Instructors

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Marna, owner of Pacific Blue Yoga, began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2002 when the Laguna Beach studio first opened.  Marna became a Bikram certified instructor and started teaching in 2003, eventually helping manage the studio until she purchased it in 2007. She is also a certified Yoga Sculpt instructor. Since 2003 Marna has taught over 4000 yoga classes. 

In addition to her ownership responsibilities, Marna continues to regularly pratice Bikram's beginning and advanced yoga series as well has Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Yin

Patrice started her yoga practice in 1991 and completed the Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in 2001. In 2002 she opened Bikram Yoga, Costa Mesa,CA. For 13 years, BYCM was a leading yoga studio in Southern California, home to over 10,000 students. Closing her studio in 2014, Patrice shared her love of yoga with children, co-founding Smiling Monkey Yoga in April 2010. In November 2014, she published and released her first book, Take Up Your Mat and Walk about being faithful to God, being strong, using prayer and meditation to live a more purposeful life. Having a regular Bikram and (occasional)Ashtanga practice Patrice is considered a Master Teacher of the "original hot yoga"-the Bikram technique and has assisted in many teacher trainings conducted globally. Currently, she is a contributing staff writer for the online (digital) magazine, based in Toronto, Canada-"Shut Up & Yoga". www.shutupandyoga.com. In early 2018, Smiling Monkey Yoga will release it's first published children's yoga teaching manual-Teach Children:Change Lives The Smiling Monkey Yoga Teacher Guide. Teaching the original Bikram Yoga technique is a passion and a mission for Patrice. 

Michele grew up in Laguna Beach and is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Conservation and Resource studies. In 2007, she began practicing Bikram yoga at the Laguna Beach studio and it quickly became an integral part of her life. Bikram yoga changed her life in many ways. She lost 30 pounds, and felt much happier and more focused. In 2012, Michele went to Bikram teacher training. She says that every class is an honor to teach. She loves that teaching gives her the opportunity to affect peoples lives and encourage them to make good changes. Her favorite thing about teaching is working with students who have never practiced yoga. "I’ve watched students who cannot stand on one leg or touch their toes but do not give up. They practice consistently with determination and within a few months do things they never thought possible. It’s truly amazing to see these transformations!"

Robin is an avid yoga practitioner---practicing for over fourteen years. Beginning with a yoga practice rich in discipline and focus, Robin Martinez-Hall started yoga with Patrice Simon of Bikram Yoga. Robin has taken this foundation and was formally trained in the ancient tradition and lineage of Shri Vidya with Master Yogi Jnana Nanda Bharati at Yoga Shakti Wellness Center in Irvine and Huntington Beach, California, studying with him for three years in Philosophy and subtle aspects of Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation.  She acquired her registered 200 hr. ERYT teacher training in 2008.  Robin graduated from Ananda Seva Yoga and Meditation Center with emphasis in Yoga Therapy, receiving Diksha from Maetryii Nolan in the tradition of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti in 2014, continues her work with Archarya Devika Ma, and is registered with Yoga Alliance RYT500 hr. instructor.

Robin has been teaching in and around Orange County for ten years at various studios. She is proud to bring her teachings to Pacific Blue Yoga Studio in Laguna Beach. Robin teaches privately to individuals, groups, organizations and corporate yoga, as well as to those seeking healing aspects of yoga therapy.

Her healing and transforming classes include: Power flow, Vinyasa flow, Hatha yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative yoga, Meditation & Philosophy of yoga.

Robin has written and led her own teacher trainings, and has taught Philosophy of yoga for four years.  She started an Internship for her fellow graduates and continues to teach and learn with them. She believes that Yoga is not an exercise, but rather life itself.

David had the great fortune of meeting the renowned yogi Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) in 1989 just a few months after beginning yoga in Santa Barbara. David has learned Ashtanga almost entirely from Guruji, his daughter, Saraswathi, and his the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI) and, more recently, the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI). 

In 2000, David received Guruji’s blessings and permission to teach, and from Sharath in 2009. In addition to his continued studies with Sharath Jois, David studies Sanskrit with Vidwan Shrikantha Shastri and the Yoga Sūtras in the lineage of TKV Desikachar.

David has been teaching yoga since 1990, including 13 years of continuous Mysore Style Ashtanga instruction. He also teaches Sanskrit chanting and philosophy, and is the author of “Sanskrit and Chanting: a workbook for yoga practitioners.” David has great respect for the depth of yoga and a commitment to the three tenants of yoga practice (practice, study, and devotional non-attachment). The knowledge he has gained from decades of devoted practice and study, complimented by an understanding of the structure and energetics of the human form gained from studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine, shine forth in David’s teaching in a way that is both fresh and authentic.grandson, Sharath Jois, making numerous extensive trips to South India to learn from them at

Chris began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2005. He originally sought out yoga as  a way to stay balanced and flexible. His first week in the room was overwhelming but he continued to come. What started as merely exercise became a tool to calm and focus his mind and push himself to be the best he could be.

