Who We Are

South Bay Yoginis (female Yogi's) are highly trained yoga teachers in the South Bay of Los Angeles, California. We teach classes mostly in the Beach Cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, & Redondo Beach. We also teach in Palos Verdes, Torrance, and El Segundo. We have taken classes/workshops with some of the top teachers in the world, such as Pattabhi Jois, Rodney Yee, Ana Forrest, Shiva Rae, Erich Shiffman and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa. We are certified in yoga (and other healing practices), registered with the Yoga Alliance and have been practicing yoga for over 10 years. We can be hired for one time only events or to teach class series. We can come to you, teach in your office or for special events, or you can come to us, our schedule of classes are posted.

We are yoga teachers truly on the path of yoga. We do not just "teach" yoga. We walk the path of yoga.  We pride ourselves in truly helping our students find their true identity through the path of yoga. We teach several different styles of yoga in the Hatha yoga family including Vinyasa Flow, Gentle/Restoratives, and Basics. Founder, Valinda Cochella, of South Bay Yoginis also teaches the most ancient form of healing yoga, Kundalini Yoga.

So, if you're looking to Still Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Speak Your Truth & Live Your Dreams, Strengthen your Body, or just Relax, we have the class for you! Choose to work with a teacher who has walked the path herself. If you truly want to heal your body, your mind and your spirit, you will. A teacher can only take you as far as she has come! Sat Nam, Namaste'.

Valinda Cochella MA, E-RYT 500, Founder of South Bay Yoginis worked as a Dance/Movement Therapist for many years starting in 1994, when she completed a Master's degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from UCLA. Dance Therapy is defined by the ADTA (American Dance Therapy Association) as "the psycho-therapeutic use of movement as a process that furthers the emotional, cognitive, social and physical integration of the individual". Based on the belief that body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, the program at UCLA is a comprehensive two year program that focuses on psychodynamic psychology and dance/movement studies.

Upon completion of her Master's degree, she worked for seven years as a Therapist, Counselor and Teacher abroad (in Mexico and Japan). Valinda has been practicing Yoga since 1994. She has completed six yoga teacher training programs since the year 2000. One year-long intensive, under Erika Faith Hattingh of Cloud Nine Yoga, in 2002, her second through Santa Monica Yoga, and in 2002 she completed her Advanced Teacher Training with Julian Walker of the Ana Forrest lineage. She has also been studying Kundalini Yoga since 2000 and is now certified with world- renowned teacher Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa at Golden Bridge Yoga in Los Angeles in Kundalini Yoga and Pre-Natal Yoga. Valinda most recently, in 2008 became a certified Level II Radiant Child Teacher.  She teaches Kundalini, Radiant Child Yoga (www.childrensyoga.com) and an ecclectic style of Hatha yoga using Kundalini techniques and in-depth breath-work that focuses on personal growth, healing and transformation. Her unique training as a Dance/ Movement Therapist, Reiki Practitioner and at Clearsight Clairvoyant School, allow her to guide people to explore yoga on a deep level to heal the body, mind and spirit. She creates a safe spiritual, therapeutic environment. Come take a journey into yourself.....the most important journey ever!

Valinda is now one of the Directors of Teacher Trainings at the South Bay Branch of Cloud Nine Yoga Studio and School.  Go to www.cloudnineyoga.com for more information.  She leads 2 Teacher Training Sessions a Year, and 2 Retreats a Year.  Contact her at valindac49@hotmail.com for more information.

"Still Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Speak Your Truth and Live Your Dreams"- South Bay Yoginis.