“The Lotus Flower…its unfolding petals suggest the expansion of the soul…the growth of its pure beauty from the mud…holds benign spiritual promise.” Autobiography of a Yogi
Lisa Brabender, President and CFO - L-7 Lifestyles, Inc. Creator and Founder of Lotus7 Yoga, Pilates and Wellness Center providing clients with group and privates sessions, integrative wellness and innovative nutrition counseling. Respected business professional with over 28 years of extensive experience in Business Development and Marketing in the fields of transportation logistics and family medical practice. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine and has worked in various senior management capacities at such companies as Bristol Park Medical Group, Global Van Lines, and Federal Express Ground. Philanthropic work includes lifetime membership and Board member for the Valiant Women of Mission Hospital Foundation; Rotary International; American Cancer Society Relay for Life; Children's Hospital of Orange County; Chamber of Commerce Member and Laguna Beach Women's Club Member.
“Yoga should be a joyful life practice on and off the mat, and that consistent practice of yoga offers great healing power for physical injuries.”
Jee Carter, E-RYT, an Advanced Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow, YogaEd, Yoga for MS, and SilverAge Yoga Instructor; Power Mat Pilates Instructor, Jee was born and raised in South Korea, and came to the US in 1969. Her career(s) before Yoga included Optical Inspection, Quality Engineering, and Cosmetology. After receiving a gift of yoga from her husband of 25 years she began teaching yoga in 2007. Her work with special needs students has included classes for the blind at the Braille Institute in Anaheim and pre & post natal mom and baby classes. She focuses on the movement of the body initiated and guided by the breath. The mind, body, and breath connection helps to boost the immune system and decrease stress, promoting health and wellness. Her classes may be gentle, moderate, or vigorous depending upon the level of students, always instilling playfulness and humor into each class. Her Mat Pilates classes are inspired by and focused upon the “3 Cs” of Pilates: Concentration, Control, and Centering. Her classes are challenging yet fun for students ranging from beginners to more advanced.
“On and off the mat, yoga has made me a stronger person and my hope is that I can continue sharing this with others.”
Sandy DeJohn, RYT, a Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow and Gentle Yoga instructor. Sandy began her yoga journey in 1999 as she was looking for a way to cross train with her love of tennis. Little did she know, she would find so much more. As her practice evolved she decided that she should share with others her new found love, the practice of yoga, through teaching. In 2008, she received her 200 hour yoga alliance certification through At One Yoga, in Scottsdale, AZ where she trained with John Salisbury and Alex Austin in the Ashtanga style and Lanita Varshell in the Viniyoga style. Although trained in Ashtanga, Sandy enjoys teaching styles ranging from basic and yin to flow and power. She has also had the opportunity to practice and train with other great yogis like, Dharma Mittra, Seane Corn, Jason Crandall, Rod Stryker, Rolf Gates, Kathryn Budig and Wade Morrisette.
“It's one thing to not know, but another to know and act like you don't... I love how the mix of all the earth’s bounties when blended together makes for a truly delicious meal!”
Simon Goss, RYT, a Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Instructor, has also been a certified Massage Therapist for 16 years and Madd Dog Spin Certified for 8 years. Movement has been a huge part of his life since the age of 9. After living a vegetarian lifestyle the past 10 years and dabbling in RAW foods the last few, Simon recently became a 100% RAW VEGAN. Its one thing to not know, but another to know and act like you don't. I love how the mix of all these key ingredients when blended together makes for a truly delicious meal.
“Yoga is about joy, love, compassion and balance. It’s about learning to embrace our strengths as well as our weaknesses. Having used therapeutic yoga to recover from my own spinal injury I understand the powerful affect yoga can have. If your alignment is correct you can heal the body, if you move from a place of love and gratitude you can soften and open the heart, if you practice mindfulness and being present you can calm the mind”
Amy Harper, E-RYT, an Advanced Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow, YogaEd, Yoga4Teens and a Body Arts & Science (BASI) certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, Amy began studying yoga after fracturing her spine in a water sport accident. Her physical therapist introduced her to yoga as a way to build strength, flexibility, and promote healing. During her recovery she began the healing process through restorative yoga. What became clear to her was that yoga was much more than stretching ...it was a way to heal the body, mind and spirit, which was what she needed at that time. In 2002, she became certified through Yogamotion in Park City, Utah. Amy continues to study yoga and its healing effects on a daily base.
