Yoga Instructor Bios

Denise Hogan
After several years of dabbling in various yoga disciplines, Denise met Gary Kraftsow and Viniyoga in 1997. She enjoys strengthening her link to the tradition of yoga through personal practice, teaching classes, and assisting in the education of teachers. Helping others discover their potential through asana, pranayama, sound, meditation, and study of yoga philosophy is a delight and a dharma for Denise. She mindfully endeavors to transmit authentic yogic tools using a teaching style that is effective and non-harming.In addition to her passion for teaching yoga with a strong interest in therapeutic applications, she has been practicing therapeutic massage since 1994, and became a certified personal fitness trainer in 2004. Through experience and training from these cohesive modalities, Denise practices the art of listening, observing, and responding to the needs of each individual to create a unique program for optimum wellness.

Patricia Abrams
Pat Abrams holds professional certifications with Nasmaste International, Yoga Alliance, and California Yoga Teachers Association. She has practiced yoga for thirteen years and has been teaching yoga for the past ten years. In addition to Yoga she is an experienced teacher of pranayama, the art of yoga breathing along with meditation to beginning and intermediate level students. Over the years she has had the great pleasure of studying with Shiva Rae, Gary Kraftsow and Irene Beer, Rodney Yee and Angela Farmer. These wonderful teachers have shaped her own approach to teaching. Her certification is in the Scaravelli method of yoga, which focuses on the breath, the spine, and the ground. She incorporates a slow flow style of yoga, integrating breath, inner strength and fluid movement. Each of her classes consists of a period of time devoted to meditation. She believes the benefits of yoga are available to each of us, and no matter were we are in our lives when we begin the practice of Yoga will bring us back toward balance and peace. Pat teaches regular studio classes in Plano, and is available for private instruction.

Sabrina Hamilton
Sabrina began practicing yoga in the early 90's while working for a municipality. She was drawn to Kripalu yoga because of the internal practices of stilling the mind and attuning to the subtleties of the energy body. Kripalu yoga became a catalyst for physical healing, psychological and emotional development, and spiritual awakening. In 2005, she took the month long teacher training at the Kripalu School of Yoga outside of Boston, Massachusetts and completed her 200 hour teacher certification. She teaches in the corporate setting, senior centers, parks and recreation facilities and yoga studios in the area. Sabrina has trained with Roger Cole and Karen O’Donnell Clarke. She also has an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Mimi Mears
MiMi attended her first yoga class in 1989 at the University of Namur in Belgium, her native country. Since then, her interest in yoga philosophy and in the ancient science of yoga as a healing modality and as a path to happiness has continued to grow. She has been a Certified Yoga Teacher since 1996 and an Associate of the International Yoga School of England since 1997. In late 2000, she discovered the Viniyoga style and immediately knew she had found the path of yoga she wanted to explore in depth. In June 2006 she received her Viniyoga Teacher Certificate. MiMi has been a certified Mamaste(TM) Prenatal Yoga teacher since 2003, and is trained in pre- and post-natal massage therapy. She places great emphasis on the breath as a means to deepen and enliven our yoga practice and on awareness of the movements of the spine in relation to the breath.

Katrina Rogers
Katrina has always had this fascination with balance. She earned a BBA focused in economics, but that just wasn't quite the balance she was looking for. She began a journey into yoga in 1999, and left her first class on a cloud. Feeling open and free, she's been hooked ever since. This was more the balance she was looking for! When not chasing her 2 sons, Kat is either teaching yoga, making jewelry, or blogging about her life and her attempt to live it to the fullest. You can read more about her on her website: www.selfsymmetry.com. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, and has studied Vinyasa yoga with Baron Baptiste in Tulum, Mexico. She has certifications in Shakta Khalsa's "Radiant Child Yoga Program" and Karen Prior's "Let's Play Yoga", both of which are teaching yoga to children. She is also licensed to teach "Mamaste Yoga", a prenatal yoga certification. Katrina has studied with Ana Forrest, Manju Jois, and Beryl Bender Birch, and is continually educating herself.

