Andrew likes to wear many hats when he teaches yoga. As a certified personal trainer, health coach, functional fitness specialist, senior fitness specialist, and certified yoga instructor, Andrew strives to welcome the beginner, motivate the advanced, and encourage all to grow through the mindful movement we call yoga. Andrew invites practitioners to approach yoga with a “beginner’s mind” where traditional yoga shapes and poses are tempered with evidence-based movements that help us use our bodies better in our everyday lives. Andrew earned a PhD in Health Communication from the University of New Mexico and operates a coaching and consulting business where he specializes in personal behavior change and organizational program development for healthier communities. Andrew also holds a certificate in Yoga for Seniors from Duke University’s Integrative Medicine program. Andrew believes yoga builds strong bodies, minds, & souls and sees movement to maintain health and physical ability as a spiritual and meaningful practice. Andrew is currently enrolled in the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program hosted by the internationally acclaimed meditation teachers and best-selling authors Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
A yoga practitioner since 1999, Allisun has been teaching Yoga and leading Yoga retreats in the US and beyond since 2006, and opened Orange Yoga in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque in 2011. Allisun is deeply inspired by nature, music, and everyday glimpses of magic. Allisun’s practice is a flowing, dynamic, spiritual and devotional expression of mind, body, and breath; tapping into the creativity, fluidity, sensuality, and movement within every living being. Allisun believes we are ONE with each other, with this earth, the stars above, past and future… united by passion, spirit, and love.
Allisun believes in Yoga as a means of connection to divine intelligence, connection to the beyond.
Allisun believes in meaningful, sustainable mind, body, and emotional health through intentional practice, how we move through the world on AND off the mat.
As an International Board of Hypnotherapy certified Hypnotherapist and a graduate of Hypnotherapy Academy of America, Allisun practices Integral Hypnotherapy, empowering clients to achieve goals large and small through collaborative healing. Allisun strongly believes in the power of harnessing and embodying one's highest self through hypnosis.
I have been teaching yoga for over 15 years. I have been trained in Iyengar, Kundalini, Pre-Natal, Restorative, Bikram, and Hot Yoga practices. Currently I teach and practice at the Hot Yoga Downtown Albuquerque Yoga studio. I am thrilled to be part of such a caring and inspirational yoga community. I began my yoga practice in my teens and was trained and instructing classes by the late 90’s. I have worked in various studios and health clubs during this time. On Halloween 2001 I was in a near-fatal car accident. I was left with a broken body and was in a coma for 9 days. I strongly believe that yoga helped to save my life. In the dark coma, the process of coming back, and the slow months of recovery to follow the teachings and physical training of yoga would help to aid me again and again in the healing process.
Flexibility and strength that the body and mind gain through the yoga practice is immense. The practice is designed to be individual so there are modifications for almost every level of practitioner. Beyond healing from the accident, I practiced the hot yoga series throughout my pregnancy with my son and believe it was a contributing factor to a healthy pregnancy and ideal labor and birth experience. The practice of yoga is traditionally a therapeutic one. Taught from a long line of Guru’s and choreographed into the best format to help us, Yoga has been designed to heal our bodies, help us quiet the mind, strengthen the connection between the two via the breath and in turn become stronger (more conscious) beings. I seek to share the teachings and methods of Yoga I have been trained in and personally practice with others so that they too can enjoy the tremendous benefits that Yoga can provide. See you on the mat!
