Testimonials

Ana Landis Velazquez says:

My private session last year was fantastic. I recite the Sanskrit prayers (in my mind...) when I'm walking through Manhattan and I'm automatically moved ... read more

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Yoko Nagashima says:

I would like to thank you Ted for such a wonderful and valuable gift. I really appreciate that you are a dedicated teacher for us. I had never thought ... read more

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Michelle Kane says:

The Webster's dictionary defines insanity as repeating the same behavior and expecting different results. I have used this quote in daily situations from ... read more

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Jean Muldoon says:

Ted, Today during my practice, I finally found the piece that's been missing. The breath starts the movement and the breath is the movement. Thank you! Jean ... read more

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Sylvia Whelchel says:

Testimonial: I started doing Ayurvedic Treatments with Ted Surman in 2006 and they have dramatically changed so many of the challenges I've had in my life: 1. ... read more

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Nina Caiserman says:

I feel that the longer term commitment to Ayurveda through the Wellness Program helps to reveal deeper levels of imbalance and therefore can help correct ... read more

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Nancy Long says:

Testimonial: This was such a nourishing experience. A great way to deepen the practice, and a nice balance of yoga and other activities, in an extraordinary ... read more

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Yoga Awareness Certified Teachers & Therapists

We have been fortunate to receive the Yoga Teachings of Patanjali and the ways in which these teachings have been transmitted through T.Krishnamacharya (1888-1989). Yoga Awareness is an umbrella for teachers who study in the Krishnamacharya lineage. It is now our opportunity to share these gifts with you.

Ted Surman

Owner & Director
Yoga Awareness Teacher & Therapist ISYA 1000, Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 certified
Yoga Awareness Ayurveda Therapist ISYA 1000 certified

Ted Surman was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1960. He began practicing Yoga in 1990 and then immigrated to Hawaii in 1997 where he met his first teacher Gary Kraftsow at American Viniyoga Institute. In 2001 Ted began travelling to Chennai, India and studied at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram with TKV Desikachar, his son Kausthub Desikachar and senior teachers of the KYM. Since then Ted continues to travel each year to Chennai for ongoing studies with his current teachers DV Sridhar, Radha Sridhar, Viji Vasu at Yoga Raksanam. He also studies and practices Ayurveda with Dr Ganesh at Ayu Wellness.

Sylvia Whelchel

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified
Yoga Awareness Ayurveda Therapist ISYA 500 certified

Sylvia, originally from Switzerland, has studied yoga and alternative healing modalities for most of her life. She is a certified hypnotherapist and nutritionist, and has completed the Yoga Awareness 2006 Sadhana Training and an Ayurveda internship with Ted Surman. She continues her Yoga and Ayurveda studies in India at Yoga Raksanam at Pathway Health Center. Sylvia teaches chanting and meditation classes at Yoga Awareness and offers Ayurveda Wellness programs.

Angelika Dickeson

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified

Angelika is from Germany and moved to Maui, Hawaii in 1998. She began with classical ballet training at an early age, then jazz and modern dance. After raising her only son, she began pursuing dance and was a lead dancer in the hip hop dance group, “Function." After suffering a minor knee injury Angelika developed an interest in Pilates and Yoga, from 2005 studing with Mirka Kraftsow and then with Ted Surman. In 2009 she completed the Yoga Awareness Sadhana training and is currently doing the Teacher Internship. The practice of Yoga helped Angelika find an intimate contact to the body, mind and soul. Angelika’s passion has blossomed into a strong interest for healing others.

Marie Fitzsimons

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified

Marie is originally from Ireland and moved from CA to Maui with her family in 2005. She has a degree in Civil Law and has studied midwifery and women's health, assisting at births and teaching childbirth classes. She works as a family educator, teaching parenting classes, and facilitating a parent-child interactive program on Maui. Marie has been studying yoga since 1998 and with Yoga Awareness since 2006, currently completing the Sadhana and Teacher Intenship trainings. She is dedicated to the love and transformation of all beings everywhere and finds Yoga to be an amazing tool for living consciously.

