Our Team
Lesley Desaulniers
Lesley Desaulniers is known for her energizing, soulful and inspiring classes.
Her gift for storytelling and passionate connection to music and art make each class a dynamic journey of sound, spirit and soul. She was trained in yoga under the expert guidance of Sharon Gannon and David Life of Jivamukti Yoga, and is one of Northern California's most in demand teachers.
Lesley has been studying yoga and meditation since 1996, taking her practice to New York, Russia, India and back. In her early twenties, Lesley was a resident at Ananda Ashram in upstate New York, where she intensively studied Sanskrit, meditation, philosophy, yoga, and chanting. She was later certified by master teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life and went on to teach at the Jivamukti Yoga Center in downtown Manhattan. She returns to NYC several times a year to lead workshops and retreats.
Lesley was featured in Origin magazine’s “Leaders Who Inspire” series, and selected by Mantra magazine as one of San Fransico's leading yoga teachers. She serves on the faculty at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, 1440 Multiversity, Omega Institute, and Yoga Journal Conferences. Lesley teaches ‘Transformational Vinyasa Yoga’ workshops and retreats at premier yoga destinations throughout the year. Lesley has been a Lululemon brand Ambassador (Brooklyn) and the Athleta brand ambassador for Northern California. She has been featured in GOOD magazine, New York Magazine (Best of NY), Mantra Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, Vogue, Origin, The NY Observer, Fit Yoga Magazine, YogaCity NYC, L magazine, among others.
Lesley continues to study, practice, and teach daily. Her classes are imbued with a rare blend of sweaty Vinyasa, scholarly study, spiritual awareness, and good humor. Lesley feels thankful for the many wonderful teachers she has encountered along the path.
Erika Trice
Erika began studying yoga in 1988 as she was pursuing a career in dance. It was yoga that changed her life and ever since that first yoga class she has been an avid student. Her yoga studies include Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga, Anusara, Yin and some therapeutic yoga studies. Erika is a certified Yoga Works teacher and teacher trainer and currently teaches in both the 200 and 300 hour Yoga Works teacher training programs.
Erika is a teacher of teachers. Her depth, precision and skill has supported many yoga students to deepen both their practice and their love of yoga. Her classes are thoughtful and strong and yet allow for every person to have a supportive and individualized practice. Erika has worked with multiple ages, abilities, and interests throughout her yoga teaching career. Her teaching is as compassionate as it is skillful.
Erika is a certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher and a certified Psychosynthesis Life Counselor & Coach. She has studied and taught Qigong for the past 25 years and often brings a little of this breath inspired practice into her retreats.
Nubia Teixeira
Yogini, teacher trainer, and Odissi dancer and instructor.
Nubia Teixeira, a Brazilian-born yogini, has devoted herself to teaching many different aspects of yoga and dance for the past 30 years. Perceiving yoga as a healing art, Nubia’s refinement and devotion to this ancient practice is reflected in her unique teaching, centered around heartfelt compassion and inspiration. Drawing from the universe of symbols, myths, deities, mudras, and sacred geometry she teaches embodied Bhakti (devotional yoga).
Known for her fierce heart, uplifting humor, and keen intuition, her classes are rooted in her extensive knowledge gained from years of devotional study and practice in yoga and dance. She helps students connect with their deeper selves, fully inhabit their bodies, and live with deep awareness.
Also a Reiki instructor and practitioner, Nubia leads workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings locally, nationally, and across the world. https://www.nubiayoga.com @nubiateixeira_bhaktinova
Dave Larot
David Larot stepped on the mat for the first time in 2002 and began his life long yoga journey, “Learning how to be in my body was like coming home for the first time.”
Under the guidance of his first teacher he started leading classes in 2004 at local gyms and studios. After four years of searching for a complete teacher training program, in 2008, David enrolled in the 200-hour teacher-training intensive at Yoga Works SF. Inspired by his mentor, Nikki Estrada, he went on to complete his 500-hour training, and in 2010 decided to take the big leap from his full-time job of ten years with AT&T to put all his energy and focus into teaching and sharing the practice of yoga. Since then, David has been leading classes around the Bay Area as well as workshops and retreats around the globe. Having practiced and trained in various styles, including Iyengar and Ashtanga, David’s classes have evolved into a deep, methodical, and dynamic flow, focusing on the importance of breath and the principles of alignment.
Jessica O’Connell
In the early 2000s Jessica was a stressed out east coast transplant living in San Francisco. She discovered yoga and it immediately and profoundly changed her life for the better.
Now a California girl through and through, Jessica has been a devoted Yoga teacher and student for over ten years and has completed 500 hours of teacher training. She strives to help students become mindful, grounded and discover compassion for themselves and others.
Jessica’s challenging and joyful Vinyasa classes reflect her spiritual journey towards health and harmony and feature unique sequencing, inspiring Dharma teachings, upbeat music, skillful alignment instruction and a focus on mindfulness. She is thankful for her many teachers including Clayton Horton, Geoffrey Roniger, Rusty Wells, Jane Austin and most recently Lesley Desaulniers.
She is beyond grateful to her children Wyatt and Farrah for always reminding her to stay present and notice the beauty and wonder in every day.
Annabelle Scott
Annabelle Scott has completed 500 hours of teacher training under the mentorship of Lesley Desaulniers. A lifelong student of yoga, she is dedicated to her studies and is honored to teach at Padma Studio.
Annabelle’s class is dynamic and thoughtful, offering soulful music, intentional sequencing, and a heartfelt presence to meet students where they are. Annabelle lives in West Marin learning, loving, and living a life dedicated to yoga and teaching.
Stephanie Crawford
Stephanie has been practicing yoga since 2015 and completed her first 200-hour teacher training at Padma Studio in May 2023. Stephanie's yoga practice is deeply informed by her work as a hospice nurse and death doula, and serves as a daily reminder to live each day with presence, gratitude, compassion, and an awareness of the impermanence of life.
Her grounding yet dynamic teaching style continues to evolve under the guidance of her beloved mentors, Lesley Desaulniers and Estee Fletter.
Keely Ferguson
Keely comes to yoga teaching after 20 years of practice. Originally from Durham in the North-East of England, her Grandmother “Nana Elsie” was also a Yogi, practicing in the 1960’s in the UK. Radical.
Her first 200 hour teacher training was with the inimitable Lesley Desaulniers at Padma Yoga Studio in Fairfax. Rooted in Jivamukti, this training went deep into anatomy with Alison Smith, yoga philosophy, creative sequencing, hands on assists, and the art of teaching. She is currently involved in a further 300 hour certification.
Keely has a deep passion for music, combined with Dharma wisdom and interesting flows. Her classes have a beautiful arc and promise to have great energy and a unique playlist each time.
Keely lives in downtown Fairfax with her two delicious children, Theo (12) and Autumn (7). In her ‘alternative’ career, she has practiced real estate in San Francisco and Marin for the past 26 years.
Keely is excited to share connection, community and love of music with her students as we come together. It is, after all, simply a practice.
Jai Uttal
Jai Uttal, grammy nominee, kirtan artist, and world music pioneer has been a leading influence in the Bhakti tradition for the past 50 years. Jai considers devotion to be the core of his musical and spiritual life, and he whole-heartedly shares his passionate heart through his voice and songs.
Jai creates a safe environment for people to open their hearts and voices.
No previous experience is needed. This is an exploration and expression of the heart and the spirit.
Lani, Creative Director
Expert in snacks and snuggles. Will love you forever if you take her across the street to the park. Favorite pose: Downdog (obvs).