Faculty
Melinda Atkins
Breif Bio:
Melinda Atkins, M.Ed., MSc., C-IAYT, RYPT, RCYT, E-RYT 500, is the founding director of AUM hOMe Shala, which offers 200- and 500-hour Yoga Alliance–registered yoga teacher trainings and a clinical yoga therapist certification program accredited by the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Established in 2005, the Shala became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2009.
Melinda earned her 500-hour certification at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and her yoga therapy certification at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Florida and graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where she was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
As a professional-level yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) with over 30,000 hours of documented teaching experience, Melinda completed 200 hours of preliminary work in Astanga Yoga before receiving her 500-hour certification from Kripalu. She is also a certified MELT Method® instructor and was among the first in Florida to be certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists through their grandfathering process, documenting 2,100 hours of yoga therapy experience.
In 2021, Melinda contributed a chapter to "Yoga Therapy Foundations, Tools, and Practice: A Comprehensive Textbook." Leveraging her background in education, yoga, and yoga therapy, she writes and administers grants to fund Yoga Therapy programs for hospitals, universities, schools (K–12), and community service. Melinda conducts and supervises free community yoga programs for Parkinson's and other neuro-motor degenerative disorders, as well as other conditions affecting her community.
Amba Greene
Breif Bio:
Amba Greene, CAP, FNLP, E-RYT®500, LMT, has been exploring and teaching holistic health and nutrition for more than 40 years. A Yoga Alliance-certified teacher, she is a senior Kali Natha Yoga instructor and was a longtime student of yoga master Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati before her passing in 2012. Amba is also certified as an Ayurvedic teacher and consultant through the Kripalu School of Ayurveda, where she trained with the foremost Ayurvedic doctors teaching in the West today, including Vasant Lad, Robert Svoboda, John Douillard, and Sunil Joshi. In 2011, she became certified in The MELT Method and continued her training as an Advanced Instructor. In 2014 she became certified as a Functional Medicine Nutritionist, enabling her to offer a unique fusion of ancient and modern perspectives. Amba is also a kirtan singer who executive-produced and performed on the Kashi Ashram CD "Songs of the River.”
Anthony Connell — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Anthony Connell, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, CYS, graduated from Florida International University with a degree in psychology. He received his 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification and completed his Clinical Practicum in the Therapeutic Benefits of Yoga from AUM hOMe Shala in 2017. Tony has extensive experience teaching for AUM's annual Chill Out program in inner-city schools and leading yoga sessions in after-school programs.
Tony began his yoga practice in 2002 under the guidance of AUM's director, Melinda Atkins, at Gulliver Prep. He now serves as the assistant director of AUM's 200 and 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training programs and as a yoga therapy faculty mentor and assistant director of AUM's clinical practicum.
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Tony is passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga for maintaining balance and alleviating stress. His commitment to yoga and his community continues to inspire and support many.
Christian Atkins
Breif Bio:
Christian Atkins, MPAS, PA-C, brings a wealth of experience with over a decade as a certified physician assistant specializing in family medicine, urgent care, and emergency medicine. His distinguished four-year tenure as a health care specialist in the U.S. Army earned him four commendation medals and two achievement medals, reflecting his dedication and expertise.
Christian holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from The University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama. Since 2018, he has been serving as an emergency room physician assistant in the Miami, Florida area, where his skills and compassion have greatly benefited his patients.
Currently, Christian Atkins works in Family Medicine for AdventHealth Medical Group, continuing his commitment to providing exceptional care to his community.
Ghada Osman
Breif Bio:
Ghada Osman, PhD, LMFT, PYT, C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, is a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, psychotherapist, and author of Mental and Emotional Healing Through Yoga: A Guiding Framework for Therapists and their Clients. She has worked with a wide range of populations, from college students to hospice patients, and currently is full-time faculty, clinical supervisor, and lead of a large mental health counseling program in a community college district in San Diego County, California. In her private practice, her specialties include helping clients cope with a emotional health concerns including trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders and substance abuse using yoga as a healing modality. Ghada earned her 500-hour yoga teacher certification at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and is also trained in Street Yoga (designed for underserved populations) and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. She holds a doctorate degree in philosophy from Harvard University and a master’s in psychology from Chapman University.
