Instructor Profiles
Arati Lane was born and raised in Germany. As a young girl she longed for a deeper connection to all that surrounded her. She embraced the path of a healer and continues to do so today, having helped thousands of people find their way to a healthy lifestyle by integrating yogic and Ayurveda principles into their lives.
Her journey took her through Europe to Southeast Asia, where she experienced yoga in a Thai monastery and felt as if she remembered it from other lifetimes. After living in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, she returned to Europe and had a near-death experience from an automobile accident that began her healing journey.
Arati studied with Jivamukti, completed Sivananda training in New York, children's and teens yoga in Canada, and spent years in deep study in India under different gurus. She settled in San Diego and has taught yoga in various studios for over 20 years. When her son was diagnosed with Asthma, ADHD, and learning disabilities, she studied Ayurveda intensively—changes in food and lifestyle healed them both.
Arati is one of the three core, original Yoga Therapists affiliated with Dr. Caperna's nonprofit, OmUnity Health. She is deeply intuitive and passionate about helping people find their way to health through self-empowerment. She also works with women and newborns in the yoga program at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego.
Jake has built a life on devotion—to the practice, and to the path. With over 25 years of experience, he now empowers yoga professionals to turn their passion into thriving, sustainable businesses. Known for his heart-led wisdom and grounded leadership, Jake continues to teach, collaborate, and create through yoga platforms and ongoing partnerships, bridging the inner journey with outer success. Jake has been featured in many national and local magazines and newspapers, on TV (KTLA), and on platforms including Lululemon, Reebok, Xbox, Herbalife 24, LA Yoga Magazine, Huffington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and Chicago Tribune.
Nazli has been teaching yoga since 2013 and has pursued her love of holistic wellness through offering teacher trainings and leading retreats around the world. Her passions lie in creative movement, sound healing, and breathwork, and her teachings focus on empowerment through education and connection.
When attending a class with Nazli you can expect unexpected transitions and a mindful cadence to challenge your body and mind. She's excited to share unique movements that are intentional and skillful. When she is not leading a wellness experience, you can find her spending time in nature, being active, cooking plant-based meals, traveling, and deepening her own practice of living mindfully.
Dr. Shives is a CYT-500, completing her 300-hour Yoga certification at Yoga One with Dr. Caperna as fellow student. She now uses Yoga in her medical sleep practice and is planning a women's yoga retreat in France.
She started medical school at age 32 after studying history, literature, and philosophy at UC San Diego and living abroad in France, England, and Germany. Her interests ranged across humanities and social sciences, eventually leading her to the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought, where she completed two years before finding her calling in medicine.
Dr. Joe Caperna completed his first Yoga certification in 2012 (200 hours with Yoga One, with Missy as his fellow student). He spent over 700 hours with Arati Lane in a medical yoga certification with the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta organization. He enjoys teaching level I yoga, mantras, and pranayama. Dr. Caperna completed his 300 CYT this year (2025) with Missy as his teacher at Yoga One. He teaches a free class every Saturday at 9am at the AIDS Memorial, 3rd Avenue and Olive St, Bankers Hill, San Diego.
Lauren specializes in teaching Happy Back Yoga, workshops, and working one-on-one on spinal health and overall wellness. She has shared her knowledge of alignment-based therapeutic Yoga for the past decade on the island of Oahu and is now back in San Diego offering classes and workshops.
After discovering a tumor in her femur bone, the experience prompted her to spread the knowledge, kindness, and healing power that yoga can offer. Lauren completed teacher training at Yoga One, receiving a 200-hour certification supplemented by yoga therapy intensives, and earned her 100-hour certification for Happy Back Yoga. Her classes guide you in honoring and nourishing your body through breath and awareness, building the capacity to heal yourself on all levels at your own speed.
Christopher brings 15 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in mental health, where he has developed and implemented yoga programs across diverse clinical settings. As a Registered Yoga Teacher certified with the International Association of Yoga Therapy, Chris holds a Master's degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and certifications in Ayurveda and Accessible Yoga. His training encompasses Svastha Yoga, Vinyasa Krama, and martial arts.
Chris specializes in wellness education, helping students develop personalized approaches to wellness through yoga and longevity practices. He guides students in creating customized movement sequences that integrate synchronized breathing and meditation. As one of three core Yoga Therapists affiliated with Dr. Caperna's nonprofit, OmUnity Health, Chris is dedicated to supporting holistic health and healing. He is a graduate of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda and continues to study with the Mohan family of Svastha Yoga.
Born and raised in Argentina, Daniel came to San Diego in 1997 to work as a PhD researcher in the SDSU Psychology Department. He became an ARC member and started practicing yoga regularly in 1999. He obtained his yoga teacher certification at CorePower Yoga in 2008 and graduated from IPSB as a Holistic Health Practitioner and Massage Therapist.
In 2011, Daniel completed SUPcore certification as a Stand Up Paddle and SUP Yoga instructor through Surftech SUP Academy and has been teaching SUP and SUP Yoga at Mission Bay Aquatic Center ever since. His passion for Nature and traveling has brought him to teach yoga (volunteer work) and practice SUP in the Amazon (Peru), an experience he plans to repeat annually before visiting family and friends in Argentina.
Missy's yoga journey began in 1997, following along to a well-loved VHS tape in her living room. As her body awareness deepened, she started practicing regularly and fell in love with the way yoga made her feel—stronger, calmer, more connected.
In 2010, she completed her first 200-hour Teacher Training at UCSD and immediately began sharing the practice with others. Two years later, she completed another 200-hour training at Yoga One, eventually finishing their 300-hour Advanced Teacher Training. A lifelong learner, she continues to study, practice, and teach with curiosity and care.
Missy's teaching is grounded in breath, balanced by alignment, and uplifted with laughter. She creates space for students to explore both the ancient wisdom and modern relevance of yoga. Rooted yet relaxed, Missy honors yoga's traditions while recognizing we live in a world of text messages, to-do lists, and tight hamstrings. She is also the Studio Manager at Yoga One and is one of Dr. Caperna's most important and influential mentors.
The three core, original Yoga Therapists affiliated with Dr. Caperna's nonprofit, OmUnity Health (omunityhealth.org), are: Arati Lane, Christopher Marrazzo, and Tah Groen.