Anusara Inspired Teacher, Founder, Co-Owner Paula Puopolo radiates a zest & exuberance for life and its pleasures. She brings her enthusiasm and clever sense of humor to her detailed Anusara Yoga instruction. She is known for her precise teaching skill of breaking down complex poses into smaller, digestable actions, while empowering students with relevant principles of philosophy for a completely uplifting experience! Her commitment to helping individuals tap into a positive energy extends beyond the mat, and she and Ocean Yoga actively contribute to several community organizations, locally including BEAM and Hubbard House. Paula also volunteers to teach a superlative math program in her children’s school and coaches a pre-teen outreach program, Girls on the Run. Throughout her life, Paula has been willing to take a stand and clearly communicate. As a former US Navy helicopter pilot, in recognition of her leadership in modernizing the roles of women in the military, in 1992, she was honored as “Woman of the Year” by Vanity Fair and photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Glamour also awarded her the esteemed accolade, she now serves as an Advisory Board Member for Glamour’s Woman of the Year award. An avid runner and swimmer, Paula has practiced yoga since 1992. After running the Boston Marathon in 1999, she aligned with her primary Yoga teacher, John Friend, Anusara Yoga’s founder, to whom she offers heartfelt gratitude for continuously re-connecting her to what is true and good. She has over 1,000 hours of Yoga Teacher Training in the Anusara system and in 2007, while attending an Anusara event, she was photographed for a Prana ad in Yoga Journal. She is the Featured Yoga Instructor in a DVD created for Men’s Fitness Magazine. Her articles have been published in Glamour, International Spa Living, and Currents – Anusara Yoga’s electronic magazine. Ever expanding her outreach, Paula’s latest endeavor is designing and building a new Ocean Yoga Studios building in Atlantic Beach, after pairing with business partner, Kate Cordell, ERYT 500, as their business outgrew the space. Ocean Yoga is leading the health and wellness industry in combining an austere space to practice yoga and a fully equipped AV recording center while overseeing the creation of a full yoga program. Her greatest accomplishment, though, is also her greatest joy… raising two open-hearted children along-side her incredibly understanding & supportive husband, Joe. 
Read about Paula in the Wall Street Journal

Kate's uplifting philosophy: “Life is good and live it fully in every moment”, is easily enjoyed by all her students from beginners to experienced clients. Kate embodies this philosophy of living fully- in her pursuit of knowledge, training, and sharing her experiences with others. She is dedicated to her community and is considered a leader in empowering students to live their lives without pain and in peace. Kate Cordell E-RYT500, a qualification by the National Yoga Alliance and earned by less than one percent of the registered yoga teachers worldwide, began her practice of yoga in the 1970’s while living in California. Kate’s tremendous yoga teaching experience is loved by those especially new to any physical fitness or therapy. As an E-RYT500, which denotes her as an Experienced Registered Teacher at the 500 Level, requires her 2000 hours of teaching experience and a minimum of 500 hours of teacher training, she is qualified to teach Continuing Education for Yoga Alliance Teachers. In addition, Kate, Kripalu Yoga Certified, has been teaching Yoga for ten years, and recently earned her license as a Massage Therapist. She is a dancer with a degree in Dance from Sonoma State University. Movement has been important throughout her adult life: she has studied many forms of dance and movement and performed in the Annual FCCJ Dancing With The Stars Benefit. Kate is also certified in Yoga of the Heart Cardiac Training, Pre-Natal Yoga, Pilates Mat and Level II Reiki. She has had the opportunity to study with some of the current day Yogis including Erich Schiffmann, Rodney Yee, Nischala Joy Devi and others. She teaches both group and private classes.

