INSTRUCTOR: Chandi Collins RYT 200 & Sydney Davis DAcHM L.Ac

DATE: Monday, April 27th

TIME: 7:30pm - 8:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $55

DESCRIPTION:

Experience Yoga Nidra combined with a peaceful acupuncture treatment. Yoga Nidra is a deep meditative practice also known as yogic sleep. This practice promotes a more potent brain repair than regular sleep, leaving you feeling rested and relaxed after just one session. Couple this with acupuncture and the benefits are profound.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS:

Chandi Collins

Chandi is an RYT-200 yoga teacher trained and certified through Pleasure Point Yoga. She enjoys leading a Strong Vinyasa, Mixed Flow and Restorative Yoga. She is a certified breathwork guide, as well as a Yoga Nidra and Guided Meditation facilitator. She cares for each student in a way that empowers them to believe they are capable of achieving things they maybe never thought possible. In her class you will travel the full spectrum of your abilities with modifications for a more or less challenging approach to postures. She has a deep passion for the breath, the physical body, and the relationships we have with them. She is a forever student, committed to understanding the brain-body connection and discovering the most tangible ways to bring nervous system regulation strategies to everyday people. Her goal for her students is they leave her class both mentally and physically stronger than when they arrived.

Sydney Davis:

Sydney, is a doctor of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. My mission is rooted in a deep passion for helping people, especially women, feel strong, seen, and supported-at every stage of life. I believe that when we feel empowered in our health, we show up more fully in every part of our lives. That's what acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer: not just relief from symptoms, but a path back to balance, vitality, and connection to yourself.

I blend the ancient wisdom of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and holistic care with an understanding of how today's stress, pace, and pressure affect our health. Whether you're navigating hormonal shifts, chronic stress, fertility journeys, or simply feeling out of alignment, I'm here to help you reconnect with your body's natural intelligence and live life with more energy, clarity, and joy.

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and personalized. I meet you where you are and walk beside you as we uncover the root causes of imbalance and awaken your body's innate healing potential. I am dedicated to guiding you on a path to wellness through personalized care and the time-honored art of balance and harmony.

INSTRUCTOR: Sidney Nicol

DATE: Saturday, April 25th

DATE: 4:00pm - 6:30pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Dance Studio

COST: $40 Early Bird / $45 Day of Event

DESCRIPTION:

The unique healing modality of Thai Massage includes body positions similar to yoga combined with massage which follow a system of energy lines throughout the body. Benefits of Thai Massage include increased flexibility and range of motion, deep release of muscular tension as well as a space to practice mindfulness, sacred connection and breath awareness.

In this workshop you will learn how to:

• Give massage effortlessly using your whole body

• Use proper body mechanics, body weight & rhythmic compression

• Move & be moved into delicious assisted stretches

• Gain communication skills of giving & receiving feedback

• Co-create a safe environment for connection & playfulness

Everyone Welcome! Useful skills will be learned for ALL levels of experience. ALL gender, sexuality, ethnic, LGBTQ+ identities are welcome. Although no partner is needed, this is a fabulous experience to share with loved ones. Because Thai Massage is practiced on a floor mat and received clothes on you can easily share these techniques throughout your life within any casual setting.

Please note: There is a moderate level of effort and flexibility needed to give Thai massage. We will be moving another person's body with some light lifting, kneeling and balancing. Modifications will be given to help accommodate your ability.

Attire: Please dress in comfortable clothing allowing for ease of movement and flexibility.

Instructor BIO: Sidney Nicol is the founder of The Temple of Touch, a body of playfully curated education for non-professionals to explore the healing traditions and modern practices of Yoga asana, Thai Massage, Qigong and interactive group and partner connection exercises. Teaching massage techniques while weaving in tools for communication and mindfulness is Sidney’s mission in sharing the gift of conscious touch. She has brought Thai Massage workshops to Stanford University, various yoga studios throughout the Bay Area, private events and 1on1. Certified as a Massage Therapist in 1999, Sidney’s focus broadened to Thai Massage since her first training in 2006 at the Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Further study and apprenticeship at Twin Lakes College of Healing Arts and Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage.

See more from Sidney:

https://www.facebook.com/thetempleoftouch

https://www.instagram.com/thetempleoftouch/

INSTRUCTOR: Ana Saroj

DATE: Saturday, April 25th

DATE: 10:00am - 11:00am

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Dance Studio

COST: $20 Drop In / Class Passes Apply

DESCRIPTION:

Join Ana Saroj for a Salsa Cubana Pop Up Class—a fun, all-levels class focused on solo footwork (salsa suelta), body movement, and authentic Cuban flavor. With over 20 years of international teaching and performing experience, plus deep training in Cuba, Ana brings her passion for dance straight to the Santa Cruz community. No partner needed—just bring your joy and love for music and dance!

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Ana Saroj is a seasoned dancer with over 20 years of experience dedicated specifically to salsa and other Latin dances. She is known for her vibrant presence, deep musicality, and commitment to authentic Cuban dance. While based in the San Francisco Bay Area and later in Miami, Ana traveled the world teaching and performing, sharing her passion and expertise with dancers across continents.

In recent years, she has deepened her connection to the roots of Cuban dance by traveling regularly to Cuba to study with some of the island’s most respected masters in folkloric dance, salsa, and son.

Ana’s classes are fun, welcoming, and focused on solo movement—known in Cuba as salsa suelta—with no partner required. She emphasizes body movement, rhythm, and connection to the music, helping dancers of all levels experience the joy and richness of Cuban dance.

OUR STUDIO IS PERFORMING!!

DATE: Thursday, April 16th

SET TIMES / LOCATION:

• 6:10PM: Pleasure Point Dance at STAGE 1

  (PACIFIC AVE + CHURCH ST)

• 6:40PM: Joy Smith / SCDC at STAGE 2

  (PACIFIC AVE + LOCUST ST)

• 7:20PM: Pleasure Point Dance at STAGE 2

  (PACIFIC AVE + LOCUST ST)

Please also root on Gisella Ferreira’s Samba Soul Dance Company:

• 7:00PM: Samba Soul / Gisella Ferreira at STAGE 2

  (PACIFIC AVE + LOCUST ST)

• 8:10PM: Samba Soul / Gisella Ferreira + FINALE / STREET PARADE at STAGE 1

  (PACIFIC AVE + CHURCH ST)

LOCATION: Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz

COST: FREE

DESCRIPTION:

COME CHEER US ON as our dance teacher’s and students perform in our favorite community event in Santa Cruz!

Dancing in The Streets: For 17 years, Santa Cruz dancers have hit the streets of Downtown for Dancing in the Streets.

Join us as we celebrate the joy of dance and the strength of our community through an unforgettable afternoon of free performances in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz from April 16th 5:00pm-9:00pm.

INSTRUCTOR: Joy Smith

DATE: Saturday, April 11th

TIME: 10:00am - 12:00pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $25

DESCRIPTION:

IN THIS PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP, Joy will be teaching us a polished and stylish dance routine that we will be performing at Dancing in the Streets in April. This is for those who either want to learn sensational dance routing and / or know they will want to perform with us OR are almost performance ready and want to dig deeper into the refinement of a polished dance routine. 

Please consider attending her classes ahead of time to familiarize yourself with her stylish choreography:
✨Mondays 10:15-11:15am : Hip Hop & Zumba Basics
✨Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 am : Cardio HH & Zumba

INSTRUCTOR: Joy Smith

DATE: Saturday, April 4th

TIME: 10:00am - 12:00pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $25

DESCRIPTION:

IN THIS PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP, Joy will be teaching us a polished and stylish dance routine that we will be performing at Dancing in the Streets in April. This is for those who either want to learn sensational dance routing and / or know they will want to perform with us OR are almost performance ready and want to dig deeper into the refinement of a polished dance routine. 

Please consider attending her classes ahead of time to familiarize yourself with her stylish choreography:
✨Mondays 10:15-11:15am : Hip Hop & Zumba Basics
✨Wednesdays 10:30-11:30 am : Cardio HH & Zumba

INSTRUCTORS: Hannah Muse & Johanna Beekman

DATE: Monday, March 31st

TIME: 5:30pm - 7:00pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $24 Drop In / Class Passes & Memberships Apply PLUS ‍ ‍Please bring $5-$20 in Cash for the LIVE Musician!

DESCRIPTION:

Yoga, Mindfulness, & Mysticism WITH LIVE MUSIC!

Please bring $5-$20 in Cash for the LIVE Musician!