Stephanie Haden, a certified Mat Pilates Instructor has been passionate about health and fitness most her life. Stephanie’s natural athleticism combined with her ability to motivate and instruct has led her to the fitness industry. She has spent many years working as a fitness instructor and participating in extreme fitness. She is currently working towards her degree as a Nutritionist while continuing to share with others the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Her other passions are spending time with her family and exploring new fitness adventures.
"With dedicated practice, sincere and humble exploration of the Self, and a healthy dose of childlike joy, the true purpose of Yoga--enlightenment--can be right here, right now!"
Carry Kim, MFA, RYT, CMT, a certified Yoga Therapist trained by the Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation, (1,000hrs including 2 month clinical residencies in India), Shiatsu therapist, certified breath work facilitator, registered Yin Yoga teacher and therapeutic nutrition educator. Prior to her journey into Yoga, she studied Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi for many years. An ardent student of life, she has invested the last decade practicing and studying various holistic health modalities in the quest to help facilitate and foster the well-being of others. Certified in both Himalayan Singing Bowl sound therapy and Thai Yoga therapy which utilizes assisted yoga postures, her influences are many: Taoism, Tibetan and Zen Buddhism, dance, bodywork, somatic movement, Native American tradition, permaculture, and inspired activism. She is a lineage holder of Tibetan Yoga and has studied continuously with her teacher, Yuan Miao since 2003. Mentoring with renowned naturopath and nutritionist, Dr. Vincent Medici, since 2003, and most recently with Amadea Morningstar, widely regarded author and educator in the field of Ayurvedic Nutrition, she teaches individuals to eat for optimal health by integrating living and raw foods, macrobiotics and aspects of Ayurveda. She has privately trained hundreds of clients to transform their way of eating in order to facilitate healing from life-threatening disease and chronic, degenerative conditions. Her goal is to teach others to thrive, use food as "medicine," live sustainably and leave this Earth better than we found it. What is most rewarding for her is witnessing students as they become self-empowered, joyfully abundant and "healed" by their own definition.
Danarene Kalina, RYT, CCH, a Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Instructor, meditation coach, NGH certified Consulting Hypnotist and Writer began her personal yoga journey in 1994 and started teaching in 1998. In 2000 she received her 200-hour Yoga Teacher certification from the Yoga Kingdom Sanctuary in Pasadena, California and continues to study Classical Hatha Yoga, meditation techniques, and Hindu philosophy. Her interest and study of the world spiritual traditions led her to become an Ordained Minister in the Universal Life Church in order to offer spiritual guidance, support and information for people seeking a broader understanding and application of religious traditions. Danarene expanded her healing arts career in 1999 by becoming certified in both massage therapy, through the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balance, and therapeutic hypnosis techniques through the Holmes Center for Hypnotherapy. The focus of Danarene’s healing arts practice is the concept of, “Engage, Inspire, Enlighten and Integrate” ™, a methodology which incorporates the exchange of information which motivates and excites individuals to expand their awareness of their true nature in order to lead an empowered and purposeful life.
Catherine Kiner, RYT, a Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow and Restorative Yoga Instructor, began teaching yoga in 2009 as a way to gain strength and flexibility to support her classical ballet training. Catherine graduated from California State University at Fullerton with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and is continuing her studies through the Loyola Marymount School for Yoga Therapy. She loves sharing yoga with others and believes that yoga should be taught with total body awareness and structural alignment. She believes in going with the natural flow of the body and its muscle groups, incorporating strength with stretch and counter poses when necessary. Her dance background influences her teaching style she takes a flowing approach to yoga even when holding a pose the breath should be flowing freely through the body to gain the ultimate mind body connection.
“My passion is to inspire and empower people to live a wellness lifestyle!”