Bridget is a certified Yoga, Art, Theater and Elementary school teacher & Shiatsu/Acupressure Therapist. She is an active substitute teacher for many of the Duval County Schools. Her real passion and gift is teaching creative arts to children so that they can express themselves authentically and feel loved. She has the uncanny skill of quickly cultivating trust and respect with young children all the way to teenagers- and helping them find their real self-worth. Her talents empower children love after they have left the art room. She has been a teacher of Yoga, Art, Kindergarten, Performing Arts and Theater programs for 15 years in New Jersey, Philadelphia, The Netherlands (American Embassy School in the Hague) and in now at home in Jacksonville. She has designed, funded, and implemented the Artoga Program in several public and private schools all over the Eastern US, community places, festivals & events. Bridget has been creating and performing art, yoga/movement and theater since childhood and happily maintains a joyous, child-like attitude in the classes she teaches. Her experience and professionalism matches her creativity and she clearly inspires her students to discover themselves and experience self-love. Having worked with children from ages 6 weeks - 12th grades, Bridget has keen knowledge in the development and progression of children--mind, body and soul. She recognizes that children are an extension of the adult world and she has always integrated Yoga, breathing & focusing techniques into her class curriculum to keep children stress free and able to cope happily. Her work often is sought by parents with children that suffer from stress or attention problems and helps them learn to express themselves in a socially conscious way for our world. Bridget also received her Shiatsu Therapist certificate from International School of Shiatsu. Bridget recently founded Artoga II- a non-profit organization to do community outreach bringing wellness and calm to families. One of her very favorite things is having adventures with John & her doggie & 2 kitties.... Bridget Cartlidge with Artoga - Yoga, Art, Theater & Karate (904)-477-0400 www.artoga.org

 Brenda Barks began taking Yoga classes 15 years ago, exploring many styles of Yoga.  In the spring of 2003 she completed the one month intensive teacher training program in the Jivamukti method for which she honors her teachers in gratitude- Sharon Gannon and David Life for their vision and on-going support. Her goal as a teacher is to share the joy and depth of her love for yoga with each of her students through an authentic Jivamukti Yoga class.  Brenda bows to her loving spouse, Larry, without his support her wonderous world of yoga might not have been possible...Om Shanti.

Mallika began her voyage into yoga almost 25 years ago in New York City with the Jivamukti and Sivananda yoga styles, and later spent many years studying in the Iyengar tradition. In Pune, India, she studied with B.K.S. Iyengar, his daughter Geeta and his son Prashant. She has attended countless hours of workshops and training in yoga, meditation and other spiritual and healing practices in studios and ashrams around the world. She had the life-changing experience of time at Osho ashrams in India and Nepal.  She is a Reiki Master and a 200 hour Kripalu Certified Yoga Teacher. She finds joy, celebration, fun, laughter and challenge and relaxation in her yoga practice and teaching. Her classes are a mix of energetic movement, emphasizing balance, strength, flexibility and alignment, and deep, restorative relaxation.

Dennis and Kathy Lang are both certified instructors of Yin and Vinyasa Flow Yoga. They each have practiced yoga for over 8 years and bring a different perspective to yoga instruction by co-teaching and incorporating demonstration with personal adjustments for proper alignment. The Lang’s completed their RYT 200 certifications at the Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, NC. They are passionate about sharing their love of yoga, how it has transformed their lives and improved their health. As ambassador alumni for lululemon athletica, they do community outreach and events promoting the many benefits of yoga. One of their favorite events is the annual Global Mala in which they lead a dedicated class in 108 Sun Salutations. They conduct workshops and support special charity events throughout the Jacksonville, FL area. Workshops include Yin / Yang Yoga, Chakra Balancing and Tuning, Partner Yoga, Yoga for Wellness and sport specific yoga for athletes. For the Lang’s, yoga has become a source of inspiration, transformation and an offering they want to share with everyone. The married couple brings an abundance of knowledge and experience to the practice drawn from their attendance of many national workshops across the country with Rodney Yee, John Friend, David Life and Sharon Gannon, Shiva Rea, Sean Corn, Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers and others. Their style is influenced by the traditions of Kripalu, Anusara, Kundalini, Jivamukti, Ashtanga, Yin and Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Dennis and Kathy have traveled overseas extensively, to over 30 countries, which has given them much cultural exposure.

Melissa's passion for yoga was born from a love for understanding the human body on a holistic level as well as a desire to infuse her public relations career with greater meaning and purpose. Having begun her practice 13 years ago in Los Angeles, her many travels around the world have enabled her to continue studying and training in a variety of yogic disciplines. Her own personal growth as a student and as a teacher is enhanced by her ongoing physical and meditation practices. Utilizing a blending of strength training, flexibility and balance, her students experience their own personal growth in a fun, loving, and supportive atmosphere. Melissa's overall teaching philosophy is as simple as it is powerful: to help students learn and practice the fundamentals, respect their bodies, and realize their individual potential.