Facilitator Bios

Learn more about the team at Yoga for Humankind

Core Facilitators, Strategy & Operations

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Mei Lai Swan

Founder, Director & Lead Facilitator

Falling in love with the path of self-inquiry and personal evolution in her teens, Mei Lai has been studying eastern philosophies, yoga and meditation for over 20 years. A senior yoga teacher, Mei Lai is a certified Embodied Flowâ„¢ and Trauma-Informed Yoga facilitator.

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Tysza Gandha

Facilitator, Training Support & Circles of Connection Coordinator

Tysza teaches Dynamic Mindfulness (DMind) practices for children and youth in schools to nurture a resilient and compassionate generation. She also facilitates DMind trainings for educators and caregivers, so they can take good care of themselves while engaging the children around them as powerfully as they can.

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Ria Tirazona

Facilitator & Training Support

Ria Tirazona is a yoga and mindfulness facilitator, educator, and licensed psychologist from the Philippines, where she specializes in psychological assessment and embodiment, movement and mindfulness based psychotherapy.

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Chanelle Burns

Facilitator & Training Support

Chanelle is yoga practitioner of more than 10 years and is a teaching graduate of the Academy of Yoga Learning. She has an abiding commitment to her own practice of yoga, which supports her on her teaching path.

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Tanya Cates

Fit Advisor

Well-respected and connected within the physical health industry both locally and internationally, Tanya has a unique combination of expertise, knowledge, and skills.</p> <p>Dr. Tanya cates (PhD) is a Master Pilates Instructor trainer for Balanced Body Pilates International. With 18 years Pilates teaching and instructor training she has delivered and written countless instructor courses in Pilates, movement and Human Anatomy.

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Ana Uribe

Facilitator & Training Support

Ana has spent the last 15 years seeking her own personal healing through yoga, earth based wisdom and human connection. Throughout this time, she has been traveling the world, learning from other cultures, exploring different tools and ancient techniques. She is now a certified yoga instructor and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator.

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Betty Publico

Administration & Communications Lead

Betty is Tech and Creative Specialist providing administration and support services for Yoga for Humankind. She is an experienced Virtual Assistant, Social Media Manager and Front-end Web Developer.

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Lee Watson

Circles of Connection Partner

With a background in the Humanities and a Cultural Studies PhD, Lee's area of expertise is based upon narratives of identity. The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. The more time he spent amongst the yoga community, the more he became aware of the incredible stories of transformation and recovery that stem from this ancient practice and its incredible capacity for healing.

Guest Facilitators

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Amber Gray

Pioneer in polyvagal-informed movement therapies and dance movement therapy for survivors of torture and trauma

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Argo Theoharis

Queer intersectional psychology, embodiment and social justice facilitator

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Ash Dargan

Indigenous musician, storyteller and community wellbeing facilitator

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Dr. Carlie Atkinson

CEO and lead facilitator of We Al-li, Indigenous culturally-informed trauma healing

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Dil Wijeyesekera

Yoga facilitator, social justice and leadership consultant

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Helena Norberg-Hodge

Director of Local Futures, author, filmmaker and pioneer of the local economy movement

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Jarmbi Githabul

Indigenous community leader, spiritual mentor and environmental activist

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Jo Buick

Director of collective being, trauma-informed somatics, community practice and education

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Judy Atkinson

Emeritus Professor

Pioneer in Indigenous culturally-informed trauma healing, founder, patron and lead facilitator of We Al-li

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Julia Midland

Director of The Ompowerment Project, trauma-informed yoga trainings, humanitarian gender-based programming and consulting

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Lindsay Lovejoy

Social justice advocate, anthropologist, consultant and anti-racism educator

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Matua Luis

Maori elder, wisdom keeper and master carver

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Zabie Yamasaki

Director of Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga and Trauma-Informed Programs at UCLA