Grisell B. Gonzalez — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Grisell B. Gonzalez, BA, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is a dedicated yoga therapist with a degree in Art History from the University of Washington. She holds a 1,000-Hour Clinical Yoga Therapy Certification and a 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification from AUM hOMe Shala in Florida, along with a 200-Hour Yoga and Meditation Teaching Certification from Ananda Washington.
Grisell specializes in yoga therapy for Parkinson's disease, neuroplasticity, and spinal health conditions. She also has expertise in Tai Chi, Qigong, and Pilates for health. As the founder of Inner Joy Yoga & Meditation, she integrates her knowledge of yoga therapy, meditation, Tai Chi, Qigong, and sound therapy to promote health and well-being.
With over 20 years of experience, yoga has been a cornerstone of Grisell's life, inspiring her to live each moment more mindfully and to share the transformative benefits of yoga with her community.
Kathleen Ross-Allee
Breif Bio:
Kathleen Ross-Allee, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, is a certified yoga therapist and ACE-Certified fitness trainer and Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES) with more than 25 years of experience as a health and wellness expert. Kathleen is a Health Educator and Yoga Therapist for Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills for the Center for Healthy Living. She is the managing director and instructor for the Loyola Marymount University Yoga Therapy Rx program, where she earned her credentials as a yoga therapist (YTRx-500C), as well as the lead instructor of the LMU Yoga Therapy Rx Level IV Practicum Prep Course. Kathleen has developed yoga therapy programs to support cancer treatment at Cedars-Sinai/Tower Hematology, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, Vantage Oncology, and Tower Cancer Research Foundation, where she continues to teach ongoing classes. She also teaches a weekly gentle yoga therapy class for people with Parkinson’s disease, which she offers free to patients and caregivers at Liberation Yoga in Los Angeles.
Lucia Walker — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Lucia Walker, C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, is a certified yoga therapist trained at AUM. She began practicing yoga as a way to find balance in her life during her time as a triathlete and has been teaching since 2013. In addition to her formal certifications, Lucia has studied under Loren Fishman, Judith Hanson Lasater, Tom Meyers, and Robin Rothenburg. Her experience spans yoga therapy for osteoporosis, back pain, hip issues, Tourette’s syndrome, and stress management. Lucia has worked with a diverse range of clients, from teenagers aiming to improve focus in academics and sports to the elderly and those with specific ailments and injuries. She also incorporates the healing properties of essential oils into her clients’ yoga-based protocols.
Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Perez
Breif Bio:
Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Perez, PT, DPT received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the prestigious Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Perez began his career in 1991 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida where he developed his skills while working in the Neuro-Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord, Ortho-Trauma, Burns, and Amputee units. He currently is the owner and clinic director at Active Sports Medicine center where he treats patients who have a variety of orthopedic related injuries from the neck, hand, shoulder, back and lower extremities. His emphasis on foot care has filled a void in South Florida area. Dr. Perez’s interests go beyond the clinic setting extending into the academia. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University where he teaches the orthopedic foot and ankle courses to Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates. Additionally he serves in the advisory committee for the school of Physical Therapy Assistants at Miami Dade College.
Evelyns Gaiti — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Evelyns Gaiti, B.A., M.A., E-RYT®00, YACEP, RCYT, is a certified Clinical Yoga Therapist trained at AUM hOMe Shala, with over 1200 hours of specialized training in utilizing the therapeutic benefits of yoga to address a wide range of pediatric conditions. As a special needs educator with more than 25 years of experience working with children and teenagers, Evelyns was inspired to pursue yoga teacher training after observing the positive impact of breathing exercises and postures on the kids she worked with as a developmental therapist. In addition to her 1200-hour Yoga Therapy certification from AUM hOMe Shala, Evelyns has studied Restorative Yoga with Cindy Lee, Yoga Therapy for Children with Loraine Rushton, and completed Children's Yoga Teacher Training at Karma Kids Yoga. She also holds a certification in Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum from Vanessa Khalon and a 95-Hour Yoga Alliance Children's Yoga Teacher Specialist certification from AUM. Additionally, Evelyns is trained in Sensory Impairment and Applied Behavior Analysis and is certified in Sound Bowl Healing and as a Reiki Master in the Natural Healing Method.
