Teacher Bios

Holistic Movement Center
845 Napa Ave, #A Morro Bay, CA 93442 Ph: (805)-909-1401

Teachers' Bios....

If you are interested in renting the studio for events and workshops, or if you are interested in teaching classes, please contact us.

Valentina Petrova - Follow Val's Blog: Sharing the Journey.
Founder of the Holistic Movement Center.

I have a very diverse background in yoga. I've had the privilege of studying (past and present) with Sarah Powers, Paul Grilley, Shiva Rea, Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama, Scott Blossom, Dharma Mittra, Jack Kornfield, Swami Chetanananda and many others, gaining understanding and experience in many yoga traditions and styles. I go to teacher trainings, seminars, conferences, retreats and workshops several times per year, deepening my understanding of yoga as a teacher and as a practitioner. I have acquired an extensive understanding of anatomy and physiology, as well as the energy system of the body - both through formal study in classes and through researching on my own volumes of medical information, alternative healing, health journals, science, the latest studies relevant to what I do, etc. I've been a student of yoga history and philosophy for many years and that body of knowledge informs all my teaching. I practice mindfulness meditation, as well as yoga meditations as described in the yoga texts.

I teach from experience only. I offer only what I have personally understood through the many years of my own practice, explorations and meditations. I guide students to do the same - make the practice profoundly theirs. Not only do I teach yoga, I live it to the best of my present ability and challenges. Yoga is not a part-time job for me, it's a life-long commitment and therefore, yoga is all I do.

I see many people privately, using yoga as a therapeutic tool to recover people from injuries or chronic conditions. I also see people who use yoga as part of their spiritual journey, as a way to deal with grief, as well as people who simply want to deepen their own practice.

Since 2003, I have been writing a monthly "Yoga for Life" column for the Bay News - the local newspaper. Since I started teaching in 2001, I have taught over 15,000 hours of group classes, private sessions and variety of workshops and retreats in the USA and abroad!

I teach variety of workshops from Intro to Yoga, to Yoga for Anxiety and Depression, Yoga Back Therapy, and variety of others. I am available for workshops in your town or your group of friends. Contact me for details: 805-909-1401.

Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT500) - see photo gallery

What students say about Valentina
(anonymous survey March 27, 2010)

"Very well trained. Communicates great. Observant. Insightful. I have taken various classes over the years and by far this is the best experience I have had."

"Wonderful technician - with an economy of words Valentina explains each pose and the optimum position. Her suggestions have always helped me reach my potential in each pose.
I have learned a lot from Valentina."

"Excellent. Very safe, and very aware of each an everyone of us when we are in class. An incredible teacher."

"Very talented. Excellent in providing instructions with a strong focus on preventing injuries.
Outstanding role model. Intelligent and gifted."

"Val's classes are very enjoyable to me and i feel most comfortable as i have been instructed by her most. I am able to follow along, her guidance and attention in correction are valuable, as well as, the being informative on various health topics/issues. I appreciate her expansive articles too in her blog."

"She is amazing! She can teach anywhere in the world we are lucky to have her knowledge and skill here in Morro Bay."

"I love her! She's fantastic. She's the best yoga teacher ever. Her's is the only class I can go to where I don't get physically injured. I really need her tips on positioning and her acceptance of my limitations. I feel that I can work with where I am now in her class because she makes less intense options available.
I also enjoy her readings."

Lauren (Narayani)
Received her training in Classical Yoga at the Shivananda Yoga Vedanta Academy in Grass Valley, Ca. where she frequently returns for more learning and practice. She started teaching in 2004 on Kauai and recently moved to Morro Bay. Narajani says yoga was always a part of her life, growing up in Three Rivers near the Sequoia National Forest. She is cheerful, positive and always smiling.

What people say about Narayani
(anonymous survey March 27, 2010):

"Very centered. A real gem. Excellent with people . An honest to God precious person. "

"I love her presence she seems very caring and gentle."

