Natalie has been on an odyssey to find home within herself through her travels around the globe and in her quest for deep connection, radically fun living and healing.  Among her most adventurous journeys were in her political science days at St. Petersberg Technical University in Russia on a National Security Education Program scholarship through the University of Florida and in her 8 years in Hong Kong in an Upper Level Management role for a major shoe company.  After experiencing a deep shift in her core through various healing experiences with meditation, yoga and essential oils, she decided to focus on becoming a professional wellness and yoga educator. Natalie expanded and grounded her explorations through the Asian Classics Institute, leading charity yoga treks in the Nepalese Himalayas, becoming a doTERRA essential oil educator, receiving her 250-hr yoga teacher training with Yogalimbs in Hong Kong with Wanda Hewitt, receiving her 500-hr yoga teacher training with Shiva Rea and discovering the connection between Sanskrit and the languages of her ancestors in the Philippines.

Natalie’s passion for teaching yoga came from a culmination of these experiences and her discovery of “Maha Mahal” (from the Sanskrit “Maha” meaning “great” and the Filipino “Mahal” meaning “love/expensive”) that is available through meditation, pranayama, chanting, asana and conscious action.  In this, she has come to understand that there are practical opportunities to experience what Marianne Williamson calls a “miracle..a shift in perception from fear to love.”

Natalie’s loving and kind presence, her radiance and infectious laugh are a testament to her personal breakthroughs and are the welcome entrypoint into her yoga experiences.  She offers classes suited to all levels and a diverse range of styles. Her classes are marked by her harmonium, nods to traditional philosophy, postures referred to in Sanskrit and reflections that tap into the deeper layers of being.  They blend the intelligent and dynamic sequencing of Shiva Rea’s Prana Flow® with heart-based reflections, breath-inspired movement, attention to the sacred architecture of the body, and an atmosphere of joy, compassion and support.  Natalie’s invitation to her students is to “come home to yourself”. It is her commitment to empower her students in healing their perceptions through conscious action, meditation, pranayama, chanting, the use of essential oils, asana and the careful and caring explanation of the limbs.  

“Great Love” encapsulates Natalie’s spirit for yoga, life and the communities she serves.  She is a regular contributor to LA Yoga and Namaskar magazines and she has been one of Shiva Rea’s senior assistants for 6 years.  Students local to Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountain area, where she has been residing for the last 5 years, can join her at Sweat Yoga in Westlake Village, Malibu Meditation’s Journey and in various private settings. She is an avid camper, rock climber, a holistic wellness practitioner and has led kirtans with several celebrated artists.  She is also a classical Indian music devotee studying with Kamini Natarajan.  Natalie is very excited about sharing her passion and devotion to the festival community and is looking forward to sharing the “Great Love” within and around us all. Maha Mahal!