meet the teaM
HaChi Yu is an Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga® teacher and founder/director of Jivamukti Yoga Collective – New York.
She is also the founder of Prana Productions LLC,/The Prana Life and was the owner and founder of Jivamukti Yoga LaLaLå! building the first Jivamukti Yoga School on the west coast. (which sadly closed in 2020 due to the global pandemic).
HaChi was born and raised on the Lower East Side of NYC, and has travelled the world as a teacher, performer and producer.
She was a principal dancer with Feld Ballet/Ballet Tech for over 20 years during which time she also worked on and off-Broadway. Her yoga studies began as a child and she has was raised with movement as her first language. Currently, HaChi serves as Facilitator for Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Trainings internationally – including the upcoming 300 HR JYTT 2024 in India. She has studied with esteemed teachers within various schools including: Sivananda, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Tripsichore. HaChi is 500hr EYT Yoga Alliance and is also a certified teacher in Gyrotonic ™ and Pilates. Over the last 25 years her life as a dancer and teacher has taken her around the world where she has taught master classes at universities and festivals…and performed on many of the world’s finest stages with some of the greatest performing artists of our time.
HaChi is honored and humbled to be a lifelong student and dedicates her efforts with eternal gratitude to Sharon and David, Jules and all the jivanmuktahs around the world. She is blessed by the opportunity to study with HH Dalai Lama, HH Radhanath Swami, Robert Moses, Eddie Stern and Rusty Wells. She is in service to all her teachers and these practices that keep her on the path of the Boddhisattva …while dancing with the whirling dervishes whenever they cross her path.
Through strength, intelligence, and fluidity HaChi’s classes focus on the various practices of yoga as an integration of ancient wisdom teachings applied into our modern day life- with joy and reverence.
Jessica Stickler grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has always felt an irresistible magnetic pull towards New York City, where she has been living since 1998. Jessica discovered yoga as a means to manage anxiety and depression, and was attracted to the beauty of the forms and the depth of the philosophy.
Jessica has been teaching Jivamukti Yoga since 2008, and spent many hours studying directly with Sharon Gannon and David Life, the co-founders of Jivamukti Yoga. She completed 300 hour certification in 2008 and became an Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher in 2010. She serves as a mentor in Jivamukti’s apprentice teaching program and teaches Jivamukti Method internationally in Australia, Germany, Trinidad, Czech Republic, Russia, and France. Jessica loves to teach a wide range of students, from beginners through advanced practitioners, and has worked closely with those who are recovering from injury.
Her classes incorporate dynamic movement, often choreographic sequencing, with special attention to alignment and modification options. Classes are infused with a variety of inspiring music, meditation, and spiritual teachings.
Dragon Dakini
Jessica Kung
make conscious founder
Jessica Kung is a yogini, artist, designer, and thought leader. She began her training in yoga in 1998 at Jivamukti Yoga in New York City and became a certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher in 2003 while still in college. She started Yogis at Yale immediately after, and completed her thesis on yoga and the expression of architecture, pioneering a multi-disciplinary approach joining art, architecture, and Yogic studies. 20 years later she is still efflorescing her initial research through her work leading the Make Conscious studio practice. She is now a practicing artist/designer leading creative teams and building projects around the world that challenge the status quo by reconnecting consciousness, energy, and the body in the creation of space, site, brands, and institutions.
All spaces are visionary. From 2010-2012 she completed a deep retreat of 450 days of silence with Stéphane Dreyfus during which she completed the practices of Vajrayana Buddhism alongside her art practice. When she left retreat, she started Triveni Yoga with Stéphane and certified hundreds of Triveni Yoga teachers. Most recently she has reconnected with her ancestral lineages and is continuing her studies through Taoist, Nyingma, Emei, and Shaolin schools of inner and outer alchemy, landscape, qigong, and kung fu.
She has published two books and exhibited and performed her artwork at museums and galleries around the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, LACMA, Centrale Montemartini in Rome, Italy, the The Battery in San Francisco, CA, and the European Art Center in Xiamen, China. She is also a leader in the AAPI community and supports AAPI ancestral healing. Jessica has a B.A. in Architecture cum laude from Yale University, and an M.F.A. from Calilfornia College of the Arts.