"Great teacher - brings a wonderful spirit into the class and really creates a wonderful space for the class that is filled with grace, calmness, peace and high-vibrational energy.
Excellent yoga routines and pranayama work. Highly recommended."

"What a joy to be with her. Beautiful practice first thing in the morning."

"Narayani is very sweet and seems very present and heart felt in her classes. I can tell she puts a lot of thought into her classes and I always feel nurtured."

"Incredibly sweet, kind, encouraging. Has a beautiful spirit. "

"Love everything about her!! I always felt like I was completely stretched by the end of her classes. She is amazing at such a young age. So knowledgeable and skilled at yoga. Along with the skills she has the most wonderful, kindest aura about her. Her presence is uplifting and calming."

Ammy Naff
Ammy Naff's experience with the study, practice, and teachings of yoga is greatly inspired by the mentoring of many wonderful and inspired teachers. Beginning with the discipline of Hatha Yoga in 1992 she launched her inquiry in a consistent practice compelled towards various styles of asana, pranayama, and meditation. Her studies were furthered by a certificate teacher training course in San Francisco and she was bound for India soon after. Embarking on an in depth study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Bhagavad Gita, Tibetain Buddhism, Vipassana Meditation, and Ashtanga Yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, she has deepened her understanding of the spiritual aspects of yoga. Ammy deepens her knowledge of Yoga continually; as well as Sanskrit, and Ayurveda wellness, by way of study, personal inquiry, and dedication of practice.

Ammy feels honored to be teaching at the Holistic Movement Center, and ultimately finds the practice and teaching of yoga to be a process of slowing down and realizing the Infinite Love that is our True Nature. Some of the great teachers who have inspired this journey include Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Geshe Michael Roach, Christi McNalley,

Lama Marut, Steve Dwelley, Ranjani, and Tim Miller. Yet, undoubtedly, it is the students and classroom setting that continues to be the greatest teacher on this delightful path of loving presence.
Namaste

What people say about Ammy:
(anonymous survey March 27, 2010)

"Like her very much. She also is very knowledgeable and committed, and has a very pleasant, gentle demeanor. She is calm and centered."

"I like how Ammy gives a lot of correction and positive support."
"I feel really nurtured in her restorative class!"

"I have only been to her once and enjoyed her class very much. She mixed it up that night incorporating restorative with flow. She was patient and helpful in guiding me along. Lovely person.
I will go to her classes again."

"Very good teacher - lots of experience and expertise, very helpful adjustments (much appreciated) kind and thoughtful. Very good energy in class."

"I have really enjoyed Ammy's restorative class. What a treat. Ammy seems very wise and is very attentive to her students. I like that she brings some of the yoga philosophy into class."

"She does a great job of positioning student's alignment. She is calm and very focused.
Pleasant to be with."What people say about Chris:

"Like all instructors there at HMC- he is very accepting and welcoming.
He is helpful in proper form and alignment.

"Chris has been a great addition to the staff."

"Excellent teacher...goes slow and lots of detail and he does not show off...seems like a regular guy. Keeps the practice at the level it is billed. Because he was a schoolteacher...he explains everything very well. He always has a theme and that is very interesting, as well. Love his class."

Kendra Hastie
"My first experience with Hatha yoga was about 10 years ago at Cuesta College, immediately I realized the mental and physical benefits yoga can offer. Being an extreme athlete I was able to see the improvement with my performance due to mental and total body awareness that I did not have before. I instantly became very enthusiastic about yoga and wanted to know and do a lot more.

After a really bad injury, part of my rehab was 90 minutes of yoga 5 days a week. During this time and seeing the quick results of my recovery I realized I wanted to be able to give this gift to everyone around me that would be willing to accept.

I then signed up for a teacher training seminar with the White Lotus foundation in Santa Barbara. My experience was life changing and put me on a path to live yoga daily. I have much more to learn and am constantly seeking information and new styles to study and will be a lifelong student and practitioner. Most of all I enjoy seeing people take what I have learned and turning it into their own practice and in return I learn something from the experience"

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