Our Teachers
“The breath is the mind made visible, if you want to change your mind, change your breath!” - Huberman podcast
I started practicing yoga as a high school student with my grandma as a way to support my grandma in a movement practice she enjoyed. It quickly became part of our weekly routines and since then has developed into a full on lifestyle practice that stretches beyond movement. To practice yoga is to witness the self, to observe the ever changing mind, to learn and unlearn behavioral patterns and internal narratives. Holding space for folks to show up as they are and observe how their internal weather is how I approach teaching.
Yoga asks us to not let our commitments be swayed by our mood, but to be who we are even when we feel it isn’t the best time. When I began practicing yoga, it was a way to feel better in my body and my mind. Now I practice yoga to allow for everything to come up, the beauty and the ugly, and approach it all with grace and compassion.
Alex Davis
Yoga has helped me come to know myself at a deeper level, I spent years of my life addicted to drugs and alcohol. Yoga has taught me that change has to occur within myself and not within the ever-changing circumstances of life.
Through connection of breath and movement, I am shown over and over again every time I get on my mat that life isn't out there coming at me, instead life is coming from me. Yoga has helped to give me a new pair of glasses, a new way of looking at my life and the people, places and things in it.
I am very thankful for the gifts that I have received as a direct result of having this new perspective and this new way of life and I aim to show others all that is possible with the right attitude and the right outlook on life. 16 years of practicing and teaching yoga and meditation and my personal journey of over 16 years of sobriety is the foundation of my teaching and of my life. Sharing these gifts through my teaching is a great joy. See you on the mat!
Blake Mason
I got into health and fitness when I was 18 and have since then explored many different forms of movement. I was introduced to Vinyasa yoga in 2014 and became obsessed. It started as another way to workout, but it felt like a dance and helped with my flexibility. Then I started noticing the mental health benefits that I was also getting from my daily practice. I started taking every available workshop to learn more and get more yoga in my life.
I signed up for teacher training in 2016 as a way to learn more about the practice with no intention of teaching. I learned that I loved teaching and I was inspired to continue to grow my teaching skills. I am an experienced yoga teacher with over 500 hours of teacher training approved through Yoga Alliance (RYT-500). My passion is Vinyasa yoga, but I also have training in Yin, Yoga Nidra, and Kids Yoga.
I teach a strong class that will challenge you, but should also get you in your flow state with fluid movement that feels like a dance. I offer plenty of variations so that a new student can take my class, but I also like to teach up to a seasoned student that wants to play with challenging poses. I am also a total music junky and I include a variety of different kinds of music in my classes.
Bridget Chase
I started dabbling in yoga in 2010 and became very consistent in my practice when I discovered Solfire in 2016. I was initially drawn to yoga for the physical benefits (finally, some relief for my lower back pain!), and only realized several years later that I had built strength, power, and grace—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I took a break from yoga during the pandemic and was both humbled and inspired when I returned to my mat. I was humbled because I had lost not only my physical strength but also my ability to find peace, breathe deeply, and be present enough to turn off my anxieties and my to-do list throughout the challenges of a yoga class. I was inspired because I realized the tremendous impact yoga had made on my life, and now, finally, here was an opportunity to help others—just like the teachers in my life have helped me.
I completed teacher training here at Solfire in the fall of 2021, and I’m honored to create space for people to have an experience with themselves, grow as a result of physical challenges, and quiet their minds—if only for a moment—and find peace.
Caroline Miller
I started practicing yoga in 2010 at McKinley Park. It was an amazing introduction to people of all walks of life and levels of experience. I joined a studio, participated in my first teacher training, and was hooked. Now, I’m grateful to be a part of this beautiful Solfire community.
As an elementary school teacher, I’ve realized that we’re all students with limitless opportunities. We’re never too old or too young to start learning (just ask my 8-year-old students who remind me we need to stop and breathe.) The practice has challenged and supported me, especially during times when I doubted myself or spent hours spinning in my head. As a “work in progress,” I continue showing up to move and breathe so I can reconnect to myself.
My hope as a yoga teacher is to challenge and encourage my students. We don’t know how powerful we are until we say YES to what makes us uncomfortable. Yoga reminds us that each time we lay in Savasana, we begin again. Over and over, we come back to what’s important. Each moment invites us to show up for ourselves so we can be more present for the world around us.
