Our Weekly Class Teachers

Brianna Politzer Stevens was the original founder of Eden Yoga and Wellness. A yoga practitioner since the mid 1980s, Brianna obtained her teaching certification through YogaFit. She began sharing her unique blend of yoga postures and relaxation techniques with students at Eden Yoga in March of 2002. Brianna believes that yoga is for everyone, regardless of age, body size, religious beliefs, or physical fitness level. She strives to de-mystify the practice and make it accessible to every student who enters her classes.




Eva Kastel was a student and teacher of rhythmical gymnastics and modern dance early in her life, Eva began taking yoga classes in later years to help, or cure her, of a back problem. Yoga became so important to her for her physical and spiritual health that she decided to take the teacher training at the Yoga Room in Berkeley in 1988. Since then, she has taught yoga in different areas, always continuing to take classes and attend workshops to improve her teaching, which she truly enjoys.




Jeffrey Fuchs taught his first yoga classes at the Richmond Branch of the San Francisco YMCA in 1996. He graduated from the San Francisco Iyengar Institute's Advanced Studies/Teacher Training program in 2000 and has been a C.V.Y. teacher since 2002







Andrea Spence has such fun with her teaching that you end up laughing a lot during her classes. She has studied the Chakras extensively. She is a graduate of the 2005 200 hour program at The Yoga Company. She is continuing her formal education as will as continuing yoga education.






Loretta Kuliawat PhD has been practicing yoga since 2001. In 2005 she completed the Yoga Company 200 hour program and launched her career as a certified yoga instructor. Her teaching is guided by the premise that yoga is the art and science of skillful living. Her classes balance active and restorative postures with breath work, relaxation, and meditation techniques. Loretta believes that what happens on the mat reflects our habits in other areas of our lives and encourages students to experiment with yogic techniques off the mat. Her love of research, the inquisitive spirit that goes with it, and her passion for learning about health and longevity have led her to investigate the crossover between the teachings of Eastern philosophies and the prescriptions offered by modern scientific research. Her aim is to distill the wisdom from these traditions into manageable portions for students to ponder, accept or reject as is appropriate for them. She approaches the journey with a playful, exploratory demeanor appropriately spiced with skepticism and a 'show me' attitude. As a teacher her goal is to assist her students in finding the path to joy and pleasure that the self-care of a yoga practice promises.


Mary Riordan was introduced to yoga in high school P. E. classes and participated in yoga classes at a gym for a couple of years. She enjoyed the physical postures of yoga, but didn't recognize the mind, body, spirit aspect of yoga until returning to the practice in 2003. She completed Downtown Yoga's 200 Hour Advance Studies Program 2005/2006 and has attended a variety of workshops to increase her knowledge and experience of yoga. It has been a pleasure for her to teach and guide students of all ages and abilities in their personal discovery of yoga


Sonia Roberts began studying yoga in 1997 and began teaching in 2001. She loves teaching yoga and sharing the joy and many benefits of yoga with all people. Her teaching style emphasizes body awareness, alignment, breath, and the integration of mindfulness. She is committed to helping her students deepen their understanding of themselves through their yoga practice. Sonia humbly relies on her own practice and intuition to influence her teaching. She is a graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio's Advanced Studies Program and has a BA in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley.




Susan Child began practicing yoga in 1997 to gain flexibility and strength for dance competitions. After a few years, she realized she was enjoying her yoga classes more than the dancing. She is a graduate of Diablo Yoga Center's Advanced Studies Program and continues her training with senior Anusara instructor Ulrika Engman. Susan focuses on strength and alignment with a bit of humor in her classes.

Our Visiting Workshop and Series Teachers

Ellen Bell discovered yoga in 2002 as one of Castro Valley Yoga’s (formerly Eden Yoga) first students. Through passionate practice, she has experienced powerful personal transformation and spiritual awareness. Ellen is a graduate of The Yoga Company’s 2005 Teacher Training Program and is also certified to instruct yoga for stress management. Ellen’s teaching approach weaves the fundamentals of yoga with breath awareness, introspection, and yogic philosophy, incorporating held postures with energizing movement. Her warm, compassionate, and playful nature create a safe environment for students to challenge the body, calm the mind, open the heart, and expand the spirit.



Julie Fracchia has been a student of yoga many years. She continues to learn about herself and others as a teacher. One important thing Julie has learned over the years is that, in "creating" a yoga pose, the intention of the mind is as important as the ability of the body. She enjoys practicing and teaching yoga in a flow sequence because it reminds her of nature, like the waves of the ocean, trees and the sun. Her focus is on the breath and how to use it to promote a connection between the mind and the body in yoga. Julie received her Yoga Teacher Training at Mt. Madonna Center in 2007.



Laurie Krause has enjoyed teaching Yoga for the last 5 years Laurie's training includes the Advanced Studies and Yoga Teacher Training at Diablo Yoga Center. She is currently adding to her studies through The Yoga Room's ASP program with the goal of becoming an RYT (Registered Yoga Therapist).