Meet Our Team
Experienced and Dedicated
Gian Shakti
Gian Shakti (Johanna) is an E-RYT 500, YACEP Yoga teacher. She is a Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer, a Gong Avatar Trainer, a Reiki Master under the Usui Reiki system, an Access Bars Facilitator, a sound healing and meditation guide. She is the co-founder of Jupiter Yoga and also the designer and creator of Devi Tala Designs -- Healing and Empowering jewelry. She has been blessed with the spiritual name of Gian Shakti Kaur which means princess/lioness who is the perfect embodiment of the divine wisdom and creativity of God in the world. Through her dedication to her sadhana (daily spiritual practice), she is able to continuously work on her radiance so she can be a forklift for her students' elevation.
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 or 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 has 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.
Juris Zinbergs
Katrina Elizabeth Quackenbush
Katrina is a New York native who has always had a passion for sports and fitness. Two of her many passions growing up were playing soccer and basketball. Seeking less snow and more sun, she moved to Orange County in 2013. Katrina is absolutely in love with the Southern California lifestyle, and all the opportunities that it provides! On any given day, you can find Katrina hiking, bouldering, walking her 3 dogs, going to the beach, and riding her bike. In 2015, Katrina decided to deepen her yoga practice by obtaining a 200HR Vinyasa Flow certification via Yoga Tribe in Huntington Beach. Katrina has also completed certifications in Yin Yoga, Yogalates, and 300HR in Yoga Therapy. Katrina has completed the 850HR Yoga Therapist Training and only has Practicum hours to complete! Katrina ensures to deliver premium, educated, spirited classes and private sessions on a multi-faceted basis, as she is able to cater to, help, and serve her client's highest needs. Katrina teaches Wednesdays and Sundays.
Monica Carroll
Jenny teaches with her heart. Her love for movement and grace was what led her to study yoga. She began her practice with Ashtanga Yoga, and later took advanced trainings in Anusara, Kundalini, and Vinyasa Flow. She received her Hatha Yoga Teaching Certification, RYT in 2004 from White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barabara, CA.
From her years of dance training, she guides her students gracefully from one pose to the next with effortlessness and ease, teaching them proper alignment so they feel an openness in their bodies. Her calm and yet cheerful demeanor, her soothing voice, and her fluid transitions giver her students the space to release the tension from the day, strengthen their bodies, and attune their minds to the peacefulness within.
Jenny has been studying dance since the age of four. She has studied ballet and contemporary modern dance extensively, with her main influences coming from the Vaganova Ballet Method and Martha Graham Modern Dance. She has also studied jazz, tap and gymnastics. After college Jenny performed in a contemporary dance company. Jenny has been teaching dance since 1997.
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.
Jenny Day
Monica has been a yoga and nutrition educator for most of her life. Beginning in fitness and eventually owning and opening a busy studio, she now relishes in more intimate classes aimed to elevate each person by meeting them exactly where they are. Her classes are multi dimensional and challenging yet approachable and easy to follow. Her style is upbeat and fun with a bit of tough love to elevate your body and mind alike.
Juris began practicing Yoga in 1993. He is a well-known and respected leader in the Orange County, Ca., Yoga community. In 1997, Juris was 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 trains and mentors Yoga Therapists in this living ViniYoga tradition. Emphasizing appropriately placed, accurate and integrated yoga techniques which are purposeful and clearly helpful, in any individuals' transformation. Juris is recognized by C-AYT as a certified Yoga Therapist and by Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT500 Yoga Teacher.