About Teacher Maria
I come from a proud lineage of educators—I'm the third generation in my family to dedicate my life to teaching and nurturing others. It all began with my Abuela in El Salvador, whose passion for education inspired my mother, a now-retired SFUSD educator. That legacy lives on in me.
My journey started in Pacifica, where I moved with my family at just five months old. Though I’ve lived in other parts of the Bay Area, Pacifica has always felt like home—and I don’t plan on leaving.
Over the years, I’ve led preschool classrooms, run two home daycares while raising my sons, and worked as a nanny for several wonderful families—one of whom I
About Teacher Kelly
Movement, mindfulness and expression are essential to my well-being. During the pandemic I found kinesthetic flow hooping and yoga. These practices challenge me to learn more about myself. My interests are travel, piano and reading. I have 6 years of childcare experience with work at an after-school program and nannying. I am passionate about community and my dream is to create a safe space for others to practice embodiment and self-discovery. Learning is so fun when you do it with everyone!
still support part-time. I feel deeply honored to have inherited the gift of advocating for and uplifting children and their families.
My greatest joy and accomplishment is being a mother to my three sons—two young adults and my youngest, who’s currently in high school. I love cheering him on at his sports games, enjoying live music, working out, spending time with loved ones, and taking walks with my dog, Ziggy.
Yoga entered my life in my early twenties, but it wasn’t until 2015—during a time of personal uncertainty—that I committed to a consistent practice. That decision transformed me. Yoga gave me a sense of peace, spiritual grounding, and a healthier way to navigate stress and life’s challenges.
After years of practice, I often reflected on how much yoga could’ve helped me earlier in life. That realization sparked a calling: to bring yoga to children. I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training and began offering free classes to friends’ kids and drop-in sessions for the community.
In 2018, my dream became a reality. Marluna Yoga was born with a clear mission—to share the transformative benefits of yoga with children and teens throughout our community. My hope is to grow a team of passionate educators and expand our reach across the Bay Area, helping young people build resilience, confidence, and inner calm through yoga.
About Teacher Sophia
Born and raised in San Francisco, I’ve always had a passion for helping others. I graduated from UC Davis with a B.S in Psychology, and am pursuing a Master of Occupational Therapy with a dream of teaching emotional and sensory regulation to kids who need extra support. Yoga came into my life as a teen, teaching me mindfulness at a time when I needed it most. I’d love to pass on this skill by teaching movement and breath work, two of the most accesible ways to regulate oneself. My experiences working in childcare and play therapy shape the patient, kind, open minded educator that I am today. I hope to continue to be a nurturing, supportive role model for children in my community through yoga education.