Hapa Yoga

TK (Tina Knight) is the owner and founder of Hapa Yoga studios. She is passionate about educating and uplifting people through yoga and fitness. Tina is certified in Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Joga, Pre/Postnatal Yoga & Fitness, PiYo, TRX, Barre, and is a Reiki Master. She loves teaching and her students, but most importantly enjoys hearing about how Hapa is changing peoples' lives!

Dawn has been practicing yoga since 2006 and from the first day she stepped on the mat, she fell in love with the mind, body, and spirit connection. Working in the high stress corporate career, the yoga room provided her the ability to disconnect from the outside world allowing her to turn inward and practicing self-study (svadhyaya) by removing all distractions.

As her practice progressed, she started realizing and witnessing the many benefits yoga brings and wanted to share her passion with others and became a yoga instructor. She is RYT500 certified and holds additional certifications in Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Yoga for Lower Back Pain. She is currently a member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists) and studying to become a Yoga Therapist while balancing her corporate career, teaching, and studies.

In her classes, she creates a non-judgmental environment while encouraging students to disconnect from the outside world practicing self-love and self-care while always reminding students to find balance both on and off the mat. You will often find in her classes she will weave in inspirational quotes and poems and uses aromatherapy (i.e. diffusers & sprays).

Amber has spent the entirety of her blessed existence in and around fitness and dance. From her eclectic background including everything from musical theater, to a successful soccer career through college, Amber has learned that movement and mindfulness are key to a happy and healthy life. Her classes are little bits of humor, little bits of science-nerd talk, and (typically) a lot of sweat. It is her belief that by lifting each other up, we can all find our highest self, so be ready to lean into your Hapa Fam and a laugh as you embark on a journey into self at the barre or on your mat.

Amber credits her more that 20 year personal yoga practice, along with many loving mentorships, for leading her through some of life’s deepest valleys and to her present place of peace and joy!

Alyssa is a Latina new yorker with a passion for mental health, holistic healing and exploring the depths of spirituality. She is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, reiki healer and occupational therapist.

 

Her yoga journey began back in 2015, as a tool for recovering and improving mental health. Yoga became a doorway to cultivating self-awareness, self-compassion, and managing stress. She is a mental health warrior and advocate who is fiercely dedicated to aiding others in their inner healing journey. When she's not teaching yoga or taking a class, she is working as an occupational therapist to help people recover physically and cognitively from injury and illness at Palomar Health Rehab Institute.

 

With an emphasis on mental health and a strong background in anatomy, Alyssa will guide you through a safe practice to let go of your stress, invite your breath, and tap into your intuition.

 

Her mission is to provide love, healing, and a safe space for all beings to explore their mind, body and spirituality.

Erica fell in love with hot yoga when she was in college. Yoga instantly became a way of life that allowed for Erica to find ways to connect the mind & body - with an intense focus on mental and physical strength. Her passion for yoga and learning varying styles has only deepened over the course of her choosing yoga as a lifestyle and career. Her dedication to her students and providing the most intentional of yoga experiences sets her apart from other instructors. Mittendorf admits that she still gets a little nervous before each class because of the amount that she cares - always wanting to make sure her students receive the best. She also specializes in prenatal yoga. While yoga is Erica's thing - so is fitness and getting stronger. She is about creating realistic and individualized fitness programs that work for your body and goals!

Marissa received a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University in 2017. For the past 6 years, Marissa has worked with children and their families in a variety of settings including: before & after school programs, gymnastics, early childhood development centers, as a nanny, and in-home as a home visitor promoting the healthy development of children prenatally to 3 years old through parent education, resources, and supporting mommy and family well-being.

Marissa is certified in Teaching Meditation and Mindfulness to Children and hopes to create a fun and safe environment with developmentally enriching games and activities for the children in the Kid’s yoga programs at Hapa to support their social-emotional wellness.

Hiker and healer, minimalist and plant eater, Kelli Corder is a native San Diegan with a fierce love of nature and sustainability. Kelli found her love of yoga through Ashtanga, practicing in the early hours before work and school. After graduating from Cal State San Marcos with a Bachelor’s in Communication, she downsized her life, sold all her belongings, and hit the road. Traveling in a trailer with a consistent yoga practice seemed daunting to her and her husband, but instead proved to be life-changing therapy. Kelli heard the call to be a yoga teacher shortly after returning home to San Diego, and graduated from Hapa Yoga’s Spring 2017 teacher training with certification in Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga. As a Type 1 Diabetic, Kelli has found yoga to be crucial in her disease management and control through the practice of awareness. She strives to bring this awareness, a smile, and a few juice boxes to the mat.

Pilates was the catalyst that changed my life on the eve of my thirtieth birthday. Watching an infomercial, I saw Mari Windsor speaking and teaching a student Mat Pilates. I was absolutely fascinated by the beautiful, fluid, control, and length of the body-- and I wanted it! I had been doing everything- kickboxing, cardio classes, weights, spin and I just never felt good in my own skin. I ordered the VCR tapes (remember those!!) and started practicing. Then I tried Yoga, and finally Barre. Almost twenty years later, I’ve been blessed to make Pilates, Yoga, and Barre my career. The changes and things I have watched people experience in their bodies and headspace is one of the most rewarding things in my life. I truly believe anyone can (and should) do Pilates, Yoga, and Barre_ My mission is to get anyone I can to just try. Whether your goal is no back pain, relieving stress and increasing flexibility, improving your golf swing, not throwing your back out carrying groceries, reversing a hunched spine, experiencing a grace you never saw in yourself, or a flat belly, leaner legs and a tight butt, we can do this.

Sarah Dobosiewicz is a creative, energetic,
and compassionate individual who engages in her personal yoga practice to support a happy and healthy lifestyle. Off the mat you will find her soaking in all of nature's abundance through hiking, paddle boarding, gardening, traveling, etc. Sarah has completed
multiple Yoga Alliance certified trainings including vinyasa, prenatal and kids yoga. Additionally, she works as a pediatric occupational therapist in a hospital. Sarah enjoys blending the synergies between occupational therapy and traditional yoga to create
self-empowering therapeutic yoga practices. Her goal is to empower children and students of all ages and abilities to let their inner light shine by providing yoga in a creative, educational and safe way to promote and support health, happiness, peace and love.

I love everything: running, rock climbing, working out, volunteering, and yoga is my core.

Yoga as taught me to stand with more confidence, to drop my shoulders, and to take mindful breaths. It also has given me the energy and awareness to balance work and home life. Just turning off the phone for an hour can be a spiritual experience!

Whatever your age, experience or physical ability, I hope I can guide my students in discovering how yoga can benefit them.

Since I can remember I’ve played soccer, I even met my husband playing coed soccer here in San Diego so it was devastating to me when I was told I couldn’t play any more due to the extensive cartilage loss in both my knees. I was experiencing daily pain with normal activity and knew I needed to find something.
It was after my second child was born (my daughter) that I took my first mommy and me class at Hapa Yoga and started getting hooked on all the classes. When Hapa offered their first teacher training I was drawn to learn more about the practice and about myself. The decision to participate in the 200 teacher training changed me as a person and as a parent. I’ve rediscovered a love for myself that carries forward into the community to teach yogis of all ages. I am now a proud mama of three and have enjoyed growing my family alongside the support of the Hapa family.