Meet The Team

Kyrah Ayers is a community leader, published author, wellness advocate, and co-founder of Queen Hippie Gypsy. As a lifelong athlete and mentor, he is the founder of Actively Pursuing Goals, an organization dedicated to inspiring healthy living, personal growth, and purposeful action. He is also recognized as a founding leader of the Bay Area chapter of Black Men Run, helping create spaces that promote health, fitness, brotherhood, and community engagement. As an appendix cancer survivor, Kyrah's journey has deepened his commitment to wellness, resilience, and service. His experiences have inspired countless individuals to embrace healthier lifestyles, overcome adversity, and pursue their goals with determination. Through coaching, speaking, writing, and community leadership, he encourages others to recognize their strength and live with intention. Kyrah is a published poet and song writer whose work reflects themes of perseverance, healing, faith, and transformation. Whether leading a fitness initiative, mentoring others, sharing his poetry, or supporting the vision of Queen Hippie Gypsy alongside his wife, Lilliannia Ayers, he remains dedicated to uplifting individuals and strengthening communities. His mission is simple: help people move with purpose, live with intention, and become the healthiest version of themselves, mind, body, and spirit. ✨🏃🏾‍♂️📚🌿

Lilliannia Ayers, affectionately known as Oracle Lilly, is the founder and visionary behind Queen Hippie Gypsy, Oakland's pioneering Black woman owned crystal and wellness boutique. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Lilly has dedicated her life to creating spaces where healing, community, culture, and personal transformation come together. A spiritual entrepreneur, Oracle reader, Reiki practitioner, crystal healer, meditation coach, sound healer, yoga teacher, registered doula, and ordained minister, Lilly has spent years helping others reconnect with their inner wisdom. Her work blends ancient healing traditions with practical wellness practices, creating meaningful experiences that inspire self discovery, resilience, and personal growth. What began as a dream has grown into far more than a crystal shop. Under Lilly's leadership, Queen Hippie Gypsy has become a vibrant wellness destination where people from all walks of life gather to heal, learn, celebrate, and build community. Through classes, retreats, sound baths, yoga, workshops, youth programming, and community partnerships, she has created a welcoming sanctuary where healing is both accessible and celebrated. Before becoming a full time entrepreneur, Lilly built a successful thirteen year career at Kaiser Permanente, where she earned recognition for her leadership, professionalism, and advancement across multiple departments. Her journey from overcoming significant personal adversity to becoming an award winning business owner has inspired thousands throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Lilly's commitment to community has earned her numerous honors, including Oakland Magazine's Best Crystal Shop Reader's Choice Award, the Allen Temple 40 Under 40 Award, and recognition from the City of Oakland for her outstanding service and community leadership. She is passionate about mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, expanding access to holistic wellness, and creating opportunities that empower individuals and strengthen communities. As a mother, grandmother, healer, and visionary, Lilly believes wellness is a birthright, not a luxury. Her mission is to help people remember their power, embrace their purpose, and cultivate lives rooted in healing, abundance, courage, and possibility. Today, Oracle Lilly continues to expand the vision of Queen Hippie Gypsy through innovative wellness experiences, retreats, educational programs, corporate partnerships, and community initiatives that bridge spirituality, culture, and collective healing. "Healing is not about becoming someone else. It's about remembering who you have always been." – Oracle Lilly

Symone Barrett is a Spiritual Maintenance Practitioner and an Intuitive Strategist and Advisor of Mama Moons Botanica while partnering with Queen Hippie Gypsy. Rooted in ancestral wisdom and guided by intuition, she creates sacred spaces for healing, restoration, and self-discovery. Her work honors the connection between mind, body, spirit, and lineage, helping individuals reconnect with their inner knowing and personal power while moving toward the fullest scope of wellness. Symone offers spiritual maintenance services including herbal foot baths, smoke baths, aura cleansing, intuitive guidance, massage, and Cardology readings based on the ancient mathematical wisdom of playing cards. Through a warm, heart-centered approach, she supports clients in gaining clarity, releasing energetic burdens, and cultivating deeper alignment with their life’s path. Dedicated to community healing and empowerment, Symone believes that transformation begins when we honor our past and our future, our creativity and our ancestors

