Maria Polonchek, instructor (and vision driven leader)
hatha / hot series / vinyasa / teacher training / EYRT-500 / YECP
Maria, owner of Swell Yoga + Wellness LLC, tried her first yoga class at a Palo Alto YMCA in 2011. At first, she was only there for the free childcare, but soon realized that yoga encouraged a type of articulate movement not unlike both Tae Kwon Do and cheerleading: an odd combination of activities she loved as a teenager. She continued to try and love all types of styles, studios, and classes, though it was her first Bikram class in 2014 that reinforced for her the ways yoga can help with mental health.
Maria completed 200 hr YTT in 2019 with Ali Bye and Natalie D’onofrio and 300hr YTT in 2022 through Uplifted with Brett Larkin. Her classes are energetic and casual, with a focus on posture, trunk strength, and mobility. A perpetual student in holistic health and wellness, Maria advocates for the positive impact yoga and mindfulness have on physical restoration and mental health.
Originally from the Midwest–about as far from an ocean as you can get–Maria is a transplant to the coast and LOVES calling Half Moon Bay home. Maria is a published author with a background in writing and editing and holds a BA in English and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Kansas. In 2020 she left her position as a digital content editor to pursue her dream of owning a welcoming, eco-friendly studio on the coast that blends tradition with innovation.
When she’s not practicing and teaching yoga, she can be found shuttling a minivan full of teenagers to surf, cycling on open county roads, or walking her two dogs, Alice and Charlie. Maria has three kids in the Cabrillo school district and is passionate about being part of a connected, diverse, and healthy community.
Amber Ricchetti, instructor
pre/postnatal / vinyasa / yoga barre / teacher training / ERYT-500 / YACEP
Amber, the developer of Swell’s Yoga Barre YA certification, is an enthusiastic and supportive instructor. Amber’s first yoga class as a high-school student was right over in Princeton Harbor. Further exploration from there led her to a regular Bikram practice as a young adult. Eventually, Amber’s interest in yoga pivoted to the comfort, peace, and community it provides. Her formative experience in taking and teaching yoga in Madison, WI, led her to teach Yin, Barre3, Yoga for Kids, and Pre/Postnatal. She is also a certified Reiki Master. Amber completed 300hr YTT in 2022 through Uplifted with Brett Larkin.
Amber spent her first decade in Southern California until her family settled in Half Moon Bay, where she graduated from HMBHS. She attended UC Irvine, where she received her BA in English. After college, she worked as a journalist for the HMB Review and gained further experience in marketing. Once Amber found healing from postpartum depression through yoga, she walked away from her traditional career path and dedicated herself to helping new mothers to find support through the practice.
With two young children (one born right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic!), Amber’s primary interest is currently SLEEP! She also enjoys reading, writing, and volunteering for Sea Hugger, her mother’s local non-profit to protect HMB beaches. She loves farm animals and teaches goat yoga at Lemos Farm. Her passion for scuba has led her to dives in the Galapagos and Greece, where she’s swam next to penguins and explored underwater ruins.
Amy Thomas, instructor
vinyasa / yin nidra / teacher training / ERYT-200 / RYS-200 / YACEP
Amy holds Yoga Alliance certificates as a registered yoga teacher, a continuing education provider, and a registered yoga school. Amy teaches the unique Ebb & Flow, a class that is both dynamic and playful, fitting for newer and more advanced students. Amy’s powerful energy and soft touch reflects her mastery in Reiki. She also offers private instruction, counseling, and Reiki.
Amy’s been teaching yoga for over 20 years, from Indiana to California to Kauai. She is the founder and creator of Flourish Yoga + Wellbeing, a studio in Indianapolis. She’s also called Spain and Saudi Arabia home. Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, a master’s in Psychology, and has worked as a therapist in the realms of addiction and Bipolar Disorder Genetic Studies.
Amy is thrilled to be a resident of Half Moon Bay with her beautiful Great Pyrenees, Padma. She loves kayaking and cycling on the coast, as well as dancing to live music and traveling. In her spare time, Amy loves to learn new things, her current project is practicing the Stand Up Bass – proof you really can reach old dogs new tricks!
Antony Mills, instructor
yin / RYT-200
Antony, one of Swell’s Candlelight Yin teachers, began his yoga practice right on the coast in 2015. He received his 200-hr YTT in 2017. In his training and teaching, Antony interweaves the therapeutic benefits of Yin Yoga with Traditional Chinese Medicine. He’s particularly drawn to bringing the “yin” balancing qualities of yoga to the “yang” energy of western and corporate culture.
Antony is originally from England but has lived in Seattle, Salt Lake City, and San Jose before landing Coastside right before middle school. With a professional background in construction, he’s currently a consultant with an architectural and engineering firm.