Petra Prensky

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified

Petra is from Switzerland and has studied yoga and dance from an early age. Coming to the U.S.A. she studied expressive art and movement therapy at Tamalpa Institute in CA. Petra has been a Maui resident since 1996 and has a son. Certified as a Halprin Life/Art practitioner and Somatic Movement Therapist, and a student of sanskrit and Vedanta, Petra's instruction is both gentle and grounded, integrating her rich experience and devotion.

Michelle Kane

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 200 certified

Michelle was born in Santa Cruz, CA and has studied yoga since 2004, starting her work with Its Yoga and the Rocket Series with Larry Schultz. She found her way to Maui and has been working with Ted since 2006, completing her Sadhana training in 2007. She works as a massage therapist as well, and has a degree in International Studies. Michelle's varied life experience and motherhood shines through in her interactive and creative teaching style.

Pam Kamoku

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified

Pam is originally from Canada, but made Maui her permanent home in 1987. She owns a mobile fitness training business (Fundamental Fitness) where she brings health and fitness to your home / business. Pam began practicing yoga in 2002 to help her performance and reduce injuries while playing soccer, but what she also found was balance and peace of mind. She is currently studying with Ted Surman in the Yoga Awareness Sadhana Training and is certified as a Yoga Ed. teacher for kids.

Nancy Romaine

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified
Yoga Awareness Ayurveda Therapist ISYA 500 certified

Nancy is originally from New Orleans and began studying yoga 20+ years ago, studying at Kripalu (6 mths) and The Himalayan Institute (2 yrs). She was certified to teach yoga and also received a Master Degree in Holistic Studies. She devoted nearly a decade to organic farming on Maui and then began studying with Ted Surman in 2002. Nancy completed a 1.5 year program at the California College of Ayurveda is now living on Maui. She is completing the Yoga Awareness Sadhana training, the Yoga Internship and Ayurveda Internship. She is very enthusiastic to share these jewels of Yoga and Ayurveda with others.

Eva Enriquez

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 200 certified

Eva is from Madrid, Spain. She moved to the US ten years ago to teach skiing in Colorado and windsurfing in Maui, and is now a resident Maui artist. Eva has been studying Yoga with Ted Surman since 2005 and is a teacher at the Yoga Awareness Makawao studio. Having Spanish vitality for life, she teaches in creative and playful ways, which are both strengthening and stimulating.

Maria Isotov-Chang

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ~ Sadhana 1, 2, 3 certified

Maria has a Degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management and has a private practice on Maui consultanting in Land Use. She began her Yoga practice 20 years ago and has completed the Yoga Awareness one year / 200 hour Sadhana Training in 2007. Maria continues to practice weekly with Ted Surman and now teaches the YOGA 1 class, a restorative practice ideal for all levels, bringing a deep understanding of yoga breath, movement coordination, chanting and the Patanjali Sutra.

Yoko Nagashima

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ~ Sadhana Levels 1, 2, 3 certified

I would like to thank you Ted for such a wonderful and valuable gift. I really appreciate that you are a dedicated teacher for us. I had never thought that I could complete all 3 sessions at the beginning because of my sickness. I am really thankful for divine guidance. I really enjoyed the Sadhana training. I found some changes in me, the way to look at, feel and understand things around me. The tool (yoga) I was given will be so powerful and necessary for the rest of my life. Body and mind we were given are so interesting but also complex. I am sure that the study will never end.

Santina Melcone

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ~ Sadhana Level 1, 2, 3 certified

Santina is from New York and has lived on Maui for two years. She has a love for family and children and a passion for teaching pre-natal yoga. The techniques of asana, pranayama and meditation will help the path of pregnancy and giving birth, and will enhance the bond between mother and baby. Santina has completed the Yoga Awareness 1 year Sadhana training and teaches pre-natal at Yoga Awareness.

Nina Caiserman

Yoga Awareness Yoga Teacher ISYA 500 certified

Nina is from Ka’u, Hawaii and has spent many years on Maui. Currently, she has completed her Teacher Internship and 'sadhana’ studies and teaches at Yoga Awareness Makawao. She is also a licensed Massage Therapist. Inspired by her love and appreciation for Hawaii, Nina brings forth wellness, healing and peace within others through Yoga and the Aloha Spirit.