THE TEAM

PROFESSIONAL SURF COACHES & YOGA TEACHERS


 

Surf Coaches



In addition to being ISA certified, we proudly have local surf coaches on our team who are also competitive professional surfers. Including the 2019 National Panama champ, Kelvin Gonzalez, and the previous 4 x National champ, Jean Carlos (Oli) Camarena. Oli placed 2nd in the ISA World Surfing Games in 2018 and 2nd in the Pan American Surfing Games in 2022.

At Waluaa not only are you learning to surf with passionate and professional surf coaches, you are helping to support these talented local surfers on their journey too.

Each Waluaa surf coach brings over 10 years of experience surfing in Santa Catalina.

Kelvin GonzalezISA CERTIFIED COACH & PRO SURFERFrom Santa Catalina, PanamaCurrent National Panama Champion ISA World Surfing Games 2019 - Panama Representative

Kelvin Gonzalez

ISA CERTIFIED COACH & PRO SURFER

  • From Santa Catalina, Panama

  • Current National Panama Champion 

  • ISA World Surfing Games 2019 - Panama Representative

  • Bilingual: Spanish, English

Jean Carlos (Oli) CamarenaISA CERTIFIED COACH & PRO SURFERFrom Santa Catalina, Panama4 x National Panama ChampionPlaced 2nd at the ISA World Surfing Games 2018

Jean Carlos (Oli) Camarena

ISA CERTIFIED COACH & PRO SURFER

  • From Santa Catalina, Panama

  • 4 x National Panama Champion

  • Placed 2nd at the ISA World Surfing Games 2018 & 2nd at the Pan American Surfing Games 2022

  • Bilingual: Spanish, English

Casey Waluaa Surf Instructor Panama

Neftalí (Casey) Caceres

ISA CERTIFIED SURF COACH

  • From Santa Catalina, Panama

  • Brevet D'initiateur fédéral de surf (BIF SURF) France

  • Trilingual: Spanish, English & French

Sergio Bryksa

ISA CERTIFIED SURF COACh LeVEL 2

  • From Zapiola, Buenos Aires State, Argentina

  • Waluaa Co-Founder & Surf Director

  • Bilingual: Spanish, English

Yoga Teachers



Meet our team of experienced, Yoga Alliance certified teachers. Each of our yoga teachers promises to take you on a journey inward, support you in finding the presence and awareness that will enhance your surf practice, and instill you with tools and techniques that will enhance your quality of life, on and off the mat.

Our  yoga teachers are seasoned team members of the Waluaa family. We promise to serve you with teachers who bring a wealth of experience in yoga, meditation and mindfulness.

Each of our Waluaa Yoga Instructors brings over 10 years of yoga experience.

Candace Glass

YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHER

  • From Tucson, USA

  • 500HR ERYT Vinyasa & Hatha

  • Yoga Teacher Trainer

  • Mindfulness & Meditation Facilitator

  • Certified Life Coach

  • Reiki Master

  • Prenatal Yoga, Children’s Yoga

  • Founder of Elephant Power: Mindfulness & Yoga for Kids

Michelle BargeYOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHERFrom Brooklyn, USA500HR RYT Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa50HR Corporate Yoga & Meditation50HR Children’s Yoga & MindfulnessBodymind Ball WorkMeditation & Mindfulness Teacher

Michelle Barge

YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHER

  • From Miami, USA

  • 500HR RYT Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa

  • 50HR Corporate Yoga & Meditation

  • 50HR Children’s Yoga & Mindfulness

  • Bodymind Ball Work

  • Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher

EvasionYOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHERFrom Catalonia, Spain200HR RYT Satyananda Tradition300HR RYT Advanced YogaWorks50HR RYT Laughter YogaThaiYoga Bodywork Teacher & Practitioner 

Evasion

YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHER

  • From Catalonia, Spain

  • 200HR RYT Satyananda Tradition

  • 300HR RYT Advanced YogaWorks

  • 50HR RYT Laughter Yoga

  • ThaiYoga Bodywork Teacher & Practitioner 

Gayle Worth

YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHER

  • From California, USA

  • 200HR RYT Power Yoga

  • 50HR Yoga Nidra

  • Meditation & Mindfulness Facilitator

Elena Fairall

YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHER

  • From Oregon, USA

  • 200HR RYT Ashtanga/ Vinyasa

  • 176HR NCBTMB Traditional Thai Massage Practitioner

  • 30HR Thai Yoga Massage

Vickie Mogensen

YOGA ALLIANCE CERTIFIED TEACHER

  • From Sydney, Australia

  • 200HR RYT Vinyasa

  • 50HR Katonah Yoga

  • Vedic Meditation

  • Waluaa Co-Founder & Yoga Director

Our Waluaa Promise & Purpose

Vickie & Sergio, Co-Founders Waluaa

When we started this company we were living busy and hectic lives tethered to our devices and missing nature. Rarely did we have a moment to embrace a slower more intentional pace of life that we craved. We were determined to create a healthy lifestyle company that would give people like us a chance to slow down, get back to nature, and to find balance.

So in 2015 we curated an all-inclusive surf and yoga retreat in a dreamy, far away surf town in Santa Catalina, Panama. It’s paradise on earth. Santa Catalina’s allure is uncrowded beaches and consistent surf, where slow living is part of everyday life and safety is in the DNA of the town and the country.

Our retreats are accessible and welcoming to all. We provide top-level surf and yoga instruction tailored towards complete beginner to intermediate. Our goal is to have each and every guest feel welcomed, at ease, and cared for every step of the way. 

Our business also serves to support the community and help it prosper. We partner with local services and talent to bring our guests an authentic experience while giving back and embracing the town we love so much.

With the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, healthy locally sourced meals, and the vastness and raw natural beauty that only Santa Catalina can offer, our goal is that our guests feel relaxed, balanced, healthy, happy and one with nature. We can’t wait to welcome you to Waluaa.

Vickie & Sergio