Meet your teachers

Danielle is founding director and lead instructor of True Nature School of Yoga, where she blends her passion for teaching and learning to inspire in-depth study and practice of Yoga. She has taught Yoga classes for 20 years in a variety of settings including yoga studios, corporations, non-profit organizations and schools, and has been the co-owner of two studios, Yoga Vista (2005-2009) and Yoga Oceanside (2010 to 2019). Danielle’s unique teaching style is inspired by her extensive training with renowned Yoga centers such as Mount Madonna and the Himalayan Institute, and masterful teachers such as Donna Farhi, Roger Cole, Judith Hanson Lasater, Nischala Joy Devi, and Rolf Sovik. Her pilgrimages to India, the Motherland of Yoga, have embedded her into a spiritual lineage of the tradition which shines through in her sincere approach to sharing Yoga with others.

Danielle’s teaching is also shaped by her extensive experience in the education and training field. She is a facilitator/trainer for AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), and has created numerous professional development courses for corporate, government, and community-based clients. She uses her expertise as a facilitator to create learning experiences that emphasize personal growth, self-reflection, group process, enriching discussion, and hands-on experience. Her instructional style helps students evolve into compassionate, competent, and confident yoga teachers, as she inspires and empowers her students to find the teacher within.

Danielle is honored to be a graduate of the inaugural class of the Master of Arts Degree Program in Yoga Studies at Loyola Marymount University.

Originally from Hawaii, Melanie moved to California in the late 90’s and began to explore different styles of Yoga. She was infinitely inspired, and loved how each of her teachers had something unique to offer the beautiful tapestry of Yoga. Wanting to take her practice and understanding further, she became a registered yoga teacher through True Nature School of Yoga in 2008. Since then, Melanie has taught yoga in hospitals, schools, Yoga studios, and on the road for touring musicians. She strongly believes in, and has directly observed in herself and her students, the great potential of yoga to relieve stress, help heal our bodies by igniting the immune system and create a more loving and compassionate outlook on life. Her passion for Yoga and its healing properties led to an in depth study of functional anatomy, holistic nutrition and clinical herbalism.  

 Melanie is on faculty at True Nature School of Yoga, where she trains yoga teachers in anatomy, Ayurveda, Yin Yoga, vinyasa, and alignment in asana, and was the co-founder and owner of Yoga Oceanside Studio for over 10 years. 

Leslie Denny is a yoga and fitness instructor who has been practicing in the Oceanside, California area for over fifteen years. Her qualifications include the E-RYT 500, registered through the Yoga Alliance, 200-hour training through YogaFit and advanced studies through the True Nature School of Yoga, of which she is a faculty member. Leslie is a member of the Advisory Committee for Standards with Yoga Alliance and has successfully mentored and trained many yoga instructors. In her previous role as a Master Instructor with 24 Hour Fitness, she developed yoga workshops that were implemented successfully nationwide. Leslie has brought yoga to many diverse groups: cancer patients at Scripps in La Jolla, California, struggling teens at the YMCA and the Wounded Warriors Battalion West Marines at Camp Pendleton. She also co-developed the KOCT series, “Health and Harmony Yoga” which can be seen on Oceanside community channel. One of her specialties in yoga is a therapeutic approach with postures and the use of therapeutic balls for the purpose of myofascial release and self-massage. She is a strong believer that, through meditation and yoga, we can all find peace where we least expect it.

Born in New Orleans and raised in Texas, Candice discovered yoga over 12 years ago and knew this was what she had been looking for all her life and immediately signed up for teacher training and began teaching in 2008. In 2012 she opened her first yoga studio, Yoga Collective in Houston TX. In 2014 she decided to follow her heart and intuition and moved to California and as of January 2016 she now owns Black Sheep Yoga in South Oceanside.

Candice has a passion for teaching yoga in a down-to-earth way that acknowledges the messiness that life can be, as a tool for reconnection and introspection to lead one back to the the light within, so that we can all live the life we love. Her ever-evolving approach to sharing the gift of yoga is deeply rooted in the Vinyasa Flow style but being a true Libra, life is all about balance for Candice and so when she was introduced to Yin and Restorative yoga, she fell in love with the slower and more meditative aspects she found. The balance of practicing both Yin and Yang styles has helped Candice find equilibrium within her own life and she is dedicated to her Dharma by holding space for healing so others can too.

Candice is 500hr RYT certified and also has advanced certifications to teach: Yin+Restorative Yoga Teacher Trainings, SUPYoga+Trainings, Kids Yoga and Partner Yoga/Thai Massage, Sound Healing, Yoga Nidra and Meditation.

View Candace’s teaching schedule at www.blacksheepyogastudio.com