In addition to her first love of yoga she is an experienced certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, BOSU, Cardio-Ballet, and, Gravity, Zumba and Bootcamp instructor. She creates a supportive, challenging, and light-hearted class environment, and focusing on the student is her deepest inspiration and mission. |
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Shane Robson Shane moved to San Diego from Hawaii at the age of five. "After discovering yoga, as a teenager, everything shifted in my life" says Shane. He took his first yoga class at The Yoga Room in Encinitas, had a wonderful experience, and never looked back. Soon after, Shane began training and teaching at 'Synergy' (The Yoga Room). As his practice deepened Shane became interested in all eight limbs of Yoga, or Raja Yoga. With the help of the Self Realization Fellowship he has learned how to open his heart through daily meditation. It is important to Shane to share his experiences with others so that everyone may find strength and joy within themselves. "I am grateful to have the daily opportunity to share this path with other people, just as it was shared with me".
Shane is also a talented artist and has painted the wall designs in both our north and south studios. You can see more of his work at web.mac.com/ixland
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Elizabeth Swanson Elizabeth fell in love with yoga from the moment she took her first Bikram class in 2005. Within a few months of practicing she began to notice positive changes in herself in regard to her strength, posture, and energy level. She then broadened her yoga journey and began taking a variety of Vinyasa Flow and Ashtanga classes. Her love and passion for yoga continued to flourish as yoga became a very prominent part of her life. She noticed a definite shift in her lifestyle patterns such as her eating habits, cognitive awareness and general well being. She has a YogaWorks 200 Hour Teacher Training Certification and is interested solely in sharing the positive experience she received through yoga with others in hopes they find a likewise appreciation. Elizabeth loves to laugh, cook, read and enjoy the company of good, creative friends with open minds. She feels there is always enough time and money to travel, location doesn't matter so long as inspiration takes place. She will never pass up a day at the spa and believes there is music for every mood. She believes that you should treat everyone you meet and know with love. It is important to have a dream and to follow it, always keep in mind how you got there and remember the people that were there, supporting you along the way. Be good to yourself and be good to others. Namaste
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Ally Wheatley Ally Wheatley has been in the fitness industry for 22 years. She has a master’s degree in physical therapy from USC, is a registered yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance and is a personal trainer and wellness coach.
Her yoga teacher/training certifications include Ashtanga Yoga with Prem Carlisi (1998), Kriya Yoga with Govindan (1996) and Ananda Yoga with Gyandev McCord (1996) followed a 6 month residency where she taught the Anatomy/Physiology portion of the teacher training. She has also studied through numerous conference and workshops under many distinguished teachers. Ally has customized programs and classes for individuals, corporations and athletes of all ages and levels. In addition, Ally has presented at national conferences, held summer conditioning camps for youth and shown many how to pull yoga into their regular training for optimal performance. The insight gained from infusing a variety of yoga styles with her medical background results in an eye for detail, a heart for loving and an energy that inspires.
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