Dan Knudson, D.C., Doctor of Chiropractic. While his primary focus is restoring balance to the spine and nervous system, he specifically integrates spinal health with proper nutrition, frequent exercise, emotional and spiritual well-being, and systematic stress management. Dr. Dan has been in private practice for twelve years and given over 300,000 individual adjustments. He draws from a traditional pre-medical background holding a BS in Applied Health from Azusa Pacific University. Continuing his education, he earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic.
“Life should be a celebration full of fulfilling activity and food should be a wholesome, nutritious, and delicious art form.”
Jennifer Laratonda, JD, CHC, RYT, a Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Instructor and a certified Health/Nutrition Coach after earning her law degree from the Pennsylvania State University and spending nearly a decade practicing healthcare law, has expanded her focus beyond the legal field by applying her business and counseling skills toward nutrition counseling, healthy food service and wellness plans. She obtained her health coach and nutrition training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Offering wellness services to others is a vocation close to Jennifer’s heart. Her stepfather is a longtime health and wellness professor who, for ten years, ran the adapted physical education program for people with disabilities at the University of Delaware. Jennifer’s step-grandfather was a creator of the adapted physical education program for swimming at Pennsylvania State University. Along with Eunice Kennedy Shriver, he helped create the original programs and events for the Special Olympics, and was a director of the first Special Olympics in Los Angeles, CA. After marrying and becoming full-time mother to a young son with autism, Jennifer also became acutely aware of the nutritional needs of those with food allergies and dietary restrictions. The creation of convenient meals for highly restrictive and/or special diets are a priority for Jennifer as she teaches cooking demonstration classes focusing on efficient, clean meals made of whole ingredients, local and organic, that follow the seasons, and are easy to find in most markets.
Erin Macdonald, R.D. has been a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition, Fitness, and Wellness Coach in private practice for 17 years, specializing in Sports, Weight Management, Women's health, Cardiovascular health, Childhood and Adolescent Nutrition. With Erin’s coaching, her clients are able to achieve and maintain healthy weight without dieting, hunger, or deprivation, optimize sports performance, improve energy levels, sleep better, improve digestion, and reduce risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Erin has appeared as a featured nutrition expert in DVDs and speaker at nutrition seminars, community health expos, and worksite wellness programs. She has authored numerous articles and is a Health Advisory Board member for Nutricula Magazine and blogs regularly at completewellness.com. She is passionate about cooking and recipe development, marrying good health with amazing flavor. Her most important achievement is as a wife and mother to her 4 boys, one of which was just born this past January. Passionate about preventing and reversing the childhood obesity epidemic in this country, Erin volunteers in the schools by talking to the students and organizing health fairs and jog-a-thons.
“When someone new to the practice comes in and puts their mind and body to it, then tells me about the changes going on, that is a great feeling for me. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how heavy or light you are, with Pilates you see many improvements. Be it breathing, concentration, flexibility, or anything of the like, Pilates helps strengthen the core of your life.”
Diane McAdoo, PMA member, is a Body, Arts & Science (BASI) certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, Diane started taking dance classes at the age of 5. Throughout her childhood she practiced ballet, tap and jazz through Linda Jandoli, a former member of the New York City Rockettes. In 2005, she received her Group Fitness Instructor Certification through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). She began teaching Pilates in 2006, while attending different workshops focusing on the Joseph Pilates Method. She continues her education by attending conferences and seminars sponsored by IDEA and PMA. In 2008 Diane began teaching for Pacific Hills Treatment Center in Dana Point. This has been very fulfilling for her as she sees various bodies go through healing and strengthening through Pilates.
