Sunny Richards - Glasser

Sunny is the founder of Santosha and holds her Yoga Alliance ERYT-500 accreditation.

Sunny has devoted her life to Santosha, Santosha was born from a dream of Sunny’s to create a sacred place for healing, transformation and to awaken the incredible potential of happiness.

Sunny teaches and supports her student’s journey from the heart. She allows students to find their inner truths and come to an understanding of their own body’s abilities and strengths through their connection to their breath.

Sunny believes wholeheartedly in being a guiding light for others so she may shine the way, and importantly  she believes that a guide of Yoga should live a life that is transparent for all to see. In essence, this is what was upheld by Patanjali and is reflected in the Sutras and found in the  first two Paths on the eightfold path of Yoga; the Yamas and Niyamas. Sunny states ” If we can not be it, we can not teach it”.

Sunny’s passion is to teach and share her knowledge.  She dedicates herself to studying learning, and practicing. However she feels that sef practice is the key which in turn allows the transference  of  what she learns from others to become her teachings. This combination of practice and study through dedication and devotion has assisted Sunny to gain some understanding of the art and science of Yoga and to apply this appropriately in Asana, Pranayama, Mantra and Meditation for the different levels of students she has the privilege to share the teachings with.

A strong strength of Sunny’s is to present the teachings in an accessible way for her students. Sunny is very down to earth and she believes life should never be taken too seriously and that the sense of play and fun must be the foundation of all we do in life, so that what we do is done with passion and honesty. As a result, Sunny’s teachings  are lively and humorous.

Sunny loves what she does , she loves life and all it brings, she loves her family, her friends and is so thankful for her teachers and for the opportunities that allowed her to create Santosha.

Sunny welcomes you all with an open heart; filled with love and a smile. She considers all who walk through Santosha doors as family and therefore promises to be available to her students throughout her life whenever needed.

Words from students:

"I’ve never known a person name to suit them so well! You are the warmest, friendliest, most down to earth person I have possibly met. What you do is remarkable! I can only imagine the energy you give to create such a wonderful Yoga Teacher program. You have so much love bursting out of you and you give so much to the students. Your honesty, open candor and knowledge is such an incredible quality I only hope I can take a leaf out of your book. Thank you for all you do and you give”  Jehan

"Sunny you are such an amazing woman and a great teacher. You have taught us so much about life and Yoga. You inspire so many and through each of us there will be positive change in this world. Thank you Sunny." Mio

"Sunny I am so proud to be one of your students and no words can fully express my gratitiude for an amazing experience . You are an incredible teacher and woman. Much love" Saeko

"Sunny I can not begin to describe how much I appreciate your passion for Yoga and guiding others. I learnt so much from you and I am now a new person. Everything you have done for us in this course has come straight from your heart. Your smile and bright energy is contagious in the best way possible" Lily

Peter Clifford

Peter Clifford is the founder and principal of Anahata Yoga school, master yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) and pioneer of Elemental Yoga including the Five Element Form.

Peter has studied and practiced yoga for forty-eight years. He has had the honour of studying with many wise and knowledgeable teachers in India including Swami Sarasvati, Aghor Sadhu Shankar, TKV Desikachar, AG Mohan and BKS Iyengar. Combining his study of elemental yoga with a lifelong interest in bio-mechanics, postural integration, anatomy and physiology, Peter has developed a unique, powerful and comprehensive yoga philosophy described as the Dance of Shiva and Shakti.

Peter has been involved with the development and teaching of numerous teacher training courses around the world. His teaching style reflects his experience as a household yogi and his classes are joyous, opening and transformational. His intention is to introduce Santosha’s students to the magic of internal yoga and provide them with the ability to apply the philosophy of yoga to all aspects of their daily lives.

Jean Campbell

She has taught and practiced various styles including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and pre and post natal yoga. With a great interest in the many aspects of yoga, Jean has travelled to India several times. 

She continues to further her study in Anatomy, Ayurveda and Yoga Philosophy. Jean's Anatomy teaching emphasises core strength and stability. She loves Yoga because it is such an effective system for cultivating awareness, strength & flexibility, at the same time stilling & calming the mind.