Bea Maldonado — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Bea Maldonado, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, is a graduate of AUM’s Yoga Teacher Training, Clinical Yoga Therapy Certification and a seasoned Clinical Yoga Therapist. She is proficient in various Yoga styles, including Ashtanga Vinyasa, Taoist Yoga, Qigong, and Thai Bodywork, and works with diverse populations across all age groups. Passionate about community wellness, Bea has led outreach programs for organizations such as the Frost Museum of Science, Westcare Foundation, Coral Gables Adult Activity Center, Equilibrium Therapeutic Center, and Easter Seals. She has also developed and leads an after-school yoga program for elementary-aged children in multiple Miami-Dade schools.
Currently, Bea serves as a clinical Yoga Therapist at the prestigious University of Miami’s Sylvester Cancer Center, where she designs and implements yoga programs tailored for cancer patients and survivors. These programs aim to alleviate cancer and treatment-related symptoms, restore mobility, strength, and flexibility, and promote stress reduction, relaxation, and overall well-being. Additionally, Bea is an engineer and a mother of two, exemplifying a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Dawn Anne Loftin — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Dawn A. Loftin, M.A, C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, YACEP, is a highly qualified yoga therapist and teacher, holding multiple certifications including Level 1 ParaYoga® Certified Teacher, Certified ParaYoga® Nidra Teacher, Ayurveda Yoga Specialist, and Relax & Renew® Trainer. She earned her 1,000-Hour Clinical Yoga Therapy Certification and her 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification from AUM hOMe Shala. Initially drawn to yoga therapy to deepen her understanding of anatomy, Dawn discovered a profound calling to work with Parkinson’s Disease during her clinical training.
Dawn facilitates AUM hOMe Shala’s online Yoga Nidra classes and teaches gentle yoga for Parkinson’s and other neuro-motor diseases at Lake Norman Muay Thai/Rock Steady Boxing in Mooresville, NC. As a faculty member, she is passionate about sharing the blessings of ParaYoga® Nidra with students and teachers alike.
Certified as an Ayurveda Yoga Specialist through Kathryn Templeton's teachings, Dawn integrates the foundational aspects of Ayurveda into her yoga classes. She also holds a Relax & Renew® Trainer certification from Judith Lasater, specializing in guiding students toward relaxation and stillness. Additionally, she has completed a 100-hour Trauma-Informed Yoga: Yoga Therapy for Mental Health course and a 40-hour Advanced Yoga Therapy for the Heart certification with Dr. Ghada Osman.
Adam Flores — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Adam Flores, Licensed CCPA , C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, YACEP®, has advanced training in Yoga Therapy for Mental Health and is the CEO and Director of Yoga Therapy at Healing Choice, a chiropractic healthcare practice specializing in addiction recovery. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Holistic Health Practitioner in Integrative Nutrition, Western Herbalism and Ayurveda. He is currently a developing partner for BE SERENE, an addiction recovery toolkit app based in yogic principles, and a faculty member at AUM Home Shala.
Martha Victoria — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Martha Victoria, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, YACEP®. transformed her life through yoga, evolving from disconnection to self-discovery and holistic well-being. Her mission is to guide others to the same wholeness through personalized yoga therapy.
Discovering yoga in 2014, Martha embraced it as a comprehensive philosophy for mindful living, connecting all aspects of life. Supported by loved ones, she completed over two thousand hours of training to become a Certified Yoga Therapist, creating safe spaces for individuals to find their unique paths to well-being.
"Yoga as union honors our bodies, centers our minds, and understands our emotions, grounded in breath," Martha explains. Her therapy combines movement, breathwork, mantras, and meditation, promoting deep healing and transformation.
Martha’s background in mysticism (Rosicrucian Order), engineering, and 40+ years in video production ensure her workshops are engaging and practical, guiding clients on a journey of "Yoga beyond the surface!"
