Trainers

Michael Baez, Master Trainer, E-RYT 500
(800 hour in Dharma Yoga)

Michael first discovered yoga 13 years ago when he moved to L.A. from N.Y. A good friend of his named Onahoua Rodriguez, took him to a ‘living room’ yoga class and 10 minutes into the class he was hooked!

Previously, Michael had achieved his 2nd degree Black Belt under the instruction & mentorship of Jerry “Fast Feet” Fontanez. For 10 years, Michael taught at all 5 of the Fontanez Karate schools all throughout New York. Michael soon noticed the similarities between yoga & the martial arts were incredible; from the breathing, balance, flexibility, meditation, focus and concentration, everything but the ego!

In 2009, Michael became a certified yoga teacher through Bamboomoves, by its founder Andrew Tanner. In fact, Michael’s graduation ceremony was held at the grand opening of his own Bamboomoves yoga studio. It was one of the very first yoga studios in the Bronx. In 2011, Michael created his own certification program, Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training – with now close to 150 participants from all over the world!

Michael’s classes & trainings include the philosophies & teachings of yoga with the discipline and power of the martial arts as well as a ton of personal development! He’s studied with Tony Robbins for over 20 years and has completed Tony’s Business Mastery and Mastery University (includes Date with Destiny, Life Mastery & Wealth Mastery) programs twice!

Michael graduated from the 300 & 800 hour Life of a Yogi teacher training taught by legendary yoga master & Guru, Sri Dharma Mittra.

Michael is now an E-RYT 500 and 800 hour certified by Sri Dharma Mittra. 

Michael has taught at: Lululemon in West Holywood & in Beverly Hills, the Kabbalah Center in Beverly Hills, International Fitness in Northridge. In 2016, he was a featured teacher at the Yoga Expo & the Fit Expo at the LA Convention Center & the Anaheim Convention Center. He’s currently teaching at: Crunch Fitness in Northridge, Crunch Fitness in Simi Valley, at Interval Fitness in Tarzana and at The Studio in Encino.

Very soon the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Trainings will begin to offer international, destination yoga teacher trainings & yoga retreats in India, Nepal, Italy, Cuba, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bali & Costa Rica. And certifications in Restorative yoga, Reiki, Sacred Stones, Thai massage and more!

Breanna Blair

Breanna Blair is a certified 500 hour trainer with the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training. She has personally guided over one hundred  trainees from their very 1st day of teacher training to their graduation ceremony!

She is a certified Sound Healer who has leads sounds baths for A-list celebrities, music festivals, and local studios in Los Angeles & New York.

She became interested in Past Life  Regression almost 5 years ago and has been passionate in helping people discover their past lives as a Quantum Healing Hypnosis Practitioner. 

Jonisha Rios, Trainer, 500 RYT

Jonisha Rios is not only the Co-Founder of the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training, a 500 hour certified yoga teacher, a published author, she is also a gifted medium and channeler.

She had been highly intuitive since she was a little girl. She is able to share messages from loved ones who have crossed over to the other side, helping her clients with their emotional healing process.

And as a result of her intuitive gifts and a big believer & practicer of Feng Shui, Jonisha helps people clear the clutter in their homes; whether it be physical or spiritual.

Book a session with Jonisha at: www.JonishaTheMedium.com

Brittany Blair, Trainer, RYT 500

Brittany is a yoga teacher certified at the 500 hour level by Awakened  Warrior Yoga Teacher Training. She is also one of our lead trainers. 

She is an internationally certified personal trainer and is well-educated in nutrition & wellness. She loves making people feel strong and confident in their bodies.

She is also educated in several healing modalities such as: sound healing, crystal healing and essential oils. Overall, she works in healing the mind, body and spirit.

Joe Love, RYT 500

Formerly a competitive UCLA gymnast, Joe Love brings 18 years experience as an athlete as well as a natural creativity to his yoga. Having worked through various difficulties and injuries in gymnastics, he believes that when it comes to our practice balance is key. By listening to our bodies, knowing when to strengthen and when to soften, and practicing consistently and eating healthy, we maintain a healthy body-mind and ultimately become what we practice.
Joe has studied with a diverse and distinguished mix of teachers the world over including teacher trainings with Saul David Raye, John Friend, and an Advanced 500 Hour with Sri Dharma Mittra. In 2009, he also spent a month in Mysore, India Studying Classical Ashtanga at K. Pattabhi Jois Yoga Institute. A native of Oklahoma with mixed Vietnamese ancestry, Joe brings a fun-spirited, soulful, invigorating flow as well as a keen knowledge of alignment principles to all of his classes. He teaches and leads Vinyasa Flow classes and workshops nationally and abroad, and is also a Ba Qua Tai Chi/Qi Gong Instructor, Traditional Thai Yoga Therapy Massage Practitioner & CMT.

Yoshio Hama, 1,000 hour

Yoshio Hama started practicing yoga in Caracas, Venezuela in 1999. Between 1999 and 2008 he had the opportunity to study Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and Iyengar Yoga under the guidance of different yoga instructors. In 2008, he came to

New York with the intention of practicing and studying all styles of yoga.

The first studio he visited was the Dharma Yoga New York Center, and his first class was with Sri Dharma Mittra. This day he started his new life. He found his Guru, found his yoga, and found a new spiritual family. He has never taken class in another yoga studio in New York to date.

He is a 1,000-Hour Dharma Yoga Certified Teacher. For him, to teach Dharma Yoga means to transmit Sri Dharma’s message of compassion, collective mind and love for God. He is honored to be able to share this gift with the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Trainees.

Nicole Sidman, Trainer Nicole Sidman, Trainer, RYT 500

Since 2011, Nicole Sidman has taught over 1,200 hours and approximately 2,500 people from all walks of life. Recently Nicole completed the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training advanced 300 hour ‘Leadership’ certification and is now a certified 500 hour yoga teacher and an Awakened Warrior teacher trainer, recognized by Yoga Alliance. Nicole is certified in Prenatal yoga and has completed the Awakened Warrior Yoga Restorative yoga Training.

She is E-RYT 200 Certified through Yoga Alliance and a graduate of a teacher training offered at Michael’s studio in the Bronx. Nicole currently teaches at Anahata Yoga Studio, Maritime College, and a community center, as well as teaching private, prenatal, and group classes throughout New York. Nicole has been teaching Ayurveda workshops for the past three years privately and in yoga studios and for the past two years as part of the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training.
Inspired by Michael, Nicole has been running a “21 Days to Wellness” program over the last year that she created, incorporating Ayurveda, Yoga, and Meditation for a full 21 Days of mind, body, and spirit detoxification and balance. In addition to her certification as a yoga instructor, Nicole is a certified crystal healer, has been trained as an Oneness Blessing Giver, and intertwines spirituality with the physical practice of yoga in every class.

Denise Rivera, Trainer, 500 RYT in process

Denise Rivera combines her enthusiasm and love of yoga to make classes that are fun with easy-to-follow instruction that encourages students of all levels to work deeply while honoring and working within their capability. Denise began teaching Yoga after 15 years in the video production and photography industries in order to make a positive change in her life and share that with others.

Denise is a 200-ERYT certified instructor. She received her 200hr training with the Bamboomoves Yoga Teacher Training, at Michael’s yoga studio in the Bronx, as well as Prenatal Yoga training with Samba Yoga and Kids Yoga training with Karma Kids. Denise is a also a practicing Reiki Master, Crystal Healer, Oneness Blessing Giver and a NYS wedding officiant through the Universal Life Church. She has been part of the Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Trainings for 6 years now and is in the process of getting her 500 hour certification.

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