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The mission of Under The Yoga Tree is to share the gift of yoga with teachers, parents and children to create peaceful pathways towards health and wellness in communities throughout the world.

The branches of Under the Yoga Tree are flourishing with dynamic instructors dedicated to bringing yoga to children in all communities.  This unique group of instructors all bring something creative and different to the yoga community, but share a common passion in giving the gift of yoga to children in hopes of spreading inner peace in our communities. 

Diana Hahn
Under The Yoga Tree Teacher
Diana's love of movement began with dance at a very young age. She danced and worked as a dance teaching assistant throughout her education at Punahou School. Diana discovered yoga in 2005 at Om Yoga in New York City while pursuing a BA in poetry and movement at New York University. Since returning to Hawaii, she has deepened her practice at Purple Yoga under the instruction of Cathy Louise Broda and Brynne Caleda. In 2008, Diana completed her K-8 Yoga Ed. Certification with Brynne Caleda. She continues to learn about kids yoga from Brynne Caleda through assisting and substituting on a regular basis in schools throughout Honolulu while also working as a dance teacher and choreographer at Punahou School. Diana's personal ashtanga and vinyasa flow practice gives her a deep sense of inspiration and gratitude. It is her intention to cultivate compassion, love, and awareness in children of all ages through the fun and transformative experience of yoga.

Rachel Piano-Pooley, RYT
Under The Yoga Tree Teacher
Rachel Piano-Pooley first discovered Yoga in '00 while studying Psychology and Theatre at UC Santa Cruz. Since then, Rachel has dabbled in many styles of yoga but found a home in the Hatha, Vinyasa and Tantra lineage. For Rachel, Yoga acts as a mirror to provide a means of self exploration, awareness, and balance, as well as a feeling of connection to all that is. With her experience and love for working with youth, Rachel completed her Masters in Social Work from UH Manoa in '07, her yoga kids certification with Brynne Caleda of Yoga Ed. in '08, and her 200-Hour certification from Open Space Yoga in Œ09. Rachel is passionate about bringing Yoga and Yoga Ed. to the community at large- in the studio, the classroom and everywhere in between.

Monica Ross, RYT
Under The Yoga Tree Program Assistant and Teacher
Monica Ross began the practice of yoga at the age of 17 but didn't find the other spiritual layers of yoga until several years later while living in South East Asia. Surrounded by the less fortunate served as a motivation for her to practice Asana with the intention of delivering positive energy back into the world. With the help of a Jivamukti book and a mentor, she found herself saluting the sun everyday to share the power of yoga with the world. From her dedicated self studies it was a natural progression to continue her studies in a 200 hour teaching training at Open Space Yoga. Upon completion of her training she is now apprenticing with Brynne Caleda to further develop her love and knowledge for yoga. Monica's practice and teaching is influenced by diversity and love for the world.

Katrina Yoder
Under The Yoga Tree Teacher

Mi'ilani Yoshiko Cooper, RYT
Under The Yoga Tree Teacher
Mi'ilani born and raised in Japan and speaks Japanese as her first language. She moved to Hawaii in 1992 to study Hawaiian culture and language. Mi'ilani started yoga and worked toward a teaching certificate with 200-Hour Yoga Alliance at Aloha Yoga Kula with Brigitte and Martin. Under the instruction of Brynne Caleda, she has completed certification in Yoga Ed., Pre K and K-8. She also worked with Brynne as a translator for a Yoga Ed. teacher training workshop in Japan. She has been able to train under such instructors as Bryan Kest, Twee Merrigan and Daniel Aaron. Here locally she has trained under several teachers in different styles of yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa flow, Hatha flow, etc. Mi'ilani is currently apprenticing in Iyengar Yoga at BKS Iyengar Yoga Center of Honolulu with Ray Madigan and Shelly Choy in preparation for certification, and also exploring the Anusara tradition through weekend immersions by Skeeter Tichnor. Mi'ilani welcomes everyone to come and share the enjoyment of yoga. She creates a warm and comfortable environment with emphasis on proper alignment.

Well knowing that yoga brings self awareness, confidence and inner peace  in our youth, Under the Yoga Tree is dedicated to sharing yoga to all populations of children.  Under the Yoga Tree has implemented programs for children at homeless shelters and sexual abuse centers and is committed to the expansion of programs in order to give yoga to those in need.  Under the Yoga Tree supports the youth of the world, creating positive changes today leading to a brighter future tomorrow.

Organizations Under The Yoga Tree Supports

Children's Alliance of Hawaii
The Children's Alliance of Hawaii's mission is to provide care and support for sexually abused children, offering hope for the future.

Institute of Human Services - Homeless Shelter
The Institute of Human Services provides respite for those who are unsheltered and solutions that transform the lives of homeless and at-risk people.

Hawaii Youth Service Network
Through recreation, education, prevention, treatment, outreach, counseling and shelter programs, HYSN supports youth and families and seeks to build stronger communities. Through our shared advocacy on behalf of youth, HYSN seeks to educate our communities and our decision-makers. Through our networking, HYSN seeks to build collaborations that provide for increased effectiveness and decreased costs of youth services.