Antony’s interests away from home and studio include anything outdoors: soccer, golf, paddle-boarding, and walking the Coastal Trail are his favorites. He also loves music and art. Antony lives in El Granada with his family.
Becky Laux, instructor
buti-inspired / hatha / hot series / vinyasa / RYT-200
A native of Half Moon Bay, Becky started her yoga journey with the practice of Buti right on the coast. The fast-paced, dynamic, and empowering style led her to study the practice under Che Natina and she earned her Buti Yoga certification in 2017. Eager for more, she went on to complete her 200hr YTT in 2019 and her HIIY/Yoga Sculpt certification in 2020. Yoga has come full circle for Becky, as she now teaches Swell students in the very same walls where her own yoga journey began!
Married to her high school sweetheart, Becky has found her home back on the coast just a few blocks away from her family. She holds a B.A. in Communication Design and Media Arts from Chico State, and now leverages her design mind to spin nature into art as a florist.
When she’s not in the studio or playing with plants, you can find her soaking up life as a crafting queen (often with sparkles), exploring the earth, and of course, tearing up a dance floor or belting out some tunes at karaoke.
Clare Squire, instructor
gentle / hatha / vinyasa / RYT-200
Clare established her yoga practice 25 years ago as a dancer seeking a new way to care for her being. Her years studying modern dance and her apprenticeship with a dance company led her to understand the importance of mind, body, and soul maintenance. As a lifelong lover of movement, Clare found herself in a 200hr YTT at Swell with Amy Thomas. She completed her certificate in 2023 and is thrilled to be teaching in the same loving walls and environment that guided her through training.
With a background in sociology and public policy, Clare spent much of her career working in the non-profit sector. After years of research and fundraising, she recently shifted gears from the office to the outdoors! She’s currently working towards a horticulture certificate through UCLA and has moved into landscape design. Dance, yoga, landscaping – Clare loves to create living art!
California, Minnesota, and Thailand have all been homes for Clare over the years and she is thrilled to have settled into life in our cozy pocket of the coast. Outside of yoga you will find her diving into the socio-political challenges in our world, spending time with her children and partner Patrick, and patiently building her relationship with the ocean through SUP and surf.
David Oliphant, instructor
hatha / RYT-200
David, a local coastside business owner, blends classic and foundational poses with a mellow and easygoing vibe. David took his first yoga class when he turned 45, looking to address a nagging back injury from college. Not only did yoga completely resolve his back issues, but he was hooked and after two years of practice, went on to receive his 200-hour teaching certificate. As with any Swell instructor, he encourages all levels to the mat and emphasizes not only are beginners welcome, but made to feel comfortable. He trends towards laughter, learning, and not taking one too seriously. David is also certified in Reiki.
David’s attitude with life pursuits is “I can do that!” At 21, he moved to Paris with a friend and spent a year traveling. In order to support his growing passion for travel, he worked as a flight attendant and cruise director for an Italian-owned cruise line. Since then, he has also worked in the corporate world, owned restaurants, and now owns a real estate firm and art gallery in Half Moon Bay.
Beyond the yoga studio and professional pursuits, David stays outside, where he loves to work in the yard, camp, and hike. He feels home both near the ocean and mountains and has enjoyed living up and down the Pacific coastline, from Seattle to Los Angeles. David has a passion for rescuing senior dogs and volunteers for Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. He and his husband, Chris, live with their current rescue dog, Wooshi, named for the city where they met him, Wuxi China.
Jasmine Canales, instructor
hatha / restorative / vinyasa / yoga barre / ERYT-500
Jasmine left her first Bikram-style yoga class at 17 years old pleasantly confused by the sense of euphoria she felt. Eventually joining her university “Yoga Club” led by school librarians, she immersed herself in the physical challenge and found a steady practice before going on to complete her own YTTs. Jasmine received both her 200hr and 300hr training from Anahata Yoga and Wellness, and is a Level II Reiki practitioner. While her background is in Hatha, she has a special gift for nurturing students in slower practices like Restorative and Yin.
With a license in Early Childhood Education from UCLA extension, and experience studying under Italian education systems, Jasmine spent the past 14 years teaching Pre-K through 2nd grade and operated her own reggio-inspired homeschool practice back in Culver City. She also holds an AA in Creative Writing from Golden West College and is currently studying design through Santa Monica college.
Jasmine made her way from Long Beach all the way up the coast to Half Moon Bay. Like all teachers at Swell, Jasmine lives a whole lot of life outside of yoga. When not in the studio, you can find her immersed in all things music: writing, performing, getting down on the dance floor. And when the mood strikes, she’s always willing to enjoy a relaxing day at home snuggled up with a book and her cat, Xena.