Dr. Mishi is a licensed therapist, wellness facilitator, and author who creates intentional spaces for people to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with themselves. Her work centers Black women while honoring a broader community, gently reminding us of the tools and practices that have always been ours, including rest, breath, presence, and connection. In a world that often keeps us in constant motion, she creates space to return to what our bodies already know. Blending mindfulness, emotional awareness, and nervous system care, Mishi supports people in navigating stress, healing, and everyday life with more ease. Through guided experiences, breathwork, gentle movement, and sound, she helps individuals step out of survival mode and reconnect with a more grounded and supported version of themselves. Her approach is practical, accessible, and deeply human, rooted not in perfection, but in real life. Whether working with individuals, groups, or organizations, her goal is to help people build a more sustainable relationship with themselves.

Renee Cage is a licensed mental health therapist, coach, international speaker, and author with over 23 years of leadership experience. Renee’s extensive experience and unique approach make her a sought-after speaker for corporate and conference events. Renee’s unique approach is based on her E.M.P.O.W.E.R. Mindset Formula, which has helped countless clients conquer self-doubt, cultivate unwavering confidence and clarity, and achieve their goals. As a keynote speaker and trainer, Renee is known for her engaging, interactive, and inspiring presentations that leave audiences feeling motivated to take action. Her book, The Art Of Choosing Yourself Unapologetically, is a powerful resource for anyone looking to design the life they dream about. As the CEO of Empowered by Courage, Renee is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations alike achieve their full potential.

Wanqiu Chen is a certified Art of Living teacher, wellness facilitator, and engineering consultant based in California. She helps professionals manage stress, build resilience, and reconnect with inner self through practical breathwork and meditation tools designed for real life and demanding careers. Drawing from ancient yogic wisdom, modern stress science, and her own experience in high-pressure professional environments, Wanqiu facilitates grounded, experiential sessions that empower people with simple, effective self-care practices they can use anytime, anywhere. Wanqiu holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology. She has volunteered with organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers and the Art of Living, supporting both professional development and holistic well-being.

Originally from the Midwest, she made her way to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2024 and quickly found a sense of home within its vibrant creative and wellness communities. A lifelong learner with a passion for both art and personal growth, she brings curiosity, compassion, and creativity into every aspect of her work. With a background in Political Science and a deep appreciation for community building, she believes in the power of connection, shared knowledge, and collective growth. Whether exploring herbalism, studying the mind, creating art, traveling, or enjoying meaningful conversations, she is constantly seeking new ways to learn and inspire others. As a tattoo artist, her mission is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming experience for every client. She is dedicated to providing a safe space where people from all backgrounds, identities, and skin tones feel seen, respected, and celebrated. Her approach to tattooing is rooted in authenticity, intention, and self-expression. A deeply spiritual person, she views tattooing as more than body art. She sees it as a meaningful ritual that can mark transformation, healing, personal milestones, and spiritual growth. She values building genuine connections with her clients and helping them bring their stories, intentions, and visions to life through art. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her offerings by integrating spiritual practices such as Tarot readings and birth chart analysis into her creative work, creating even more opportunities for personal reflection and empowerment. She is honored to be part of the Queen Hippie Gypsy family and looks forward to sharing her gifts, creativity, and passion with the community.

Shakari Designs is an Oakland-based jewelry artist and creative entrepreneur known for crafting beautiful, handcrafted pieces that celebrate culture, individuality, and self-expression. With a passion for wearable art and community connection, Shakari transforms natural materials, gemstones, and inspired designs into meaningful jewelry that tells a story. As a valued partner of Queen Hippie Gypsy, Shakari Designs helps lead interactive jewelry-making workshops that invite participants to explore their creativity while learning the art of handcrafted adornment. Through a welcoming and engaging teaching style, Shakari empowers students of all skill levels to create unique pieces infused with intention, beauty, and personal meaning. Whether designing one-of-a-kind creations or guiding others through the creative process, Shakari Designs is dedicated to fostering artistry, confidence, and connection within the Oakland community. ✨ Partner Instructor ✨ Jewelry Artist & Designer ✨ Community Creative ✨ Workshop Facilitator ✨ Oakland, California Join Shakari Designs at Queen Hippie Gypsy and discover the joy of creating jewelry that reflects your unique spirit.

