Kelly Wood
is the founder and director of Karuna Yoga. Kelly created Karuna Yoga as a comfortable and beautiful space where people feel at ease. The Karuna Yoga atmosphere and great teachers are here to support everyone in their quest for feeling happier about themselves and their lives. Kelly began her practice with Ashtanga Yoga and then discovered Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Through her experience, Kelly has great appreciation of all styles of yoga as she sees the common goal of bringing people back to their true nature open, strong and calm.

One of Kelly's great passions is teaching yoga to kids. Over the past five years, Kelly has developed a playful and imaginative kids yoga program that she teaches once a week at Karuna Yoga. She also goes into schools to teach weekly 20 minute yoga classes from kindergarten thru high school. Teaching kids how to calm themselves and focus through yoga and meditation gives Kelly great joy. For more information about privates and teacher trainings, please email Kelly at kwood@karunayoga.net
Patty Pierce
Her first exposure to yoga was 30 years ago at the YMCA in Albuquerque, New Mexico and in the ensuing years she has participated in many forms of fitness. Several years ago she was very involved in a martial arts based form of exercise, and though she often enjoyed it, felt something was missing. During this time, she attended a power yoga class with a friend. After a few years of regular practice in power yoga, Patty completed teacher's training and apprenticeship with Mark Blanchard, Elizabeth Folk and Brenda Strong. Patty recently completed teacher training at Yoga Works with Maty Ezraty and Lisa Walford. Patty believes that in the practice of Yoga, she has found her true self and her connection to the world around her. For Patty, it is not about flexibility or poses, but about learning to breathe and finding poise when difficulty arises. Patty says "Through yoga we are allowed to banish fear along with our sense of singularity. For me, a fire was ignited, and a passion was created that is a joy to share with others." Patty lives in Sherman Oaks with her husband Tim, a studio guitar player. Tim and Patty have a son Nigel, a recent graduate of Cal Arts, and a dog, Duque, who is old but misbehaves and tests her hard won patience on a regular basis.
Tanya Greve
Tanya Greve has been practicing yoga for over 12 years. Originally certified in Kundalini yoga, she has branched into teaching hatha yoga in the anusara style originated by John Friend. She uses her diverse experience to encourage students to draw from their center, their breath, and their power, to alllign with their truest self and express their uniqueness through yoga. Her classes are empowering, fun, and celebrate the heart. She constantly learns from her students and her practice, and feels blessed to be able to share this practice with others.  
Dawn Greenidge
A native New Yorker and accomplished actress, Dawn came to Los Angeles 7 years ago to pursue her acting career. It was here that she discovered yoga, gradually deepening her practice until she decided to take the teacher’s training at Karuna Yoga. Dawn has a great love for both Hatha and Kundalini styles and is excited to be teaching the restorative class. Through dealing with her own injuries, she has a great respect and understanding of the body's need for a restorative practice. Her class will focus on opening up the body to promote healing on all levels.

Lauren Maher
Lauren Maher made her way to California by way of South Florida and New York City. Inspired by her newfound sense of balance from developing a regular Kundalini Yoga practice, Lauren became an internationally certified teacher through Yoga West in order to share this sacred technology with others. In her classes, Lauren strives to create a safe space for people to grow spiritually, releasing any emotional, spiritual or physical blocks. Lauren views the real benefits of yoga as what you take with you outside of the class and into the world. She often focuses on stress relief and tries to merge day-to-day life with yogic technology. In addition, Lauren specializes in teaching yoga and meditation to cancer patients during and post treatment. She infuses her classes with a sense of humor and always encourages her students to challenge themselves, diving deeper into their practice. Lauren believes that the practice of yoga and meditation can not only create inner harmony and expansiveness, but also create a greater peace, awareness and radiance throughout the world.

Robyn Bennett
A native New Yorker, Robyn moved to Southern California in 1986 and has practiced yoga since arriving on the west coast. After completing a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology, she obtained her teacher certification in Kundalini and Hatha Yoga. Her love of teaching and sharing her practice is apparent. Her classes guide you on a spiritually calming journey that will leave you in a positive state of mind with a feeling of gratitude. Her classes can help you establish a daily physical practice that supports you on any given day. She encourages you to honor yourself, allowing the benefits of yoga to follow you throughout your day.

