Meet Our Instructors
Our instructors don’t just teach yoga - they hold space for healing. Each of us brings years of experience, continued specialized training, trauma-sensitive care, and a heartfelt commitment to helping you feel safe, seen, and supported. Whether you're navigating anxiety, chronic pain, pregnancy, or just need time to reconnect with yourself, we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.
Our Teacher's Credentials
RYT200
Registered Yoga Teacher
Completed a 200-Hour Teacher Training.
E-RYT200
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher
Completed a 500-Hour Teacher Training & has a minimum of 2 years and 1,000 hours of teaching experience.
RYT500
Registered Yoga Teacher
Completed a 500-Hour Teacher Training and has at least 100 hours of teaching experience.
E-RYT500
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher
Completed a 500-Hour Teacher Training & has a minimum of 4 years and 2,000 hours of teaching experience.
RCYT
Registered Children's Yoga Teacher
Completed an additional
95-hour training with a registered children's yoga school.
RPYT
Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher
Completed an additional 85-hour training with a registered prenatal yoga school.
YACEP
Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider
A Registered E-RYT (Experiened Yoga Teacher) with significant experience or education in yoga.
Y12-SR
Yoga of 12-Step Recovery
Completed an additional 26-Hour Yoga Training for 12-Step Recovery.
Our teachers are more than just certified—they’re heart-led facilitators of healing. Many have backgrounds in trauma recovery, spiritual practice, and therapeutic care. This diversity of training and life experience creates a rich, supportive environment for students of all levels.
Instructor Bios
Learn more about each of our certified instructors, their training backgrounds, and their unique approach to yoga and healing.
Kevala
Yoga Therapist, E-RYT200, RCYT, RPYT, YACEP
Leads Teacher Trainings, Private Sessions, Healing Foundations Therapeutic Yoga, & Ashtānga
Kevala is a certified yoga therapist and the founder of The Mind-Body Connection Yoga Studio. Her journey into yoga began as a personal path of healing from trauma and PTSD, where she found deep relief through the integration of breath, movement, and meditation. With over two decades of experience, Kevala is known for creating safe, compassionate spaces that honor each student’s unique process and inner wisdom.
She is currently pursuing a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Yoga Studies at Vivekananda Yoga University, and specializes in yoga for trauma recovery, emotional healing, and self-realization. Her mission is to make yoga accessible to all and to restore its roots as a path to deep inner transformation—not just physical fitness.
About Kevala
I don't practice yoga, Yoga practices me."
~Kevala
Kevala's yoga foundation and training comes directly from the Krishnamacharya lineage. She has been fortunate to have been privately trained and mentored in the Ashtānga tradition as her personal practice by David Miliotis, who is an authorized teacher of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois; and in the Viniyoga tradition, Yoga Philosophy and Yoga Therapy under the personal mentorship of Chase Bossart, student of TKV Deśikāchār.
Lineage & Training
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Trauma-Informed Yoga Certified
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Yoga Trapeze Certified
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Yoga of 12-Step Recovery Certified
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Children's Yoga Certified
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Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Certified
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YA Continuing Education Provider Certified
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Advanced Yoga Philosophy
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Reiki Master Healer
Additional Trainings
Larissa
RYT200
Leads Therapeutic Yoga, Yoga Trapeze, Ashtanga, & Vinyasa Classes
Larissa discovered yoga in 2021 and felt an immediate calling to the practice. She began with a Yoga 101 class at a local community center, which led her to a nearby studio where yoga quickly became a deeply grounding and transformative spiritual practice which helped to heal and transform her life. In late 2023, she found her way to The Mind-Body Connection Yoga Studio and immediately knew it was the perfect place to deepen her journey.
Before becoming a yoga instructor, Larissa spent 18 years teaching TK and Kindergarten, where she honed the skills of structure, adaptability, and meeting students where they are. These qualities seamlessly translate into her yoga teaching, allowing her to create classes that are both thoughtfully designed and adaptable to individual student needs.
About Larissa
Larissa completed her 225-hour Yoga Teacher Training at The Mind-Body Connection Yoga Studio under the guidance of Kevala. Her training is rooted in the Krishnamacharya lineage, drawing from both the Ashtanga and Viniyoga traditions. She studied the foundational principles of breath-centered movement, yoga philosophy, and therapeutic applications of yoga, with an emphasis on trauma-informed care and individualized practice.
