Meet the Yoga Rascals Team

Sünje O’Clancy, MA, E-RYT, RCYT, RPYT

Yoga Rascals founder Sünje O'Clancy has been teaching yoga to students of all ages since 1998. Sünje is passionate about bringing yoga’s balanced approach to exercise and well-being to children. “I love seeing the smiles on our yogis and yoginis faces when they connect with the innate joy that comes from moving their bodies. And I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to support their wondrous journey through childhood and adolescence by sharing the wisdom of yoga.”
Sünje is the director of Yoga Rascals’ Teacher Training, California's first children’s yoga teacher school to be registered with Yoga Alliance®. She 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 this year's UCSD Center for Mindfulness Bridging Conference, and has been featured on the cover of San Diego Magazine. She is the happy mother of two boys.

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."​

Hannah Lei Prunty, BA, RYT

Hannah Lei’s educational background includes a B.A. in Visual Arts and K-8 multi-subject/art teaching credentials. She is passionate about art, kids, yoga, and teaching.  She earned her 200 hour yoga certification specializing in gentle and adaptive yoga for adults. She began teaching children's yoga classes after earning her 95 hour children's yoga certification with Yoga Rascals in 2013.  Hannah is a part-time reading support teacher, part-time yoga teacher, as well as a full-time mom.  She loves being in nature and often hikes with her two  children. 

Gretchen Mallios, LCSW, RYT

Gretchen Mallios, a 2001 graduate of UCLA's Schools of Social Work and Public Policy, has devoted her professional career to working with and on behalf of children and families.  
Gretchen has been practicing yoga since 1998 and formally studied Hatha Yoga at YogaWell in San Diego, where she received her 200 Hr teacher training.  She is currently enrolled in a 300 Hr program at Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, CA.  Gretchen enjoys blending yoga philosophy and contemporary psychotherapy as complementary schools of thought.  She relies on these principles to strive for balance in her own life and enjoys helping others strive to do the same.    ​

Lauren Wilensky, M.Ed

Lauren Wilensky received her B.A. in English  as well as her teaching credential from S.D.S.U and her M.A. in Education (Curriculum Design) from U.C.S.D. She has taught English for over 16 years in San Diego middle and high schools. She currently is a district Literacy Coach as well as an online lecturer at U.S.D. teaching teachers. After more than 20 years of being a participant in yoga classes as well as having an active young boy that she saw benefited greatly from yoga and mindfulness practices, she decided on training with Yoga Rascals where she received her Children’s Yoga Teacher certificate. She loves taking trips out to beautiful spaces with her husband, son and dog.

Rachel Grisafi, M.Ed 

Rachel Grisafi began practicing yoga in her home, while following along to VHS tapes, as a young teenager. It didn’t take long for her to realize how yoga made her mentally, physically, and emotionally stronger both on and off the mat. More than a decade later, Rachel found her own practice and wanted to share it with others. Rachel is certified, according to Yoga Alliance standards, to teach yoga to children. She is also an elementary school teacher with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Masters Degree in Multicultural Education. She believes that if all children were given the opportunity to learn yoga and meditation, the world would be a far more peaceful place.

Sarah Grisafi

Sarah was born and raised in San Diego and grew up in a very large Italian family. She has always enjoyed working with children since her family was continually growing. " It gives me a glimpse into the future. Children are what makes this world more wonderful."  
For the past 11 years Sarah has been a caregiver to children and teens experiencing disabilities. After earning her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education she became a preschool teacher. She is also certified, according to Yoga Alliance standards, to teach yoga to children."I am here to help spread peace and bring good energy to the world." 
When not teaching preschool or children's yoga she loves to be outdoors gardening, hiking, and riding bikes. She also greatly enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family and her dog. 

Allison Szakovits, BA, RYT

It is Allison's deep desire to create positive change in the world that lead her to teach yoga.  After working with many children and families in the helping profession, she has found that yoga helps children just as much as it does with adults!  Allison creates a comfortable atmosphere for children to grow and learn. She sends positive messages through her classes and strives to empower children to shine and be themselves.  She loves seeing the smiles on children's faces after acting out their favorite animals, letting loose, and having a moment of complete relaxation.​​