Yoga Instructors

Who We Are

We love yoga! We live it, we practice regularly, and we love to share it! The instructors at Downtown Yoga Shala are all certified to help guide you through a safe and well-rounded practice. Our professional bios reflect a variety of influences, enriching the offerings we have at the Shala. In yoga, there is a beautiful balance between strength and surrender, between effort and letting go. As we encourage you to take your practice to new heights, we also honor your “inner teacher” and encourage you to listen to your body at all times.

Amanda Amburgey

Elika Aird

Lynn Berumen

Joan Chanpong

Noell Clark

Stacey Clinesmith

Veronica Cruz

Kelly Haller

Amber Henzi

Nimmi Kovvali

Morgan Levay

Tamara Lopez

Misako Matsuoka

Elena Milyukova

Lorenzo Neri

Bob Riccomini

Alejandro Rivas

Matece Skow

Amy Swart

Prajna Brianna Vieira

Janya Wongsopa

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Amanda Amburgey

Amanda Amburgey, MA, RYI, CMT. Amanda Amburgey is passionate about yoga, teaching, and witnessing people as they become more aware of and comfortable with their bodies and minds. She believes strongly in the limitless potential of the human spirit. Her teaching style is whimsical and fun. Her joyous warmth and boundless positive energy inspire everyone with enthusiasm. She believes empowerment is less about physicality, rather it’s about creating the space within oneself for creative energy to flow deeply and powerfully through one’s life. Amanda is forever grateful to her teachers, especially Shiva Rea, Amma, Mark Stephens and Saul David Raye, for their creativity, wisdom and ever-loving instruction.

Elika Aird

Elika remembers doing yoga with Lilias Folan on television at age 7 and then rediscovered this intriguing art in 2000 by chance when she injured her back and was looking for physical relief. Being a fitness trainer, she was determined to be strong again and was surprised at how the depths and beauty of this practice complemented her life both on and off the mat. In 2005, Elika completed her 200-hour certification at Peachtree Yoga Center in Atlanta and will complete her 500-hour Prana Flow Certification with Shiva Rea this summer. As a lifelong student of dance, Elika was naturally inclined toward the fluid practice of Vinyasa, but has also been influenced by her respect for the Anusara and Iyengar traditions. Her classes range from restorative and insightful to a flowing dance that strengthens the body and enlivens the soul. In 2007, Elika completed the mindfulness based Whole Birth© Yoga Teacher Training with Robin Sale and is a certified Birth Doula with DONA International. Along her path she has been inspired by some amazing teachers including John Friend, Sarah Powers and Seane Corne. To complement her teaching and offer more healing alternatives Elika also incorporates Ayurveda, Reiki and Pranic Energy Healing into her classes and private sessions. You can view her website at www.blissfulbodiesyoga.com. “Remember the entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.” – Rumi.

Lynn Berumen

Lynn Berumen has a wide range of experience with children from infants and preschoolers to school age children and children with ADHD and other special needs. Lynn has two children of her own – an 8-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. Lynn found yoga 10 years ago studying Iyengar Yoga with Sue Styles and developed a Yoga for Children program in part to get her own children excited about yoga. Over the past five years, Lynn has practiced Bikrum yoga with Master teachers Lynn Whitlow and Jeff Renfro. Lynn has also taught yoga to children in afterschool programs, Girl Scouts, cheerleaders, and Sutter Hospital Wellness centers. Lynn is extremely open-hearted and truly gifted with children.

Joan Chanpong

Joan Chanpong was first introduced to yoga in 2002. After finding that movement and breath awareness helped calm her mind and body, Joan felt the need to share her knowledge so that others might also reap the benefits of yoga. After receiving her teacher certification from Corepower Yoga, Joan set out with the goal of helping make yoga accessible to students of all levels. She has attended numerous workshops and seminars with influential yoga teachers such as Natasha Rizopoulos, Janet Stone, Seane Corn, John Friend, Kenny Graham and Samantha Shakti Brown. Joan’s willingness to incorporate ideas from a variety of yoga styles and diversify her knowledge and practice helps keep her classes fresh and dynamic. Those who attend Joan’s classes can expect a focus on proper alignment, posture, and the awareness of how one’s breath deeply affects the body and mind. Her classes are at once playful, informative, and introspective, as she draws from the experiences from all her teachers, both on and off the mat.