Leyla Dualeh is a sound healer, multidisciplinary artist, facilitator, and environmental justice practitioner based in Oakland. Her practice centers the belief that the reclamation of our bodies, minds, imagination, and the discarded, are all powerful tools for collective transformation and liberation. Lei's healing practice explores sound as a vehicle for transcendence. By tuning into the odyssey of vibrations that surround us and allowing the wisdom of our bodies to guide us, we can invite healing energies in through our many senses. Drawing upon the ancient wisdom of sound therapy, Lei offers a cleansing of the mind, body, and soul using 440 Hz crystal bowls. These sound baths combined with Kundalini + Savasana, invites deeper relaxation and encourages a greater sense of presence.

Hey yogis! I am Elena Funseth, a fitness coach in the San Francisco Bay Area who uses both progressive and traditional fitness techniques for a more comprehensive approach than your typical personal trainer. I employ my knowledge of anatomy and sports injury to create an environment that’s tailored to the comfort and growth of each individual. I grew up in the countryside of Napa and moved up the bay to go to San Francisco State University when I was 18. I used to work in the restaurant industry and have maintained a love for Japanese food ever since working as an expeditor and eventually pastry chef for Iron Chef Morimoto. I spent most of my free time while in high school, college, and continuing education working in restaurants with the mindset that I was preparing for better, harder, more rewarding work; however, when I got my first job as a paralegal, I started to notice that my favorite part of my day was my commute. Working a 9-5 told me that I need diversity in my day and am more in love with the journey than the destination. Through teaching yoga and fitness, I am able to meet individuals where they are at and then begin to introduce them to my love of physical movement, breath-work, and fitness as a whole.

Kelli Hubbard is mother, Oakland Native, graduate of several schools in the Bay Area with a BA from San Francisco State University and a current social worker with the local county in addition Kelli is assistant supportive staff at Queen Hippie Gypsy Kelli History at Queen Hippie Gypsy's After being a customer of Queen Hippie Gypsy for many years, she saw an a job posting at the store and decided to apply, She got the job and become part of team as an an event hostess. Despite the challenges with the economics of the Downtown Oakland area. Kelli has remained faithful and has consistently worked with the Queen Hippie Gypsy Team since July 2023.

Faith “Flo’” Isom is a massage therapist, singer-songwriter, and founder of Flo’Therapy, a wellness practice inspired by the connection between movement, creativity, healing, and self-expression. Before entering the field of bodywork, Faith spent years exploring healing through music, storytelling, and creative expression. As an artist, she discovered that many of the same things that help us create presence, breath, intuition, and emotional awareness are also essential to healing. This realization became the foundation of Flo’Therapy. Faith believes the body is constantly communicating with us. Through stress, tension, fatigue, discomfort, and even moments of joy, the body offers insight into our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Her work invites clients to slow down, listen, and reconnect with themselves through intentional touch and mindful presence. Drawing from her background in caregiving, behavioral health, and holistic wellness, Faith creates sessions that support relaxation, nervous system regulation, stress relief, and overall balance. Her approach is gentle yet intuitive, honoring each person’s unique journey and creating space for restoration, reflection, and renewal. Whether through massage, music, or creative expression, Faith’s mission remains the same: to help people return to a natural state of flow where healing feels less like something to force and more like something to remember. Through Flo’Therapy, she invites others to breathe deeply, move intentionally, and trust the wisdom already living within them. “Everything speaks. The body whispers first.”

