Teaching Staff
Anthony Burkart
Co-owner
Beginners Hot Yoga
Advanced Yoga
After more than two decades of yoga practice I now more than ever appreciate and understand the benefits and results it produces. I am still enthralled with the feel of my own breath, body, stillness of mind, mental clarity, profound thought, and well being all of which yoga practice awakens. At this point it's not possible for me to live my life without the practice of yoga. I have truly found my path and as a yoga instructor I will do my best to help you find yours. Namaste.
Charlene Ohri
Co-owner
Beginners Hot Yoga
Inferno Hot Pilates
Kids Yoga
I took my first yoga class in 2005 and after taking class I was in love with the way I felt inside and out and how it challenged my entire being. I've always been athletic so the hot yoga practice intrigued me as it's a great workout along with being a wonderful stress reliever. As I continued to practice, yoga was changing my life and I felt called to share it with others.
I was certified to teach yoga in 2011, became co-owner of the studio in 2016 and took the Inferno Hot Pilates training in 2022. IHP has been a great compliment to my yoga practice and has helped me develop the muscle tone I was seeking- plus it's super fun!
I love to encourage and empower my students in class- we're all stronger than we think we are.
Outside of the studio, I'm raising a family which is my most important and rewarding job!
If you're on the fence about trying something new, take a leap of faith and see where it brings you!
Lesli Lounsbury
Beginners Hot Yoga
I started practicing yoga in 2000 and immediately fell in love with it. I decided to become a certified instructor in the spring of 2001 to share the amazing benefits. In 2003 I won the title of the 1st International Yoga Champion. This allowed me to travel the world teaching, coaching, judging and demonstrating. When I’m not in the yoga room, I’m a hairstylist and herbalist. I really enjoy helping people look and feel beautiful from the inside out. In my free time, my husband Ken and I love outdoor adventures.
Brie Kueber
Vinyasa Flow
Yoga has made me more kind, compassionate, and present. I finished my 200-hour teacher training in August 2019 with a focus on trauma-informed and mindfulness-based yoga and am Reiki 2 certified. I believe we all hold our pasts, daily stresses, and personal or generational traumas in our bodies. This causes us to no longer trust our bodies and creates a barrier between our mind-body connection. We as teachers must provide our students with options and empower them to make the choices that will feel best for their body, whether that is to flow through a Sun Salutation or to rest in Savasana for the entire class. In my classes, I emphasize staying in the moment by syncing breath to movement and checking in with sensations and thoughts that come up throughout practice. I strive to make all of the classes I teach feel safe and accessible to all abilities, bodies, and expressions.
Artie Capozzi
Beginners Hot Yoga
I started practicing yoga when I first moved to southern California in 2001. Immediately noticing the powerful healing benefits of yoga, I quickly devoted myself to a steady practice. Over the years yoga has helped me heal injuries, prevent illness and develop physical, mental and emotional strengths in ways I could have never imagined. Experiencing even deeper levels of the psychological healing benefits of yoga as I slowly overcame losing my father in 2015 to cancer, I decided to take on a teacher training to help share what I've learned through the years of a strong and steady practice. This yoga has become such a foundational necessity to my life seeing me through difficult and challenging times as well as helping me live at my highest level of being that I am forever grateful and devoted to practicing and teaching this yoga to my best abilities.
Violet Diaz
Beginners Hot Yoga
I started my yoga practice in 2008 and immediately became addicted. I've always suffered from anxiety. Bikram yoga helped me with it and continues to help me. I've learned so much about myself through my yoga practice and best of all to understand that life is ok, even when it’s not ok. The energy I get from my yoga practice explains why I still practice it today. I always invite my family and friends to join me so they too can see the good yoga has to offer. If I find the treasure I want others to benefit from it too. In 2019 I got the privilege to learn from the best teacher one could ever have (Anthony Burkart). Now I have the ability to help others through yoga and that warms my heart. When I'm not practicing yoga I'm busy being a mother, wife, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Creating memories is what I live for. I hope to see you in class.