Noell Clark

Noell took her first yoga class in 2002 and fell in love with the practice. She received her 200-hour teaching certification through the Yandara Institute in Baja, Mexico, and is a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Since receiving her RYT certification she has continued to study Yoga in the Anusara tradition and is currently pursuing Anusara certification. Additionally, Noell holds certification in Pilates mat and apparatus through Power Pilates NYC. She encourages creative expression in her classes, with an emphasis on core strength, aligning with nature, and celebrating life from the heart.

Stacey Clinesmith

Over the past 20-plus years, Stacey has taught a wide variety of wellness and yoga programs. She has been an avid practitioner of yoga since 1995 and a teacher since 1998. Her teaching style is at once nurturing and challenging. Taught by exacting yet caring Iyengar teachers, Stacey now strives to help her students master the structure and detail of their postures so that these details become second nature, allowing them to be more present in their practice.

Veronica Cruz

Founder of Downtown Yoga Shala, Veronica took a leap of faith when she left her successful high-tech career to pursue a dream. Living in Kathmandu, Nepal, in her youth opened her mind and heart to yoga and eastern spirituality. Years later she pursued yoga again, as a complement to her marathon and triathlon training, which immediately rekindled her love for the practice. Veronica is a certified yoga instructor, having completed teacher training in Ashtanga from Larry Shultz, and Power Vinyasa with Baron Baptiste, as well as several workshops and seminars with respected yogis from whom she continually draws inspiration. A San Jose resident for many years, Veronica aspires to create a welcoming environment that will bring the many benefits and joys of yoga to the Silicon Valley community. Veronica infuses her classes with warmth and sincerity, kindness and compassion. She gently encourages a mindful practice through deeper breath awareness and body alignment, while also honoring the inner teacher that resides in every student, allowing the freedom to express themselves more fully, joyfully, safely, in every pose.

Kelly Haller

Kelly began practicing yoga nine years ago while in college at UCSB. She completed her yoga teacher training at the White Lotus Foundation, where she studied with Ganga White. Her classes are vinyasa-based, with a strong emphasis on breath and intention. She challenges her students, while at the same time providing options to make her classes accessible to all levels. Kelly takes inspiration from her daily life to create a unique focus for each class. In turn, she encourages her students to take their practice off the mat and into their daily lives.

Amber Henzi

Amber Henzi is a Yoga Alliance certiﬁed instructor with 125 hours of Bhakti training. She has a non traditional, creative and playful vinyasa style. Through the practice, Amber helps students ﬁnd joy and laughter during even the most vigorous practice. Her commitment is to bring awareness into the community. “By loving ourselves, being joyful, and feeling better physically and spiritually we are better equipped to be the change in which we hope to witness on this earth.”

Nimmi Kovvali

A student of yoga since she was a child, Nimmi completed a Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training program under the guidance of senior yoga instructor Mark Stephens in Santa Cruz. Her love for the practice inspired her to share the benefits and joy of doing yoga with others. Nimmi’s personal practice is based on the principles of satya (truth), ahimsa (non-violence) and aparagraha (not hurting), which she strongly emphasizes in the classes she guides. She offers a safe space for her students to explore their practice through the use of props and modifications to asanas. Nimmi’s classes are choreographed to music that allows her students to explore not only the physical practice but also the practice that develops deep within. Nimmi has studied under the guidance of several well known instructors including Marti Foster, Jill Glikberg, Mark Stephens, Ben Thomas, Kent Bond, Janya Wongsopa and Srivatsa Ramaswami.