Consta Georgoussis

In teaching philosophy, he works by developing a narrative that is engaging and stimulating which can cover awide range of topics all geared towards encouraging insight and enquiry.

Nityabodhananda

Rishi Nityabodhananda is a Yogacharya (Master of yoga), a versatile and experienced teacher. He was initiated into Rishi Sannyasa during Easter 1999 by Paramahansa Niranjanananda.

In the late 1960’s Nityabodhananda left a professional career and for many years studied under his guru Swami Satyananda in India. Over the years he has taught yoga classes and run seminars in many parts of the world. With a vast knowledge of all aspects of Yoga he is well known for his ability to relate original Yoga texts and render abstruse philosophies in a language that enthuses and enlightens Yoga aspirants. Rishi Nityabodhananda conducts programs right across the broad spectrum of Yogic subjects. These include Bhakti Yoga, Gyana Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga. Currently he writes, having just completed an exhaustive work on Ajna Chakra he has now embarked onto his next book, Manipur Chakra.

Also he teaches and gives satsangs around Australia and has just started a series of practical Kriya Yoga courses in Sydney and Melbourne. He was a senior teacher at the Satyananda Yoga Academy in New South Wales Australia, conducting seminars and lecturing in Yogic Studies programs for the Diploma of Satyananda Yoga Teaching. Now he devotes his time mainly to writing on the philosophy & practice of Yoga.

His life’s purpose is to serve the needs of people by carrying the message of his Guru, Swami Satyananda through his classes, lectures, seminars writings and satsangs

Rishi Yoga Diwali

Since that time her formal Yoga training and resultant teachings have always been highlighted by a characteristic hallmark, an exceptional intuitive understanding and approach to practices and theory ranging from elementary Asana practices through to Pranayama Meditation and Tantric visualisation techniques. Always a spiritual aspirant, Diwali pursued a successful career in the art industry and simultaneously sought higher teachings.

She trained in Yoga at Satyananda Ashram at Mangrove Mountain and during extended stays in India where she received direct instructions from Swami Satyananda. Then her true calling came and she devoted her energies to spreading the light and knowledge of Yoga.

Her natural creative nature always shines from her sparkling individuality and her classes and lessons, based on tradition are modified with her creative flair to adapt to the minds and hearts of today. Rishi Yoga Diwali is a devoted and talented artist. She brings the light of Yoga through symbol yantra mantra and divine form.

She introduced a fresh approach to Yoga through her original Yoga and Art courses helping others to pursue imagination and visualisation as tools for relating to the sacred and divine within.

Rishi Yoga Diwali brings to Yoga the light of inner experience. Paramahansa Niranjanananda initiated Rishi Yoga Diwali into Rishi Sannyasa during Easter 1999. Originally She was initiated into Yoga by Swami Satyananda in 1980 after her transcendental Kundalini experiences which awakened her to the Truth in the intuitive realm.

Paul Vella

Paul Vella has been practicing and researching yogic techniques since 1985. He has studied Iyengar, Ashtanga and other forms of hatha yoga and attained a yoga teaching diploma in 1990. Paul has also been a student of the Taoist arts of Tai Chi, Bagua and Chi Kung. Paul has a deep understanding of the great traditions of the yogic arts and is continuously researching, developing and refining his own practice and bringing this knowledge to his role as a teacher on the Santosha yoga teacher trainings.

Kester & Nadia Marshall

This husband and wife team are the Managing Directors of the Mudita Institute, an Australian-based education and training organisation established to teach people the fundamental practices of Ayurveda and Buddhist Psychology, to live their lives with greater peace, joy and wisdom. Kester is an Ayurvedic Naturopath specialising in women’s and children’s health.

He has run a successful health clinic for over 15 years in South Australia and more recently in Northern NSW and Qld. Originally trained as a Naturopath and Western Herbalist, Kester has studied Ayurvedic Medicine through the American Institute of Vedic Studies, the Australasian Institute of Ayurvedic Studies (A.I.A.S) and the Ayurvedic Research Institute in Pune, India. Kester is also a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Aikido and has practiced yoga for many years. Nadia is an Ayurvedic Consultant, Yoga Teacher, Professional Writer and Author of the Ayurvedic food and lifestyle course, “AGNI: Building a Strong Digestive Fire” and the Ayurvedic cookbook, “WARMTH”.

