Larry Schultz Founder

Larry Schultz studied for 7 years with luminary Shri K Pattabhi Jois and established It’s Yoga in 1989. He is known as one of the foremost Yoga enthusiasts, in the West. As the third yoga studio in San Francisco, It’s Yoga served to raise the torch by creating a vibrant hub for the yoga movement in the Bay Area. Larry taught tens of thousands of classes at It’s Yoga SF, across the U.S. and abroad and shepherded more than 5,000 Ashtanga Vinyasa students through his life-affirming 200-hour It’s Yoga Teacher Training Course.

Born of his time teaching yoga to the band, “The Grateful Dead”, Larry developed his much beloved ”Rocket” routines which are a variation of the classical first, second and third series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. He was one of first to step out of the box by stretching the boundaries of the classical Ashtanga System with modifications of the advanced poses. When looking for a name for the new routines, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, dubbed them the “Rocket” because, “it gets you there faster.”

Over the years, yoga students of all kinds flocked to his studios. He facilitated the opening of over 15 It’s Yoga studios and affiliates that teach the “Rocket Routines” and the “It’s Yoga Teacher Training Program.” Advanced students came to practice on their own, while new students that included Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, artists, students, and entertainers came to explore this mysterious practice. It’s Yoga San Francisco served the community for 20 years.

In an open letter on the It’s Yoga website, Larry shared his vision for teaching:

There is nothing more satisfying to me as a teacher than to watch the glow with which people arise from Savasana. Often people walk into It’s Yoga with worry, stress and tiredness written all over their faces but when they leave, they show the effects of Ashtanga Yoga: they feel better and look better, lighter, freer, more relaxed and energized. This is why to me, teaching Ashtanga Yoga is a kind of self-realization; every time I lead class I, as a teacher, grow and express the insights of my own yoga. I see people take in the practice from various different angles and develop, change and transcend their limitations, realize their possibilities.

“Larry was a warm and generous person,” remembers Yoga Journal Senior Associate Editor Jennifer Rodrigue, who took his teacher training. “One of his greatest contributions to the yoga community was giving people the courage to own their personal practice, encouraging people to honor the past and to live in the present.”

David Kyle of It’s Yoga Puerto Rico, remembers his teacher: “His passing has taken many by surprise,” he says. “His life has influenced thousands to search within themselves for their inner teacher. He is an inspiration to us all.”

Combining his signature mix of humor and discipline, generosity and firmness–and above all, kindness–Larry delighted in introducing his students to the practice, traveling around the globe, and spreading his gospel of yoga’s healing and restorative powers.

San Francisco based Stephanie Snyder, who also completed his training says, “He was an entryway for anyone to come into yoga. He made it accessible to all.” Snyder says that Schultz referred to yoga as a party, to which all were invited. “He was an institution.”

Larry’s wife Marie Hajjar Schultz, states that ”Larry is a timeless teacher whose love of the practice transcended everything he did. His dedication to a daily practice reminds us all to share what we love by practicing what we teach, and teaching what we practice. I am honored to pay it forward.” She, with the global It’s Yoga family, are committed to sharing his legacy by continuing to spread the It’s Yoga vision. Larry Schultz passed away from natural causes on February 27th, 2011. May His memory be Eternal.

Marie Shulltz

Marie spent 7 years serving It’s Yoga San Francisco as an instructor, studio manager, training director and partner to Larry Schultz, founder of It's Yoga. She has had the honor of sitting next to Larry in over 50 trainings, facilitating and supporting people from all over the world in realizing their potential through practicing and teaching the It's Yoga System.  Each day she lives in gratitude for the many gifts her marriage and daily practice with Larry has bestowed on her life.  With this sense of love and commitment to Larry's Living Legacy of It's Yoga and the Rocket Routines, she continues to lead the It's Yoga community by traveling to practice and play with the It’s Yoga Family, administrating the global organization of It's Yoga, and expanding the Teacher Training Programs and It's Yoga Centers around the world.   Her style is sweet, strong and wise as she extends her experience of 10 years of practicing Rocket Vinyasa Yoga. She is the Chair of It's Yoga International Board of Directors, and Lead Trainer of It's Yoga Teacher Training Programs.  She is based in Toledo, Ohio where she opened It’s Yoga Toledo in March of 2012.