Jessica Kung is a bliss intoxicated dragon dakini who flies in the sky. Other biographical info is irrelevant. Come dance with me.
Miriam Parker is a visual and performance artist, and has been working professionally in the New York City dance and visual art world for the past 25 years. Miriam’s deep and steady Buddhist spiritual practice is seamlessly intertwined with her creative identity. Over the last 4 years, her personal practice has led her to complete over 35 weeks of solitary spiritual retreat. In 2019, Miriam completed a rigorous study of the 15 Foundational Buddhist Courses as offered through the Asian Classic Institute, which parallels the basic core of information that a Geshe (Doctor of Theology) learns at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Miriam has been teaching meditation in NYC studios, non-profit organizations, and corporate settings for nearly 10 years. She has been imparting yogic techniques and physical training, both individually and in group settings, for nearly 7 years. In sharing the gifts that her practice as offered her, Miriam has realized that each of us are the architects of your own worlds, and that the inner landscape is the soil that needs tending in order to bear fruit. Miriam is beloved by her students for her authenticity, wisdom, and embodiment of joyful effort.
Miriam is indebted to her teachers Dr. Lisette Garcia and Thupten Punstok among others; she has completed 200 hours of Meditation teacher training through Three Jewels NYC, and completed 300+ Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training in India.
For over 20 years, Claudia has taught yoga in NYC and worldwide. During this time, she has obtained multiple certifications: Advanced Certified 800 Hour Jivamukti, 800 Hour CBYT (Certified Bikram Yoga Teacher 2002), Functional Range Conditioning Movement Specialist (FRCms), RMM Movement Practitioner, and Bio Energetic Synchronization facilitator. As an E-RYT 500 and YACEP she has guided many on their journey to become teachers and to continue their education.
With a conscious, meticulous focus on using discipline to transcend dogma, students are guided to fortify the foundation of their potential. A jivamukti class with Claudia has been described as solid, loving and precise – blending strength with warmth, authority with empathy, and fierceness with love. Ultimately, she hopes to create space for the understanding of how the yoga practices can be relevant in our world today.
In addition to the teachers that have inspired her, what influences all aspects of her teaching style is her love of music and the creative arts. When not teaching, Claudia puts her performance background to work as a Foley artist.
An educator by trade, Meg strives to teach a class that cultivates the opportunity for her students to grow and learn physically and spiritually through intuitive sequencing and strong hands-on assisting. Meg has been practicing yoga since 2000 and started teaching in 2004. She was initially attracted to the ashtanga practice and discovered Baptiste Power Yoga while living in Philadelphia. Upon moving to New York City in 2010, she became a regular student at the Jivamukti Yoga School and continued her Jivamukti practice at Living Yoga while residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. Meg completed her 800-hour Jivamukti Certification in 2015 and is grateful for the teachers who have influenced her the most – Jules Febre, Rima Rabbath, and Jessica Stickler.
Purnima Maria Langen is an Island Girl from Hawaii who moved to the Island of NYC, where she discovered her passion and path in life as a Jivamukti Yoga Teacher. She became inspired to become a Jivamukti Yoga teacher after taking classes at Gold’s Gym with Sandhi Gayatri Ferreira. Her focus and devotion to the discipline of Kung Fu helped her transition to the discipline and study of Yoga. In 2007 she was certified at the 300 Hour level under the Co Founders of Jivamukti Yoga, Sharon Gannon and David Life. In 2009 she completed her 500 Hours apprenticeship under the guidance of Julie Kirkpatrick and Maria Preuster, becoming certified as an 800 Hours Jivamukti Yoga teacher.
From 2007-2013 Purnima was a manager at the Jivamukti Yoga Center in Union Square. She also coordinated Jivamukti Yoga Retreats around the world. She has taught with Parashakti (Dance of Liberation) at the Omega Institute. In 2012 she was blessed to be a guest teacher in the Philippines, the land of her ancestors. She has also taught at the second Jivamukti Yoga franchise in Jersey City.