Amparo Hernandez -Perez — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Amparo Hernandez-Perez, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT500, has over ten years of Yoga experience and a lifelong commitment to spirituality. Originally from Spain, she began practicing Yoga two decades ago to address chronic back issues, and it soon became a way of life. Inspired by Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, Amparo integrates the physical and spiritual aspects of Yoga in her teaching.
She holds a 200-Hour and advanced 300-Hour Yoga Alliance certification, specializing in Vinyasa, Restorative, and Yin Yoga. In 2019, she furthered her expertise at AUM hOMe Shala, earning her C-IAYT Yoga Therapist certification with a focus on clinical Yoga therapy for various conditions. She also initiated and led a successful meditation program in Spanish, funded by a grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Amparo is dedicated to sharing her knowledge through bilingual classes, helping others find peace and wellness through Yoga.
Alisha Pacheco — AUM-Grown Teacher
Breif Bio:
Alisha Pacheco, B.A, MBA, LMT, C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, YACEP®, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Miami. She received her 200-Hour Certification in Sampoorna Yoga during a residential program at Yogi Hari’s Ashram in 2014. After getting certified, she spent several years teaching Hatha Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Gentle Yoga as well as chair yoga and corporate yoga. Teaching led her to pursue the healing arts, and she enrolled in the Massage Therapy Program at Broward College. After working on professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, Alisha became interested in pursuing a medical understanding of how massage could support medical patients, and she became certified as a Medical Massage Practitioner. This allowed her to do massage and teach yoga on a therapeutic level to patients being treated at Sylvester Cancer Center and Memorial Hospital. To further her understanding of how yoga can be used to treat medical conditions, Alisha pursued a certification in Yoga Therapy and is a graduate of AUM Home Shala's Yoga Therapy Program and the Shala's Yoga Therapy for Mental Health 100-Hour Certification.
Melinda Atkins
Melinda Atkins, M.Ed., MSc., C-IAYT, RYPT, RCYT, E-RYT 500, is the founding director of AUM hOMe Shala, which offers 200- and 500-hour Yoga Alliance–registered yoga teacher trainings and a clinical yoga therapist certification program accredited by the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Established in 2005, the Shala became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2009.
Melinda earned her 500-hour certification at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and her yoga therapy certification at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Florida and graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where she was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
As a professional-level yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) with over 30,000 hours of documented teaching experience, Melinda completed 200 hours of preliminary work in Astanga Yoga before receiving her 500-hour certification from Kripalu. She is also a certified MELT Method® instructor and was among the first in Florida to be certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists through their grandfathering process, documenting 2,100 hours of yoga therapy experience.
In 2021, Melinda contributed a chapter to "Yoga Therapy Foundations, Tools, and Practice: A Comprehensive Textbook." Leveraging her background in education, yoga, and yoga therapy, she writes and administers grants to fund Yoga Therapy programs for hospitals, universities, schools (K–12), and community service. Melinda conducts and supervises free community yoga programs for Parkinson's and other neuro-motor degenerative disorders, as well as other conditions affecting her community.
Amba Greene
Amba Greene, CAP, FNLP, E-RYT®500, LMT, has been exploring and teaching holistic health and nutrition for more than 40 years. A Yoga Alliance-certified teacher, she is a senior Kali Natha Yoga instructor and was a longtime student of yoga master Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati before her passing in 2012. Amba is also certified as an Ayurvedic teacher and consultant through the Kripalu School of Ayurveda, where she trained with the foremost Ayurvedic doctors teaching in the West today, including Vasant Lad, Robert Svoboda, John Douillard, and Sunil Joshi. In 2011, she became certified in The MELT Method and continued her training as an Advanced Instructor. In 2014 she became certified as a Functional Medicine Nutritionist, enabling her to offer a unique fusion of ancient and modern perspectives. Amba is also a kirtan singer who executive-produced and performed on the Kashi Ashram CD "Songs of the River.”
