A Shared Heart and Passion for Healing

Sometimes you just know when you've hit the jack pot with a great new friend. Tara and Josie met while working in the service industry in San Diego, California in 2013. After discovering striking parallels to life experiences and their journey to the west coast from their perspective states, it became clear that their union was more than a simple coincidence. As friends they discovered their similar passions for yoga, nature, music and the education field which led to their initial beginnings on the road to becoming yoga instructors at their home studio Happy-U Yoga Center in Ocean Beach of San Diego.

Following their own teacher training programs, they were invited to assist in teaching the Yoga school's following trainings which included teaching their own workshops and mentorship to students of the program. 

As time progressed, both became high school teachers for a San Diego public charter school that works with youth-at-risk from a variety of circumstances and all walks of life. In combining their love of yoga and passion for youth education, they developed youth yoga programs along with physical education and social-emotional learning curriculum to integrate the many facets of yoga into applicable life skills and tools for young adults. 

In doing this work, it became clear that there was a need for accessible and safe yoga for the communities they served and it has sparked their passion and heart driven research into the field of Trauma Sensitive practices and the importance of Trauma Informed care by professionals in education and public service. 

Josie Duraso, M.A., E-RYT 200, YACEP

Josie’s curiosity of nature and philosophy guided her to the harmonious system of yoga in 2008. She deepened her practice with San Diego based Happy-U Yoga Center’s teacher training in 2015 and has been passionate about sharing the wisdom of yoga since. Her teachings center around the breath and self-love to guide students through a safe and balanced practice, with the ultimate goal of aligning oneself with their very aliveness and wholeness.

Josie earned her B.S. in Anthropology with a minor in Sociology from the University of South Dakota where she also completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychology in Education with an emphasis in Human Development. She wrote her thesis on yoga as a self care tool to harmonize the human experience.

She has taught yoga in a variety of settings including alternative high schools, community centers, and yoga studios. She is also a high school science teacher where she integrates mindfulness and yoga practices into her school community.

​

​Tara Booze, B.A, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Tara began her yoga practice in 2006 seeking an outlet for emotional healing and self-regulation. In her experience the benefits of yoga have made a significant impact and she has since established a deep love for the community and meaningful teachings that it has brought to her life.

As a graduate of the San Diego based Happy-U Yoga Center Teacher Training program, Tara has found her voice as a teacher and aims to bring the benefits of yoga to all body types and abilities in balanced and playful flow and restorative hatha styles. Her goal is to provide an accessible and safe yoga practice that encourages strength in the body, peace in the heart and mind, and connection with community.

At the University of Colorado at Boulder, Tara earned her B.A. in History with a focus on Women's studies and later continued her studies to receive her credential in Secondary Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. 
 

FACULTY

Nikki Lyke M.S, B.S, CYT-200

You'd be hard pressed to find someone as passionate about bringing yoga and mindfulness into education as our very own Nikki Lyke. She brings with her an amazing background in eduction as a credentialed teacher and school counselor with an MS in School counseling and BS in Health/Physical education.  In addition to her experience as an educator she is a certified yoga teacher at the 200 hour level and certified in Reiki Attunement Level II. She is a vibrant soul and social butterfly who is always the first one to know everyone's name in the room. We are so grateful to have her on our team as a program consultant, community outreach leader and workshop facilitator.  
Other Relevant Experience: In-home respite care/family support, K-12 special needs PE/Health/Counseling, Creative Arts/Theatre, Music, Life Skills Development, Mindfulness, Bullying Prevention, SEEDS (SEEDS Educational Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization with the mission of assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to relate effectively with others in their community and building safe and meaningful relationships) education, Restorative Justice Coaching: Football, Basketball, Soccer, Softball K-12 Special Needs members of CAPSES (California Association of Private Special Education Schools) league.

Lindsey Jackson B.S, CYT-200 

Meet Lindsey, a certified yoga instructor, small business owner,  mom to a spirited 1 year old and our Prenatal work shop facilitator. 

She received her 200-hour Hatha yoga training from Happy-U Namaste in 2015. Since that time she has done additional training in prenatal yoga, yoga medicine, and adjustments. She has found a special love for prenatal yoga as it greatly helped her during her pregnancy.

She believes that it's important to know prenatal yoga basics as an instructor and aims to always provide a safe, beneficial, and inclusive environment for all of our students!