Aerial Yoga Instructors
Tamara Leeper
Practicing yoga for many years Tam found her passion for aerial yoga in 2015. After earning her Aerial Yoga Instructor’s Certification, she has continued to grow in her practice and passion. Tam’s classes allow students to be creative and silly while building the strength and flexibility needed for aerial yoga.
Amy Thai
At the start of my journey with aerial yoga, I found myself taking many classes from many different instructors, trying to learn everything I can about my new found passion. My love for it really pushed me past my personal, mental and physical limits. I found strength, flexibility, creativity, and spiritual awareness from my practice. It gives me such great joy being able to teach and share my practice with others.
Jessica Rubiano
Jessica first discovered aerial in 2017 and was immediately addicted to this unique activity that was so much fun, she rarely realized she was working out and building strength. After only a few months of attending classes, she knew she’d pursue certification in order to hone in on her love of assisting her classmates through challenging exercises and poses.
Jessica’s heart is filled by encouraging her students and classmates and enjoys watching their steady growth. She believes the strong aerial culture consisting of women uplifting each other is unlike any other she’s found and is grateful to be a part of such an empowering community. When she’s not in the air, you can find her blading the boardwalk and spoiling her black lab mix.
Justine Cruz
Kristina Zion
Kristina Zion, founder of Upside Down Lady Aerial, is a passionate, fun-loving Kid’s Aerial instructor. In addition to 10 years of personal yoga practice and 3 years of dance and aerial arts, Kristina also has a Master’s degree in Child Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Mental Health. In August 2019, Kristina completed Playful Peace Yoga’s Kids Aerial Teacher Training and has been committed to sharing the incredible practice of aerial yoga with the children in our community ever since. With her vast knowledge in both psychology and movement, Kristina creates a safe space for children to grow, build confidence, and foster a greater sense of self. Come fly with Kristina every Wednesday at 4pm for Kids Aerial Level 2- Flip & Flow!
Lexi Demarco
Lexi is an aerial and hatha yoga teacher as well as a plant based chef. She has spent the past six years diving into her health and wellness journey to optimize her quality of life. Yoga has helped her gain a deeper awareness of her mind, body & spirit which continues to evolve on a daily basis. She has been guiding others in their own practice for the past two years and has a special place in her heart for aerial yoga. Lexi strives to help others on a path to a healthier life. Her goal is to inspire people to mindfully move their bodies while eating nourishing, vibrant, whole foods that help to maintain optimal health and happiness.
T Mac (Leader of Aerial Yoga Teacher Training)
T Mac is a world-renowned Aerial Yoga teacher. Although currently living in Switzerland, she regularly returns to San Diego to lead the Aerial Yoga Teacher Trainings! Tmac has been an advisor in setting up studios all around the world from La Jolla to Thailand.
Joining the aerialist world you don’t defy gravity, you defeat it. T Mac has been hosting Aerial Yoga Teacher Trainings through her company Galaxy Lifestyle for over 7 years, guiding teachers to their highest potential. Hopefully you’re #DTF (down to fly) with her one day soon.
Emily Artelejo
Emily began her journey as a yogi in 2013, and later fell in love with the practice of aerial yoga as a way to express herself creatively. Her favorite part about teaching aerial yoga is helping students face their fears and doubts to discover the amazing things they can accomplish! Emily has lived in Texas and Washington, D.C. before making San Diego her home. Emily is also a certified Reiki practitioner and dialogue facilitator. Come *hang* with Emily!
Debbie Leung
Debbie is a certified RYT-200 and has additional certifications in stand up paddleboard (SUP), yin, aerial yoga, and Thai massage. She is attracted to yoga by the subtleties of alignment in the body and the immense benefits it brings to our minds, bodies, and ability to function better on a daily basis. In particular, aerial yoga allows her to find the part of herself that secretly aspires to be a gymnast and dancer while providing the amazing full-body benefits of inverting. She originally sought out yoga as a way to calm her anxious mind and from that place seeks to help others find THEIR rhythm and beat within their own practice and lives. Debbie is also passionate about the power and density of cities to bring people together in unexpected yet meaningful ways and continually strives to achieve this through yoga and mindfulness daily. She is also passionate about the use of essential oils in daily life and never fails to incorporate hte benefits of oils into her classes. Debbie’s classes combine her enthusiasm for flying and creative sequencing with precise alignment and safety cues.
