Lead Trainer

Joan Hyman is the director and founder of The Schoolof.yoga™, an authentic international teacher training program focused on continuing education. Her grounded teaching style seamlessly supports her students as they emerge from their practice with the rich and bright energy that yoga has to offer. Joan’s teachings come from an organic and intuitive place, as she draws upon the combined studies of Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga as well as Ayurveda and meditation. An authentic modern-day yogi, Joan's love and devotion show up in her practice and throughout her teaching. You will leave her class feeling transformed and deeply aligned.

Instructor

The creator of SmartFLOW Yoga, Annie is an international Yoga teacher based in Northern California. Known as a “teacher’s teacher” she has created a well-respected system of Yoga practice and Teaching methodology. Annie’s playful personality and focused intelligence bring depth, clarity and exuberance to her classes. A committed student, Annie continues to bring her passion and curiousity, love of anatomy, evolutionary movement, meditation and classical philosophy into her teachings.

Instructor

Based in Los Angeles, Marla Apt is a Senior level Iyengar Yoga teacher who has highlighted by Yoga Journal magazine as one of the twenty-one young yoga teachers helping to shape the future of yoga. She has been involved with medical research studies at UCLA on yoga for depression, anxiety and IBS, and created the first yoga therapy content to be incorporated into the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine’s curriculum. She is a writer/contributor for Yoga Journal and Yoga International magazines.

Instructor

Jeanne specializes in discovering the needs of an individual and gently guides each student to their own grace and balance. She creates a safe haven for students to dive deep, find their edge, and transform. Jeanne teaches with sensitivity, generosity of spirit and a good dose of humor. Founder of Tantra Flow Yoga™, Jeanne brings together her years of studies and teaching skills into a style of yoga inclusive of asana, Ayurveda, mindfulness, with the added focus of the poses’ energy scription goes here.

Instructor

Cristina brings over a decade of experience in teaching and managing yoga studios, with a passion for accessible, impactful wellness practices. As the co-founder of Urban Ashram Yoga in the Philippines which was established in 2011, she has nurtured a thriving community of practitioners and professionals. Since 2017, she has successfully managed operations remotely from New Zealand, leading the transition of Urban Ashram from its three physical studios to a dynamic virtual platform via online classes during and after the pandemic and now through its YouTube channel.

Currently based in New Zealand, Cristina serves as the resident yoga teacher, retreat facilitator, and General Manager of Maruia River Retreat, a renowned destination for nature-inspired well-being. With a keen focus on mentoring emerging teachers, she has shaped programs tailored to older adults, beginner courses, immersive retreats and the Business of Yoga course. Cristina’s own journey in yoga training began with a 200-hour YogaWorks certification with Joan Hyman in 2011, later achieving her 300-hour certification in 2021 with Annie Carpenter’s SmartFLOW approach. Her leadership, dedication to accessibility, and depth of practice continue to inspire her work with individuals of all backgrounds.

Instructor

Lisa Walford holds a Level III (formerly Intermediate Senior II) Iyengar teaching certificate and has been teaching yoga in Los Angeles since 1982. She continues her studies annually with the Iyengars, in Pune, India, and teaches worldwide. In her rigorous and technically informative classes, she creates an ambiance of internal focus inspiring to both beginning and advanced students. Through yoga, she continues to explore the introspective process of balancing the physical with the energetic body while deepening her appreciation for the creative spirit. In her words: “Yoga brings us from the finite to the infinite, from pain to purpose and passion, and from disease to discriminating awareness.” Lisa is on the Board of the not-for-profit organization Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics and has served on the Board of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Los Angeles. She was the curriculum director for the Teacher Training Program at YogaWorks through 2006, and was instrumental in its development. She is on the advisory board of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the Yoga Studies program at Loyola Marymount University. Lisa has a BA from UCLA and is co-author of The Longevity Diet, now in its second edition, and The Anti-Aging Plan.