A welcoming class for new and experienced folks alike, this class explores: the deeper philosophy of the yoga tradition, a richly nourishing sequence of familiar yoga poses with mindfulness-based somatics, and a heart-opening community vibe. Led with compassion and inquiry by one of our most seasoned teachers. Come if you want to feel truly alive.

About Hannah Muse: One of Hannah’s greatest joys in life is welcoming folks of all backgrounds into kind, curious, brave, compassionate spaces that restore, heal, and bring us truly alive. Deemed the “midwife of possibility,” Hannah Muse is an award-winning, internationally-recognized teacher of mindfulness, mysticism, and yoga. As a mother and devoted student of Buddhism, neuropsychology, and mythology, Hannah is known for weaving complex teachings into accessible, heart-opening, world-shifting experiences. And for being just as silly as she is deep.
With a background in social and environmental advocacy, Hannah’s flavor of spirituality is inspired by our shared humanity and nourished by her deep love for the world. Hannah serves as President for the Yoga for All Movement, an organization that makes yoga and mindfulness accessible to individuals experiencing incarceration, people in recovery from substance abuse, survivors of domestic violence, and other underserved communities.

Over the past ten years, Hannah has trained hundreds of yoga and mindfulness teachers who bring these beneficial practices to various populations and communities throughout the world. She facilitates transformational retreats at the Esalen Institute, service retreats in Guatemala, spiritual pilgrimage in India, mythopoetic journeys in Greece and other yoga retreats in Mexico and Bali. She has been a featured presenter at dozens of conferences and festivals including Electric Forest, Bhakti Fest and Wanderlust.

When she’s not facilitating Awake Heart yoga teacher trainings, in practice with her beloved online meditation sangha Shelter in the Heart, or making healing accessible for underserved communities, you can find her in the ocean with her daughter, Ruby, and dancing wildly with her beloved, Brian. Find out more about her work/play at www.hannahmuse.com and follow Hannah’s adventures/musings at www.instagram.com/Hannah.J.Muse.

P.S. If you’re reading this, Hannah bows to you for finding your way here – through all the staggeringly beautiful and terrifying twists and turns of life – to this path of practice, where possibility awaits us. Welcome. May our practice be for the benefit of all beings!

About Johanna Beekman: Johanna is a long time studio favorite and friend! Johanna’s love of singing and songwriting led her on a journey through a wide variety of styles—soul, gospel, folk, pop, rock, world beat, reggae, a cappella, jazz, dance, and more. Today her performances and recordings are generally grounded in kirtan—the music of yoga—and other forms of conscious music. But Johanna incorporates the most compelling elements of all of those styles into her songs no matter what she’s singing. And above all else, her spirit shines bright in every note. Come chant, meditate, pray, sing, and open your hearts together in an evening of devotion.

Johanna Beekman has toured the festival circuit for 15 years with her uniquely healing heartsong and sizzling mantra-soul fusion concerts. She is a respected member of Bhakti & Shakti communities. She traveled with Festival of Colors USA tour, co-produced Sedona Yoga Festival and other festivals, and produced her own festivals. She has received International recognition for her video Mantra Sangha Health and Healing. She is an active member of the recording academy. She has performed and collaborated with many kirtan luminaries, starting with learning from Ram Das & others. Recently she has co-created recordings with Equanimous, Heather Christie, and Luke Rain in addition to her work with Krishna Das and others in the Mantra world.

INSTRUCTOR: Chandi Collins RYT 200 & Sydney Davis DAcHM L.Ac

DATE: Monday, March 30th

TIME: 7:30pm - 8:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $55

DESCRIPTION:

Experience Yoga Nidra combined with a peaceful acupuncture treatment. Yoga Nidra is a deep meditative practice also known as yogic sleep. This practice promotes a more potent brain repair than regular sleep, leaving you feeling rested and relaxed after just one session. Couple this with acupuncture and the benefits are profound.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS:

Chandi Collins

Chandi is an RYT-200 yoga teacher trained and certified through Pleasure Point Yoga. She enjoys leading a Strong Vinyasa, Mixed Flow and Restorative Yoga. She is a certified breathwork guide, as well as a Yoga Nidra and Guided Meditation facilitator. She cares for each student in a way that empowers them to believe they are capable of achieving things they maybe never thought possible. In her class you will travel the full spectrum of your abilities with modifications for a more or less challenging approach to postures. She has a deep passion for the breath, the physical body, and the relationships we have with them. She is a forever student, committed to understanding the brain-body connection and discovering the most tangible ways to bring nervous system regulation strategies to everyday people. Her goal for her students is they leave her class both mentally and physically stronger than when they arrived.

Sydney Davis:

Sydney, is a doctor of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. My mission is rooted in a deep passion for helping people, especially women, feel strong, seen, and supported-at every stage of life. I believe that when we feel empowered in our health, we show up more fully in every part of our lives. That's what acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer: not just relief from symptoms, but a path back to balance, vitality, and connection to yourself.

I blend the ancient wisdom of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and holistic care with an understanding of how today's stress, pace, and pressure affect our health. Whether you're navigating hormonal shifts, chronic stress, fertility journeys, or simply feeling out of alignment, I'm here to help you reconnect with your body's natural intelligence and live life with more energy, clarity, and joy.

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and personalized. I meet you where you are and walk beside you as we uncover the root causes of imbalance and awaken your body's innate healing potential. I am dedicated to guiding you on a path to wellness through personalized care and the time-honored art of balance and harmony.

INSTRUCTORS: Dayākar Dās & Living Devotion

DATE: Saturday, March 28th

TIME: 7:00pm - 8:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $20-$30 sliding scale at the door - No one turned away due to financial hardship

DESCRIPTION:

Kirtan is The Music of Bhakti Yoga

Relax - Chant - Meditate - Sing - Pray - Dance

FEATURING:

Dayākar Dās – Harmonium & Vocals

Steve Robertson – Tabla

Anne Cleveland – Flute & Vocals

Robert Hansen – Sarod, Guitar & Vocals

Corinne LeBlanc – Harmonium & Vocals

ABOUT THE MUSIC OF YOGA:

Kirtan is a spiritual service with five parts that is found in the path of Bhakti Yoga. One of the parts is the chanting of Sanskrit healing and empowerment mantras and the singing of devotional songs called bhajans. Kirtan is a musically guided meditation practice. Practicing this yog calms the mind, relaxes the body and energizes the Spirit. Reciting mantra with a devotional attitude, especially the singing of bhajans, has a calming effect on the brain, quieting the mind so that we can experience the opening of our hearts, allowing us to taste the blissful reality that is our true nature.

Come dive into the depths of your own heart in this safe, supportive environment. No previous yoga, meditation or singing experience is necessary to participate.

Practice is led by Dayākar Dās who is a Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher and practitioner of 32 years, who has been teaching meditation for over two decades.

INSTRUCTOR: Ky Russell

LOCATION: Dance & Movement Studio - 3603 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

DATES & TIMES:

Mat 1, Intro to Pilates & Beginning / Intermediate Exercises (16 hours): March 27-29, 2026

Friday: 12:30 - 3:45 PM

Saturday: 9:30 - 6:30

Sunday: 11:30 - 5:00

COST: $575 (before 3/20/2026)

DESCRIPTION: Mat 1 forms the foundation of the Pilates method. This course includes an introduction to the history and principles of the Pilates method and the beginning and intermediate level exercises. Each exercise includes training on modifications, challenges, the purpose of the exercise and any precautions for injuries and special populations. How to design and teach group classes and guidelines for teaching seniors and pre and post–natal classes are included.

Prerequisites:

• Movement Principles

• 10 Mat Classes (recommended)

CERTIFICATION DETAILS:

To become a fully qualified Balanced Body Mat instructor, students must complete the following:

● Anatomy in Three Dimensions (strongly recommended but not required)

● Balanced Body Movement Principles (16 hours)

● Balanced Body Mat 1 - Course work and module test (16 hours)

● Balanced Body Mat 2 - Course work and module test (16 hours)

● Balanced Body Mat 3 - Course work and module test (16 hours)

● 20 Mat personal sessions, 15 observation hours, and 25 student teaching hours

● Final written and practical test

● Total hours for completion of Mat program: 134 hours

● Upon fulfillment of all Balanced Body Mat Instructor requirements, students will receive

an internationally recognized certificate of completion

ENTIRE TRAINING DESCRIPTION:

Pilates Mat instructor training is coming to Pleasure Point Sanctuary!

We are partnering with the Santa Cruz Pilates Education Collective to host the Balanced Body® Pilates Mat teacher training program in 2026! The Balanced Body® program is an internationally recognized teacher training that brings the best of movement science to movement education. From fundamentals to advanced movement, our Mat program empowers you to be a transformative teacher.