Jonnyka Bormann
Jonnyka chose yoga as a way to cope with life?s demands. She began practicing Hatha, soon discovered Kundalini, and continued practicing both styles regularly. It was evident from the beginning that yoga was (and is!) transforming her life. While furthering her practice in the teacher training program at Karuna Yoga with Kelly Wood & Jim Akimoto, Jonnyka realized that the joy and release she found in the practice was something she truly wanted to share with others. She believes in the endless discovery within each person and hopes to support and encourage others on their journeys within. She is honored to share her enthusiasm for yoga and meditation with the beautiful Karuna community and believes that yoga and meditation will continue to transform lives leading to a world of greater love, creativity & spirit.

Nina Mikkelsen
Nina is a third generation Santa Monica native and took her first yoga class there when she was thirteen. She immediately loved yoga and found that many of the postures felt natural to her. Since that time she has practiced various styles of yoga as well as other methods of meditation. Nina is a graduate of the first Teacher's Training Course at Karuna. Since then she assisted two teachers at Karuna and then began to teach regularly as a substitute. During the last year she also worked on refining her daily practice at home as well as taking classes from a variety of teachers. Teaching at Karuna is a pleasure and an honor. Nina is thrilled to be able to share her love and knowledge of yoga with each and every one of her students.

Julie Granata
After 12 years of personal yoga practice in Chicago, Julie pursed a teacher's certification through Karuna Yoga after relocating to Los Angeles. Her personal mission as a yoga instructor is to make yoga accessible to anyone interested in his or her health and wellness.ĘShe desires to create a class environment where students feel supported, challenged, and safe. In addition to her yoga practice, Julie has turned her passion for movement and body mechanics into 14 years of exploration of various forms of Alignment/Movement Theory including Laban, Feldencris, and Alexander Techniques. A trained dancer, Julie?s experience includes the study of various martial arts, stage combat, and Capoeira. Julie strives to help others discover their strength, creativity, potential, and truest, joyous selves as they journey through their yoga practice, discovering the gift of being present in every moment.

Heather Funston
Heather fell head over heals in love with yoga at Karuna where she completed the Hatha/Kundulini Yoga certification courses for adults and kids under the mentorship of Kelly Wood. In the last three years, her entire life and sense of herself has transformed dramatically for the better due to her personal practice. She wants to share the gifts she has received with others especially children. She is sure that the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of yoga can change the world as we know it... one person at a time! She is so excited to join the Karuna family as a teacher and invites you to come practice yoga with her in an environment of non-judgment, love, acceptance and joy!.

Amber Rothwell
Amber grew up in Australia, New Mexico, Brazil and Canada before finding herself in Los Angeles. Upon arrival in LA, she fell in love with the historically-based, forward-looking healing power of different yogic postures, meditations and breathing techniques. She completed the Hatha and Kundalini Teacher Training Program at Karuna Yoga in Los Feliz in the fall of 2007. Currently, she is expanding her yoga studies through the Yoga Therapy Rx Program at Loyola Marymont. She strives to provide a space for students where they can breathe and relax into the innate strength, stability and sacred silence existing in their bodies and minds. Yoga aside, Amber has a degree in Art History from the University of British Columbia and she strives to read, watch, listen and tell stories as often as she can.

Shoshana Stolove
Shoshana Stolove has been practicing Yoga for over 16 years. She began her practice in New York, then Colorado and for the past 12 years in LA. Yoga has easily become one of her greatest passions. Teaching gives her the chance to create a compassionate and loving space for others to grow and to be their authentic selves. Her certification is in Hatha, Kundalini, and Kid's Yoga. Shoshana consistently attends workshops and trainings to expand as a person and a teacher. Aside from being a Yoga instructor, she is a drummer, an animator, and a jewelry designer.