Check Out Stella Han’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Han.

Hi Stella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Before I Was a Yoga Teacher, I Was a Master Social Worker

My journey began in 2008 when I made the life-changing decision to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work at USC. Before that, I had earned a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University and had already dedicated eight meaningful years to working with foster youth—a population deeply close to my heart. Earning my Master’s was a dream I never thought possible, shaped by my background as the daughter of Korean immigrants who came to the U.S. in the 1970s in search of opportunity.

My parents worked tirelessly to build a life here, even opening the first Korean nightclub in Koreatown. Their long hours and sacrifices taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of hard work. While they weren’t always able to provide academic support, I know they gave everything they could to help me thrive. Survival often took precedence over schooling, so education was something I had to navigate—and learn to value—on my own.

Stepping into a graduate-level program was both a leap of faith and a personal milestone. It required courage, perseverance, and a commitment to grow beyond the limits of what I once believed was possible. That journey not only transformed me professionally—it empowered me to show others, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, that their dreams are valid and within reach.

And I did it—I got my Master’s in Social Work. I was even selected for a highly competitive stipend program that guaranteed a job and contract with the Department of Children and Family Services. It was an incredible honor and a major step forward in my career.

Parallel to this professional path, I was also cultivating a personal journey through yoga. I began in the ’90s with simple DVD videos and gradually discovered more advanced, embodied practices. At first, yoga was a way to relieve stress and stay connected to my physical body—but over time, it became so much more. I was unknowingly building a powerful foundation for a spiritual path toward healing and wellness.

After completing my Master’s, I began working for DCFS as a Family Reunification Social Worker in the heart of Los Angeles. The job was intense—constant crises, heavy obligations, and the immense responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of children in out-of-home placements. I often felt overwhelmed, and yoga became my lifeline—a source of peace, balance, and solace. Without it, I honestly don’t know how I would have coped.

Eventually, though, even with all my tools, I began to suffer. I had always seen myself as strong—with thick skin, like an alligator. But we all have our threshold, and I had reached mine. The emotional toll of the work, the systemic challenges, and the heartbreaking gaps in care wore me down. I saw too many families and children fall through the cracks—not for lack of effort or compassion, but because the system simply didn’t have enough to give. The needs were too great. We were overworked.

After 15 years in social work, including my graduate education and some undergraduate work, I realized that this chapter of my life was coming to an end. My body and mind were showing signs of deep fatigue. I was facing health concerns, and I knew that if I didn’t start putting myself first, I would be consumed by the very system I had dedicated my life to helping.

So I chose me—my healing, my wellness, my next path.

After stepping away from my social work career in 2012, a dear friend suggested I attend a teacher training in Thailand. At the time, I had no idea this would become the gateway to a profound spiritual yogic path—one that would awaken a lifelong devotion to healing, presence, and inner truth.

Following that pivotal training, I spent nearly a year journeying through Southeast Asia, immersing myself in the landscapes, cultures, and contemplative practices of the region. I returned home only briefly to see my family, some friends, and beloved canine, Bella; before feeling the call to continue my path. By the end of 2013, I had settled back in Los Angeles and began teaching in Highland Park. Having grown up in Eagle Rock, it felt divinely aligned to share this practice so close to my roots.

My training drew from a rich variety of practices, traditions, and teachers. I studied Ashtanga through a program designed by the late Larry Shultz, who once taught yoga to the Grateful Dead. I also had the honor of practicing Ashtanga under the wing of Noah Williams. Additionally, I completed advanced yoga postural training with the world-renowned Noah Mazé and have taken numerous “tune-up” courses with him. His faculty included many gifted teachers, including the incredibly talented Nichol Chase, whose presence and teachings left a lasting imprint on my journey.

In 2014, Kinship Yoga Studios opened its doors in Highland Park, CA and in 2015 I was invited to join its community of teachers. A decade later, I continue to hold space at Kinship as the veteran instructor. The studio was recently honored by the LA Times (11/27/2024 edition) as one of the Best in Los Angeles—a reflection of the sacred container we’ve nurtured together over the years.

Along the way, I’ve also been initiated into the Jivamukti tradition, a lineage rooted in devotion, plant-based activism, and spiritual awakening. My current offerings span Hot Yoga, Peak Postural Method, Alignment Based Practices, Meditation, Chanting, Breathwork, and beyond—all held with the intention of guiding students back to their own wisdom and spiritual path within.

Parallel to my yoga path, my offering with Sound Healing has been steadily blossoming. Through intuitive practice and apprenticeship with the founders of the Sound Bath Center in Los Angeles, I’ve been refining this sacred craft. I’m now completing certification with them in Therapeutic Sound Healing, weaving ancient vibrations and modern techniques into a healing practice rooted in presence and intention.

More than a decade into this path, I remain deeply humbled, devoted, and grateful to walk the way of the teacher, the student, and the seeker. The yogic path is vast, and it continues to reveal its power and potential to ignite transformation. Yoga is a journey of boundless devotion and spiritual awakening, and I feel immense gratitude to be walking this road. The deeper I cultivate my personal practice, the more I see how it ripples outward in service to the collective. To me, yoga is a practice of becoming self-reliant within community—an offering our world so deeply needs. It’s a profound way to honor our diversity while remembering how much we truly share.

Stella also offers Sacred Altar Space for mindful ceremonies, offers Stand Up Paddle Yoga for individuals and Groups, and annual retreats. Stella can be reached at Instagram account: @yogihantas

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Its been a bumpy road.
I had to grow as a public speaker.
I had to find my voice as a teacher.
Encourage myself that I can evolve and learn new skills.
Heal from my past occupation.
Relearn to believe in myself.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a practitioner of the healing and evergreen arts of Yoga and Sound.
I am most proud of learning to become a better public speaker. Growing up in household of mixed languages, I had to overcome some of my fears of falsely believing that I was not articulate enough.

My perseverance is strong and steady and I believe in the power of incremental change.
What sets me a part is that I did not care if I had one person in my Yoga class or many; I still showed up teaching my classes with full heart, prioritizing how to be safe and kind with your body. Showing up and being consistent with the students is something of value and I feel is important when we are nurturing a community.
I learned to adapt and utilize what I had and realized it was enough.

Through my years of experience I am known for teaching alignment-based postural yoga using safe and clear instruction. I am known for my perseverance, tenacity, generosity, and divine service.

What were you like growing up?
I was shy, well mannered, generous with my time, and I loved helping others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogihantas/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#