Yoga Shala Founder & Director of the Traditional Mysore Program, Authorized Level 2 by Sharath Jois Yoga Centre

I started practicing yoga in 1996 and discovered my passion for Ashtanga yoga around the year 2000 when I developed my self practice. Desperately, seeking to study under the guidance of a teacher I found David Swenson and Tim Miller and from that point on continued to study under Timji.

In the continuous search for true knowledge in 2010 I took my first class with Paramaguru Sharath Jois in Encinitas, CA. Since then he became my guru and teacher.

After several long trips to Mysore, India and following his US tours, Sharathji decided to bless me with his Authorization to teach the Ashtanga yoga method.

I feel so humbled and blessed to have been gifted an Ashtanga community in San Antonio, TX and when I received my Authorization I thought to myself, "This is ours, I share this with my students and I can offer them more"

More about Ana HERE

Co-Owner of Yoga Shala San Antonio, E-RYT 500

I was born and raised in Mexico City but we moved to Texas in 1998. In 2004 I walked into my first yoga class and since then I practiced Vinyasa, Hatha and Bikram yoga. My first studies were in Hatha yoga.
In 2013 I began an Ashtanga practice and found everything I love about yoga so it soon became my main practice. I completed the Ashtanga training with my teacher, partner and friend Ana Hollis at Yoga Shala.
Since then I've attended intensives with Tim Miller, Kino McGregor and Tim Feldman. I've been fortunate to have been part of numerous workshops with amazing teachers like Eddie Stern, Kino McGregor, David Swenson, Tim Feldmann, Taylor Hunt among other great teachers.

In 2018 I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to India to study with Sharath Jois, Eddie Stern and Robert Moses during the Ashtanga Yoga Yatra in Rishikesh.

My next trip to India was in 2022, this time to Mysore, studying under the guidance of Sharath Jois. Along with the daily yoga practice, philosophy, chanting and Sanskrit classes with Lakshmisha were my daily activities. It was a very special life changing experience. I returned to Mysore in 2023.

I'm very grateful for my family and their incredible support throughout this beautiful journey, specially my husband Alex who always inspires and encourages me in everything. My children who teach and surprise me everyday reminding me the practice of yoga goes way beyond the mat.

I feel so lucky to teach and share the passion of this beautiful practice with others.

"Yoga is a light that once lit will never dim. The more you practice the brighter the flame" -BKS. Iyengar.

RYT 200

My name is Laurie Thalman. I am a 40 something yoga girl and devoted wife and mother of four amazing children.
I started my yoga journey over 20 years ago, in my living room. I can remember watching my mother stand on her head, and doing crazy arm balances. At the time, I had no idea this would pave the way for my love of the practice and yoga itself. After many years of trying every style of yoga out there, I finally found my way to Ashtanga. This is where my practice began to have new meaning. In 2012, I completed the 200 hour Ashtanga teacher training at Yoga Shala, under the guidance of my teacher, Ana Hollis. I continually pursue education, workshops, and teacher trainings, to grow in my own understanding of this beautiful fascinating practice of Ashtanga. I have been teaching for seven years, and love every aspect of getting to share yoga.
When we come to our mat, breathe together, find stillness together, we are given an opportunity to connect. And, maybe in this moment, we can let go and see, that we are all, only one.

RYT 200

Since the age of 2 and for the next 23 years I was a dancer. I learned how to be aware of movement, breath and alignment of my body very early.

I've been practicing yoga since 2003, but established a consistent ashtanga practice since 2012 in Yoga Shala of San Antonio with love and enthusiasm.

Today I find my whole being in Ashtanga Yoga.

I've had the opportunity to attend workshops with David Swenson, Tim Miller, Tim Feldman, Kino MacGregor and in 2015, 2016 and 2017 attended Sharatji's US Tour with his approval to finish full intermediate class.

In 2018 I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to India to study with Paramaguru Sharath Jois and Eddie Stern.

I thank everyone who has been part of this beautiful journey specially my teacher and friend Ana Hollis, my family for teaching me what life really means and my yoga family who inspire me day by day.

“May the words, thoughts and actions in my own life promote your joy and prosperity”.