Morgan Levay

Morgan has explored using asana as body/mind therapy since 2004 when her love for the culture and practice of yoga benefited physical and personal growth in all aspects of development. The scale of these benefits erupted with the consistency of her asana routine. She sought formal training in the summer of 2010 with Art of Breath. The program allowed her to blossom in movement and breath sync, structured knowledge of the ancient history and philosophy which gave birth to yoga sutras, and used applied anatomy of movement to awaken alignment and facilitate intelligent healing. As a devoted student and teacher, she integrates all the pearls of wisdom that drove her to pursue a life as a yogini. In her Yin class, Morgan follows the tradition of Sarah Powers meridian sequencing to stream the psycho-physical being into a state of softening surrender. Her Vinyasa is grounded with juicy breath-linked flow. Morgan feels that expanding tolerance for foundational movement heightens physical well-being and allows for a steady progression into asana. The use of applied metaphor woven in all classes makes her accessible spirituality more applicable and meaningful to our lives.

Tamara Lopez

Tamara Lopez is passionate about healing the mind and body through the practice of yoga. She is a government lawyer who understands how the body is compromised by work-related stress and prolonged periods of sitting at a desk. She came to yoga later in life and enjoys working with students who are new to yoga. The importance of alignment is emphasized in her teaching so that the benefit of each posture can be fully experienced. She teaches yoga fundamentals as well as deeply relaxing restorative yoga. She earned her RYT certification through Joy of Yoga and has studied under Kofi Busia, Ben Thomas, Judith Lasater, Gary Kraftsow, and Joyce Anue.

Misako Matsuoka

Misako Matsuoka hopes to share her belief that the practice of yoga can offer dynamic opportunities to discover the youthfulness of the body and to open the heart and mind. She strives to infuse her classes with playful challenges, attention to healthy alignment, and a deep connection to the breath. Misako completed her Yoga Teacher Training at Avalon Yoga in Palo Alto in 2005 and is currently a student of Chinese Medicine and Therapeutic Yoga. She studies Yin yoga with Paul Grilley and Restorative yoga with Judith Lasater. She immersed herself in Anusara yoga with Sianna Sherman, Samantha Shakti and Kenny Graham. She studies the Shadow Yoga style with Sharre Young. She has studied vinyasa with Janet Stone, and is profoundly thankful to Max Strom for his teachings. Through all these lineages of yoga she has created integral experience that seeks to balance the neuromuscular system of the physical body as well as the eternal nature of the spirit. Misako has degrees in Biology and Engineering, and is registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance.

Elena Milyukova

Through offering her students a challenging and playful practice, Elena encourages everyone to find their own boundaries and benefits of yoga. Elena believes that yoga helps an individual discover hidden powers, brings greater self-confidence, and helps one to find inner peace and love. Elena gives her students a solid foundation with emphasis on safety, alignment, symmetry and space. She connects with her students and brings a unique energy into class. Elena completed the Avalon Teacher Training Program and 100-hours Anusara Immersion. To find out more about Elena, visit her website at www.SplendorWithin.com.

Lorenzo Neri

Lorenzo has always had an interest in eastern philosophy and martial arts, but living in a small town in Tuscany, Italy, didn’t have access to the many disciplines that strongly attracted him. He moved to California in 2003. Lorenzo started to practice yoga as a therapeutic response to heal chronic pain and minor injuries experienced since his teenage years. He has studied and taken workshops under the guidance of numerous teachers, such as Kent Bond, Sharre Young, Mark Horner, Lorien Neargarder, Maria Alfaro and Mark Stephens. These are the people whose presence, words and writings inspired him to bring more mindfulness and variety into his personal practice, and follow his own journey through yoga as a teacher. In March 2010 he participated in a yoga teacher training program at the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara lead by Ganga White and Tracey Rich. Shortly after, he has also begun to study Wushu (Chinese Martial Arts) under the expertise of Sifu Ding Wei. Lorenzo has a fresh, holistic approach to his teaching, brings into his class functional techniques and ideas borrowed from several styles of yoga and other disciplines. He pays special attentions to details and alignment and gives effective adjustments, helping students to find and experience their own yoga, here and now.

