THE TEACHERS

ELLEN WAGNER, RYT 500
studio director, certified yoga instructor

Ellen Wagner began practicing yoga over 20 years ago to alleviate pain from a back injury. As the injury healed, Ellen began to appreciate the many benefits of yoga. She was inspired to continue her education, and in 2002 became certified as a yoga instructor. Throughout the years, Ellen has consistently studied Iyengar Yoga. She believes that this form of yoga is the most comprehensive study of the many benefits and applications of yoga asana. She feels that by focusing on correct alignment, students learn to safely deepen their practice while experiencing healing, and spiritual growth. She is a member of IYNAUS, and the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Ellen currently practices and teaches here on the island of Kaua’i and is apprenticing on O’ahu in preparation for assessment for certification as an Iyengar Yoga Instructor.

SNEHAN BORN
certified yoga instructor

Snehan is a certified Integral Yoga hatha yoga instructor and a RYT - a registered yoga teacher. He has three decades of experience with yoga and 13 years of teaching experience. He lived in NYC for 25 years where he worked at The Integral Yoga Institute, one of the oldest yoga institutions in the country at 45 years. Snehan teaches all levels of hatha classes, leads teacher training courses and workshops in pranayama and meditation. He has also received teacher training from yoga master Sri Dharma Mittra of the Dharma Yoga Center, Manhattan and has also studied with Sharon Gannon and David Life from Jivamukti Yoga Center, Manhattan. Snehan has traveled to India six times and studied with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India, Australia, Japan and Europe. Snehan is living his dream of residing in Kaua'i-nei and building a spiritual community through the classical teachings of yoga.

Integral Yoga includes various aspects of classical yoga teachings within a class and was established by his guru/teacher, Sri Swami Satchidananda from the Sivananda lineage of Rishikesh. Integral Yoga is a safe practice appropriate for practitioners of all levels, ages and abilities. As well as instruction in the classical postures (asana) each class includes elements of breathing practices (pranayama), concentration practice (meditation), deep relaxation (yoga nidra), prayer and singing (bhakti and nada yoga), yoga philosophies (raja and jnana yoga) and non-competition/detachment/selfless service (karma yoga). Today there are over 50 Integral Yoga Institutes and Teaching Centers worldwide. The goal of Integral Yoga is to discover and maintain our natural condition of an easeful body, a peaceful mind and a useful life.

SANDRA CAROTHERS
certified yoga instructor

Sandra was originally introduced to Ashtanga Yoga in the early 90’s. Over the years, her interest in all aspects of the practice has led her to study with a variety of teachers from many different disciplines. She has been teaching yoga on Kauai since 1995 and has been an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT 500) with the Yoga Alliance since 2002.

She has integrated her love for movement with an in depth understanding of alignment and attention to detail, to create a vinyasa style practice. Combining breath, movement and the awareness of gravity; she creates a balance of intelligent flowing movements and slower deeper poses. Each class is a distinctive combination of postures, a unique dance of the breath.

Sandra’s intention is to awaken and nurture each student, to help them realize their innate wholeness, balance and potential ….and to share some fun and smiles along the journey!

MAGGIE CLUTE
certified yoga instructor

I grew up as an athlete. I have been practicing yoga since 1998. I studied Iyengar (honing in on alignment) for 3 years, Astanga (focusing on flow) for 3 years. I completed my teacher training in the Astanga style 2005 Molokai, with Mateo Madani. I have been teaching since 2005. I am also trained in shiatsu, massage, breathwork and reiki all of which come into my style of yoga instruction. I teach a unique style emphasizing breath, bandahs, alignment, core connection, presence, and peacefulness towards the body, mind, emotions and spirit. My intention as an instructor is to assist others in finding increased well-being from within themselves.

To me, yoga is all about coming into the body, fully present, with integrity and acceptance; learning how to listen to your own body’s innate wisdom and guidance to release disserving constriction/to discover more openness and consequently enjoy a higher state of wellness. I believe our natural state is balance, strength, grace, ease, comfort and suppleness. As we work on the physical level to restore our bodies to that natural state, the mental, emotional and spiritual levels are harmonized as a result.

CHERYL RITTER
alignment instructor

Cheryl Ritter became a student of Iyengar yoga in 2001 and studied with Mary Obendorfer (Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher) at the Iyengar Yoga Centers of San Diego for three years before moving to Kauai in 2008 and attending classes at Kalaheo Yoga. Cheryl was a 5th and 6th grade teacher for 20 years and is now finding joy in teaching yoga to adults. She is presently in the Iyengar Teacher Training Program. Of all the approaches to helping her with a left lumbar scoliosis, she found Iyengar yoga to be the most beneficial.

THERESA OUANO
certified pilates instructor

Theresa Ouano has been teaching Pilates on Kauai since 2001 and is a PhysicalMind Institute Certified Pilates Instructor, Pilates Golf Training Specialist and Personal Trainer. Theresa has over 20 years of experience in martial arts and is a dancer, surfer, trialthlete and marathoner. All of her fitness experience has given her a wealth of knowledge about appropriate exercise pacing, realistic goals, injury prevention and astute exercise selection based on the individual.

AMY CUNNINGHAM
kripalu yoga instructor

Amy was born and raised in San Diego, California. She grew up surfing and windsurfing with her family, taking trips to Baja California, Mexico, as well as playing on several sports teams. She has been practicing yoga for 9 years. She was deeply influenced by the practice and tradition of Ashtanga yoga while living and studying in Barcelona, Spain, where she completed a Fine Arts degree in Photography. In 2006, she trained at the Kripalu Institute for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts. Throughout her personal practice, she has discovered how to open and strengthen the body in a compassionate and self-accepting manner. She has healed sports injuries and misalignments with yoga, improved her surfing, and has come to all-in-all enjoy being in her body! She sees yoga as a method for “putting you back together”. In her free time here on Kauai, she enjoys surfing, yoga, art and fitness. She teaches Kripalu Basics through Level 3, as well as Yoga for Watersports.