QUEER + TRANS YOGA CLASSES

CO-FOUNDER + DIRECTOR

Somatic movement practices and community are the fibers that weave the tapestry of my life together. I am a dance artist, community organizer, and somatic practitioner. Yoga has been a healing anchor in my life for the past 10 years and has been a source of immense joy. I wholeheartedly believe yoga (beyond just the physical practice) to be a radical, liberatory practice that has potential for expansive change-making.I created Sapphire with the intention of working to decolonize yoga spaces, creating an invaluable queer healing space that fosters individual & collective healing.

Other things I enjoy: reading, building playlists, talking/cuddling with my cat, day trips, wildflowers, cooking, rollerskating, basking in the sun, karaoke, and being a big ol’ goof.

CO-FOUNDER + TEACHER

I first came to yoga as a 16 year old in the form of a two-for-one yoga mat and DVD combination. What started as a plot to lose weight, little did I know it would be my companion practice for the next 10+ years in unlearning addiction and negative self-image. Yoga is the thread that weaves the spiritual principles of my life together. My classes are for anyone who wants to find space in boundaries and come to feel their body as home. My style of practice is flowy and synced with breath. If I’m not practicing yoga you can find me in a recovery meeting, climbing rocks, or nose deep in a book. I firmly believe that the greater we extend our capacity for loving kindness to ourselves through movement and contemplation, the greater our capacity to send that into the world.

TEACHER

Mack (Mackenzie) is a seasoned yoga & meditation teacher, clinical psychotherapist, and writer/poet. You can learn more about their work at www.mackenziestudebaker.com

TEACHER + PUBLICITY DESIGNER

I am a herbalist, witch, nature lover and dog dad. I came to yoga on a healing journey for my mental health, body image and spiritual yearning that brought me into a deeply loving relationship with my body, but also left me feeling frustrated with the way most yoga spaces exist today. Sadly, many studios aren’t safe for people with trauma, queer identities, eating disorders, gender dysphoria, disabilities, non-flexible/ larger bodies, etc. I aim to undo this by teaching in a radical, joy-filled, pleasure-awaked style that encourages people to explore the wisdom of their own body as a guide and best friend. My classes use a trauma-informed approach with intuitive vinyasa flows that aim to be inclusive of all skill levels, body types and gender expressions. The places I have taught in the past range from silent disco dance yoga at the beach to deeply introspective yoga at addiction treatment centers. I believe that yoga has the ability to heal through a spiritual connection to pleasure, mama earth and the body’s inner wisdom. Look forward to seeing you in class!!

TEACHER

My name is Helena Rae, and I am a nonbinary, ecosexual, queer AF artist living and creating in Santa Cruz. Eight years ago, I dove into yoga heart-first after I discovered its healing potential; it made me feel safe in my body and confident in my understanding of spirit. The pleasure of surrounding myself with people who were kind, open, and committed to growth has kept me in the yoga sphere since then. Unfortunately, so much of the yoga we encounter is not safe or accessible for anyone who isn’t cisgendered or able-bodied; It’s a joy to be part of a collective that approaches yoga with anti-capitalist and anti-colonialist motives!

I began my studies in holistic and spiritual wellbeing with the saying in mind, “Everything you have, you have to give.” I give my creativity, empathy, and innate siblinghood to those who join me in practice. As a teacher, I am interested in practices that attune us to our innermost needs, desires, and enlightened states of being. In the somatic realm, I am particularly fascinated by pelvic floor health, hip and heart openers, digestion-boosting twists, and self massage. Yoga is an ascendant path - one can only progress once they begin - and so I attempt to make my classes feel safe and beginner friendly for all bodies. With two 200+ hour trainings completed (Ashtanga yoga and Andean yoga) I’m excited to collaborate with students on classes that meet everyone’s needs for their practice.

TEACHER

Anna is a passionate dancer, outdoor athlete, and world traveler. She is committed to spreading the spirit of adventure and exploration. Their intention is to nurture and support embodied, passionate living through yoga, creativity, and mindfulness practices.

TEACHER

Yoga has brought me to myself, again and again. When I first discovered yoga, I was at a low point in my life, questioning my gender and my place in the world. Yoga taught me to be still and listen to my body's wisdom, showed me that I was inherently worthy of such care and attention. Yoga taught me that I was enough, just as I was. In the spaciousness that yoga gave me, I found the courage to transition, and that has been a gift that continues to unfold over the years. I see a need in the queer community for more spaces to share these practices, so that we can collectively build our capacity for both self and community care. I'm honored to pass along the gifts that yoga has given me, and to hold space for others to find their own path through the practices and movements that have taught me so much.

TEACHER

Shandara Gill, or Shanie, as her friends call her, is an activist, teacher, star gazer and social worker. She loves hot tubs, live music and good beer. She joined Sapphire Yoga Collective after recognizing the limited language and cultural sensitivity teachers have to address queer folk in their classes within mainstream yoga. But that’s been Shanie’s MO, notice inequity and then move to try and change it. In alignment with this, Shanie founded Yoga For All Movement in 2014 when she was teaching yoga in jails and to individuals with substance use disorders. Those classes are still maintained today and watching YFAM grow from the little non-profit that could to the thriving service-oriented organization that it is, has been one of Shanie’s proudest moments. Other notable projects that Shanie has been a part of are the formation of the Santa Cruz Equity Collab, a group of community organizers and artivists working towards achieving racial justice through demonstrative arts and the Lost Childhoods exhibit through the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. A one-time historical event aimed at addressing the community’s response to youth experiencing houselessness within the foster care system.