TEACHER TRAINING TEAM

TEJASVI GIRI MA / DEJA CROSS, E-RYT 500, Program Director, Lead Teacher, teaches from the heart, sharing ancient wisdom and personal experiences from her many years of Yoga practice and study. Tejasvi Giri Ma has been living in Rishikesh, India – the Yoga capital of the world, where ancient to modern rishis meditate, and Ma Ganga, the eternal, sacred river flows – for five years, and is currently back in the USA, sharing her passion for Yoga and the benefits of integrating a personal practice into daily life.

Tejasvi Giri Ma is a student of Shri Mahant Mukesh Giri Ji Maharaj of Jhilmil Gufa in Shri Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, in Rishikesh, India. Living in Uttarakhand, Dev Bhumi, “the Land of the Gods”, lends itself to deep sadhana and rituals – āsana, pranayama, meditation, chanting, silence, kriyā, pūjā, and aarti; yātrā to holy temples and caves, darshan, sacred ceremonies and festivals; and serving at bhandara, sitting at dhuni, daily bathing in Ma Ganga, surrounded by beauty, and living amidst the Yogis, Swamis, and Gurus.

Tejasvi Giri Ma has been practicing yoga since 1993. In the USA, she studied with Gary Kraftsow (Krishnamacharya-Desikachar Viniyoga tradition) at the American Viniyoga Institute in Maui, Hawaii; and at the Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram (lineage rooted in the ancient Kashmir Shaivism tradition) in Boulder, Colorado.

Tejasvi Giri Ma is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-Hour level with Yoga Alliance, and has been the Lead Trainer for six 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs and several Yoga Retreats and Events around the world.

Education and Business Experience – MBA, BS Mathematics, with over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience in the hospitality, internet marketing, education, holistic living, spirituality, and creativity industries.

www.TejasviYoga.com

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ANNALISA BERNS, E-RYT 200, Team Director, Lead Teacher. Devoted to the spread of love and yoga, Annalisa is the founder of Big Bear Yoga and Big Bear Yoga Festival. A visionary that cares deeply about community, her achievements shine and inspire.

Annalisa began studying Iyengar yoga at Moscow Yoga Center in Idaho in 1998. After Annalisa moved to San Diego, California, she completed her teacher training with the Institute of Progressive Therapies. Annalisa also trained in a variety of holistic areas. She taught at Pacific Beach Yoga in San Diego and operated Yoga Utopia offering private and group classes. When she moved to Big Bear Lake, California, she taught at Equada Yoga, then transitioned it to Big Bear Yoga in 2010, taking on the role of studio owner. Inspired to bring yoga to the mountain communities, she founded Big Bear Yoga Festival. Held every year in October, the festival has grown from a dream to a successful event drawing students and teachers from around the world.

In her projects, Annalisa follows the values of community, belonging, inclusion, kindness, balance, and sustainability. She strives to encourage opening our hearts to self-acceptance and love without judgement. She genuinely cares for all beings, wanting them to be happy and free.

Annalisa is passionate about living a yogic lifestyle, travel and animal welfare. She especially enjoys the health benefits of yoga and believes the practice of yoga can profoundly influence personal growth.

www.BigBearYoga.com

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VANDANA DILLON, E-RYT 200, Training Teacher, has been intuitively guiding yoga and meditation in Tampa Bay for 16 years and with the world renowned Humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) at Spiritual Retreats throughout the US, training thousands of people in meditation. She currently teaches two days a week as Awaken 2 Yoga in the beautiful Sunken Gardens and at Nava Yoga Studio and Om Meditation and Wellness; leading workshops in Yoga Nidra, Sound Healing, Reiki and Women’s Empowerment. She has been leading yoga retreats, workshops and yoga teacher trainings since 2008.

