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 Hajjar Schultz
Head of Training

Head of It’s Yoga teacher training worldwide, wife of Larry Schultz.

Ricardo Martin

When yoga reaches Ricardo´s life, he worked in a scientific institute as an ecologist. At the middle of 2006 he finished his work as a researcher and yoga show up in his life in the right time. From the beginning, he practiced yoga in a very committed way . After one year of consistent practice, teaching arises naturally by the love of sharing his passion. To deepened his understanding of Yoga, he traveled to San Francisco and take the It´s Yoga Teacher Training and Rocket training with Larry Schultz who took him under his wings. Ricardo became then the personal assistant of Larry and Marie to help with trainings worldwide and transmit the Rocket. He is now traveling around the world to carry on Larry’s legacy and share his love of Yoga.

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.

Donovan F. Hicks

I love yoga. my experience with it began with prayer, self examination, meditation, and volunteer work in 2003. in 2005 i found asana and experimented with many different styles.
january 2007 i walked in to its yoga and my life changed forever. what i saw was people floating around the room seemingly effortlessly, and i wanted what they had.

One month later, I found myself in the teacher training program intent on living my new dream of traveling the world sharing this incredible gift of healing. its yoga teacher training is very much about manifesting dreams, and mine gorgeously did. Larry instilled in me self reliance, self responsibility, and self empowerment to have a daily personal practice and to appreciate my inner teacher, and this is one of my favorite things to pass on.

from the day after graduating teacher training i was blessed to lead classes at its yoga sf, and to spend quite a bit of time with my friend and mentor, Larry Schultz. along with facilitating classes, my other working love is being a massage therapist...thus i began working with teacher training groups as a massage therapist. then, instructing groups occasionally. Larry noticed i worked well with teacher trainees, and my role grew with every group. eventually, after we closed the sf studio, i continued to work with Larry in a larger role in teacher trainings. finally, i began leading them myself abroad in Italy and Sweden. 200hr tt's and advanced rocket trainings. the relationships with people all over the world have been amazing and beautiful.

Watching people practice and transform is beautiful.
Watching them facilitate and help empower others is magic.

Gratitude is what I experience when I sit back and look at this life. Witnessing peoples personal expression of yoga is like watching points of light in a moving, breathing, poetry of energy.

David C. Kyle

David Kyle is a senior teacher of the It’s Yoga system and the founder of the Progressive Ashtanga Yoga movement that honors the traditional teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and embraces the revolutionary views of Larry Schultz. This Ashtanga Yoga style holds no dogmas or bias towards the asana practice that is designed to fit the individual practitioner. We are all inclusive! Our philosophies and understanding of this ancient practice is becoming more popular as the Ashtanga Yoga community grows and more students are learning to maintain a healthy and consistent practice that honors their bodies present moment.

David leads trainings in traditional Ashtanga Yoga as well as the It’s Yoga training system as a Level 3 Senior teacher with weekend workshops, the 200 hour intensives, and 500 hour apprenticeship programs. As owner of It’s Yoga Puerto Rico, he lead daily classes and yearly trainings on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. David travels throughout the United States, South America, Mexico, and occasionally in European countries, so he is always open to travel and help “spread the love”, so feel free to contact him about visiting your area!

David’s teaching style is easy going and carries a specific foundation in the It’s Yoga philosophical approach to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. There is a sense of light heartedness in a practice that demands a lot of heart to push through the dynamic structure of Ashtanga yoga sequencing, while maintaining a sense of graceful composure. Specific detail to breath and movement coordination is always a main focus in my classes, which provides a sense of safety and control for the practitioner. The function of the posture is where we want to bring our attention and release from the ego centered obsession with the form of the body or its external alignment. You are all perfect the way you are!

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 (Blue Magnetic Eagle)

Yoga feels like freedom from all things that are authentic. Finding yoga ten years ago was like finding the true rhythm for my life. On many levels yoga brings me home to sense of connectedness and real joy.Since starting my yoga journey I have been privileged to learn from masters such as Max Strom, David Life, Shiva Rae, and Larry Shultz, taking a little piece of each of them to add to my teachings. I have found joy in Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, learning from many teachers but also have found great benefits in Mandala Yoga which has spiraled openings in deep places and Yin Yoga which has brought stillness and ground.

At the moment I live in London offering classes, workshops, retreats and teacher trainings, but you can join me anywhere on my travels. I combine all my yoga experiences into classes, listening to my students to guide and teach me. At the heart of what I do is the desire to pass on all the gifts of what yoga has brought to me, and above all else allow me to evolve in a way that is true my myself.

Dulce Aguilar (Blue Rhythmic Storm)

Walking through a path of yoga with joy and an open heart, I have unfolded many changes in the perspectives of my life. Learning from every breath, asana, student and situation that comes across my journey, with infinite appreciation to be on Earth and to do what I love.

Neal Shail

"The Rocket found him in early 2011 when he first attended one of Donovan Hicks classes on retreat in Thailand. The next day he signed up for what would be his second Yoga Alliance teacher training, a subsequent Rocket training and a running leap into a daily teaching practice". Neal mixes his love for the rocket with a focus on meditation, breath and and light heartedness. Neal has been exploring since 2005 into different yoga practices, massage techniques and teachings and since 2009 has been fliving full-time, learning and practicing daily in Asia. He’s now shares his practices of rocket, ashtanga, yin yoga, thai massage, meditation and laughter yoga through daily classes and private sessions at a yoga shala in bali.

"I believe we can all be the masters of our own body, basically we can feel any way we put our mind to. Yoga, asana, pranayam, massage, laughter, they’re just a few of the techniques to remind us of our full potential."

Vanessa Jaich

Vanessa has studied with many traditions since her practice began 11 years ago. Iyengar influence in the early years gave her a strong foundation in alignment. More recently journeying to Mysore, South India, to study at the Shri K. Patthabi Jois Yoga Institute, she embraced a traditional Ashtanga method, which has been her daily practice since 2008. She has also studied and been influenced by 'Rocket' in the 'Its Yoga' system. In short, Vanessa has a wealth of first hand experience from her own evolving yoga practice.