Nayantara Rodrigues

M.S., LMFT, YTT 200

Founder & Board Member

Namaste For Compassion was born of the desire to help those with limited means find a path to a more fulfilling life. The creation of NFC forms an ideal platform to combine social action and education about the power of yoga to heal. Nayantara has experienced first hand the restorative benefits of yoga and cherishes its potency as a tool to spread awareness to the general public.

“You don’t need special equipment for yoga. You don’t need money. All you need is your body, your breath, and your spirit.”

As well as her commitment to NFC, Nayantara is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), an instructor at California State University in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation, a wife, and a mother of two. Her commitment to NFC comes from a need she’s observed in her work as a mental health professional, for wellness tools in at-risk groups. Nayantara’s strong desire to help those with limited means find a path to a more fulfilling life lead to the creation of NFC.

Carmo Rodrigues

MBA

CRYSTAL UYENO

B.S. Philosophy of Religion, E-RYT 200, Certified Pilates Instructor

Board Member

Crystal’s journey with yoga began in 2014, after a long battle with anxiety and depression. Through yoga she’s found the ability to breath, relax, and move toward inner peace. Crystal’s pivotal struggle lead her to become a yoga instructor so that she might help others understand and reap the therapeutic benefits of yoga as well.

Because she feels that her primary purpose in this life is to help others by sharing what she is most passionate about, Crystal joined NFC. As a member of NFC, she encourages others to take the tools they have learned on the mat into their daily lives and gives back to the community at large through NFC’s fundraising endeavors.

In addition to working with NFC, Crystal is a wife, mother, and a Lululemon ambassador.

Donald Turnmire

M.S. LMFT, YTT 200, TCYM

Board Member

Donald wants to spread the practice of vulnerability to the Central Valley and the world. In everything he does, he hopes to effect positive change in the lives of the people he touches.

In Donald’s life, yoga and meditation allow him to feel compassion, self-acceptance, love, and profound calm. He strongly believes that yoga has the power to change people. In his words, “They begin to feel connected, not just to themselves, but to the people around them.”

He is a member of NFC because the partnership between social action and yoga inspires him. Donald is an LMFT trained in Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method, where he utilizes mindfulness and movement.

PHAVEN WILLIAMS

B.S. Business Administration

Board Member

Phaven has a deep commitment to helping those in need, especially at-risk youth. In her yoga practice, Phaven continually learns about balance in life and herself. Moreover, she is present daily, mentally and physically, without personal judgment.

Through her observations of her father’s work in communities, locally and globally, Phaven has witnessed the benefits of social action first hand.

Her involvement with NFC allows Phaven to act on her belief in the benefits of yoga for every human and to express compassion through the act of charitable giving. In addition to her involvement with NFC, Phaven is a wife and mother to four children.

Michelle Gonzales-Amely

M.S., LMFT

Secretary

Michelle is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who works with children ages 0-8 and their families. She sees first hand the impact of trauma and adverse life events for not only the children but also their caregivers. A large part of her job involves assisting families in coping and healing from their experiences. Michelle appreciates that Namaste for Compassion is an organization focused on the healing of people through yoga.

“I feel the more people in our community who have access to a healing modality like yoga, the better. I have always seen value in yoga as a way to help people heal. NFC is really the answer to the question I have been asking myself for many years. How can I help? Yoga has provided me with love and self-acceptance.”

Michelle feels humbled to be a part of this team of heart-centered people and to be able to assist people in the community. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys time in nature with her husband and pets.

Diana Boogard

CPA, YTT 200, Certified Inferno Hot Pilates Instructor, BA-Communications

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Diana is beyond grateful to be able to serve the community on behalf of Namaste for Compassion. Her love for yoga began in 2013, when she was searching for a modality that she could practice while dealing with flare ups from Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. After an eight year battle, in 2019, she received a life giving operation. Diana now has a new lease on life and you will hear her refer to her ileostomy bag as “Perky Princess.” She looks forward to shedding a different light on life with an ileostomy, while being a voice and advocate for an invisible and crappy (pun intended) disease. When she is not on her mat, you can find her in a spin class or with her twin boys and husband.

“My yoga mat has been my place to pray, cry, celebrate, and feel safe to just be. I allow the practice to teach me what it needs to. I’ve used it to get me through a relentless health battle that I continue to fight to this day. When a diagnosis lead to a prognosis that took my breath away, I relied on what my practice taught me. Time after time, yoga has gotten me through and I know it can for you, if you allow it to.”

Elizabeth

Board Member

Elizabeth is an ardent animal advocate and overall “rogue do-gooder.” Her mantra is “build a longer table, not a taller fence,” and she embodies this in all of her personal and professional pursuits. During the day you can find her in the OR supporting her customers in the medical device field, and when not at work, she can be found either cooking a Cajun feast, on the golf course, or her most recent pursuit—pickleball.