Porsha Jackson is a Spiritual and Holistic Wellness Practitioner based in the East Bay. She supports Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in aligning the mind, body, and spirit through intuitive, ancestral, and energetically grounded healing Practices. Her work is shaped by her own transformative healing journey after a major health challenge, which led her to embrace holistic living, plant-based nourishment, mindfulness, and ancestral wisdom. What began as personal healing became a calling to help others reconnect with their wholeness. Porsha integrates Reiki energy healing, meditation, plant-based nutrition guidance, and astrology-based insight to offer a deeply personalized approach to wellness. She believes true healing emerges when intuition is honored, the body is listened to, and the spirit is nourished. Through one-on-one sessions and group experiences, Porsha creates sacred spaces for clarity, balance, and self-remembrance. When she’s not working, she enjoys exploring nature, immersive art, plant-based cooking, and time with her soul tribe.

Ms. Jones, a Miami, Florida native, is an alumna of New World School of the Arts, where she began cultivating the artistic foundation that would shape her career as a professional dancer, educator, and movement artist. Following graduation, she joined Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of the late Arthur Mitchell, advancing through the Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble® training program to become a Principal Dancer. Her distinguished performance career has spanned both national and international stages, dancing with companies including Dance Theatre of Harlem, Collage Dance Collective, Oakland Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Noir, DEMA, Urban Jazz Dance Company, Brooklyn Ballet, Sign Dance Collective, and Columbia City Ballet. Throughout her career, Ms. Jones worked closely with her mentor, Ancestor Arthur Mitchell, assisting with ballet school residencies and educational initiatives across the United States. Their collaboration deepened her understanding of classical ballet technique, dance education, artistic excellence, and the transformative power of movement, while inspiring her passion for teaching and holistic wellness. Committed to lifelong learning, Ms. Jones has continued to expand her practice through the study of yoga, GYROKINESIS®, and somatic movement. She is a Certified Basu in Kemetic Ancient Egyptian Yoga (Smai Tawi), an ancient practice rooted in the philosophy of "The Union of the Two Lands." Her Class Offering: Smai Tawi, also known as Kemetic Yoga or Ancient Egyptian Yoga, is a sacred system that integrates intentional movement, breathwork, meditation, and spiritual philosophy to cultivate harmony between body, mind, and spirit. Drawing upon the wisdom of the Neteru—the divine principles represented through the gods and goddesses of Kemet—the practice encourages the integration of complementary energies: masculine and feminine, higher and lower consciousness, spirit and matter. More than a physical discipline, Smai Tawi offers a pathway toward balance, healing, self-awareness, and embodied wisdom. Today, Ms. Jones continues to merge the disciplines of classical ballet, Kemetic Yoga, and holistic movement into an artistic practice that honors both tradition and innovation. Through performance, education, and community engagement, she creates spaces where movement becomes a vehicle for healing, cultural connection, artistic expression, and personal transformation. She is currently cultivating her own artistic vision through a movement collective dedicated to uniting ballet, ancestral wisdom, wellness, and storytelling.

Ayodele Kinchen is the founder and creative visionary behind DUAFE Designs, a wellness and lifestyle brand rooted in African culture, feminine empowerment, and holistic healing. A native of East Palo Alto and graduate of Howard University, Ayodele brings more than two decades of experience in youth leadership development, cultural education, community service, and entrepreneurship. As a self-taught artist and designer, she specializes in handcrafted waist beads, natural shell jewelry, fashion accessories, and wearable art that celebrates the beauty, strength, and sacred journey of women and girls. Through her work, Ayodele creates meaningful pieces that encourage self-love, confidence, healing, and personal transformation. In addition to her artistry, Ayodele facilitates waist bead ceremonies, sister circles, youth empowerment workshops, and rites of passage programs that honor African traditions while nurturing mind, body, and spirit. Her passion for culture, wellness, and community shines through every experience she creates. As a valued partner and collaborator with Queen Hippie Gypsy, Ayodele helps cultivate spaces where healing, creativity, and empowerment come together, inspiring others to embrace their authentic selves and walk confidently in their purpose.