She has practiced yoga for over a decade, predominantly in the Shadow style and began teaching in 2006. The two are both formal students of Zen Teacher and Spiritual Director of the Mudita Institute, Sensei Michael Doko Hatchett. Through the Institute, they run educational and experiential retreats teaching a confluence of Ayurveda, Buddhist Psychology, Meditation and Yoga.

They wholeheartedly agree with Santosha’s emphasis on integrating Yoga and Ayurveda into daily life and are delighted to be part of the teaching team.

photo coming soon!

Layananda

Layananda is a swami of the Dashnami order of Sannyasa. She joined the Satyananda Yoga Movement and was initiated into the Dashnami order by Paramahansa Satyananda Saraswati, Rikhi, India, a modern yoga master. Under his guidance and teachings she lived a disciplined Yogic lifestyle learning and teaching the many varied practices and teachings of Tantra, Yoga and Meditation. After 15 years of ashramic life Layananda moved out into the world, blending a householder life while continuing to delve deeper into her spiritual journey. Layananda teaches both yoga and meditation in a dynamic and fearless style. Her path is one of transformation beyond the rational mind to a place of peace within. Layananda's knowledge and experience express both a practical, scientific and esoteric approach to the nature of Yoga and Meditation and with her unique blend of kirtan and music these are powerful tools for change.

Laya is honoured to be teaching with Santosha becasue of the founding intentions and integrity Santosha believes in.

Flo Fenton

Flo Fenton has been practicing yoga since 1991 and teaching since 1997. Due to the diverse knowledge of her teachers, Flo has a wide range of expertise in yoga. Trained by masters of Iyengar, Astanga, and Satyananda traditions, Flo's focus is on building core-strength, and an ever deepening awareness of the relationship between the body, the breath, and our state of mind. She teaches precise awareness of alignment in the postures, through the medium of graceful, flowing sequences in synchrony with the breath. Her style is both meditative and enlivening, balancing the active and the passive sides of our nature. As we focus within, developing the capacity to witness ourselves, the sessions themselves become a form of Yoga Therapy, which flows out into our lives beyond the class-room.

Tracey Craft

She began practicing Soloman Yogalates in 2000 and was amazed  at the gradual improvement that a regular yoga practice focasing on functional movement patterns made to her overall health.

She studied the Soloman Yogalates method in 2007 – 2008, and has been teaching weekly classes since then.

Since beginning to teach, she has also been studying the Tattwas Shuddhi  Sadhana (5 Element Purification) under Peter Clifford.

Tracey practices and teaches her classes with joy and gratitude. She feels honoured to be a part of the Santosha team, and to have the opportunity to observe the new paths embarked and ventured upon by others.

photo coming soon!

Elise Flanagan

Elise started practicing yoga about 13 years ago and is very passionate about becoming part of the amazing Santosha team. She has completed Santosha’s 200hr YTT training in Bali in 2011 and will complete the 500 hr YTT in 2012 to become a 500 hour YTAA certified yoga instructor.

Elise has been practicing massage now for 7 years and is based in Coffs Harbor. She began studying Swedish and Remedial in her first year of Naturopathy in Sydney at Nature Care College in 2004. This also included courses in Homoeopathy, Bach flowers, Herbal medicine, Nutrition and basic personal counseling. She then branched off to complete an Aromatherapy diploma in 2007. Complimenting her studies with Auyervedic medicine and 5 different styles of massage: including Aromatherapy, Pregnancy and Lymphatic drainage.

Elise also has a personal interest in Reflexology and pressure point therapy which she incorporates in her treatments especially with her regular clients in her individually tailored aromatherapy massages. Combining subtle aromatherapy with a very sensitive energetic constitution, she works intuitively to effect both the physical and emotional body.

