Marta – Teacher

Studio founder Marta Weinstock combines extensive study in Boston under Baron Baptiste and Rolf Gates with regular teachings of other masters such as Ana Forrest, Beryl Bender Birch, Tias Little, Edward Clark, Shandor Remete, Mimi Louriero, and Boston locals: Aaron Cantor and David Magone.

Marta brings all of herself to what she does and in so doing, expresses the essence of yoga with each step she takes.”
-Rolf Gates

Marta comes to her mat with a lifetime of experience in the fitness and wellness industry spanning 17 years of service. Marta studied, trained, and taught at the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Cambridge and was an opening teacher at the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute’s studio in Boston in January 2003 under the direction of Rolf Gates.

Her teaching style focuses on yoga philosophy, fundamentals, alignment and BREATHING! This approach makes yoga accessible to all levels while promoting personal growth without injury. Learning from these yoga masters has been rewarding and inspirational as Marta continues to honor their trainings in her own teaching and adds new techniques for an authentic Power Yoga studio experience available for the first time in the South Bay. Marta is also a STOTT Pilates instructor and seamlessly integrates these core principles into her yoga instruction. Training is a life-long journey and Marta’s commitment to training deepens her own practice as it continues to challenge her students. When not teaching, Marta is likely spending time with her three greatest teachers, her son, daughter, and husband.
Marta offers Private Instruction for all levels of yoga training and STOTT Mat and Reformer training.

Mark – Teacher

A student of meditation and many styles of yoga for the past 12 years, Mark infuses the physical, energetic, philosophical and spiritual elements of yoga into his teaching. He strongly believes in the transformational and healing properties of yoga and has a passion for introducing students to these possibilities.

Mark also brings an exceptional blend of expertise to class through his integration of the varying elements and principles of qi gong, massage, acupressure, and ayurveda with yoga and meditation. What results is a dynamic yoga class, where Mark speaks to what is happening in your body with such precision that you can literally feel the breath moving to that body part.

As a teacher, Mark also translates his acupressure and gi gong work into giving thoughtful assists that will lead you deeper into your practice. Through this unifying approach, Mark guides students through a unique and holistic power yoga experience.

Nicole – Front Desk/Childcare

Nicole has worked at Courtside Club in the children’s center for 5 years.  She loves working with kids, and has taught tumbling classes to kids ages 3-5 and coached cheerleading to kids ages 5-early teens.   A cheerleader and gymnast for nearly 10 years she spends her spare time with good friends, riding her bike, doing yoga and volunteering for the American Cancer Society, a cause close to her heart.

SanJuana- Assistant Studio Manager/ Childcare

Sanjuana is a Recreation Therapy student at San Jose State University.  She enjoys the company of friends and family, dancing and live music and travel.  Her most recent travel lead her to Peru where the study of Inca mysticism left her interested in the energy centers of the body and exploring yoga.  Sanjuana loves working with children and has helped to create a dynamic childcare program at Soula.

Meredith – Teacher

Born and raised in California, Meredith is an avid rock climber and lifetime student of the martial arts.  Meredith came to his mat at the urging of his climbing buddies and quickly learned that yoga not only improved his climbing and other athletic pursuits, but also brought a sense of calm, mindfulness, and inner peace.  Meredith also has a degree in Psychology which he uses to work with at-risk youth in the San Jose community.  Meredith brings this ecclectic background and his love of meditation to his powerful flowing vinyasa classes.

Ritu – Teacher

Born in the U.S., Ritu is a first generation Indian American raised in a traditional Indian household. She is blessed with family who exposed her to the beauty and traditions of the Hindu and Sikh cultures and allowed her the freedom to explore the American culture. What resulted was a life full of color, questions, and adventure. Her journey led her to her first yoga class in Sacramento, Ca. After a heart opening experience in Ustrasana, she was set on her path to discovering the secrets of this sacred practice. Ritu’s spirit for seeing the world and helping people led her to pursuing further education and a career in Public Health.

In 2004 she traveled to Mumbai, India to work with a KSWA a health center serving the slums of Mumbai. It was here she encountered a classical form of yoga practice and began studying at the The Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz, with Dr. Jayadeva and Hansaji Yogendra. Ritu discovered a yoga which was deeper than asanas; it was yoga of the inner spirit and devotion. After spending 6 months in India, she returned home to California and began teaching in her hometown of Milpitas, Ca. In 2005 she attended Greenpath Yoga to further her studies in yoga. Since then Ritu has exposed herself to various forms of teachings in yoga and health.

She has received teachings from Shiva Rea, David Lurey, Janet Stone, and Stephanie Snyder, her family and friends and nature. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and thrives to shed light on the many therapeutic benefits of yoga. She continues her devotion to Seva through her work with underserved populations. Through her travels to Central America, Europe, and India she continues her self exploration and journey. She is honored to be blessed with the opportunity to share her spirit with her students.

Marti – Teacher

Known as a “teacher’s teacher”, Marti Foster brings her expertise of Power Vinyasa, Prenatal Yoga and Yoga for Moms to the Soula community. She is the founder of San Jose’s The Yoga Solution, a company that brings the benefits of yoga to corporations, local hospitals, birthing resource centers and chiropractic clinics. Her credentials include serving as the Methodology Coach for Avalon’s teacher training program. Currently, she mentors new teachers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her commitment is to offer yoga in the spirit of service with unwaivering gratitude for the benefits the practice offers every student. As a professional dancer, therapeutic bodyworker and yogini of 26 years, Marti has a deep understanding of the anatomy of movement. She has many years of paying attention to her own body’s needs and wisdom of the breath. She has an unswerving faith in the power of the practice, showing up on the mat again and again and thanking her mentors for passing their wisdom on to her. These teachers include, Walt Baptiste (Baron Baptiste’s father), Max Strom, Shiva Rae and Annie Kelly. ”As a teacher, I’m not teaching a technique. I teach yoga as a holistic practice where asana is part of the greater picture of self awareness and connectivity to all of life.”