C-IAYT and E-RYT500

Holly is a contemplative teacher and the visionary force behind Circle Yoga Shala. She is also a mother, a horsewoman, and an internationally certified yoga therapist.

With a commitment spanning over three decades, Holly has pursued ancient teachings and methodologies grounded in self-observation and self-inquiry, including more than thirty years in the recovery tradition.

Holly has been privileged to study with Father Richard Rohr in his prestigious three-year Living School, a non-dual wisdom institution in partnership with the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM.

For the past twenty-five years, she has worked with individuals and groups both domestically and internationally.

Holly has evolved into a master in her own right, embodying wisdom cultivated through her diverse experiences and profound studies.

“I lead a full and content life that is a result of fearless sensitive living and radical acceptance of what is.

If a way of 'being' has culminated or been reinforced from my engagement with Yoga, it is that of surrender. Surrender to the divine, and to what is happening in each moment, maintaining a felt connection to Self which is the opposite of getting lost in mechanical action as the basis for joy and peace in the midst of this beautiful play of MA(ya).”

C-IAYT, E-RYT500, Ayurvedic Chef, Philosopher, and Movement Enthusiast

Matthew has been a practitioner of Yoga and Ayurveda for three decades and has had the privilege of training teachers for over twenty years. He is responsible for developing Circle Yoga Shala’s 200-hour and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs and the IAYT-accredited Yoga Therapy Program.

As an owner of a yoga studio for ten years before co-founding Circle Yoga Shala in 2009, he developed an extensive private client base for which he adapted asana, pranayama, and meditation techniques to individuals who sought Yoga as a therapeutic modality for issues ranging from structural/biomechanical pathologies to digestive problems, depression and anxiety disorders, and spiritual development.

He also utilizes his professional training as a chef to design Ayurvedic meals for those best supported by dietary change.

Matt uses Viniyoga techniques as a template for organizing strategies and approaches to working with private clients, combined with Western biological theories of development. So, the movements he uses in rehabilitation situations are gleaned and adapted from models of pre-and post-natal development and the sequence of gait acquisition that is universally observed in bipedal organisms.

His private work has grown to include designing programs for elite athletes, many of whom compete on the world stage: tennis players, bullfighters, beach volleyball players, and rock climbers.

“My work has been a crucible of convergence between eastern and western models of the human system. To that end, my life’s work is to help alleviate the suffering of individuals on all levels of being human for the purposes of flourishing and liberation.”

Yoga Therapist, E-RYT500

Stela has been living next door to the Shala since 2017 and has since become an integral part of its diverse trainings and activities. Her contributions are wide-ranging, from teaching in the Yoga Therapy and Yoga Teacher Training programs to co-facilitating retreats on specialized topics like Ayurveda and the Enneagram. Additionally, she plays a crucial role in curriculum development, website management, and marketing.

Leveraging her corporate and academic experience, Stela brings exceptional organizational skills that have significantly enhanced the Shala's offerings and enriched the learning experience for all participants. Her dedication to fostering a world-class yoga education, grounded in both ethical rigor and scientific insight, is matched by her deep respect for the sacred and esoteric essence of the teachings.

Personally, Stela is committed to building her homestead and continuing her transformative journey under the mentorship of Holly and Matt. Her passion lies in delivering a holistic yoga education that honors both the practical and spiritual dimensions of this ancient practice.

And if you’re wondering about her accent, she was born and raised in Romania. :)

“My passion is to share the sacred teachings of Yoga and Ayurveda with students in the pursuit of self-knowledge and freedom from suffering.”