Who we are

Two experienced yoga teachers, and one incredible chef that created something really special together.

Below are our bios but what we want to share is that Spirit of the Forest came about very organically — after collaborating on a few retreats in Idyllwild, we created something of our own. In October 2025, we hosted our first Spirit of the Forest retreat. It was a major success and now we have set off on a mission to create more opportunities for humans to connect and heal. We hope you will become a part of our growing circle.

  • BETH IMAI

    FOUNDER & COHOST

    Beth Imai (She/Her) is a Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher based in Los Angeles. She teaches public yoga classes at Modo Yoga LA in Echo Park and owns her own massage therapy practice (Beth Imai Bodywork) in Atwater Village.

    In her yoga classes, she challenges students to explore breath and movement in a fun and safe way, with functional anatomy at the core. She aims to empower students to deepen their relationship to body, mind and spirit.

    ​Beth studied Massage Therapy, Myofascial Release and Energy Work at IPSB (Institute of Psycho-Structural Bodywork) in Santa Monica, California. Her education at IPSB not only gifted Beth the technical skill in the art of Massage, but it brought her back home to her body in a profound way that she was eager to share with others.

  • sara ruffin

    FOUNDER & COHOST

    Sara Ruffin (She/Her) is a Tantra Hatha teacher in LA. She loves to explore liberation through her teachings, with a focus on embodied movement, meditation, mantra, and celebration of the divine feminine.

    Sara teaches and practices Tantra Hatha yoga in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. She first studied Jivamukti yoga before completing various advanced studies (RYT-500) in Tantra Para Yoga. Always a student, she continues education in yoga therapy, yoga nidra, and meditation, with deep reverence for the source of yoga and tradition of the practice.

    Sara is a proud wife and mother of two beautiful sons. She also serves on the board of Building Trust Americas, a nonprofit focused on international philanthropic work.

  • JAMIE LAUREN

    CHEF

    Jamie Lauren (She/Her) is a Los Angeles-based private chef, predominantly working for high profile clients and celebrities.

    Though she is widely recognized for competing on the fifth season of Top Chef (Team Rainbow/Top Scallop) and the first season of Top Chef All Stars, she spent many more years behind the camera as the show’s Culinary Producer, stocking pantries and literally putting out contestants’ fires. Other producing credits include: Masterchef, Restaurants At The Edge of The World and Barbecue Showdown, to name a few.

    Now an aspiring Ayurvedic practitioner and student of yoga, Jamie’s focus is feeding bodies healthy nutrients without compromise of flavor. That, and spending as much time with her two rescue dogs as possible.