Namasté

RYT 200, RCYT

Jenny started to practice ashtanga yoga in 2010. She finished her 200-hour ashtanga teacher training in 2019 at the Yoga Shala of San Antonio (RYT 200). She took continuing education afterwards to teach yoga to children in 2020, the year of the pandemic. This period was her silver lining to found Glow Little Lotus Yoga and teach children virtually. In early 2021, she became a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) with Yoga Alliance. She has students from babies, toddlers, young children, tweens and teens and children with disabilities. She is also trained to teach yoga to youth athletes, yoga in the school classroom and trauma-informed yoga to youth.
A yoga student herself, Jenny keeps her progress in the ashtanga practice with Ana Hollis, her teacher in San Antonio. She likewise learned and practiced from senior Ashtanga teachers like Eddie Stern and Kino MacGregor.
Her own practice on the mat inspires her as a teacher. Jenny loves sharing the benefits of yoga and mindfulness to both adults and the youth and is thankful for the opportunity to teach at the Shala.

E-RYT 500, AYURVEDIC HATHA YOGA
RYT 200, ASHTANGA

My curiosity into the world of yoga was initially sparked after reading The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra at age 12. I began practicing yoga at Incarnate Word in 2008 and decided to pursue my first yoga teacher training in 2015. Since then I have submerged myself in my Ayurvedic studies, as well as becoming a meditation teacher through the Chopra Center in 2019.
In 2022 I finally took the step into the world of ashtanga yoga studying with Ana and Paulina at Yoga Shala as my personal journey continues to evolve.

Though life’s ups and downs I found the ability to calibrate my emotional afflictions through Ayurveda (yoga’s sister science), meditation, pranayama and asana. My inspiration behind teaching and working with people one-on-one is to help guide others connect to their “purusa,” or inner light of awareness, through the teachings of yoga.

I teach my classes by weaving in ancient knowledge with the intention of helping my students feel grounded and motivated. I am currently most inspired by the teachings and work of Eddie Stern, Peter Crone, Byron Katie, Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. Claudia Welch, and Dr. Rick Hanson.

I also offer Ayurvedic body therapy, energy healing sessions, sound baths, and Ayurvedic health intakes at the Shala.

RYT 200

Craig has been practicing Yoga since 2004. In 2018 he was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga at Aranya Yoga Ashram taking their 200 hr course in Goa India with Krishna Das Baba.
He furthered his interest in Ashtanga at Yoga Shala San Antonio with Ana Hollis, and completed the primary series 200 hour immersion in 2019.
He really enjoys sharing his passion for yoga with people who are both already practicing or just starting out.
Yoga, and Ashtanga in particular, has had a great impact on his life. It has helped him restore and heal injuries and problems with his back. It has also helped him focus and steady his thoughts, which helps him out in so many aspects. He would like for other people to benefit from Ashtanga like he has.

RYT 200

Christy began her yoga journey as a Christmas gift in 2014. She sought out Ashtanga yoga to begin healing physically, mentally and spiritually. From the first moment she stepped into YogaShala, she knew she was home. She started taking classes regularly and completed her 200 RYT at YogaShala in December of 2019, 5 years after first stepping through the Shala's doors. She wants to give back to the community through Yoga Therapy as she continues her life long learning through the practice of Ashtanga.

RYT 200

I was born in Morelia, Michoacan. Mother to Valeria, Eduardo, Santiago and Alonso. My family is my main life project and the reason I work hard to be better everyday.

I'm a Holistic Nutritionist, health coach and chef with experience in eating disorders and all the work I do today comes from my own experience. I lost 40 pounds and completely transformed my body and my life.

I have discovered on my own transformation journey that when you are on a transformational path, many tools, information and time are needed to be successful. Ashtanga Yoga has been part of my family for years since my mother has been a long time dedicated practitioner and owned her Shala in Morelia. I finally incorporated a daily Mysore practice to my routine in 2020 and as part of this journey I decided to complete the Ashtanga Yoga Immersion at Yoga Shala in 2022. The way yoga relates and can be seamlessly incorporated to my holistic nutrition and health coaching studies, has inspired me to share this practice that I know can make a true impact on peoples lives.

RYT 200

As a true Aquarian, I am truly dedicated and completely immerse myself in what I do. With the intention to share my passion for health & wellness, I've spent years studying and preparing myself. I am a certified Access Consciousness Facilitator by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition of NY. I am also a meditation and hatha yoga instructor and an expert in food science.