Meet The Veritas Family
Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, Vinyasa, Sound Baths
Zach Wagner
Zach, AKA "The Malibuddha" took his first yoga class in 2005 and had an instant love for yoga. He graduated his first teacher training in 2009 at integral yoga institute in San Francisco. Since then Zach has taken 8 yoga teacher trainings and has practiced with some of the most world renowned teachers. He has over 15,000 hours of teaching experience. His knowledge and affinity with ashtanga yoga and kundalini yoga runs deep.
Zach's mission is to share yoga and sound healing with the world. When he’s not teaching or practicing yoga you can find him surfing in Malibu or Oxnard.
Kundalini Yoga, Breath Work, Meditation, Sound Baths
Sydney Strabala
Sydney, the co-founder/owner of Veritas Yoga, is a devoted student of life and teacher who shares her awe for life through her offerings. She is certified as a Kundalini Yoga teacher from KRI, completed her 500 hr YTT in Peru and also trained in breathwork facilitation and sound healing.
Her teaching method draws on multiple yogic lineages - creating a transmission where traditional wisdom is accessible to the modern mind. Sydney creates an environment for self-discovery, play, heart opening and deep inner connection at all her Kundalini Yoga Teacher trainings, retreats, workshops and classes.
She has taught global residencies at yoga studios all around the world, alo Yoga Online, Newport Academy Rehabilitation Treatment Centers, corporate events, and on stage at music festivals. Sydney's greatest passion is leading Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainings.
Breathwork, Qi Gong, Martial Arts, Radical Expansion
Chris Tai
Chris Tai was born in Paris in 1974 to his Vietnamese mother and French-Jewish adoptive father. From a young age, he immersed himself in diverse martial arts styles, obtaining his black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu at just 17 years old. Chris competed in France's first MMA competition, investing over 40 years in martial arts practice and more than 30 years in personal development.
In his twenties, Chris traveled to Lhasa, Tibet, to deepen his practice in Buddhism at its source. During this transformative stay, he had the opportunity of teaching Kung Fu and Qi Gong to some Buddhist monks. After nearly a decade working as a photographer for high-end companies in Madrid, Chris relocated to the U.S. in 2011, driven by a desire to create meaningful positive impact.
An eternal student, Chris has traversed the globe learning breathwork techniques firsthand from various cultures, including Sufis, Russian practices, Chinese masters, and Navajo Native Americans. He synthesizes these ancient teachings and wisdom with the latest research in science, comprehensive anatomy, and neuroscience. Chris's impressive certifications include life and love consciousness coaching with Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks, NLP master practitioner, clinical hypnosis, Pranayama and Qi Gong, Russian martial art Systema instructor, combatives instructor, MovNat levels 1&2 instructor, Weckmethod certified rotational movement trainer, and certified stick massage bodywork therapist.
In 2014, Chris sought out Wim Hof, the "Iceman," in Poland, becoming the first certified by Hof in the U.S. and France. He also mentored under Dan Brulé, a pioneer in the "Rebirthing Breathwork" movement, further refining his breathwork methodology.
Chris founded Radical Expansion, dedicated to performance coaching through integrating breathwork, movement, and mindfulness - what he calls "Active Interoception Practice." Through this company, he imparts the profound knowledge compiled over a lifetime. Coaches across Europe and the U.S. now teach his simple yet powerful methods, benefiting thousands worldwide through hundreds of seminars.
Embodying the spirit of a life-long learner, Chris encourages people to become the person they were searching for through dedicated practice and quality of choice.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Vinyasa, Power Flow
Bianca Cadiz
Bianca's journey into yoga began amidst a whirlwind of constant burnout, stress, and misalignment, ultimately leading her to discover her soul’s purpose.
With over four years of dedicated practice, she completed her 200-hour vinyasa training certified by Yoga Alliance in 2022. Since then, Bianca has passionately led students through their yoga journeys in various settings, spanning studios, private sessions, group classes, and events across Los Angeles, Orange County, and online.
Her classes are intentionally curated to empower individuals, creating an invigorating yet peaceful yoga experience.
Yoga and mindfulness practices have profoundly transformed her life, inspiring Bianca’s mission to share these healing modalities with others, and inspire individuals to embrace their most authentic, aligned selves along the journey.
Sound Healing, Yoga, Kundalini, Ceremony
Zoe Scaljon
Zoe started singing melody before she could speak words. Her life has been devoted to the magic of sound, and she has experimented with many different expressions of her voice. A classically trained Opera singer, Zoe feels that sound is the quickest and deepest natural healing modality to transport the mind and spirit. Her work harmonizes intuitive melody over healing Crystal Alchemy Bowls that amplify, transmit, and store energy. Through these vibrations of voice and Mother Earth, an ethereal alchemy is created.
Zoe’s background and training includes Certificate in Sound Healing from Sacred Science of Sound, Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance and Opera, Usui Reiki, Yoga Teacher Training (200hr RYT), Kundalini Yoga, and Intuitive Healing.
Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Breathwork, Ritual
Silke Schroeder
Silke (zil-keh) Schroeder is a devoted Kundalini Yoga teacher and practitioner with a passion for guiding others to connect deeper to their inner selves. She draws upon 10 years of experience with yoga, meditation, rituals and breath work to support people in finding peace & fulfillment on their spiritual journeys.