Ricardo Martin

Ricardo studied and practiced Yoga with some of the most influential teachers in Venezuela which encouraged him to become a yoga teacher. For 3 years, he taught yoga in different studios, to beginners and advanced level students, as well as children between the ages of 5 and 8, developing a strong foundation as a teacher and as a practicioner in the styles of Vinyasa flow, Ashtanga Vinyasa.

In 2010 he traveled to San Francisco and took part in a Yoga teacher training with Larry Schultz, founder of It’s Yoga, to deepen his practice and improve his teaching skills. After one month of intensive practice and yoga philosophy discussion, Ricardo’s inner teacher was awakened. He desired to be part of something “bigger”. Two months after he finished the teacher training, he enrolled in an It’s Yoga Rocket training. During this training, Larry saw in Ricardo great potential as a practitioner and as a trainer, and invited him to be his teaching assistant.

Since then, Ricardo has been with It’s Yoga and opened It's Yoga Barcelona in 2011. At present, he teaches workshops, yoga retreats and leads teacher trainings in different locations around Asia.

Ricardo is also a Reiki master, which helps him to balance his energy and help others to heal diseases that first manifest on an energetic level. He loves to play flute, and believe music enables a deep state of relaxation and meditation.

Ricardo’s spiritual practice continues to develop through regular meditation retreats making him embracing a personal philosophy that asana practice combined with meditation can lead us beyond our physical and mental limitations towards a place of fearlessness and beauty.

Michelle Llyiod

A good teacher is one who will not give you an answer but allows you to find the answer in yourself. A teacher is a guide; he/she will show you that the answer is inside you. And there is a right answer.

-TKV Desikacha

Michelle began practicing yoga consistently in 2005. As her journey in yoga evolves, it continues to be a beautiful thing for her to watch how yoga has organically grown from a physical practice once or twice a week after work into an all-encompassing way of living, letting go, dreaming, breathing and quieting the mind.

Michelle received her RYT200 hour certification in January 2008 at It's Yoga in San Francisco with Larry Schultz, a charismatic, inspiring and thoughtful practitioner of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. She is now registered as an E-RYT200 instructor through Yoga Alliance.

"My intention is to help illuminate the many aspects of yoga to those who cross my path in the hope that they may find their course, their shift in perception, their inspiration for tapping into this peace as well. It is a unique and special journey for each and every being and a journey that will continue to grow and evolve, have its heights and depths, opportunities and obstacles, clarity and cloudiness... its all part of the ride. Enjoy!"

Namaste, Michelle

JOY : Kunkanit Phrombut

Joy always spent her life with a lot of fun by following her heart voice. Her yoga journey began in 2005 when she tried for the first time Hot yoga class. From the first few minutes "a feeling of Peace, Happiness and deep connection with my mind and my own body has begun".

In 2007, she joined a Yoga Teacher Training and get certifiled as a hot yoga teacher. She start to teach immediately after with inspiration and passion of a true yoga lover.

She also keep studying with many great teachers like Bo Srey different kind of yoga (Ashtanga yoga, Iyengar yoga , Anusara yoga,Yin Yoga ...).

In 2009 she decided to go oversea to study yoga with Doug Swenson. Seeing her great teaching skills and understanding of Yoga, Doug Swenson gave her the amazing chance to be his yoga assistant teacher and to travel all around the US and Canada to give workshop and conference.

She had then the opportunity to meet and learn from a lot of famous yoga teachers in the west like David William ,Seane Corn ,Rodney yee, Todd Nurish.

in 2010, Joy deepened her Anatomy knowledge with Simon Borg-Oliver Broug ,and perfectionise her natural skill in body work and Thai massage.

She then decided to take her second Yoga Teacher Training with It's Yoga Thailand and get certifiled By Larry Schultz. This time was a big step of her yoga life. Larry Schultz teach her to awaken her inner Teacher and find finaly her own Voice.

"To be a yoga teacher is to be a part of something bigger"" Joy said.