Kinga Night, PMA member, is a certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, born in Budapest, Hungary, and quickly found her passion in sports. At 11 years old she began competing as a rhythmic gymnast internationally. While attending a high school for professional athletes, Kinga also began a career in dance, and held feature roles in numerous theatrical productions, including CATS. She majored in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the University of Physical Education in Budapest, and coached her own rhythmic gymnastics team before leaving for the United States in 1990 to further her education and career. Upon arrival in New York, she immediately auditioned and received a dance scholarship to the renowned STEPS studio in NYC. Her performing career eventually led to appearances on stage and television in more than 30 countries. In 1998, now making Orange County, California her home, she returned to physical fitness. She became a member of AFAA, and taught numerous fitness formats before falling in love with Pilates. Kinga was accepted for the Pilates Certification program at Aline Studios, a studio that specializes in personalized, one-on-one training. She has been teaching Pilates full-time since 2002.
"Yoga makes me more in tune with the person I strive to be and more comfortable with the person that I am.”
Stacey Parker Schuerman, RYT-500, Lotus7’s Integrative Wellness Coordinator, Advanced Yoga Alliance certified Hatha Yoga Instructor through Cloud Nine and Empowered Yoga, certified Karma Kids Yoga Instructor and Thai Yoga Therapist, has been practicing and teaching yoga to adults and children of all ages for 10+years, including Beginner’s Yoga, Yoga Stretch, Gentle/Restorative and Vinyasa Flow, all influenced by a blend of Anusara, Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Vinyasa Flow disciplines. Stacey has a fun, inspiring, light hearted and patient teaching style with a strong focus on proper alignment and the breath, and always infuses her classes with inspirational music & poetry, Thai Yoga hands-on adjustments, and aromatherapy. When you walk into one of Stacey’s classes, look for her inviting smile and encouraging, warm voice to guide you through your yoga practice. Expect to be inspired to move throughout your day in an open and joyous manner!
“Working with varied populations is a reward in itself. Exchanging ideas, love of Yoga and bringing freedom from pain is a heart-warming opportunity.”
Fay Pastel, RYT, an Advanced Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow and Restorative Teacher @ 500hrs. Fay took her first Yoga class in 1971 and was hooked! Like other high-energy people, she appreciates the way Yoga balances and soothes her soul, while satisfying an eternal quest for self-discovery. Fay began teaching Yoga in 1999 to college campuses, hospital and senior centers, drug/alcohol women’s rehab centers, health clubs, and private studios. Fay’s style of teaching caters to all levels of abilities, specifically those suffering from injuries or chronic issues.
“It's exciting to work with people that have similar issues and watch as their lives become fuller with consistent practice of Pilates. It's the greatest feeling to have, sharing my passion and seeing others become passionate about it also!”
Mary Russell, PMA member, is a Body Arts & Science (BASI) certified Comprehensive Pilates Instructor and holds credentials in pre- and post-natal pilates and the Pink Ribbon Program Post Rehabilitative Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist certification. She discovered Pilates while looking for a safe, total body workout that would not create bulky muscles and improve her poor posture from years of working in front of computers. She has a deep understanding of injuries and focuses on the needs of each person to build on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Discovering Pilates 15 years ago when looking for ways to fix her own poor posture and ease the pain that came as a result, she found that not only did her posture improve, and the pain removed, but her balance, flexibility and overall health improved.
“Yoga is, in essence, an energetic practice and I endeavor to help my students become aware of the flow of energy in the asanas, not just the alignment of muscles and bones.”
Bill Russell, RYT, is a Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow and Restorative Yoga Instructor who began his yogic journey in 2005 and has studied many forms of Yoga which he weaves together to meet the specific needs of his students’ bodies, minds and spirits. Graduating from Yoga Tree’s 200-hour certification program in San Francisco, he had the privilege of meeting and studying with many of the world’s foremost Yogis and yoga teachers, and made the decision to dedicate his life to the study and practice of Yoga. He moved to Southern California in the fall of 2007 to live with and serve his Guru, Louix Dor Dempriey, at Prema Drala Ashram in Laguna Hills, where he continued his yogic studies, learning Ayurvedic medicine and nutrition and Integrative Yoga Therapy, which uses many yogic tools to help individuals heal all levels of the body: physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual. Bill’s classes are a blend of his favorite styles of yoga, including Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Kundalini yoga, in a slow flow that focuses on alignment and breath, helping students to become stronger in the basic asanas and to understand them in a new way.