The program consists of 4 distinct training modules that can be taken on a flexible timeline that works best for your goals, schedule, and budget.

Lead by Ky Russell, MA - a veteran Balanced Body Educator with over 25 years experience teaching Pilates and over 17 years experience educating teachers. Ky delights in guiding new and experienced teachers to develop their passion for movement and honing their craft in teaching others! Ky will be joined by local Balanced Body Educators Arwen Brooke and Sarah Artha Negara, also accomplished and experienced instructors of teachers.

Why train with the PEC & Balanced Body®?

● Internationally recognized with access to 400+ education sites worldwide.

● 15+ years of proven curriculum with over 30,000 graduates, giving students access to an exclusive alumni network.

● Flexible, modular system that provides students more time, options and instructor exposure.

● Backed by Balanced Body, the global leader in Pilates equipment for over 45 years.

● Our graduates have the option to be featured in our Instructor Directory & Studio Finder as a resource (Education Department specifically)

Program Details and Logistics:

Each 16 hour module includes movement, lecture, practice teaching, and coaching to help you become a confident, capable Pilates instructor.

● Instruction in the complete pre-Pilates and Balanced Body Mat exercises

● A detailed, full color manual with accompanying video support to enhance your learning (for each module)

● Mat class design and delivery based on the Balanced Body programming system

● Development of cueing and coaching skills

● Safety information for teaching special populations (seniors, pre-natal, and injury)

Questions?

Please visit the PEC website at www.pilatesedc.com or contact Ky at care@pilatesedc.com

WE look forward to chatting with you!

Meet Your Lead Instructor - Ky Russell, MA

Ky Russell (she/ her) is a former professional dancer, Pilates instructor, and self proclaimed movement nerd. She is the Director and Founder of the Pilates Education Collective, whose mission is to foster a community of skilled and diverse Pilates instructors who embody the values of compassion, curiosity, and inclusivity. She combines over 25 years of experience teaching Pilates and mindful movement with an academic background in Kinesiology. She became a Balanced Body® Educator in 2008, teaching Pilates instructor training programs, and Anatomy in 3 Dimensions® across the country and as a presenter at Pilates on Tour® Conferences. She leads international retreats and has taught internationally as a guest teacher.

She was introduced to Pilates in 1993, and received her original Pilates certification under the tutelage of Nora St. John in 2002. She has held certifications by the National Pilates Certification Program, ACE personal trainer, and Yoga Alliance.

She taught Pilates based rehabilitation at the world renowned St. Francis Hospital’s Center for Sports Medicine and is well-versed in pre and post rehabilitation protocols, and injury prevention. Ky has taught thousands of hours of Pilates to clients ranging from professional athletes and performers to people living with chronic pain.

She also is a regular guest teacher for Hannah Muse’s Awake Heart yoga teacher training program, teaching functional anatomy and core awareness. She has offered continuing education workshops on a variety of topics for the College of San Mateo Pilates program and Pilates studios throughout the Bay Area. She has also taught pre/post natal Pilates certification programs for movement professionals as faculty for the Center for Women’s Fitness.

In addition, Ky holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from San José State University and has taught Embodied Stress Management as Kinesiology faculty since 2016. Her thesis research examined women’s postpartum exercise experiences utilizing a feminist framework. Ky also holds a B.S. degree with an emphasis in experiential education from UC Berkeley. She is a former professional dancer and circus performer, and is a certified Grief Yoga, yoga, and mindfulness meditation instructor who incorporates holistic and embodied stress reduction into her classes, sessions, and continuing education offerings. When not teaching Pilates, she can be found playing with her teen daughter, who is her greatest teacher. Ky delights in sharing movement with others and helping her clients and students achieve their goals for holistic wellness, an active life, or a meaningful Pilates career!

care@pilatesedc.com

@kyautumnpilates

INSTRUCTOR: Alison Chesley

DATE: Sunday, March 22nd

TIME: 12:30pm - 2:00pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $25

DESCRIPTION:

IN THIS PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP, Alison will be teaching us a simple and fabulously fun jazz dance routine that we will be performing at Dancing in the Streets in April. Although you do not have to perform, we highly encourage you to do so because it is so FUN and you are FABULOUS!

Alison will be breaking it down step by step so dancers can really pull it together in a polished way, feel confident while dancing, and enjoy dancing together in community!

Please consider attending her classes ahead of time to familiarize yourself with her stylish choreography:

✨Mondays 5:30pm - 6:30pm : Cardio Funk

CARDIO FUNK is a high energy all level choreography dance class to upbeat music where we build a fun and accessible dance routine over the hour for some serious satisfaction by the end. Starting with a warm-up then breaking down moves with a continuous cardio flow that includes some gut and ab toning, Alison’s clear and experienced style makes dancing our way to wellness AWESOME and available to all levels with no dance experience necessary!

INSTRUCTORS: Kayla Copeland, E-RYT 500, MA, Psychotherapist and Kate Bentley, MA, Ayurvedic Practitioner at Mount Madonna Institute

DATES: March 19th - 27th, 2026

• Live calls on zoom: 3/19 at 6-7pm; 3/22 at 6-7pm; and 3/25 at 6-7pm

LOCATION: Online

COST:

• Days 1–3 | Kali: Clearing | $108

• Days 4–6 | Lakshmi: Refinement | $180

• Days 7–9 | Saraswati: Insight | $243

*See below for descriptions

DESCRIPTION:

What is Navaratri?

Navaratri is a nine-day window in the Vedic calendar aligned with seasonal and astrological rhythms. It offers a moment to pause, release, and enter a deeper dialogue with your body, mind, and spirit.

This spring, the Navaratri Ayurvedic Cleanse provides a guided at-home journey of deep purification and attunement, aligned with eclipses, lunar movement, and the subtle intelligence of the seasons.

The cleanse unfolds in three phases, reflecting the natural arc of release, refinement, and insight. Participants may commit to three, six, or nine days, moving through the same progressive journey at a pace that fits their readiness.

Why Cleanse?

This cleanse is guided by Kate Bentley, MA, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Instructor and Kayla Copeland, E-RYT 500, MA, Associate psychotherapist.

Kate brings decades of experience in classical Ayurvedic medicine, seasonal cleansing, and holistic education. Kayla’s work integrates yoga, mindfulness, and therapeutic insight, supporting regulation of the nervous system and embodied stability. Together, they offer a grounded and well held container that bridges ancient wisdom with modern understanding.

Throughout the program, participants receive clear Ayurvedic dietary guidance appropriate to the cleanse duration, herbal support recommendations aligned with each phase, guided daily practices to support digestion and nervous system balance, and live group check in calls for continuity and support.

Enrollment invites participants to choose their 3 day, 6 day, or 9 day path and commit to a focused window of seasonal renewal and realignment.

What Participants Learn + Experience:

• Tune into your body’s natural intelligence + digestive rhythms

• Observe emotional patterns + cultivate clarity

• Align with seasonal + astrological cycles

• Experience deeper presence

• Feel the interplay of energy, mind, + spirit in your daily life

• Quiet inward-focused reflection in personal + collective rhythms

• Daily grounding and heart-focused practices to

• promote deep release and renewal

• Supportive group integration sessions

• Like-minded + loving community

Choose Your Path:

Days 1–3 | Kali: Clearing

Theme: Clearing and Empowering

This phase opens the system. Practices, diet, and herbal guidance support the release of accumulated heaviness, mental tension, and emotional blockages. Participants learn to observe patterns in their digestion, energy, and emotional responses, cultivating courage and clarity. This phase invites deep listening to the body and its natural intelligence.

Includes:

1 group call

Easy-to-follow Ayurvedic detox meals + guidance

Live + recorded evening meditation, asana, and breathwork practices

Investment: $108

6-days

Days 4–6 | Lakshmi: Refinement

Theme: Restorative and Nurturing

With the system more receptive, the second phase focuses on awareness, sensitivity, and subtle attunement. Participants notice the interplay of energy, emotion, and thought, and begin to recognize habits, triggers, and cycles that shape daily life. Insights extend beyond the self into relationships, interactions with others, and connection to seasonal and astrological rhythms.

Includes:

Easy-to-follow Ayurvedic detox meals + guidance

2 group calls + 1 optional 1:1

Live + recorded evening meditation, asana, and breathwork practices

Investment: $180

9-days

Days 7–9 | Saraswati: Insight

Theme: Subtle and Illuminating

The final phase supports integration, clarity, and embodied understanding. With the body, mind, and energy field cleared, participants engage with subtle insights about personal resilience, the intelligence of digestion, cycles of grief and renewal, and the broader principles that govern life and Shakti energy. Completing the full nine-day journey offers a profound sense of alignment with self, body, and the world.

