About Us!
Opened in February of 2002, Drishti is a super cool yoga/workout/lifestyle boutique located in Santa Barbara, California. We cater both to local customers through our physical store and to customers throughout the nation (and the world!) through our comprehensive, user-friendly online store. Because we’ve managed to build a solid, far-reaching community network throughout the years, we decided to start a blog in order to stay connected to all of these lovely peeps. Our friendly and informative blog covers topics like the Santa Barbara yoga scene, the yoga world in general, health & nutrition, food, progressive politics, compelling thoughts and ideas, and total randomness.
Drishti has always had a fabulous staff of inspired individuals who are dedicated to the store. Here is our current assemblage of yoga-enthusiastic employees:
First row: Jenni, Niav, Christy, Katie
Second row: Catherine, Amanda, Ashley, Jaya
Third row: Asia, Sarah
Jennifer Rawlings, owner – Jenni began Drishti in 2001 out of her 1999 Honda Civic! Her dream space for Drishti opened up shortly thereafter and she moved Drishti from the trunk of her car to an elegant retail location. Jenni came to Santa Barbara in 1996 to attend UC Santa Barbara, graduating with a B.A. in both Religious Studies and Cultural Anthropology. She discovered yoga in 1997 while in college, and currently practices both Mysore-style Ashtanga and fun Vinyasa Flow classes.
Niav Connor – Niav has been practicing yoga for nearly 20 years and teaching for nearly 7. She is knowledgeable in many forms of hatha yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, and Forrest. She currently teaches ongoing classes at Yoga Soup and SBYC in Santa Barbara. She also holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology specializing in Pre- and Perinatal Psychology. Niav is also an excellent massage therapist – we highly recommend her!
Christy Cooley – Christy came to Santa Barbara three years ago from the Santa Cruz mountains. She currently attends Santa Barbara City College and she loves her job at Drishti! Christy was introduced to yoga when she was 10 years old, and the practice has been a part of her life ever since. In addition to yoga, studying, and working, Christy also brews her own kombucha and grows her own sprouts. Yum!
Katie Elliott – Katie comes to Santa Barbara from Austin, Texas, where she attended college. She has practiced yoga for years and is thrilled to be working at Drishti for the fun atmosphere, the supportive community, and most importantly, for the fabulous yoga clothes. 
Katie is also a talented artist, and her beautiful paintings are currently featured on the walls at Drishti, much to the delight of our customers. Come check them out – you’ll want to have one on your wall, too!
Catherine Estrada – Catherine is a very talented artist and writer who is currently studying both art and French at SB City College. She loves practicing yoga and she also has a strong passion for environmental issues and causes. Catherine is also the amazing manager of Drishti who just doesn’t stop coming up with excellent, innovative ideas for the store. She’s the best!
Amanda Hess – Amanda moved to Santa Barbara about 2 years ago. Coming from cold winters, hot summers, and no ocean or mountains in sight, she is loving everything about life here in SB. She feels very fortunate to have found Drishti, and when she is not assisting fellow yogis in their quest for “the perfect yoga mat”, she is either painting, at Hendry’s beach, hiking, doing yoga, trying to cook, breathing, out for a night on the town, and most importantly spending quality time with friends and her lovely big sis.
Ashley Mulligan – Ashley is an incredible chef who recently returned from nearly a year of culinary internships in both Italy and Spain. When she’s not busy shopping the Farmer’s Market for delicious local veggies or catering events and parties, she is practicing yoga, working at C’est Cheese, or working at Drishti.
Jaya Nolt – Jaya grew up in Santa Barbara. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BS in Aquatic Biology with specific interest in marine invertebrates. She started practicing yoga in college, which led her to take the Forrest Yoga Foundation Teacher Training in 2006. She currently enjoys practicing various yoga styles, especially Ashtanga, vinyasa, Forrest and hot. She loves anything ocean, science, art or nature related and in her spare time she enjoys being at the beach, hiking, reading, sketching, attending concerts and attempting to play guitar.
Asia Warren – Asia is a Lover of Life, an Afro-Brazilian/Samba/West African dancer and an amazing massage therapist, esthetician, and colon hydrotherapist by profession. She is ecstatic to be working with the Drishti Girls and connecting with wonderful, soulful people in the Santa Barbara community. When she is not at Drishti, she is working on her clients at her studio located at La Playa Pilates and Wellness Center in Montecito. In her free time, she likes to hike the mountains of Santa Barbara, run on the beach, dance to anything and everything, perform with Panzumo West African Ensemble, get crafty in her house, and spend time with her friends. You can find out more about Asia by visiting her online at www.rejuvenasia.com.
Sarah Ziebarth – Sarah loves practicing yoga and is thrilled to be working at Drishti. She is also the lead singer of the band Threadspinner, which you can check out on their website (we are big fans.) Sarah lives with her husband Jon and adorable cat Remy in Montecito.
Check out our store!
Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, Drishti’s beautiful interior is packed with the best yoga clothes and yoga supplies on the market. The renowned Sojourner restaurant is located right next door – you’ll have to stop by for a meal if you’re in the area!
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