Carrie Hoffman

Trauma-Informed E-RYT500, BLA School of Yoga Founder & Lead Trainer, Ayurvedic Health Counselor, WFR

Carrie’s been practicing yoga for 14 years and teaching for 8. Yoga helped her quit drinking and reconnect with her higher self, and now she teaches trauma-informed, recovery-aware classes that meet people where they are: on retreat, in treatment facilities, schools, and detention centers. She’s an 800-hour Ayurvedic Health Counselor and offers private Ayurveda consults and workshops. After teaching and leading on other 200-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings, Carrie created the curriculum and founded Bigger Life Adventures School of Yoga in 2026. She’s also an outdoor guide, writer, and travel lover. Off the mat she loves: trail running and hiking, potlucks with friends, chocolatey desserts, and petting everyone’s dogs.

Check out Carrie’s Substack

Training highlights:

• Teaching Yin Yoga (Bernie Clark & Diana Batts)
• RYT500 (Lakshmi Rising, Dr. Liz Lindh)
• RYT200 (Quantum Yoga, Lara Baumann)
• Trauma-informed trainings (Prison Yoga Project, Yoga Ed.)
• Ayurvedic Health Counselor (800 hours) – Joyful Belly
• Wilderness First Responder (NOLS)
• Permitted Day-Hiking Guide, Grand Canyon NP

Zach Minnich (aka “Zachalicious”)

Vegan Chef, Holistic Nutritionist, Reiki Master, WFR

Zach is our plant-based chef and Holistic Nutritionist: equally obsessed with from-scratch salsas, authentic Mexican flavors (made vegan), and “fruit hunting” around the world. His first cookbook, Plants on Plates (2024), features the kind of vibrant, approachable meals we serve on retreat. Zach was the master mind and master builder behind Grand Canyon Eco Retreat, where we hosted guests from all over the world for 5 years. He offers Reiki sessions, plays piano/guitar, rock climbs, and is now building our sustainable off-grid tiny house in Northern Arizona. He’s also the founder of our annual alcohol-free Burning Man camp, Not a Cult.

Training highlights:

• Reiki Master
• Holistic Nutrition
• Wilderness First Responder (NOLS)
• Permitted Day-Hiking Guide, Grand Canyon NP

LaTesha Charbonnet Gonzales

Trauma-Informed RYT200

LaTesha is a certified yoga teacher, retreat host, and proud New Orleans native. A linguist by trade, she’s spent 15+ years curating cultural and language immersion experiences for international visitors. A mother of two and a multi-time alumna of Bigger Life Adventures retreats, LaTesha now brings her heart-centered teaching and soulful roots into wellness spaces and events including many studios in her hometown and BLA’s Thailand retreat! She’s passionate about weaving spirituality, culture, and holistic healing into every retreat she leads.

Selena G. Aragón

Photographer, Plant-Based Food Creator, Herbalist, Costa Rica Retreat Sous Chef

Selena is a photographer, plant-based chef, and herbalist who supports our Costa Rica retreats. Her Mesoamerican herbalism training informs her nourishing meals and drinks, created with empathy and care. As a visual storyteller, her photography captures authentic moments of nature and people with dignity and beauty. A long-time yoga practitioner, Selena finds balance through challenge and presence, and brings that grounded energy into both the kitchen and the retreat community.

Sydney Jansma Kleis

Trauma-Informed E-RYT500, YACEP, YTT Co-Teacher

Sydney is a trauma-informed yoga teacher and was Bigger Life Adventures’ very first intern back in 2022. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and teaching for half a decade. Sydney’s love for dance and movement naturally flowed over to her love for yoga asana, but slowly learning breathwork, meditation, and practicing yoga’s ethical principles is what propelled her recovery from disordered eating. Yoga for recovery resonates deeply with Sydney and influences her trauma-informed, exploratory style of teaching. When she is not practicing or teaching, you can find Sydney trail running, thru-hiking around the world, or cuddling with a cat enjoying one or her “granny hobbies”.

Training highlights:

• RYT200 (Funky Buddha Yoga)
• RYT300 (Mindful School of Yoga)
• Yoga Nidra Certified (Santosha Yoga)
• Chair Yoga Certified (Inspire Movement Coaching)