Includes:

Easy-to-follow Ayurvedic detox meals + guidance

3 group calls + 2 optional 1:1

Castor oil cleanse

Investment: $243

Choose 3, 6, or 9 days to match your desired level of engagement, honoring the natural progression of detoxification and alignment with seasonal cosmological forces, from clearing, to restoring, to illumination.

Meet your Guides:

Kayla Copeland - E-RYT 500, MA, Psychotherapist

Kayla Copeland has been a student of yoga since the early 2000s and has incorporated yoga into her daily life ever since. She has trained extensively with Aimee Nitzberg in Santa Cruz, California and Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City. She is also greatly inspired by Eoin Finn, Richard Freeman, Meghan Currie, David Swenson, and many more. Kayla is certified ERYT-500 and has received over 500 hours of yoga training.

Fast-forward nearly 20 years, Kayla’s classes focus on well-being, self-love, and mindfulness. Alongside fluid movement and breath awareness, she believes yoga to be a holistic tool and a transformational method from the inside out.

Amidst teaching for public and private clients and hosting local and international retreats, Kayla is an artist and a master’s student of Mindfulness-based Counseling Psychology. She delicately weaves an essence of creativity, self-awareness, embodiment, and inspiration into every one of her sessions.

Kate Bentley, MA

Kate Bentley is a passionate Ayurvedic Practitioner, Faculty Instructor, and Clinical Supervisor at the College of Āyurveda – Mount Madonna Institute. Deeply rooted in the classical teachings of Āyurveda and Yoga, she draws inspiration from her teacher Baba Hari Dass and integrates the wisdom of Peruvian Shamanism and Tantric healing practices into her work.

Kate is committed to guiding individuals on their wellness journey through physical, mental, and spiritual detoxification, combining Ayurvedic nutrition, herbal therapies, and detox protocols to address issues like energy depletion, sleep disturbances, digestive imbalances, weight fluctuations, and aging vitality. She empowers her clients to cultivate balance and harmony in their lives, helping them achieve long-lasting health.

As a clinical practitioner at Kaya Kalpa, Mount Madonna’s wellness center, and an active member of NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association), Kate also teaches and mentors students in the School of Yoga and Ayurveda. Her approach blends ancient wisdom with modern life, offering transformative support for those seeking resilience, vitality, and lasting well-being.

INSTRUCTOR: Allison Eaton

DATES:

• Reiki Level I - Saturday, March 14th

• Reiki Level II - Sunday, March 15th

TIMES:

• Reiki Level I (3/14) - 2:00pm - 6:00pm

• Reiki Level II (3/15) - 12:00pm - 3:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST:

Reiki Level I - $250

Reiki Level II - $350

Bundle - Reiki Level I & II - $500

DESCRIPTION:

Reiki is a holistic, relaxation and energy healing technique—easily learned by anyone—that supports the body, mind, and spirit in naturally harmonizing and restoring itself.

Reiki Level I

You will be attuned to the sacred energy of Reiki, learn how to give a full Reiki healing treatment to yourself and others, and receive your Reiki Level I Manual and Certificate.

Reiki Level I is open to everyone—no prerequisites required.

Reiki Level II

You will receive your Reiki Level II energy attunement, learn Distance Reiki Healing, the sacred Reiki symbols, and how to send Reiki healing to your past and future. You will also receive your Reiki Level II Manual and Certificate.

Reiki Level I is required before joining Reiki Level II.

BIO:

Allison Eaton is an internationally recognized spiritual teacher, intuitive healer, and mentor specializing in Reiki, the Akashic Records, Energy Healing, Yoga and Meditation. With more than 20 years of experience, she is known for guiding profound transformation through her gentle, heart-centered approach and her ability to illuminate the innate wisdom within each person she serves.

Allison teaches Reiki and Akashic Records certifications, intuition development courses, yoga teacher trainings, and healing retreats both worldwide and online. Her work weaves together the wisdom of Earth and Spirit, offering a grounded yet expansive pathway to holistic awakening and inner alignment. She is the author of multiple healing and training manuals and is also a devotional singer and Kirtan musician, sharing sacred sound as a tool for healing and remembrance.

Through all her offerings, Allison creates a nurturing, soul-honoring space where individuals can deepen self-awareness, clear energetic blockages, and experience renewed peace, clarity, and joy.

Website: www.allisoneaton.com

Socials (IG & FB): @allisonclaireeaton

Allison’s Online Spiritual Community: www.skool.com/allison-eaton

INSTRUCTOR: Deborah Yates

DATE: Sunday, March 15th

TIME: 11:15am - 12:45pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $25

DESCRIPTION:

IN THIS PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP, Deborah will be teaching us an flashy jazz dance / musical theater dance routine that we will be performing at Dancing in the Streets in ! Although you do not have to perform, we highly encourage you to do so because it is so FUN and you are FABULOUS!

Deborah will be breaking it down step by step so dancers can really pull it together in a polished way, feel confidant while dancing, and enjoy dancing together in community!

Please consider attending her classes ahead of time to familiarize yourself with her stylish choreography:

✨Sundays 10am - 11:00am : Inspire Dance

INSPIRE DANCE is a recipe for a delicious dance cardio experience. Move to your favorite popular songs combining dance styles from hip-hop, funk, jazz and contemporary while spicing it up with a bit of musical theater. Class includes breakdowns and sweat sesh with no pro skills needed. Just bring your passion for dance, love of music and your desire to move!

INSTRUCTOR: Sidney Nicol

DATE: Saturday, March 14th

DATE: 3:00pm - 5:30pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Dance Studio

COST: $40 Early Bird / $45 Day of Event

DESCRIPTION:

The unique healing modality of Thai Massage includes body positions similar to yoga combined with massage which follow a system of energy lines throughout the body. Benefits of Thai Massage include increased flexibility and range of motion, deep release of muscular tension as well as a space to practice mindfulness, sacred connection and breath awareness.

In this workshop you will learn how to:

• Give massage effortlessly using your whole body

• Use proper body mechanics, body weight & rhythmic compression

• Move & be moved into delicious assisted stretches

• Gain communication skills of giving & receiving feedback

• Co-create a safe environment for connection & playfulness

Everyone Welcome! Useful skills will be learned for ALL levels of experience. ALL gender, sexuality, ethnic, LGBTQ+ identities are welcome. Although no partner is needed, this is a fabulous experience to share with loved ones. Because Thai Massage is practiced on a floor mat and received clothes on you can easily share these techniques throughout your life within any casual setting.

Please note: There is a moderate level of effort and flexibility needed to give Thai massage. We will be moving another person's body with some light lifting, kneeling and balancing. Modifications will be given to help accommodate your ability.

Attire: Please dress in comfortable clothing allowing for ease of movement and flexibility.

Instructor BIO: Sidney Nicol is the founder of The Temple of Touch, a body of playfully curated education for non-professionals to explore the healing traditions and modern practices of Yoga asana, Thai Massage, Qigong and interactive group and partner connection exercises. Teaching massage techniques while weaving in tools for communication and mindfulness is Sidney’s mission in sharing the gift of conscious touch. She has brought Thai Massage workshops to Stanford University, various yoga studios throughout the Bay Area, private events and 1on1. Certified as a Massage Therapist in 1999, Sidney’s focus broadened to Thai Massage since her first training in 2006 at the Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Further study and apprenticeship at Twin Lakes College of Healing Arts and Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage.

See more from Sidney:

https://www.facebook.com/thetempleoftouch

https://www.instagram.com/thetempleoftouch/

INSTRUCTOR: Allison Eaton

DATES:

• Reiki Level I - Saturday, March 14th

• Reiki Level II - Sunday, March 15th

TIMES:

• Reiki Level I (3/14) - 2:00pm - 6:00pm

• Reiki Level II (3/15) - 12:00pm - 3:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST:

Reiki Level I - $250

Reiki Level II - $350

Bundle - Reiki Level I & II - $500

DESCRIPTION:

Reiki is a holistic, relaxation and energy healing technique—easily learned by anyone—that supports the body, mind, and spirit in naturally harmonizing and restoring itself.

Reiki Level I

You will be attuned to the sacred energy of Reiki, learn how to give a full Reiki healing treatment to yourself and others, and receive your Reiki Level I Manual and Certificate.

Reiki Level I is open to everyone—no prerequisites required.

