Mind Body Love Space Holders

SARA SILBERSTANG
From: Santa Cruz, California
Birthday: June 21st
Book: Devil in the White City
Sweet: Sour Patch kids or red vines

Sara's brings a warm, welcoming energy to every class. Her classes are energizing, calming and accessible for all bodies. You will leave class feeling ready and confident to take on all of life's challenges and opportunities.

After becoming a mom in 2021, she started experiencing extreme anxiety and is still on the path to managing alarm in the body naturally. She opened Mind Body Love to create a safe space for community to share in their healing journeys together.

Sara is NASM-certified personal trainer, a 700-hour advanced yoga instructor (Laughing Louts NYC, Light on Lotus in LA, Kripalu) a clinical hypnotist (A Deep Space), a breathwork facilitator (Valkerie), a holistic health coach (IIN), and holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from SDSU. She lives in South Park with her partner, Jean-Michel, and son, Felix

MONICA PETRE
Birthday: November 3rd
From: Sacramento, CA
Book: The Princess Bride by William Goldman (better than the movie!)
Favorite Living Artist: Magical Land Art by Andy Goldsworthy
Sweet: In-season summer peach milkshake from Ikeda’s fruit stand in Auburn, CA

Monica believes that the simple action of showing up on our yoga mat creates a ripple effect of positivity to many other seemingly unrelated aspects of our lives. She loves to create an atmosphere filled with great music, unity in breath, and equal parts ferocity and gentleness. It is her intention to create an experience where we feel free to listen to our body’s needs to move, modify, use our breath and tones to release tensions and welcome inspiration in a nourishing community container.

Monica got her 200-hour yoga teacher training certification in 2017 and is a Breathwork Facilitator, Introspective Hypnosis Practitioner, and is Yin Yoga Certified. She has a degree in Fine Art from University of California, San Diego.

JENNIFER SCOTT
From: Lemoore, California
Birthday: June 1st
Book: Rewire, Nicole Vignola
Sweet: German chocolate cake

Jenn is a trauma-informed hypnotherapist. She was first led to hypnosis for her own personal growth, and very quickly saw rapid changes in her life, just through simple hypnosis reprogramming techniques. With a background in psychology, healthcare, and public service, she is driven to bring science-backed methodologies and approaches for lasting and permanent results in our neuro-programming.

Jenn is motivated by awareness, acceptance, love, and grace to help guide individuals through their subconscious and deliver hypnotherapeutic strategies individualized for desired change.

OAK JACKSON
From: Pacifica, CA
Birthday: December 16th
Book: Steppenwolf, Hesse
Sweet: Praline pecan ice cream with extra caramel

Oak's spiritual journey began with meditation in 2012, and between two long distance hikes (AT '13, PCT '18) I dived deep as a student of yoga. Inspired by his wife's yogic journey early in the pandemic, he jumped into teaching and providing sound healing here in San Diego. Since then, he's been teaching a variety of classes regularly, leading private workshops, and also providing sound healing at events and as a volunteer at Sharp Memorial hospital.

Nurturing and grounding in nature, his mission is to help his community find peace and presence through experiencing stillness and spaciousness. He especially enjoys teaching gentle forms of movement: Restorative, Yin, Qigong and the like, as well as meditation, breathwork, and sound healing. 

ANGELICA LEE
From: Watertown, Connecticut
Birthday: November 23rd
Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
Sweet: Vanilla bean ice cream and all things dark chocolate

For Angelica, a yoga mat is a place of exploration where we both evolve and adapt, symbolic to her experience out in the real world. Her yoga classes encourage an inquiry of the self, getting students to think about how this all translates as we walk off of our mats. Perhaps in this self-reflection, there comes a shifting and reconnecting, a letting go and becoming. 

