OUR WEEKEND RETREAT INSTRUCTORS
Erin, Valentina, Andreina & Brian
DR. ERIN BANNINK
Head Instructor
Erin works as a board certified veterinary oncologist and Chinese veterinary herbalist and acupuncturist. She achieved yoga teacher certification through Yoga Studies Institute. She has intensively studied Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga philosophy, inner body yoga, and independent and intuitively guided spiritual practices since 2003. Her spiritual approach is heavily influenced by her personal experiences navigating these studies and practices, and the internal guidance which has developed because of that journey. She has led countless classes, workshops and retreats on topics including yoga, meditation, tibetan buddhist philosophy, pranayama, kirtan, and mantra.
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Erin has a particular interest in bridging the gap which is often perceived between science and spirituality, recognizing that only when we acknowledge the interaction and interdependence of the physical, spirit and soul can we find wholeness, authenticity and deep healing. She has a dream that one day we will all come to know and love ourselves for the powerful creative forces that we are.
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It is through a path of empowerment, responsibility and love that we will come into our full expressions and live the life of our Dreams.
VALENTINA ALVAREZ
Meditation Instructor
Valentina Febres Alvarez is the mother of two wonderful insightful kids, and the wife of an incredibly supportive husband. She started her yoga practice in 2002, but it wasn't until 2008 that she started her formal inner journey.
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Valentina started studying Tibetan Buddhism in 2009, which sparked a strong interest in the subconscious, and the opportunity to explore the vast potential of inner growth that can be accessed through concentration techniques including meditation and "spiritual" hypnosis. She trained with Dr. Brian Weiss, studying intuitive exercises and hypnosis techniques, with the intention of achieving a successful connection with her higher guidance.
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Valentina has been actively leading weekly meditation groups since 2016. Guiding groups through a variety of meditation techniques that can bring her students closer to their alignment with their true path. She currently lives in Austin, Texas and works as a meditation guide and spiritual regressionist. She also enjoys working in the graphic design field and helps the Hispanic community as a professional Spanish interpreter. Valentina leads weekly meditation classes to a virtual audience from all over the world.
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ANDREINA FEBRES
Movement & Dance Instructor
Andreina is the mother of two boys, Javier & Carlos. Her husband, Rafael, is always encouraging her to follow her dreams, so she actually LOVES her jobs. She's been teaching dance since 2009 and got her 200 hour Yoga certification in 2019, after practicing for a decade. Andreina loves to welcome new people to her classes and makes them feel appreciated; she has an ability to help you get more deeply connected with your body and to enjoy your hips!
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In 2014 she co-founded a non-profit organization, Dancing Saved My Life. With her community’s support, she organizes local events and fundraisers to raise money to host two local retreats at Commonweal in Bolinas, CA, every year, with the exception of 2020, to offer wellness retreats to women dealing with cancer.
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In 2020, Andreina started teaching online when COVID-19 was announced in the Bay Area and businesses were closed indefinitely. She started her own Online Studio, Making Waves Studios, and currently teaches Zumba & Yoga each week to stay connected with her community. The studio has donated over $18,000 since March 2020 to help organizations and people in need.
BRIAN GRANADER
Yoga Instructor
My first yoga class came during a time in my life when I was working seven days a week as a residential Realtor. I was in the top 1% of all Realtors in the Century 21 System and in the top 1.5% of the Realtors locally. I was helping a lot of people purchase and sell homes and felt like I was killing myself without knowing how to stop. After practicing yoga for about a year, I took a teacher training program to deepen my practice and knowledge. I enjoyed it so much I began teaching part time and selling real estate full time.
One day I asked myself, “If I had only six months left to live would I rather be a Realtor or a Yoga instructor?” That day I decided to teach yoga full time and transition out of real estate....I never looked back! I have owned Red Lotus Yoga since 2003 and have been teaching classes, leading teacher training programs, retreats, workshops. I regularly give talks and lead mindfulness classes at major corporations. My wife, Kate, and I run Red Lotus Yoga while caring for our daughter born in 2010. We have a full life and if I asked myself today, the same question I asked in 2002, my answer is still, to be a Yoga Teacher...and I’d add husband and father too:)
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​Brian Granader ERYT 200, Owner Red Lotus Yoga, Director of the Red Lotus School of Yoga, Husband, Father, Yoga Teacher, Coach