Reiki Level II

You will receive your Reiki Level II energy attunement, learn Distance Reiki Healing, the sacred Reiki symbols, and how to send Reiki healing to your past and future. You will also receive your Reiki Level II Manual and Certificate.

Reiki Level I is required before joining Reiki Level II.

BIO:

Allison Eaton is an internationally recognized spiritual teacher, intuitive healer, and mentor specializing in Reiki, the Akashic Records, Energy Healing, Yoga and Meditation. With more than 20 years of experience, she is known for guiding profound transformation through her gentle, heart-centered approach and her ability to illuminate the innate wisdom within each person she serves.

Allison teaches Reiki and Akashic Records certifications, intuition development courses, yoga teacher trainings, and healing retreats both worldwide and online. Her work weaves together the wisdom of Earth and Spirit, offering a grounded yet expansive pathway to holistic awakening and inner alignment. She is the author of multiple healing and training manuals and is also a devotional singer and Kirtan musician, sharing sacred sound as a tool for healing and remembrance.

Through all her offerings, Allison creates a nurturing, soul-honoring space where individuals can deepen self-awareness, clear energetic blockages, and experience renewed peace, clarity, and joy.

Website: www.allisoneaton.com

Socials (IG & FB): @allisonclaireeaton

Allison’s Online Spiritual Community: www.skool.com/allison-eaton

INSTRUCTORS: Hannah Muse & Johanna Beekman

DATE: Tuesday, March 10th

TIME: 5:30 PM-7:00 PM

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $24 Drop In / Class Passes & Memberships Apply

Please bring $5-$20 in Cash for the LIVE Musician

DESCRIPTION:

Yoga, Mindfulness, & Mysticism WITH LIVE MUSIC!

Please bring $5-$20 in Cash for the LIVE Musician

DESCRIPTION:

A welcoming class for new and experienced folks alike serenaded by the soft lullaby of Johanna’s voice and instruments. This class explores: the deeper philosophy of the yoga tradition, a richly nourishing sequence of familiar yoga poses with mindfulness-based somatics, and a heart-opening community vibe. Led with compassion and inquiry by one of our most seasoned teachers. Come if you want to feel truly alive.

About Hannah Muse:

One of Hannah’s greatest joys in life is welcoming folks of all backgrounds into kind, curious, brave, compassionate spaces that restore, heal, and bring us truly alive. Deemed the “midwife of possibility,” Hannah Muse is an award-winning, internationally-recognized teacher of mindfulness, mysticism, and yoga. As a mother and devoted student of Buddhism, neuropsychology, and mythology, Hannah is known for weaving complex teachings into accessible, heart-opening, world-shifting experiences. And for being just as silly as she is deep.

With a background in social and environmental advocacy, Hannah’s flavor of spirituality is inspired by our shared humanity and nourished by her deep love for the world. Hannah serves as President for the Yoga for All Movement, an organization that makes yoga and mindfulness accessible to individuals experiencing incarceration, people in recovery from substance abuse, survivors of domestic violence, and other underserved communities.

Over the past ten years, Hannah has trained hundreds of yoga and mindfulness teachers who bring these beneficial practices to various populations and communities throughout the world. She facilitates transformational retreats at the Esalen Institute, service retreats in Guatemala, spiritual pilgrimage in India, mythopoetic journeys in Greece and other yoga retreats in Mexico and Bali. She has been a featured presenter at dozens of conferences and festivals including Electric Forest, Bhakti Fest and Wanderlust.

When she’s not facilitating Awake Heart yoga teacher trainings, in practice with her beloved online meditation sangha Shelter in the Heart, or making healing accessible for underserved communities, you can find her in the ocean with her daughter, Ruby, and dancing wildly with her beloved, Brian. Find out more about her work/play at www.hannahmuse.com and follow Hannah’s adventures/musings at www.instagram.com/Hannah.J.Muse.

P.S. If you’re reading this, Hannah bows to you for finding your way here – through all the staggeringly beautiful and terrifying twists and turns of life – to this path of practice, where possibility awaits us. Welcome. May our practice be for the benefit of all beings!

About Johanna Beekman:

Johanna is a long time studio favorite and friend! Johanna’s love of singing and songwriting led her on a journey through a wide variety of styles—soul, gospel, folk, pop, rock, world beat, reggae, a cappella, jazz, dance, and more. Today her performances and recordings are generally grounded in kirtan—the music of yoga—and other forms of conscious music. But Johanna incorporates the most compelling elements of all of those styles into her songs no matter what she’s singing. And above all else, her spirit shines bright in every note.

Johanna Beekman has toured the festival circuit for 15 years with her uniquely healing heartsong and sizzling mantra-soul fusion concerts. She is a respected member of Bhakti & Shakti communities. She traveled with Festival of Colors USA tour, co-produced Sedona Yoga Festival and other festivals, and produced her own festivals. She has received International recognition for her video Mantra Sangha Health and Healing. She is an active member of the recording academy. She has performed and collaborated with many kirtan luminaries, starting with learning from Ram Das & others. Recently she has co-created recordings with Equanimous, Heather Christie, and Luke Rain in addition to her work with Krishna Das and others in the Mantra world.

INSTRUCTORS: Johanna Beekman & Joss Jaffe

DATE: Monday March 9th

TIME: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: By donation (suggested $24) or use your Pleasure Point class pass.

No one turned away for lack of funds—come sing!!

DESCRIPTION:

Johanna Beekman has toured the festival circuit for 15 years with her uniquely healing heartsong and sizzling mantra-soul fusion concerts. She is a respected member of Bhakti & Shakti communities. She traveled with Festival of Colors USA tour, co-produced Sedona Yoga Festival and other festivals, and produced her own festivals. She has received International recognition for her video Mantra Sangha Health and Healing. She is an active member of the recording academy. She has performed and collaborated with many kirtan luminaries, starting with learning from Ram Das & others. Recently she has co-created recordings with Equanimous, Heather Christie, and Luke Rain in addition to her work with Krishna Das and others in the Mantra world. 

Joss Jaffe performs as a Vocalist, Tabla player and Multi-Instrumentalist. As a composer and producer he has created innovative albums including Svara Mandala, Echosystem and Dub Mantra to critical acclaim. He has toured throughout multiple continents, bringing his music to an international audience. Joss’ work been critically acclaimed by LA Yoga Magazine, the UK’s Om Magazine, and other prominent publications. Joss Jaffe’s music is rooted in his desire to unite people through spirit, love, joy, community and consciousness. Joss creates innovative songs that bring international artists from different cultures and languages into a nexus where new music is discovered. His music invites the audience into a space of spontaneous joy. 

We hope you can join us.

INSTRUCTOR: Shane Thunder

DATE: Sunday, March 8th

TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST / SEATING OPTIONS:

• HAMMOCK / FLOATING: $45 Early Bird / $50 Regular

• FLOOR: $30 Early Bird / $35 Regular

• *EARLY BIRD VALID 7 DAYS BEFORE EVENT

DESCRIPTION:

432hz Floating Sound Metacine with Shane Thunder

Come Float Your Stress Away! Join us for this special Floating Sound Meditation experience w/ Shane Thunder! Utilizing a plethora of gemstone crystal bowls, planetary & elemental gongs, chimes, and other instruments, you are in store for a blissful and uplifting journey! No experience necessary, all paths are welcome!

Benefits of Hammock / Floating Seating:

The sound healing is different when you are in a hammock because of the way you experience it. Instead of being on the ground, experiencing the sound healing, you are floating, like you are in space, so it's a more zero-gravity experience, or like being in a cocoon.

Logistics: Doors open 15 mins before event start time. We will guide you on how to get into your hammock. This takes about 15 minutes to get all you beautiful bodies comfortably nestled into your cocoon. Plan for a full 90 minus with a full 75 minute Sound Meditation.

What to Bring: An Open Mind for your Journey, Water. The event usually Sells Out, and I have props for each of you. However, some of us prefer our own snugly items to help settle in, such as Eye Pillow, Blanket, Bolster / Pillow.

Floaters: Optional items to bring: Eye Pillow, Blanket, Bolster, Pillow

Floor Meditators: Optional Props: Yoga Mat, Eye Pillow, Blanket, Bolster

Again, we have props for you but if you have your own, you are welcome you to bring them.

Instructor Bio: Shane is a California-based Master Sound Alchemist residing in Santa Barbara, CA. After self-inducing a kundalini awakening in Dec. 2011, he has traveled throughout the country for the last 8 years offering his 432hz Spirit Metacine in the passionate belief of unifying the body, mind, and spirit through the healing arts. He has held space for workshops, instructional classes, and ceremonies guided by his Higher-Self to share his musical gifts with the crystal Gemstone singing bowls and many more instruments.

