Classes

Soundbath

Originally from New Jersey, Carlos followed his heart to California, where he eventually set up base in Long Beach. Starting a whole new life, he decided to hone in on his gift of creativity, musicianship and spirituality. In his journey, he deepened his practice of mindfulness, qigong, and yoga. After time it only made sense that he was drawn to take an extensive course in sound meditation. With an intuitive ear, Carlos creates an eclectic sound that evokes emotion and emulates the healing sounds of nature, creating a space that feels calming and welcome.

Vinyasa (V5) | Yin

Meet Matthew Purpura, a dedicated Yoga practitioner and musician. Introduced to Yoga in 2011, he embraced practices like Kirtan, Nada Yoga, Yoga Asana, and Mantra with his teacher Prema Karina Arenas Bonansea. He completed a 200hr Yoga teacher training program in 2018 and pursued a 300hr program in Rishikesh, India, in 2023. Matthew enriches his practice by attending workshops and retreats worldwide and is passionate about sharing Yoga, Meditation, and Ayurveda within his community. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, taking photos, plant-based cooking, and of course, practicing yoga.

Vinyasa (V5) | Candle-lit Yoga

Nicole started practicing yoga while she was in law school and immediately fell in love with it. Finding a workout that simultaneously exercised her body as well as her mind was a game changer. She continued to develop her personal practice until 2016 when she decided to deepen her yoga journey by becoming a certified instructor in hopes of sharing the benefits yoga brings with a wider audience. The most important thing that yoga has taught her is to always be a student. Her classes offer beginners and seasoned yogis alike the space for self-discovery and encouragement to grow both physically and spiritually. Feel free to ask questions, provide feedback or just simply strike up a conversation anytime- Nicole is always eager to meet new yogis in the community and build a connection with her students.

Vinyasa (V3) | Yoga Sculpt

Jona believes in the uninhibited properties of spiritual inquiry and artistic expression that ease tension toward liberation.

Incorporating passions for human rights, environmentalism, art, fitness, sobriety, mindfulness and mental health they hope to help practitioners identify applicable holistic health practices in & beyond conventionality. Since 2012, they hold accreditation in and continue to study hatha yoga, hot yoga, trauma-informed yoga, group fitness, personal training, Usui reiki healing, crisis intervention and linguistics.

Acro Yoga

Jeff has been practicing Acro Yoga since 2014 when he was bored at home and saw a video of the sport. Since then he has been part of the Colorado and LA/OC Acro Yoga communities. Jeff's favorite part of acro yoga is doing a handstand on someone's hands when he is in the handstand. Apart from Acro Yoga Jeff likes vinyasa and yin yoga to help him recover from surfing, climbing or the current running race he is training for. When Jeff is not having fun he works as a residential engineer doing plan sets.

Acro Yoga

Rachel has also been practicing acrobatics since 2014, usually with Jeff. She is part of the leadership team that runs the Colorado Acro Festival. Rachel did gymnastics in highschool and her favorite part of AcroYoga is when she can flip. For regular yoga Rachel likes slow vinyasa, yin yoga and Reika's Tuesday myofascial release class. Rachel also likes to Rock Climb, Surf, KiteBoard and foster dogs. She went back to school to change careers and is currently a student.

Meryll is a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner through Southern California University of Health Science & a 500- RYT Certified Yoga Teacher through Vinyasa Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh, India. Meryll serves her community through her offerings of 1:1 Ayurveda Diet & Lifestyle Coaching, plant-based cooking classes, and Ayurveda workshops for health and rejuvenation.

Vinyasa

I love sharing the practice of yoga, to be in community with others while exploring our relationship with our body and mind. My goal is to create an open space for engagement of our physical and energetic selves, and with one another. The more we can connect and serve within, the more we can do so with others. Slow, controlled movement with a sprinkle of upbeat music to a light flow is what you can expect from my teaching, which I've lovingly done since 2019.

