It's Yoga is a teacher training school attracting students from all over the world. As an internationally recognized Yoga Center, It's Yoga is honored to certify students of yoga from over 10 countries this year. Our teachers are better viewed as instructors, practicing the art of sharing their practice and bringing yoga to the masses. At times, we ask them to fill in and teach beginner classes here at It's Yoga with the belief that beginner teachers can teach beginner students, and in the end, we are all beginners of this ancient practice. The It's Yoga philosophy believes that we should only teach what we practice, and practice what we teach. We trust you will support us in giving our recent graduates the playground to explore teaching - we believe that everyone has something to give in the yoga room.

Namaste, Larry and the It's Yoga Staff
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's Yoga Instructors
Larry Schultz, Katie Cariffe, Marie Hajjar,Todd Taylor, Yariv Erez, Attiss Ngovàl, Gregory Gorman


::Larry Schultz

Larry has studied extensively under K.Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. Larry's Ashtanga Yoga practice of 23 years has given him a refined teaching style. His teaching style includes four basic elements: discipline, humor, generosity and kindness. Larry’s fun and modern approach to the classical Ashtanga system assists students in using the transformative power of the practice to experience personal growth, vital health and a reconnection to their inner kingdom.

As the founder of the teacher training program, he is amazed at how international and well received the It’s Yoga Teacher Training Program has become.  Larry brings his evolving practice to the circle.  His love of teaching shines in the training program as he shares his expertise on manifesting your dreams and sequencing the art of living. His abillity to captivate and inspire is endless. 

::Katie Cariffe

Katie Cariffe has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga since 1993 when she took her first yoga class with K. Pattabhi Jois. In this class, her journey with yoga began. She arrived at It's Yoga in 1994 and immediately knew she found home. She graduated from the It's Yoga Teacher Training program in 1997 and hasn't looked back since. She began teaching yoga full time in 1998 and has been Director of the Teacher Training program since 2000, Katie used the birth of her first child to support her pregnancy as well as her journey into the sacred realm of motherhood. In her classes, Katie emphasizes breath awareness in order to still and quiet the mind. She supports students in fully inhabiting their bodies in present time with steadiness and joy.

Katie has been a prime facilitator of the teacher training since its inception in 1997.  As a participant in the first teacher training, she has been consistently contributing and expanding the program.  Her main function is to provide students with a strong base in their knowledge of alignment, technique, ethics and history.  Her 12 years on the mat give her a strong foundation to share her deep and developing practice.

::Marie Hajjar

Marie made her way to It's Yoga in 2000 while in Columbus, Ohio where she attended Ohio State University. Coming to her mat after what would be the first of two hip surgeries, she was consistenty drawn to the healing powers of Ashtanga. After graduating college and briefly working in public policy in Washington, DC and Columbus, her busy lifestyle and lack of a personal practice urged her to pursue other dreams. Recognizing her inner desire to learn and experience yoga more fully, she made a jump into the yoga world and found herself at home in San Francisco for the It's Yoga Teacher Training with Larry Schultz. Upon graduating in November of 2004, she was honored to stay on, spending most of her days barefoot and breathing.

In her three years of teaching, she has been blessed to serve the teacher training program in various capacities.  As a main facilitator, she brings her deep love and commitment to Ashtanga, blending the spiritual and philosophical elements into the asana practice.  Her main piece is to lead discussions on how the practice goes beyond the mat.

::Todd Taylor

"My goal is to share the transformative powers of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with others. It is an ancient "health care system" that has as much relevance in today's stressful world as ever. The physical changes that I have seen in others and in myself are remarkable. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga increases strength and flexibility while helping to prevent common illnesses associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The synchronization of breathe and motion produce calming effects that the practitioner can infuse into his or her daily life both on and off the mat."

Todd Taylor has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga for over 3 years under the tutelage of Larry Schultz, Katie Cariffe, Marie Hajjar, David Kyle, Reed Taylor, Chris Rossbach, and Christy Brown. Todd sites the teachings of David Swenson as a major inspiration and influence in his practice and teachings. Todd also teaches an arm balancing course entitled "The Mechanics of Flight." Years of Mountain Biking, windsurfing, snow skiing, and snow boarding have led up to Todd's discovery of Ashtanga.

::Yariv Erez

Yariv’s practice was birthed in 1993 while whe was living in New York. Before moving to San Francisco in 1999, he was deep in his study of, and teaching of the body through various disciplies.  His addition to the It’s Yoga family after his training in 2003 has been an incredible journey.  His classes focus on technique and alignment while naturally graviating towards the therapeutic aspects of the practice.  His humility, humor, and grace is evident in each class. As his main focus is beginners, he inspires a deep awareness of the body and how it functions in the practice of yoga.

His twenty plus years of experience in displines such as: cranio-sacral therapy, reiki, myofacial release, shiatsu, anatomy, Tai-Chi and Chi-Gong, the Alexander Technique and Feldenkreis awareness through movement.  This gives him a strong foundation to serve as a main facilitator in the teacher training program giving presentations on topics such as,  hands-on-adjustments, anatomy and technique.

::Attiss Ngovàl

Attiss Ngoval first came to It's Yoga in 2006, and after just one class he knew he had found his new home. Attiss completed the It's Yoga Teacher Training in 2006, studying under Larry Schultz. He has witnessed firsthand the incredible power that Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga has to help us learn to experience and celebrate each moment as we strengthen our bodies and calm our minds, and he is excited to share Ashtanga Yoga with the world, one breath at a time. He brings a sense of fun and excitement to the classes while challenging students to follow their breath into new experiences and new awareness.

::Gregory Gorman

Dr. Gregory J. Gorman graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 1997 (cum laude) and a B.A. in Music in 1987. Greg is also an Ashtanga Yoga instructor, having completed the teacher training program at It’s Yoga in San Francisco. Greg is a full body certified ART provider with special expertise in biomechanics. Greg is an avid yoga practitioner and uses his extensive knowledge of asana to assist patients in taking charge of their healing process. Diet, exercise and lifestyle changes are essential to the health and wellness and Greg assists his patients in making positive changes in their lives to get well and stay well. His background as a musician gives him a unique approach to patient care. Greg believes that all bodywork is art and using the scientific approach of Active Release Techniques and Chiropractic as his artistic medium is the unique aspect he brings to his work.

<back to top>