By occupation, she is a Pediatric Registered Nurse of about eight years, three of which were spent traveling within the U.S. She obtained her 200HR YTT in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Pranayama, Meditation and Kriyas in Goa, India at Kranti Yoga in November 2018. With the miracle of her son in 2022, she found herself looking to her mat in search of the grounding and stability she knew she needed to carry her throughout pregnancy and this new chapter of life. This sparked her desire to share this practice in a new way. This brought her to the 300HR program at Studio Bamboo Institute of Yoga, with hopes of truly giving others a sense of what yoga has given her thus far—exploration, grounding, stability, genuine human connection, and rediscovery of self. 

Through Studio Bamboo’s 300HR program she obtained 15HR certifications in Mindful Yoga Therapy for Trauma and Adaptive Yoga Training. She has also hosted a Postnatal Workshop for the 4th trimester and beyond that welcomed both moms and babies into class. She is excited to see how life shapes her journey in yoga, and how yoga shapes her path in life. 

CRYSTAL SHERRIFF
From: Asheville, North Carolina
Birthday: July 6th
Favorite book: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Favorite Sweet: Cinnamon rolls

Crystal is a recent San Diegan with an immense love for the sacred practice of yoga. It was on her mat where she first birthed her love of self and it’s by continuing this practice that it has now found its zenith. Her journey with yoga began over a decade ago and in 2023 she realized one of her deepest desires was to intertwine her life as closely as possible with the practice. 

She completed her 200HR teacher training in November 2023 with School Yoga Institute in Portugal and enjoyed teaching there for a spell. July 2024 she received her certification in trauma-informed somatic Breathwork facilitation and it has added a new level of understanding to her yogic practice and more importantly the emphasis she puts on the prana. 

The opportunity to bring folks together and truly build an environment based within philosophy feels so nourishing and uplifting and that is what she hopes to build in every class she teaches.

JULIANNA WIDA
From: Born under the sunny skies of Santa Barbara, CA, on a magical summer day
Birthday: July 13th
Sweet: if you’d like to send ice cream—my favorite sweet treat.

Julianna began her yoga and meditation journey at 19. What started as a curiosity quickly became a lifelong love affair with movement, mindfulness, and the art of deep healing.

Along the way, Julianna’s path led her to San Diego State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition. My passion for holistic well-being then guided me to become a Board Certified Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Reiki Master/Teacher. Now, she weaves all of these healing arts into her restorative yoga practice, creating a space where breath, energy, and relaxation unite to nourish body, mind, and soul.

Join her on the mat for a journey into stillness, restoration, and the sweetest kind of self-care—no ice cream required (but always encouraged).

FAIR SMITH
From: Ridgefield, CT
Birthday: March 26th
Book: The Overstory
Sweet: Any fruit covered in dark chocolate!

Fair is a 500-hr RYT who was born and raised on the East Coast, but migrated out West a few years ago to enjoy all the sunshine and opportunities San Diego has to offer. She started her yoga journey during the pandemic in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the practice. Fair steps onto her mat to improve her mind-body-spirit connection and to gain control of her breath to bring herself back to the present moment. Yoga gives her feelings of bliss, serenity, and deep connection and her goal as a teacher is to share those feelings with her students in a safe, accessible, and creative way.

She did her first 200hr YTT in San Diego in 2022 and her second 300hr YTT in Ubud, Bali in 2024. Fair is also currently in school at Pacific College of Health and Sciences pursuing her doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

When taking one of Fair's classes, students can expect to pair intention, breath and movement seamlessly and feel balanced in both their body and mind. She believes that your yoga mat is a place of exploration, and students will be encouraged to tap into their intuition and move in ways that build self-trust, acceptance, and strength.

Fair's classes will also emphasize that to participate in yoga, one doesn't have to be flexible or experienced, all one has to be is open-minded and ready to deeply explore their mind, body, and soul.

JORDI SELDEN
From: The Bay Area, California
Birthday: January 4th
Book: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Dideon
Sweet: Chocolate

Jordi’s classes are rooted in breath body connection, self-awareness and self-love. Her goal is for students to leave class with a tool to help navigate life’s ups and downs.

