Meet Our Teachers

Different Teachers. Different Styles. One Community.

At the heart of Almaden Yoga is a diverse and dedicated team of teachers who bring their own experience, personality, knowledge, and love of yoga to every class.

Over the past 16 years, we have been fortunate to have many wonderful teachers guide our community. Some have been with us for years, some began as students at Almaden Yoga, and some found their path to teaching through our own teacher training programs.

From strong, dynamic practices to gentle, restorative, and meditative experiences, each teacher brings something unique to the mat.

What they share is a commitment to creating classes that are welcoming, thoughtful, and accessible—whether you’re taking your first yoga class or have practiced for decades.

Find the teacher. Find the class. Find the practice that feels like yours.

Our Teachers

Amber Smith

Vinyasa flow. Hatha.

Lifelong lover of yoga, formally trained 7 years ago and loving teaching ever since! I enjoy making yoga accessible and fun, focusing on the PRACTICE, not perfection.

Anna Hunt

Gentle Yoga.

Anna began her yoga practice in 2008 and she noticed that yoga slowly wove it’s way into every aspect of her life as she began to realize the full mind and body benefits of yoga. Anna finds her stride in teaching gentle, slow movement and easy flow classes. You will leave her classes feeling open, relaxed and at peace.

Anuja C

Anuja Chaudhri

Founder and Owner of Almaden Yoga & Gilroy Yoga | Hatha. Vinyasa flow.

Anuja is a believer of alignment – no, not just in the body but in every aspect of life. She believes and tries to live in alignment with her work, family, friends and the various demands of life. She teaches yoga and believes that every class is a learning process for her own growth. Her classes include alignment of the body, her silly sense of humor, sharing her learning through the journey of life and most of all spreading her infectious smile and energy. She brings tremendous amounts of love and community feel into the world of Almaden Yoga.

In 2006 Anuja fell into the hands of a teacher training program and knew it was time to renew, revive and come alive. Teaching and learning took her into the opportunity of opening her own yoga studio. This is when Almaden Yoga was born. It was her child which she could nourish and use as a space where love, peace, health, and community could be built.

Teaching since 2006, and after 16+ years of running Almaden Yoga, teaching over 3500 yoga classes, giving birth to over 65 new yoga teachers, taking a number of international yoga retreats, Anuja continues to evolve as a human being, constantly self-studying and is inspired to accomplish and spread peace in the community through yoga. Hope you will join her class and always come and introduce yourself. She may forget your name but she will remember your face in any part of the world.

Ashley

Ashley Curran

Vinyasa flow. Body Sculpt. Yoga Tone.

Ashley’s yoga journey began when she accompanied a girlfriend to a Vinyasa class. The class brought her the perfect balance between challenging herself and finding peace and contentment. Ashley enjoys offering challenging, yet compassionate classes where she encourages everyone to listen to their bodies and move mindfully. Her goal when teaching on the mat is to help bring a balance between strength, flexibility and focus in a safe and nurturing environment.

Carrie - Instructor

Carrie Middleton

Hatha. Gentle. Vinyasa flow.

As a busy full-time working mom of two, Carrie needed an outlet to support her physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga immediately became her outlet and passion. She fell in love with the wonderful community of Almaden Yoga and wanted to deepen her practice. In her classes, you will find an emphasis on connecting movement with breath. She offers modifications and challenges to fit the needs of all yogis.

Cindy Campbell

Vinyasa flow. Gentle.

For each class, Cindy brings an intention to create a space where you can release the tension, connect to source and shift your perspective. She weaves in movement, breath-work, mudras and prayer guiding you to turn inward to see your own light so you can move through life with greater awareness, love, peace and purpose. Cindy believes that when we live from the place of connection, we have more love to give to this world.

Felicia Pritchett

Mindful Flow.

Felicia, brings a vibrant and caring energy to her Vinyasa Flow classes, encouraging students to move with joy and intention.  Her teaching style is greatly influenced by her love for holistic health and wellness with classes that are designed to be a complete sensory experience, combining mindful, breath-based asana with aromatherapy, curated music, and often the therapeutic vibrations of crystal sound bowls during shavasana.

Gilberto Guerrero

Zumba.

Gilberto started dancing Mexican Folklore as a child. In 2011, and his curiosity drove him to take an aerobics class (Zumba, the first time he heard about this kind of dance). The music, the choreography, and the ambiance in the hall made Gilberto fall in love instantly with Zumba. Gilberto combines his passion for dance with Zumba.

Heidi Gonzalez

Gentle. Wall Yoga. Chair Yoga.

Heidi was immediately drawn to yoga’s ability to calm the mind, care for the body, and connect the inner self. It provided remarkable balance and flexibility benefits she did not get from running and weight lifting, along with providing decompression from a high-pressure Silicon Valley tech career. She works to create a safe, welcoming, and accessible space for her students. She is delighted to be a part of the Almaden Yoga community.

Jimiann Wong

Vinyasa flow. Gentle Yoga. Prenatal Yoga.

Jimiann began practicing yoga in June 2002. Her friend told her to prepare for it to be “hot and to bring a towel and a water bottle.” She had no idea what impact that yoga class would have on her life several years later.  In her class, you will find a vigorous and light hearted flow, where students will be reminded to move with their breath and listen to their bodies. She hopes to provide a safe and nurturing space to allow students to explore, to feel inspired and to leave with a sense of well-being.

Julie Zlatunich

Hatha.

Julie Zlatunich began practicing yoga around 1995. In her classes, Julie emphasizes on proper alignment for safety, stability, and energy flow in her hatha classes. Be prepared for longer holds and challenging poses with a Zen vibe.

