Steve Ross has practiced various styles of yoga for almost thirty years and has been an instructor for over twenty years. He has explored the physical aspects of yoga as well as the philosophical and spiritual roots of yoga. He spent four years as a monk in the Vedic tradition, and since that time, he has ceaselessly sought out and reveled in the presence of some of the most notable masters of our time - in India and elsewhere. He is honored to have the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with other spiritual seekers. Steve combines upbeat, inspirational music with a relaxed, easy spirituality that make his classes at Maha Yoga some of the most popular in Los Angeles. His events are ecstatic. His sold out retreats are well known to produce a blissful state of being.
Amy Rose was first introduced to yoga nearly 7 years ago, through the Kundalini teachings of Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa. In addition, she was trained and certified by James Brown and Alexandria Crow. After being introduced to Maha Yoga, Amy came upon a new perspective of happy yoga, bringing great light and love into her practice. She will encourage you to have fun, challenge yourself, while honoring your individual needs. Her classes focus on building endurance and strength, while, at the same time, respecting the connection between the body and the mind. Come and explore her vinyasa flow, with music and movements which will inspire the soul and invigorate the senses.
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Ashika Gogna is a self-proclaimed "Yoga Addict". Dancing since the age of three led her to try her first yoga class as a teenager as a way to gain strength and increase flexibility. Growing up with a free-spirited mother and a Punjabi father, spirituality, meditation and the Hindu tradition were a huge part of her upbringing. After moving to LA from NY in 2004, Ashika met Steve Ross and was immediately intrigued and wanted to learn more about the spiritual roots of yoga - not just the physical. Ashika completed her teacher training with Steve Ross and Tom Morely. She has organized and assisted yoga retreats with Tom Morley, Steve Ross and Stephanie Phelan. Ashika brings her bright energy to her classes where you can expect upbeat music, and strength developing poses while calming your mind, having fun and getting sweaty.
Brent Laffoon When Brent was 11 years old he was prescribed a daily regimen of stretches and exercises to help correct a mild case of Scoliosis. The doctor told him they would be difficult and require discipline. Oddly enough, Brent found them to be not so difficult and, well, sort of fun… so much so that he continued doing them long after his Scoliosis was gone. While this wasn’t technically yoga, it certainly formed a foundation that made him feel right at home when he took his first yoga class. He quickly fell in love with practicing and soon realized he wanted to share that love with others, and subsequently completed a 300 hour certification with the Radiantly Alive Teacher Training in Bali, where he studied Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bhakti Flow and Tripsichore with some of the world’s best teachers. Prior to coming home to yoga, Brent was a college football player, a Peace Corps volunteer, a radio ad salesman, a construction worker, a Spanish teacher, a screenwriter and a guitar salesman, among other things. He draws inspiration from all of these diverse experiences to create classes that are challenging, fun and strangely calming. In addition to his teachers in Bali – Daniel Aaron, Olap Arpipi, Rusty Wells, Edward Clarke, Ron Reid and Marla Joy – Brent has learned and continues to learn a great deal from the many outstanding teachers in Los Angeles, including Annie Carpenter, Chad Hamrin, and Brock & Krista Cahill. He is deeply grateful to them all. “The truth cannot be said; it can however be heard. It is, after all, who we are.” - Unknown .
Brigitte Bedi Yoga is a celebration of vinyasa flow, technique, adjustment and massage. Music infuses the practice to ignite "shakti" (spontaneous, blissful & energetic movement). To be effective requires a deep understanding of what inspires people to move. Reading the crowd and being intuitive of energy fluctuations are key. Brigitte's teaching revolves around inspiring people that may be stuck in a groove - often unconscious negative patterns that block prana or creative life-force energy. Discovering the joy within movement and breath is essential in establishing a self practice - the benefits of which can then spill into daily life. Brigitte has tremendous empathy with beginners that are inflexible and apprehensive. She welcomes everybody to class and teaches with enthusiasm and humor. She creates unique mixes from evolving playlists. For many years, Brigitte has traveled the country studying yoga and follows the teachings of Steve Ross' "Happy Yoga". She has been teaching in Los Angeles for the last nine years. Her inspiration is drawn from her East Indian background. Her family is from Punjab India, and her energy and teachings, and beliefs are based in her heritage.
Chris Armas grew up in the Chicago area but always dreamt of the Southern California aura! With a medical doctor for a father, and a spiritual seeker for a mother, the study of yoga came naturally. Chris studied gymnastics, dance, and music as teenager, and was first introduced to yoga while working as a professional dancer. After his first yoga class, he immediately felt the transformational power of the practice, but wasn't ready to commit until 15 years later when he moved to L.A. to study with a former dance teacher-turned yogini Annie Carpenter. But he credits Steve Ross to opening his mind beyond the asana practice. Instead to feel the bhava of yoga. Since moving to L.A., Chris has continued to study with "whomever he feels drawn to". And sees his role more as a facilitator so students may connect with the teacher within themselves. Chris pulls from his dance and gymnastic background to create challenging yet soothing sequencing set to a variety of sensually stimulating music styles..."Don't think...FEEL" Bruce Lee.
Gabriel Gozdava Piotrowski grew up in London, England, gaining a BA degree at London University. He moved to Los Angeles in 1995, first to Malibu and for the last 10 years, Brentwood. His sporting background includes Tennis, skiing, kickboxing and Pilates. Currently his primary sport is beach volleyball and he practices yoga almost every day, having started in 2000. Since completing a comprehensive yoga teacher training course in 2008, he has been teaching at Maha Yoga. His level 2/3 classes use music and follow a flow sequence but with a few extra elements for those who want to step up the physical side of their practice to a slightly higher level. His classes achieve this by building core strength and balance through focused physical work, steady breathing and a better understanding of how the laws of gravity relate to physical yoga poses. His classes are fun and jovial with the principle belief that in the end the most important yoga pose is to smile! Please note that when Gabriel is subbing for another teacher, he will not teach his regular class but almost exactly follow the routine of the regular teacher. Namaste.
