Amanda Kirksey graduated from Oakland University and spent four years in the elementary classroom before staying home to raise three children. When her youngest was in school, the timing aligned for her to get her yoga teaching certification.

Amanda has spent the last 15 years practicing many different types of yoga, and believes wholeheartedly that combining breath and movement brings peace, health, and joy to life. About seven years ago, she started Little Bird Soul-handcrafting mala beads and simple jewelry. Through this adventure, she met all the wonderful people in the Red Lotus family.

Amanda has been a local Lululemon ambassador since 2018 and loves the opportunity Lululemon has given for personal growth, connection, and community. She can’t wait to spread love and peace to you through this beautiful practice.

I began my yoga training at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago in 2015 and was gifted the opportunity of studying under master teachers Ana Forrest, Gary Kraftsow, Leeann Carey, Gabriel Halpern, and Aadil Palkhivala. I have been practicing the life-changing art since 2007 and completed my 200-hour Yoga Training Course in 2016. In the winter of 2017, I traveled to Asia to study with Rishikul Yogashala in Kerala, India, where I completed an additional 300-hour Yoga Training Course. With my family growing and introducing my first child into this crazy world in August 2018, I became passionate about yoga for women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy and family yoga. I completed an 85-hour Prenatal Yoga Training Course through Mindful Mamas Prenatal Yoga in Spring 2017 and a Kids Yoga Teacher Training Course through The Little Yoga House in January 2019. My inspiration stems from the many trainings, workshops, and teachers I have taken, attended, and practiced under. I continue to explore my knowledge through self-practice and supplemental trainings.

 

Brandi Vander Eyk RYT-200.
Yoga was something I originally taught myself from books, and I knew right away the power and potential it held. Admittedly, I was very asana-centered in the first two years of my practice, but as I explored and finally found/chose my guru (Brian Granader of Red Lotus Yoga), I started opening up to the limitless potential, not just of my body, but of my mind as well. I found spirituality for the first time in my life and it taught me how to find self-approval and how to fully embrace the beauty of sangha (community). Once I learned to focus my intention and attention, the way I started to see myself began to change drastically, which in turn, changed the way I saw the world.
Good teachers are always students first. There is always something new to discover in the practice; there is no plateau, and I find that to be the grandest thing of all. Above all else, yoga is a wholeness endeavor, and as a teacher, I believe it is important to challenge students to rise to their fullest potential, and to help them see that the physical and mental limits they set for themselves are manmade. While I take my responsibility as a teacher of yoga very seriously, I teach with a fun, light-hearted approach. I make it a point to sincerely welcome all students to my classes with an honest desire to help them find what it is they seek (and in so doing, I often find what I am seeking). Stepping into the studio, both as a student and a teacher, brings me indescribable fulfilment. I am living out my purpose and I have no doubt you will feel that from me when you come to my class <3

Gayle Vettese, E-RYT 500, student of Red Lotus Yoga’s first Teacher Training, has been teaching and sharing her love of Yoga since 2006. It is her passion to share her teachings that have come from honored lineage and teachers that range from Ashtanga, power vinyasa, gentle, Hatha, yin and restorative yoga. She has taught over 10,000 classes & workshops, taught hundreds of students to become inspired certified yoga teachers. She is a sound therapist, reiki master, akashic record reader, past life regressionist and a legacy lululemon ambassador. You will be encouraged to find your truthful edge through inquiry of breath and focus.

Brian Granader ERYT 500

Owner Red Lotus Yoga

Director of the Red Lotus School of Yoga

Husband, Father, Yoga Teacher

 

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 leading teacher training programs since 2007.

 

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:)

Nina Swati has an intense passion to create platforms to serve the beauty of the world. To bestow genuine care for the need of others.
With over 10 years experience, Nina Swati is a hardworking Wellness practitioner driven to improve students and patient lives with high-quality and caring support. Staying educated in the latest natural health, yoga, massage, personal development modalities, healing techniques and knowledge. Nina Studied abroad in the lifestyle and traditions of Yoga in India with Mas Vidal at the DY Patil University of Ayurveda, as well as Thai Massage at Sun Shine Massage School in Thailand. Studied Mindfulness Meditation and Vipassana in the Theravada tradition in Myanmar, Nepal, India and Thailand. She received her Therapeutic Massage certification from Irene's Myomassology in 2015. She has earned her Diploma as a Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Tempe, AZ.

Tim, a Michigan native, began practicing yoga in 2013, then became a teacher the following year. He soon moved to Los Angeles to teach and learn alongside Eric Paskel and Rina Jakubowicz at their yoga studio. Tim studies Vedanta philosophy through the writings and teachings of Swami A. Partthasarathy. He provides a refreshing and playful atmosphere for all levels to explore their practice

 

B.Sc: Health Science | RYT: 200

I attended my first yoga class in 2017 at Red Lotus Yoga. After finishing my degree, I was in pursuit of the next steps in my life. I found both a love for the physical aspects of yoga, but more importantly an acceptance of self and a newfound peace in knowing that I am enough.

I completed my teacher training at Red Lotus Yoga with Brian Granader in 2019. I have been enthusiastic about teaching since I started teaching dance when I was 14 years old. I worked for 5 years at a physical therapy clinic helping to educate those recovering from surgery or dealing with chronic pain.

I am both humbled and excited to share and guide others in the practice of yoga. My teaching style includes restorative poses with an emphasis on the foundations of yoga and finding creativity within your own practice.

Classes taught: Basic, Slow Flow, Short Form Ashtanga