2022 Festival Teachers
Kamini Natarajan
Teacher
Kamini is a Kirtan and Indian Classical Singer based in LA area. She blends Mantras and Chants with Indian Ragas to create Kirtans that are traditional and extremely meditative. Her Kirtans are composed in specific Ragas that leave the participants feeling serene. She is also the author of Kirtan eBook Indian Ragas for Kirtans. Kamini’s Kirtans bring out her deep spiritual background. They are extremely mystical and magnificently divine. People are left mesmerized by her angelic voice, her intricate improvisations, her odd meter rhythms and most importantly her radiant warm smile. For more information and to stay in touch, visit her website KaminiMusic.com or facebook page KaminisMusic.
Elaine Slivka
Teacher
I have been teaching Yoga for 50+ years and Travel to the Caribbean and Mexico teaching and sharing my passion for Yoga Health and Wellness. I am Vegan and practice Ahimsa. I love the festival and have led "Yoga Hikes" and taught in the classrooms. I am extremely active and believe age is just a number. I am currently busy with my new passion Sound Baths. I love sharing my passions with my fellow Yogis.
Reina Prado
Teacher
Reina Prado (ellxs/they) is a bi-lingual bi-cultural Love Conscious Coach (aka Love Madrina) and Holistic Energy Practitioner. Their practice Healing Queen, established in 2013, is based in unceded Kizh/Tongva territories (Southern California). Their offerings reflect practices from their ancestors many of who were Curanderas, Mid-wives, Herbalists, and Sobadores and combines it with energetic therapeutic modalities as experienced in their signature offering: Love Limpias. Their mission is to help folks activate divine love in their body & field so that they may experience living a more joyful and love filled life. Prado resources teachings from their indigenous heritage, sacred and metaphysical tools such as plant medicine, crystals, and the elements to support their clients on their journey. Prado is the author of Spring Into Love (Balboa Press, 2021). Follow them on Instagram @healinqueen_. Check out their guided experiences and podcast Activating Divine Love on Soundcloud. To access it go to linktr.ee/healingqueen and click on the cloud icon. Their website has more detailed information about the range of services and trainings they offer www.healingqueen.org.
Nancy Rascon
Teacher
Nancy has been practicing yoga for 25 years and teaching yoga since 2006. She incorporates her love for life and adventure into her teachings. As a nature enthusiast, she enjoys many outdoor activities such as hiking, scuba diving, snow skiing, and mountaineering. Other hobbies include world travel, meditation, and intuitive hands-on healing practices such as Reiki.
Nancy is a holistic health practitioner. She is a yoga instructor, a breath work facilitator, a psychic, and a healer.
Olga Mysse
Teacher
I have been teaching in LA, Rancho and online bio to come
Nancy is a holistic health practitioner. She is a yoga instructor, a breath work facilitator, a psychic, and a healer.
Michael Taber
Teacher
Michael is an Astrologer, Ashtanga Yogi, Tai Chi Chuan & Reiki Master, and Sound Healer Globally & currently in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. Trained in Ashtanga Yoga by Caroline Klebl, Michael has wonderful experience assisting 200 hour Certifications, as well as teaching groups and individuals locally and at Resorts in Montana, Sedona and South Dakota. Classes taught include: Ashtanga & Vinyasa Flow, Meditation, Astrology, Tai Chi, Sound Healing, Reiki Certifications and Yin/Restorative Yoga. In addition, as an actor, who graduated from San Diego State’s Bachelor of Arts program in Theater, Michael has eight plus years experience working with kids in schools and private coaching's. His training developed not only the many tools for acting and physical movement, but also for living and teaching a positive, passionate and motivating life. Recently he has been guiding and teaching yoga at Custer State Park Resort in South Dakota where he has been immersed in the Love of the Land. He also volunteers through CoachArt; teaching children with chronic illnesses yoga and theater. Michael has a true passion for guiding others on their journey within and without. Through his light hearted humor and calming energy, he has learned to be effective at communicating, organizing, and working with and inspiring both kids and adults to remember their inner child within.
Karen Elaine
Teacher
Karen Elaine has shared her INTRO TO ACRO YOGA classes for nine years in the Southern California area. Ms. Elaine also offers a12‐video online training program that focuses on the conditioning exercises needed for optimal freedom in the team sport that is partner yoga.
All participants in the acroyoga portion 2022 BBYF AcroYoga workshop will get complimentary video access to Volume #1 of the INTRO TO ACRO YOGA online training package (a $310.00 value)!
Frank Ortiz
Teacher
Frank attended his first yoga class in April 2015 and from then on he was hooked. He began yoga as a way to stay fit and healthy while easing the impact on
his knees and ankles. He soon found that yoga was so much more. Frank believes yoga is a way of life, a method, a thought process, a feeling you carry with yourself all day everyday.
In June 2016, Frank completed his 200 hour yoga teacher training under the guidance of Jared McCann at Lighthouse Yoga School. Through that experience he deepened his understand of asana, pranayama and meditation.
Frank began teaching at Reveille Yoga in October of 2017. His love for advanced asana is shared through his advanced classes. His ultimate respect for calmness and learned flexibility is brought in through his Yin classes.
When Frank isn’t at the studio sharing his love for the yoga practice, he is traveling with his husband or is home with his dogs, cats and tortoise.
Lemia Astarabadi & Joshua Bowser with The Conscious Groove
Teachers & Musicians
Through aromatherapy, yoga, vibrational healing, meditation, energy work, nutrition, plant-based living, massage therapy, live music, and laughter, Lemia and Joshua are inspired to share these empowering tools with all who desire to learn. They are enthusiastic teachers passionate about health, the environment, and the conscious evolution of all life. This is what has inspired them to start their own essential oil company, "Sacred Scents Aromatherapy". They play positive and mantra music in their band, "The Conscious Groove", and believe that music and nature are the greatest examples of how to connect and find harmony and joy in this amazing life we get to live.