Anthony Connell — AUM-Grown Teacher
Anthony Connell, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, CYS, graduated from Florida International University with a degree in psychology. He received his 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification and completed his Clinical Practicum in the Therapeutic Benefits of Yoga from AUM hOMe Shala in 2017. Tony has extensive experience teaching for AUM's annual Chill Out program in inner-city schools and leading yoga sessions in after-school programs.
Tony began his yoga practice in 2002 under the guidance of AUM's director, Melinda Atkins, at Gulliver Prep. He now serves as the assistant director of AUM's 200 and 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training programs and as a yoga therapy faculty mentor and assistant director of AUM's clinical practicum.
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Tony is passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga for maintaining balance and alleviating stress. His commitment to yoga and his community continues to inspire and support many.
Christian Atkins
Christian Atkins, MPAS, PA-C, brings a wealth of experience with over a decade as a certified physician assistant specializing in family medicine, urgent care, and emergency medicine. His distinguished four-year tenure as a health care specialist in the U.S. Army earned him four commendation medals and two achievement medals, reflecting his dedication and expertise.
Christian holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from The University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama. Since 2018, he has been serving as an emergency room physician assistant in the Miami, Florida area, where his skills and compassion have greatly benefited his patients.
Currently, Christian Atkins works in Family Medicine for AdventHealth Medical Group, continuing his commitment to providing exceptional care to his community.
Ghada Osman
Ghada Osman, PhD, LMFT, PYT, C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, is a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, psychotherapist, and author of Mental and Emotional Healing Through Yoga: A Guiding Framework for Therapists and their Clients. She has worked with a wide range of populations, from college students to hospice patients, and currently is full-time faculty, clinical supervisor, and lead of a large mental health counseling program in a community college district in San Diego County, California. In her private practice, her specialties include helping clients cope with a emotional health concerns including trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders and substance abuse using yoga as a healing modality. Ghada earned her 500-hour yoga teacher certification at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and is also trained in Street Yoga (designed for underserved populations) and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. She holds a doctorate degree in philosophy from Harvard University and a master’s in psychology from Chapman University.
Grisell B. Gonzalez — AUM-Grown Teacher
Grisell B. Gonzalez, BA, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is a dedicated yoga therapist with a degree in Art History from the University of Washington. She holds a 1,000-Hour Clinical Yoga Therapy Certification and a 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification from AUM hOMe Shala in Florida, along with a 200-Hour Yoga and Meditation Teaching Certification from Ananda Washington.
Grisell specializes in yoga therapy for Parkinson's disease, neuroplasticity, and spinal health conditions. She also has expertise in Tai Chi, Qigong, and Pilates for health. As the founder of Inner Joy Yoga & Meditation, she integrates her knowledge of yoga therapy, meditation, Tai Chi, Qigong, and sound therapy to promote health and well-being.
With over 20 years of experience, yoga has been a cornerstone of Grisell's life, inspiring her to live each moment more mindfully and to share the transformative benefits of yoga with her community.
Kathleen Ross-Allee
Kathleen Ross-Allee, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, is a certified yoga therapist and ACE-Certified fitness trainer and Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES) with more than 25 years of experience as a health and wellness expert. Kathleen is a Health Educator and Yoga Therapist for Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills for the Center for Healthy Living. She is the managing director and instructor for the Loyola Marymount University Yoga Therapy Rx program, where she earned her credentials as a yoga therapist (YTRx-500C), as well as the lead instructor of the LMU Yoga Therapy Rx Level IV Practicum Prep Course. Kathleen has developed yoga therapy programs to support cancer treatment at Cedars-Sinai/Tower Hematology, USC/Norris Cancer Hospital, Vantage Oncology, and Tower Cancer Research Foundation, where she continues to teach ongoing classes. She also teaches a weekly gentle yoga therapy class for people with Parkinson’s disease, which she offers free to patients and caregivers at Liberation Yoga in Los Angeles.