Paula Weithman
Paula loves yoga and has been studying since 1976. Her concentration has been in the areas of asana and yoga psychology. She continues to study with senior international teachers within the lineage of Krishnmacharya. Her interest in therapeutic yoga is complimented by her background in rehabilitation, working in the physical therapy field for 10 years. As a psychotherapist, she uses yoga philosophy to facilitate people's development of a stronger relationship with themselves as it relates to vitality and well-being. She holds a Namaste International Certification(500 hr). She has been featured twice in D Magazine as "Best Private Yoga Instructor" 2002 and 2003.

Christiana Stich
Christiana has been a yoga practitioner since 1995, when she took her first class in Tokyo, Japan. After years of personal practice, in 2002 she was drawn to share with others what she had experienced and became a certified yoga teacher. She is a 500 hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with her primary training through Para Yoga under Yogarupa Rod Stryker. Christiana's classes, which are a blend of different Hatha Yoga styles, focus on correct physical alignment and include pranayama practices to move deeper into poses, visualizations and meditation to help students explore yoga's mind/body/spirit connection. Including modifications depending on one's ability, she encourages students of all ages to honor their bodies, to find contentment in any pose without judgment, and to listen to one's inner teacher. She invites her students to explore what yoga has to offer for 'the peace and tranquility of yoga will reveal itself in a way that is best suited' for the student.

Manisha Dabak
Manisha received her formal training from a famous institute in India called Kaivalyadhama Institute of Yoga. She is also certified through Yoga Alliance and has been teaching at YMCA for the last 5 years. She loves Yoga since it has a complete body and mind approach and has been practicing yoga for the last 10 years. She emphasis on breath during her practice and can work on individual body needs .

Thom Allen
Psychotherapist and yoga teacher Thom Allen has been sharing his passion for yoga wellness for more than 20 years. Students enjoy his unique style that is mentally stimulating, physically exhilarating and spiritually inspiring. With experience ranging from restorative therapeutics and meditation to power yoga flow, Thom works with a variety of populations ranging from those with terminal illnesses and their caregivers to corporate executives and professional athletes.

Skila Ramirez
Skila began practicing yoga in 2002 as a healthy alternative to prescription drugs for pain management stemming from a car accident. After practicing with many respected yoga instructors and attending several clinics, she became a certified yoga teacher. Yoga has not only given her a healthy way to manage chronic back and neck pain but has also aided her in body acceptance and helped her to maintain a healthy body-weight (she has lost 50 pounds and kept it off for over 10 years). She is a 500-RYT Senior Master Trainer for YogaFit, an international yoga school approved by Yoga Alliance. She has written a Teacher Training course approved by Yoga Alliance for YogaFit Props and is working on the YogaFit Restorative 3-day training as well. Her teachings are based on a simple truth, "Yoga is for everyone and anyone can do yoga. Skila's studies and certifications include: 500-hr RYT, Restorative Yoga, Meditation and Breathing, NASM Personal Trainer, ACE and AFAA group exercise, ACE continuing education provider, Silver Sneakers, PilatesFit, Kids In Motion, Pre/Post Natal, Seniors training and more.

Leanne Hall
Leanne's journey in Yoga began in 2001 after graduating with a B.S. from Ohio University and moving to Dallas to begin a career in Advertising. Discovering her true passion in Yoga, Leanne has been on an incredible journey of self-empowerment, transformation and wellness over the last 10 years. Her journeys have taken her to study with some of the most famous Yoga Masters worldwide including her teacher Shiva Rea, and many others along the way such as John Friend, Baron Baptiste, Sharon Gannon and David Life, Eric Schiffman, Tim Miller, Saul David Raye, Bryan Kest and Manju Jois. During the past few years she traveled around the country with one of her greatest teachers, international speaker, Tony Robbins of which she is a graduate of his world-renowned Mastery University program. Through his programs Leanne has learned from some of the greatest wellness experts worldwide including Deepak Chopra and Carolyn Myss. She has also worked with professioal athletes, including one of the Dallas Mavericks basketball players teaching True Yoga to him throughout the 2004-2005 NBA Season.