He competed in the USA Yoga 2007 Asana Championships. Later that year he was faced with an unavoidable spinal fusion surgery due to extreme scoliosis. He was told yoga would no longer be a part of his life. He did not take no for an answer coming back to Bikram Yoga ten months after surgery. He focused on Bikram’s motto: It's never too late, it's never too bad, and you're never too old or too sick to start from scratch once again. Getting back to his practice was one of the most challenging yet rewarding times of his life.

In 2010 he decided to attend Bikram Teacher Training in Los Angeles. It is an honor and joy to share the benefits of this yoga with students. Chris says Bikram Yoga will be with him for life, because of the results, both physical and mental.

Staci stepped onto her mat for the first time in 2003 and the journey instantly began. Knowing that there was a place where the mind, body and spirit can come together changed it all. A place where she could be present in this very perfect moment without fear or judgement. She wanted more and wanted to share her passion with others.Staci has over 500 hours of teacher training for all ages including:

• Hatha Yoga Teacher Training- Institute of Progressive Therapies
• Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training- Ashtanga Yoga Center
• Ashtanga Second Series Teacher Training- Ashtanga Yoga Center
• Kids Yoga Teacher Training- Karma Kids Yoga
• Teen Yoga Teacher Training- Karma Kids Yoga

She has been teaching adults since 2007 and children since 2011. 
It has been a long time dream for Staci to create a space where babies, kids, teens, moms, dads and EVERYONE can come together and share the gift of yoga!
She lives in Laguna Beach with her husband Tim and their children, Baylie and Cash. 

Gabe has a passion to help students experience both the physical and larger  benefits of Yoga, Gabriel (Gabe) Azoulay has been sharing yoga all over the  world since 2005 when he first traveled to India to study with Sri K Pattabhi  Jois.

Having found “the yoga Sutras of Patanjali” in a library search in 1994 as  a sophomore in UNC chapel hill, he approaches yoga as a science for preventative  maintenance.
Gabe built the first hot yoga teacher training for Thailand's  largest  yoga brand in 2007, and has deep respect for Bishnu Gosh's Hot 26 practice (also  known as Bikram yoga).

He teaches with insight and humor, recognizing that yoga practice is deeper  than just poses.

A Thai therapist, health coach, and traveler, he has been practicing  ashtanga and Yin daily since 2002, and his classes are tailored for all  students. Especially ashtanga, where he teaches that it is a simple and  accessible practice for all students.

Christian is a qualified Elemental Yoga Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Thai Massage Expert and  globe trotter. With over 10 years of experience as a wellness professional he  has joined his knowledge of the 5 Elements to his work in Yoga and Massage.  Initially a massage practitioner trained in the Uk as well as in Thailand his  travels brought him eventually to India where he trained in classical Hatha  Yoga. He then wanted to dive deeper into energetic practices and trained as  Elemental Yoga Therapist which applies the Chinese principles of 5 Elements to  Yoga. Christian has a rebalancing and therapeutic approach to Yoga. Through his  sequences of asana pranayama and meditation he enables you to understand your  own imbalances and he gives clear and simple methods to work on them. He is the  Founder of Yoga Healing Nature through which he creates healing yoga retreats  and Thai massage courses around the world.

Chloe is a Nutritionist, Holistic Health Coach, and Experienced Yoga Teacher who  has a passion for joining the wisdom of the past with the findings of the  future. She has a dynamic style of teaching creating a beautiful diversion to  channel a busy mind into moving meditation. Her classes range from vinyasa flows  to more restorative yoga classes. Academically, Chloe is richly trained, with a  BSc in Biomedical Sciences from UCL, a Masters in Global Health & Nutrition  from LSHTM and is a qualified Holistic Health Coach from IIN. Her academic  training is further enriched by her holistic background. Chloe was introduced to  yoga as a child through her mother, an Iyengar Yoga Teacher, and trained herself  at a young age between France, Nepal, California and India. Up until recently  she was the Wellness Director at Aqua Wellness Resort. Chloe has taught Anatomy  & Physiology on several teacher trainings and now runs Yoga Retreats around  the world with Christian her partner through their business Yoga Healing Nature.  Along with her retreats she spreads her love of balanced living, food and health  as a Holistic Health Coach and Yoga Teacher and is based in Laguna Beach,  California.