Mayra Gonzalez
Vinyasa Flow
Yoga has helped shape the person I am today. After years of suffering from chronic back pain and sciatica, I was introduced to Bikram in 2014. Once I finished my first 200 Hour training in 2016, I quit my job as an Operations Manager to teach full time ever since! I have continued my education with a second 200 Hour training, two intensives (Yin/Restorative and Yoga Sculpt) and am currently working on a 300 Hour and Trauma Informed course. My goal as a guide is to spark inquiry in students to take their practice where they need to everytime they show up to their mats. Outside of teaching, I am a writer, baker and enjoy bike rides as well as time with my two babies, Roxy and Woody. Come take class and enjoy the extended savasana and sound bowls!
Monica Kim
Beginners Hot Yoga
"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." Yoga has taught me to stay curious. It is truly the study of the Self and by understanding why our bodies hold tension can we begin the work of releasing it. There is a huge power in learning your body/mind and the continuous knowledge and awareness that is cultivated while practicing yoga motivates me to never stop, as a teacher or a student. I began my practice 18 years ago and became a certified teacher in 2009. I teach with emphasis on breath awareness, alignment and relaxation, but mostly with love. I am very grateful to learn and grow together with everyone at San Diego Yoga Center.
Inferno Hot Pilates
Dorian Lopez​
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My name is Dorian and I am originally from LA. I moved to San Diego in 2014 to be with my Navy Chief and now husband, Louis. The same year, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an auto immune disease in the arthritis family. In my quest to live pain free and medication free, my research led me to discover the practice of Bikram yoga as a healing tool. I have been in love with the hot room ever since. Outside of the hot room I practice law, teach Zumba, and am a mother to three awesome kids, Vincent, April and Jules. In 2018, I became certified to teach Inferno Hot Pilates. I love a challenge and I enjoy motivating my students to do their best. My favorite part about teaching is seeing my students' happy smiling sweaty faces at the end of class.
Sari Brody
Vinyasa Flow
Yin Yoga
I started practicing Bikram hot yoga regularly in 2010, to help relieve stress and to improve my sleep; shortly after the beginning, yoga became a passion for me and the yoga community became my second family. As a person who loves variety, I later ventured into Vinyasa yoga. Realizing the effect it had on my physical, emotional and spiritual life, I decided to deepen my practice and went to the source, India, for an intensive 5 weeks teacher training. It was a life altering experience, which shifted my perspective on life off-the-mat; it added a different dimension to my professional work with human-rights and equality. I have been teaching since 2017. Recently, I got certified in Yin yoga as well and I love the combination of the dynamic flow of vinyasa and the passive, introspective Yin practice.
Israeli born and married to an American, we live in San Diego with our son Orion and Spanish Water Dog Indalina.
Eric Applegarth
Vinyasa Flow
Life took a turn for the best when I found yoga over eight years ago in San Francisco. I believe that the practice of yoga can help everyone reach an authentic connection with oneself. In 2017, I made the decision to become a 300 hour certified yoga instructor, specializing in hatha and prenatal yoga. My intention is to hold space for an alignment focused class providing guidance, stability, and strength. Come share your practice and connect with your best self.
Sam Weinstein
Inferno Hot Pilates
I grew up around the hot room, being the daughter of an avid Bikram yogi. I would try class from time to time, but I could never get into the habit of a regular practice. That probably had something to do with my disdain for heat and working out.
So, when I found Inferno Hot Pilates - a heated class that made me excited to workout - I knew I found something special! I began taking IHP classes in 2016 when my mom and sister became certified instructors. After my first class, I was hooked! I could feel myself getting stronger and having a blast with each class. After quitting a job in marketing, I was invited to an Inferno Hot Pilates teacher training and jumped at the opportunity. I taught my first class in 2017 and haven’t stopped since!
When I’m not teaching I’m spending time with my multiple “foster failure” rescue dogs, out running my photography business, or spending time with my family.