Liana

Liana Krause

Almaden Yoga Assistant Manager | Restorative Yoga.

For Liana yoga came in and out of her life for many years until a friend brought her to a class at Almaden Yoga in 2016. She immediately fell in love with the space as well as the community and found herself able to connect with yoga on a deeper level. The vigorous nature of the classes she took helped her find peace and calm in her life while over working at a high stress job. Though she still enjoys a dynamic and strength focused personal practice, she found her passion in helping people find peace and appreciate stillness teaching Restorative yoga. You can find her at the studio, either teaching, working at the front desk, answering calls as part of the management team or most often on a mat beside you in a class.

Liz Linehand

Gentle Yoga.

As a long-distance runner and cyclist, Liz turned to yoga over 20 years ago as a way to heal her body from injuries. What began as a healing practice quickly evolved into a profound journey of physical and mental well-being. Liz believes everyone can benefit from a yoga practice and cherishes cultivating a sense of community and connection in her classes with gentle and slow flow sequences.

Instructor_Marilyn

Marilyn Baker

Flow.

For nine years, Marilyn has had the joy of sharing the transformational power of yoga. Her path started simply as a student who fell in love with the practice and the welcoming community that surrounds it. That passion led me to her 200-Hour Teacher Training. Whether teaching studio flow classes, working with incarcerated youth, guiding moms-to-be through prenatal yoga, or teaching kids as young as preschool, Marilyn’s approach is centered on accessibility, warmth, and mutual learning. Every student brings a unique perspective to class, and learning from people of all ages and walks of life remains the greatest honor of her practice.

Meredith

Meredith Divita

Gently Yoga.

Meredith is passionate about helping people discover self-love and serenity through yoga. Whether it’s teaching community classes or one-on-one through movement, she helps guide individuals in finding their true self, resulting in positive self-image. She is passionate about her path and it shows when she is working with others. Meredith listens to the needs of the student and finds the most supportive and encouraging route to guide them.

Michael Holland

Qi Gong.

Holistic Health Coach and Personal Trainer. 71 years young. Has been studying and practicing Qi Gong 35 years and teaching for 25. He took refuge with a Tibetan master for 7 years and studied with a Taoist priest for 3 years. Michele always looks forward to sharing his knowledge and wise practices with you.

Nanci Shakthi Nardona

Gentle Yoga. Restore & Relax.

Having been with Almaden Yoga since 2010, Nanci is our longest-running instructor. She finds joy in a healthy lifestyle centered on movement, meditation, and clean living. Music and nature are essential in her life. Nanci is also a home organizer. All of these talents and passions ground and inspire her. She brings a nurturing sense of calm to everything she does rooted in love.

Instructor Marilyn

Neen Martelino

Cardio Sculpt.

Coming Soon

Nick Adam

Hatha. Vinyasa flow.

Nick completed his yoga teacher training in Bali, with additional study in India, shaping a practice that brings traditional yogic principles into a modern movement experience.

Nick integrates breath, awareness, and movement into his classes. He emphasizes creating space in the body for greater freedom of movement and space in the mind for greater presence. His classes are grounded in the belief that when breath and movement work together, the body moves freely and the mind becomes still.

Ron Victor

Founder & Owner of Almaden Yoga & Gilroy Yoga | Flow.

Ron believes the physical practice (asanas) is a tool that helps the practitioner get to the true benefits of the practice – a calm mind and a rejuvenated soul. His classes typically involve a strong challenging sequence coupled with breathwork and meditation.

Shailee Raja

Flow. Ashtanga-101. Advanced technique.

Shailee is a long-time, dedicated practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga Yoga. Her purpose extends beyond personal growth; it’s a commitment to perpetual learning and evolution—both as a devoted student and a dedicated teacher. Teaching, for Shailee, is a profound act of sharing the love she has for this practice and the metamorphosis it unfolds in individuals.

Shakti Malini

Gentle Yoga. Sound Healing.

Shakti Malini is a certified yoga teacher who brings together traditional yoga, meditation, breathwork, and sound healing to create deeply restorative experiences in her gentle yoga class

Shauna Thomas

Vinyasa flow. Yoga Tone.

Shauna early in her practice realized that yoga was what was missing for 44 years! In her classes, Shauna wants you to find calm, balance and stability through her classes. She hopes you leave her class feeling better than when you arrived.

Steph D

Stephanie D’ornellas

Gentle Yoga. Prenatal Yoga.

Stephanie discovered yoga in her early 20s, as she was drawn to its harmonious blend of movement and spiritual growth. Her mission is to offer a holistic approach to wellness, creating a nurturing and supportive space for all her students.

Stephanie Valleau

Flow.

Stephanie enjoys teaching classes which include strength building, stretching and breathing exercises to students of all levels in a safe and welcoming environment. She is excited to guide you through your practice as you explore the wonderful world of yoga!

Thao-My

Hatha. Vinyasa. Restorative Yoga.

Thao-My is a passionate yoga teacher dedicated to creating a welcoming, safe space for students of all levels to connect with breath, body, and spirit. Drawing from her background in Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative yoga, Thao-My guides accessible, nourishing classes focused on intentional movement, nervous system regulation, and grounding sequences. Her sessions invite students into full presence, often concluding with the soothing resonance of sound healing chimes. Off the mat, she is inspired by community, holistic wellness, and the transformative power of yoga to unite people in healing and joy.

Vrushali Sane

Vinyasa flow. Body sculpt. Hatha.

She is passionate about helping people of all levels find their own unique practice and love for yoga. Vrushali is always excited to help connect practitioners with their bodies and mind through breathwork, movement and meditation.