Purnima seeks to offer classes that are filled with joy, expansiveness and upliftment. She believes that breath and moving from the heart can allow you to go within, to see the light within you. She believes that Yoga is for everyone and every body. Her students are also her teachers. She is a Nicherin Buddhist and member of the Soka Gakkai International. She is guided by a quote by her mentor Daisaku Ikeda: “It’s the Heart that matters most.” Purnima is currently studying to become a NASM certified personal trainer. Her aim is to blend yoga and strength training for longevity, aging well and better health. She now trains in Filipino Martial Arts to honor and continue the traditions of her Filipino ancestors.
Echo Ni has been practicing yoga for more than 10 years.
She received her first RTY200 certification in 2020. And completed her 375H Urban Sadhu Yoga Training in 2022. She is in the process of completing her 500 HR Apprenticeship with Urban Sadhu Yoga.
She is also certified in Yin and Restorative yoga.
我是 Echo is Native Chinese from Shanghai and moved to in NJ since 2020. To overcome the anxiety and depression caused by the big life changing circumstances of 2020 she was called to start her teacher training journey.
She finds peace and connection through yoga, and aims to share the happiness
and love through the heart of service.
Echo thanks her teachers – Austin Sanderson, Catherine Miranda, Devdutt Pattanaik and Steph Mitchell.
She believes yoga to be a lifelong way to cultivate a harmonious lifestyle through its
physical, emotional, intellectual and most importantly spiritual teachings.
你好！我是Echo。
我从2010年练习瑜伽，并在2020年获得RYT200全美瑜伽联盟瑜伽教练认证，并在2022年
获得Urban Sadhu Yoga 375小时培训认证。同时，我也持有阴瑜伽与疗愈瑜伽教练认证。
我来自上海，从2020年开始居住在新泽西。2020发生了许多，自身的与世界的，我曾经焦
虑和抑郁，而瑜伽给了我许多平静。这份平静太美好，因此我十分热忱将瑜伽分享服务予
人。
在我学习瑜伽的路上我诚挚的感谢一路引导我的老师们- Austin Sanderson, Catherine
Miranda, Devdutt Pattanaik and Steph Mitchell.
我相信瑜伽将会是伴随我一生的那份美好，创造身体与情感，智力与灵性的协奏曲。
和我一起探索健康、平静和正念的生活吧。
Daniel grew up in the northern suburbs of Sydney, Australia but now currently resides in Melbourne, Australia. His yoga journey began at 18 when, by chance, he wandered into a Jivamukti Yoga studio. Since then, he tried many different styles and teachers but always gravitated back to the Jivamukti method and has found himself inspired by the likes of Jules Febre, Yogeswari, and Ruth Lauer-Maneti. Daniel is now an Advanced Certified Jivamukti and Yin Yoga Teacher. Outside of the studio he works as a ZenThai Shiatsu Massage Therapist and studies Psychology at Monash University in Melbourne.
One Nation Sound is a collective of Sound Alchemists. We are musicians, sound healing practitioners, artists, DJs and dancers who use music to heal, inspire, provoke and uplift the world.
Based in Brooklyn, NY by way of Toronto, Canada & Kingston, Jamaica, collective members Rev Love & Geefa Judah bring a grounded yet etheric energy to their Sound Healing sessions. As lifelong musicians they know intimately the power of music. Through years of personal study and training they learned that when pairing sound frequencies with intention and direction,
they can have profoundly healing effects. The outcome is a “sonic reiki” seeding light, love, healing and new codes into the being in a gentle and graceful manner.
Stay in orbit with One Nation Sound by checking out the “Meditations for the Masses” album available on all platforms, as well as One Nation Collective member’s music, and by attending a live music curation event.
@onenationsound
@revlovemusic
@geefajudah
The founders of the Jivamukti Yoga method, Sharon Gannon and David Life, granted Julie Advanced Jivamukti Yoga Teacher certification in 2005. David Life is Julie’s brother, so the method has been accessible to her since its inception in 1986. Julie has been and continues to be a student of the method and a seeker of understanding of yoga, since that time. Her association with Jivamukti Yoga has allowed her to teach classes, workshops, and retreats abroad in Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Turkey, Canada, and Vietnam, as well as in the United States in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Ohio.