Vinyasa (V3)

KC is excited to join Long Beach Rising as a yoga instructor teaching Vinyasa (V3) on Friday mornings! A young teacher (200 RYT) and life-long learner, KC brings curiosity and creativity to her classes, coupled with dynamic asana sequences. KC initially found yoga as a teenager to supplement her dance training, and soon discovered that yoga was a powerful outlet for her to express her authentic self. She hopes her students leave class feeling restored and uplifted. She holds a BS in Kinesiology from the College of William & Mary and a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley. An east coast transplant from Virginia, KC lives in Long Beach with her husband and their dog Rudy. If she's not at LBR climbing or taking a yoga class, you can find her on her laptop as a public health data analyst, playing beach volleyball, gardening, or exploring California's wild places.

Vinyasa (V3)

My journey into the world of Yoga began during a significant life transition when my nervous system was grappling with fatigue and dysregulation. Guided by the transformative power of Yoga, breathwork and meditation practices, I found a way to nurture and restore my nervous system. This profound experience ignited a profound passion for self-exploration through asana practice and Yoga philosophy, which opened my eyes to a whole new world. Yoga has been so life altering for me that I felt compelled to get my 200 Yoga Teacher Certification in 2021. Since then, my teaching ventures have extended beyond traditional settings, reaching into Corporate Business settings and Juvenile centers. My mission is clear, I aspire to share the therapeutic benefits of Yoga technology. My purpose is driven by my desire to support people in their own journey to repair, restore, and care for their nervous system through Yoga.

Vinyasa (V3) | MFR & Yoga

Reika was born in Nepal and grew up in Japan and the USA, giving her a multicultural upbringing. She has traveled extensively and gained diverse life experiences from living in various countries. Reika holds a master's degree in Sociology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she discovered her passion for yoga. Driven by her love for yoga and a thirst for knowledge, Reika completed her 200 and 300-hour yoga teacher training with Yogaworks in Larchmont. Later, she found the SmartFLOW method developed by Annie Carpenter, prompting her to pursue a second 300-hour certification under Annie's guidance and earning the title of SmartFLOW-certified teacher. Reika is dedicated to promoting inclusivity as a Trauma-Informed and Accessible Yoga Ambassador, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds and abilities. In her classes, she encourages students to stay present on the mat, fostering self-inquiry and exploring the connections between alignment, breath, and the mind-body-spirit relationship for a conscious yoga experience.

Valerie has been dancing to the energetic beats of hip hop and street dances for over 20 years. Her journey has taken her across the globe, from NYC to Tokyo, where she’s not only performed but also shared her love for dance as an educator and arts ambassador. Having performed with companies like Antics and Epic Motion Dance Company, Valerie brings a wealth of knowledge and an infectious enthusiasm to her classes.

Valerie is now the founder of "Drop Everything And Dance," a project aimed to inspire unbridled self-expression through dance improv, regardless of their experience level and skill. Through this initiative, she aims to foster a community where everyone can explore self-expression and the joy of movement in a supportive and uplifting environment. Whether you're stepping into a studio for the first time or looking to try something new, Valerie creates a space where you can learn to express yourself through dance, find your rhythm, and enjoy every step of your dance journey!

Faith is a yoga teacher whose mission is to care for her community through gentle flow classes, often in nature, holding space for students to go inward and emerge nourished and embodied. She still remembers how good she felt at the end of her first yoga class in 2016 – empowered in body, mind and spirit. She has been practicing yoga ever since. In 2023, Faith decided to take the next step in her yoga journey to become a certified teacher at a training in Santa Barbara. Though temporarily relocating was challenging, it provided an opportunity to practice yoga’s ultimate lesson – to release externalities and still the fluctuations of the mind. In her classes, Faith aims to offer plenty of options and guidance for students to adapt to their own optimal flow. She is passionate about creating accessible yoga spaces and welcomes any student feedback. Faith teaches mostly gentle vinyasa classes, with a special flow + restore offering.