In 2003, Elise created an all aromatherapy based skin and body product company called elodi. This evolved alongside her aromatherapy diploma as she based her product line on individual case studies containing essential oils and extracts, all natural base ingredients, Bach flowers and crystal salts. All presented in earth friendly packaging, handmade with love.

I am excited to meet each and every one of our Santosha family members and will be here to support love and nurture you all through the life changing journey you have chosen to experience with us. I will be online and present at the YTT courses, both at home in Australia and in Bali and India next year. I am also available for individual massages in Australia although bookings are essential.

You can contact me at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Peace, sand, love.

Sharon Little

Junko Nakaya

Junko was born and grew up in Japan; at the age of 23 she immigrated to Australia and subsequently moved to Byron Bay in 2000 where Yoga became a deep and special part of her daily life. Junko is now a 500 hour YTAA certified yoga instructor.

She leads international workshops in Japan and Bali and has been involved in many Yoga teacher trainings in Australia since 2006 as both a teacher and translator. Junko has just released a beautiful meditation CD dedicated to the promotion of peace and tranquillity throughout the world. Junko’s classes are inspiring and transformational and for her, "Teaching yoga is the joy of bringing love and compassion into people’s lives." Thank you to Santosha for giving me this possibility to share love through yoga with others.

Kanako Yajima

Through Classical Ballet, Kanako developed body awareness and the joy of using her body in expressive art, which led her to discover Yoga and Pilates.

In order to cope with the hectic city life in Tokyo, she practiced yoga at home and attended classes and workshops with different teachers; however, it was when she first came to Byron bay that her real journey had begun.

Since then she received training in Solomon Yogalates and in Ishta System with Rachel Zinman. She has also been studying 5 Element Form as part of apprenticeship with Peter Clifford for more than 4 years.

She has worked internationally in many teacher trainings, retreats and workshops as both interpreter and assistant teacher since 2007.

She is excited to join Santosha as sharing yoga is her passion and she always learns a lot from the students and feels honored to be part of their journey.

Sarah Robin

Sarah has a deep belief in the transformative power of yoga and its ability to bring health, balance, peace and above all joy to her own life and the lives of those around her. She is excited and honoured to have the opportunity to share this journey with Santosha Yoga students

Sarah has been practicing hatha yoga for more than ten years and has studied a number of styles including Iyengar, Ashtanga and vinyasa flow. Sarah completed yoga teacher training in Nasik, India, in 2006 and Anahata Yoga teacher training (RYT 200) in 2011. Sarah is a highly experienced teacher with a lot to share.

Anna Miley

Anna came to yoga in her late teens looking for a source of energy and inspiration. Anna has continued to draw on yoga to navigate her life path. Anna completed her Level 1 Teacher Training with Santosha in 2009 and feels so blessed to have shared this experience with some beautiful women who she now call s her best friends.

Anna currently lives in a little beach village on the Northern NSW coast, where she practises yoga and plays with her dog on the beach every morning.

Professionally, Anna is an accredited Exercise Physiologist and runs a small private practise, using exercise as medicine, to assist people to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. Anna also teaches yoga classes in the  local community.  Working with and for Santosha has been a natural flow of energies, and Anna feels blessed to be apart of something she is passionately connected to. Anna has an application of knowledge beyond her years.

Stella Pretty

Stella Pretty has been practising yoga since 1997. She studied a 6-month course in Teaching Yoga in Byron Bay, then continued her teaching studies in a Hatha Yoga Apprenticeship (over 2 years) with Peter Clifford, and now continues studies in anatomy & nutrition.

Stella believes yoga opens your heart to your true potential giving you the power and freedom to create your life with awareness. Stella teaches a balanced mix of Hatha, Vinyasa & the 5 Element Form, encouraging the development of an individual practise that continues off the yoga mat into everyday life.

Stella is pleased to teach at Santosha and in the Byron/Mullumbimby area.

Randi Simpson

I am an internationally qualified yoga teacher through Santosha Yoga Teacher Training  as well as a Reiki Master and Holistic Healer. I formulate & direct workshops in Australia & abroad in the areas of Yoga, Meditation, Reiki,  Spiritual Development & Growth as well as other healing therapies including Crystals, Chakra Learning’s, Cleansing & Balancing, as well as Energy Tapping.