Amy Madrid
Teacher
Amy is best known for giving out free hugs and “making you do weird things” in class. Her intention is to blend Yoga's sacred philosophy with modern day movements so you can function in everyday life. Her teaching style is lighthearted but heart filled. While she loves to teach energizing & empowering classes, her true passion is Yin Yoga. The long holds, soft tension on the joints, and quietness has helped her calm an anxious mind. You can expect to breathe, move (or surrender in Yin), and rest in her classes.
Yoga has been in and out of Amy’s life since the early 2000s but did not make an impact until 2013. She attended classes at different yoga studios and became enthralled with Yoga philosophy. She sought out many teachers, tried different styles, and read dozens of Yoga books. She couldn't soak up enough to understand the grand scale of it all. Hint, hint-she is still on that quest! It is one reason she loves Yoga, the learning is never ending. She realized Yoga was not a workout but a way to evolve into the best human possible.
In 2017 she studied under Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500 and received her 200 hour Hatha certification. She found mentors to study with and continued to further her Yoga education over the years. Covid-19 luckily provided Amy the time to “Zoom” into Rishikesh, India and earn a 500 hour mutli-style certification. Teaching has always been in her veins, but through Yoga is where she found her teaching path. She would be honored to walk next to you on your journey.
Dana Andrews
Teacher
Dana Andrews is the owner of Mountain Yoga in Big Bear Lake, CA. She has been practicing yoga for 25 years and teaching for 20. She was certified in 2002 at the Ashtanga Yoga Center with the internationally renowned Tim Miller. Traveling multiple times to India since 2000, Dana has studied with Ashtanga guru, the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, his daughter Saraswathi Jois and grandson R. Sharath Jois. In 2017, Dana completed a 200 hour teacher training at Yoga Medicine with Tiffany Cruikshank.
Dana's well rounded classes include strength, balance, stretching with a focus on linking breath and movement to create a moving meditation. She believes that yoga can help manage daily stress and leave you with a positive mindset. Dana's goal with every class is to leave her students feeling relaxed, yet energized, with a clear and calm mind.
Bombay Rain - Eddie Young, Nick Young and Davey Chegwidden
Teachers & Musicians
Nick Young has been exploring consciousness and spirituality through music on the sitar for over three decades. When Nick was 16 years old he was given his beloved instrument as a gift. It has been a conduit for his creative energy, a companion on his journey into inner realms and a vessel to contain his thoughts, feelings and emotions. Nick fuses eastern traditional music with contemporary sensibilities to create a unique blend of music that is beautiful, mysterious, transporting and enchanting. Nick has traveled to China three times to play concerts and participate in spiritual workshops. Nick has played for countless yoga retreats and festivals.
Jill Rooks
Teacher
Jill’s fitness journey led her to yoga. As she navigated her way through significant weight loss and raising two children, she knew that to maintain health, purposeful movement and true nourishment of the body, mind, heart, and soul were necessary.
Jill has offered group exercise ranging from aqua aerobics to yoga to Pilates to cycle, TRX and weight training since 1998.
She’s hosted meditation events including weekly live group sessions as well as personal “learn how”, and has guided on-line workplace meditations and movement to Loma Linda Medical Center and University Hospital staff and physicians.
Jill’s yoga experience includes teaching yoga for the Multiple Sclerosis Association, as well as for several pre-schools and junior high programs. She has a way of threading every fitness training or class she offers with yoga philosophy and aspects of the practice.
Yoga has been a part of Jill’s life from a young age with early-yoga-as-a-fitness-modality in classes with her mom, then on videos, until she began attending conferences and learning from Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee.
In 2011, she created The Energy Lab, a fitness and personal training studio she owns and operates in Redlands, CA. This past year the opportunity to create a dedicated yoga space directly next door to The Energy Lab was presented. The Fort at The Energy Lab was born to offer yoga and Pilates and mindset in a very soothing and calm, while also playful and inviting atmosphere. The intention of The Fort is like that of childhood blanket fort creation providing a home “on your mat” to disappear to. It is a place to “not have to take yourself too seriously”, allowing nervous systems to be calmed, quieted and restored, while fortifying the mind, body and heart from the inside out.
Jill’s passion and energy and work ethic set her apart. She thrives on program creation, teaching and serving populations of every age the tools and skills to live vibrant and health-full lives.
Nicole Walter
Teacher
Nicole guides her sessions and trainings under the loving belief that each person can be their own healer. She empowers each client and student to embrace a purposeful, balanced life through the lineages of Reiki, yoga, and breathwork.
She began her own healing journey 20 years ago to help navigate her crippling anxiety and stress. Feeling calm for the first time in her body on her yoga mat, Nicole later embraced Reiki to help further heighten her innate intuition. These practices were so transformative in her own life, she committed herself to helping others experience their own unique evolution.
Earning her registered yoga teacher accreditation under the guidance of master yoga teachers and studying alongside multiple Reiki Masters helped her develop a unique perspective and deep understanding of these sacred practices. She holds certifications in Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Karuna Reiki, DivinePeaceHealing, and breathwork, as well as multiple mastery certifications in Usui Reiki Ryoho.
As a former college English teacher, she has learned and practiced proven methods to increase accessibility and retention in learning environments. Her practical, approachable manner has brought her teachings into multiple studios, with private clients, and in yoga teacher trainings. Nicole is most passionate about offering her clients and community the peace, calm, and balance Reiki and yoga offer.