Our Instructors

Cathyn has been teaching fitness and yoga since 2007 and utilizes foam rolling for myofascial release. Cathyn’s “sensational” classes provide a space to explore areas of tension and creative ways to relax and restore healthy tissue. As a yoga teacher,... Pilates instructor, personal trainer, massage therapist, and ergonomist, she loves integrating disciplines to find an effective strategy for each climber and human being.

Hillary trained in 2008 with Rocket Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa instructor Larry Schultz at It’s Yoga in San Francisco. She encourages students to be curious about what’s possible while connecting breath and movement. Her classes are rooted in the Ashtanga... practice and often explore arm balances and inversions while offering modifications for all levels. Come to class, get ready to breathe, move, sweat, and tune in.

William discovered Yoga in 1995 on the simple path to becoming a better rock climber while looking for ways to address an injury he suffered in a near-death motorcycle accident. He soon learned Yoga was a lot more than building... core strength & flexibility… Yoga teaches us where we hold stress & anxiety, how to decompress, how to release and let go of tension, how to be better Human BEings & not always Human “Doings”. We live in a world where the #1 disability on the planet, according to the World Health Organization, is anxiety and depression! Yoga helps facilitate expansion, contraction, deeper self-awareness & better breathing techniques, which ultimately is our anchor & keeps us on a healthier path. Especially in these unpredictable times, it is so important that we stay grounded & healthy.

As a physical culturist, Alex finds joy and peace in moving the body. As a student of strength, he is passionate, constantly seeking to learn and share his passion and knowledge with others. His group HIIT classes are fun, engaging,... and well-rounded, giving you the best of strength and conditioning. When he is not coaching classes, he is often climbing or training with kettlebells. Not to mention he is also a tattoo artist in San Francisco’s Mission district. Outside of the gym, Alex enjoys spending time with his partner and child, spending time outdoors, and eating delicious foods.

Kelly is currently a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley. Her yoga journey began as a high school student in New York City where she attended donation-based classes and fell in love with the Power Vinyasa Sequence. She... started teaching Yoga in 2018 at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she completed her undergraduate studies. She began teaching yoga at climbing gyms in 2020 at Central Rock Gym Hadley. Starting at Berkeley Ironworks in 2021, Kelly is stoked to continue teaching yoga with Touchstone Climbing. Kelly primarily teaches power vinyasa, vinyasa, and gentle flow; however, she also has experience teaching acro yoga, HIIT classes, and TRX. In her classes, Kelly aims to build an inclusive and supportive environment where students can have a positive and safe experience. Kelly has been climbing since 2018 and loves to contribute to the climbing community and work with climbers as a yoga instructor. Outside of climbing and yoga, Kelly enjoys hiking, rafting, and hanging out with her (crag) dog, Farley.

Gordon has been a student of yoga since 2009 when he took a college PE yoga class and found the postures and transitions to be an amazing antidote to the premature aches and pains he was enduring from years of... skateboarding, basketball, martial arts, and physical labor. After refining his practice at various vinyasa studios around the bay area, he completed his 200hr training at Barefoot Movement in 2014 and has been teaching in and around Oakland ever since. Nominally a vinyasa teacher, his classes, sequences, and approach to instruction are all informed by his experience in the various physical modalities mentioned above. Gordon’s primary goal as a teacher is to help people feel better leaving class than when they arrived, and give them tools to continue to expand and refine their movement in and out of the studio/gym. When not teaching yoga, Gordon enjoys making and critiquing music, woodworking, picking up heavy things and putting them down, burritos, and short walks to the coffee shop.

Deontre (E-RYT 200) has been enjoying the benefits of the yogic practice for over ten years. In 2007, he trained with Amber Espalage of Yoga Ah Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio as an apprentice for the studio’s very first 200- hour... yoga teacher training. That year of practice and devotion to the studio was challenging and also fundamental in Deontre’s understanding of asana and its effect on life off of the mat. Recently Deontre was featured in Queering Yoga, a documentary by Ewan Duarte, about stories of personal transformation and healing through the asana practice (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/queering-yoga-a-documentary-by-ewan-duarte-transgender#/). Deontre hopes that in each class practitioners will connect pure breath with genuine movement to find their personal flow while also connecting to a community of people doing the same.

Sunset lives in Oakland and enjoys being outdoors. They often practice outdoor yoga for the peace of mind and deep appreciation of nature it provides. They completed their teacher training at Hot Spot Yoga Oakland, and aim to create classes... that are equitable, intentional, and fun!

Oh yeah, you betcha. Jared was born and raised in the Twin Cities metro area (Minneapolis – St Paul) of Minnesota. He has been practicing acro yoga since 2017, when he first learned in Santa Barbara after fleeing the frigid... winters of the north. Outside of teaching acro yoga, Jared teaches 9th graders physics and tries his best at rock climbing, which he started doing around the same time he stopped cutting his hair!

Meet Sydney, an adventurous and spirited yoga teacher passionate about exploring new horizons on and off the mat. Sydney’s yoga journey began in 2019 with her 200-hour teacher training while living in the serene surroundings of Dharamsala, India, where she... deepened her knowledge of the transformative power of yoga. Eager to further deepen her practice, she ventured back to India in 2022 for her 300-hour yoga teacher training, immersing herself in the vibrant energy of the coastal region of Goa. Her love for creativity, playfulness, and openness to new experiences shine through in her teaching style as she encourages her students to step out of their comfort zones and embrace exploration. Beyond the yoga studio, Sydney finds solace and inspiration in the great outdoors. Whether biking, backpacking, or climbing, she thrives on the exhilarating connection with nature. Join Sydney on the mat for a unique and transformative yoga experience encompassing adventure, self-discovery, and a deep appreciation for the world around us.