About

OUR TEAM

INSTRUCTORS

AAKANKSHA

After graduating from a Law school, Aakanksha decided to go on a journey to finding a deeper meaning and purpose in life. Since finding Yoga, she has been able to find balance and inner peace and decided to dedicate herself to translating her experience and passion into becoming a yoga teacher. After becoming a 500RYT she has been teaching Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, Therapeutic, Restorative and Yin Yoga back home in India. Aakanksha’s passion lies in the traditional practices of meditation, pranayama and the teaching of Yoga Philosophy thus has joined YogaUnion as a Philosophy headteacher.

ANNA VIKTORIA

The healing and therapeutic effects of exploring awareness and being in the body inspire Anna to be an eternal student of yoga. She is an educated IAYT Yoga Therapist and certified to teach Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Medical Yoga, Akhanda Yoga, Lunar yoga and Yoga Nidra. Since 2014 she has been teaching classes, retreats and trainings in Sweden, Bali and Brazil. Nervous system science, subtle energy and yogic philosophy are her favourite geek areas. Yoga can be a door to meet yourself where you are with curiosity and to open for growth and transformation – having the honour to share this magic makes teaching yoga deeply meaningful to her.

ELENI CHANTZARA

Eleni Chantzara started since 2009 her journey to Yoga! Early on she understood the treasures that were lying under that magical technique and philosophy of yoga. The practice became part of her daily life and that still goes on.She has been teaching yoga for more than ten years focusing on the self love and connection that happens in a yoga class, complimenting a soft, compassionate heart and a strong mind and body.

FAYE BALOMENOU

Faye is a passionate international yoga teacher and lead teacher in yoga trainings. A former teacher of Greek literature and poetry, Faye completed her yoga trainings in India and Greece and over the years has created her own style of Vinyasa. Her teaching experience began 8 years ago and since then she has taught in many different countries and in a variety of workspaces. Fay focuses on developing a movement culture through yoga practice and enables practitioners to explore their physical potential and to experience yoga beyond asana. What lies behind her vinyasa is a method of empowering practitioners to gradually build confidence, self-belief and inner strength.

GOURAV BAHUGUNA

Originally from India, Gourav grew up in Rishikesh, the birth place of yoga. So it was no surprise when he pursued his Bachelor’s in yogi science and completed his 500hrs RYT. He began teaching in 2018 and since then he bas been teaching ashtanga-vinyasa, iyengar and traditional hatha focusing on mobility, range of motion, strength, and flexibility. Be ready to leave his classes feeling peaceful, yet empowered!

HIMANSHU BAHUGUNA​

Himanshu comes from a traditional yoga family in India, where he completed his 500 RYT, B.A Degree in Yoga & Naturopathy and M.A. (yoga) degree from Uttrakhand Sanskrit University of India. Himanshu is combining his young and enthusiastic attitude with a technical asana approach and is most passionate about inspiring his students to improve their practice for long-term health, well-being and fitness goals. He has taught various yoga styles and currently focuses in the Hatha and Ashtanga-Vinyasa traditions. Himanshu is also experienced in asana theory, adjustments, and yoga alignment. He has previously taught in 200hr and 300hr teacher training courses back in India and since then is the lead teacher of YogaUnion.

IPPOLITI MILIONI

Ippoliti’s yoga journey started in 2010. At the time she was searching for something that would help her get rid of the anxiety and the pressure of corporate work. Her daily practice made her seek something beyond physical exercise. That’s how she started her first yoga training. Ippoliti creates a safe and comfortable space to release physical and emotional tension that allows for true healing to begin. Her classes help you bring mindfulness to your daily life, encourage you to explore your limits and give you a deep understanding of your yoga practice.

LAILA FAROUK

Laila is a yoga student and teacher who decided to quit the desk job, corporate life and focus on her health, wellness and peace of mind. Yoga took a big part of her daily movement for 8 years, then she realized that teaching is her passion. She is a strong believer in the power of mind and mind-body connection. Teaching Yoga and connecting with students has been the most fulfilling step towards her life purpose.

LUDOVICA

Ludovica’s yoga journey started in her living room in 2020 and bloomed that same summer with YogaUnion in Greece. Ever since then yoga has become the red thread of her life and her biggest passion. Practicing and sharing yoga allows her to be and express her true nature, as well as connect people around her and create a sense of community wherever she goes. Although trained in Vinyasa yoga she particularly enjoys teaching philosophy, pranayama and more gentle flows such as restorative and yin yoga to allow yogis to deeply tune in, create more space on every single level and release whatever tensions, life traumas or stuck emotions they may be carrying.