Julie brings to her yoga classes a wide range of experience, having taught a variety of class styles including open, basic, vinyasa, prenatal, children’s yoga, and restorative classes.
Before focusing full time on teaching yoga, Julie worked in public education, visual arts, and community gardening. She was an activist for fair housing and community garden preservation on the Lower East Side of New York City, where she has lived since 1981.
My yoga journey began with the innocent joy of childhood play, evolving into a lifelong passion ignited by the profound depths of yoga’s teachings. Guided by revered mentors who shared my dedication to exploring yoga’s physical, mental, and subtle dimensions, I embarked on a transformative path of learning and growth. Immersing myself in intensive teacher trainings across diverse disciplines, including Jivamukti, power yoga/vinyasa, and the sacred Ashtanga tradition, I had the honor of advancing through the Ashtanga series under the esteemed tutelage of Tim Miller at Ashtanga Yoga Center, Encinitas, California. As an advanced series Ashtanga practitioner and former professional athlete, I seamlessly integrate modern biomechanics into the traditional practice of asana, offering a dynamic and holistic approach to yoga. From the vibrant energy of New York to the serene landscapes of California and beyond, I’ve had the privilege of sharing my love for yoga with students from all walks of life. When I’m not guiding students on the mat, you’ll find me cherishing moments over a cup of coffee, exploring the great outdoors, and tending to my beloved collection of plants gathered from my travels. Join me as we embark on a journey of self-discovery, strength, and serenity together.
Beatrice Buenaventura has traveled studying and teaching yoga throughout The Americas, Europe, and Asia. She integrates her knowledge of yoga anatomy with a distinct understanding of philosophy, and spirituality in the modern world. She has been a serious student of yoga and meditation since 2003, and teaching since 2006. Initially lured by the physical practice of Ashtanga Yoga, she was quickly drawn to studying yoga philosophy, texts, and anatomy with her main teacher Rich Logan; a devoted student of TKV Desikachar and Gabriel Halpern.
Her classes are a unique integration of the knowledge and lessons passed onto her by her teachers, melded with her own experiences and expressions that constantly evolve throughout life. A Bhakti yogi at heart, Beatrice is devoted to finding opportunities to create, build, and nurture connections with ourselves, others, and with the natural world around us.
In gratitude, Beatrice humbly bows to her teachers: Rich Logan (Chicago,IL); HaChi Yu (New York,NY); Kino MacGregor (Miami, FL); Tias + Surya Little (Santa Fe, NM); David Life + Sharon Gannon (New York City, NY); Mollie Galbraith (Austin, TX), Hillary Wright (New York City, NY); the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois (Mysore, India); Richard Miller (IRI, IAYT); and David Swenson (Mother Earth)
Bᴇᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴇ Aɴɴᴇ Yᴏɢᴀ
Veronica Guevara-Lovgren is a first-generation Latina who grew up on the Jersey Shore in a working-class family. She has dedicated her personal and professional life to increasing equity
and fostering community through authentic collaboration and connection. This commitment led Veronica to create Tres Ositos Yoga and Reiki to help remove barriers for those seeking to learn and resource healing modalities.
Veronica is a Holy Fire® III Karuna Reiki® Master, Usui Reiki Master, and ICRT Animal Reiki Master. Veronica has completed the 300-hour Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training and received training in Radiant Child Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yoga Nidra through Ohana Rising Yoga
School. Veronica also recently completed the University of Vermont’s Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate program.
Veronica is forever grateful to her teachers, including Tim Shaw, HaChi Yu, Jessica Stickler, Sandy King, and many others. She can never thank Sharon Gannon and David Life enough for creating the Jivamukti Yoga Method and bringing so much compassion and love into the world
through their teachings. She is also thankful for her human family and animal soulmates, who teach her daily that to love all is to serve all.
Veronica is also the Executive Director of Student Services at Ocean County College. She is currently completing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Rowan University.
© Jivamukti Yoga Collective NYC 2024