Our staff is here to support you in your journey and give you lots of personal attention. They are well trained and can work with you at whatever level you are at.
Be guided by teachers you can trust who will motivate and inspire you.
Director/Owner:
Brian Monnier
Brian Monnier was dragged literally by his hair to his first yoga class in 1999. Due to many sports related injuries, his back and knees were quickly making life miserable. Brian’s health was getting poor, he was always getting sick and had gained a significant amount of weight.
Yoga healed his health and body. Regular practice completly changed everything in his life.
In late 1999 he had fortune to have trained under Yoga Master Tony Sanchez. This was a life changing event. During his time with Mr Sanchez, Brian learned that his passion is helping others heal with Yoga. Over the course of 4.5 years, Mr Sanchez educated Brian in Hatha Yoga. It was during this time Brian was certified in Mr. Sanchez’s Yoga Challenge 1 series and learned the 84 classic Asanas of the Bishnu Ghosh lineage.
“Tony was my only yoga teacher. What I got in the short time I was a student under him was very complete. He held nothing back and expected only but that I dedicate myself to teaching and practicing yoga. The years of 1999-2004 forever changed my life. For that I am eternally grateful to Tony and Sandy.”
Brian also has had the honor to have trained under Sifu Y.C. Wong in Hung Gar Kung Fu. Sifu Wong is one the foremost experts in the style. Under his watchful eye, Brian has developed a passion for Chinese martial arts. Sifu Wong also taught Brian how to be a good student and more importantly how to be a good teacher.
In late 2004 Brian opened Yogic Motion in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco. In 2008 he relocated the studio to a larger location in the Fillmore/Pacific Heights area of San Francisco. In 2009 Yogic Motion transformed into the California Yoga Company.
He has passion for teaching beginners and teachers. Currently he is in the process of teaching his unique system and method of teaching to Yoga teachers nationwide.
“When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.”
-jacques yves cousteau.
Teachers
Bill Mohler
I have been interested in yoga for over 10 years, but did not practice regularly. However, I gained a deeper appreciation for yoga when I met Dieyana – at a 24hour Fitness class. Dieyana taught me to value the time I took to do yoga and to look forward to attending class. Unfortunately, Dieyana was not teaching a lot in San Francisco. I was lucky to find Brian Monnier, of Yogic Motion.
Brian’s teaching style kept me coming back so often that I was soon ready to sign up for his teacher training program. 12 hours of yoga a week for several months can really get you in some good shape. I have completed my 200 hour certification (Monnier Method) July 2009 and am now working on completing my 500 hour certification. I am working in an apprenticeship program still under Brian Monnier, learning the 84 classic asanas.
I have been practicing yoga and refining my skills with other styles, adding some Vinyasa, and other influences to my experience, as well as working with intensive breathing exercises and meditation. I try to keep an easy going style in class, following Brian’s “No Scene, No Stress, Simply Yoga” mentality, combined with a straight forward “back to basics” approach, emphasizing form and proper breathing, elongating the spine and strengthening the core.
I have been training people in a corporate environment for years, as a Trainer, then Training Manager at a bank here in San Francisco. I received an Instructional Designer/Developer Certification from Langevin Learning Services in 2007. I now enjoy utilizing these skills in teaching something I love – yoga!
If you have questions please contact me at billmohleryoga@gmail.com.
Diana Brent
I have lived the life of an urban customer service woman. Always going to the parties and enjoying as much of the social scene as possible with little rest or exercise. Not a whole lot of balance although it was fun. One day one of my good friends took me to the Tony Sanchez studio for an afternoon event, which is totally the way I looked at it. I came out of the class sweaty, exhilarated, exhausted, relaxed, and almost euphoric. Although all of these positive feelings came from the class I wasn’t a die hard yet. From time to time I would take classes with Brian at Body Tonic or some other yoga class. But then I fractured my coccyx. I came to Brian at his studio in Russian Hill broken and kind of depressed because I was so immobile. He worked with me closely during my rehabilitation process and through this my stress decreased and I started to feel better about my body.
It has been years now practicing yoga with Brian. He is my friend and my mentor and with his help I am now becoming a yoga teacher and I love it. My goal is to create a warm and strong yoga community and get my friends and newbies to enjoy yoga as much as I do.
What I have found as a fledgling teacher is that I want to bring strength, balance, and laughter to my upcoming classes. I want to make sure the atmosphere is focused but joyful with a sense of community and support. I love sharing this modality with others as I know how much it yields. I know this will help everyone in their journey throughout their life as it will continue to keep your body healthy and fit with regular practice. I am counting on it for myself as I have seen other long term yogi’s in their 90’s doing the splits. These people don’t have any mobility problems and that is what I want to make sure of for myself and for those around me.
Venis Goodman
Born and raised in Cincinnati,Ohio. Attended Sinclair College and Wright State University in Dayton, majored in Musical theatre and Dance. Moved to SF in the early 80’s and studied with SF Ballet. Worked in the retail cosmetic industry for over 20 years, most recently with Chanel. Certified in Swedish Massage from SF School of Massage.
Shortly after the recession hit and I lost my job, my good friend Mitzi dragged me into one of Brian’s Classes. I was looking for a way to get exercise without doing the “Gym scene”
I heard yoga had some similarities with dance, so I thought I would check it out. Was I in for a surprise. Didn’t take me long to fall in love with it. In the back of my head I kept thinking to myself, “I could see me teaching one day”. Then Brian made the offer of a teacher training program. I jumped at the opportunity and have not looked back. Finally I could see a way out of retail hell. It has been an amazing experience, Brian is a wonderful teacher and a wealth of knowledge. I look forward to working with him more and growing with the studio.