Creative expression is a passion of mine which I bring to my personal yoga practice as well as in my teachings through the form of dance which I have done for 21 years that has taken me to many destinations & given me the opportunity to perform at events for surfing, magazines, showcases & various other entertaining events.

Experience is life, and life is experience, but I believe education is also an important aspect within the journey, thus the reason for my specialization & interest in children’s Yoga. Although I understand & believe the deep philosophical & spiritual meaning of yoga & I commit to living this daily, I also see and enjoy the physical benefits that yoga can bring to a person’s life & the improvements in performance & fitness it can make. All of these aspects help to support my notion that yoga is for anyone, anywhere, anytime, its personal so enjoy the journey in finding what yoga means to you & remember to smile along the way.

I feel blessed to be part of the Santosha team because Santosha aligns with who I am and what i want to share.

Lentine Zehler

Being asked to become part of the Santosha team was a wonderful opportunity to continue doing what she loves. Lentine looks forward to imparting her knowledge and helping others achieve balance in their lives.

In 2005, Lentine and her husband moved to Okinawa, Japan, from the United States. It was on this tiny island that she met Sunny, director of Santosha. That's when Lentine's 10-year journey into yoga, athletics, social ecology and travel culminated in the beginning of an entirely new journey in search of the meaning of balance. Her personal practice grew into a new profession as a yoga instructor, and surfing logically became a new pastime. Together these passions infused a new sense of peace, connection and acceptance into her life.

Sebastian Bruno

Sebastian Bruno is the founder and director of Yoga Massage Studies. He was born in Portugal 1979 and has been learning, practicing and sharing Thai Massage bodywork and other healing arts for the past 8 years. Sebastian studied Thai Massage with the respected Master Rahul Barthi in Nepal 2003, where he completed over 300 hours and was authorized and certified to practice and teach Thai Massage by The Healing Hands Foundation.

In 2005, Sebastian completed a 300 hour GCT program (Government Certified Teacher) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and is authorized and certified to teach Thai Massage, Thai Massage on Table and Thai Foot Reflexology by TMC and the Thai Ministry of Education.Sebastian travels regularly to Chiang Mai to deepen his understanding and practice in Thai Healing Arts with the revered Master Ajahrn Pichet. Advanced practitioner and instructor of Ayurvedic Yoga Massage, Thai Massage, Sundoor certified Firewalking Instructor, Yoga, Qi Gong, Taoist Healing Practices and Active Meditations, Sebastian as been teaching and practicing professionaly from Portugal to Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Marocco, Thailand, Japan and Nepal.Dedicated, devoted and passionate to share these ancient healing arts Sebastian spends most of his time in  Asia, moving betwin Thailand, India, Bali and Japan , teaching, learning, growing, inspiring and being inspired. Sebastian feels connected to what Santosha has to offer and looks forward to sharing his knowledge.

Daria Bove

Daria discovered Traditional Thai massage in 2003 during her extended visit in Thailand. She soon fell in love with the diversity and the deep stretching involved in the massage, realizing how the body would respond to it feeling energized and relaxed at the same time.

Never forgetting her Italian background she decided to move to Australia over 7 years ago and she then certified in 2009 as a *Thai Massage Therapist*.  Since then Daria, naturally talented and passionate, has been practicing Traditional Thai Massage.

Moving through space with energy, fluidity, balance, rhythm, breath and touch, uses her  knowledge and intuition , combined with precise balance and weight , to sends energy  freely along the Sen pathways, removing tension and facilitating a healthy physical, mental and spiritual balance.

Sid Sidhamo

Sid Sidhamo is the Director and founder of the Unity International School of Massage. Sidhamo is a senior teacher of Ayurvedic Yoga massage, an accredited yoga teacher (RYT-200) and Certified teacher of the Five Element Form.

"I love to share  Ayurvedic Yoga Massage, Yoga and the Five Element Form. I am in love with the Great Spirit and everything in my life, I see the divine in everything. This is my eleventh year sharing and growing as a man, human and facilitator."

