YogaSouk Teachers
Arne Espejel
“Who is Arne Espejel?
Arne Espejel is a Certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher with over twenty-three years of experience dedicated to the study, practice, and teaching of yoga.
His Journey
Since 2008, he has traveled annually to Mysore, India, for several months at a time to deepen both his personal practice and his teaching. In 2010 he began assisting his teacher, R. Sharath Jois through several trips during his visits to Mysore.
That same year, he received Level II Authorization, granting him permission to teach both the Primary Series and the complete Intermediate Series—Second Series—of Ashtanga Yoga.
In 2023, R. Sharath Jois granted Arne the Certification to teach Advanced A series—Third Series—making him the first Latin American man to receive this certification in the more than fifty years that the Mysore institute formerly known as AYRI, KPJAYI and now SYC, has trained international practitioners from around the world in this tradition.
As part of his ongoing personal practice, he is currently deepening his study of Advanced B—Fourth Series. Arne is also currently the only Certified teacher registered in Mexico and the Central & South America region within the official Sharath Yoga Centre directory.
Throughout his career, Arne has directed, developed, covered and guided Mysore programs worldwide, sharing his teachings across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, supporting practitioners of all levels within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition.
His Teaching
His teaching is defined by a deep respect for the traditional method he received from his teachers and a responsibility to preserve it and pass it on, while fostering a balance among discipline, mindfulness and sensitivity toward each student’s individual journey.
Personal guidance lies at the heart of his classes. His intent is to teach every practitioner how to sustain their practice long-term, maintaining the motivation and openness to explore every time they step onto the mat.
Through listening and observation, Arne supports each person, instilling the confidence needed to explore their practice in the safest and most conscious way possible.
His teaching is designed for beginners, those building their foundation in the method, and experienced practitioners looking to continue deepening their practice.”
Esther Chang
Serve. Love. Give. This is Esther’s life mantra.
With humble beginnings as a Jivamukti teacher at the former Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City, Esther currently teaches at various Jivamukti Yoga Schools and affiliate studios in Los Angeles, Paris, and Beirut. When she’s not teaching you can find her volunteering as an HIV/AIDS counselor, providing Reiki as a hospice volunteer, or producing skateboard plays around the globe, most recently in Palestine.
Esther’s experience as a practitioner and karma yogi informs her vision for students taking her class; one in which she desires to connect with others on their own path to a more compassionate, more mindful relationship to their community, to the natural world, and to themselves.
Maria Pamoukian
With over 7 years of teaching experience, Maria strives to provide a safe and playful environment in her classes, allowing people to explore the practice with compassion and non-judgment. Infused with positive energy, full engagement with every student, and a dedication to the practice itself, Maria’s classes are challenging, always filled with valuable instruction and insight.
She integrates ancient wisdom, modern life, and a lot of humor into every class, and everyone, with no exception, is welcome. She continues to study and learn as often as she can, and is grateful for all her teachers, especially Jules Febre. Maria is also a health coach, helping people design a lifestyle focused on health and well-being.
Drawing from her own personal and professional experiences across careers and countries, she is always inspired to serve and be of benefit to everyone she encounters. She lives in Beirut with her two cats and dog.
Lina Shuman
Began her journey into yoga over 20 years ago out of her mother’s passion about yoga. Student & teacher of Iyengar & Satyananda yoga traditions, she’s been giving classes for over a decade, running her own yoga studio, organizing yoga retreats and workshops locally & internationally.
By combining the Eastern philosophies of yoga and meditation with our very active Western lifestyle, and through her own personal experiences, she can relate to students, lovingly sharing with them and giving them the teachings of yoga, while seeing them harvest the transforming effects on their bodies and minds. Lina is the only Iyengar teacher in Lebanon.
Serene Abouljebine.
Serene is a Certified Yin, Meditation, and Breathwork instructor with more than 500 hours of Teacher Trainings accomplished with various Masters including: Dharma Mitra, Andrei Ram, Travis Elliot, and Niraj. I use these tools to support people in their quest for balance, strength, focus and flexibility along their path towards wellbeing and spiritual growth.
Kaline Aoun
Kaline started her yoga practice 8 years ago after a dance injury prompting her to practice yoga as an alternative form of exercise. Her yoga practice became her inspiration to a personal transformation leading her to resign from her HR career to pursue her passion in Yoga.
In 2014, she became a certified Vinyasa Teacher and 2 years later she obtained her Yin Yoga certification. This year she has completed an advanced Yin Teacher training in NYC and has also become a certified Therapeutic Yoga teacher, which incorporated different styles of yoga, breath work, meditation, anatomy, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. She is constantly developing her practice and deepening her understanding in the teachings of Yoga enabling her to share this knowledge and experience with her students.
Kaline is also a Reiki II practitioner, awakening the intuitive energy that helps her connect with every living being around her.