The teachers at Lighthouse Yoga PDX are the soul of our studio, each bringing a unique blend of dedication, wisdom, and love. They are diverse in age, body, and background, but all are united in their commitment to their own inner growth and to serving our community with authenticity and care. Teaching, for them, is an act of service—one that uplifts not only their students but the collective energy of the studio.
Our teachers don’t just guide you through practice; they share their hearts and experiences, creating a space for connection, healing, and personal discovery. They are our neighbors, fellow human beings, and companions on the path of yoga, embodying the principles of responsibility, right action, and compassion.
As the Upanishads teach: “When one’s work is an offering, it purifies the heart.” Our teachers bring this spirit to every class, creating space for students to grow, heal, and thrive.
Laurel Clohessy grew up with Kundalini Yoga sprinkled throughout her early childhood, practiced various other forms of yoga and dance in college, and returned to her roots sometime later with the birth of her oldest son. In 2005 Laurel studied with Gurmukh to become a certified Khalsa Way Prenatal teacher. In 2007, she completed the Radiant Child teacher training with Shakta Kaur, and in 2014 Laurel completed her Level 1 KYTT with Sevak Singh Khalsa. Laurel has taught in many different settings over the years-schools, studios, festivals, detention centers, and university-but she continues to learn from her students and hold the core belief that we are our own wisest teacher. Laurel has a degree in Theatre, is an Equity-Informed mediator, and works in Youth Development. Laurel often incorporates poetry and dance movement into classes, which are always all-levels and intended to be accessible for all bodies and inclusive for all identities. It is her joy to share these teachings with others. She sees the powerful practices of yoga and meditation as a compass that can always point us forward, as well as return us to the happiest, truest Self.
Daniel Gurucharan Tabachnick began his practice of Kundalini Yoga in 1982 in Los Angeles. He began working for The 3HO Drug and Alcohol/Superhealth Program in Tucson, Arizona in 1984 and taught yoga and humanology there until 1991. He graduated from Naropa University in 1996 with a M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology and worked as a therapist for twenty years. He loves to practice meditations for 1000 days and is currently in midst of his tenth cycle of this practice. He also loves to play his guitar while singing and chanting! When not playing Kirtan, Gurucharan is most likely playing the music of the Grateful Dead and Tori Amos.
Gurucharan and Hardev are the founders of The School of Cosmic Consciousness. This school evolved through their relationship with inner guides and angelic energies and serves to facilitate spiritual development. Through working with our guides we have discovered a number of powerful modalities for developing deep creativity in our spiritual lives and intimate relationships including: The Tantric Tarot Game, Co-Healer Tantric Field Mirror Healing, The Alchemical Marriage of Spiritual and Erotic Love, and The Prayer of Infinte Grace as well as various studies in internal alchemy and poetic inspiration. Work in the School of Cosmic Consciousness is transformational for all.
Hardev Kaur is a yogini, community organizer, and middle school teacher. She loves to bring community together for intimate, healing events. Hardev has taught and practiced dance and yoga since the 1990’s, and is passionate about exploring the healing connection between body and mind. She is most passionate when connecting others to their own creative spirit and ability to heal themselves through intuitive practices, music and movement. Gurucharan and Hardev met at Kundalini Yoga Level One teacher training in 2003, fell in love at Level Two Teacher Training 2008, and were married in 2011. They infuse the spirit and energy of their marriage into all aspects of their life.
Katie has been a dedicated yoga instructor since 2015, with a focus on hatha, vinyasa, kundalini and general full body wellness. She first started practicing yoga with classes at her local YMCA in 2005, and has loved the practice deeply ever since. She has a RYT 200, a Msc in Nutrition, and is an integrated health coach. She loves rolling burritos, taking care of dogs, and curling up with a good book. You can find her professionally at lotusbudwellness.com and more casually on instagram as @ladyherbaceous.
Guru Surya discovered Kundalini Yoga in Minneapolis, MN when she stumbled upon a class in 2002. It helped her to release and move on from a relationship that had recently ended. A few weeks later she met her husband. She doesn’t think it was a coincidence! She loves the way she feels when she practices Kundalini Yoga - lighter, happier, more graceful and grateful.
Her name means "The pure princess of the sun who brings one from darkness to light". She completed her Level 1 Teacher Training here in Portland in 2009. Ten years later she completed all 5 Level 2 modules and is now a Teacher Trainer. She spends every chance she get outdoors and is also a certified Breathwalk instructor.
Kali is a gentle soul with a colorful teaching style that leaves students feeling good both in their skin and spirit. Yoga has helped her to be more present in every moment, to feel strong and healthy in her body, and to approach life with a more light-hearted attitude. Kali enjoys teaching dynamic classes that incorporate more than just asanas (physical poses). In a typical class, you might learn a new breath exercise, meditation technique, a Sanskrit phrase, or a good yoga joke. Kali received her 200-hour certificate from Wise Living Yoga Academy in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and an additional 300-hour certificate through Portland Community College. She also holds a level 2 Reiki certificate, a degree in Communication (with a concentration in Eastern Religion) from Boston University, and is currently working towards a Masters in Social Work, preparing to become a mental health therapist.
