Surf, Spanish & Yoga School
Our Team
Owner / Yoga Teacher
Vanessa Lavigne
Vanessa has been teaching yoga classes for over a decade and practicing yoga for more than 20 years. She studied under the guidance of Yogi Vishvketu in the style of Akhanda yoga in Canada. Akhanda yoga is intended to offer holistic, integrated yoga. It is balance in a sequencing of asana, pranayama, relaxation, and meditation. This integral approach is intended to give students access to more diverse teaching and techniques that yoga has to offer.
In 2012 she began teaching Yoga Teacher Trainings in the style of Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow and Hatha. She has her level 2 Reiki, she is a certified Thai Massage Therapist. Vanessa has been studying Ayurveda for 12 years she is a practitioner as well as teaches certified courses. More recently she has completed a Masters Program in Pranayama with over 200 hrs of study. Her practise includes more than 8000 hours teaching students from around the world. An accomplished surfer, Vanessa incorporates many poses and pranayama for surfers that focus on improving balance and toning the body and lungs. She integrates philosophical teachings with a balanced asana and pranayama class allowing students to take their practice to a deeper level.
Vanessa Lavigne
Owner / Surf Instructor
Ryan Lavigne
Ryan grew up snowboarding and skateboarding; it was only natural for him to take to surfing. It has been said Ryan is more comfortable on a board then on the ground. He has taught snowboarding for years and found the transition to teaching surf a smooth one. He has a natural ability of understanding the technique of surfing and explaining it to others. As much as he loves to be out in the surf, he finds so much satisfaction is teaching others.
Ryan loves to be outside, whether surfing, skating, playing with his two children, fixing surf boards or working in the garden, if you pass by Otra Ola you will most likely see him. Ryan speaks both English and Spanish fluently. Whether you are looking for a surf class or just someone to surf with Ryan is always eager to get into the water.
Cafe / Muffin Master
Jorge
I am proudly Ecuadorian. I have lived my whole life in Ayampe and for four years I have been working at Otra Ola in the cafeteria. I am the one who makes the most delicious and famous Cinnamon Buns. I love to play soccer and do cross fit, walk on the beach, be with my family and nephews and travel with my friends to know more about my country.
Surf Instructor
Camilo Suarez Velando
Hi I’m Camilo from Uruguay! I’ve been living and surfing in Ayampe for 6 years. I love the
lifestyle in this beautiful town. For me, the simplicity and nature are very important to be in
balance. When I’m not surfing, normally I’m playing guitar or cooking. I love to meet people
from all around the world and try to share my passion for surf and the experience to flow with the waves! I hope we can have fun together!!
Spanish Teacher
Margarita Rivadeneira
Margarita was born and raised in the beautiful province of Manabi. She trained for her teaching degree at " Eugenio Espejo" Chone, Manabi Institute of Education. She originally taught education to children but soon realized it was not her calling. Once she began teaching Spanish Classes at Otra Ola in July of 2011, she realized the satisfaction of seeing the progression of her students she knew this is what she wanted to do.
Along with teaching her students Spanish she loves learning about different cultures and ways of life. Although she has never left Ecuador Margarita feels like she has traveled all over the world.
When Margarita is not teaching she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She feels so blessed to call Ecuador her home. Every opportunity she has, Margarita is by the sea, she finds it so relaxing.
Spanish Teacher
Vanessa Lucas
Vanessa was born in the big city of Guayaquil but grew up in the small coastal town of Salango, Manabi. She studied elementary, junior high and high school in Salango and then finished her degree in food technology in Jipijapa.
After finishing her degree she realized her love to teach and began teaching children the basic skills of reading and writing in the Salango area. As the years went on she continued to teach kids and heard about Otra Ola and to this day teaches tourists Spanish classes in the beautiful coastal town of Ayampe.
She loves teaching and working with tourists from all over the world, learning lots about her self and other cultures and languages to keep growing as a person.
Yoga Teacher
Emma
Emma completed her 200 hour YTT in May. She is from England but has been travelling in South America for 2.5 years. She will teach Hatha flow classes.
Yoga Teacher
Lauren
I am originally from New York where I was a fulltime high school teacher and yoga instructor. I have been practicing yoga for at least 10 years and teaching yoga for 2. My yoga practice began with the desire to alleviate chronic physical pain and has blossomed into a deep spiritual journey and desire to truly understand myself. I enjoy teaching powerful “yang” Vinyasa sequences as well as a more restorative “yin” style meditation through asana. My yoga classes are structured to accommodate all levels of students with helpful modifications and variations given throughout the class. My goal while teaching is that each student feel supported and challenged enough to find their edge in each pose. When I am not teaching and practicing yoga you will most likely find me pursuing my other passion of creating art. I hope to see you on the mat!
Yoga Teacher
Alex
Alex fell in love with yoga 15 years ago and knew it was her path in this life. Her love for the practice and philosophy of yoga lead her to study in various parts of India and to complete four teacher trainings. Her training in the Chakra Yoga System, and her experience as a somatic psychotherapist, inform her mindfulness-based yoga classes. Her classes include meditation, pranayama, and a blend of Hatha and Vinyasa Flow yoga. Alex holds space for students to connect more deeply with themselves through the practice of awareness. Rather the learning to do challenging postures, she believes that yoga is more about learning to hold ourselves with gentleness and curiosity as we meet challenges, both on and off our mats. Alex is also certified to teach yoga and meditation to children grades K-12 with YogaEd and has experience working with high school and elementary school aged students. She is originally from New York and was living in Boulder, CO before moving to Ecuador 3 years ago. She feels blessed to get to share the practice of yoga next to the ocean in Ayampe.
Admin. / Cafe
Alejandra
I am Colombian and I have lived in Ayampe for 8 year ago. I enjoy surfing, working and connecting with nature and family, who are the friends that life on the road has given me.
Otra Ola has been a beautiful family with whom I have learned how to bake delicious muffins and much more. Now I collaborate with the reception and in the cafe as well. We are always ready to make people feel comfortable at home.
The most important thing for me is to live intensely here and now without planning much for the future and doing what I like the most, enjoying the time to do everything and continue learning about life.
Admin. / Cafe
Soqui
I am from Argentina. I have been living in Ayampe for over 8 years. Here my life is divided between the jungle and the beach. In Ayampe I have learned to surf and I enjoy doing it every day. I also like to play the guitar, ride my bicycle, read, drink coffee and share my life with friends and with my two beautiful cats. In Otra Ola I help with cleaning the cabins and serving coffee in the afternoons.
The most important in my life? To be able to go to sleep in peace every night.
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Yoga Teacher
Ari
Ever since Ari was a little Boy, movement was his personal recipe to feel good.
Later he could satisfy his urge to move by his passions skateboarding, surfing, climbing and various other sports.
10 years ago he came across Yoga and instantly fell in love with this sutile but powerful practice.
After his first teacher training in Synergy Partner Yoga, he offered basic Acro and Partneryoga workshops.
His second teacher training in Vinyasa Astanga Yoga led him to dive deeper into his own practice and to teach strong, powerful and sweaty clases.
He also teaches the primary series of Budokon Yoga, a slow, marital arts inspired flow.
Ari is a fresh Ayampe resident and very happy to share his yoga-approaches in Otra Ola.
Yoga Teacher
Gabriela
Gabriela has been practicing yoga for more than eight years. Her yoga style is inspired in the study and teaching of kauit yoga, a type of therapeutic yoga, and in the spiritual insights of sufism and intuitive meditation. In her yoga class you can practice pranayama, a flow of asanas, meditation and a relaxing savasana. Her classes can be taught in English and Spanish.