Teachers and Staff
YoS Family
Alphabetical Order
Chloé Bleue
Instructor
Restorative | Hatha | Vinyasa
Chloé was born and raised in Montréal, Canada, where she began her yogic journey at age 17 when a friend brought her to a hot vinyasa class. She was instantly hooked on the intensity and deeply anchored lineage she found in the teacher offering the class, Amy Yaccato. She started practicing regularly and discovered great ease in Ashtanga Vinyasa. She started teaching before taking any training while volunteering in a surf camp in Senegal, on her one-year sabbatical roaming around Western Africa. There, simply by practicing, curious guests asked if they could join and just follow, and so began her teaching journey. After this one year between Senegal and Morocco, she decided to head to India to deepen her studies and practice. She studied Hatha and Ashtanga in Rishikesh, with Akshi Yogshala, in two separate 200h trainings, while simultaneously studying Reflexology, Marmatherapy and Ayurveda at a neighbouring bodywork school, where her bodywork journey began as well. She was then invited to come work in Pavones, Costa Rica, which became her home for the five following years. There, she could practice her backside surfing abilities, while making a living out of teaching yoga and surfing for multiple Surf & Yoga Retreats companies such as Surf With Amigas and Surf Expedition. After 5 years in the deepest jungle, she felt like she needed to return to a more stimulating lifestyle and pursue her academic studies (as her one-year sabbatical had turned into 7), and so moved to San Diego in August 2023 to study International Business at SDUIS, which she is currently completing.
Ellen Henthorn
Instructor
Power Yoga
Ellen brings curiosity and playfulness to the mat, seeing yoga as a space for creativity, emotional softness, and embodied awareness. She has explored Ashtanga, Rocket, Budokon, Power, and Yin, believing each practice is a chance to meet yourself anew. With intention, integrity, and joy, she encourages students to move with confidence and ease.
Trained by Mimi Rieger in Washington, DC (200-hour YTT), Ellen creates dynamic yet accessible classes that foster strength and a deep mind-body connection. Before moving to California in 2024, she taught elementary school in DC and now works as a Content Developer for Benchmark Education. Off the mat, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing pickleball, and learning to surf—always embracing new challenges with the same curiosity she brings to yoga.
Gabriella DiCarlo
Instructor
Hatha, Vinyasa
As an intuitive energy healer & reiki practitioner, Gabriella continues to be inspired by the significant shifts that occur when we slow down and tune into the subtleties of awareness within the breath & body. While deepening her personal yogic studies in 2017, a life-shifting experience occurred during her practice which nurtured & transformed her interaction with life itself; this is when she knew she wanted to share the powerfully healing practice of yoga with others. She received her first 200HR YTT in 2019 with Ahlia Biondi and has been teaching group / private sessions ever since. She continues to study over the years to strengthen her understanding of Pranayama, Meditation & Karuna (compassion).
As a trauma informed practitioner, she provides a deep sense of presence & attentiveness towards the individual's experience within a collective space. Her background in somatic work supports a grounding element while processing experience through the body.
Gabriella guides each class intuitively, interweaving her multidisciplinary healing modalities through Hatha, Vinyasa, Pranayama, Somatic Embodiment, Restorative, & Sound Healing.
Outside of the studio, you'll find her exploring the sacred wisdom of this earth through a range of creative mediums such as writing music, painting and ceramics. She loves to dance with the water while surfing & sharing presence with those she loves. She looks forward to practicing & connecting with you soon.
Gabby Troconis & Betsy Peila
Instructors
Sound Healing + Reiki
Reiki and Sound sessions offer a combination of a Reiki with intuitive sound healing techniques. Sounds may include crystal sound healing bowls, rattles, voice toning, drumming, tuning forks, and chimes.
Kaitlyn Nelson
Instructor
Hatha | Gentle Vinyasa
Kaitlyn was introduced to yoga at a young age and immediately fell in love with the practice of asana and pranayama as a relief for her own mental health. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 2012 with a degree in Psychology and then received a Masters in Social Work from San Diego State University in 2014. She has been working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since and has been incorporating meditation and mindfulness practices with the populations she serves. She currently works with families who care for children in the foster care system. In fall 2020, Kaitlyn attend a 200-hour YTT program at Pilgrimage of the Heart to continue learning how to inspire not only herself, but others in their healing journeys.
