Yoga Instructors
NASIM NOURIAN
Nasim discovered the healing power of yoga in 2011 while attending a workshop at the Inner Vision Yoga studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Curious to learn more about yoga, she signed up for the workshop, not at all expecting such a transformative experience. That profound experience of healing confirmed the positive energetic and physical effects of yoga which then led her to complete her teacher training program. Nasim is a certified Healing Emphasis Yoga Therapy Instructor with 500 hour Master Teacher Training and 300 hr Yoga Alliance approved teacher training program. She has completed her studies on Relaxation Response with the Benson-Henry Institute of Mind-Body Medicine at the Harvard Medical School Massachusetts General Hospital and has studied with Paulie Zink, the Yin Yoga Master in the West and Sarah Powers founder of Insight Yoga. Nasim has developed a program titled "Transformation Awakening Yoga" as a functional way of observing stillness and grace to heighten awareness and personal growth. She is also the founder of G.E.M.S. method to practice mindfulness and gratitude using a simple four-step process. Nasim is also certified as Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor from Dr. David Frawely’s American Institute of Vedic Studies. In her spare time, she loves to create art and hike with her dogs. Visit www.nasimnourian.com to see more of Nasim’s art pieces.
LINDA J SANDELL, PhD
RYT-200, Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), Certified ParaYoga Nidra® instructor
Linda loves yoga because of the limitless opportunities to learn about yourself and others. “I learn from every yoga practice and class I teach or take.” Linda trained at the Yoga Source in 2009 (RYT-2oo) in St Louis and has been teaching since. She has advanced certifications from Duke University Integrative Medicine in Therapeutic Yoga for Seniors and Yoga of Awareness for Cancer.
Since 2014, she has made 8 trips to India where she completed an 800 hour course in yoga therapy in the first school in India to be accredited by the International Association of Yoga Therapy, as well as 100 hr training with Sri Ramaswamy in the practice of Khrisnamachyra. She enjoys the challenge of creating yoga for everyone and using personalized yoga therapy as medicine.
Linda is a scientist, Professor Emerita, and Founding Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center at Washington University. She is a Certified ParaYoga Nidra® instructor (Rod Stryker) and loves living in Aspen, Puerto Vallarta and St Louis.
Dr. Julie Hoffman
Dr. Julie Hoffman began working as a labor and delivery nurse in 1992 after completing her BSN at the University of Arizona. While working as a staff RN she finished her MBA studies, also at the University of Arizona. She attained her DNP in 2012. Her career has taken her from the bedside to the C-suite, from labor and delivery to hospice, and from inpatient to outpatient.
In addition to nursing leadership, Dr. Hoffman is a Certified Nurse Coach and a yoga instructor. She completed her 200-hour studies in 2017 and began teaching prenatal yoga that same year. In 2020 Dr. Hoffman will complete her 500-hour studies. She is experienced in teaching chair yoga, yoga for stroke survivors, students new to yoga and students recovering from injury or surgery.
LISA JANE VARGAS
Lisa Jane is a holistic health and wellness professional with a passion for teaching individuals the therapeutic benefits of yoga with the goal of helping each heal from the inside out. Her experience includes over 20 years in the mental and behavioral health field with an emphasis in addictions, eating disorders, trauma, chronic pain, depression and anxiety.
Earlier in her career she operated a personal training business alongside working in the financial services and hospitality sectors. She has spent a lifetime researching and studying healing modalities in the physical, psychological and spiritual realms and how they integrate with yoga and wellness.
Lisa Jane is a 300 Hour certified Healing Emphasis Yoga (HEY) teacher and has practiced and studied with the Inner Vision Yoga program for the past 8 years. Having a work-life balance is important to her and she enjoys playing tennis, hiking and spending time with family and friends.
MEL GERARD
In 2003, Imelda Gerard discovered Yoga’s ability to balance the mental, spiritual and physical in all.
Imelda completed 200hr Inner Vision’s Teacher Training in 2019 and 300hr at Bhakti Nova School of Yoga in 2021. She continues her Yoga Bhakti journey under the guidance of her mentor, Nubia Teixeira, and is exploring the gift of Kirtan with Jai Uttal.
Imelda’s classes include asanas, pranayamas, mudras, chants and meditations infused with Bhakti devotion and storytelling. Her teachings promote her students to discover and celebrate their own spiritual and physical gifts.