Cate Lewis
I discovered yoga after years of being a competitive dancer. Drawn to its physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions, I quickly fell in love with all aspects of the practice. Inspired by the transformative power of yoga and breathwork, I became a certified yoga teacher and breathwork facilitator, dedicated to sharing the healing benefits of these practices with others. Through every class, I aim to guide students toward greater self-awareness, balance, and well-being.
Courtney Colato
I found yoga in 2014 as part of a quest for physical wellness. I quickly came to appreciate the practice of yoga for much more than its physical benefits. Yoga and its amazing community have truly changed my life. The practice has made me stronger and more flexible not only in my physical form, but emotionally and spiritually. I’m much better equipped to show up as my authentic self in all aspects of my daily life. It has strengthened my relationship with myself and everyone around me. I believe so much in this practice that I've developed a strong desire to share it with others in the hopes that we all can embrace the influx of courage, perseverance, patience and peace that yoga brings into our lives.
Dana Scarpulla
I began practicing yoga in my teens at a local gym, and it has been a steady presence in my life ever since. No matter the season, I know I can always return to my mat to slow down, build strength, and connect with my body and breath. I completed my 200-hour teacher training through Solfire in the summer of 2025. My classes blend flow, strength, movement, and stillness, offering both challenge and accessibility for all levels. I strive to create an environment that feels welcoming, supportive, and fun—one where students feel encouraged to explore, grow, and meet themselves where they are.
Danae Lefranc
When I moved back to Sacramento after college, I started taking Vinyasa classes with my sister, Alex. We grew up doing classical ballet together from the ages of 3 and 4, so moving in unison, breathing, feeding off each other’s energy, and spending time together made this practice so inviting. I didn’t realize how life-changing—and life-saving—yoga would be for me until I started working at Solfire. The more I showed up, the more I learned that these poses were teaching me lessons that extended far beyond my mat.
Yoga has given me the scaffolding to build deep trust in my mind and body. It offers me the opportunity to be of service and connect to something greater than myself. Most importantly, staying committed to my practice allows me to show up in the world as a more loving, grounded, and compassionate person. I’m always that person in class trying new things, laughing, being dramatic, and falling on my face. Solfire is truly my home away from home.
Donna Davis
I began practicing yoga in 2009 and started teaching in 2010. After my first yoga class, I found healing and a life-transforming journey on my mat, and I immediately knew I wanted to share the amazing gifts my teachers had given me. I live in Sacramento with my two boys, where I teach middle school and high school science to teachers and students. I am inspired by love, friendship, music, God, children, and animals.
My classes are challenging, fun, and soulful. I believe that life can be challenging, and so should our yoga practice. This way, students can see just how strong and powerful they truly are when they meet their edge. My intention for every class is to create empowerment and possibility for all students. I believe we are so much stronger than we know, and if it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you!
Janna Cantwell
Yoga is my favorite way to move my body. I find peace in the healing properties, strength in the challenges, and connection in the community.
I started teaching in 2022 after taking yoga teaching training here at Solfire. My classes are challenging, empowering, and supportive. I like to create an experience with powerful sequences, dynamic playlists, and fire energy. I love nature, animals, and laughing. My outlook on life, career, and movement is that everyone is always doing their best, as we also desire to grow and learn.
Jesse Vigil
The ancient tradition of yoga has transformed my life and is my most sacred practice. Yoga calms my nervous system, makes my body strong, steadies my thoughts, and connects me to the Divine. I believe that yoga is for all bodies—regardless of age, gender, ability, or injury. Through mindful breath and movement, anybody can find freedom from the pressures of the chaotic world in which we live today.
I hope you join me in the practice of being in the moment—a precious and rare experience in a world where our attention is in such high demand. I’ve been a yoga practitioner for 17 years and a yoga teacher for 7 years. I’ve completed over 500 hours of teacher training, and my studies and practice are concentrated in power vinyasa yoga and ashtanga yoga. I am also deeply devoted to the study and practice of yoga philosophy. My teachers include Eddie Stern, Erica Morton Magill, Spiros Antonopoulos, Jessica Micheletti, and Bill Prysock. I often incorporate live music into the experiences that I guide.
Liani Moore
I started practicing yoga in 2017 and quickly fell in love with it. It challenges me physically and grounds me emotionally, helping me show up more fully in tough moments. I teach to hold space for students to show up exactly as they are—reminding them they’re capable of hard things and enough just as they are. My classes are upbeat, silly, grounding, balance-y, fiery, and fun.