INSTRUCTOR: Ky Russell

LOCATION: Dance & Movement Studio - 3603 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

DATES & TIMES:

Movement Principles Module (pre-requisite) March 6-8, 2026

Friday: 12:30 - 3:45 PM

Saturday: 9:30 - 6:30

Sunday: 11:30 - 5:00

COST: $575 (before 2/20/2026)

DESCRIPTION: The foundation of our education program, Movement Principles shows how to recognize, improve and teach fundamental movement.

This course is designed for both new and experienced instructors to refine their understanding of the body in motion. It provides the foundational knowledge necessary for you to understand fundamental movement and become a truly transformative instructor.

Movement Principles is a program requirement for our Pilates Instructor Training and Integrated Movement Specialist certificate.

Movement Principles Includes:

● Five Sections: Whole Body Movement, Trunk Integration, Lower Body Training,

Upper Body Training, Mobility and Restoration

● Overview of anatomy including bones and joints in specific relationship to movement

● Exercise instruction in foundational exercise applications in diverse movement and

fitness settings

● Detailed full color manual and streaming video to enhance your learning experience

● Cueing, coaching, and teaching tips

Mat 1, Intro to Pilates & Beginning / Intermediate Exercises (16 hours): March 27-29, 2026

Friday: 12:30 - 3:45 PM

Saturday: 9:30 - 6:30

Sunday: 11:30 - 5:00

COST: $575 (before 3/20/2026)

DESCRIPTION: Mat 1 forms the foundation of the Pilates method. This course includes an introduction to the history and principles of the Pilates method and the beginning and intermediate level exercises. Each exercise includes training on modifications, challenges, the purpose of the exercise and any precautions for injuries and special populations. How to design and teach group classes and guidelines for teaching seniors and pre and post–natal classes are included.

Prerequisites:

• Movement Principles

• 10 Mat Classes (recommended)

Mat 2, Intermediate Advanced Exercises (16 hours): May 1-3, 2026

Friday: 12:30 - 3:45 PM

Saturday: 9:30 - 6:30

Sunday: 11:30 - 5:00

COST: $575 (before 4/24/2026)

DESCRIPTION: Mat 2 teaches the remaining intermediate and advanced level Mat exercises for a complete understanding of the Pilates Mat program. Lectures include progressive skill development to achieve the advanced exercises, programming for intermediate and advanced classes and creating successful Mat classes.

Prerequisites:

• Movement Principles

• Mat 1

Mat 3 Enhanced Mat and Props (16 hours): June 12-14, 2026

Friday: 12:30 - 3:45 PM

Saturday: 9:30 - 6:30

Sunday: 11:30 - 5:00

COST: $575 (before 5/29/2026)

DESCRIPTION: Enhanced Pilates Mat completes the Mat training by adding rings, rollers, bands and balls to the traditional Mat exercises. In addition, Enhanced Mat includes functional exercises for the upper and lower body expanding the Mat work beyond the core to develop whole body strength and flexibility. The Balanced Body Programming System is introduced to make class design easy, effective and fun. Adding props to a mat class makes them more dynamic, creative and accessible and clients love toys!

Prerequisites:

• Mat 1 and 2, or successful completion of a comparable Pilates mat program.

CERTIFICATION DETAILS:

To become a fully qualified Balanced Body Mat instructor, students must complete the following:

● Anatomy in Three Dimensions (strongly recommended but not required)

● Balanced Body Movement Principles (16 hours)

● Balanced Body Mat 1 - Course work and module test (16 hours)

● Balanced Body Mat 2 - Course work and module test (16 hours)

● Balanced Body Mat 3 - Course work and module test (16 hours)

● 20 Mat personal sessions, 15 observation hours, and 25 student teaching hours

● Final written and practical test

● Total hours for completion of Mat program: 134 hours

● Upon fulfillment of all Balanced Body Mat Instructor requirements, students will receive

an internationally recognized certificate of completion

ENTIRE TRAINING DESCRIPTION:

Pilates Mat instructor training is coming to Pleasure Point Sanctuary!

We are partnering with the Santa Cruz Pilates Education Collective to host the Balanced Body® Pilates Mat teacher training program in 2026! The Balanced Body® program is an internationally recognized teacher training that brings the best of movement science to movement education. From fundamentals to advanced movement, our Mat program empowers you to be a transformative teacher.

The program consists of 4 distinct training modules that can be taken on a flexible timeline that works best for your goals, schedule, and budget.

Lead by Ky Russell, MA - a veteran Balanced Body Educator with over 25 years experience teaching Pilates and over 17 years experience educating teachers. Ky delights in guiding new and experienced teachers to develop their passion for movement and honing their craft in teaching others! Ky will be joined by local Balanced Body Educators Arwen Brooke and Sarah Artha Negara, also accomplished and experienced instructors of teachers.

Why train with the PEC & Balanced Body®?

● Internationally recognized with access to 400+ education sites worldwide.

● 15+ years of proven curriculum with over 30,000 graduates, giving students access to an exclusive alumni network.

● Flexible, modular system that provides students more time, options and instructor exposure.

● Backed by Balanced Body, the global leader in Pilates equipment for over 45 years.

● Our graduates have the option to be featured in our Instructor Directory & Studio Finder as a resource (Education Department specifically)

Program Details and Logistics:

Each 16 hour module includes movement, lecture, practice teaching, and coaching to help you become a confident, capable Pilates instructor.

● Instruction in the complete pre-Pilates and Balanced Body Mat exercises

● A detailed, full color manual with accompanying video support to enhance your learning (for each module)

● Mat class design and delivery based on the Balanced Body programming system

● Development of cueing and coaching skills

● Safety information for teaching special populations (seniors, pre-natal, and injury)

Questions?

Please visit the PEC website at www.pilatesedc.com or contact Ky at care@pilatesedc.com

WE look forward to chatting with you!

Meet Your Lead Instructor - Ky Russell, MA

Ky Russell (she/ her) is a former professional dancer, Pilates instructor, and self proclaimed movement nerd. She is the Director and Founder of the Pilates Education Collective, whose mission is to foster a community of skilled and diverse Pilates instructors who embody the values of compassion, curiosity, and inclusivity. She combines over 25 years of experience teaching Pilates and mindful movement with an academic background in Kinesiology. She became a Balanced Body® Educator in 2008, teaching Pilates instructor training programs, and Anatomy in 3 Dimensions® across the country and as a presenter at Pilates on Tour® Conferences. She leads international retreats and has taught internationally as a guest teacher.

She was introduced to Pilates in 1993, and received her original Pilates certification under the tutelage of Nora St. John in 2002. She has held certifications by the National Pilates Certification Program, ACE personal trainer, and Yoga Alliance.

She taught Pilates based rehabilitation at the world renowned St. Francis Hospital’s Center for Sports Medicine and is well-versed in pre and post rehabilitation protocols, and injury prevention. Ky has taught thousands of hours of Pilates to clients ranging from professional athletes and performers to people living with chronic pain.

She also is a regular guest teacher for Hannah Muse’s Awake Heart yoga teacher training program, teaching functional anatomy and core awareness. She has offered continuing education workshops on a variety of topics for the College of San Mateo Pilates program and Pilates studios throughout the Bay Area. She has also taught pre/post natal Pilates certification programs for movement professionals as faculty for the Center for Women’s Fitness.

In addition, Ky holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology from San José State University and has taught Embodied Stress Management as Kinesiology faculty since 2016. Her thesis research examined women’s postpartum exercise experiences utilizing a feminist framework. Ky also holds a B.S. degree with an emphasis in experiential education from UC Berkeley. She is a former professional dancer and circus performer, and is a certified Grief Yoga, yoga, and mindfulness meditation instructor who incorporates holistic and embodied stress reduction into her classes, sessions, and continuing education offerings. When not teaching Pilates, she can be found playing with her teen daughter, who is her greatest teacher. Ky delights in sharing movement with others and helping her clients and students achieve their goals for holistic wellness, an active life, or a meaningful Pilates career!

care@pilatesedc.com

@kyautumnpilates

INSTRUCTOR: Sherry Cassedy

DATES:

• Weekly on Mondays

• Monday, March 2nd - We start at the beginning with Book I, Sutra 1: Atha yoga anushasanam. 

TIME: 7:30am - 8:30am

LOCATION:

• 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

• and via Zoom (online)

COST: FREE

DESCRIPTION:

Please join us March 2nd as we start at the beginning with Book I, Sutra 1: Atha yoga anushasanam. 

