Alicia Golden

Director, Ashtanga Yoga Richmond

Alicia is a dedicated student and teacher of ashtanga yoga as taught by the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Alicia is drawn to the traditional and systematic approach of the ashtanga system and feels that through consistent practice, subtle transformation begins on all levels.

Alicia has had the opportunity to study with many respected teachers in the ashtanga tradition, as well as traveling to India to study with Lino Miele and Sharath Rangaswamy. She is grateful for these experiences and continues to learn by coming to her mat each day. Through trust and patience, self discovery occurs.

Alicia’s devotion to ashtanga inspired the development of Ashtanga Yoga Richmond in 2006. With that, she hopes to provide an environment where others can embrace this dynamic practice and enrich their lives. Alicia shares her love for yoga with husband, Jared and two daughters, Haley and Isabella.

Kyra Haigh

Kyra was introduced to yoga in 1999 and immediately felt a strong connection to both the practice and the philosophy.  She found her love for Ashtanga Yoga while living in San Diego where she was fortunate to develop a daily practice under the guidance of Tim Miller. It is this daily practice, along with invaluable instruction from leading ashtanga teachers over the years, that has prepared and encouraged her to delve into yoga as a life practice.   Kyra follows the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda and has been initiated into the advanced technique of Kriya Yoga Meditation which she practices daily.  She sees the purpose of any form of yoga practice as waking up to who we really are and devotes her time and energy towards that end.  Kyra also enjoys reading and studying the ancient yoga texts and attempting to translate that wisdom into living a fuller and more meaningful life.   For more information or to contact Kyra, go to www.breathbybreath.net.

Gina Romagnoli, RYT

After over 20 years of practicing many styles of yoga off an on as an adjunct to running, cycling and dancing, Gina is grateful to have discovered ashtanga yoga in 2006. She was immediately drawn to the practice and its meditative and transformative qualities.

Gina aspires to bring a warm and playful teaching style to the traditional ashtanga vinaysa system, as students explore their practice. She is particularly interested in the beneficial effects of ashtanga yoga on aging, from middle age and beyond. Teaching at AYR informs her own practice, as she is continually inspired by students to delve more deeply into its subtleties.

In 2007, Gina received her 200-hour RYT designation from Yoga Source and has had the opportunity to participate in workshops with Michael Hamilton, Michael Gannon, Tim Miller, and Kino MacGregor. In addition, every day spent on her mat has been a precious opportunity and gift for growth, humility, and self-discovery. When not practicing or teaching, Gina can be found enjoying the outdoors with her husband and two of her most influential teachers, her children Gavin and Gabriella.

Karen Hansen, RYT

Karen’s classes aim to create a balance of space and strength in the body and mind through a challenging and thoughtful vinyasa practice. You can expect creative and purposeful sequencing balanced with a strong emphasis on alignment, some sweat, and a lot of laughter. Karen believes that this practice is for everyone and is grateful for the opportunity to guide others on their investigative journey of the self. Karen’s practice began while attending Virginia Commonwealth University in the mid-90’s.  Moving to Chicago and later San Francicsco where she studied with amazing teachers both world renowned and relatively unknown.  She completed her 200 teacher training through Eight Limbs Yoga in Chicago in 2003, a 40 hour Ashtanga Primary Series training with Manju Jois in 2004, and the YogaWorks Professional program in 2010.  She continues to study with her teachers and maintains a dedicated asana and meditation practice.  For more information about Karen and for updates on classes and events please visit www.yogawabisabi.com.

Viktoriya Kostyaneva

Viktoriya began practicing yoga at the age of 19 as a way of dealing with the stresses of college life. She devoted herself fully to a daily Vinyasa practice and within a few months traveled to Kripalu School of Yoga in Massachusetts to get her teacher’s certification. Since then she has studied with Shiva Rea, Kino Macgregor and Edward Clark. Viktoriya discovered Ashtanga yoga in 2011 and began a daily practice at Ashtanga Yoga Richmond that she feels deeply drawn to. She views the practice of Ashtanga yoga as more than just strengthening and opening the body but as a movement meditation that opens the consciousness to help us realize the deep connection that we have to each other and the universe around us. She encourages her students to let go of old patterns of the mind and stand firm in the belief that we can create who we want to be and what we want to experience at any moment. It all starts with the mind and it all starts right now. That is the power of yoga!

Brinson Leigh Kresge

Leigh began practicing yoga asana in 2000 and discovered Ashtanga Yoga in 2003. As a dancer, she was drawn to the connection between breath and movement, the physical benefits, and the discipline of this practice. As she continued studying, she became increasingly dedicated to the philosophical and spiritual depths available and inherent in the Ashtanga system.

In 2007 Leigh received her 200-hour certification in Boston, MA and went on to teach Vinyasa and Ashtanga for two and a half years in Osaka, Japan, while spending her winters studying Ashtanga Yoga in India with Lino Mieile, Rolf and Marci Naujokat, and R. Sharath Jois. In April, Leigh, her husband, and their infant son returned from their latest trip to India, where they spent four inspirational months with their beloved teachers Rolf and Marci Naujokat.

Currently, Leigh is working toward certification as a Yoga and Ayurveda Health Educator (400 hours) studying Advanced Yoga and Ayurveda with David Frawley through the American Institute of Vedic Studies. In 2010 she received her Thai Yoga Bodywork certification and more recently became certified in Ayurveda Yoga Oil Body Therapy.

Leigh sees mothering, teaching, bodywork and being a student as different elements of the same practice. She seeks to inform this practice with the graceful integration of Yoga, anatomy, meditation, and Ayurveda while approaching it with heart, intuition, and a healing intention. brinsonleighyoga.blogspot.com