INSTRUCTORS
 Terry Alvord has been passionate about leading an active lifestyle her entire life. Before becoming a dedicated student of yoga in 2003, she had been a fitness director at the YMCA in St. Joseph Michigan, fitness instructor, teacher trainer, an adjunct instructor of Wellness at Lake Michigan College, personal trainer, synchronized swimmer as well as a triathlete. She was on the National Faculty which revised the YMCA Healthy Back program and a consultant in revising the YMCA Pre-Natal program. She has earned certifications from the American Council on Exercise, American College of Sports Medicine and has a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. In addition, she has completed the 200 hour Camp Yoga Teacher Training to earn certification from Yoga Alliance as a yoga instructor.
Phone number: 510.809.7075
Phone number: 510.689.3806  Cynthea Denise, R. N.,
longtime practitioner and seasoned yoga teacher, recalls the urge to twist her body into "odd shapes" as a child, graduated from Piedmont Advanced Studies Program in 1996. She feels at home in the yoga studio and delights in guiding bodies of all ages in opening, as the yoga asana awakens and reconnects us to the inherent wisdom of our body. To register for her next mama/baby postnatal 8-week series, email Cynthea at lunayogini@yahoo.com.
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Stack Buss brings a sense of joy, freedom, and gentle exploration to teaching. StackÕs classes emphasize alignment, body awareness, and integration of breath, body, and mind.
A graduate of the 3-year Yoga Room Advanced Studies Program, Stack teaches yoga in the Iyengar tradition with a special focus on the inner body, observing yoga as a moving meditation. Stack has always understood life through the physical plane, has played and coached many sports, thinks the body is fascinating, is interested in how different types of bodies function and thrive, and how the physical form interplays with the unmanifest.
Laura Camp began movement training in her early teens, and was a professional contemporary dancer for 15 years. In the late 90's, a dance injury led her to yoga. She was mentored by Robert Boustany in Houston, a physicist who had been teaching an eclectic blend of Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Qigong since the early 70's. Laura began her teaching practice in 1998, and she enjoys uniting classical hatha yoga with the dynamics of contemporary dance, the core integration of Russian and Chinese acrobatics, the body tension principles of rock climbing and circus aerials, the softness of release technique, and the mindfulness of Vipassana meditation. She has been teaching at Monkey Yoga Shala since 2001, and thinks she has the most wonderful job in the world (for her!). Laura also enjoys her work as a circus aerialist and writer. For more information on teacher trainings, retreats, events, and workshops, please visit 
Wendy Hahn Through her own practice Wendy has found yoga to be a wonderful way to bring balance and sustainability in her life by taking time to breathe and connect body and mind. Her classes are invigorating, lighthearted. She encourages others to practice tapping into their own strength and wisdom.
Having been a loyal member of the Monkey Yoga community for several years, Wendy completed her 200 hour certification with Laura Camp. In addition, she completed Niroga's Teaching Yoga to Youth Training in Berkeley. Wendy has a love for teaching and building community. Aside from joyously teaching yoga, she teaches high school Spanish and facilitates youth leadership programs. For more information visit 
Beth Houghton is the founder of 
Ray Joichi came into yoga to prevent and heal injuries from many years of triathlon and ultra-running. He fell in love with the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of yoga after his first class with Laura Camp. He brings years of physical training and racing, traveling and living throughout the world, and love of teaching into his practice. He has been practicing yoga intensely for the past two years and just recently finished a 200 hour yoga teacher training under Laura Camp.
Ray has a playful and supportive teaching style that helps students to explore the boundaries of the mind and body as they celebrate the authentic joy and beauty within themselves: their atman. He encourages students to hit the pause button of the mind to luxuriously discover lightness in their practice while connecting to the inner child.
He feels having fun on the mat is essential to a long lasting and strong practice.
His teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that practicing yoga is equivalent to practicing self-love and respect, and that it expands our sense of unity and compassion. Ray Joichi offers flowing and energetic yinyasa classes that challenge students of all levels, and build their capacity to meet their strength and flexibility objectives through dynamic movement and breath. He enjoys exploring new music in his classes including yogic chants and a creative mix of tunes, and brings students into a deep and serene sivasana with his harmonium. 
Avram Pearlman's first class was an attempt to balance the long
hours of study at Humboldt State University with the physical and
mental offerings of a healthy yoga practice. Ten years and a degree
later, Avram is still trying to balance Engineering work with Yoga,
handstands, biking around the East Bay and getting outside as much as
possible. A big fan of all things monkey, Laura and the Isometric
style have been a major influence and Avram is excited to give back to
the community that has offered support over the years and constantly
challenged him to find his edge.
Tim Thompson (Founder, Director)
first learned anatomy drawing comic book super heroes and intense althetics as a wrestler in high school. He began his teaching career at Sheffield Pre-school and at Step One, a natural progression for the sixth of seven siblings who has ten nieces and nephews. Years of West African dance, Contact Improvisation, Capoeira and ballet brought him to UC Berkeley as a dance major. While on staff at Piedmont Springs as a deep tissue massage therapist, he began his apprenticeship with Rodney Yee. A three-year graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio’s Teacher Training Program, Tim taught Iyengar yoga at PYS, the Courthouse Athletic Club, Temescal Arts Center, Thunder Road, and at various public schools. Studying with Sarah Powers ignited his love of Ashtanga yoga and he eventually developed Isometric Monkey Yoga and the Primate and Simian Series. Influenced by Bucky Fuller and Islamic art, some of his bamboo creations populate the Shala. Tim was voted as the Best Yoga Instructor 2008 in the East Bay Express Reader's Poll. Feel free to call in or email any questions about yoga or related monkey business. Phone number: 510.595.1330 or email