Chief Growth & Community Investment Advisor Reymon “Rey” LaChaux is a strategist, economic development leader, and community investment advisor dedicated to helping visionary organizations transform bold ideas into lasting institutions. His work sits at the intersection of capital, community, innovation, and economic empowerment, where he specializes in building the partnerships, funding strategies, and growth frameworks that allow mission-driven organizations to scale their impact. As Chief Growth & Community Investment Advisor for Queen Hippie Gypsy, Rey leads strategic initiatives focused on organizational growth, capital formation, philanthropic partnerships, workforce development, real estate redevelopment, grant strategy, investor readiness, and long-term sustainability. His role is to help position Queen Hippie Gypsy not simply as a wellness business, but as a nationally recognized model for holistic healing, community wealth creation, cultural preservation, and economic opportunity. Professionally, Rey serves as a Digital Equity & Affordability Analyst with the San Francisco Department of Technology, where he advances initiatives that expand access to technology, broadband affordability, and economic opportunity for underserved communities. He also serves as Vice Chair of Economic Empowerment for 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, creating pathways to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, workforce development, and community investment. Throughout his career, Rey has worked across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, helping organizations secure funding, build strategic partnerships, develop innovative programs, and unlock opportunities that create measurable community impact. His expertise spans business development, real estate strategy, public-private partnerships, grant development, capital formation, and ecosystem building. At Queen Hippie Gypsy, Rey is helping architect a bold vision that extends beyond a single location. Together, they are building a destination where wellness, entrepreneurship, workforce development, arts, culture, and community investment converge to create healing, opportunity, and generational impact. “When we invest in people, culture, and community with intention, we don’t just grow businesses—we build ecosystems where generations can thrive.”

Kristine Manuel is an artist and healer whose teaching lives at the intersection of yoga, sound, and creative expression through ancestral traditions. Also as a clinical research scientist, working with Embodiology®– they examine hypotheses related to how movement and music further a salutogenic approach to health and healing through collaborative research, education, and community engagement. Specifically, Kristine’s research within healing arts traditions encompasses how resonance and rhythm influence the subtle body into vitality. The work honors, cultivates, and preserves indigenous practices from the Philippines, Mexico, Chile, Peru, India, Costa Rica, Brazil, Tibet, and Ghana. Kristine guides students through a deeply sensorial, heart-centered practice that honors the body as a vessel for both healing and artistry. Their approach blends ancient wisdom with modern movement, inviting students to explore the subtle layers of breath, rhythm, and intuition. Each class becomes a space for deep presence, creative awakening, and soulful reconnection to self. Certifications: Mythic Goddess Traditions - Ayala Yoga School Lake Tahoe 2016-2017 Sattva Yoga Anand Mehrotra Radical Self Mastery 2018-2019 Tantra Yoga Psychology R.R. Shakti Ph.D. 2019 Sendatsu Leadership YTT 200hr 2019-2020 Embodied Philosophy - Yoga Philosophy 2020 - 2021 Radiance Sutra 200hr Instinctive Meditation 2021-2022 Body Temple Somatic Dance 2022 Kundalini 100hr Yogamu RYT 2022-2023 Kundalini Yoga Therapy Guru Dharam Khalsa 200 hr 2021-2023 Sonida Sana - Chakra Vocal Toning Chile 2024 Andean Shamanic Medicine - Puma Fredy Quispe Singona 2024 Indigenous Plant Medicine & Rituals from the Rainforest - Adriana Ayales 2024 Shakti School Ayurveda Wellness Coach 2024-2025 Yoga Marga: Buddha Dharma Mentorship 300hr 2023-2026 Energy Work: Radiant Body Illumination: ~60 min session This offering works directly with your subtle body–the chakras. In this session, you will receive a chakra reading and a chance to balance or tone your energy body. Using singing bowls, crystals, sacred smoke, and practical alchemy. Classes: Sweet Water Slow Flow: A slow-moving meditation offering you spacious reconnection with your body. Each class is intuitively guided, responding to your body and breath in real time. It is also deeply creative to help you be in the present moment. Combining breath, mindful movement, yoga, and concepts from Emobodiology® –-you’ll awaken to the deeper layers of your energetic experience and come out feeling renewed. This class is accessible to all bodies. Yoga Nidra + Sound Healing: Yoga Nidra is a practice of soul rest or yogic sleep. Think of a droplet of water reuniting with the ocean. Come to this class in your coziest fit, and bring anything that helps you relax like blankets or pillows. You’ll be guided through a short stretch to open the body, and then you’ll lay back and receive the chance to go deep within. Great for all bodies.

