DeAnna Shires, M.ed, ACC, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500

(Director & Curriculum Development)

 DeAnna is a neuroscience-based Wellness Coach and Yoga Therapist specializing in Vedic Counseling. Having practiced yoga since 1993 and having worked as a Special Education teacher, her love for special populations led her to develop programs for addiction recovery, as well as physical and emotional trauma. Drawing from the healing she experienced through yoga, DeAnna’s yoga and coaching programs interweave various elements for a unique approach tailored to each client’s most optimal path toward success. 

 Interweaving the love of learning and yoga led her to teach yoga in 2003. As a natural innovator and thrill seeker, she was moved to open Blue Anjou yoga & meditation studio in 2007, which she directed for seven years before passing the torch to another. Skilled in building curriculum, also in 2007, DeAnna began training yoga teachers through her Breathe Into Awareness and Breathe into Recovery programs. DeAnna’s former training in special education, combined with Yoga and Ayurveda studies, inspired her to specialize in working with populations with various physical and emotional challenges. In 2004, her Breathe into Recovery Program was born, offering yoga tools for addiction and trauma, serving teens and adults in residential and outpatient programs, as well as penitentiaries. In 2017, DeAnna began teaching individuals with neurological conditions, including spinal cord injuries and various neurological conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s, and Stroke Recovery. Finally, in  2020, DeAnna began studying  Behavior Analysis and Behavior Change. DeAnna’s group class approach strives to create a welcoming environment, meeting each person where they are, from beginner to seasoned practitioner. Each person is encouraged to take agency over their practice, leaving them feeling prosperous and empowered.

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Concepcion Pallin (Flight)

Concepcion was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, where she spent her formative years before embarking on a life-altering move to the United States in June 2002. This transition marked a significant shift in her lifestyle, requiring adept management of work and school commitments. Like countless others navigating the stressors of a new chapter, Concepcion explored various forms of exercise without finding the sustained engagement she sought—until the serendipitous discovery of yoga.

Introduced to the practice 14 years ago in the welcoming confines of her local gym, Concepcion’s initiation into yoga was under the guidance of Joseph Stingley. From that point forward, yoga became more than a physical activity; it became a transformative force touching every facet of her life—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Notably, it played a pivotal role in her post-pregnancy journey, aiding her swift return to physical fitness after the birth of her first child.

Recognizing yoga as a gift with universal significance, Concepcion made the heartfelt decision to share its benefits with others. In 2012, she embarked on the path of teacher training, completing a rigorous 200-hour certification through Soul Motivation in 2013. Her commitment to deepening her understanding of yoga led her to a second 200-hour teacher training at Castle Hills Yoga with instructors Ricky Tran and DeAnna Shires 2015 and 300 hr in 2018. Concepcion expresses profound gratitude for the diverse array of teachers who have influenced her practice, including luminaries like Joseph Stingley, Jessica Jane Smith, Ramaswami Srivatsa, Asha Rao, Arun Deva, David Williams, David Swenson, Clifford Sweatte, DeAnna Shires, and Ricky Tran. Through her journey and the wisdom gained from these teachers, Concepcion continues to weave the essence of yoga into her life, fostering a deep sense of gratitude and a commitment to sharing the transformative power of this ancient practice with the world.

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Ruth Darrow

Ruth is the owner and co-founder of Shala Yoga Loft. With more than 17 years of practice and almost a decade of teaching, Ruth has found joy and purpose in the transformative power of yoga. Her journey of growth and personal transformation has been shaped by the rigorous training she has undergone, spanning a wide range of yoga disciplines. She has channeled her passion by partnering with Tina to build a thriving yoga community at SYL, where she strives to inspire and empower others on their own journeys of self-discovery.

Teacher Trainings/Certifications:

Hatha Yoga – 200hr w/ Ricky Tran and DeAnna Shires, 2014; Ashtanga Yoga – 40hr w/ David Swenson, 2015; Gentle/Restorative Yoga – 100hr w/ Ricky Tran and DeAnna Shires, 2015; Yoga Wall – 30hr w/ Brian Legere, 2016; Sacred Geometry Vinyasa – 200hr w/ Benjamin Sears, 2019; Ashtanga Yoga – 200hr w/ Andrew Eppler, 2020; Somatics – 300hr w/ Laura Coan and DYC, 2022; Wall Yoga Foundations and Therapeutics – 30hr w/ Jason Cull, 2022/2023; Body Wheel Therapy – 30 hr w/ Eugene Sabada, 2023