The Team
Guides, Not Gurus
Our instructors are teachers, students, and community members first. Each brings a unique background and philosophy — united by a shared belief that yoga belongs to everyone.
Meet the People Who Will Guide Your Practice
Over 60 combined years of teaching experience — and counting
Maya Chen
Founder & Lead Instructor
Maya founded Sanctuary Yoga after 15 years of practice that took her from corporate burnout to a psychology degree to yoga teacher training in Mysore, India. She holds a 500-hour RYT certification, is a certified trauma-informed yoga instructor, and has completed advanced training in yoga therapy. Maya believes that the greatest pose you can ever master is the one of showing up — for yourself and for others. She teaches Community Flow and leads all teacher training programs.
James Rivera
Power Yoga & Strength Coach
A former Division I athlete and personal trainer, James discovered yoga while recovering from a knee injury and never looked back. He completed his 200-hour teacher training in Los Angeles and his 300-hour advanced training with Baron Baptiste. James is known for his high-energy classes that challenge the body without abandoning the spirit of yoga. Off the mat, he coaches youth athletics and advocates for mental health in sports communities.
Sarah Okafor
Gentle, Restorative & Children's Yoga
Sarah spent 10 years as a physical therapist before discovering the profound healing capacity of slow, intentional yoga. She holds certifications in Hatha, Yin, Restorative, and Children's Yoga, as well as additional training in working with seniors and those managing chronic pain. Her classes are a masterclass in listening — to the body, the breath, and the moment. Sarah also runs our popular Kids Yoga Camp each summer.
David Kim
Meditation, Breathwork & Mindfulness
After a decade in tech, David walked away to spend five years studying contemplative practices in India, Thailand, and Myanmar under Theravada, Vipassana, and Tibetan Buddhist teachers. He returned to Boulder to share what he learned in language that busy modern people can actually use. David's sessions blend ancient meditation techniques with contemporary neuroscience, making the practice immediately practical and deeply transformative. He leads Yin & Meditation classes and all sound bath events.
What Students Say About Their Teachers
The instructor makes all the difference
"Maya has this rare gift of making a room of 30 strangers feel like a tight-knit family within 10 minutes. Her classes are challenging and nourishing at the same time. I have never met a teacher who remembers every single student the way she does."
Priya Sharma
Student of Maya, Member since 2020
"James pushed me past limits I did not know I had — and somehow made it fun. I arrived unable to do a push-up and left three months later doing handstand push-ups against the wall. His belief in his students is contagious."
Carlos Mendez
Student of James, Member since 2022
"David changed how I understand my own mind. His meditation sessions are unlike anything I have experienced — equal parts ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science, delivered with warmth and zero spiritual pretension."
Amanda Foster
Student of David, Member since 2021