Meet Your Lead Teachers.
We believe that authenticity and vulnerability are key to connection. This video, made by our friend and videographer David, showcases just that. It's a compilation of bloopers from our Rooted Heart Yoga video shoot.
Enjoy, and we hope you laugh along with us!
Rooted Heart Yoga Teachers
Crystal Uyeno
Lead Teacher
Crystal began her yoga journey in April of 2014 after a long battle with anxiety and depression. It was the first time she felt true connection and contentment in her mind, body, and soul. From that moment forward, Crystal knew her life was forever changed. She wholeheartedly believes her purpose in this life is to share the practices of yoga and mindfulness with as many humans as possible. Her hope is that the tools they learn on their mats will positively impact their everyday life.
Crystal is a wife and mom to two awesome kids and four friendly dogs. She’s a certified yoga, meditation, and pilates instructor who has been teaching yoga for over 10 years. She has a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy of Religion and a minor in Peace and Conflict studies from Fresno State. She is on the board of Namaste for Compassion, teaches yoga and pilates at Fresno State, a legacy ambassador for Lululemon, a Doumanian Ethics Award recipient for a paper written on “Feminine Ethical Theories”, and an intern for the upcoming Interfaith Scholar Conference in Fresno.
Nayantara Rodrigues
Lead Teacher
Nayantara began her journey as a yoga teacher in 2017 when she completed her 200-hour YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) in Goa, India. Immersed in a 28-day training, away from her family, she found it to be one of her most challenging yet transformative experiences. She emerged with profound knowledge, strength, and wisdom, driven by a desire to share this with others. Inspired, she founded Namaste For Compassion of Central Valley (NFCCV), a nonprofit organization that merges social action with the healing power of yoga.
Beyond her work with NFC, Nayantara is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in private practice, a professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation at California State University, Fresno, a yoga instructor at Four Corners Yoga, a wife, and a mother of two. Her latest venture, Rooted Heart Yoga, aims to extend her passion for yoga, honoring the teachers before her and carrying their teachings forward in her own way.
Amanda Stetler
Anatomy Teacher
Amanda has been practicing and sharing yoga for 20 years now. She has her undergraduate and graduate degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science. She is a lecturer in the Kinesiology Department at Fresno State University, while also teaching yoga at Clovis Community College and at Four Corners Yoga. When teaching yoga, Amanda brings her extensive education in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to mat, giving students work not just in flexibility, but in mobility, range of motion, and functional strength-based movement that leaves them confident in their body's ability to adapt to new and difficult things.
In addition to yoga, Amanda is active as an avid marathon and ultra marathon runner, spending time in the outdoors as much as possible. She loves adventuring with her husband and three kids in the mountains whenever she can.
Liana Pierce
Business of Yoga Teacher
After 11 years of a career in Corporate America, Liana took a leap of faith into pursuing her dream of opening a small yoga studio, Four Corners Yoga. Yoga has enhanced Liana's life in countless ways. She bursts at the seams when talking about yoga and her goal is to share with others what it can do for the body and mind. She strongly encourages her students to focus their energy on the "Four Corners" of their mat (themselves) and to remember that what is right for one body is not always right for another. She reminds you to leave your ego at the door and remember that yoga is a process/a journey – not a destination. She believes yoga helps you to create space in places you may have felt stuck. It is about becoming aware of the body, becoming aware of the mind (and the noise it can create.) With time, allowing you to make peace with who you are. Knowing that in order to find peace, you must be at peace with yourself first.
Jason Williams
Trauma Informed Teacher
Jason brings extensive experience and a wealth of knowledge to our community, holding a master’s degree in Psychology and over 20 years of experience working with local nonprofits and the Department of Social Services Child Welfare Division.
As the Co-founder of Brain Wise Solutions, Jason specializes in neuroscience-based training and coaching for organizations, emphasizing the importance of relationships. His deep understanding of trauma-informed practices comes from his extensive work with children and families in the child welfare system, where he has developed impactful curricula and strategies to build resilience. Brain Wise Solutions has trained over 1,500 professionals, including educators, social workers, and clinicians.
Jason also owns Key Writing Concepts, a grant writing business that has supported community-based organizations for 30 years.
His compassionate and relational approach aligns with Rooted Heart Yoga’s mission, and we are excited for him to share his wisdom and guidance with our community.
Benny Amarlapudi
Ayurveda Teacher
Benny Amarlapudi, an Ayurvedic practitioner and founder of Amaya Wellness in San Francisco, studied at Mount Madonna College of Ayurveda. She specializes in digestive and skin conditions, utilizing Ayurvedic nutrition, herbal formulas, lifestyle plans, and mind-body practices like breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation. Benny also employs marma therapy and Ayurvedic body treatments.She believes that every positive health choice contributes to sustainable well-being. By teaching Ayurvedic principles, she emphasizes holistic health, self-care, disease prevention, and early treatment. Benny has conducted workshops on Ayurvedic Lifestyle for Kaiser Permanente physicians and the Santa Clara public library system..