Brandily Quintell is a proud Bay Area native whose journey with Queen Hippie Gypsy began through the youth workforce development program at New Door Ventures. Through her dedication, professionalism, and welcoming personality, she quickly became an important part of the team and was hired as a permanent member of the Queen Hippie Gypsy family. Brandily is known for her positive attitude, strong work ethic, and genuine passion for helping others. She enjoys creating meaningful connections with customers and supporting the warm, community-centered environment that makes Queen Hippie Gypsy such a special place. Outside of work, Brandily enjoys playing softball, caring for animals, and spending time outdoors. She has a special love for raising animals and appreciates the patience, responsibility, and compassion that come with nurturing them. Her connection to nature and community reflects many of the values that Queen Hippie Gypsy holds dear. As she continues to grow both personally and professionally, Brandily remains committed to supporting the mission of Queen Hippie Gypsy and helping create memorable experiences for every person who walks through the door. ✨💜🌿🐓🐐🐰

A divine balance of passion and peace, this triple fire sign Goddess uses her energy and gifts to heal the collective. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ciara grew up knowing she was intuitive. During her first tarot reading it was revealed and confirmed that she too would be a tarot reader. In 2015, she began practicing with her first deck. With a background in nursing and years of studying all things metaphysical, tarot and esoteric among many different spiritual healing modalities, Ciara continues to share her gifts to be ready and willing to do her part in uplifting the positive holistic well-being of the planet. Ciara specializes in guided mediation, tarot and oracle readings, reiki, chakra balancing, shadow work and overall being a safe space for the collective.

Mana Siti is a grad student studying Somatic Psychology at CIIS whose practice blends indigenous ritual traditions with Western science. They teach Kundalini, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin yoga, and Authentic Movement and are training in craniosacral therapy. Their work focuses on helping foster a relationship with the Divine, approaching the body as a place of worship/devotion to inspire personal growth and communal healing.

Jim has been teaching Yoga in the SF Bay area for over 25 years, first in the Iyengar community (yoga asana), but engaging a number of settings beyond the yoga studios: -- with a team of mental health professionals under the SF Dept. of Public Health; -- Harborside Health Center, a pain clinic during the "medical marijuana" period (2006-2018); -- in the setting of Kyoto Buddhist temples (site-study tour). A graduate of the Berkeley Yoga Room Advanced Studies Program, Jim continues to engage yoga's connections with Zen, Vajrasana, and Vipassana meditation traditions.

Chef Ahki Taylor is a nationally recognized wellness activist, TEDx speaker, five time author, and the founder of The Electric Kitchen Academy, The Fibroid Elimination Program, Indigenous Herbs Inc., UZAZI Feminine Health Products, and the Supernatural Woman Retreat. Known for making holistic wellness accessible to communities across the country, Chef Ahki has served as the resident vegan chef on The Wendy Williams Show and has prepared meals for notable artists and entertainers including Nick Cannon, Lenny Kravitz, Common, and Lee Daniels. Chef Ahki is especially respected for her work alongside Dr. Sebi, whom she credits as her greatest teacher. She also contributed to City of Wellness by Queen Afua and has played an important role in introducing herbal plant medicine ceremonies to Black communities throughout the Southwest. As Queen Hippie Gypsy’s official Nutrition Partner, Chef Ahki brings her decades of experience in holistic nutrition, plant based wellness, and herbal education to our retreats and special events. Guests can expect nourishing experiences that support healing from the inside out through intentional nutrition, herbal wisdom, and empowering education.