TEACHERS

Rina Jakubowicz, E-RYT
Vinyasa, Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga

Rina is a teacher of teachers. She has completed teaching her second 200-hour Teacher Training course, registered by the Yoga Alliance. She is trained to teach Vinyasa, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga classes along with yoga philosophy, pranayama(breathing), etc. She always puts together a well-rounded class, and is well known for her detailed explanation of the poses. As a practitioner and teacher, Rina emphasizes proper alignment to maximize performance and prevent injury. She focuses on dissecting each pose or action, helping to accelerate student advancement. In addition to her group classes, Rina provides private instruction, corporate instruction, children’s yoga, seminars, retreats and workshops.

Heidy Toledo
Hatha Yoga

A few years ago, I thought that people who did yoga were weird. But not too long ago, a good friend of mine introduced me to the practice of yoga. Now, it is my passion.
What do I expect to gain from Yoga? There was a point in my life that I was depressed, and I thought that life was just living day to day. Now, I know there is a much deeper meaning, because I am a different person. I would like to become a yogini. I think it will be a way to show the universe how thankful I am for all of my blessings.
Thank you Tess for showing me the way. Thank you Rina for giving me the opportunity to show what I have learned. If you cannot see God in all, you cannot see God at all. Namaste’

Luana Hervier
Vinyasa Yoga

Luana´s background is in physical education, fitness and lifestyle improvement. Through the philosophy of Yoga and the practice of asana she found her complete union of mind, body and spirit, which propelledher to naturally transmit wellness with love for her students and every living thing in her classes and her personal living as well. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher whose teaching style is soothing, inspiring, and moving. Her vibrant energy makes of her class a Yoga and Life experience. She focuses on keeping a flow between postures, emphasizing on body alignment, coloring her speech with anatomy instruction, motivating words, and a soothing voice that just takes you on a pleasant journey of inspiration, love and light.

Luciana Ferraz
Vinyasa Flow Yoga

Innovative Brazilian yoga instructor Luciana Ferraz’ teaching is based on the connecting flow of movement, breath and dance; inspired by her studies of Iyengar, Ayurveda and Prana Vinyasa Flow.
Luciana’s passion for yoga began in 1999, when reflecting about how much she would like to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Her “flow” revelation comes from leading teacher Shiva Rea, her biggest influence and whom she has the pleasure of assisting and following around the world for inspiration and guidance.
Luciana also studied with renowned maestros Rod Stryker, Rodney Yee, Sharon Gannon, Dharma Mitra, Bobbi Goldin, Betsey Downing, Rosella Rossi and Twee Merrigan. Her enthusiasm for learning has taking her as far as India.
A true passionate, she combines her love for yoga and caring for her students in her teaching. Her classes are centered on the importance of alignment, breathing, spiritual growth, and self-awareness as you relate that into every day’s life.

Karen Mejia
Vinyasa Yoga

Karen completed Rina Yoga’s first 200-hour teacher training certification with Rina and is certified with the Yoga Alliance. She focuses on Vinyasa styles of Hatha Yoga. Her first Yoga class experience was in college in 1999. Yoga helped her alleviate her severe back pains and scoliosis. She came deeper into Vinyasa Yoga 4 years ago and has not looked back. Since then, her love of Yoga has grown to a passion and expressing to others the art of joyful living. Her main goal in starting a practice in Yoga was to heal her body and find more enjoyment in life. Karen discovered her true calling in life. ‘I took Rina’s inspirational class & I knew that I wanted to teach Yoga from that moment on.’

One of her favorite aspects of Yoga is the amazing transformations and healings that take place physically and emotionally. She continues to deepen her practice through workshops and her work as a Nutritional Wellness Coach. Karen aspires to bring alive the wisdom of the eight limbs of yoga throughout asana classes. She continues to study extensively and is now certified in Kids Yoga.

Yoga has taught me that the truest depth of our being lies within the deepest aspect of the heart. Thank you Rina Angels for sharing this amazing journey with me. I am blessed for having all of you in my life!

Joan Varini
Vinyasa Hatha Yoga

It seems my whole adult life I have been actively searching for the one thing that fulfills my spiritual, physical, emotional, philosophical and artistic needs. Through the Universities this search yielded an MFA in Creative Writing. I have been a poet since my youth. Being a mother has strengthened my character and my awareness of the human experience. And my wandering spirit has found refuge in various ancient traditions. But all of my other odd and usual career experimentation’s have fallen short of my complex needs. Until last summer I realized the possible answer to my query was in my prescription for mental and physical health, Yoga. Yoga has been part of my life for over twelve years. Sharing this pathway, accessible to anyone, for physical health and beauty, mental and emotional balance and spiritual and self-awareness, has become my passion and obsession. I aspire to give honor to the perfection of this science of self realization and to the wisdom of Rina’s teachings.

Benjamin Smielowitz
Dharma Mittra Flow Yoga

Benjamin has been teaching since 2003 and is a native New Yorker where he was an apprentice and assistant to Sri Dharma Mittra and the Dharma Yoga Center. His diverse training and study has guided him in providing an eclectic form of yoga while maintaining the teachings in tact. A friend to RinaYoga, Benjamin is currently living and teaching yoga in Miami, F.L.  Learn to incorporate new ideas and exercises into your self practice and change sequences creatively using traditional dynamic hatha yoga asana vinyasas, modern exercises and meditation with Benjamin.

Gisela Gonzalez
Vinyasa Flow Yoga in Doral

Gisela has been practicing yoga for 5 years and completed her 200 hrs teacher training certification with Rina. She is also certified with YogaFit® level 1. She is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and Information Technology. She is now part of the Bioinformatics Research Group BIORG at Florida International University.
‘I wanted to start teaching because that meant I had a commitment with yoga. My point of view regarding my practice has changed radically after finishing my certification. There is always something new and challenging about yoga that will guide you to a better understanding of yourself. Growing and evolving are directly related to yoga. I am very grateful that I have been able to incorporate this practice into my daily life.’

 

 

David Yglesias
Power Yoga in Doral

 

David Yglesias, a Miami native, became a certified instructor in April 2008 after 6 years of studying different forms of yoga with teachers from all over the world.  David experienced firsthand the transforming power of yoga and how it changes lives.  David teaches yoga from the heart and is known for his Sheng Chi (refreshing and uplifting) energy levels in class.  His warmth is present in his voice and adjustments as he guides students into and out of postures.  His favorite style of yoga is Ashtanga, but he enjoys teaching Power, Vinyasa Flow, Thai Yoga Massage and Hatha.