Studio Manager | Yoga | Private Yoga

"I am restless. Things are calling me away. My hair is being pulled by the stars again."

Anais Nin

A native Hawaiian, Malia grew up sharing her time between the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, places she loves with all her heart. After spending most of 2015 in Oaxaca, Mexico, Malia moved to Renton shortly before finding another home at Maya as Outreach Coordinator and yoga teacher. With a background working with non-profit organizations and a passion for holistic health, she works to help Maya partner with local nonprofits and engage the Renton community.

Malia’s love for travel has taken her to over 20 countries, she hopes to take her family to Cusco, Peru one day to introduce them to Sacred Valley. She speaks over 10 languages, so don’t be surprised if you hear her cue in Spanish during yoga class. She just might blush if she does.

When she isn’t laying plans to open her own non-profit one day, she spends her time enjoying fruits, veggies, the water and trees. You might find her watching Casablanca, or imagining a lazy day hanging out with Lauren Bacall.
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Married to Marko and mom to Rory and Jinora, she considers her tribe the description of home. The family of four fill their time with travel, yoga, and coconut milk ice cream. Learning to be patient with her young children takes precedence, but as Malia gets older, she feels more and more in touch with her younger self, “Like I maybe got lost in the middle and came back around to my true self.” What advice would she give her younger self? Stop it.

Malia’s compassion shows not only in her work, but in how she interacts with others. Love is first on her agenda and in her walk to and from Maya, she takes time to chat with a homeless man, brightening each other’s day. For Malia, getting to know people, hearing their stories, and finding inspiration are life’s truest adventures.