300-Hour 2019 Faculty

Lori Armijo, Lead Instructor

Lori (ERYT-500) has been a full-time yoga instructor for the past 10 years. Always hungry to learn, she completed two 200-hour trainings in addition to her 300-hour, and attends workshops regularly.

She already had a foundation for movement when she found yoga, being an avid Pilates student and Flamenco dancer. She went on to study Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anusara, Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, Acro, Yin, and Restorative Yoga. She specializes in yoga for older populations.

She teaches because she loves being of service and teaching allows her to give back. Aside from her extensive training and experience, she brings humor and compassion into her classes.

She grew up with 5 siblings (!), and now has 3 children and 2 grandchildren of her own. She’s a native New Mexican and loves spending time (eating chili) with her family and friends . . . and getting away for travel whenever she can.

Leslie Venzuela, Co-Instructor

When Leslie (ERYT-200, RYT-300) discovered yoga in 2006, it was a natural extension of what she’d been doing her whole life. She began dancing as a child – tap, ballet & jazz – and dance remains one of her main passions to this day.

She brings extensive movement experience in addition to her yoga background. She was a cheerleader in high school and college (UNM) and taught dance for many, many years. She loves Pilates as dearly as she loves yoga and also holds certifications in Pilates and group fitness.

She is bubbly, cheerful, and enthusiastic about life. “Yoga is a wonderful, grounding practice that brings joy into my life. I work to find my peace and happiness during practice and try to take that out into the world and make it a better place.”

She and her hubby, Dan enjoy their Nob Hill home . . . though sometimes Dan has to jockey for Leslie’s affections because she spoils their dog so much.

Ben & Kendra Rickert, Philosophy & Meditation

Kendra studied with Bikram Choudhury in Los Angeles from 2000-2005 and received her teaching certification there in 2002. She then moved to NYC and studied for years with Dharma Mittra (the guy who made that famous poster of the 608 yoga poses). He taught her to keep the practice playful . . . and at the same time, gave her a profound spiritual connection with it. She's been fortunate to study at the feet of many masters. Between all this AND her background in gymnastics and dance, her asana practice is amazing. That said, her inner landscape is even more stunning.

She met her husband, Ben, at Diamond Mountain University, where he ran the spiritual debate program. Ben is known for his joyful and down-to-earth presentation of many of the hardest concepts in yoga philosophy. He has taught ancient systems of meditation, philosophy, yoga, Sanskrit, and Tibetan languages. Currently, he works as a Tibetan translator for Asian Classics Input Project, an organization which locates and preserves ancient books all over the world.

They both lived and studied in the monasteries of both north and south India. Together, they completed a 7-year course of study. In order to advance their understanding of the teachings they received, they went into deep retreat. In April 2014, they completed a 3-year, 3-month, 3-day silent meditation retreat in the Arizona desert.

They now live in Albuquerque with their son, Ezra. Yoga is their passion, and they have dedicated their lives to practicing it and sharing it with others. They are so down-to-earth and amazing and fun!

Misa Romero, Creative Sequencing

Misa says yoga found her (not the other way around) at a time when she was hurting and searching for a spiritual solution. “Yoga forms the foundation for how I interact with the world. In addition to regular asana & pranayama, I meditate and incorporate the 8 Limbs of Yoga into all aspects of my life.” She’s grateful for the self-love and compassion it taught her, and for the way it helped her gain control over her mind.

She started teaching after realizing that yoga had changed her life in every aspect. Teaching gave her purpose, grounded her, and allowed her to help people grow. Informed by her strong dance background, she integrates creative, fluid sequences into her classes. She loves the way teaching helps her connect with others, and for the amazing people she meets through it.

Misa’s other passion is dance. She was a professional Flamenco dancer and still does it as often as she can for fun. She enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, swimming, and weight training – and ran track in high school. She loves horses, animals, and her native home of New Mexico.

Pam Hong, Hands-On Adjustments

Pam has studied and practiced various styles of yoga, including Iyengar and Ashtanga, since 1993, and teaching since 2003. She completed Levels I-III teacher training with Tias Little of Santa Fe and has additional trainings with Manju Jois, Richard Freeman, James Cardinale, Linda Spackman, Zubin Schroff, and Joe Barnett.

A former Lululemon Ambassador, she lends her talents to things like Yoga for People Of Color. She's been invited to teach at several local yoga festivals, and co-leads a semi-annual retreat in Jemez Springs. She is well-known around town for her classes and workshops.

She lives with her husband and dog in beautiful Corrales, where she also loves to practice photography.