Meet Our Team
Experienced & Dedicated
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Gian Shakti
Gian Shakti is an E-RYT 500 and YACEP-certified yoga teacher with a deep commitment to holistic healing and spiritual growth. She is a Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor, Yoga Teacher Trainer, Gong Avatar Trainer, Reiki Master in the Usui Reiki tradition, Access Bars Facilitator, and a skilled sound healing and meditation guide.
As the founder of Jupiter Yoga, Gian Shakti offers transformative practices that integrate movement, breath, sound, and energy work. She is also the designer and creator behind Devi Tala Designs, a line of healing and empowering jewelry crafted with intention to support spiritual connection and personal radiance.
Through her unwavering dedication to sadhana (daily spiritual practice), Gian Shakti continually refines her own energy, allowing her to show up as a clear and radiant guide. She lovingly describes herself as a “forklift” for her students—lifting them up with grace, light, and authenticity.
Whether teaching yoga, sharing sound medicine, or guiding energy healing, Gian Shakti creates sacred space for transformation, alignment, and empowerment.
Sotantar Suraj
Sotantar is an E-RYT 500, YACEP Yoga teacher. He is a widely recognized Gong Avatar Teacher, Kundalini Yoga Teacher and Trainer. He is a co-founder of Jupiter Yoga and the founder and creator of Gong Avatar Academy. Sotantar is dedicated to bring Strength Awareness, Honor to All. His passion is teaching Gong Avatars, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra and bringing the healing and transforming sounds of the Gong to the world. He enjoys giving Gong Sessions, Personal Counseling, Meditation and Healing Planet Gong Concerts to celebrate oneness, peace, love and joy which is our natural state. Check out his website www.gongavataracademy.com or follow him on instagram @sotantarsuraj.
Nichole Susi-Blair
Nichole discovered her love of yoga asana and pranayama (movement of the body through postures and the study of the breath) as an offset to the daily stressors of working in a corporate environment for 15 years. She found that yoga aligned with her interest in health and wellness, the mind/ body connection, and self-discovery and awareness.
After 7 years of dedicated practice, she took the 200-hour Teacher Training in 2009 and knew this was the path for her. She completed an additional 300 professional training in 2009/2010 and has been teaching ever since. She has a soft spot for beginners, teaching entry-level classes for many years, along with more advanced Vinyasa Flow and Hatha.
Her years of experience with groups, private clients, and companies have allowed her to meet each student where they are in that moment, creating a safe space for students to experience, observe, expand, and grow their personal practice and self-connection.
Join Nichole for her Gentle Yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 AM for a relaxing and comprehensive Gentle Yoga class.
Juris Zinbergs
Practicing yoga since 1993, Juris is a well-known and respected leader in the Orange County Yoga community. In 1997, he became certified by the American Viniyoga Institute to teach asana, pranayama, and Sanskrit chanting in the same Yoga tradition as TV Desikachar and T Krishnamacharya.
Juris' passion for yoga led him to begin training and mentoring Yoga Therapists in this living ViniYoga tradition. Emphasizing appropriately placed, accurate, and integrated yoga techniques that are purposeful and helpful, in any individual's transformation. Juris is recognized by C-AYT as a certified Yoga Therapist and by Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT500 Yoga Teacher. Juris teaches a traditional Vinyasa Level 2-3 on Thursdays at 6 PM, Gentle Yoga on Wednesdays at 9:30 AM, & Vinyasa Level 2-3 on Fridays at 10:45 AM.
Christina Micalizio
With a background as unique as her path to yoga, Christina draws from her background as a graduate of Yale University and years of experience as a nurse practitioner in neurosurgery, orthopedics, women’s health, and primary care. Her teaching is informed by both deep anatomical understanding and extensive study with world-renowned yoga and movement teachers.
She completed her 500-hour RYT training in Ashtanga and Vinyasa at Native Yoga Center in Juno Beach, Florida, studying under Todd and Tamara McLaughlin.
Her continued education includes workshops with respected teachers such as Patrick Beach, Raghunath Cappo, Greg Nardi, Tim Feldmann, Kino MacGregor, Tim Miller, David Regelin, Krista Shirley, David Swenson, Dylan Werner, David Williams, and Stacey Zimet. She has also completed a Level 1 Yin Yoga training with Cilla Weisman and a 50-hour FLY advanced training in inversions and hand balancing with Karen Burnett, Daniel Rama, and Shakti “Sarah” Bonsall.
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While she first fell in love with the physicality of yoga, her practice has evolved into a form of moving meditation—one that cultivates strength, balance, clarity, and inner wisdom. She continues to explore yoga as both a personal path and a way to support others in discovering their own resilience and alignment.