Jenny Ell, instructor
yoga barre / ERYT-200
Jenny, a Bay Area native, started her yoga journey with the heat and discipline of Bikram. Though she loved soaking up the physical and mental benefits of the practice, Jenny eventually realized she wanted something more creative and liberating: hello, vinyasa! She found inspiration in the flows, the music, the shapes, and the permission to create the experience she needed. Jenny continued her yoga journey by diving into learning. She has completed two 200hr YTT’s: her first in 2020 and her second in 2023 at Swell with Amy Thomas and added her Yoga Barre specialization to top it all off.
With a B.S. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from SFSU and an MBA from Notre Dame de Namur, Jenny has spent the past 20 years of her career in HR Operations and Talent Acquisition.
Like many Swell teachers, you’ll most often find Jenny outdoors playing in the vast and gorgeous California landscapes. Whether she’s on the water paddling an outrigger canoe or on land cycling for a good cause – Jenny loves adventure and quality time with her people. On the rare occasion a foggy day keeps her inside, you’ll catch her trying her hand at knitting and relaxing with her pup, Roxie, or her son.
Kianna Miller, instructor
gentle / hatha / vinyasa / retreats / ERYT-200
Kianna first found yoga as a longtime athlete looking for more balance in her movements. Though she began practice purely for the physical benefits, she soon discovered the emotional and spiritual depth yoga has to offer and couldn’t stay away. She has completed two 200hr YTT’s, in 2019 and 2021. Frequently found with a salty & sandy bun atop her head – Kianna encourages you to show up exactly as you are. Whether you’re in the studio or on a retreat, you’ll find her classes to be casual, accessible, and intuitive.
Another native of Half Moon Bay –born & raised– Kianna lived in Washington DC, where she received her BA in International Relations from American University. She’s been known to hop on a plane at the drop of a hat and has spent substantial time in Europe and Latin America, even calling Belgium, Peru, and Nicaragua home.
Currently exploring a life away from the 9-5 grind, you’re most likely to find Kianna outside. While she loves all things outdoors, the ocean is her home. She spends time in her element surfing, swimming, SUP-ing, floating- anything that fills her gills. She is a certified Surf Instructor, Surf Therapy Facilitator, Breath Coach, and Wilderness First Responder.
Lindsey Kraten, instructor
hatha / vinyasa / sound bath / RYT-200
Lindsey, both sound healing practitioner and Hatha instructor, holds her 200-hr YTT as well as a certification in Music, Voice, and Sound Healing from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her first experience with yoga was taking a donation class in the Mission district in 2010. After the surprise feeling that she’d “come back” to herself, she practiced yoga regularly for 3 years before doing YTT in Rishikesh, India, an experience she credits as profound and transformative.
Technically a California girl, Lindsey has travelled extensively, exploring Micronesia, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Spain, Portugal, India, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Central America & Hawaii. In addition to offering yoga and Sound Bath, Lindsey is also proficient around a kitchen as a caterer and with a degree from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy-SF.
Outside of the studio, Lindsey shares a home with her husband and son, and two guinea pigs named Cacao & Jasper. She loves the Coastside lifestyle, spending time at the beach, hiking, camping, and gardening.
Martina Curci, instructor
sound healing
Martina has appreciated the healing power of music since she was young. In 2010, her love of sound led her to pursue a degree in Music Therapy with the intention of weaving this beautiful practice more deeply into her life. A professor introduced her to Vibracoustics, the study of vibrations and their healing powers – she went on to complete her training in Applied Vibroacoustics, Tibetan Singing Bowls and Sound Boarding Operator, at the VIBRO School, with music therapist Jorge Zain. Martina began offering 1:1 sound healing in 2020 before expanding to group offerings and eventually joining us on the weekly schedule at Swell!
Martina was born and raised in Argentina where she spent her childhood and university years, before making her way north to Half Moon Bay. Like most of the team at Swell, Martina is passionate about the outdoors and nature. She spends her weekends cruising up and down the California coast camping, hiking, and playing in the waves. With music in her bones and deep latin roots, don’t be surprised to see her getting down on the dance floor (be it dirt, sand, or concrete!).
Natalie Hanson, instructor
hot series / vinyasa / teacher training / RYT-200
Natalie began her yoga practice in 2001, finding it satiated her scientific mind and introduced her to the potential of subtle realms. Natalie completed YTT shortly after, in 2003. Natalies classes are both challenging and compassionate, with playful sequences and refined explorations that reflect her passion for life and commitment to transformation.
Born and raised on the Coast, Natalie completed her bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology and Physiology from UC Davis. A forever student, she graduated in 2015 from Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, California as a Doctor of Chiropractic and currently serves her community as a Network Spinal Chiropractor at Shakti Center for WellBeing in El Granada, California.