Lucia Walker — AUM-Grown Teacher
Lucia Walker, C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, is a certified yoga therapist trained at AUM. She began practicing yoga as a way to find balance in her life during her time as a triathlete and has been teaching since 2013. In addition to her formal certifications, Lucia has studied under Loren Fishman, Judith Hanson Lasater, Tom Meyers, and Robin Rothenburg. Her experience spans yoga therapy for osteoporosis, back pain, hip issues, Tourette’s syndrome, and stress management. Lucia has worked with a diverse range of clients, from teenagers aiming to improve focus in academics and sports to the elderly and those with specific ailments and injuries. She also incorporates the healing properties of essential oils into her clients’ yoga-based protocols.
Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Perez
Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Perez, PT, DPT received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the prestigious Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Perez began his career in 1991 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida where he developed his skills while working in the Neuro-Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord, Ortho-Trauma, Burns, and Amputee units. He currently is the owner and clinic director at Active Sports Medicine center where he treats patients who have a variety of orthopedic related injuries from the neck, hand, shoulder, back and lower extremities. His emphasis on foot care has filled a void in South Florida area. Dr. Perez’s interests go beyond the clinic setting extending into the academia. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University where he teaches the orthopedic foot and ankle courses to Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates. Additionally he serves in the advisory committee for the school of Physical Therapy Assistants at Miami Dade College.
Evelyns Gaiti — AUM-Grown Teacher
Evelyns Gaiti, B.A., M.A., E-RYT®00, YACEP, RCYT, is a certified Clinical Yoga Therapist trained at AUM hOMe Shala, with over 1200 hours of specialized training in utilizing the therapeutic benefits of yoga to address a wide range of pediatric conditions. As a special needs educator with more than 25 years of experience working with children and teenagers, Evelyns was inspired to pursue yoga teacher training after observing the positive impact of breathing exercises and postures on the kids she worked with as a developmental therapist. In addition to her 1200-hour Yoga Therapy certification from AUM hOMe Shala, Evelyns has studied Restorative Yoga with Cindy Lee, Yoga Therapy for Children with Loraine Rushton, and completed Children's Yoga Teacher Training at Karma Kids Yoga. She also holds a certification in Yoga Education for Autism Spectrum from Vanessa Khalon and a 95-Hour Yoga Alliance Children's Yoga Teacher Specialist certification from AUM. Additionally, Evelyns is trained in Sensory Impairment and Applied Behavior Analysis and is certified in Sound Bowl Healing and as a Reiki Master in the Natural Healing Method.
Bea Maldonado — AUM-Grown Teacher
Bea Maldonado, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, is a graduate of AUM’s Yoga Teacher Training, Clinical Yoga Therapy Certification and a seasoned Clinical Yoga Therapist. She is proficient in various Yoga styles, including Ashtanga Vinyasa, Taoist Yoga, Qigong, and Thai Bodywork, and works with diverse populations across all age groups. Passionate about community wellness, Bea has led outreach programs for organizations such as the Frost Museum of Science, Westcare Foundation, Coral Gables Adult Activity Center, Equilibrium Therapeutic Center, and Easter Seals. She has also developed and leads an after-school yoga program for elementary-aged children in multiple Miami-Dade schools.
Currently, Bea serves as a clinical Yoga Therapist at the prestigious University of Miami’s Sylvester Cancer Center, where she designs and implements yoga programs tailored for cancer patients and survivors. These programs aim to alleviate cancer and treatment-related symptoms, restore mobility, strength, and flexibility, and promote stress reduction, relaxation, and overall well-being. Additionally, Bea is an engineer and a mother of two, exemplifying a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Dawn Anne Loftin — AUM-Grown Teacher
Dawn A. Loftin, M.A, C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, YACEP, is a highly qualified yoga therapist and teacher, holding multiple certifications including Level 1 ParaYoga® Certified Teacher, Certified ParaYoga® Nidra Teacher, Ayurveda Yoga Specialist, and Relax & Renew® Trainer. She earned her 1,000-Hour Clinical Yoga Therapy Certification and her 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification from AUM hOMe Shala. Initially drawn to yoga therapy to deepen her understanding of anatomy, Dawn discovered a profound calling to work with Parkinson’s Disease during her clinical training.