She started her yogic journey as a freshman at San Francisco State University where she graduated with a degree in Psychology. Her trainings include two 200 HR YTTs, yin, breathwork, and pranayama. 

JULIA BALTO

Birthday: May 4th
From: Chicago, Illinois
Book: Monk and Robot Series by Becky Chambers
Sweet: Chocolate anything, unless it's ice cream which should never have a chocolate base but always include chocolate chunks.

Julia has a knack for creating welcoming spaces that feel like a warm hug and a coming home to yourself. Her offerings are trauma-informed, science-based, and rooted in compassionately reconnecting you to the wisdom of your body, the medicine of your breath, and your inherent self-trust and healing. 

After decades of working to heal her own perfectionism, depression, and burnout, she specializes in helping you turn your brilliant brain off so that you can feel present, confident, and actually enjoy the life you work so hard to create. 

Julia is a Somatic Clinical Hypnotist and Space Holder. She is certified and has trained in clinical hypnosis, breathwork, integrative somatic therapies, meditation, sound healing, and coaching psychology. She has a master's degree in Biobehavioral Kinesiology and has published 30+ peer-reviewed articles. She facilitates 1:1 work, group classes, and retreats. Clients have said working together feels like ‘some kind of witchy brain magic’ with powerful shifts occurring in just a few classes. She lives in Golden Hill with her partner and their two pups. 

BIANCA CHAPMAN
Birthday: December 1st
From: Born in Atlanta, Georgia, raised in Jackson, MS
Favorite Book: The Poisonwood Bible (fiction), A Course in Miracles (nonfiction), The Artist’s Way (nonfiction)
Favorite Sweet: Passionfruit tart from bar in Indonesia or undercooked chocolate chip cookies

Bianca is a dedicated yoga teacher and practitioner who brings a holistic, power flow, and vinyasa-based approach that integrates ancient yoga philosophy with the dynamic artistry of movement. With a deep understanding of how breath, music, dance, meditation, and mindfulness intertwine, she creates transformative yoga experiences that unify the mind, body, and soul. Her classes are more than sequences—they are journeys of self-discovery, crafted around psychological themes that encourage practitioners to explore, challenge, and embrace themselves fully.

With 15 years of experience as an Afro-Latin dance instructor, Bianca has witnessed firsthand how movement serves as a gateway to healing, creativity, and wholeness. Her background in salsa and bachata has shaped her teaching style, emphasizing rhythm, fluidity, and the joy of expression. She has had the privilege of teaching yoga for dancers at international conventions and workshops, designing flows that enhance flexibility, body awareness, and mental clarity—all essential for performance and longevity in dance.

Above all, Bianca encourages her students to view yoga as a space for play, exploration, and self-acceptance. Whether guiding an energetic power flow or a meditative vinyasa, her goal is to create an inclusive and inspiring environment where each student can reconnect with their essence, deepen their practice, and find harmony within. Yoga, like dance, is an ever-evolving dialogue between movement and stillness, strength and surrender, discipline and joy. Her mission is to help students honor this balance and experience the limitless potential within themselves.

SUSANA JONES
From: San Diego, California
Birthday: April 21st
Book: The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté, M.D.
Sweet: Anything lemon.

Susana weaves her yoga teaching with insights into human physiology and a deep reverence for the transformative power of breath-led movement. Her classes are designed to support physical vitality, balance the nervous system, and nurture connection with the Self. Yoga helps her feel light, steady, and reflective—and she loves helping her students feel the same.

She first found yoga while studying at the University of Colorado Boulder and became a certified teacher through CorePower in 2009. Not long after, she opened Urban Yogi, a sweet little studio in downtown San Diego, where she trained more than 50 yoga teachers and 10 Reiki Masters.

Susana later completed 800 hours of yoga therapy training at the Soul of Yoga Institute, where she learned to create personalized wellness plans for clients dealing with everything from joint pain to sleep disturbances.

Becoming a mother in 2020 reshaped Susana's path; inspiring her to focus on maternal well-being, especially during the developmentally vital First Five Years of a child’s life. She's currently finishing an M.A. at the California Institute for Human Science, where her research centers on resilience in early motherhood—a theme she explores in her podcast, Yoga for Mom-Life.

Susana is a nature girl, a friend of the flowers, and sees yoga as a form of loving action—uniting people and planet for the benefit of all.

From: Lansing, Michigan
Birthday: Nov 7th
Book: all of the Outlander novels
Sweet: dark chocolate or sea salt caramels

Kris brings a calm, nurturing vibe hoping every person feels welcome in the studio. Her classes are thoughtful and moderately paced, while providing enough challenge to warm our muscles. The time on our mats is sure to quiet our mental chatter so that we can leave refreshed.

After her job changed to being computer-based in 2020-2021, she started experiencing back pain related to high stress and sedentary work life. She tried many traditional treatments, and eventually decided to take a year off work to focus on healing. Her husband called it her “yoga year.” While the plan was simply to attend yoga classes (something she’s enjoyed for almost 20 years), her studio had a need for instructors and Kris became yoga certified… and has never been tempted to return to the office job. She has taught hundreds of classes, and she gets a lot of joy out of her students returning on a weekly basis.

Kris has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education from Xavier University, and is a 200-hour yoga instructor. She lives in Normal Heights with her husband, Chris. (Yes, they are Kris & Chris!) They have lived in several states and love to travel to visit family and also to locations with warm water reefs for snorkeling.

HYPSY-GYPSY SALAZAR
From: Originally from Albuquerque, raised in San Diego
Birthday: Jan 23
Book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Sweet: Lemon Bars

Hypsy’s purpose is to share the healing magic of yoga, breathwork, sound healing, and more with others, so they can experience the same transformation she’s found. She aims to create a space where people can decompress, feel at home, and leave feeling better. She began her yoga journey 20 years ago in college, and it was meditation about 10 years later that truly deepened her practice. Yoga has become an integral part of her life, and she continues to grow with it.

Hypsy met her husband, Oak, in college, and they’ve been nomadic travelers, even converting a box truck into their tiny home. Her connection to nature has greatly influenced her spiritual journey.

Hypsy loves leading breath-to-movement classes where the practice becomes an immersive, collective experience. Her focus is on the breath, as it’s where the real magic happens. She incorporates mudras, chakras, mantras, sound healing, and shares the science behind why these practices work, blending eastern wisdom with western knowledge.

As an E-RYT 500, Hypsy has been teaching yoga in San Diego since 2020, with specialized training in Pranayama, meditation, and hands-on assists. She’s currently training to become a yoga therapist. She works with all ages, from children to elders, and loves teaching intimate groups or private sessions to dive deeper into practice. She’s also a certified Cacao facilitator, hosting cacao circles in various spaces. Every day brings new magic and growth.

GABBI CHERNAK
Birthday: Aug 26th
From: Phoenix, AZ
Book: Pure Land, by Annette McGivney
Sweet: Dots! 

Gabbi’s wellness philosophy is centered on taking care of ourselves honestly and compassionately so that we can take care of the people and world around us honestly and compassionately. Her classes are curated to create an inclusive, healing space where all feel welcome, seen, and valued. She brings playfulness, gentleness, and authenticity to every part of her life. Her entire career has been dedicated to redefining how we perceive wellness to create a kinder relationship with ourselves, working with students from ages 3 to 85. 

Gabbi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology, 200 YTT from Cape Cod Yoga School, 300 YTT from Vedansha Institute of Vedic Sciences, NASM Youth Exercise Specialist Certification, Professional Tennis Registry 10 & Under Professional. She is a massage therapist and has been a Barre3 Instructor and Instructor Mentor for over 7 years. Gabbi has both taught and practiced yoga in Argentina, Guatemala, Arizona, Massachusetts, and California.”