Yoga Sociale

I have always practiced yoga throughout the years. My life’s journey has taken me to many shores and given me such rich memories of epicurean delights and lasting friendships. Since 2009, after obtaining a degree in Film Production Technology in Miami, I worked as a storyteller in various countries of the world. After returning to Italy,
I earned a Master degree in Farm Management and Agri-food and I started to work professionally in the wine business as export manager. I had a career full of important meetings for my cultural and professional growth; trade fairs, seminars, international wine tastings, travels and sales. I was invited to host major radio shows and I was included in many articles of international wine magazines.

At times my life created envy in others, the photos portrayed me at private parties on the rooftops of New York or in Micheline Star restaurants in Chicago, at the openings of the Wynwood art galleries in Miami or in some elegant historic building in Prague. Anywhere in the world one would see me with a designer suit and a drink in hand. I must admit, I enjoyed it! To maintain certain standards, I began to push my body and my mind more and more as my schedule was more demanding. More working hours, less hours for rest, I had come to live at the airport, traveling over 180 days a year. The constant changes of time zones did not allow me to manage my biorhythms and my diet had become the last thing I was paying attention to.

In 2018 I was diagnosed with Cancer. Discovering the disease really scared me. Cancer is always something that happens to others or to someone you know, but when it happens to you, your perception of everything changes. I immediately reacted by starting to practice a lot of sport, taking care of my diet by gradually becoming a vegetarian, I started to slow down. After the operation and the chemo therapy, I left for Goa, India where I attended a 200-hour TTC. Yoga, along with swimming and martial arts, has accompanied my life for over 20 years, but I decided to find out more about the world of yoga.

Upon my return home I started practicing and working as a Yoga teacher in psychology and physiotherapy centres, hotels and studios. While teaching in Portugal, focusing on a Downward Facing Dog and a Chaturanga I met the love of my life, that would then lead me to move to the beautiful San Francisco Bay. Passionate about teaching, I decide to leave for Mysore, India to deepen my knowledge of yoga and I accomplished another 500-hours and a specialisation in Prenatal, Postnatal and Yoga Therapy teachings. I currently own Yoga Sociale in downtown Hayward.

William got hooked on Yoga instantly when he first started his practice in 2005.

He deepened his Yoga experience via Yoga teacher training and has been teaching throughout San Francisco Bay Area since 2006.

His inspiration comes from his love of being around people, enjoyment of physical movement, and his love for really awesome pop and dance music. Inspired by his favorite local gurus, William’s style focuses on breath, vinyasa flow, wicked core workouts, and lots of laughter.

And on the flip side, William has recently developed a passion for Yin Yoga. So if you are looking for a physically challenging practice, building/maintaining core strength, not afraid to sweat while flowing to infectious grooves, or just looking for a super chill Yin Yoga experience, Will’s classes may just be the right fit for you. William is a RYT-500 teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience. When he’s not on his mat, William spends his time creating fabulous content for his TikTok and Instagram pages under “spiritual gayru.” He shares his simple happy life with his husband Aaron and their two furry babies Rocco & Baby Gurl.

Aaron discovered his love for yoga in 2004 and immediately started working behind the scenes at his favorite yoga studio.

After several years as a practitioner and part-time yoga employee he finished his first certification in Power Yoga in 2011 with Linda McGrath and immediately began to teach. Aaron is Co-Founder and Director of Yoga Belly World which he founded alongside his husband William in 2010.

Aaron’s passion for helping others, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. In continuing his journey as a Yogi, Aaron has studied at the 500-hour level with Dr. Juko Holiday and is currently a Resident at Ease Mountain Yoga Therapy studying to become a Yoga Therapist. Aaron’s classes are about movement to breath and a deep exploration of your Kosha’s in understanding what you need in order to migrate closer to your best life.

Developing a sensitivity and relationship to self that allows you to move in freedom and minimize suffering. Hopefully you’ll be dazzled by Aaron’s amazing playlist and moved in a way that explores freedom in a holistic sense of health; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and socially.

Prior to moving back to the Bay Area in 2021, Julian lived in Mallorca, Spain teaching yoga for 5 years. He is an Ashtanga Practitioner. He completed his 200 hour and 300 hour teacher training course at the base of the Himalayas in Rishikesh, India. He has also traveled to Bali and Thailand to complete various workshops and deepen his knowledge for yoga. He has a passion for helping others to achieve physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Iva was born and raised in Hong Kong. She was first introduced to yoga in 2006. In 2008, she completed her RYT 200 yoga teacher training through Kevala Centre, UK. Since then, she had been teaching a small group for a couple of years in Hong Kong. As a yoga instructor, she continues to study and practice with different teachers from around the world. She earned her Yin yoga, Prenatal, and Chair yoga certification in Hong Kong and USA. She is currently enrolled in a 300- hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2021. Her class combines breath, movement, intention making the practice of yoga a moving meditation, and injury prevention and management. Classes can be beginner, gentle stretch, slow flow or a more powerful flow.

With a decade of yoga practice Maribel views yoga as a journey of understanding the connection to the true self within. She believes that the yoga practice should help one release layers of the ego to find a more authentic place internally, while cultivating strength in the body to calm the mind. In 2019 Maribel completed her RYT 200 hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training in Guatemala and began teaching in Mexico, specializing in Hatha and Vinyasa Flow Yoga, in English and Spanish. Her classes are open to any experience level. Along with teaching yoga, Maribel loves to travel and has visited more than 18 countries, mostly volunteering at dog shelters. She has also been working as an Esthetician for an organic skin care company for the past 14 years.