Dawn facilitates AUM hOMe Shala’s online Yoga Nidra classes and teaches gentle yoga for Parkinson’s and other neuro-motor diseases at Lake Norman Muay Thai/Rock Steady Boxing in Mooresville, NC. As a faculty member, she is passionate about sharing the blessings of ParaYoga® Nidra with students and teachers alike.
Certified as an Ayurveda Yoga Specialist through Kathryn Templeton's teachings, Dawn integrates the foundational aspects of Ayurveda into her yoga classes. She also holds a Relax & Renew® Trainer certification from Judith Lasater, specializing in guiding students toward relaxation and stillness. Additionally, she has completed a 100-hour Trauma-Informed Yoga: Yoga Therapy for Mental Health course and a 40-hour Advanced Yoga Therapy for the Heart certification with Dr. Ghada Osman.
Adam Flores — AUM-Grown Teacher
Adam Flores, Licensed CCPA , C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, YACEP®, has advanced training in Yoga Therapy for Mental Health and is the CEO and Director of Yoga Therapy at Healing Choice, a chiropractic healthcare practice specializing in addiction recovery. He is a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Holistic Health Practitioner in Integrative Nutrition, Western Herbalism and Ayurveda. He is currently a developing partner for BE SERENE, an addiction recovery toolkit app based in yogic principles, and a faculty member at AUM Home Shala.
Martha Victoria — AUM-Grown Teacher
Martha Victoria, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT® 500, YACEP®. transformed her life through yoga, evolving from disconnection to self-discovery and holistic well-being. Her mission is to guide others to the same wholeness through personalized yoga therapy.
Discovering yoga in 2014, Martha embraced it as a comprehensive philosophy for mindful living, connecting all aspects of life. Supported by loved ones, she completed over two thousand hours of training to become a Certified Yoga Therapist, creating safe spaces for individuals to find their unique paths to well-being.
"Yoga as union honors our bodies, centers our minds, and understands our emotions, grounded in breath," Martha explains. Her therapy combines movement, breathwork, mantras, and meditation, promoting deep healing and transformation.
Martha’s background in mysticism (Rosicrucian Order), engineering, and 40+ years in video production ensure her workshops are engaging and practical, guiding clients on a journey of "Yoga beyond the surface!"
Amparo Hernandez -Perez — AUM-Grown Teacher
Amparo Hernandez-Perez, B.A., C-IAYT, E-RYT500, has over ten years of Yoga experience and a lifelong commitment to spirituality. Originally from Spain, she began practicing Yoga two decades ago to address chronic back issues, and it soon became a way of life. Inspired by Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, Amparo integrates the physical and spiritual aspects of Yoga in her teaching.
She holds a 200-Hour and advanced 300-Hour Yoga Alliance certification, specializing in Vinyasa, Restorative, and Yin Yoga. In 2019, she furthered her expertise at AUM hOMe Shala, earning her C-IAYT Yoga Therapist certification with a focus on clinical Yoga therapy for various conditions. She also initiated and led a successful meditation program in Spanish, funded by a grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Amparo is dedicated to sharing her knowledge through bilingual classes, helping others find peace and wellness through Yoga.
Alisha Pacheco — AUM-Grown Teacher
Alisha Pacheco, B.A, MBA, LMT, C-IAYT, E-RYT®500, YACEP®, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Miami. She received her 200-Hour Certification in Sampoorna Yoga during a residential program at Yogi Hari’s Ashram in 2014. After getting certified, she spent several years teaching Hatha Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Gentle Yoga as well as chair yoga and corporate yoga. Teaching led her to pursue the healing arts, and she enrolled in the Massage Therapy Program at Broward College. After working on professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, Alisha became interested in pursuing a medical understanding of how massage could support medical patients, and she became certified as a Medical Massage Practitioner. This allowed her to do massage and teach yoga on a therapeutic level to patients being treated at Sylvester Cancer Center and Memorial Hospital. To further her understanding of how yoga can be used to treat medical conditions, Alisha pursued a certification in Yoga Therapy and is a graduate of AUM Home Shala's Yoga Therapy Program and the Shala's Yoga Therapy for Mental Health 100-Hour Certification.