Petra Sovella-Farber, MA in the Psychology of Education is a guest speaker, teacher, writer and the founder of the MOONLODGE Women's Center. Petra has traveled and lived in Italy and the Middle East, providing workshops in Past Life Regression, Inner Child Work, Non Violent Communication, GestaldtTherapy and Jungian Energy Balancing. She currently provides a sacred environment for weekly Book studies every Tuesday evenings at Lotus7 and sees private clients in her Rancho Santa Margarita office.
“Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of consciousness. I hope, if anything, that I can accurately pass on what I have been given and continue to cultivate the positive.”
Tim Senesi, CYT, a certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor @ 400 hours began studying yoga when he was 18 and quickly immersed himself in the subject. While attending San Diego State University he served as the President of the Yoga Social and Fitness Club, and taught his first official class in between surf sessions and classes at Namaste Yoga Studio in Ocean Beach, San Diego. Tim received his current Certification at Orange County Yoga Studio from his teacher Megan Bello. He has had the opportunity to study with many talented teachers, including Manouso Manos, Anna Delury, Paul Cabanis, and Sri H.S. Arun. Since 2009 he has been observing/assisting with Megan and Anna's classes in an effort to refine his teaching skills and understanding of Yoga. His method of teaching emphasizes a balance between strength, flexibility, and endurance. He often encourages precision of movement and attention to subtle aspects of posture. His sense of humor and love for teaching others makes his classes fun and energizing.
“I believe that health comes from within and that our bodies, given the right input, have a natural ability to heal. My mission is to get patients out of pain and lead them toward a healthier life, by finding the cause(s) of their ill health and correcting it. I am an advocate for healthy lifestyle choices and love to teach patients how to make them.”
Dr. Siri Smith, D.C., Doctor of Chiropractic Care graduated New York Chiropractic College in 1982, after going to undergraduate school at SUNY Buffalo. In 1982, she opened her practice on Park Avenue in NYC and in 1986, moved to the Upper West Side of Manhattan where she continued to develop a family based practice. Dr. Siri moved to California in 2002 and has offices in Mission Viejo and in Lotus7 Yoga & Wellness Center. She belongs to Ladera Ranch Business Women’s Network, Mission Hospital’s Valiant Women and volunteers with The Teen Project and Reading Partners. Dr. Smith specializes in family care. Her understanding of the care of mothers, infants, and children is just one field of expertise. She also has extensive training in Pettibon Bio-Mechanics, a highly specialized and specific healing, pain relief and rehabilitative technique. Dr. Siri gave birth to both her children at home in NYC in 1992 and 1994, and nursed each one for 2 1/2 years. Unlike their mother, they have never taken any antibiotics. Her daughters Eve and Simone, along with the hundreds of children she has seen in her practice give Dr. Siri much real life experience in caring for children. Dr. Siri was featured in Family Life Magazine on the benefits of chiropractic care for children. She has been seen on Fox TV news as a chiropractic expert and on a NY cable TV show for women. Dr. Siri was the chiropractic consultant on Tom DiCillo’s movie “Double Whammy”. In the movie, Elizabeth Hurley plays a chiropractor who falls in love with her patient, Denis Leary. The movie also featured Chris Noth and Steve Buscemi. She has taken care of many famous personalities including TV, movie, theater and soap stars, professional dancers, musicians and writers and many of their children.
"Yoga has transformed my life inside and out. Not only has it reshaped my body, it has deepened my mind perception and enlarged my soul. It is like a gift that doesn't stop giving. Yoga never ceases to bring me a new surprise gift at my doorstep every day."
Lina Wu, RYT, a Yoga Alliance certified Vinyasa Flow and Restorative Teacher @ 500hrs, Lina started teaching yoga in 2008 as a means to de-stress from her job as a college instructor. Lina with clients at the MS Society as well as contributing to her community and making yoga accessible to everybody. She specializes in creating customized sequences and postures that can be easily integrated in one's daily exercise routine. From her own experience, Lina believes that one is never too busy, too old, too out of shape or too stiff to do yoga.