Santosha allows me to teach what I believe in.

Gaylene Aitken

I am very happy to be part of  Santosha and am very excited at being able to teach the new massage modules and massage course Santosha is offering.

Carla Mardell

Carla has worked with Santosha on yoga teacher training's delivering raw and living food models and modelling asana. She has been the raw food chef for retreats at Seecreek. She enjoys the organic-ness of working with Santosha and the way that Santosha gives students a base of solid knowledge and the space to evolve through their own yoga journey  both on and off the mat.

Carla became interested in yoga when she was in Bangkok living the expat lifestyle and indulging in ‘booze hagdom 101’. Self confessed P.E dropout, she found tranquility and grace from competitiveness in her own yoga practice. Miraculously yoga offered a haven from the million thoughts that ran through her head as a busy primary school teacher. Weight melted off, and she became interested in the magic of raw and living foods. She checked out for a year and undertook travel and study in holistic health, raw and living foods and yoga. She  travelled through the USA and Australia, enjoying old friends and making new ones. Her sharing of Yoga and incorporating raw and living foods into everyday diets has taken her to Cambodia, Thailand and the UK. She has been blessed with an array of wise and beautiful yoga teachers each who has transformed her practise. Passionate about having a balance in life, she is focused on bringing more space and flow to her thoughts, and interactions while embracing the moment. Moving on from Primary school teaching she has set up a studio in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Sarah Croce

Sarah is a 200 hour YA Certified Hatha Yoga teacher as well as a fully qualified mat and apparatus Pilates instructor from New York City.Sarah combines the teachings of Joseph Pilates and BKS Iyengar to help students develop the Mind Body connection.Through Pilates,  we connect to our deep physical core, which eases us into connecting to our deep energetic core through yoga, to the core of our being. To our truth. With grace. In light and love.

Sarah is honoured to be a part of the Santosha Team of incredible teachers and will be there to guide with love.

Peter Saro

Born and raised in Slovakia I first came in contact with yoga through a yoga book which my mother bought. We moved to Germany when I was 12 years old.  Every now and then I use to look at the pictures and think to my self: "thats just insane, I will not be able to do this stuff“.

So I began to practice some breathing. A decade later a friend of mine took me along to a Yoga studio in Munich and from the first day on I knew that yoga is what I want to do the rest of my life! The practice was based on Pattabhi Jois's astanga yoga but also included pranayama, theory and regular kirtans.

In 2007 I decided to travel Australia for an extended period of time. It was in Byron Bay that I met Peter Clifford and I was fortunate enough to stay in Byron and to study (as a apprentice) with Peter from 2008 on. Peter also took me along to assist at Santosha teacher trainings. Through Peter and his previous experience with TKV Desikachar I became more and more interrested in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. As Krishnamacharya was THE teacher of all well known teachers today.

In 2009 I started my studies in Chennai at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram and since then I am commited to the principles of Viniyoga of Yoga . My practice evolved into much more than I ever was able to immagine. One of my strenghts is the work with the breath. I also like to work one on one with clients and students as I am convinced that individual work/training is most beneficial.

I regularly visit workshops conducted by KYM or accredited teachers and currently studying Yoga Therapy where I will embark on a Yoga Therapy diploma.

Edo and Jo

Edo and Jo are eclectic Australian kirtan artists and singer-songwriters. Their music creates a magical journey of Eastern mystical mantras expressed in soothing and joyous folk-pop melodies. The marriage of lush vocal harmonies, rapturous rhythms and sweet devotion is like honey droplets for the soul. Their live kirtan is an organic and spontaneous process for emotional release, divine connection and inner-transformation.

Edo and Jo are gifted songwriters individually and collectively. Edo Kahn is an award winning musician (APRA song of the year) and has had songs in Film, TV and Radio (with his bands Kahn Brothers and Gelbison). Combined with Jo Mall’s ethereal voice and innate melodic sensibility, the divine duo is a creative force radiating an invitation into love. Dedicated to conscious living and humanitarian works, they lead Kirtan and Sacred Sound Yoga (Nada Yoga Nidra Meditation) at yoga schools, retreats, festivals, yoga teacher trainings, temples, hospitals and orphanages worldwide.