Marissa Edwards
I am a clinical psychologist and teacher of restorative yoga and mindfulness. I have training in sound healing using a variety of instruments, including planetary gongs, Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, and other sacred instruments. I find deep joy in sharing the benefits of sound medicine with others.
Dr. Marla McMahon
The gift of yoga was introduced to me in my early 20’s during a time where I was feeling lost and playing small.
A teacher once told me, “How you do one thing, is how you do everything.” When we find power and discipline on our mat, we also do it off our mat. As we allow more grace for ourselves in our practice, it becomes easier to allow it in other areas of our life. When resistance comes up in a class, yoga makes us ask, “Why?”
Everything that comes up presents an opportunity for introspection and discernment. Teaching yoga is an even bigger gift, and I am honored to witness all who take my class. I like to share my love of music in my playlists while also offering silence. I balance grounding and fire energy. I intend to provide a space where you can find the lessons you need, and most importantly be closer to the powerful being of light that is you.
Paula Ruiz
I first got into yoga in 2016 while I was living as an Au Pair in Italy. I started doing YouTube yoga challenges in my room, and a spiral effect of goodness happened in my life. My personal yoga practice seems to go hand in hand with writing for me. When I'm doing more yoga - it makes me feel more introspective. I weaved in and out of my practice for years until finding it again in 2022. The feeling I felt in that room was all encompassing and empowering, and I quickly knew I was hooked. I felt aligned and confident - it was a feeling I had been chasing since the last time I was deeply in my practice.
In the summer of 2024 I followed my feeling and did my first 200 hour yoga teacher training and have been teaching since. In my classes, we will slowly build the heat by linking breath with movement. A statement that resonates with my teaching style would be "you have to get through the chaos in order to get to the calm". I keep my classes accessible for beginners by offering modifications while still keeping the flow challenging for seasoned yogis. I believe everyone should feel empowered and autonomous on their mat, and I deeply encourage freedom of expression and silliness :) Hope to see you in class!
Sarah Montalbano
Hi, I’m Sonny Jones — Yoga teacher and student.
I have been practicing yoga since 2012, but I began to truly deepen my practice in 2020. Yoga helped me find space to reconnect with my mind, body, and spirit through a period of grief and stress, ultimately grounding me in ways I never expected. This ancient practice continues to be a source of strength, healing, and clarity. I became a certified yoga teacher in May 2022 right here at Solfire. My classes offer a thoughtful balance of movement and stillness, supported by music and intentional breath work. I believe yoga is a powerful tool for self-discovery, and I strive to create an atmosphere where students can explore themselves.
With a background in weightlifting and running, I have seen firsthand how yoga can complement other physical practices. One of my goals is to share this practice with people who may not have otherwise walked into a traditional yoga setting. My teaching is rooted in intentional cueing, and I always aim to hold space for both beginners and seasoned practitioners. More than anything, I hope my classes help people feel more connected—to themselves, to their breath, and to their own inner wisdom.
Sonny Jones
Taylor Desmangles
I am a vinyasa style yoga teacher, a creative entrepreneur, and an Aries (a little fire, a lot of heart). Yoga became my anchor after years of anxiety and panic attacks, helping me shift out of my head and into my body through breath-led movement. I am passionate about using flow as a moving meditation and often return to grounding shapes like rag doll when I need to reset.
My classes encourage students to trust their bodies, move in ways that feel supportive, and leave feeling freer and more at ease. I love a good challenge, especially revolved postures like revolved half moon, and see those wobbly, frustrating moments as part of the growth. Practice with me Fridays at noon!
I started practicing yoga over a decade ago, doing 5–10 minute YouTube videos with the goal of alleviating chronic neck pain. Basically, I planned to do this yoga thing until I got better and then move on. I grew up playing competitive sports and was convinced that yoga wasn’t for me because a.) I was far too competitive with zero chill and b.) I was far too inflexible to be a Yogi. But the practice had other plans for me.
In 2020, I completed my 200 hour training and began teaching online to friends and family. It’s no understatement to say yoga has—and continues to—change my life. In 2023, I made the leap from working a 9–5 to teaching yoga and Pilates full-time. My classes are challenging but accessible to all levels, and I love making playlists to match the energy of the practice. My hope is that this practice empowers you—both on and off the mat—to be your full, unapologetic self. I am so grateful to be part of the Solfire community and to move with you.