The Chisme
Chisme, Spanish for "gossip," has been used as a method of coming together and sharing stories. While still having a negative connotation in many regional experiences of Mexican culture, Joey's Chisme Chakra is bringing unity and connectedness from a place of negativity.
Even in the worst of times, we as individuals can decide to liberate ourselves from the chains that bind us. Those chains can exist as white supremacy, patriarchy, and violence that lead us to devalue and disconnect from our bodies.
Chisme is more than gossip. Chisme is looking into the eyes of a loved one and knowing what you are saying is truth. Truth about others, each other, and ourselves.
As a survivor of sexual, physical, and systemic violence, Joey has utilized the role of yoga and meditation to center the experiences of desire and pleasure. It has only been through focusing on bringing those to the forefront, looking at the power of their own truth, and taking the next right step that Joey has been able to heal.
Certified and trained in vinyasa flow and restorative yoga, Joey (RYT-500, MPA) adapts the yoga practice to a student's needs to build strength and flexibility through sexual and sensual healing. While many of us have endured the darkness of the world that has limited our expression of desire and pleasure, Joey guides students through a journey of blending the breath, body, and mind by creating a sex-affirming and sensually-driven queer-, trans-, body-, and ability-inclusive practice.
Joey Espinoza-Hernández
Joey's philosophy in teaching yoga focuses on joining the body and mind to root in the present. They believe yoga should be accessible to students of all levels and adapted to where the student is in that moment and in that practice. Coming from a high-stress, demanding professional background, yoga has guided Joey to balance and meditation. After experiencing significant physical and emotional burnout, Joey found their way to a yoga teacher training in Greece with senior teachers David Kim and Anna Zorzou. It was these mentors that taught Joey the foundations of teaching through the YogaWorks 200-hour program. As they continued their practice and teaching, Joey found their way deeper and deeper into restorative yoga. After studying with Gigi Snyder in the Yogaworks 300-hour program, Joey studied with Judith Hanson Lasater to start their path teaching restorative yoga. In the journey to constantly find balance in life and practice, Joey has a special place in their heart for all practices of yoga, but particularly restorative yoga. It is through constant practices of growth, that Joey has specialized in teaching to the needs of chiropractic patients, survivors of violence, and long-distance cyclists.
Joey is currently the Director of Advocacy and Mobilization for the Los Angeles LGBT Center and sits on the Board of Directors of the California Coalition for Youth. Joey received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a Minor in LGBT studies from the University of California Los Angeles, and a Masters of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Outside of work, Joey enjoys hiking, gardening, cycling, and dismantling systems of oppression. Joey lives with their partner, Efren, and their menagerie of animals, Teo, Inu, Adora, and Loki.
Joey’s trainings:
200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, Yogaworks, 2017
200-hour Teacher Training, The Tree Yoga Co-operative, 2023
300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Yogaworks, 2019
Yoga for Trauma Recovery Certification, ECHO, 2018
Relax and Renew® Restorative Yoga Training, Judith Hanson Lasater, 2019
Crystal Morales-Acevedo
Meet Crystal, a dedicated yoga teacher, proud Latina, and a true advocate for accessible and inclusive yoga practice. Born and raised in the vibrant city of Inglewood, California, Crystal has woven her roots and values into every aspect of her yoga journey.
From the bustling streets of Inglewood to the tranquil spaces of the yoga studio, Crystal has always felt a deep connection to her community. Her mission is to make the profound benefits of yoga accessible to everyone in her hometown and beyond. She believes that yoga is a powerful tool for transformation, healing, and self-discovery, and she's committed to sharing it with people from all walks of life.
In addition to her dedication to accessibility, Crystal is proud to create a yoga space that is POC and queer-friendly. She knows that diversity is what makes our world beautiful, and she celebrates this diversity in her classes. Her teaching style is infused with warmth, acceptance, and a deep respect for individual experiences.
Off the yoga mat, Crystal shares her life with her loving spouse and their adorable dog, Xena. The support and love of her family are at the core of her teaching philosophy, reminding her of the importance of creating a nurturing and welcoming environment for all her students.
Crystal’s trainings:
200-hour Teacher Training, The Tree Yoga Co-operative, 2023