Lineage & Training
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Trauma-Informed Yoga Certified
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Aerial Hammock Yoga Certified
Additional Trainings
I don't practice yoga, Yoga practices me."
~Kevala
Avalon
RYT200, RPYT
Leads Therapeutic Yoga, Yoga Trapeze, & Vinyasa Classes
Avalon’s yoga journey began in childhood during visits to the Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades. The sanctuary's peaceful energy left a lasting impression, inspiring her spiritual path and later membership in the Self Realization Fellowship. Her physical yoga journey began with the disciplined practice of Ashtanga Yoga, where she discovered the profound healing power of breath-linked movement. This experience helped her process physical, mental, and spiritual trauma, ultimately leading her to pursue teacher training.
In addition to her certification, Avalon holds a Bachelor's degree in the Study of Religion and Philosophy from UCLA. Her classes blend strength, flow, and mindfulness, empowering students to connect with their bodies and inner wisdom through breath, movement, and presence.
About Avalon
Avalon completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through UCLA’s Yoga Leadership Program in 2019 after years of dedicated practice. Her training draws from the Ashtanga and Vinyasa traditions and is influenced by her mentor Dr. Du Soleil. Avalon’s foundation is also deeply rooted in the spiritual teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda and the Self Realization Fellowship, where she developed a strong connection to pranayama, devotional practice, and the deeper philosophy of yoga.
Lineage & Training
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Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Certified
Additional Trainings
“Yoga is a practice, not a performance”
~Avalon
Rita
RYT200, Certified Mat & Barre Pilates Instructor
Leads Mat and Barre Pilates Classes
With over a decade of teaching experience, Rita has guided countless students toward greater strength, balance, and well-being. Her classes are known for being thoughtful, accessible, and intentionally sequenced to meet a wide range of physical needs. She brings a warm, grounded presence and a deep respect for each student’s unique body and journey. Whether you're working with injury recovery, building core strength, or seeking a more mindful movement practice, Rita meets you where you are—with compassion and care.
About Rita
“Pilates is not just exercise, it's a practice of self-love, discipline, and transformation."
~Rita
Rita began her journey in 2011 and has trained extensively in multiple movement disciplines to support whole-body healing. She is certified in vinyasa yoga, classical mat Pilates, and STOTT Pilates, with additional training in Barre Bootcamp, Yoga Body Sculpt, and Ballet Barre Pilates. Her teaching approach blends mindful movement with body awareness and breathwork, creating a strong foundation for functional strength, mobility, and resilience.
Lineage & Training
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Classical Mat Pilates Certified
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STOTT Pilates Certified
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Personal Trainer Certification
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Reformer PIlates Certification
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Barre Bootcamp
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Yoga Body Sculpt
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Fat Burning Pilates
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Ballet Barre Pilates
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Pilates with Props
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Magic Circle
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Fit Ball and Bands
Additional Trainings
Jessica
Certified Sound Healer
Leads Sound Baths and Sound Healing & Meditation Classes.
Jessica’s love for music was sparked early on, inspired by her older siblings; artists, songwriters, and producers who filled their home with rhythm and creativity. By second grade, she found her own passion through the violin, she played with devotion throughout her school years and in a local orchestra. Her curiosity about the human spirit and what makes us whole led her to pursue a B.A. in Psychology at California State University, San Bernardino, where she deepened her understanding of emotional and mental wellness.
After college, Jessica stepped into the role of a TK teacher then a Program Director serving a nonprofit dedicated to bringing music and arts education to underserved communities. It was here that her passion for nurturing growth and healing truly blossomed.
In 2020, a pivotal moment arrived, Jessica felt a deep calling to merge her lifelong relationship with music and her dedication to mental wellness. This led her into the transformative world of sound healing, where music becomes medicine. Her journey has been one of purpose and heart—witnessing the power of sound as a catalyst for mindfulness, generational healing, and deeper unity within community.
About Jessica
Jessica’s training in sound healing includes studies in vibrational therapy, energy work, and meditative facilitation. She combines ancient practices with modern techniques using instruments like crystal singing bowls, chimes, and voice to create immersive soundscapes that support deep relaxation and inner healing. Her approach is grounded in trauma-informed care and nervous system regulation.
Lineage & Training
Additional Trainings
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Sound Healer Certification
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Mindfullness Life Coach Certiifcation
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Trauma-Informed Certification
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Justice Through Equity, Diversity. & Intersectionality
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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
“Be kind to your mind.”
~Jessica