Founder & Owner of Union Yoga

10+ years of teaching | Over 7,000 hours of experience

Rex Dean Villena began practicing yoga at Spirit Yoga 12 years ago, discovering its transformative role in addiction recovery. He completed a 200-hour Vinyasa training and a 500-hour certification at the Soul of Yoga Institute to deepen his understanding of yoga’s impact on mental health and healing.

Trained under Monique Lonner, Joe Barnett, Leela Durga, and Kate Beckel, Rex developed the Union Yoga Trauma-Sensitive Teaching Protocol, a method that shapes the way he and his team teach Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, and other styles to create an inclusive and supportive space. His approach integrates modern trauma science with traditional yoga instruction, drawing from the work of Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and Dr. Gabor Maté.

He has led multiple teacher trainings, organized international retreats, and continues to advocate for trauma transparency, de-stigmatization, and accessibility in yoga. His work bridges classical yoga teachings with contemporary therapeutic insights, fostering a practice that is both healing and empowering.

Beyond teaching, Rex enjoys camping, rock climbing, Street Fighter, and traveling to Japan, continuously drawing inspiration from movement, nature, and global perspectives.

Co-Owner and Chief Growth Officer

Annela is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher and board-certified music therapist with more than a decade of experience supporting individuals living with mental health disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic illness, and developmental disabilities. Her work bridges clinical and wellness settings, bringing evidence-based care and compassionate practice to diverse communities.

Annela is passionate about expanding the role of yoga within healthcare. She integrates her dual expertise to explore the healing connection between yoga and music therapy. She incorporates sound baths and live music into her yoga offerings, creating immersive, restorative experiences.

Annela has experience leading chair and adaptive yoga for seniors and people with Parkinson’s disease, making yoga accessible and safe for all abilities. In her personal practice, she finds a special resonance with yin yoga, a style that reflects her belief in slowing down, listening inward, and creating space for healing.

Community Outreach Coordinator

Erin Chan has served the San Diego community as a 200 RYT Hatha/Vinyasa teacher, certified kids yoga instructor, and music teacher throughout her career. She is passionate about supporting individuals to find therapeutic forms of expression through physical movement, play, song, and creativity - and her mission is to help cultivate more compassionate, inquisitive, and healthy humans in the world.

She utilizes the impactful power of yoga practice in regulating the body’s trauma responses in her current primary work as a Marriage and Family Therapist where she specializes in transformative work with couples, children/teens, and individuals seeking change.

The mental health benefits she has drawn from yoga to ground through times of pain and struggle fuel her desire to share the practice as a tool to connect the body, mind, and spirit and empower students to become their most resilient and curious selves. She aligns strongly with Union Yoga’s social justice goals to build more diversity in our city’s wellness spaces and to be accessible and consistently utilized by those in need and those traditionally underserved.

In her free time, you can find Erin surfing, cooking, making music, and rock climbing.

Yoga Instructor | Specialist in Yoga for the Nervous System

Toni is a passionate yoga instructor specializing in Yoga for the Nervous System at Union Yoga. Her classes are designed to guide students of all levels into connection with their subtle bodies, paving the way for meaningful meditation. With a focus on healing and empowerment, Toni helps her students cultivate strength, resilience, and deep understanding.

Toni earned her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) from Trilogy Sanctuary and further deepened her knowledge with a 30-hour CE course, "Healing Trauma through Yoga," from OG Yoga. She has taught at leading studios including Trilogy Sanctuary, Yoga Lab, and OG Yoga, and has studied under renowned teachers such as Dominic Minervo (founder of Dhurva Yoga), Michelle Johnson (author of Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World), and Molly Caro May (author of Body Full of Stars).

Toni was involved in the early beginnings of Union Yoga, contributing to social media and management. She first connected with Rex after joining him on a Japan retreat, which deepened their shared passion for yoga, healing, and community.

As a first-generation immigrant from Hong Kong, Toni arrived in the U.S. in the late 1990s with her single mother, learning firsthand the challenges of navigating life’s messy transitions. This journey of grounding amidst change is one she continues to explore and share with her students.

For Toni, yoga is more than just physical practice; it’s a tool for creating safe, transformative spaces for those most marginalized in this industry—especially survivors. When she’s not teaching, Toni can be found by the ocean with her dog, writing about food, or immersed in the magic of long, epic guitar solos.

Power Vinyasa Yoga Instructor

Ishmael’s yoga practice prioritizes self-awareness, breath, and reactions. In 2010, he received his Power Vinyasa Yoga certification in Aliso Viejo, CA. His yoga journey began at the end of a long career in Chemical Engineering. He wanted change, and it came unexpectedly in the form of a layoff, bringing confusion, doubt, and fear.

People, events, and life challenges can trigger these reactions, but Ishmael found stability in yoga, where balance came with the learned ability to adapt and remain flexible—both to external situations and changes within himself. Learning how to stay calm and focused in any symbolic storm is why Ishmael shows up on his mat, both to practice and to guide others. His classes integrate poses (asanas), breath work (prana), and intention setting, helping students cultivate resilience on and off the mat.

Ishmael’s favorite pastimes are hiking and spending time with Charlie (Labradoodle) and Max (Retriever). At the end of every trail, he marks the moment with a selfie in a yoga pose. He views life experiences and people like the stones on a hike—some offer temporary support, some fall away, but those that remain become smooth, familiar, and foundational.

