Teacher Bios

Barbara is a certified Iyengar instructor with more than 30 years experience. She has studied at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India, with B.K.S. Iyengar and his daughter Geeta Iyengar. In North America she has studied extensively with many of the senior Iyengar Teachers. She lived for many years at the Yasodhara Ashram in Kootenay Bay, B.C. under the guidance of Swami Radha.

Barbara has been practicing Vipassana Meditation for 25 years. Her meditation preceptor is Bhante Gunaratana, the abbot of Bhavana Monastery in West Virginia. She has received her teacher training under his guidance. Other guiding teachers are Joseph Goldstein and Guy Armstrong.

Barbara is the director and guiding teacher of the Yoga & Meditation Centre.

Classes taught by Barbara

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Jo-Anne has been involved in the yoga community since 1988. Over the years she has taken classes and workshops from many well-known local, national and international teachers and participated in the Teacher Training Program at the Yoga Centre of Calgary in 1990-91.

Jo-Anne joined the administrative staff at the Yoga Centre of Calgary in 1998 and has continued in this capacity with the Yoga & Meditation Centre.
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Anne began her journey of yoga in 1997 as a way to manage back pain and chronic headaches. Starting with restorative yoga classes, she found that the simplest poses could be the most profound. Her philosophy comes from a place of “beginners mind", where one can explore for themselves a way to heal in body, mind and spirit. Certified as Yoga teacher in 2004 with the Southern Okanagan Yoga Association and RYT 500 hour with Yoga Alliance. Her specialty has become Yoga Therapy that she uses in classes such a Pre-Natal, Senior & Restorative, as well as classes for the average person who just finds they would like to reconnect with themselves again. Further training with specialized instructors such as Susi Hately-Aldous, Gert vanLeeuwen, & Richard Miller, has inspired her to help her students help themselves. Using physical postures, breath, sound and mediation, one can uncover not only a healthy body, but find a place of peace within. Buy assisting her students to build strength from the inside out and release tension from the outside in, they leave with new tools to take yoga into their daily lives.

Classes taught by Anne

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Anne has been a student of Theravadan Buddhism since 1986. She has had the honour to study under both lay and monastic meditation teachers and Buddhist scholars including: Shirley June Johannesen, Ayya Khema, Sayadaw U Pandita and Bhante Henepole Gunaratana.

She began teaching meditation in the early 1990’s under the direction of Shirley June Johanessen. Currently Anne is the principle teacher of the Calgary Theravadan Meditation Society and a founding member of Bringing Awareness to Life.

Anne is dedicated to helping people live life with awareness, harmony, joy and compassion.

Classes taught by Anne

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The amazing power of mindfulness to bring sanity, peace, and wonder to each day keeps Carmen committed to the practise and eager to share it with anyone who wants to listen.

Carmen has been studying mindfulness meditation since 1999, entering the Vipassana tradition several years later, guided by teachers Judy Pequegnat and Barbara Ross.

The profound and practical teachings of the dhamma and Vipassana gained through annual residential retreats, Buddhist study classes, and a recent pilgrimage to India are core to Carmen's joyful and gentle approach to life and teaching.

Classes taught by Carmen

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Christine is a certified Iyengar instructor at the Introductory II level and currently training for her Jr. Intermediate I level. In the last 10 years of her personal practice, she has studied with many of the Senior Iyengar Teachers in North America and abroad.

Christine's initial interest in yoga started with a desire to better manage a neck and shoulder injury as well as to manage a very stressful period of life, however she was quickly drawn to the residual feelings in both body and mind resulting from the yoga practice and became more and more committed to the practice and to teaching.

With over five years of teaching experience, Christine's students enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of class and the details of the teaching. She is passionate about yoga and relating to her students.

Classes taught by Christine

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Cynthia encourages students to challenge themselves by cultivating awareness on multiple levels. She has studied yoga extensively in both India and Canada with Dr. Karandikar and the Iyengars. Her personal experience with these major Yogis influences her teaching of Hatha Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yoga for Backs.

After sustaining a neck and back injury, yoga became a key part of her treatment program. Cynthia's 20+ years of dance training as well as her Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology also contribute to her knowledge of body movement and inform her yoga teaching. She has co-authored the book, Stretch: A Contemporary Approach with Attention to Detail. She has Certification from both The Yoga Studio of Calgary and Kabir Baug Yoga Darshan in Pune, India.

Classes taught by Cynthia

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Eric has always been interested in health and wellness. It was not until a Christmas visit with his family that his mother took him to his first hatha yoga class. They went to a little studio she had found near her home. In that first week they went 6 times and the rest, as they say, is history.

Eric has a degree in biomechanics. Eric took the Moksha Yoga teacher training in Toronto. He has studied and traveled with Anusara Yoga founder John Friend and is an Anusara Inspiried Yoga Teacher. He has continued his Anusara studies around Canada and the United States focusing on therapeutic yoga.

In his classes Eric likes to create am atmosphere of lightness and exploration where anyone can practice, play, laugh and smile. He encourages his students to bring laughter and a sense of play off their mats and back into their lives.

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Gayle brings a rich and varied background to her yoga classes, which is evident in the gentle and energizing practice she teaches. Using expertise gained in her early nursing career, Gayle can recognize individual needs and guide people how best to care for themselves. Her quiet, calm demeanor helps create a peaceful space in her yoga classes.

Since beginning a personal practice of yoga in 1988, Gayle has come to know the subtleties of working with one's body, mind and spirit. She completed her two-year Teacher's Training Program with the Yoga Center of Calgary, where she acquired a deep understanding of yoga philosophy and the timeless yoga wisdom of the body.