Satsang is a unique (and free) opportunity to delve deeper into the esoteric teachings of Yoga in the company of one another. It is a great introduction for anyone who is curious to learn more, and an open invitation to revisit and share in the supported space of the Sangha as we deepen our practice.

In Satsang, we gather together, in community to seek truth or, more simply, to be with the truth. We create the space with chanting, light, and intention, gentle rituals that help us to dedicate this hour to our study and practice and to one another.

We begin each morning with chanting the Gayatri Mantra, the ancient invocation to the Sun. We take up one Yoga Sutra (brief teaching) in sequence each week, chanting and translating the prior Sutras for practice and review, then translating, breaking down, studying the Sutra of the week and sharing how it applies to our lives at this moment. We practice pranayama (breath) and mudras (hand poses) before we settle in for about 5 minutes of meditation to allow the teachings to settle into our bodies and consciousness.

Come clear your mind and refresh your soul.

INSTRUCTOR: Roxanne Harrison

LOCATION: Dance & Movement Studio - 3603 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

DATE: Sunday, March 1st

TIME: 1:00pm - 3:00pm

COST: $35

Riding the Fire Horse is an Enneagram-based workshop for navigating high-intensity seasons without burnout. By bringing awareness to how your system, including your ego responds to pressure, and learning simple embodied regulation practices, you can maintain momentum, clarity, and vitality—even when life moves fast.

The Fire Horse year amplifies speed, ambition, and impact. Each Enneagram type responds differently to this level of intensity—some push harder, some scatter, some withdraw, and others freeze. By combining the Enneagram with Qigong practices, participants learn how to recognize their conditioned patterns of thinking, feeling and doing and can learn to interrupt those patterns to flow with more ease and vitality.  From an Enneagram perspective, burnout is a predictable outcome of running your patterns and your type’s strategies for too long.  Rather than trying to override these patterns, participants learn to recognize their type’s burnout pathway and work with it through embodied Qigong practices. By regulating the nervous system, and softening fixation under stress, each type can sustain engagement without self-abandonment.

Roxanne Harrison is a certified Narrative Enneagram teacher, an International Enneagram Association Accredited Professional, an Advanced Lee Holden Qigong teacher, and a certified Somatic Enneagram™ facilitator.   After 18+ years of senior level management in the corporate world, Roxanne desired a change in her work.  She was first drawn to Qigong in 2014 when a physical injury woke her up to the theme of resistance in her life and how it was affecting her life physically, emotionally and mentally.  In 2017 she was introduced to the Enneagram and has found these two wisdom traditions working together provide a map back to ourselves and the territory in which to work.

“Combining the power of Qigong with the Wisdom of the Enneagram is an incredible opportunity to align our energy of the head, heart and body so we can transform negative into positive and allow the life force to flow freely.”

In this workshop, you’ll learn to:

• Recognize your Enneagram type’s burnout pattern under pressure

• Gain simple, type-specific embodied movements and practices

• Use the Enneagram as a real-time tool for generative energy, emotional balance and mental clarity

Special Offer:

Don’t know your Enneagram type yet? Online Enneagram tests are available and they may help you determine your type, and serve as only one data point of information. Roxanne can support your Enneagram typing process through an interview session that supports you in discerning between the types, offering clarity around what can often be a confusing process.  

Roxanne is pleased to offer a 40% discount on a one hour online Enneagram Typing session prior to the workshop for any registered participants.  In order to learn more and  to book the session with Roxanne visit https://www.roxanneharrison.com/enneagram-typing-interview

Discounted Cost:  $75 for registered participants 

INSTRUCTOR: Deborah Yates

DATE: Sunday, March 1st

TIME: 11:15am - 12:45pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $25

DESCRIPTION:

IN THIS PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP, Deborah will be teaching us an flashy jazz dance / musical theater dance routine that we will be performing at Dancing in the Streets in ! Although you do not have to perform, we highly encourage you to do so because it is so FUN and you are FABULOUS!

Deborah will be breaking it down step by step so dancers can really pull it together in a polished way, feel confidant while dancing, and enjoy dancing together in community!

Please consider attending her classes ahead of time to familiarize yourself with her stylish choreography:

✨Sundays 10am - 11:00am : Inspire Dance

INSPIRE DANCE is a recipe for a delicious dance cardio experience. Move to your favorite popular songs combining dance styles from hip-hop, funk, jazz and contemporary while spicing it up with a bit of musical theater. Class includes breakdowns and sweat sesh with no pro skills needed. Just bring your passion for dance, love of music and your desire to move!

INSTRUCTORS: Hannah Lerch & Bryn Morgan

DATE: Saturday, February 28th

TIME: 6:00pm - 7:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: By donation (suggested $24) or use your Pleasure Point class pass.

No one turned away for lack of funds—come sing!!

DESCRIPTION:

Join Hannah Lerch & Bryn Morgan for Original compositions + Kirtan favorites!

We sing to and celebrate the capacity of our hearts to hold the exquisite beauty and pain of this world, our relationships and our lives. We sing call and response in Sanskrit, Awadhi and other sacred languages with great respect for the tradition of yoga. 

Join us! No experience required. You’re especially invited if you haven’t chanted, prayed or practiced in awhile and you’re feeling rusty. No matter the circumstance, your practice is always here for you :)

By donation (suggested $24) or use your Pleasure Point class pass. No one turned away for lack of funds—come sing!!

A bit about Hannah and Bryn:

Hannah and Bryn are practitioners of Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion) and friends who like to sing together. Hannah is a yoga instructor here at Pleasure Point Sanctuary. She leads local Kirtans and enjoys incorporating chanting into her classes. Bryn is a scholar of religion and a former yoga teacher who loves nothing more than to sing to god by their many beautiful names. She was raised in Santa Cruz in the tradition of Universal Sufism.

INSTRUCTOR: Gisella Ferreira

DATE: Saturday, February 28th

DATE: 11:15am - 12:15pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Dance Studio

COST: $20 Drop In / Class Passes Apply

DESCRIPTION:

Join Gisella Ferreira for a Vibe Brazil Pop Up Class — Vibe Brazil is a Brazilian Dance + Fitness class that covers Baile Funk, Samba, Axé and more Brazilian dance styles. It includes core strengthening and mat work to support Brazilian dance moves. Come join the fun and catch the vibe! 🔥😎💪🇧🇷

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Gisella Ferreira, a Brazilian-American performance artist and instructor specializes in: Samba, Afro-Brazilian, Capoeira, Hip- Hop, Burlesque and Brazilian Baile Funk. Her titles include: The first Samba Queen USA/ Rainha do Samba, Musa do Brazilian Day , Hollywood Carnival Queen, and currently a passista do Salgueiro (one of the most prestigious dance positions and Samba Schools in Rio).

Gisella studied at UCLA’s Dept. of World Arts and Cultures, focusing on dance choreography and performance, as well as on art activism. She began teaching dance at age twelve in Santa Cruz CA and has taught in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), Salvador (Brasil) and started her own dance company and studio in Los Angeles CA.

She tours and performs worldwide and trains extensively in the U.S. as well as Brasil in many dance forms including Capoeira, Samba and Hip-Hop. She was named one of “LA’s Hottest Trainers” and has been active in Health day LA as well as Let’s Move LA for many years, dedicating time to help the LA community become more active and inspired through dance.She can also be found performing at The Floor Show and improv nights around LA. Gisella now lives in Santa Cruz, where she performs and teaches Samba.

Gisella Ferreira loves sharing her passion for life through artistic movement expression, and dances as a form of energy work & healing for herself and others. She is inspired to live each day in joy and gratitude and help to give back to the world through dance.

INSTRUCTOR: Ana Saroj

DATE: Saturday, February 28th

DATE: 10:00am - 11:00am

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Dance Studio

COST: $20 Drop In / Class Passes Apply

DESCRIPTION:

Join Ana Saroj for a Salsa Cubana Pop Up Class—a fun, all-levels class focused on solo footwork (salsa suelta), body movement, and authentic Cuban flavor. With over 20 years of international teaching and performing experience, plus deep training in Cuba, Ana brings her passion for dance straight to the Santa Cruz community. No partner needed—just bring your joy and love for music and dance!

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Ana Saroj is a seasoned dancer with over 20 years of experience dedicated specifically to salsa and other Latin dances. She is known for her vibrant presence, deep musicality, and commitment to authentic Cuban dance. While based in the San Francisco Bay Area and later in Miami, Ana traveled the world teaching and performing, sharing her passion and expertise with dancers across continents.