Vandana is the Founder/Organizer of the St. Pete Yoga Festival at Sunken Gardens (2012-current), Awaken Yoga 4 All Kids at John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (2011-2017); a Volunteer-based yoga program for children with Cystic Fibrosis and Cancer, and Karma Kitchen; A Mother’s Kitchen Project at Ronald McDonald House West (2009-current); a bi-monthly meal preparation for families with children at John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Vandana is the President of the non-profit Florida Yoga Teacher’s Association. She is the proud mother to Reinn Dillon.

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ALINA HALL, RYT 200, Training Teacher, is a Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master Teacher and healthy living advocate from St. Petersburg, Florida whose calm energy allows even the most beginner students to delve deeply into their practices.

Known for her clear alignment instruction and mindful sequencing, Alina’s joy-filled classes are appropriate for students of all experience and ability levels.

A lifelong dancer and yoga practitioner of over 20 years, Alina received her 200 hour yoga teaching certification in 2010 from renowned Washington D.C. studio Hot Yoga USA and has been teaching in DC, Los Angeles and the Tampa Bay area ever since.

She specializes in Vinyasa, Yin and Prenatal Yoga and is passionate about helping beginners cultivate a safe, breath-focused practice with a strong and aligned foundation.

Alina incorporates essential oils and Reiki healing energy in her classes and workshops for a unique and inspirational practice that contributes to each student’s emotional healing and overall wellness.

A mom of three, she is also passionate about childbirth education, and teaches prenatal yoga to support a healthy pregnancy and positive labor experience.

Alina’s ultimate goal is to help her students obtain not only stronger and more flexible bodies, but also find happier, more authentic versions of themselves.

Above all, Alina believes in approaching all beings with kindness, reverence and respect and seeks to make her classes inclusive to everyone, no matter what challenges they might be experiencing.

Alina’s ultimate goal is to help her students obtain not only stronger and more flexible bodies, but also find happier, more authentic versions of themselves.

If you’re in Florida, catch her popular monthly sunset practice on Treasure Island Beach every Full Moon. Alina also teaches privately and offers workshops around the Tampa Bay area.

Instagram @AlinaHallYoga; Facebook Alina Hall Yoga & Reiki;
Email alinahallyoga@gmail.com

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MICHAEL ANNAIAN, LMT, Anatomy Faculty, is a licensed massage therapist and his work is best described as integrative bodywork. Michael has been practicing for 5 full years now after graduating from the Cortiva Institute.

His specialties are focused on movement and greater flexibility by way of myofascial release, neuromuscular therapies, and stretching techniques such as muscle energy techniques. He also enjoy working one on one with clients through a wide range of diverse movements in order to assist further improvements in releasing chronic pain and moving more freely.

In October 2023, Michael opened his own bodywork practice, Metta Center of St. Petersburg.

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ADDIE PIAZZA, RYT 500, Training Teacher, received her 200hr training from the Dharma Mitta and B.K.S Iyengar lineage. Her background is in traditional Hatha Yoga. Addie left New York to follow her dreams to work with horses and learn organic farming. Following her bliss, she landed in Florida where she fell in love with its nature. She completed her 300hr training in Tampa. She became a trauma informed yoga teacher during her training. After a dance with her ego, Addie surrendered to her spirit’s suggestion which was to become a full time yoga teacher, living her Dharma.

Addie uses her intuitive gifts and heart to lead her classes. She believes yoga is for everyone and makes accommodations for all in her classes. Addie is a holistic intuitive coach, tune forker, artist and energy reader. She uses all her talents, gifts and wisdom to help guide others into learning how to tap into their inner guidance, create balance and manifest. Addie’s philosophy is sacred silliness – not taking life too seriously – and she reminds her students this by her example. She teaches from her authentic sacred silly self.

Yoga changed Addie’s life 13 years ago. She’s so grateful for the practice that changed her life, brought her into alignment with her purpose, and helped create a deep relationship with herself. She looks forward to guiding others on their yoga teaching journey!

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YTT-200 REGISTRATION

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