Art has been practicing yoga for four years and teaching for two. He discovered yoga late in life as a means to rehab old injuries and add to his training regimen…what he found was a way of life and a practice touching all facets of his existence. He is a ninth grade English teacher and wrestling coach at West Mesa High School and incorporates yoga philosophy and the eight limbs into his teaching and coaching style to provide access to all his young students and athletes. He is grateful and humbled by being accepted into the incredible HYDT community. He looks forward to guiding you as well as practicing alongside you:)
Bruce, E-RYT, began teaching yoga in 2003 after being certified in Bikram Choudhury’s intensive nine-week training in Los Angeles. He taught the Bikram method and continued to work as a landscape architect before opening Hot Yoga Downtown with Molly Krause in 2006. Bruce later completed Jimmy Barkan’s Level II and Level III teacher trainings in Fort Lauderdale and Costa Rica and has assisted Jimmy with his Costa Rica trainings for several years.Bruce, known as a nurturing and compassionate teacher with a playful style, has overcome physical obstacles in his personal practice and offers empathy and experience to those students with injuries. As such, he has introduced a new class at HYDT — Gentle Warm Yoga.
Bruce is now certified as a therapeutic yoga instructor for seniors, through the Duke University Integrative Medicine program in North Carolina. Taught by Duke medical school physicians, physical therapists and psychologists, he learned the latest research and techniques for teaching yoga to people facing various ailments, from heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, joint issues and replacements, breathing disorders, dementia, cancer and pain.
Bruce knows that walking into a new yoga class isn’t always easy. If it’s your first time, he will spot you and go out of his way to make you feel comfortable. If you are a seasoned yogi, the beauty is in the details. Bruce teaches the subtleties and will take your practice to a new level, places you never thought you could get to before. Experiencing the tremendous healing power of yoga in his own body and spirit, it is with great joy that he shares the process with others. Bruce and his wife Anne have two daughters, and live in Cedar Crest with their cat, dogs, chickens and horse, Biscochito.
Caleb Martinez is from Albuquerque, NM. He believes that Yoga is medicine for your mind, body, and spirit, and believes that Yoga students should practice daily. He began practicing Yoga because of the union of the mind and thoughts. Caleb trained at Nirguna Yoga in northeast Albuquerque, NM, and learned from his teachers Kendra and Ben. He draws from “years of study and experience in many authentic systems of Yoga”. Caleb’s class is all-inclusive, fun and for all levels. He incorporates modified and challenging poses. He loves HYDT. Caleb is truly humbled to be a Yoga teacher.
Dani is our very own homegrown HYDT yogi and studio manager. She began her yoga practice here in 2009 and earned her 200 RYT at our first hot yoga teacher training in 2014.Her passion for the practice ignites her dedication to a lifetime of learning, living, and practicing the limbs of yoga. When Dani is not teaching at the studio, she is working with private clients, walking her dogs, or reading something new about yoga. Dani looks to her teachers for inspiration and guidance as she continually studies philosophy and physical dynamics of a yoga practice. She studied locally under Molly Krause, Pradeep Teotia, Kendra Rickert, and Ben Kramer, and online with Anna Forest, Seane Corn and the one and only Dharma Mitra.
Dani believes the path to an advanced practice is a deeper connection to your breath. Her classes embody the gifts of the yoga sutras where “yoga makes the impossible possible.” Her expertise, humor, and love for the yoga community inspires you to push through limits and find peace in challenges. She loves to make a personal connection with everyone in her classes.
I tried yoga for the first time when I was 16 and ever since then I’ve been practicing routinely, then I finally decided to get my RYT-200 certification in Vinyasa in 2021! I love anatomy and the sophistication of our body systems. I strongly believe that the mind and body need to work together, both physically and spiritually, in order to maintain balance in our lives. I love new challenges and my classes will reflect that! My main hobbies are being outdoors, playing drums, and spending time with my 3 dogs.
As an avid dancer from age 2, I found yoga for the first time at my gym at the University of Rhode Island in 2011. Soon after I began a regular hot yoga practice while continuing to teach dance throughout college. I completed my 200 hour teacher training with Hot Yoga Downtown in 2018. The teacher training changed my life and I seek to incorporate yoga philosophy into all of my classes as well as knowledge from my outside interests as a pharmacist and nutrition/wellness coach. My goal is to inspire students to reach their greatest potential while maintaining a sustainable practice and to find an ease in their practice
Hazel is a Native yogi from the Burque. She’s been practicing yoga for many lifetimes and still needs more practice. Hazel loves teaching yoga, but loves making new friends more. She completed her yogic studies in Rishikesh, India, and is stoked to be able to share the practice in her hometown. She hopes the practice benefits all beings locally and globally.