An immigrant at heart, Katy appreciates the deep Oneness that connects all places and all souls! She discovered the power of Kundalini Yoga in the heart of the Jefferson Wilderness, at Breitenbush Hot Springs in 2015. She rapidly embraced the Kundalini lifestyle and became a certified KRI teacher.
Katy also combines the power of sound healing with the ancient practice of meditation to create immersive and rejuvenating experiences on Espiritu del Fuego – her SUN GONG. Her soundscapes focus on awakening inner energy, promoting mental clarity, and fostering spiritual growth. Her guiding principles: Relax, Heal and Elevate. Find out more about her events and workshops on her website: www.kundaliniroots.com
Katy is also a certified forest therapy guide and the founder of Pacific Pine Wellness. She facilitates forest bathing experiences in Portland and around. You can book a walk at www.pacificpinewellness.com.
Baldev Singh Khalsa has been teaching Kundalini Yoga for over 50 years and is a certified Kundalini Level 1 Teacher with over 500 hours of training. Currently he is a KRI Professional Trainer. He has been training students to become teachers for the past 7 years. He has helped many people find transformation through Kundalini Yoga. Since the pandemic, he has focused his yoga classes on breathwork and deep meditation. As one colleague describes him, “He holds a loving space and is a safe teacher who exemplifies divine masculinity.” He is a life coach that works with many clients to unpack their lives to find clarity and joy.
Kathryn’s movement practice is rooted in witnessing the body as a vessel for healing, beauty, and transformation. Discovering yoga through her dance training, her classes focus on cultivating the self-awareness to listen to the body, and then move intuitively from a place of authenticity and honesty. Since beginning a daily asana practice in 2015, Kathryn has been unlearning the disconnect between body, mind, and spirit, and instead learning to love and listen to the innate wisdom that resides deeply within. One favorite mantra of hers is it’s how it feels, not how it looks. She holds a BFA from Parsons Paris | The New School and a 200-hour teaching certification.
Alicia has been practicing yoga for over ten years. During her college years, one often found her in a yoga class on campus or teaching yoga outside to friends. Alicia has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a formal background working in education. Her trauma-informed style of teaching is rooted in classic yoga practices of deep breathing, marrying movement to breath work, and focusing on the connection between mind and body awareness. Alicia has an RTY 200 HR certification and enjoys both practicing and teaching Vinyasa Flows, Restorative Yoga, and Yin Yoga. Outside of yoga classes, one might find Alicia at local rock n’ roll venues in Portland playing bass guitar on stage, or hiking along the Columbia River Gorge with her dog Archie. Alicia is honored and so excited to join this wonderful community at Lighthouse Yoga PDX.
Katie Meyer started her kundalini journey in 2019 as a student at Mandala Yoga in Portland, a short time before the Covid shutdown. Throughout the pandemic, she found solace in daily sadhana and marveled at the benefits of a 365-day kundalini yoga and meditation streak. As a professional event director, local politico and mom, she continues her daily practice to bring calm, peace and conscious being-ness to her busy life.
She teaches kundalini to deepen one’s embodiment and realization of being; being the witness of the mind and consciously stepping back from the mind. She is an avid reader and student of Eckhart Tolle, Rupert Spira, Rhonda Byrne and many others who have come before them. She teaches Sunday kundalini to share the practice she loves with others in hopes they will benefit as she has.
As a Qigong instructor at Lighthouse Yoga PDX, Thomas Wurm brings a unique and holistic approach to mental health. He blends 5 Element Qigong, Huna energy healing, Power of Eight® healing, Mental and Emotional Release®. With fifteen years of experience in wildland firefighting and a personal journey of transformation, Thomas has a profound understanding of the challenges faced by those with trauma. By blending alternative mental health techniques, group intention healing, and ancient practices like Qigong, you can expect a transformational experience. In 2015, a healing crisis inspired Thomas to pivot his career, leading to the establishment of Mountain Mind Tricks, an innovative company leading the way in alternative mental health solutions for first responders. Thomas has a mission to bring a profound sense of calm both in the mind and body, empowering his clients through transformative practices that inspire hope and self-discovery. Thomas Wurm is a Master Practitioner in Nuero-Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, and Mental and Emotional Release®, a Huna energy healing practitioner, and a Qigong Instructor.
Eva views the body as a portal to healing and bliss, with yoga as one of the many keys. An avid lover of the movement arts, she first discovered Kundalini Yoga through practicing with her mom when she was 10. At 19, an injury brought her back to the practice, empowering her to heal, while opening up an expansive world of inner exploration.
Eva received her 300-hour certification to teach Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative Yoga in 2015 from World Peace Yoga, went on to receive her 200-hour certification to teach Kundalini Yoga in 2017 from Golden Bridge Yoga, and continued her study of Kundalini Yoga in India in 2019. Most recently, she completed a 60-hour Yoga Nidra Training with Jana Roemer in June 2022. Eva is a lifelong student of wisdom traditions, integrating a comprehensive blend of traditional yoga postures with modern flavor, precise anatomical cues, global soundscapes, and practical mindfulness to help you discover your innate healing capacity and feel good in your body.