In recent years, she has deepened her connection to the roots of Cuban dance by traveling regularly to Cuba to study with some of the island’s most respected masters in folkloric dance, salsa, and son.

Ana’s classes are fun, welcoming, and focused on solo movement—known in Cuba as salsa suelta—with no partner required. She emphasizes body movement, rhythm, and connection to the music, helping dancers of all levels experience the joy and richness of Cuban dance.

INSTRUCTOR: Chandi Collins RYT 200 & Sydney Davis DAcHM L.Ac

DATE: Monday, February 23rd

TIME: 7:30pm - 8:30pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: $55

DESCRIPTION:

Experience Yoga Nidra combined with a peaceful acupuncture treatment. Yoga Nidra is a deep meditative practice also known as yogic sleep. This practice promotes a more potent brain repair than regular sleep, leaving you feeling rested and relaxed after just one session. Couple this with acupuncture and the benefits are profound.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS:

Chandi Collins

Chandi is an RYT-200 yoga teacher trained and certified through Pleasure Point Yoga. She enjoys leading a Strong Vinyasa, Mixed Flow and Restorative Yoga. She is a certified breathwork guide, as well as a Yoga Nidra and Guided Meditation facilitator. She cares for each student in a way that empowers them to believe they are capable of achieving things they maybe never thought possible. In her class you will travel the full spectrum of your abilities with modifications for a more or less challenging approach to postures. She has a deep passion for the breath, the physical body, and the relationships we have with them. She is a forever student, committed to understanding the brain-body connection and discovering the most tangible ways to bring nervous system regulation strategies to everyday people. Her goal for her students is they leave her class both mentally and physically stronger than when they arrived.

Sydney Davis:

Sydney, is a doctor of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. My mission is rooted in a deep passion for helping people, especially women, feel strong, seen, and supported-at every stage of life. I believe that when we feel empowered in our health, we show up more fully in every part of our lives. That's what acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer: not just relief from symptoms, but a path back to balance, vitality, and connection to yourself.

I blend the ancient wisdom of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and holistic care with an understanding of how today's stress, pace, and pressure affect our health. Whether you're navigating hormonal shifts, chronic stress, fertility journeys, or simply feeling out of alignment, I'm here to help you reconnect with your body's natural intelligence and live life with more energy, clarity, and joy.

My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and personalized. I meet you where you are and walk beside you as we uncover the root causes of imbalance and awaken your body's innate healing potential. I am dedicated to guiding you on a path to wellness through personalized care and the time-honored art of balance and harmony.

INSTRUCTOR: Kayla Copeland and Vaza Racinet

DATE: Sunday, February 15th

TIME: 10:30am - 5:30pm

LOCATION: Sacred Owl Land, Corralitos, CA

COST:

Single Day Retreat: $299 Regular Rate

Early Rate Discount: $269 Expires on Feb 1st ($30 Off)

Bring a Friend: $222 ($77 Off)

DESCRIPTION:

A Day of Devotion: Self-Love, Self-Care & Nervous System Renewal

In a world that feels loud, uncertain, and fast-moving, this day is an invitation to come home to yourself.

Rather than romanticizing love as something external, we gather the day after Valentine’s Day to reclaim love as a living practice self-love, self-trust, self-attunement, and deep care for the body and nervous system.

This is a one-day retreat spacious, nourishing, and accessible—designed to offer real restoration without the pressure of travel or over-commitment. Come as you are. Leave resources.

Sacred Owl Land opens her arms to those who are ready to slow down, be held by the land, and remember that healing does not require urgency, only presence.

Our Intention

To create a grounded, gentle container for regulation, connection, and renewal—supporting the nervous system, the heart, and the body during a time when many are feeling tender, overwhelmed, or called inward.

This day is for those who are craving:

• Simplicity instead of stimulation

• Safety instead of striving

• Connection instead of isolation

What the Day Holds

✨ Grounding meditation to arrive fully and settle the nervous system

✨ Gentle morning yoga practice—slow, accessible, and embodied

✨ Sharing circle rooted in listening, not fixing

✨ Nourishing seasonal lunch, lovingly prepared by Chef Michelle of Summit Lady Food

✨ Time in nature at Sacred Owl Land—rest, wander, breathe

✨ Self-care ritual to replenish and reconnect with your body

✨ Space to recharge and connect—with yourself and with others

✨ Closing Yoga Nidra for deep restoration

✨ Integration & closing circle to gently transition back into daily life

Throughout the day, the land supports the work—quiet, grounded, wise—offering exactly what is needed for those who arrive.

Why a Day Retreat

Because healing doesn’t have to be complicated.

Because not everyone can leave for a weekend.

Because your nervous system deserves care now.

This day is designed to fit into real life while still offering the depth, beauty, and intentionality of a retreat experience.

Who This Is For

This gathering is for women who feel the call to:

• Tend to themselves with kindness

• Rebuild inner trust and resilience

• Regulate and restore their nervous system

• Remember that love begins within

If your body softened as you read this, you’re listening to the right voice.

INSTRUCTORS: Lily Webber & Buck Shelton

DATE: Saturday, February 14th

TIME: 3:30pm - 6:00pm

LOCATION: 3707 Portola Drive – Yoga Studio

COST: Sliding Scale $65-$70-$75

DESCRIPTION:

About the Breathwork:

"Entheobreath" is the term we use which is of the Transformational lineage. We don't use the term "Transformational Breathwork" since it's trademarked, but here is a description aligned with the modality we offer.

Our Breathwork Sessions Support:

• emotional release

• nervous system unwinding

• softening and clearing of trauma patterns

• heightened states of awareness

• expanded inner connection

• energetic/frequency elevation

• processing and integrating stored or suppressed emotions

• deepened intuition and somatic clarity

This style of breathwork creates a safe, powerful container for personal healing, spiritual insight, and profound embodied transformation.

Participant Preparation:

Participants simply need to arrive with a relatively empty stomach for comfort.

Facilitator Bios:

Lily Webber

Lily is a Registered Nurse, licensed massage therapist, plant medicine facilitator, and breathwork facilitator with a deep background in trauma-informed healing and somatic awareness. She brings over 25 years of experience holding space for individuals in emotional, physical, and spiritual transformation.

Her work is rooted in nervous system regulation, compassionate presence, and helping people access the innate intelligence of their breath. Drawing from her clinical background and her intuitive connection with the healing process, Lily guides participants into states of clarity, release, and expanded self-connection.

Buck Shelton

Buck is a plant medicine facilitator, breathwork facilitator, strength & conditioning coach, and mycologist who brings grounded wisdom, emotional depth, and lived experience to his work.

Having moved through his own shadows, particularly around anger, identity, and early-life adversity, Buck's path has shaped him into a powerful mentor for those emerging from difficult chapters.

He excels at supporting troubled youth, individuals healing from dark or challenging periods, and anyone ready to step into greater emotional freedom and strength.

His presence is steady, compassionate, and deeply supportive, helping participants release stored tension, reclaim personal power, and find meaning in their healing journey.

INSTRUCTOR: Sidney Nicol

DATES: Saturday, February 14th

TIME: 2:00pm - 5:00pm

LOCATION: 3603 Portola Drive – Dance Studio

COST: $65 per person

DESCRIPTION:

Tantra practices that will be included:
- Fine tune presence and connection
- Tantric breathing exercises for co-regulation
- Communication practices that are fun and effective

Thai Massage Practice:
- Move your partner passively into delicious assisted stretches and range of motion
- Explore creative positioning for giving and receiving massage
- Use your body weight and rhythmic compression to apply pressure effortlessly

Everyone Welcome
- Useful skills will be learned for ALL levels of experience. - ALL gender, sexuality, ethnic, LGBTQ+ identities are welcome.

FYI: There is a moderate level of effort and flexibility needed to give Thai massage. Light lifting, kneeling and balancing are required to perform the movements. Modifications will be given to help accommodate your ability.

Attire: Please dress in comfortable clothing allowing for ease of movement and flexibility.

Instructor BIO: Sidney Nicol

Founder of The Temple of Touch and Certified Massage Therapist for over 20 years, Sidney is deeply inspired in sharing therapeutic touch and sacred presence with non-professionals. Everyone benefits from knowing how to massage their loved ones with playfulness and ease! She has taught Thai Massage workshops at Stanford University, privately, public events and at many yoga studios throughout the Bay Area. She is also a long time instructor of Hatha Yoga, Brazilian Dance and practitioner of Qigong. Her studies of Thai Massage began in 2006 at the Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Further study and apprenticeship at Twin Lakes College of Healing Arts and Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage. Be in TOUCH...

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