Joy now continues to teach yoga and workshop in Thailand, being one of the top Yoga teachers in the country.

David Lertsin

Born from a Thai father and a French mother, David grew up in a mix culture, combining the best from the West and the East and manifesting the bridge between Asian spirituality with the rationality and freedom of thoughts of European philosopher. Since his childhood, the Orient has been reflected with the practice of martial arts. His expressive power was balanced through early initiation to zen meditation under Zen masters and later into the silence meditation of the Vipassana practice.

He reached black belt in Judo and black belt in Jujitsu at only 20 years old and started teaching these disciplines since then as the assistant of his teacher.

The following step from martial arts to Yoga was very natural. He was introduced to the science of Yoga at the age of 21 and immediately knew this practice would be the perfect complement to his Spiritual journey.

Trained by the late renowned Yoga teacher Larry Schultz, he soon gained recognition and become Larry's assistant for his entry into Asia. David not only practice yoga for the healing aspect but also as a moving meditation reaching higher stage of Inner Silence and insight.

His Vinyasa Rocket classes are dynamic and grounded in a natural flow, helping students to grow in their practice and building in them more confidence, strength, and mindfulness on and off the mat. David is a very inspiring teacher and his personalized style based on his background is the perfect way to let go of tensions and go deeper into a practice that will bring joy, happiness, compassion and a deeper understanding of the True Self.

Jamie Clarke

Jamie founds his journey into yoga, while living in San Francisco in 2001. In almost a magical twist of serendipity , he collided with his yoga path just as he was struggling to get over the sudden death of her mum. Since then yoga has become his journey, his medicine, and the portal that allows him to visit a very peaceful place inside himself. He is blessed that he can now help others to find their serenity within themselves.

Over the years he has been fortunate to experience many disciplines of Yoga which has influenced his teaching, most notably with Ashtanga, Rocket, Vinyasa, Yin, Jivamukti and Mandala. He has been honored to learn from the magical and experienced, as well as the very students and companions that enrich my daily life and keep me more "awake".
“I would like to acknowledge my dear guru & friend Larry Shultz who took me in and gave me a yoga world that i never dreamed of. He taught me new ways to develop energy and lightness of being, lifting me beyond just the routines to marvelous new heights in my practice. Larry's philosophy's and style have been most influential in how i teach today.
To Paul and Susan Grilley, who taught me depth, patience and stillness with the beautiful and complementary approach of Yin. Their approach has been fundamental in my growing practice of meditation.
To David Life who through the artistic creativity of Jivamukti opened my eyes to a broader range of possibilities of teaching with expression.
And, lastly to Dulce Aguilar who gave me real purpose and direction, and the very inspiration to create something special between us and truly transformational for our students.
My deepest thanks to all the special teachers and students in my life. ”

Dulce Aguilar

Since her encounter with Yoga, she began a journey of re-connection with her true self. This happened when she was 23 years old in a small studio in Monterrey Mexico, since then she decided to dedicate her life to share her passion for yoga & healing throughout America, Europe & Asia.

During this journey she had the pleasure to share knowledge and energy with fantastic people from different disciplines, such as: Chamanic Healing, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Rocket, Yin, Mandala & Tripsichore Yoga.

“I humbly give thanks to:
Jose Luis Gleeson: for being the inspiration to follow this wonderful path.
Larry Schultz: for showing me that Yoga is loose and magic and for making me believe that I am stronger than I thought I was.
Jamie Clarke: for making the dream alive, while holding my hand, walking this path.
Paul & Susan Grilley: for opening my eyes to different disciplines and for widening my view to accept and adapt different doctrines into my teaching.
Shiva Rea: for helping me connect with my feminine Inner Guru and getting me out of the box of linear movement.
Edward Clark: for re-assuring to me that Yoga is also an art.
All Students, fellow Yogis, everybody: for being a mirror of all the unsolved things in my soul. For being an inspiration to keep teaching and to do what I love.”

Annie Au

Classically trained in ballet and contemporary dance, her former professional dance career had taken her teaching and performing around the world for eight years. In addition to her dance career, Annie also attained a bachelor degree in Human Kinetics and was certified as a fitness trainer and pre/post natal fitness specialist.