Meet Our Board

Lynn Bushnell, E-RYT 500

Chair
California 

Lynn is a certified yoga and meditation instructor and a Senior Teacher for Yoga Works in Southern California. She has served on the Yoga Alliance Board of Directors since 2008. Currently Chair of the Board, she has also held the position of Chair of Nominations. Lynn has extensive non-profit experience serving on past Boards in California and Japan.

Nayaswami Gyandev McCord , E-RYT 500
Vice Chair 
California 
Gyandev is the director of Ananda Yoga and its teacher training program. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. and author of numerous books, articles, DVDs and CDs, he has over 25 years of experience teaching yoga, meditation and spiritual growth workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and India. He has also served as a presenter to various professional organizations including the International Association of Yoga Therapists and is a member of the Yoga Alliance Board of Directors. 

 Arun Tilak, E-RYT 500
Secretary / Treasurer 

Oklahoma

Arun did his yoga teacher training at the Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India, one of the world’s oldest organized yoga institutions. He is a life-long student of yoga and has taught yoga at various venues and institutions including an adolescent behavioral center and a university. With an engineering degree from I.I.T. India and an M.B.A.. Arun has worked internationally in the corporate sector prior.  He currently serves as the Director of the Center for Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies at Cameron University in Oklahoma.

Virginia S. Cowen, Ph.D., LMT, CSCS, E-RYT 200
New Jersey 

Virginia is an experienced health and fitness professional, author and active researcher on topics related to physical activity. She holds a Ph.D. from Arizona State University in exercise and wellness, an M.A. from Columbia University in applied exercise physiology and a B.S. from Indiana University in music. Virginia holds multiple exercise and fitness certifications, is an RYT 200 and is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist. Virginia is an Associate Professor of massage therapy at Queensborough Community College - the City University of New York.

Brandon Hartsell, E-RYT 500
Texas
Brandon is the founder and CEO of Sunstone Yoga, he sits on the board of Sunstone Franchising and is the Trustee of Sunstone Yoga Academy. He has been teaching yoga for over 10 years and has non-profit experience serving on the board of Open Source Yoga Unity. He has a passion for all things yoga and has been practicing meditation for over 14 years.

Margie Deutsch Lash, MSED, IBCLC, RYT 200
California
Margie has been involved in the yoga community since 2007 starting with her attendance at the White Lotus Foundation 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program. In 2010, Margie traveled to White Lotus again to participate in their Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training program taught by Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal. Margie has a background in bodywork modalities including Reiki and craniosacral therapy. Margie’s interest in working with women at different stages of their life has grown out of her passion for working with women during their mothering years as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 1989. She now teaches a program for aspiring lactation consultants. She also teaches conscious nutrition cooking classes using unprocessed organic vegan and vegetarian ingredients. Since 1975 Margie has been involved in teaching. She received her Master’s Degree in Education and has always stayed involved in teaching in some manner whether she was teaching children or adults—lactation, parenting, cooking or yoga—teaching is in her blood.

Linda Rowe, DC, E-RYT 200, RYT 500
Texas

Linda has been a licensed health and fitness professional since 1995. She is a chiropractic physician and holds several fitness certifications. Linda is a devoted student and teacher of yoga. She has authored and taught teacher trainings nationwide. Linda is actively involved with Yoga Training Skills, an educational outreach program located in Dallas, Texas. Linda is also a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.