Our Teachers

Partner and Chief Operations Officer (COO).

Ram earned a B.A. in Literature and Writing, with highest honors, from Columbia University .  A devout Christian, Kundalini, Jnana Yogi and Amma devotee, he has engaged in a lifetime of study in comparative religion and spirituality. Ram received initiation and training in Transcendental MeditationTM as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; he has completed Self-Realization Fellowship study of the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda; and, in December of 2008, Mata Amritananda Mayi Devi accepted Ram Gian into a Guru-disciple relationship and inspired him to begin a life of selfless service as a yogi and teacher.

In 2010, after decades of yoga and meditation practice and nearly a year of intense teacher training, he earned Aquarian Teacher certification as a Kundalini Yoga Instructor in the school of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan® at Yoga Village in Clearwater Florida, where he is now a partner. He was given the name “Ram Gian Singh” by Yogi Bhajan’s personally appointed instructors. The name means, “The one who sings the song of God and who is the embodiment of the Wisdom of God.” Ram sincerely aspires to live up to that name :)

For the past two (2) years, he has studied Advaita Vedanta, and focused deeply on the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, Ramesh Balsekar, and the Ashtavakra Gita. Sat Nam.

Operations Manager

Becky has been an athlete and fitness instructor since 1990. She started practicing Yoga in 1996.

As former marathon runner, her initial interest in Yoga was to increase flexibility and prevent running injuries. She soon discovered that these were only some of the benefits of practice. She began teaching Hatha Yoga in 2001, in part to share these benefits with others.

Becky teaches Vinyasa Flow, an energetic class appropriate for all levels.  Becky also teaches Introduction to Yoga and Yoga Basics for Flexibility and Strength, a class that covers posture foundations.  Her teaching emphasizes increasing strength and flexibility to create balance. She instructs students to observe how breath awareness assists movement.

She has earned a certification in Yoga, personal training, aquatic exercise instruction and is registered with Yoga Alliance.

"After participating in the competitive and ego driven sport of running marathons, I approach my Yoga practice with no expectations, requirements or pressures. Yoga is my support system. It helps me stay balanced, keeps my cranky lower back healthier and has given me a vocation where there is always something new to learn."

Check out Becky's interview in our Teacher Feature: July 2010!

Communications and Special Projects Manager

Before her life as a yogini, June worked in radio and TV in New York for over 20 years. When she and her family moved to Florida in 2004, she changed careers and became a certified childbirth educator, teaching pregnant moms about the benefits of prenatal yoga. 

“I remember the moment I walked in the doors of Yoga Village, in that first month they opened,” says June. “I just stood there in the lobby and cried. There is such a special energy about this place.”  A regular Hatha practitioner for many years, June tried a Kundalini class with Sunder and knew immediately that it had something deep and unique to offer.  She continued to practice both Kundalini and Hatha, and in 2009, decided to become a KRI-certified Kundalini Yoga teacher. 

June also teaches Kundalini and Prenatal classes at Yoga Village. She continues to focus primarily on writing and marketing to help share with the community the many benefits of yoga.  June has been married to her supportive husband John since 1989.  They have two sons, and puppies that they raise for the Southeastern Guide Dog School.

Laura Conley, RYT 200, is a passionate practitioner and joyful teacher of alignment yoga. Characterized by brightness and humor, her instruction resounds with unending love of Spirit and its profound workings within the human heart.

Laura has been blessed to study with several highly skilled and nationally recognized teachers, including Anusara greats Betsey Downing, Jaye Martin, Todd Norian, Ann Greene and St. Petersburg’s own shining gem, Rita Knorr. Laura also studies Iyengar yoga with master teacher Karin Stephan and loves continuing to learn from the area’s many gifted and inspiring yogis.

Laura teaches Alignment-Based Yoga on Tuesdays at 8AM, Fridays at 6PM and Saturdays at 9AM and 11AM at our St Pete Unity Campus location room 401.

Michelle is a certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher. She also trained with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa in pre-natal yoga and Shakta Kaur Khalsa in the Radiant Child Yoga program. She holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting and a MBA from the University of Tampa.

She began practicing Hatha yoga in 1996 to help with a period of high stress and anxiety. It has now become a way of life for her and it's her passion to share the serenity, flexibility and healing benefits of yoga. She is also a Oneness Blessing giver and loves sharing this wonderful heart-opening grace. She extends peace, love and happiness to all.

Check out our Teacher Feature October 2011 for our interview with Ramjot.

Jan attended her first yoga class in 2000. As an athlete she thought yoga would be a nice compliment to her workout. Avid gardening, vegetarianism, regular exercise and meditation have been a part of her lifestyle most of her life.

Out of nowhere, Jan was diagnosed with cancer. What, how, why and how long were questions that she now had to reconcile.  Yoga became a source of healing for her during her treatments. This was when she made the decision to take the teacher certification course with Anala Schools at Yoga Village.