Kaitlyn is passionate about empowering others to find their inner peace and self-worth through the practice of yoga. Her classes incorporate a balance of energizing and restorative sequences to inspire confidence, compassion, joy, and self-reflection. She aims to broaden the accessibility of yoga. She enjoys teaching students of all-levels and a variety of styles including Hatha, restorative, and vinyasa classes. Kaitlyn is a native San Diegan who enjoys exploring nature, hiking, watching sunsets, going to live concerts, reading, advocating for social justice, and being with her beloved husband and pets.
Lauren Zizi
Instructor
Hatha | Vinyasa
Lauren has a double yoga certification through Mira Costa College (200hr) and Yoga on State (200hr). Before becoming a yoga teacher, Lauren served as an educator for middle schoolers in Southern California. Working in middle schools brought her closer to her yoga practice. Yoga, paired with her partner’s unwavering love and support, gave her the ability to view experiences as teachers, as opportunities to learn and grow. She believes that everything is connected and that through our interconnectedness we have the power to create a more compassionate, inclusive, and loving way forward. Lauren also loves to go on long swims in the ocean, hikes in the mountains, and play underwater hockey. She looks forward to breathing and moving with you!
Marta Estellés
Instructor
General Manager
Hatha yoga
Marta is a 500H Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher, trained in Rishikesh, India, under the guidance of Talia Sutra, Tony Lupinacci, Dr. Keshava Murthy, Samadhi Collective, Dr. Rose Erin Vaughan and Nidhi Pandya.
She discovered yoga at age 19 in the midst of struggles with trauma and mental health. On her mat she found a place where she could experience and realize that she was already everything she wanted to be and to become. Practice became an essential part of her healing journey. With time the revelations found on the mat transferred into daily life, and she knew that she wanted to share the benefits she’d found with others.
Marta understands the physical asana practice itself as the teacher; if we listen and are receptive then everything will be revealed. The practice in itself is the way. Her Hatha classes incorporate pranayama, asana, mantra, and meditation practices, as well as yoga philosophy, in a digestible manner that encourages self-inquiry and openness to new ways of thinking and being.
She believes one must practice with honesty, sincerity, compassion, and selflessness. Practice love and all is coming.
Shab Kamal
Healer
Ayurveda
Meet Shabnam (Shab) J Kamal, an Ayurvedic Practitioner and a Yoga teacher from Classical Ashtanga yoga. She studied with Baba Hari Das of Mount Madonna Center in Watsonville, CA. Her style is gentle Hatha Yoga has expanded to Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra. She believes in self-realization with the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga and Kriya Yoga. She continues to be a student and a teacher, as her guru recommended to be in life.
She was introduced to Yoga practices as her remedy for her autoimmune disease in 2004. Shab believes strongly in the power of Pranayama and Meditation to overcome her illness. She continues to share her knowledge with spiritual communities to give back what was given to her. Shab uses her medical background as a healthcare professional and as an intuitive healer to connect with her students.
Fun fact: Since her move to So Cal, she became a grandma to a wonderful little girl “Augie” as an added blessing.
Tora Bueno
Instructor
Iyengar yoga
Tora was introduced to yoga as a teenager and fell instantly in love with the deep calm that stayed with her after class. In 2000 she became a student of the Iyengar tradition under the late Mary Dunn, in New York City. In 2011 she took her first teacher training with Bobbi Goldin in Miami and in 2018 became a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. She continues to be a student of senior teachers including Carolyn Belko here in San Diego. Her favorite yoga prop is a rope wall. And her practice is guided by the concepts of Abhyasa (sustained practice) & Viaragya (detachment). Thanks to the staff at Yoga on State Tora is expanding her knowledge of all things Hanuman.
Trevor Arthur
Instructor
Event Manager
Director of Kirtan
Ashtanga Vinyasa | Hatha yoga
A longtime practitioner of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, Trevor's classes incorporate elements of Ashtanga, traditional Hatha yoga, as well as aspects of Shivananda yoga. In addition to asana, his classes often include pranayama, mantra, mudra, and meditation/concentration practices.
Trevor has been leading kirtan for around 6 or 7 years. He was introduced to the practice by his teacher, Tim Miller, of Encinitas, a great Hanuman devotee, who led small, post-pranayama chanting circles and would religiously sing the Hanuman chalisa together with his students each Tuesday morning.
Trevor relishes any opportunity to chant the Divine names and prayers in communion with fellow spiritual seekers.
