MAUREEN GILDERSLEEVE E-RYT 500, YACEP
Maureen is the founder and owner of Mangala Yoga. When not at the studio, she is busy raising her five kids, Malia, Aidan, Vienna, Tristan and Maggie (this last one is her Golden Retriever “child”) and spending time with her fiancé Lou. She travels back and forth to Mangala Yoga in Hawaii and Colorado several times a year.
In 1997, she attended her first Iyengar yoga class in a somewhat questionable library in Gaithersburg, MD. Although this was far beyond the ideal space, she tapped into a feeling that reminded her of home. Ever since then, it’s been a love affair that she has tended to.
Maureen has had the opportunity to practice and study several different styles such as Anusara, Iyengar, Power Vinyasa, Vinyasa Flow, Yin and Restorative Yoga. Her main style is Vinyasa which she calls Jungle Flow, practiced in a non-heated room, and Lava Flow which is practiced in an infrared heated yoga studio. Maureen’s background in massage, anatomy, and kinesiology has helped her develop Mangala Yoga’s teacher-training programs, workshops, and intensives.
Maureen received her 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Vinyasa with the lovely Janet Stone in San Francisco, CA. Janet had Christopher Wallis, aka “Hareesh”, share his beautiful teachings of Tantric Philosophy with their training. This ignited a desire to learn more about tantric philosophy, so she continued her study with Hareesh in the Bay Area over the next few years.
Many students have shared that Maureen’s teaching style often involves a great sense of humor, and offers well-balanced intelligent sequences that are practiced to upbeat music. As a teacher trainer, Maureen incorporates all subject matters in a seamless and inspirational way leaving students eager to learn more.
ANITA JOHNSON E-RYT 500
Anita has managed Mangala Yoga since 2011 and is a pillar of support for its locations in Maui and Telluride. In 2009, she and Maureen met in Northern California at Maureen’s previous Yoga studio. They kept in touch throughout the years. When Mangala Yoga was ready to open she took the leap and moved to Maui, where she met her husband Jeremy. She lives on the backside of the island with her adorable dogs, Panda and Leilani and their sassy chickens.
Anita grew up in Minneapolis, MN. She found yoga in 2009, during a big life transition. She continued to deepen her practice and expand her knowledge of yoga, breath, mindfulness and the art of letting go as she moved up and down the west coast. She has completed 200hr trainings at the Mount Madonna Center and Mangala Yoga, and a 300hr training in 2014 at Mangala Yoga with Maureen. To her yoga is not just physical movement, but a way of life. It is something to fully embody with our mind, body and spirit in each moment. She continues to draw inspiration from Maureen, Janet Stone, Jason Crandall and more.
Anita has been an active part in the development of the yoga teacher training programs at Mangala Yoga throughout the years. She is one of the main teacher trainers and loves to contribute her teachings in the 200 hour yoga teacher trainings in Hawaii and Colorado. Her weekly classes are infused with intelligent sequencing, inspiring music and her joyous smile.
ANNMARIE TORREZ E-RYT 500
Annmarie is a San Diego, CA native and a 500 hour Vinyasa Teacher. Her first 200 hour training was in 2008 with Jano Galindo, Kristyan Stjerne, & Marck Jansen of The Chula Vista Yoga Center where she received her certification in 2009. She discovered Mangala Yoga in Maui, Hawai’i in 2013. She received her second 200 hour certification in 2014 with Maureen Gildersleeve – Founder of Mangala Yoga Studios, followed by her 300 hour certification in 2015. She’s helped facilitate Mangala Yoga’s teacher training programs and retreats in Hawai’i and Colorado ever since.
Annmarie has also facilitated many immersion trainings such as a 200hr Program with Alicia Cheung (Yoga Works) in Bali, Indonesia, a 50hr Retreat Training with Heather Lilleston (Yoga For Bad People) in Costa Rica, and continues to lead trainings and retreats globally. She has attended countless classes with teachers such as Vinnie Marino, Tim Miller, Dharma Mittra, Jessica Fertig… the list goes on. In 2019 she received a Health Coaching Certification through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Annmarie’s classes are a mix of old school & new school with a strong musical flow that’s welcoming to all levels. She’s passionate about alignment, intelligent sequencing, assisting, all the while weaving in yogic philosophy that is applicable to her class themes and our everyday life. She understands that teaching yoga is a privilege and a way to pay respect to the teachers and lineage before her. You can catch a feel of her vibe through her website at: amyogawellness.com.
“My hope is that I can weave together all the different teachings that I’ve gathered (& continue to practice) and make it accessible, fun, and useful for our current culture, community, and the world around us.”