Join Christina every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Sunday!
Sonny Ali
Strong, playful, and mindful -- Sonny's classes are invitations to bridge the gap between the body, mind, and spirit with humor, style, and grace. Using a keen eye for detail, he teaches people rather than poses so that ultimately, students feel more empowered, buoyant, and enlivened. For him, to live a richer, more connected life is a worthy goal for each student.
You can join Sonny on the mat at his Vinyasa Flow class every Wednesday at 7:00 AM and slow it down at Gentle Yoga every Friday at 5:30 PM.
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Chrisy Salvati
Chrisy is an RYT-500 yoga teacher, certified in Kundalini Yoga (KRI), Yin Yoga, and Restorative Yoga. She has been practicing Kundalini Yoga since 2013, and her passion for the transformative science of yoga, meditation, and sound naturally led her to become an instructor. Rooted in her daily spiritual practice, or Sadhana, Chrisy brings heart-centered awareness and uplifting energy to every class she teaches.
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Her teaching style reflects a deep respect for both the ancient wisdom of yoga and the individual journey of each student. Whether guiding a dynamic Kundalini practice or a calming Yin or Restorative session, Chrisy holds space for others to reconnect with their highest selves.
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Chrisy is also a graduate and active member of the Gong Avatar Academy, led by master gong avatar Sotantar Suraj. She was honored with the avatar sound name Uma Devi, meaning “Goddess of Light and Beauty” — a name that reflects her intuitive ability to balance and harmonize through sound. She regularly plays at gong concerts, sound bath events, and offers sound healing in her classes.
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A Southern California native, Chrisy grew up in Irvine and holds a Master’s Degree in Education. She has been an elementary school teacher for over 27 years and brings her nurturing presence and teaching expertise to her yoga and sound offerings.
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Join Chrisy for Kundalini Yoga and Sound every Tuesday at 4:45 PM, and experience a blend of movement, breath, meditation, and vibration to elevate your spirit and calm your mind.
Shea Vititow
Shea Vititow is a dedicated yoga instructor with over ten years of experience practicing and teaching a wide range of yoga styles. She holds a 500-hour RYT certification through the Yoga Alliance and brings both depth and heart to every class she leads.
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A self-professed student of life, Shea approaches her teaching with curiosity, mindfulness, and a deep respect for the individual journey of each student. Whether you're seeking to discover something new, find inner calm, or build confidence in your body’s abilities, her classes are designed to support and empower you.
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With a warm presence and a wealth of experience, Shea creates a space where students feel seen, supported, and inspired—on and off the mat.
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Join Shea every Monday & Thursday at 10:45 AM for Vinyasa Flow Yoga (All Levels), and every Thursday for Restorative Yoga, at 12:00 PM.
Mona Khurana
Mona brings a deep well of lived experience, compassion, and insight to her work at Jupiter Yoga Wellness. Born and raised in India, her life has followed many familiar rhythms—an arranged marriage, advanced studies in business, the joys and challenges of raising a family, and years spent balancing career and relationships. Within these experiences, Mona discovered profound lessons in resilience, love, and the quiet strength that lives within us all.
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Her professional path began in the analytical world of finance and later evolved into education, where she spent years teaching high school mathematics and guiding young minds. Though outwardly fulfilling, these roles eventually gave way to a deeper inner calling—an invitation to live and serve with greater authenticity and purpose.
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Answering that call, Mona courageously stepped away from the familiar and embarked on a transformative spiritual journey. It was during this period of self-inquiry that she discovered Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT), a practice that brought clarity, peace, and a profound sense of alignment.
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Today, Mona is devoted to supporting others on their own paths of self-discovery and healing. She holds a grounded, compassionate space for clients to access their inner wisdom and innate intelligence. Witnessing transformation—both subtle and profound—continues to fuel her passion and reaffirm her belief that healing and growth are available to anyone willing to turn inward with curiosity and courage.
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Join Mona for a personal Past Life Regression session or join her monthly workshop experiences hosted here at Jupiter Yoga Wellness.
Molly Marscellas
Molly is one of the friendly faces you will see at our front desk, ready to welcome you with a smile to Jupiter Yoga! Her love for yoga asana, pranayama, and dhyana brought her to Jupiter Yoga as a student, and then led her to join our team.
Michaela Rodriguez
Michaela is one of the friendly faces who welcomes all guests at Jupiter Yoga Wellness. Her love for yoga and passion for helping others explore the practice is what drew her to the Jupiter Yoga Wellness community. Michaela is always happy to assist with class questions, studio information, or anything you might need to feel comfortable and supported during your visit.