ADRIENNE HENGELS – PoYO Founder, Teacher Santa Barbara CA 200HR CYT, E-RYT, CYPT

Adrienne is a Certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, a Live Love Teach Affiliate Teacher and the owner of Power of Your Om. She has spent her entire life being active and started practicing yoga after graduating from college. Adrienne’s teachers include Deborah Williamson, Philip Urso, Stacy Dockins and Baron Baptiste –they all have had an astounding influence on her as a person, a student and a teacher. Adrienne enjoys being a student but found her calling for empowering others when she became a teacher. She realizes the practice of yoga exists in everything she does in her life – from her athletic endeavors to her relationships. Yoga to Adrienne is about being true to yourself, your beliefs, listening to your gut, leading your life with love, and pushing past the limitations of our mind which she experiences everyday in her triathlon training. When Adrienne teaches people yoga…it’s not about getting into poses with foreign names, it’s not about being perfect. Instead, it’s about getting stronger, letting our guards down, working out the stress from life, finding some internal stillness while life gives us chaos, and taking our “workout” off the mat and into the world. We only get one life.

AMY BRINKMAN – Teacher, Naperville IL 200 HR CYT, RYT

Amy has been practicing yoga as part of her exercise regime for many years and two years ago, found Baptiste Power Yoga as both physically and mentally transformational. After adding Baptiste Power Yoga to her life, Amy realized she was in the best shape of her life and began to find a new power through spiritual expression, emotional release and a connection with her community. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the experiences on her mat began to cross over into her life in many other ways such as finding more patience, serenity, and an appreciation for each moment as it is happening instead of being in “planning” mode all the time. She has been practicing at Power of Your Om studio since it opened. Amy has always loved helping people and after attending Level 1 Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste in October, 2010, she is thrilled to have found a new way to give to the community in both a spiritual and physical way.

KEVIN BUDD – Teacher, Naperville IL 200HR CYT, RYT

Kevin began practicing yoga in 2006 after graduating from college. He was at first attracted by the physical and mental benefits of the practice, a stronger, healthier body and a more awakened and calmed mind. After practicing several styles of yoga Kevin was introduced to Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga in 2009, it was love at first sight. An invigorating, flowing asana practice in a heated room with empowered teachers all brought about new possibilities to his practice and his life. The supportive community formed within Power of Your Om encouraged Kevin’s interest in becoming a teacher and so he completed Level I Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste and Advanced Vinyasa Teacher Training with Deborah Williamson, Philip Urso and Stacy Dockins. Kevin feels that yoga has brought about positive change in every aspect of his life and he is committed to sharing the transformative power of yoga with others in his teaching.

JENNIFER CISNEROS – Teacher & Manager, Naperville IL

Jen was hooked on yoga from the day she walked into the doors of Power of Your Om in 2008. Her journey from her mat to taking on the role as a teacher has been incredibly powerful. The opportunity to teach yoga is a gift that Jen is very grateful for. She feels that teaching yoga connects her with her community in an honest and heartfelt way, creating openings that allow for beautiful shifts in peoples’ lives. After spending many years in the corporate world, Jen feels that she has finally found her place. Jen completed Level I and Level II Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste as well as Advanced Vinyasa Teacher Training with Deborah Williamson, Philip Urso and Stacy Dockins.

MELANIE ELKIN – Teacher, Santa Barbara CA CYPT

“There is no passion to be found in playing small, for a life that is less than you are capable of living—PLAY BIG.” Melanie started her career in the fitness industry while at UCSB studying Exercise and Health Science, and it was through this experience and her ongoing healing with her relationship with her own body that she found her passion and purpose to start a career in the health and wellness field. Melanie started her business Believe and Achieve Fitness in 2009 and shortly thereafter fell in LOVE with the practice of Yoga. Melanie attended Level 1 and Level 2 Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste, and is also influenced by many other great teachers. ”My approach to Yoga is to guide you into becoming your greatest teacher. Eventually realizing that there is no separation between the hour we spend together in the ‘Yoga classroom’ and your life. My intention is to create safe space for you to explore yourself and your body in new ways, celebrate the perfection in your ‘imperfections’, laugh, cry, and begin to live your Full Self Expression.