Ish Moran's teaches a flow yoga class set to world beat music with an emphasis on alignment. Teaching yoga is the yin to his "day" job as a probation officer. As a result of sports injuries, Ish began practicing Iyengar yoga to strengthen muscles and focus mentally. After dedicating his first six years of study with Iyengar instructor Judy Narvid, Ish happened on Steve Ross's class. Ish practiced for another six years with Steve Ross before becoming certified through a Teacher Training program with renown yoga teacher, Rod Stryker.
Kaleigh Lundy's background and love for dance led her to try her first official yoga class in 2006. She quickly realized the profound physical and mental benefits that could be achieved with a regular practice and became hooked! Since then, she's immersed herself in studying and practicing the fundamentals of yogic philosophy, in particular power/vinyasa flow and hatha yoga, and enjoys training with a wide variety of instructors including Matthew Reyes, Tom Morley and Annie Carpenter. She completed 200 hours of teacher training with Matthew Reyes and is a registered yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance. Kaleigh blends a mixture of basic yogic fundamentals with creative sequencing and uplifting music to motivate her students to further deepen and develop their own individual practice. You can expect to challenge your strength and balance, develop a deeper mental clarity and experience a newfound sense of achievement and purpose each time you come to class. For more information on Kaleigh, please visit www.kaleighlundy.com.
Mac McHugh began a committed yoga practice in 1995 and started teaching in 1998. Four years later, she opened Niyama Yoga. She has been blessed to practice and study with many Master teachers, and is influenced by the alignment principles developed by John Friend, tempered with the energy and joy of her principle teacher Steve Ross. In 2006, Mac developed Niyama Hot Yoga (TM) and has helped to open six studios on the North Shore of Chicago while mentoring and training both Vinyasa and Niyama Hot teachers. Classes with Mac are infused with laughter, joy, and a touch of devotion, with a primary focus on service to the students so that each individual can find the alchemy of yoga and their own expression of the asana practice. She believes that yoga belongs to all of us, and no teacher holds your bliss. The more you listen to your body and let your breath guide you, the more surely you will find your bliss, the more fully you will relieve your suffering and the suffering of those around you, and the more completely we will all be free.
Stephanie Phelan a student of yoga for 20 years, has been teaching at Maha Yoga studio since 2004. Her challenging Vinyasa flow classes (set to eclectic music) are fun and heart opening to all levels of practitioners. Stephanie's compassionate teaching style is a great opportunity to fortify your practice while feeling part of a special community. After a career as a producer with NBC News, her personal yoga practice evolved into a pathway of service and teaching. Sincere study led to five Yoga Teacher Trainings, an intensive Pilates course, and numerous workshops. Stephanie extends gratitude to those who continue to inspire her journey of courage and contentment. A published writer, Stephanie recently earned her Master's degree in counseling psychology and is now combining her Depth Psychology training with Yoga as a Life Strategies Coach (www.innerlightshine.com).
Stephen Weigand: I have been a passionate student of yoga for over nine years. Initially I was attracted to yoga for its athleticism. In addition, I have found myself drawn to its healing and restorative benefits as my body embraced yoga in a deeper way. Personally, I use yoga as a means of challenging and healthy exercise, stress relief, enjoyment, relaxation and centering. In my teaching it's my joy to provide these same components to every student I teach. My power-vinyasa flow classes are vigorous and challenging with emphasis on power and athleticism. Whether teaching new students or established ones, I am able to guide people through a class, leaving them feeling more powerful, open, rejuvenated, balanced and centered each time.
I look forward to having you come play, sweat, celebrate & move your body to some rockin music while getting your ass kicked in to bliss!
I am a certified Yoga Alliance instructor, studying with some of the most renowned teachers in the country. Personally, I practice yoga 3-4 days a week. I am a continual seeker of personal power and self growth. As I continue evolving, I hope to have an inspiring and transformative effect on those around me. I currently teach private and group classes throughout the Los Angeles area.
Tom Morley has been teaching yoga for over 10 years. He was formally trained in Hatha yoga at Yoga Works in Santa Monica, California in 1997. Tom is a devoted meditation practitioner and facilitator drawing from Tibetan Buddhism,Taoism, Tantra and other traditions. Tom has pursued various spiritual teachings and healing modalities his entire life. Tom's first introduction into spiritual studies was through his father, an avid meditation and tai chi practitioner, reiki healer and spiritual seeker. Tom's philosophy is "We are all capable of being more fully alive and aware human beings if we are wholeheartedly open and willing." Tom teaches public classes at Maha Yoga in Brentwood, manages an extensive private practice and leads retreats worldwide. He has been a professional massage therapist and energy healer for over 20 years. You can watch Tom on the nationally syndicated network show Exercise T.V. For more information on Tom, please visit tomsretreats.com.
Suzy Shelton has been the manager of Maha Yoga since 2004. Working with Steve Ross, Suzy tries to give you the best service and finest yoga instructors in Los Angeles. After spending many years in the advertising industry running major accounts such as Hyundai, Disney and Mattel, Suzy made the life changing decision to move into the yoga industry. As a student who has practiced yoga for over 15 years, Suzy fell in love with Maha Yoga. Then, after meeting Steve Ross, she knew she wanted to be a part of the Maha family. If you have any questions regarding Maha Yoga or Steve Ross, please email Suzy at info@mahayoga.com