Teachers

Keith Kachtick is the founder and director of Dharma Yoga. A Bliss-certified yoga teacher (and a University of Texas Plan II graduate), he was from 1998-2005 senior instructor for the Lineage Project, a Dharma-based nonprofit that offers meditation, tai chi, qigong, and yoga asana in New York City youth prisons. Before moving back to Austin, he taught at Bliss Yoga Center in Woodstock and at Jai Ma Yoga Center in New Paltz, New York, was on the faculty of the Omega Institute, and led yoga and meditation retreats in New York City, throughout New York state, and in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Italy. Keith’s yoga classes, which combine elements of the Jivamukti and Anusara traditions, are infused with warmth and humor, his training in the martial arts and Tibetan Buddhism, and a love of music and world literature. He has written about spirituality and meditation for Newsweek, Esquire, Texas Monthly, and the New York Times Magazine, and edited You Are Not Here and Other Works of Buddhist Fiction (Wisdom Publications). His first novel Hungry Ghost (HarperCollins) was a 2003 New York Times Notable Book. Keith offers a deep bow of thanks to his wonderful teachers, Debi DiPeso, Tias Little, John Friend, Sifu David Berman, Lama Surya Das, Sogyal Rinpoche, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Camilla Figueroa is Dharma Yoga's assistant director and the founder of Austin Yoga Therapy (www.AustinYogaTherapy.com). Of Danish and Guatemalan descent, fluent in Spanish, she is a clinical therapist and has been practicing yoga since her pregnancy with her oldest son, Niko, twelve years ago. Her senior yoga teachers include John Friend, Katchie Ananda, and Thomas Fortel. Camilla has a Master's Degree in Social Work and brings to her Dharma Yoga classes a keen interest in Buddhist meditation and mind-body awareness, a love of Thai Yoga massage, a deep understanding of the nuances of interpersonal communication, and a powerful belief in the transformative capabilities of asana practice for emotional and spiritual growth.

Alli Horan has been practicing Hatha yoga for six years and is a certified Dharma Yoga Instructor. She is working towards her certification to practice Ayurveda from the American Institute of Vedic Studies and works professionally as an Applied Clinical Nutritionist. Alli believes that yoga and Ayurveda provide a foundation for optimal health and wholeness, and her classes reflect this integration. She encourages her students to tap into their innate healing ability by quieting the mind, opening the heart, and finding the true expression of their consciousness within each asana. Her teaching is inspired by the wisdom of Iyengar, the dynamic and transformative flow of Ashtanga and Jivamukti, and the compassionate heart and meditative root of Dharma Yoga.

Sanieh Patricia is registered with Yoga Alliance, certified through Austin's Living Yoga Program, and is nearing completion in the Advanced Teacher training with Shiva Rea. Having lived for years on the Big Island of Hawaii, Sanieh brings to her Dharma Yoga classes a uniquely fluid and deeply spiritual Prana Vinyasa Flow practice, as well as a love of Vipassana meditation, singing, kirtan, Trance Dance, and world music. Her teaching draws from that sacred heart-space of love and compassion and safely encourages students, of all levels, to gracefully find their "intelligent edge" within. Find out more at www.saniehyoga.com.

Shawn Kent has a Masters degree in Counseling, is a registered massage therapist, and is a certified Dharma Yoga instructor. Shawn works full time as a counselor at Austin Child Guidance Center where he runs mind-body therapy groups for adolescents in juvenile detention. He also works part time as a massage therapist, specializing in Thai Yoga massage therapy. Shawn brings a gentle, practical, and therapeutic approach to the healing art of yoga.

Gioconda Parker (ERYT-500) has been teaching yoga since 1997 and is the director of the Yoga Teacher Training at Castle Hill Fitness. She has led national and international yoga retreats and continues her studies with Rodney Yee, Mary Romeu-Keator, and Shiva Rea. Teaching in the Vinyasa style, she encourages students to connect with their breath, their body, and their inner being in a playful and encouraging environment. Find out more at giocondayoga.com.

Brandy Arena is a Dharma Yoga-certified Hatha teacher and has studied for many years with Brigitte and Murti of Healing in Yoga. She is also a volunteer Big Sister at Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Texas and is an ongoing student of Waldorf School Teacher Training. Brandy's yoga classes honor the ancient practice of yoking the mind's intent to the body in order to fully live with greater balance, harmony and ease. Her gentle instruction encourages and inspires students to awaken their dreams and welcome the inner calling of their hearts. Find out more about her at bealoveyoga.com.