JUSTIN HOLIDAY – Teacher, Santa Barbara CA

Justin started practicing yoga during college where he earned a degree in Biomedical Engineering. It took him a few years of sitting behind a desk to realize that this was not what he wanted to do when he grew up. He knew his purpose in life was to help motivate others to grow stronger through his own actions, and after a serendipitous introduction to power yoga, he realized he found a way to do this. No workout regiment or previously taken yoga class showed this to Justin but he quickly saw how movement, breath, and sweat could offer up such a simple way to meaningfully change everyone’s life. Justin brings his playful soul and glowing energy to every class he teaches to help students discover the power and passion that a yoga practice has the ability to ignite.

CLARA JENKINS – Teacher, Naperville IL

Clara started her yoga journey in 2008 and within six months of practicing she began to understand the meaning of “A strong body leads to a strong mind.” The peace and grounding effects she experienced on her mat gradually diffused into her life. Clara realized yoga is not only a journey within, but also a gift to be given to others so in October, 2011 she completed her Level I Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste. Her goal is to spread yoga to places where it is needed most while empowering each and every person to their true potential…even if they cannot see it.

MARY ANN LOPEZ – Teacher, Naperville IL

Mary Ann began practicing yoga while a graduate student in Boulder, Colorado in 1998. She truly committed to her practice when she walked into the doors of Power of Your Om and found Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. At that time, Mary Ann was physically out of shape and mentally

stressed. Mary Ann could never have envisioned she might one day be a yoga teacher, but through the practice she has learned that truly anything is possible. Not only has Mary Ann improved her physical health since she started studying at Power of Your Om, but she has learned that there is no such thing as an obstacle, only an opportunity. Mary Ann completed Level 1 teacher training with Baron Baptiste in June 2011 and is thrilled to share the joy of yoga with others.

AMANDA RILEY – Teacher Naperville IL 200HR CYT, RYT

Amanda began practicing Baptiste Power Yoga at Power of Your Om in May 2010 and has since made yoga a huge (and wonderfully influential) part of her life. Never finding a physical activity or sport she felt she excelled at or eagerly attended, Amanda soon learned she looked forward to yoga class and to the calmness and clarity it brought to life outside of the studio. She loves how the physical, spiritual and emotional affects are all equally life-changing. Amanda attended Illinois Wesleyan and graduated with her degree in Psychology in 2006 and now currently works as an adolescent counselor while also nannying for several young children. Amanda finds yoga to be the ideal way to continue her desire to grow while also contributing to more joy in the community.

LYNNE SUTHERLAND – Teacher, Santa Barbara, CA CPYT

Lynne felt an immediate, unfamiliar spark after stumbling into yoga over a decade ago. She didn’t know “why” or “what” it was about this practice that kept her coming back for more from that day on, but after heading down many other paths including having two children, Lynne got the bug to teach. Lynne has trained with Baron Baptiste and Seane Corn, though finds her greatest teachers are truly her children and friends. Yoga has helped Lynne rediscover a fearlessness within herself that she didn’t know existed. She has learned that the challenges we face on our mat are a direct reflection of the things that hold us back in our lives. Lynne teaches students to recognize these paradigms in class to make changes off the mat. A lifetime resident of Santa Barbara, Lynne is excited to share her playful, challenging, lighthearted, and fun class with everyone in the community. Be ready to laugh and step out of your comfort zone.

THERESA WILSON – Teacher, Naperville IL 200HR CYT, RYT

In 2009, while living in Singapore, a good friend recommended that Theresa try yoga out as a way to ‘slow down’ her exercise routine a little. She hesitated trying yoga because it was so foreign to anything she’d ever done. In January 2010 she committed to trying it and was hooked. Theresa was so inspired by the positive effects on her mind, body and spirit that she signed up PoYO’s teacher training. It is as a teacher, that Theresa has found her true calling.

CYT – Certified Yoga Teacher

RYT 200HR- Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 Hour Level

E-RYT – Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher