David Sharpe, Course Director

Born in the Snowdonia national park of North Wales Uk, David’s twin passions have always been outdoor adventure and spiritual seeking. In 1987 he created an outdoor oriented school with the emphasis on experiential learning and personal empowerment. Moving to the US in 1996, he continued to impart his unique brand of insight teachings through yoga and personal growth workshops. David has studied yoga, meditation and sacred chants in India, S. E. Asia and Europe.

Akiko

A native from Hokkaido, Japan, Akiko is a certified yoga instructor completing her yoga teacher's training program in India in 2005. In 2006, she returned to India to study Therapy yoga and health and stress management from the Asian tradition of preventive practices. She also studied Reiki healing in Japan and most recently Tibetan Singing Bowl Therapy in Nepal; Akiko now incorporates all of these therapies into her healing treatments. Her unique style of teaching combines eastern traditions such as Qi Gong with western contempary dance allowing for a graceful and flowing movement during Asana practices. As well as teaching group and private yoga lessons, Akiko is available for healing treatments that include Usui Reiki, (Kundalini Reiki) and Tibetan Singing Bowl therapies to balance body, mind, and spirit.

In addition to yoga, Akiko likes to stay active and has participated in marathons in Melbourne, Tokyo and Singapore in the last 3 years. In order to deepen her spiritual path through mental and physical challenges, she was inspired to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage,. The first walk was French way in 2006 and Portuguese way in 2010. She also loves nature and enjoys scuba diving, mountain climbing and her latest challenge, rock climbing. Akiko is also well versed in diet and nutrition offering guidance and advice on “Creating A Holistic Lifestyle Through Healthy Cuisine”.

Kristie, Course Director

Kristie, was born in the United States, but has followed her passions for climbing, yoga, the outdoors, dance and spirituality throughout the world. Her adventurous spirit eventually brought her to a job as an outdoor adventure guide in China where she soon branched out to study, live and experience Thailand and India. Kristie has been blessed with the opportunity to go deeper into understanding herself and the world through her study of spirituality and healing in the forms of Yoga, Meditation, Dance, Movement Therapies, Reiki, Tantra, Bhakti, Osho Therapies, and Gurdjief. She loves movement and exploring its vast possibilities. She has recently taken an integrative approach to teaching yoga and guiding outdoor adventure and is presently dedicated to sharing and helping others to open their hearts and anchor consciousness.

Heidi

A native of Austria, Heidi has worked as a physiotherapist in Vienna for the past 5 years. Always an adventurous spirit: she is an avid rock climbing, skier, mountain biker and world traveler, she has taken a 6 month sabbatical to join Island Yoga as a therapist and guide. She will bring to our healing arts team her skills as a sports and triggerpoint therapist as well pain management and craniosacratherapy. Heidi also has a solid foundation in yoga, pilates and meditation and a healthy focus to pursue her spiritual path, sharing wisdom and knowledge with everyone.

Lisa

Lisa, a native of Austria, is a healing practitioner and outdoor educator. A graduate of Sports Science, her passion for rock climbing (she is a certified guide with the Alpine Club of Austria) and her love of yoga has taken her all over europe, S.E. Asia and India. She is a Sivanada yoga teacher receiving advanced training recently in France. A deep interest in Chinese medicine and living a holistic lifestyle brought her to Shiatsu (finger pressure massage) which she now practices in Vienna. Lisa will be available for Shiatsu healing sessions, yoga classes and as a guide on our Yoga-on-the-Rocks programs.