Bob Riccomini

Bob teaches a playful yet vigorous vinyasa flow based class accompanied by contemporary music. Bob completed his teacher training at the Bhakti Urban Flow Teacher Training Center in San Francisco with Rusty Wells. Other influential teachers include Dharma Mittra, David Swenson, Desiree Rumbaugh, Shiva Rea, Eric Shiffmann and Jennifer Prugh. Bob’s driving force in teaching yoga is his desire to give back to the community where he has been so fortunate to live and work for many years. All proceeds Bob receives for teaching are donated to “Art of Yoga,” a non-profit organization whose mission is to lead teen girls in the California juvenile justice system toward accountability by providing practical tools to effect behavior change. See www.artofyogaproject.org for more information.

Alejandro Rivas

Alejandro has been teaching yoga for 12 years and is a Lululemon Ambassador. Yoga has shaped his life tremendously, it allows him to be present in every moment, to not take anything for granted, and to surround himself with amazing friends and family. He teaches Vinyasa Flow and specializes in various types of massages such as Prenatal, Shiatsu, Reflexlogy, Crainiosacrial and Sports Massage.

Matece Skow

Matece Skow, Yoga Instructor and Certified Massage Therapist, has spent much of the last 10 years exploring and teaching different forms of yoga, massage and movement. She has trained in various forms of Hatha yoga including Sivananda, Vinyasa, and Yin. Her background in bodywork and interest in holistic health and yoga philosophy led her to study Ayurveda, becoming an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor through the American Institute of Vedic Studies. Her understanding of the human body informs her sessions and she is focused on bringing the benefits of yoga into daily life. Her natural warmth and playfulness allow for a fun, safe and nurturing environment.

Amy Swart

Amy has studied yoga since 2004 and taught since 2008, after receiving her certification in Kundalini yoga at the School of Santhi in Kerala, India. She is passionate about Kundalini yoga and meditation because of its emphasis on the mind-body connection. Amy is studying Marriage and Family Therapy and will earn her degree at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in June. She has been blessed to share the gift of yoga with people from all walks of life including elders, children with developmental delays, eating disorder survivors, and couples. She believes that love and nature are our greatest healers, and all of her Kundalini classes are taught with an emphasis on opening the heart chakra. Amy offers a relaxing Kundalini class that integrates a harmonious blend of postures, pranayama, mantra, music and meditation. The energetic chakra centers of the body are a focus in her classes, giving students a healing space to remove energetic blocks on the subconscious and conscious, with the intention to have a more fluid communication between one’s higher self and the day-to-day self to move in the direction of wholeness. All ages and stages are welcomed to join in as we harness the breath, balance the chakras, and see the world through a more focused lens!

Prajna Brianna Vieira

Prajna Brianna Vieira has been practicing meditation and bhakti (devotional) yoga since childhood. Formerly a classical ballet dancer, she began her asana practice in 1998 with some of LA’s most beloved yoga teachers including Naader Shagagi, Shiva Rea and Gurmukh. Prajna (pronounced Pruhg-nya) has been teaching Vinyasa, Classical Hatha, and Kundalini yogas since 2003. Her classes are a soulful, reverent blend of all three styles, and incorporate deeper dimensions of the practice such as mantras, pranayama and yogic philosophy. Prajna is lead singer of the kirtan band “Mukti,” and also sings regularly with Jai Uttal. She aspires to live a balanced and joyous life centered in the yogic principles.

Janya Wongsopa

Janya is a devoted yoga practitioner who has been, since 2003, deeply involved with yogic philosophy and psychology, health, and healing. She completed yoga training at Avalon Yoga Center in Palo Alto, a 200-hour certification course in yogic meditation and Vedanta philosophy at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm, and a certification in Somatic Psychology at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, in 2006. Janya has been teaching yoga and meditation since 2006 and has worked as a pancha karma apprentice at Blue Sage Sanctuary. In her classes, Janya emphasizes body and breath awareness and weaves a spiritual teaching of yoga that connects with all aspects of body and mind and that allows students gain physical, emotional, and mental health. Her teaching is gentle yet challenging: with sincere guidance and support, she urges students to take an active role in creating optimum health and well-being.