Our Yoga Teachers
Read about our yoga teacher's unique journey's and get to know who you'll be working with. Hear what prior clients have said and reach out to ask questions. Its like a fireside chat with your future guide.
Amber Martinez
Founder & Teacher
Carrying the banner for Classical Hatha Yoga handed down by legendary teachers of old, Amber created Vita Pura Yoga with a simple idea: that a yoga practice is as unique as the individual.
. She is an E-RYT (1000+ hrs teaching), gifted healer and entrepreneur who opened her first yoga studio in Sedona at the age of 24. She has been called a breath work master by many of her clients.
After witnessing first hand the immense value of yoga in lifting her out of many life challenges and healing her body from an autoimmune disorder, her approach to teaching became holistic, medicinal and scientific.
From the core of her being, she believes in keeping the ancient wisdom of yoga alive and spreading its gifts throughout the world. For every individual who gains yogic wisdom casts out a ripple that helps the world evolve.
I can’t say enough good things about Amber. I did a month long series of sessions with her, hoping I’d learn the basics of a good yoga practice. What I ended up with was a whole new appreciation and foundational understanding for the true intention of this work.
You will not find “drive-through” yoga from her, but what you will find is a true master of her craft. And, if you’re fortunate enough to take a series of sessions with her, you’ll walk away with knowing the importance of your breath, balance, stability, strength and how important it is to smile.
Thank you Amber! I can’t wait to work with you again!
- Russell,
Past Student.
Lance Slatter
Founder & Teacher
Lance's journey began, as many do, with pain. His earliest memories are of a deep void and a yearning for something more than material existence. He battled debilitating depression and anxiety. Lance discovered the peace of mind and universal connection he sought held within the many layers of yoga, and in service to others.
A passionate nature enthusiast, Lance created yoga hiking as a fusion of his two greatest ally's. His passions for yoga, spirituality and mother earth are deeply infused in his teachings.
He credits his wife Amber for being his greatest teacher. The healing retreats they have created together have impacted hundreds of lives.
Lance's mission is to connect the dots, alighting the spark of connection within us all.
"This was one of the most wonderful experiences I could have asked for. Lance and Amber are kind, warm, highly intelligent and unbelievably knowledgable!! My private sessions with Amber were something to be cherished and I learned a tremendous amount. Lance was a joy to be around and his light and spirit made it so easy to connect with him during our hikes.
These two are truly a dynamic duo and complement one another in their styles and approach. Every part of the retreat was done with intention, purpose and a lot of care. I could not recommend this retreat more. I left my 5-days feeling like I made a lifelong connection with new friends."
- Shanique G.
Past Retreat Student
Nichole Cea
Yoga Teacher & Hiking Guide
As an Arizona native Nichole first discovered yoga when she was 17. For 20 years now, yoga and meditation have been an essential tool in her daily life and practice.
An avid hiker, yogi and wellness practitioner she has taken many workshops, retreats and certifications in her quest to understand what it means to be at peace.
In the fall of 2019 she embarked on a 6 month Hatha yoga program which truly transformed and confirmed her mission in life.
She believes that yoga gives us room to be imperfect, to listen to our bodies, and to be observers of our minds' gymnastics. It's not about the destination but being present with every breath of the journey. The peace we seek is always right here, right now, between the inhales and exhales.
Alongside being a leading presence in Sedona's yoga world, Nichole is also a highly gifted massage therapist (LMT).
She uses an integrative approach blending hands-on adjustments, fascial stretching, and postural coaching to help facilitate a stronger awareness of the body's sensations.
Her knowledge and awareness of the body through multiple modalities allows her to create a dynamic practice - focused on breath - that everybody and anybody can enjoy regardless of experience.
"As 3 moms who were looking for a weekend of relaxation, re-centering, and time away from the chaos for the first time in over a year...when I came across Vita Pura Yoga and Hiking I knew this was the one thing we had to do. It sounded like the perfect combination of movement, exploring, and adventure combined with the peace and re-centering we were all looking for. It absolutely was all of that and so much more.
Nicole was absolutely amazing. We totally connected with her and loved every bit of this. The hike was perfect. And the quiet and stillness we found was like nothing we’d experienced and exactly what we needed. There were some tears, a whole lot of laughs and so much positive energy in those 3 hours. We were SO impressed and would definitely do it again."
- Katie B.
Past Student
Minyan Zhu
Yoga Teacher & Hiking Guide
For years, I sought out doctors, alternative medicines, spiritual practices and tried every diet fad on the face of the earth. Even though, my inflammation symptoms were defined as “in spec” by the Western paradigm of medicine and movement patterns. I had a feeling that If I aligned the neurological system to be in service to the neuromuscular system, I could experience the world in an infinitely richer and joyful manner.
Then came Yoga! This beautiful modality gave me the time and space to tune into the subtle energies in my somatic being. With each breath, a prayer was sent into my cells. With each movement, an awakening of the physical connection to my breath. With each day, an invitation to explore my consciousness.
After Studying Yoga in conjunction with functional medicine, Qigong, energy work and traditional Chinese medicine. I finally felt as if my trajectory was on an upward swing. With each passing year, I felt more vibrant, energetic and alive. I’m excited and eager to share these wonderful modalities of self empowerment with seekers of vitality, hope and integration.
Let’s turn the impossible into the possible, the challenging into the easy, and the easy into the elegant.
With Gratitude
Minyan
"The entire experience was exactly what we had hoped for. Minyan, thank you again for guiding us this afternoon. We keep reflecting on the experience and how every aspect was perfect. The hike and yoga session complimented each other, and were elevated by the natural surroundings, and your expert guidance. Namaste!"
- Lori U.
Past Student
Ethan Seidel
Yoga Teacher & Hiking Guide
Ethan’s passion for Yoga began back in 2012 when searching for a way to heal his back pain. After years of resigning himself to chronic pain resulting from scoliosis surgery, yoga was a revelation. He quickly became hooked on not only the physical well being, but mental calm that came with his deepening practice.
He started teaching in 2017 in Brooklyn, NY learning from a wide array of gifted teachers, covering many different modalities including Yin, Katonah Yoga, Pranayama, and Qi Gong.
Ethan offers a gentle exploration of the body that is accessible for all levels of experience. The synthesis of different yogic styles provides student’s an opportunity to dive into a deeper awareness of their feelings, as well as the subtle energies of the land around them.
He believes the union of breath and movement can help deepen the connection of the self between Mother Earth and Father Sky.
"Our first time in Sedona and our first experience with yoga hiking! I am an average yogi, my husband has no experience with yoga at all, and neither of us are super experienced hikers. I am so glad I booked this, it was the highlight of our Sedona experience!
Ethan was our guide and he was so friendly and just a calm presence to be around. It was a beautiful hike and the restorative yoga session we had was perfect for us! He was also very helpful and informative which was great for us as first time visitors to Sedona. I’m glad we booked this on our first day as it set the tone and direction for the rest of our trip!"
- Chrisy H.
Past Student
