Instructors & Staff

certifications

CYT 200
85hr Yin Yoga

My Teaching Style

My teaching style is inclusive, adaptable, and holistic-oriented. In flow classes, I guide students with mindful breath counts throughout the practice to aid focus and challenge limitations, while offering modifications to ensure poses feel accessible. My Yin classes emphasize slow-paced transitions and “trust falling” into the mat, experimenting with the sense of letting go. I also incorporate sound healing to open and close each session, creating an immersive experience through vibrations. I generally remind all to take long deep breaths and maintain steady control of those breaths while feeling the inner workings or sensations of each pose. My goal is for you to finish each class feeling uplifted and energized, learning something new about your physical and/or emotional being.

Experience

I began my yoga journey alone in 2020 during the pandemic, so it was not until 2023 that I began to practice regularly with a tight-knit community, specifically in Laos at a local studio called Luang Prabang Yoga. There, I was mentored by Sansany Keosavanh who inspired me to seek teacher training in Rishikesh, India. By November 2023, I earned my 200-hr YTT certification at the Rishikesh Yoga Association and my 85-hr Yin Yoga Teacher certification at the Adi Yoga Ashram. My yoga journey has led me to the belief that there is a unique perspective to be learned from every yoga teacher, regardless of how much or how long they have practiced. As a result, yoga has become a vital part of my journey for lifelong learning and community building.

Favorite Pose

I love Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana II) because it makes me feel strong and stable. I used to hold this pose with poor alignment, which caused me to feel unstable and tired (both physically and mentally). After receiving some guidance through hands-on assistance from my mentors, I began to fall in love with it, feeling more powerful through proper engagement of the target muscles and reducing the risk of injury to my body.

Favorite Quote

“It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.”
– B.K.S. Iyengar

Why I Love Dragonfly

I love Dragonfly because the studio looks beautiful, smells great, feels well-heated and clean, and the people are welcoming. In my first few months of practicing here, I appreciated the instructors making an effort to remember my name, which made me feel like I belonged and had me coming back.

Little Known Fact About Me

I am currently a PhD student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the Higher Education and Organizational Change program. My research focuses on the impact of yoga on college students’ holistic wellbeing, with a specific focus on students of color from low-income, first-generation backgrounds. If you enjoy talking about yoga research or how yoga has personally changed your life, I’d love to share perspectives!

John Y's Class Schedule