MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Rebecca Novack

Vertical Hold welcomes our newest yoga teacher, Becca!

Bio to come.

When Becca Teaches:  Every Other Monday

Danielle Quinones

Danielle is a student and yoga teacher in the Vinyasa style. She remains vigilant to the daily tasks of mindfulness, embracing imperfections and residing in the gentle strength of self-inquiry. Danielle is known for her nurturing teaching style, movement based flow, and compassion-centered philosophy. She weaves in thought provoking meditations, and encourages growth of the physical and spiritual self, while citing the common threads that connect us all to each other, the world, and the universe at large.  Off the mat, you can usually find her chasing butterflies on a hike, playing music on the beach, or becoming one with her crash pad on a climb (: Danielle is excited to be a part of the Vertical Hold teaching community and hopes to see you around the gym! 

When Danielle Teaches:  Every Other Monday

Pedro Reis

I started to do Yoga back in 2013 to help step up my Surf and Free Diving performance, and I discovered a new world of connection with my body, breath, mind, soul, and energies around me. I've been teaching Yoga since 2017. I take a very basic yet powerful approach to my classes, doing simple exercises but focusing attention and awareness on the performance of the asanas. Hatha and Vinyasa are my go-to classes. Being new to the climbing world and teaching yoga to climbers has been an interesting challenge and a super fun experience. As I learn about climbing I try to adapt my classes to better suit our body’s needs on a vertical environment.

When Pedro Teaches:  Every Other Tuesday

Ishmael Sonico

Ishmael began his yoga practice in 2009 to reduce his daily stress from work and relieve the physical demands from his favorite pastimes: bouldering and hiking. A year later he was certified through Core Power Yoga in Aliso Viejo, California and has since led Basic Vinyasa Flow classes in Orange County, Santa Clara, and San Diego. Ishmael believes that sometimes changes in ourselves, our surroundings, and those we interact with result in temporary imbalances and stresses in our lives, and that sometimes we encounter limitations in the activities we find most interesting. Ishmael’s yoga practice targets core power, mental focus, and present awareness so that in any symbolic storm whether it be work, school, exercise, or other life events, one can stand with strength and inner peace.

When Ishmael Teaches:  Every Other Tuesday

Neil Minella

As an athlete growing up in Chicago Illinois, Neil was taught to believe in desire, determination and dedication. He always set out to be the best he could be and I wanted the same for his clients. Neil believe's that it's essential to make everyday fun and make everyday different. To never settle and “improve upon improving.” To listen to your body and mind. He also believes that making a personal goal and understanding what you want to achieve is the first step.

When Neil Teaches: Every Other Wednesday

Hanah Stuart

Hanah started practicing Yoga in 2006 in New York City. She was first introduced to Bikram during college and found it to be her gateway to other Yoga practices. Being a professional musician, Hanah uses Yoga as a preventative for overuse injuries and a way to discipline and focus her mind and body. It wasn't until a friend and colleague of hers introduced her to BheemaShakti Yoga a couple years ago that Hanah's practice truly progressed. She completed training in August 2018 and continues to train under Angela Patriarca and Troy Munsey at the BheemaShakti School of Yoga. When she's not at the gym, you can find Hanah at Copley Symphony Hall where she is a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

When Hanah Teaches: Every Other Wednesday

Brittany Griffiths

Brittany Griffiths is an avid climber and certified E-RYT 200, RYT 500 yoga instructor based here in here in her hometown of San Diego, CA. Brittany started practicing yoga and began climbing in 2009 during her first year of school at CSU Monterey Bay. Ever since then, she has continued to practice, promote and share with others the incredible benefits that stem from yoga and rock climbing. She has completed both her 200/300 Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings in Northern India and encompasses over 2000 hours of teaching experience domestic and abroad. Outside of her “Yoga for Climbers” classes at Vertical Hold, she guides a variety of weekly yoga classes including Yin, Hatha and Vinyasa at various studios throughout San Diego. In addition to her weekly classes here in San Diego, Brittany is passionate about sharing yoga beyond the physical poses through specialty workshops as well as local/international retreats. Her classes are designed to promote strength, increase flexibility, and promote balance not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. She guides students in a fun, loving and creative way while supporting each student’s individual journey as they explore all of the different layers of themselves through movement, meditation and breath. 

Website: soulstokedyoga.com

When Brittany Teaches: Every Other Thursday

Samantha Watkins

Sam began practicing yoga in 2016 as a way to find peace with slowing down and it soon became a daily practice. In 2017 she received her 200RYT from Core Power Yoga and has been teaching ever since. She teaches vinayasa flow, heated and non-heated, along with yoga sculpt at Core Power and NXPT Fitness. Her favorite thing about yoga is the community that it creates. When not teaching, you can normally find Sam outside running, hiking, and watching sunsets. Sam is excited to be a part of the team at Vertical Hold!

When Sam Teaches: Every Other Thursday