Gael Chiarella Alba, RYT, began a professional study of yoga, meditation, and alternative medicine in 1978. Her work is based on the eight limbs of yoga, a study that led her to found the Yokibics® Institute for Personal Development. By 1995, her trademarked Yokibics Mindbody Fitness Program was named one of the nation's top ten fitness programs by American Health Magazine. In 1997, The Nassau Coalition Against Domestic Violence recognized her as "Woman of the Year" for her role in empowering individuals toward self-development.

Continuing through advanced studies in yoga, bodywork, psychology, nutrition, mind-body fitness, and hypnotherapy, Gael began developing and facilitating national conferences to educate interrelated professionals in the development of a complementary health care model. For these industry milestones, she won national recognition as an innovator and a pioneer. Many of her visionary ideas are common practices today.

In response to a growing international interest in her work, Gael has produced books and spoken word products. She currently is a senior faculty member for the National Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Institute; she also teaches innovative classes in yoga and Yokibics at Hofstra University in New York. In addition, she founded and facilitated the principle-centered School for Spiritual Warriors as a virtual think tank for the practice of higher consciousness. While spending much of her time with these endeavors, Gael still continues to work as a life coach for individuals and organizations.

An appreciator of all aspects of life and living, Gael has successfully mountaineered over a dozen of the highest peaks in the continental United States. She finds equal satisfaction and skill in diving the caverns and wrecks of the ocean floor. Her heart remains steward for the earth’s natural resources and the interconnectedness of our species through her volunteer work in outdoor education.

Gael's affiliations include the National Yoga Teachers Alliance and the St. Johns University Alumni Association. She has served on the boards of The Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Community, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Divers Alert Network, and the New York Yoga Teacher Association.

Gael originally trained at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in classical ballet. Her interest in humanity led to a degree in psychology and theology at St. Johns University in New York, solidifying a mind-body-spirit approach as the basis of her professional career. She and her husband Bob share five children.