James has completed teacher trainings with Bikram Choudhury and Bryan Kest, having extensive experience not only in the Bishnu Ghosh, and the Power Yoga lineages, but also many other forms from traditional Ashtanga to playful vinyasa flow. He brings years of enthusiasm and energy to the practice room. Challenging, fun and no judgement - classes structured to allow us to explore and grow.
Jeff RYT-500 has been teaching yoga in Albuquerque since 2018 and has been practicing at Hot Yoga Downtown for many years. The physical healing aspects of yoga were significant when he found the practice in 2010.After years of immobility and weakness, Yoga Asana provided an opportunity for freedom in his body. The wonderful progression of yoga is from the obvious to the subtle. Obvious aspects of strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness will be provided in his classes with the goal of facilitating a joyful experience that enhances physical healing. The subtle aspects that yoga has on the body and balance promote a person’s wellbeing and longevity. Jeff has found that the calming effects of yoga are vital to anyone in stressful life situations and are powerful for healing the nervous system. Yoga cultivates stillness.
Jenni began her yoga practice in 2011, earning her RYT 200 certification in 2014. With a background in both classical and modern dance, she is always on the lookout for new hobbies and activities that challenge her physically. Having tried every sport from snowboarding to weight lifting, Jenni finally found a discipline that incorporated the flow, movement, creativity, and expressiveness that inspired her as a dancer when she discovered vinyasa yoga. “What I didn’t realize,” Jenni recalls, “was that I was beginning a journey of self-study that would permeate my daily life by way of mindfulness, gratitude, stillness, peace, and love. The flow, breath, and structural alignment enable you to come closer to your personal edge each time you return to the mat.”
She continues to hone her skills and expand her yogic knowledge by engaging in multiple classes in different disciplines and under diverse tutelage, as well as maintaining an open mind and striving always to broaden her knowledge and experiences both in and out of the yoga studio. Jenni’s intention as an instructor is to create a space for her students to get in touch with their creativity and passion; “from this place,” she says, “all things are possible.”
Yoga allows me to learn, grow, and cultivate a relationship with my body. My practice is constantly evolving and yoga gives me the opportunity to explore. I want to make sure my classes give you a sense of agency and freedom.
I try to incorporate elements of pilates, dance, and martial arts into my classes. I ride bikes and I keep cyclists and runners in mind when stretching and strengthening muscles. I have fallen in love with yoga and this studio. I am so happy to be a part of this beautiful community as a teacher.
Kristina is an artist, entrepreneur, community organizer, teacher, wife, pet caretaker, facilitator, cook,dreamer, rest advocate, and a master of ceremonies.She has taught yoga since 2010.
Known for weaving beauty, love, and prayer that invigorates each student. She believes the body is a Sacred Home for the Soul to experience life. Each class with Kristina empowers the body, calms the mind, opens the heart and emphasizes rest. Kristina’s life is dedicated to the study of yoga, specializing in Hatha Flow, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Meditation, and Breathwork.
Kristina utilizes her many hours of yoga training and ceremonial path to bring a real-world mix of eastern spirituality with the modern body gently encouraging students to remember, offer reverence, and prioritize nourishment. In addition to community yoga classes, Kristina is available for personalized private sessions. She will be completing her Reiki Initiation and Breathwork Healer Training this year! Her mother named her Kristina, but her teacher blessed her with the name Cihuamazatl Tepeyolotli, which translates to “deer woman who lives in the heart of the mountain” This name reminds her of her beloved connection to the mountains and invites her to be as deeply devoted, loving, and generous as possible.