Menik

Menik officially enrolled in her first yoga class in January 2015 in order to seek balance between long working hours as a medical doctor in hospital and self-love practice. It turned out was a totally rewarding experience for her, not only in physical level but also gave her a sense of tranquility when she surrendered in Savasana. Since then yoga has become an important part of her life. Not long after her first class, she completed her 200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training through Sama Yoga School in April 2016. She also enrolled and gained another trainings and certifications with various teachers throughout her journey in yoga, including Heart of Yoga, Radiant Passage and Fly High Yoga alongwith many other workshops. Her path in yoga is a life changing journey outside her medical carrier which gives her dozens of opportunities to grow spiritually. Soon she realises that she has a big passion to share the wisdom of yoga not only in regular yoga classes but also through teaching in yoga teacher training courses mainly as anatomy and prenatal yoga teacher. Her passions are yoga anatomy, hatha flow along with chanting, fly high yoga, prenatal yoga, yin yoga and yin-yang yoga. As a Balinese woman who was born and growing up in Bali, she has a great privilege to immerse her life in this beautiful and spirit-filled island where karma yoga, bhakti yoga, meditation, tapas, offerings, rich culture are part of daily life. She is grateful to have the opportunity to share the intertwine of knowledges between western medicine and the ancient wisdom of yoga during her class.

MICHAEL HENRI (RYT 500, MPTHY, BHK)

Michael is a highly experienced Physiotherapist and yoga teacher from Canada who has worked in public and private practices in several countries around the world. Michael received his 200 HR certification through the Elements of Power Yoga school, studying under Paul Teodo, Byron De Marse, and Leah Santa Cruz in 2020. Upon completion, he immediately started working alongside his teachers and mentors to create a curriculum to support yoga teachers in teaching safely and effectively. As a result of his work, he created and co-founded Going Pro Yoga. Michael is committed to integrating functional anatomy, injury prevention and practical anatomical knowledge into the practice of yoga so that alignment, cueing and sequencing makes sense and can be more easily remembered and understood.

Ningrum Ambarsari

Ningrum found peace and calmness she needed most as she waded through her tight schedule as carrier woman, lecturer, researcher, entrepreneur and lead trainer. Knowing the importance of discipline, she practices yoga asana and meditation on a daily basis to strengthen and improve her flexibility mindfully for body mind and soul.

RACHEL BERRYMAN

Coming from a background of 20 years of ballet and contemporary dance training, Rachel has always been interested in working with the body and the amazing capacity our bodies have. Rachel has been practicing yoga for 14 years and has taught over 5000+ hours of yoga classes and teacher trainings. Originally from the U.S.A., she has been a lead teacher in over 30 yoga teacher training courses world-wide. Rachel teaches Vinyasa Flow, Yin, and Restorative yoga classes, as well as applied anatomy, teaching methodology, adjustments, and alignment classes.

Sharath

Meet our seasoned instructor, Sharath, who draws from an extensive 15-year background in teaching, assisting, and training across diverse locations, primarily in India (Mysore, Goa, Rishikesh, Dharamshala) and various countries worldwide, including Mexico, Guatemala, Europe, Thailand, and Bali. With a wealth of experience, Sharath has meticulously crafted this 50-hours module to offer a highly educational, practical, and transformative experience. The course is intentionally designed to challenge and nurture individuals at all proficiency levels.

TANYA POPOVICH

Tanya is a certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, Yoga Alliance ERYT-500, and Yoga Acharya (Master of Yoga) in the classical Sivananda yoga tradition. She started her meditation practice at the age of 14 through Transcendental Meditation. Her 20 years of experience practicing and 17 years of teaching yoga includes numerable yoga training in classical and modern styles of yoga and long stays at yoga ashrams across India. For the past 16 years Tanya teaches yoga internationally including 200-hr and 500-hr Yoga Alliance certified educational programs, workshops, seminars, and retreats.

TINA ZYM

Tina is a seasoned yoga educator, practitioner-scholar and educator based in Athens, Greece. Originally from New York City, she has been studying, practicing and teaching the full spectrum of yoga for more than 25 years. Tina is also certified in Yoga Studies and Vedic chanting; she regularly travels to India and continues to study yoga, philosophy, ritual, āyurveda and Sanskrit. Her approach to yoga combines deep reverence for the Indic & Vedic traditions and texts with practical, evidence-based application. She has been involved in the facilitation of teacher trainings since 2008 and cherishes sharing her deep knowledge and experience of yoga philosophy, restoratives, therapeutics, meditation, mantra and prāṇāyāma. Her warm, nurturing, layered approach resonates with those who seek depth, empowerment, reconnection, and inspiration.

FOUNDERS

SPYROS KAPITSINOS​

A track athlete in his youth, Spyros’ love for the human body and movement led him to pursuing a career as an ASCM certified movement trainer and specialist, which soon enough led him to Yoga. After falling in love he quickly become a 500 RYT and started travelling the world gathering knowledge, experience and inspiration. Spyros and Ourania founded YogaUnion Bali, a life-long dream and the place where he was able to share his knowledge and passion for movement and the human experience. As of 2020 Spyros is still very involved in the trainings and focuses on working in the background and delivering Anatomy lessons.

OURANIA BOUZOUKI

Once a very successful architect working in Florence, Ourania decided to follow her passion and devote herself to yoga. She started practicing with Giovanni Formisano in 1996 when she completed her first 4-year teacher training in Hatha yoga. Since then Ourania has accumulated thousands of hours by following inspiring teachers in TTC, seminars, and workshops all over the world, including her beloved India where she still visits every year. Since 2010 Ourania has been running an international teacher training school, and now calls Bali home. Ourania is still involved in TTC’s and creating vision of spreading the love of yoga to all, past and future students of YogaUnion.