YOGAqua Instructors

Stephanie Schwartz has always sought ways to bring balance, health, and fun into her life. Yoga has become an integral part of that process. It is a place where she can be herself, confident and comfortable in her body and its strength, along with its goofy inner core. A couple of years ago, on an adventure to the North Shore of Oahu, hiking with friends, Stephanie came across a floating yoga studio at a secluded beach. Intrigued, she carefully determined that no one was around, and quickly hopped on a board to play—and in a moment was hooked. Through a chance encounter with a yoga teacher who soon staked claim to the floating studio as her “office”, a seed was planted. Back on the mainland, it took about a year before Stephanie found a local floating studio to make part of her regular practice—and subsequently learned that the owner, Sarah, was the same teacher she had crossed paths with a year before. The opportunity to join a YOGAqua teacher-training program presented itself a few months later and Stephanie never looked back. She is also a certified yoga instructor through the National Council for Personal Trainers (NCCPT). Most weekends you can find her practicing, playing and laughing in Marina Del Rey with the YOGAqua family.

Courtney Regan has always lived and loved an active life. Growing up in Dearborn Michigan she was a dancer, competitive swimmer and played both basketball and softball. Her passion for athletics and movement took her to Tempe Arizona where she studied Kinesiology and Dance at Arizona State University. In a dance studio on campus Courtney took her first yoga class. It was hardly love at first down dog. In fact she giggled through half the class. A couple years later she gave yoga a second chance and found nirvana through asana. After years of personal practice Courtney decided to attend The Southwest Institute of Healing Arts and received her RYT 200. In the Summer of 2014 she decided to shake up her life and start a new adventure with a move to sunny Santa Monica. It was here, at Mothers Beach, she was introduced to SUP. She had never experienced such excitement and peace as she did on the board out in the water. It was time for a new adventure in 2016. She found YOGAqua and immediately registered to train with Sarah. Courtney’s classes are a reflection of how she lives, balanced. Courtney enjoys teaching athletic classes that are mindfully sequenced for all levels of experience. She wants her students to find the same excitement and peace she does in her own practice. Most of all Courtney wants her students to find pure joy; on the water, in the sun, experiencing SUP yoga with YOGAqua!

Born and raised in beautiful Romania, Adela was always pulled towards bodies of water, be it a river, lake or the sea. As a child she loved the countryside and the freedom it provided, away from the hustle and bustle of congested Eastern European cities.

In 2007, Adela took her biggest leap over the Atlantic ocean to pursue her college career in Marketing & Management in Atlanta, GA. Her thirst for exploring the great outdoors and the magnetic pull toward the ocean drove her to take another big leap and move to California after she graduated in 2011. Shortly after her move she discovered Yoga, fell in love with the practice and has been active in the Yoga communities ever since.

Currently, Adela leads SUP Yoga classes and beach Vinyasa flows where she inspires others to connect their breath with the natural elements.

Paige has always been an avid lover of nature and the outdoors ever since growing up in the Colorado Rockies. She is drawn to all forms of water, but particularly the ocean.

Twenty years ago Paige tried ocean kayaking and immediately fell in love. She eventually became a kayaking instructor, helping others learn the sport and assisting with trips to the Channel Islands and other locations. She spent the better part of most weekends on the water.

It was around that same time that Paige started her yoga practice and has continued it over time. Paige found she much preferred doing yoga outdoors and connecting with nature. She sought out opportunities to practice everywhere from parks to the beach.

When Paige tried stand up paddle boarding she instantly fell in love. She loved the view and perspective you get from a standing position. She enjoys the challenge of the sport. When she came across a Yogaqua class several years ago she immediately signed up and has been a regular ever since.

When Paige isn’t taking a SUP yoga class or leading a sunset paddle she can be found assisting with paddle board trash clean ups in the Marina and volunteering with other activities to help improve the ocean and the planet.

Leslie began her love for yoga in the late 90’s. She received her 200 RYT certification in 2004 with the Yoga Alliance by The Yoga Channel school, in Silverstand Beach, CA. She immediately felt a sense of purpose and belonging to the yoga community. As a young girl Leslie spent most of her weekends in Marina Del Rey and Ventura sailing with her family. The ocean has always been her “happy place”.

She began paddle boarding as another form of outdoor activity in 2017. When she tried SUP Yoga for the 1st time in Mammoth, California in 2021 she immediately fell in LOVE! Her two favorite passions, yoga + the ocean all wrapped up into one! After leaving the Mammoth Yoga Festival in 2021, Leslie was committed to becoming a certified SUP Yoga Instructor. In January, 2022 Leslie completed Yogaqua’s SUP Yoga Certification course.

Her classes are a combination of embracing nature while we glide to our SUP yoga haven. Once we arrive we will enjoy a well balanced class of relaxation, appreciation for the ocean and a yoga practice to ignite the mermaid/merman within each of us.