Teacher Bios
Carol Carnes Johnson Carol Carnes Johnson

Carol has practiced yoga for 22 years, has taught for 18 and received her Iyengar teacher certification in 1995. Carol has owned West Texas Yoga For Life since 1996. Her favorite posture is Salamba Sirsana (Head Balance).

Sara Armendariz Sara Armendariz

Sara is a new teacher to Yoga For Life and is currently working on her Iyengar certification at the Iyengar Institute in San Francisco. Sara loves all poses in yoga.

Ben Galanter Ben Galanter

Ben has practiced yoga since 1993 and began teaching yoga in 1997. He originally started yoga as a means of preventing the possibiblity of injury from running. Ben has since given up running and does yoga instead. His favorite asana is Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Facing Bow Pose).

Elaine Johnson Elaine Johnson

Elaine has practiced yoga since 1995 in studios in Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois. She began studying Iyengar yoga with Carol Carnes Johnson in 2003 and joined Yoga for Life as a teacher in 2005. Her favorite asana is Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II).

John Kuberka John Kuberka

John has been practicing Yoga since 1993 and teaching since 1996. He is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. John is also certified to teach Qigong and Tai Chi. His favorite asana is ArdhaChandrasana (Half Moon Pose).

Ursula Landrie Ursula Landrie

Ursula has practiced Yoga since 1996 and has been a teacher since 1998. Each year she attends several teacher training workshops with Iyengar certified teachers. Ursula`s inspiration and mentor is Carol Carnes Johnson, who gives her confidence to keep practicing Yoga as she ages. Her favorite asana is Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose).

Jean McDaniel Jean McDaniel

Jean started classes at Yoga For Life in 1998 when other types of exercise were no longer feasible and she fell in love with yoga. Jean began teaching in 2002. Jean has taken teacher training with Dean Lerner, Mary Dunn and Carol Johnson. She has studied yoga with George Purvis and John Friend. Jean attends as many workshops as possible to continue to improve her teaching. Her favorite posture is Ardha Chandrasana ( Half Moon Pose).

Alex Mueller Alex Mueller

Alex started yoga in September 1993 and has been teaching since 1996. Carol Carnes Johnson has been his teacher but he has taken workshops with several senior level Iyengar instructors. His favorite asana is Supta Virasana (Reclined Hero Pose).

Bobbie Brister Bobbie Brister

Bobbie has been a dedicated student and practitioner of Iyengar yoga since 1989. She began teaching for Yoga For Life in 1996 when she opened the eastside YFL classes. Her favorite asana is Parvritta Trikonasana (Revolved Triangle Pose).

Yoya Casas Yoya Casas

Yoya has been practicing yoga since 1988, and teaching since 1997. Her first experience with yoga was with Carol Carnes Johnson and thanks to her, she is hooked on it. Yoya has studied with Patricia Walden, George Purvis, John Friend, Dear Lerner and other senior teachers. Her experience has taught her to be gentle and patient with beginning students while motivating them to continue in yoga. Once they are committed to yoga, she motivates and encourages them to better their practice. Yoya has been practicing her favorite asana, Supta Virasana (Reclining Hero Pose), every day for the last 15 years.

Tom Casey Tom Casey

Tom is a professor of English Literature at the El Paso Community College and started paracticing yoga in order to strenghten his back. He has taught at Yoga For Life for several years and enjoys substituting whenever he is needed. He loves all of the standing poses.

Abby Cooperman Abby Cooperman

Abby is one of the most popular yoga teachers around. She is a social worker at the University of Texas at El Paso, has taught a class at Yoga For Life and now is a substitute with the ability to teach any level. Abby does beautiful forward bends.

Ashton Graham Ashton Graham

Ashton works as the Director of Films and Video for the El Paso Independent School District. She has taught at Yoga For Life for several years and is now one of the most experienced substitutes at the studio. Her favorite posture is Parvritta Ardha Chandrasana (Revolved Half Moon Poses).

Brook Mooney Brook Mooney

Brook is a quilter and seamstress whose purses are legendary in El Paso. Her yoga is beautiful and she has studied with Carol Carnes Johnson for several years. She has taught classes in the past and is the most advanced student at Yoga For Life. She substitutes for any level of class and does Lolasana (Bell Pose) with grace.

Phylis Price Phylis Price

Phyllis Price was certified to teach Ashtanga yoga in 1981. She`s taught at the YWCA, several fitness clubs, and currently teaches at UTEP, as well as private classes. She has studied with David Swensen and trained in pregnancy yoga at Kripalu. Her favorite is Surya Namascar (Sun Salutation).




"When I practice,
I am a philosopher,
When I teach,
I am a scientist,
When I demonstrate,
I am an artist."


BKS Iyengar


Elaine Johnson in Hanamanasana (Front Split)
West Side
Yoga For Life
111 Rio Flor
El Paso, TX 79912
For more information:
  Carol Carnes Johnson   (915) 490-6013   Send email to Carol
  Jean McDaniel   (915) 591-3634   Send email to Jean
  Sara Armendariz   (915) 497-2828   Send email to Sara
East Side
Champion Dance Studio
10600 Montwood
El Paso, TX 79935
© 1996 - 2008 West Texas Yoga For Life - All Rights Reserved
Websites by John Kuberka