INSTRUCTORS

Ruth Hartung, (Sraddhasagar)

Ildiko Chikan has been teaching for more than five decades.  Originally from Hungary, she began her teaching career as a Classical Ballet teacher, having danced and performed professionally in Europe for ten years.  Ildiko's teaching experience includes teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory of Ballet, and teaching Ballet in Oregon.  Due to injury, she began studying yoga, healing, and spirituality, and began teaching yoga in 1992.  She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, who specilaizes in Acupressure, Reiki, and Shiatsu. Her Hatha yoga classes are infused with her love of yoga, students, and the natural world -- especially animals!  Ildiko believes in making a personal connection with each student, through conversation, hands-on adjustments and humor.

Rachel Hollingsworth, MS CSCS RYT-200, has been studying and practicing yoga for more than 8 years, and teaching Hatha yoga for the past 4 in both the US and abroad. Her yoga classes often blend a strong asana practice with an energetic focus on one or more of the 7 main chakras, although she also has extensive experience teaching yoga to beginners and those with physical limitations. Rachel earned her Master of Sciences degree in Exercise Physiology at Arizona State University in 1996, worked in the fitness industry for more than a decade, and began teaching physical education and health in colleges in 2002.

Katie Love is a recent Sedona transplant from Seattle who has been practicing yoga since September 2006.  She is an October 2007 graduate of 7 Centers Yoga Arts' Teacher Training Program.  After completing her training, Katie immediately began teaching Beginner's and Restorative Yoga classes at several locations in Seattle.  Katie is committed to the transformative, inspirational, creative and healing graces of her own daily yoga practice. It is her intention to share these gifts with the approach of a guide rather than instructor in order to remind us that the greatest teacher of all is always within us.

Guy Matthews began his study of yoga in 1985 after realizing that stress from his career was impeding his personal and professional life. As a result of the yoga practices, he learned and applied tools for stress management and body/mind wholeness. He received his certification in the Hatha yoga discipline in 1995 and 1999 from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Guy ran his own yoga-based business in Canada within the corporate and private community. He has experience leading and guest teaching at retreats and conferences in theUS and Canada. He enjoys assisting people to find greater harmony in their lives. Currently he teaches gentle and restoravtive yoga and sound healing. He invites you to have fun and explore your body, mind and spirit.

Jeff E. Masters is the founder and director of Thunder Mountain Wellness Center in Sedona, AZ.  He is a teacher of anatomy & physiology, as well as Myotherapy, licensed massage therapist and personal trainer who specializes in Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, Sports Therapy, advanced functional anatomy and assessment, and the treatment of chronic pain.  He is an internationally published author, who was awarded an honorary Masters degree in Anatomy and Physiology, from the Open International University for Complimentary Medicine, Sri Lanka in 2006. 

Zac Occhiline has been studying and practicing yoga for over 10 years and teaching for the past 8.  He teaches Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga and has extensive knowledge and experience in teaching many of the basic Shatkarmas (yogic cleanses).  Zac has studied Ayurveda, including Ayurvedic cuisine and Ayurvedic herbal healing for over a decade. Growing up in Sedona, Arizona, Zac developed a deep appreciation and love of the wilderness, and the natural beauty of plants, animals and environs widespread throughout the state.