Natalie is most in her element gardening and being in any kind of water. Her crazy and loving home on the farm consists of 5 chickens, 3 daughters, 2 kittens, and a George. She loves building and creating beauty: an altar, a meal, a flower arrangement, an Easter basket. Her favorite foods groups are coffee, Parmesan cheese, and potato chips.
Sabine Cummins, instructor
yoga barre / ERYT-200
In her early 20’s, Sabine received an invitation from her mom to a gentle yoga class in Chicago. Wildly out of her comfort zone, Sabine wasn’t sure what to make of the breath, the stillness, and the chanting of mantra, which may have even prompted a giggle. As a stressed out grad student with a fidgety mind, she kept returning to the practice. After a few months she started to appreciate the peace and calm yoga brought to her life.
Those first classes eventually led to an interest in Vinyasa, Hatha, Hot Series, Baptiste, and Yoga Barre. When Sabine found Swell, she was drawn to the unique barre approach that balances total-body strengthening, movement of the mind, and of course, Swell’s signature barre beats. She completed her 200hr YTT with Brett Larkin and followed it with her Yoga Barre certificate before joining the team at Swell.
Sabine is a dual citizen (French & American), she spent her early years in Paris before moving to Chicago for high school and university. She received her B.A. in Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Philosophy before pursuing her Masters in International Studies. She explored living on the west coast from L.A. up to Eugene before settling on the coastside with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Bella. Sabine works in the Ad Tech & Advertising industry but also likes to spend her time immersed in travel adventures, hiking, theater and music. Don’t be surprised to catch her dancing – she’s been known to get down on the floor for a dance-off or two!
Sasha Trope, instructor
gentle / hatha / yin / meditation / retreats / RYT-200
Sasha is a versatile instructor who centers her yoga practice and teaching style around curiosity and exploration. She has spent her fair share of time in hot and “power” yoga classes, and during the pandemic her own practice took a softer turn, inspiring her to complete her 50hr Yin certification. She now teaches slower classes like yin, restorative, and gentle. Sasha’s true speciality lies in mindfulness practices. She is certified in Dynamic Mindfulness and is currently immersed in a 2-year Mindfulness Meditation program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. You’ll find her weaving mindfulness into all of her offerings both in the studio and on retreat.
Sasha has been making her way west for the past decade. She grew up on the East Coast before landing in Colorado where she attended CU Boulder, double majoring in Psychology and Journalism. Her work with youth brought her to Berkeley, before eventually landing in Sky Londa. She works as an Education Consultant for SFUSD overseeing their district-wide Special Olympics programs.
Her interests outside of mindfulness and yoga include outdoor adventures. She lives in the beautiful redwoods and while she loves her nourishing mountain home, you’ll often find her traveling the globe to experience new landscapes. She loves to camp, hike, and spend time at the ocean with a good book in hand.
Sharon K, instructor
hatha / meditation / vinyasa / RYT-200
Sharon picked up yoga back in 2007 as a way to cross train and recover from her avid cycling and running adventures. She started her practice with Bikram before making her way into Power, Vinyasa, and Yin. No matter the style or intensity of class, Sharon keeps coming back for a reliable sense of calm and the lifelong lessons yoga brings her. Hooked on the practice and study of yoga, she went on to complete her 200hr YTT in 2021 and completed a 285hr Wisdom and Meditation certificate in 2023.
Sharon comes from a First Responder (FR) background. As a former 911 dispatcher, she was inspired to center her teaching around the FR community. Offering them unique support and resources for their wellness through yoga.
A Bay Area native, Sharon loves calling the coastside home! She spends her free time soaking up local nature, participating in short-distance triathlons and practicing her SUP skills in the Pacific Ocean. She loves live music and a good cuddle with her pets.
In Loving Memory: Suzette Hallett, instructor 1949-2023
hatha / restorative / RYT-200
Suzette’s debut as a compassionate and dedicated restorative teacher landed right in Swell’s popular Restorative class. Suzette first practiced yoga in her 20’s at the local YMCA. After a desire to teach was a seed planted in her 30’s, she complete YTT in 2021 and fully realized that dream. Suzette practiced and enjoyed most any style of yoga, though following her intuition led her to teach Restorative. Suzette was certified in Level II Reiki, a gift she brought to her classes.
A native to Southern California, Suzette completed accounting and business classes at UCLA and had 20+ years of experience in accounting. She moved to Northern California with her husband in 1993 and once they settled in El Granada, never looked back. Before retiring in 2012, she worked in the CUSD personnel department.
Suzette was always moving, with interests in hiking, biking, gardening, cross stitching, and cooking, with a gift for creating incredibly nourishing meals. Suzette shared her home with her husband and Paloma, former feline resident of Enso Yoga Studio on the coast.