Yogi Rāma Om
(Rob Mendez)
Owner | Instructor
Director of Operations
Dharma Yoga | Yoga Nidra | Pranayama
Rob (Yogi Rāma), has undergone extensive training in Dharma Yoga, studying to the 1,000-hour level. This modern adaptation of the classical Hatha-Raja Yoga was directly taught to him by his beloved teacher, Sri Dharma Mittra, an 85-year-old master in the lineage of Swami Kailashananda (Yogi Gupta). Rob's commitment to Hatha-Raja Yoga is not just a practice but a way of life for him. His journey into yoga began in his youth, drawn by the allure of Hindu and Buddhist philosophies, which led him to explore meditation and the disciplines of Raja Yoga. Growing up, Rob was constantly exploring various health and wellness paths, always feeling a profound connection to the deeper exploration of consciousness and self.
At 22, Rob's path took a turn when he joined the United States Navy, serving for five years as a Surgical Technologist and Hospital Corpsman in the OR. His experiences in the Navy, working across various surgical teams, deepened his understanding of the human body, movement, and health. After leaving the Navy, Rob faced health anxieties that steered him back towards yoga and its philosophies. He began to engage more deeply with physical asana practices, finding peace and rehabilitation in yoga postures that helped enhance his overall health. The disciplines of Pranayama and meditation significantly benefited Rob, soothing his nerves and mind, and helped him navigate his anxiety and depression. He is deeply convinced that yoga has and continues to be a lifesaving force on his journey.
Rob has since dedicated his time to deepening his knowledge and sharing the transformative power of yoga. He is passionate about teaching Dharma Yoga, Yoga Nidra, breathwork (Pranayama), meditation, and especially enjoys helping others develop their inversion practice. Leading the 200-hour YTT program at Yoga on State, Rob also hosts a variety of trainings, immersions, and retreats throughout California, aiding people from diverse backgrounds in their yoga journey.
Rob holds a deep respect for all living beings, adhering closely to the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence). Following in his teacher's footsteps, he places a high value on compassion & Karma Yoga, the path of service to others.
Rob is available for consultations, private trainings, and personalized yoga programs. He offers Reiki & individualized Yoga Nidra accompanied by sound healing. If you're interested in learning more or wish to connect, you can reach him at Robmendezyoga@gmail.com or through social media @Robmendezyoga
Instructor
Director of Ayurveda
Dharma Yoga | Hatha | Ayurveda
Zarah Kravitz
Zarah is a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner from The Ayurveda Institute in New Mexico, under the divine guidance of Dr. Vasant Lad.
Prior to her Ayurvedic studies, she became a Certified Holistic Health Counselor from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She has spent the past 14 years globally working with clients individually and in group settings, leading cleanse programs, cooking classes, retreats, and private consultations with the aim to help guide others on how to cultivate a healthier and more holistic life.
She is also a Certified Hatha Dharma Yoga Teacher trained by Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City. She has spent the past fourteen years teaching private and group yoga classes, leading special workshops and retreats in the United States, Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador.
She currently offers group and private yoga classes, which include a powerful series of postures, breathing techniques, mantra chanting, and guided relaxation and meditation. She also offers group workshops, seminars, and private Ayurvedic consultations, with an emphasis on finding a personalized, balanced and sustainable approach to diet and lifestyle, seeking an integrated wellness of body, mind, and spirit.
Zoë Sandoval
Instructor
Dharma Yoga | Restorative & Sound
Zoe discovered yoga at a young age, 16 when her mom brought her to her first Bikram class. It wasn’t love at first sight, but the practice grew on her throughout the years. At a shallow point during international travels years down the road, she returned to her mat and truly to herSelf. Her practice quickly became the most important thing in her life, her gateway to deep healing and expansion, and it was only a matter of time before diving deeper with a teacher training program was the next step.
She started with a 200-hour training in the Bikram lineage, which she then taught in Oceanside and San Clemente. Inspired by her love and appreciation for rest and soft practices, she moved on to do restorative training through Trilogy. Most recently has studied under Sri Dharma Mittra in his 500 hour Life of a Yogi training, where she has truly found a home in the Dharma lineage. Yoga is one of the, if not the, greatest loves of Zoe’s life, and it is her joy and duty to share these sacred sciences.
Zoe’s approach to teaching is rooted in ancient traditions of pranayama (breathing practices), asana, meditation, mantra, and singing and focused on integrating mind, body, and spirit.
Some of Zoe’s other great loves and passions are nutrition and wellness, all things nature, cooking, music, embodied movement, swimming, group prayer, sustainability and zero waste living, and women’s wellness.