Laura has been practicing yoga since 2011. She started teaching in 2018 while living in Buenos Aires where she completed a two-year intensive yoga teacher certification program. She has taught in studios around Argentina, Mexico and Albuquerque. She mainly practices Mysore-Ashtanga, Iyengar and Yin but finds inspiration for her classes from many different healing modalities and her background in dance and gymnastics. She is currently teaching a wide variety of classes in Albuquerque from Ashtanga and Power-vinyasa classes, to geriatric chair yoga. She is pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
Lori is an RYT 500 hour certified yoga instructor registered with Yoga Alliance. She has completed two 200 hour teacher trainings and a 300 hour certification. Lori is an alignment-based teacher and teaches many styles of yoga including hatha, flow, Vinyasa, chair, trauma informed, prison yoga, Yin and restorative. She enjoys teaching a wide range of students from beginners to advanced practitioners, and works closely with seniors and those with special needs. She began teaching in 2008 and has been practicing for 20 years!
Lori’s love of yoga and passion for teaching inspired her to become a yoga teacher trainer. She has been leading 200 hour teacher trainings since 2018. Lori believes that remaining a student is essential to teaching. She remains devoted to learning and creating new pathways for teachers with all levels of experience. She teaches with a compassionate heart sprinkled with humor. She holds space for her students to journey deeper into mind, body and spirit.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, Molly began her career in 2001 at UNMH performing nuclear studies on cancer patients and others in various disease processes. It was there that she decided she belonged on the prevention side of things, and attended Bikram Choudhury’s 9 week training in 2003. Since then she has trained with Jimmy Barkan and Gurmukh Khalsa, broadening her knowledge of modern asana technique and philosophy.
Molly and and her business partner, Bruce Sher, founded Hot Yoga Downtown in 2006 in the spirit of fully embracing the variance in Hot Yoga in the west. The studio is home to several teachers and thousands of students who are currently exploring the practice in all it’s nuanced beauty. A driven teacher and constant student of yoga, Molly invites her students to take their practice to the next level with open hearts and inquisitive minds. When not on the mat or chasing after her little girls, she can usually be found elbow deep in some kind of dough.
Ravenna’s parents first introduced her to Yoga when she was a toddler. Since then, she has studied with many amazing Yogis including Reegan Lessie, Patricia Moreno, Brenda Mitchell, Kendra Rickert, Amber Young, Shane Perkins, Sarasvati Young and Daya Nam. Ravenna attended the Yandara Yoga Institute and has been teaching Yoga since 2013. Deep gratitude to the teacher of teachers- Sri Dharma Mittra. Om Ami Dewa Hrih.
In 2011 I began my yoga practice. As a lifelong competitive athlete, I was searching for a challenging physical activity with a strong sense of community and I found myself at HYDT.
In 2015 I completed my 200 hr RYT at HYDT and have been instructing as well as practicing there ever since. Out of all the activities I do, I have come to love how yoga encompasses the foundational pillars of fitness including strength, mobility, and flexibility. I believe yoga has the power to make you a more balanced athlete on and off the mat. Being a Physician Assistant has given me a broad knowledge of the human body and anatomy which I assimilate in the classes I structure so they are safe and accessible for everyone! Can’t wait to see you on the mat!
Like so many other yogis, I began practicing bikram’s yoga for the physical workout and the therapeutic efficacy. Soon, however, the focus of my practice evolved and centered in the mind and the spirit. In the summer of 2010 I attended teacher training in Florida, studying the Barkan Method under Jimmy Barkan. My motivation was two-fold, 1) to acquire greater knowledge of the history, philosophy, and the practice of asana, and 2) to return a small portion of the gift that has so freely been given to me in my practice. Yoga has become the perfect meditative vehicle to expand and improve my relationship and conscious contact with a power greater than myself. I strive to create an environment in my classes where the individual has an opportunity to push limits, explore personal boundaries, and grow within the safety of the community energy.