Our Instructors

"As stereotypical as it seems to say, my yoga practice healed me. Through it I found I am more than the traumas of my past. I discovered I have the strength to endure. I began practicing in 2014 and fell in love. What started as a simple physical practice has grown into a building a healthy relationship with myself. I love immersing myself in my breath and the accomplishment of achieving something I thought was out of my reach. I became certified in 2017 to share the practice in which I found so much healing and joy. Breath and mindfulness can be our greatest tool and my goal is to show that anyone can use it."

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“I began practicing yoga about 10 years ago while living in Pasadena California. After moving back north, I began practicing at Amador Yoga as a student. Last year I was teaching yoga for fellow employees and practicing at home, where I mainly focus on stretching and maintaining my strength. I have developed some variation to poses and often spend the entire time on the floor. Often at other classes I no sooner get settled into a pose and want to stay there for a few more breaths and the teacher is moving us to the next pose. As an older person, I like to take it a little shower and hold some poses a little longer. Expect slow movement in my classes or, yoga for the older folks!”

Bianca strives to lead classes that are for a wide range of ability levels. She likes to keep the mood light and fun. Expect to explore anatomy and alignment and leave feeling like part of our Amador Yoga family! Bianca completed her Yoga Teacher Training at The Expanding Light in Grass Valley and is registered as a professional yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance. When she’s not teaching yoga, you can catch her running around with her doggo and best bud Red, scrambling up boulders out on the high-country trails, or catching turns on the winter slopes.

“For 18 years, I've taught yoga, drawn to its blend of physical and spiritual elements after a dance background. Yoga unexpectedly became a tool for healing deep wounds, offering a holistic understanding of human functioning. Meeting my influential teacher, Maritza, in 2010, transformed my practice, teaching me to navigate challenges with presence and resilience. Under Maritza's guidance, I completed over 800 hours of practice in asana, pranayama, and meditation, deepening my understanding. Continuing my education with Noah Maze, I've taught extensively across the Bay Area, including at Yoga Studio, The Mindful Body, and Yoga Works. I teach private lessons, group classes, workshops, and teacher trainings, sharing the transformative power of yoga with passion and joy.”

“The first time I saw my instructor perform the 24 Form I fell in love with Tai Chi. That love began my journey with this beautiful ancient Chinese art form. My Tai Chi training started in October of 2019, and a year later with an additional instructor, I learned Qigong concurrently. I train weekly with two trainers, one Tai Chi and one Qigong. (Tai Chi is slow, flowing movements, typically in set forms like the 10, 24, or 76 and are difficult to learn. Qigong positions are the basis of Tai Chi. They are slow, stationary movements and easily learned. Both practices can lead to improved balance, better posture, and overall strength building.)

Originally from the Bay Area, my career was in Human Resources. I hold a BA in Sociology and a Master's Degree in Public Administration with a focus in Human Resources. I retired in 2015 and moved to Fiddletown, which allows time to study Philosophy, Vipassana Buddhism and Tai Chi/Qigong. I am very fortunate to study with two wonderful Tai Chi/Qigong teachers. My diligence in practice lead to my 2022 Tai Chi/Qigong Certification. I have to recertify every two years, so I must keep up my instruction and practice!”

Michail became a Pilates instructor in order to help as many people of all ages understand the benefits of safely practiced exercise and help radically enhance their mental, emotional and spiritual well being. Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness, which is a lesson he understood during his 20 year semi professional soccer and all around athletic lifestyle-- which also includes aerial acrobatics, basketball, and yoga among others. In his classes, you will have the chance to experience a difference in just a few classes!

Allison Payne is a 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor and Somatic Movement Practitioner with a passion for helping others reconnect to their truest potential. Her teaching blends mindful alignment, embodied awareness, and expressive movement to create a space where students can move freely, safely, and with confidence.

Allison believes yoga is more than just movement—it’s a path toward unlearning the limits we’ve placed on ourselves and returning to a deeper sense of wholeness. She loves guiding students to unburden themselves from false identities and rediscover their natural strength, freedom, and joy.

Whether it’s through soulful stillness or high-energy flow, Allison can’t wait to meet you on the mat and help you move into a fuller expression of who you truly are.