Sünje O’Clancy, MA, E-RYT, RCYT, RPYT, Director of TT

Yoga Rascals founder, Sünje O'Clancy, has been teaching yoga to students of all ages since 1998. Certified in Indra Devi style of classiscal Hatha yoga, Sünje combined her experience working with children in a variety of settings with insights she gained in graduate school studying child development and psychology to develop a yoga program for children. From the onset, Yoga Rascals’ program was taught successfully in preschools, elementary schools, libraries, as well as through the YMCA community outreach. 
 
Since Yoga Rascals’ establishment in 2007, the rising demand for children’s yoga made it clear that more instructors were needed. Sünje began training children yoga teachers in 2009, and when Yoga Alliance® established a children’s yoga specialty designation in 2012, Yoga Rascals became the first Registered Children’s Yoga School (RCYS) in California.
 
Sünje holds a Masters of Arts degree in German Literature with a double minor in Dramatic Arts and Pedagogy from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany. Sünje was a presenter at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness Bridging Conference, and has been featured on the cover of San Diego Magazine. She is the creator of the kids yoga channel Yoga Rascals Club.  Throughout her teaching career Sünje has been inspired by her own two children, who are now in college, as well as the thousands of little yogis she had the pleasure to meet in class.

Hannah Lei Prunty, RYT

Hannah Lei’s educational background includes a B.A. in Visual Arts and K-8 multi-subject/art teaching credentials. Her  passions include art, kids, yoga and teaching.  She has a 200 hour yoga certification, specializing in gentle and adaptive yoga for adults, as well as a 95 hour children's yoga certification.  She is a part-time reading support teacher, part-time yoga teacher, and full time mom.   Hannah Lei loves being in nature and often hikes with her two children. 

Rose Polak Walters, E-RYT, RCYT

Rose Polak Walters began practicing yoga at age 20 becoming a certified yoga teacher in 2009. Since then she has taught people of all ages, shapes and sizes throughout San Diego. Participation in the Yoga Rascals Teacher Training affirmed her notion that yoga is much deeper than the asanas (or postures) and that we are capable of opening our body, our mind and our heart more than we may believe. "Teaching children yoga has revealed to me that I don't need to take myself or others too seriously, and that I can simply be present, breathe and enjoy the moment."​

Karin Davies, MD

Pediatrician Karin Davies, MD teaches the anatomy section of the teacher training.

Melissa Martin, BA, SLPA, RYT, RCYT

A licensed Speech Language Pathology Assistant, Melissa Martin worked in public schools with children of all ages and abilities before specializing in working with children with autism and special needs in private practice. 

Other Faculty

We frequently invite guest speakers for special workshops.