Vinyasa, Power Yoga, Breath Work, Meditation, Dance
Kelsey Boyle
Kelsey is a spirited yoga teacher, studio manager, and dance artist. She received her first 200hr Yoga Alliance certified training in 2018, and completed her 300hr Yoga Alliance certified training in December 2023. Kelsey hosts public classes, trainings for teachers, continued education workshops for teachers, public workshops, private lessons, and corporate offerings as a yoga teacher.
Kelsey brings her creative side to the table with a playful approach to her work that keeps her teams inspired and accountable. Kelsey's passion for wellness and movement keeps her incredibly driven to change people’s lives working in this field.
Kundalini Yoga, Breath Work, Coach
Matthew Rose
Matthew Rose is a dedicated Kundalini Yoga teacher, a sex and intimacy coach, and a leader of men's groups and retreats. In his private practice, he coaches individuals and couples using embodiment practices to help them transition from old, toxic relational patterns to new, inspired ways of living.
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When teaching groups and classes, his intention is to create a relaxed environment where students can feel safe to explore their edges, deepen their connection to source, and be playful with the magic of these practices. With over a decade of deep practice in Kundalini Yoga, Tantra, and breathwork, Matthew draws from a wealth of wisdom to support his teaching.
One of his main aspirations in teaching Kundalini Yoga classes is to encourage more men to become students and teachers in this transformative practice. His mission is to help more people move from silently suffering to living in the fullest expression of their truth.
Prime of Life Yoga®: Yoga after 50
Dr. Larry Payne
Larry Is author and co-author of 8 books including Yoga for Dummies (4 editions in 12 languages), Basic Postures and Series for Dummies, Yoga All in One for Dummies, Yoga After 50 for Dummies, Chair Yoga for Dummies, The Business of Teaching Yoga, Yoga Rx, Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine. Most recently he is working on his seminal publication “Autobiography of an American Yogi” with Don Henry.
Larry has been a frequent guest on national television and syndicated radio programs. His work has been featured in numerous national and international magazines, as well as in The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Most recently he is featured in six new DVDs as part of the Yoga Therapy Rx series.
Larry resides in Los Angeles, California and has a thriving practice in Marina del Rey and Malibu. In addition to speaking engagements and workshops, he leads Yoga and health seminars worldwide.
Most recently Larry was awarded the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award for Yoga and the title “Yoga Thiligam” by Dr. Ananada Balayogi Bhavanani of Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry India.
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Yoga Dance, Primal Movement, Embodiment
Mikaela
As an artist, photographer, and embodiment practitioner, Mikaela believes that movement and connection to breath are powerful tools for finding inner strength and improving the biggest piece of art we will ever work on : our Lives.
This philosophy is at the heart of her teaching, where she encourages students to explore their own potential through dynamic , playful , prayerful and mindful practice.
Mikaela completed her yoga teacher training six years ago in Santa Monica and holds a NASM and reformer Pilates certification. Mikaela has shared her practice across the globe, bringing her unique blend of experience and passion to diverse communities.
Yoga & Music for Kids, Sound Healing, Intuitive Movement
Zoë Smith
Laughter, play, presence- these are some of the ingredients God sprinkled into his special ZOË formula. Zoë is all about making yoga FUN and accessible to everybody. She was born with a deep love for music and yoga. She’s been singing and teaching guitar lessons since she was a child and started her Ashtanga yoga practice at the age of 15. She became certified to teach by the age of 19.
In 2019, Zoë earned her bachelor’s in Education from the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. She’s worked on curriculum development and has also taught at a variety of different schools, from more traditional public and private schools, to an outdoor forest school, teaching students from ages 3 to 14.
As an eternal student herself, Zoë aims to inspire her students through her pure love for life and her perspective of this human experience as our ultimate school. Each moment presents an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and to offer ourselves more love and acceptance. Music and yoga have helped Zoë to cultivate self-love, and to extend that love outwardly. She loves to share her love for yoga and music with humans of all ages. Zoë offers sound healing experiences through water and crystal singing bowls, her voice, and her guitar. Her offerings are both playful and powerful, embodying music, movement, and breath, all colored with her gift of play.
Vinyasa Yoga, Surf Yoga, Strength, Mobility & Flexibility
Kendall Strabala
Meet Kendall, a dedicated yogi, certified yoga instructor and Malibu surfer. With eight years of personal yoga practice under her belt, Kendall embarked on a transformative journey to deepen her understanding of yoga by pursuing her teacher training course in Cuzco, Peru in 2021. Over the past four years, Kendall has balanced her yoga practice and teaching with earning her juris doctor degree. Having navigated the demanding world of law, Kendall understands firsthand the toll it can take on the body and mind. She believes mental sharpness comes from a devoted practice of slowing down and staying in touch with your body.
Join her for a traditional vinyasa flow or a SurfSoul Yoga class, it combines the fluidity of yoga movements with the energy and connection to nature that surfing embodies. It targets the muscles and areas of the body commonly strained or sore from surfing, promoting flexibility, strength, and recovery.
Spiritual Psychology, Kundalini Yoga, Breath Work
Gina Maron
Gina is an expert in spiritual psychology and holistic healing, integrating somatic modalities, Kundalini Yoga, breathwork, and sound healing. Drawing from her personal experiences in motherhood, a long-term marriage, and life lessons, she offers unique insights to help others cultivate mindfulness and embrace authenticity.
Apply to Teach for Veritas Yoga
If you think you are a fit to teach for Veritas Yoga - Please reach out. We are hiring!
424-333-2040