Join Ishmael in a Vinyasa Yoga flow, where the lessons learned on the mat become tools for your journey beyond it.

500 HR Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher | Healing Circle Facilitator

Florencia Colón Pérez is a Puerto Rico-born, 500-hour certified yoga teacher with a trauma-informed approach.
Florencia completed her 200-hour certification in Trauma-Informed Yoga, Ayurveda, and Social Justice Yoga at SoulWork™, studying under Marianne Trauten and Dra. Andrea Borbón. There, she focused on integrating trauma awareness and conscious business practices into her teaching. She continued her education with a 300-hour certification under Karuna Tribu, deepening her knowledge in trauma-informed and somatic practices, as well as Ayurveda, with mentorship from Sharon Brenes. She also completed 20 hours of continuing education with Karuna Tribu to further refine her expertise.

Her teaching blends Hatha-Vinyasa with mindful movement and breathwork. Beyond asana and pranayama, her classes encourage students to befriend their nervous systems, explore its fluctuations, and engage with somatic practices to identify and name bodily sensations. Florencia’s approach is deeply influenced by her studies of Ayurveda and yoga philosophy, which she weaves into her classes to promote holistic well-being and self-awareness.

Outside of her teaching, Florencia has been a Healing Circle Facilitator for over four years, having led more than 40 events to support healing and transformation. She has also guided women’s retreats and intensive 1:1 mentoring programs, offering a space for deep personal growth and healing from trauma.

With every class, Florencia invites students to explore their bodies, minds, and spirits with compassion, curiosity, and a focus on holistic healing.

Vinyasa Yoga Instructor

Tamara is passionate about helping students cultivate a deeper connection with their bodies and minds. Trained by Gerhard Gessner at Prana Yoga Center, she specializes in Vinyasa yoga, though her personal practice spans Ashtanga, Yin, and Hatha.

Her personal journey with sports injuries has deeply influenced her teaching approach. She values honoring traditional yoga philosophy while integrating modern adaptations of Asana with an emphasis on mobility. By blending these elements, she strives to create a welcoming space where students can feel present and explore their practice.

Tamara has experience teaching weekly Vinyasa and Gentle Yoga classes at studios including Tranquil Tree Yoga, Prana Yoga Center, and Semper Fit, as well as working with private clients. She has also assisted in multiple teacher-led classes, refining her skills in classroom guidance and student support.

In addition to yoga, Tamara has a background in dance and movement, having previously coached and choreographed for colorguard teams. This experience enhances her ability to create dynamic, intentional movement in her classes.

Vinyasa Yoga Instructor

Meet Naomi! Originally from the seaside town of Brighton, England, she set her sights on yoga teacher training as soon as she arrived in San Diego, graduating from Gaia Yoga School in February 2023. From her very first class, she was amazed by the capabilities of the human body and aims to help others discover the same. As a teacher, Naomi’s goal is to lead energetic and engaging classes while fostering a welcoming space where students can move at their own pace, always concluding with a calming and peaceful cooldown. Her students leave her classes feeling grounded, strong, and connected in mind, body, and spirit.

Trauma-Informed Hatha Yoga Instructor

Becci has practiced yoga for most of her adult life, finding it to be an anchor through the many changes of being a 20-year military spouse. She completed her 200-hour RYT under Niki Robinson of Hot Yoga by the Sea and is certified in Level 1 & 2 Trauma-Informed Yoga through Warriors at Ease. 

With a passion for sharing the mindful movements of yoga, Becci invites her students to experience the profound connection between the mind and body. She is a caring teacher who specializes in gentle Hatha yoga, guiding students to focus on their breath, spend time in each pose, and notice the positive effects of their practice. Her classes offer a welcoming space where everyone can feel at home.

Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor and Sound Healing Facilitator

Mandy is a trauma-informed, Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher, and a Sound Healing Facilitator. Mandy loves hosting events that foster connection and community. While she finds herself in the seat of the teacher, she knows herself to be a forever student of yoga. 

Mandy works in cancer research and from her time working directly with terminally ill patients and facing death often, she found the practice of yoga in search for a deeper meaning in life. Once on the path, her life transformed and she developed a deep appreciation for the practice and its ancient wisdom.

As a yoga instructor and sound healing facilitator, Mandy is passionate about offering and holding sacred space for others to come back home to themselves, remember who they truly are, and to heal. Mandy teaches with a warm and welcoming nature that brings meaning to practice, and that invites you show up exactly as you are.

Trauma-Informed Vinyasa, Restorative, Sound Bath Yoga Instructor

Colby is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher specializing in trauma-informed yoga, restorative yoga, and sound baths. They currently work for 988 - the national crisis lifeline, supporting individuals in moments of acute emotional distress.

Their classes blend mindful movement, breathwork, sound, and somatic practices to help regulate the nervous system and foster a sense of safety and connection in the body. After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Colby deepened their commitment to nature-based and restorative approaches that reconnect us to ourselves and the world around us.

Rooted in both clinical and embodied experience, their work invites people to train their awareness—to notice what they feel and where they feel it—building the capacity to stay present with sensation, emotion, and inner knowing as pathways to healing.