There’s a line in my Pilates classes that reminds me of why I love IHP: “You didn’t come this far just to come this far.” Whether it’s their first class or their 1,000th, I strive to share that motivation and excitement with every student!
Jake Symons
Beginners Hot Yoga
I was first introduced to Bikram Yoga in 2002. I was an injured athlete with a torn hamstring and Bikram yoga allowed me to heal my body and to become one of the top hurdlers for California. I continued practicing and even competed in the Southern California yoga regionals in 2008. I graduated from Teacher Training Fall 2010 in my hometown, San Diego. I love the challenge of coming into class every day and overcoming obstacles, gaining balance, and learning to let go.
Teaching has greatly deepened my love and understanding of the practice. Even after all these years, I am always learning something new in the yoga room and enjoy seeing the effects of yoga on all the students.
Amy Scher
Beginners Hot Yoga
I began my practice in 2008 in Ashland, Oregon. I soon realized that Bikram Yoga was special and transformative. In 2011, I made the decision to go to Bikram's teacher training. I have had the opportunity to teach in Chicago, Kauai, and now here in beautiful San Diego. It is with gratitude that I get to teach and share yoga with all of you.
Tammy Jacob
Beginners Hot Yoga
I started practicing Bikram yoga in 2011. I instantly loved it!I had carpel tunnel and back pain from being a hair stylist for many years. Anxiety and substance dependency had brought me to recovery. After only a couple of weeks I felt a huge difference physically,emotionally and spiritually. In 2018 I went to training to teach the 26&2 practice. I also did a maha hatha training in 2020. Being a teacher has opened my heart and my mind to many new lessons in life! I look forward to sharing, learning, and growing with all of you.
Roxanne Alvarez
Inferno Hot Pilates
Hey hey ♡ :)
My name is Roxanne you can also call me Roxy. I was born in Cali but raised in Mexico so I am a passionate spicy Mexicana at heart.
When I first stepped into a Yoga studio I had no idea what it was! I found a receptionist position on craigslist and my life took a 180° turn for the better. My first class was Yin Yoga because I was terrified of the heat. I tried it and was hooked and felt instantly at ease. My mind was in a better place, my body was connected like it had never been and my soul was vibrant and happy. It was Pilates that truly helped me build my strength and I fell in love with the control-logy, the focus PLUS the results were undeniable. I could see and feel myself becoming a better version. I wanted to spread that magic everywhere.
I was gifted the opportunity to attend the Inferno Hot Pilates training in 2019. I’m here to support you every step of the way. You’ve got whatever it takes and sometimes it takes whatever you’ve got! Do this for you. ♡
Maho Tuites
Beginners Hot Yoga
Inferno Hot Pilates
The first time I tried Bikram yoga was in 2009 and I immediately fell in love with the 26+2 format — so much so that I have been practicing almost every day since. After practicing for about ten years, I felt like my true passion in life was yoga so in 2019 I attended the Raja Yoga Academy and became a certified yoga instructor. Additionally, I spent a lot of my time during the pandemic training under Inferno Hot Pilates, and got certified to teach that class in 2021. Besides yoga and pilates, I enjoy cooking Japanese food, taking care of my house and family, and fashion. I have enjoyed getting to connect with you all in my class and I look forward to continuing to get to know you and having fun together!
Cortland Anderson
Sound Bath Meditation
Cortland’s Holistic Health practice began in 2015 after studying at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. It was a sound bath experience at the Integratron in Joshua Tree that first inspired his interest in sound healing. After researching and better understanding sound healing science, he began creating and posting binaural beats meditation videos on YouTube. The interest became a passion and Cortland invested in a complete set of Tibetan and crystal singing bowls to create music and practice sound therapy. Currently Cortland offers sound healing sessions at yoga studios and events around San Diego. Follow him on social media or sign up for his mailing list to get updates on events.
David George
Beginners Hot Yoga
Bio coming soon!
Bianca Costa
Beginners Hot Yoga
Vinyasa Flow
Bio coming soon!