Recently, I added a Yoga Tree San Francisco yoga class to my weekly schedule.  Joining a line of excellent Iyengar Yoga trained yoga teachers at Yoga Tree, San Francisco.

Yoga Tree Valencia Yoga Teacher – Dina Amsterdam

“Dina Amsterdam began teaching yoga in 1994. She is certified by Kripalu (1994) where she gained her spiritual yogic roots and by Rodney Yee (1998) with whom she studied alignment oriented Iyengar yoga intensely for 3 years in his Advanced Teacher Training program. Since 1998 Dina has been practicing and studying Buddhist meditation and Yin yoga with Sarah and Ty Powers as well as other renowned teachers in the Buddhist lineage.

Dina is a certified Yoga Therapist and works with individuals and groups on transforming psychological and physiological constrictions. Her approach with clients is guided by healing principles from the yogic and Buddhist therapeutic traditions. She did her graduate research in physiological psychology at the Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention and values an integrated approach of eastern and western modalities for optimal psycho-physiological and spiritual well-being.”

Iyengar Yoga Teacher – Karl Erb

“With over 23 years experience in yoga Karl is one of Yoga Tree’s most senior teachers and brings to bear a wide range of expertise, training, generosity, and integrity to illuminate each student’s individual experience.
Most deeply influenced by Yogacharya Shri BKS Iyengar’s approach to Hatha and Ashtanga yoga, Karl draws on years with teachers from many systems. His practice and teaching are deeply informed by not only western anatomy and physiology, but by principles of Ayurveda and the nature of Prana, or energy – life’s vitality. Karl encourages deep attentiveness in practice, imbued with a spirit of compassion and adventuresome, playful exploration.”

Yoga Tree Teacher – Margi Young

Margi’s classes emphasize correct alignment, hard work, and intense relaxation so that the benefits of yoga reveal themselves. She roots her alignment based vinyasa classes both in Buddhist philosophy and in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, so that the physical practice manifests itself in a calm mental state. She offers a lot of personal attention, both verbal and hands-on, to help her students clarify and deepen their practice. Taking a cue from the buddha, Margi’s classes are light-hearted; it is imperative that we come together and study this vast subject with joy.

Margi decided to become a yoga teacher when she realized that her favorite part of being in the dance world was teaching, and her favorite part of the day was on her yoga mat. When, in 2001, she attended OM Yoga’s teacher training in New York City, she was certain that a life immersed in yoga was right for her. For ten years, Margi taught at OM Yoga in NYC where she trained many of the current OM teachers and has also taught trainings and retreats around the U.S. as well as in Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico and China. She has recently relocated to her hometown of San Francisco and is grateful to have a new community with which to share her love of yoga.

Margi has studied with numerous notable teachers including Cyndi Lee, Genny Kapuler, Nina Gold, Carrie Owerko, Kevin Gardner and Erich Schiffman. She is also certified from Judith Lasater in restorative yoga and from Integral in pre-natal yoga. She holds a BA from Mills College and an MFA from New York University.

Yoga Tree Teacher – Charu Rachlis

Charu Rachlis, born and raised in Brazil, has been teaching yoga in San Francisco since 1997. She teaches in a Bhakti lineage. She has over a 20-year history of Tibetan Buddhist meditation; her teachings incorporates Meditation, Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga), Iyengar Yoga, Asthanga Yoga and a MA in Psychology from Brazil.
“Through the practices of Yoga and Meditation, one reaches a more subtle and refine state of being. Layers of stress and unhappiness are released – presence, clarity is born.”

Yoga Tree Teacher – Tara Dale

Tara, along with her partner Tim, is the founder of Yoga Tree San Francisco. She teaches a tantric based hatha class with emphasis on going at your own pace and being in the present moment. Students will be guided through sun salutations, standing, seated, and inverted asana sequencing. Tara encourages her students to focus on their breath and to nurture a centered and grounded practice. Throughout her class, Tara highlights alignment. Tara has been teaching hatha yoga since 1995 and has been studying Iyengar, Anusara and Tantra since 1995 and has been in the fitness and wellness industry since 1987. Her teachers are John Friend, Shiva Rea and Judith Lasater.

Yoga Teacher – Tony Eason