Through all of this, Jan’s practice has deepened her spiritual life.  She is registered with Yoga Alliance. Her interests are in the anatomy and physiological benefits of yoga. She hopes to be an inspiration to others who are facing life threatening or other illnesses.

Join Jan for the Ashtanga yoga class on Saturdays at 8:30AM.

Originally from Encinitas, California, Marisha was introduced to yoga at the early age of 2. Yoga became a way of life for her. At 18 she moved to Costa Rica where she became enthralled with the raw natural beauty that abounds there. Marisha is certified at the 500 hour level through the Adiaya Yoga Sanctuary with her dear friend and teacher Di Tyssen.

She teaches Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, and Ashtanga yoga. She emphasizes breath awareness and conscious relaxation to go deeper into each pose. Her main goal as a teacher is to help her students become aware of the subtle energy inside each of us. She believes that it is that energy that connects us all - healing the body while developing peace & harmony within the mind.

Marisha teaches at Sunken Gardens at noon on Mondays and 3rd Saturdays of the month at 10AM.

Suzanne began practicing yoga in 1993 on the wise advise of her chiropractor, in order to correct chronic pain caused by a very athletic lifestyle. After scoffing at the notion that yoga would have much to offer, she attended her first Bikram-style class and found that yoga was definitely not for sissies! Within a few weeks of consistent practice, long-standing injuries were healed and a complete physical transformation had taken place.

Suzanne not only began to realize the incredible power of yoga, but also had a strong knowing that to share this gift with others would be the greatest honor. Under the careful instruction of local teacher Arlena Dominick, Suzanne developed a style of teaching that is organic and joyful. Focusing on subtle adjustments in alignment, freedom of breath and compassionate movement, Suzanne aims to introduce her students to the body's own teacher within.

Chanting and Breathing to Bring Peace

Christine was certified as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level in 2004. The Kundalini Gong and Meditation class she teaches provides students with an opportunity to deeply relax, breathe and meditate.

She especially enjoys teaching students the joy of chanting.

Christine is also certified as a Breathwalk instructor. Breathwalk is a walking meditation, which combines walking with patterns of breathing and use of mantra.

With a background as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she brings an understanding of emotional healing to her teaching, to facilitate deep levels of peace.

Check out our Teacher Feature May 2011: Keval Kaur.

Meets Challenge with Inspiration

Máre was involved in many aspects of sports and fitness throughout her life. She competed in equestrian events, golf, swimming and dance.

Those interests were eroded by her career in business and when she reached the age of 40, she weighed over 200 pounds. She joined a gym, lost the weight, and became a NFPT personal trainer. Her rigorous workouts were too much for her body and injuries crept in.

That is when she turned to Yoga. She is a 200-hour (RYT) and continues to attend workshops and practice with teachers who inspire her. Her focus is Hot, Power and Flow styles.

She also works at the front desk where she enjoys meeting and talking with the many Yogi’s and Yogini’s that come through the door.

Kim is a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor.  She has been teaching at Yoga Village since the center opened. She works as a Hospice nurse, helping people through their transition at the end of life. She also specializes in using yogic technology to help people recover from addictions.

Check out our interview with Kim in our Teacher Feature July 2011.

Teaching Women and Children Nationwide

Amy Pfaelzer is an IKTYA certified yoga teacher, RYT-200 and holds a Master’s degree in Education. She is a facilitator of the Radiant Child Yoga Program® and trains directly with founder Shakta Kaur Khalsa.

Amy has also completed the Khalsa Way pre-natal yoga teacher training with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa. She teaches children’s, pre-natal, and Kundalini yoga and leads Radiant Child Yoga Program® teacher trainings nationwide. For more information please visit www.littleonesyoga.com

Check out our interview with Amy in the Teacher Feature January 2011.

Yoga Beyond the Mat

Mable walked into her first Yoga class in 1997, which happened to be  Bikram Yoga, and was hooked. 

She had been a runner for many years but felt that her body need something more. The "hot" Yoga allowed her body to stretch and become more flexible while releaving the soreness in her knees. It was the perfect complement to her running. After practicing and studying hot Yoga for more than two years she began to teach on a part-time basis.

She attended workshops taught by Rodney Yee, Eric Shiffmann, John Friend, and others to further her understanding of the practice, and was certified in 2002. Shortly after, she volunteered her time to teach Yoga classes at the Pinellas County Jail through a program called "Project Success". She continued teaching in that program for more than 4 years.

She loves to share the benefits of Yoga and teaches that these extend beyond the mat.

Check out our interview with Mable in the Teacher Feature February 2011.

Kundalini Teacher Trainer

Deva Kaur Khalsa is a Lead Trainer in the Aquarian Teacher Training Program, a member of the Kundalini Research Institute’s Teacher Training Executive Committee, and a member of KRI’s Board. Starting when she was just 17, she has served the Kundalini Yoga community tirelessly in South Florida for more than 35 years. With her husband Deva Singh, she has two beautiful children, both graduates of Miri Piri Academy, India.   She is co-owner of Yoga Source in Coral Springs, FL and can be reached at www.MyYogaSource.com.