Edo and Jo are excited to share their love and experiences with Santosha students,Kirtan Alive CD, a fusion of live kirtan, mantras and soothing chants for yoga, meditation and bhakti bliss is out now (www.edoandjo.com).

Hamid Ebadi

Hamid was born in Tehran, Iran, and has lived and travelled in many different countries and has been exposed to different cultures, languages and traditions. He is truly cross-cultural. Hamid has also travelled since many years a spiritual journey to discover meaning and truth. He studied philosophy in Paris and learnt that he was more interested in wisdom and spiritual truth than academic learning.

Hamid practiced meditation until he encountered Japanese Zen Master Ryotan Tokuda in 1998. In 2000, he was ordained as a monk and subsequently authorized by his master to teach and pass on the ancient teachings. In 2005 he finished a three year training program in counseling at ETAPE (École des Praticiens de la Psychothérapie) in Nice, France.

Hamid is able to integrate much of Western psychotherapy with Eastern wisdom and meditation traditions. He spends a good part of the year in India and has taught meditation, philosophy and comparative spirituality. His own life experiences have helped him gain empathy towards the difficulties of others. He understands that a trusting and accepting relationship is essential for it is the relationship that ultimately heals. His guidance has proved to be invaluable help for many students who have required personal and professional support to deal with emotional crisis that trainees often experience during intense yoga practice.

Hamid is eager and excited about working with Santosha students to create positive change in their lives.

Today a growing number of people are turning to the internet for counseling. Hamid uses both Skype sessions and e-mailing in his work. If Santosha students wish an initial free counseling session to determine if this is what you are seeking, contact him on Skype or at his email address.
Skype: hamid.ebadi3
Email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lily Stokely

Lily Stokely was born and raised in Hayfork, California; a small town in the northern mountains near the Oregon border. Recently graduated from the University of California Berkeley after studying nutritional sciences, she has since completed the Santosha yoga teacher training in Australia and lived the remainder of the year in Byron Bay, Australia enjoying teaching yoga and beach life.

Lily is currently traveling throughout South East Asia until the end of the year furthering her yoga studies, volunteering, and exploring new cultures. She will return home to California to complete a doctorate in Naturopathy at the start of the year.

Lily hopes to start a private practice in Naturopathy and women’s health center, focusing on a holistic approach in preventative medicine and aiding women to find a balanced and happy life through yoga, intuitive eating and exercise, and creating a safe space to find positive communities to empower other women.

Santosha's Administrative Team

Hiromi Fukushima

Hiromi's strong interest in Indian Philosophy led her to travel many countries including India from 2002 – 2005. In 2005 Hiromi taught Yoga at a Hot Yoga studio in Japan for three years and In 2008 Hiromi travelled to Australia and studied with Santosha Yoga and acquired her RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) certificate at the 200 hr. Hiromi then travelled back to India again to practice Ashtanga Yoga under Sharath Rangaswamy at Mysore, India. During this time Hiromi fulfilled her interest in Ayurvedic Massage and gained her Ayurvedic Massage Cerification. Hiromi has found herself back in Japan and is currently teaching Hatha Yoga. She really enjoys this life and wishes to grasp as many opportunities to meet people who are like minded and connected through yoga. Hiromi believes that Yoga will bring you all the beauty in the world and allow your heart to be full of love. Yoga allows you to place things into perspective so you may focus on what is really important. To spread a joy of yoga she has chosen to walk with Santosha.

Lauren Hill

After undertaking Santosha's 200 hour YTT training, driven by the desire to share her passions for surfing and yoga, Lauren joined the Santosha team to help manage Santosha retreats and instruct surfing. Lauren has taught surfing for more than a decade and loves to share the spirit of Aloha with all.

Ike Rahayu

Santosha fills my life with a peaceful ambiance. Meeting new beautiful people all around the world,surrounded with support and love around me, the place is unlike any other.