Gayle has enriched her training through studies with David McAmmond, Violet Walton, the late Erin Murphy and many others. She is currently studying advanced spiritual yoga with Richard Miller. Gayle received her Relax and Renew training certificate in 2004 from Judith Lasater.

Classes taught by

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Helen has been teaching in the fitness industry for over 28 years. She is an AFLCA-certified Group Exercise, Aquatic Exercise, Older Adult Specialty Leader, YMCA -certified Muscle and Strength Conditioning Instructor and Personal Trainer, Waterworks instructor specializing in arthritis, Keiser Powerpacing Instructor and Reebok Core Training Instructor. She received her Diploma with Honours in Food Nutrition Management and as a nutritionist, she educates, advises, guides and counsels clients in nutrition. Helen is sincere, empathic and has a genuine concern for her clients' self-worth, self-value and self-respect.

She has completed her training with Stott Pilates in the Intensive and Advanced Mat-Plus Programs. She is a certified yoga instructor with South Okanagan Yoga Association (SOYA) and International Yoga Teachers' Association (IYTA). She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) and Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT 200) with Yoga Alliance. She teaches yoga to all ages of the lifespan from children to adults and has specialized in pre and postnatal yoga.

Classes taught by Helen

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Jodi is a certified yoga teacher, a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, a Doula and has a BA in Literature. After practicing yoga for 5 years and in three different continents, she decided to become a yoga teacher and trained for over a year and a half in India, studying in some of the oldest and most respected ashrams – The Yoga Institute in Mumbai and SVYASA in Bangalore. Since returning, she has taken special training in Pre and Postnatal yoga, become a Doula and a mother herself. Her classes offer a safe, joyous, and judgment free environment for students to explore their bodies and their lives. Her website is: www.endlessbreathyoga.com.

Classes taught by Jodi

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Judy has been practicing vipassana meditation since 1996. She has been teaching meditation since 2000. Her teachers have been Mechele Calvert, Barbara Ross and Shirley Johannesen. She is a student of Bhante Gunaratana and is involved in his advanced teacher training program at Bhavana Monastery in West Virginia. She acts as an assistant manager for locally held retreats. She is an active member of a sangha, The Calgary Vipassana Meditation and Study Group, acting as treasurer, email co-ordinator and contact person.

Classes taught by Judy

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Kathleen loves to share the ease and joy of gentle yoga with others. She teaches iRest Yoga Nidra meditation as a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. iRest brings profound purification and healing of body, mind, and emotions. Kathleen's strength is to guide students to focus inwardly to discover what brings ease to all levels of being; and to ultimately realize the inherent inner joy and intuitive wisdom that is our birthright.

Kathleen discovered yoga in 1997 and was immediately taken by the powerful transformation possible through this art of movement, breath and inner awareness. Kathleen completed her two year Teacher Training Program with the Yoga Center of Calgary, where she learned to anchor and embody the ancient wisdom of yoga through asana, pranayama, yoga philosophy and meditation.

Kathleen has trained extensively in the art of iRest Yoga Nidra meditation with the Center of Timeless Being (CTB). As a CTB iRest Supervisor, she professionally mentors both yoga teachers and students in this profoundly transformative work. She also teaches classic yoga spirituality in the Yoga Therapy Certificate Program at Mt. Royal College. Kathleen’s training includes studies with Donna Farhi, Mukunda Stiles, Esther Myers and Barbara Boettcher.

Classes taught by Kathleen

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When the student is ready, the teacher will appear aptly describes Kay’s journey on the Buddhist path. In the late 70s, when Kay was attracted to Buddhist teachings on “mind training”, she meet Dr. Leslie Kawamura at a workshop at Yasodhara Ashram. He was initiating a program for Tibetan and Buddhist studies at the University of Calgary and invited her to join his Tibetan language class. Not having a clue why she should study Tibetan, Kay enrolled in the class. This began seven years of attending teachings given by compassionate, erudite Tibetan lamas including Zong Rimpoche, Geshe Rabten, Geshe Sopha, Geshe Dargye and the Dalai Lama.

Also, in the early 1980s, Kay met Anagarika Dhamadina who inspired and supported Kay to establish a regular mindfulness practice. She was instrumental in introducing Kay to other teachers such as Achan Soban with whom Kay did a number of vipassana retreats and Ayya Khema, renowed for her mastery of the jhanas. Kay had the good fortune to attend retreats with Ayya Khema until she passed away in November, 1997. Spiritual friends from Birken Forest Monastery are a continuing source of support for Kay.

Classes taught by Kay

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Lyne’s journey with yoga started as teenager in Montreal and gained momentum in the 90s while taking classes at the Yoga Center and The Yoga studio where she obtained her Certification as a Yoga Teacher in 2000. It took her to India in 2001 where she studied restorative yoga at Dr. Karandkar Institute . Through yoga she has learned about meditation and started practicing Vipassana meditation in 1999 with Shirley Johannesen and is committed to sitting retreats each year. "I am very thankful for the many teachers who have encouraged me along the way, and who are helping me to share the benefits of these discipline with others."

Classes taught by Lyne

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Marilyn has been practicing yoga since her teens. She is a Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, receiving years of training in Victoria, Winnipeg and Calgary. Clear in the connection between body, mind and heart, she guides her students in opening and freeing the body with the underlying intention of freeing the mind and heart. Always respectful of the individual student, she challenges all at their place in a light hearted way.
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Noer started practicing yoga in 2001, trying out various styles. She immediately fell in love with Kundalini Yoga when she started to take classes in Singapore from inspiring teachers, Rajveer Singh Khalsa and Guru Jaswant Kaur, who have been taught directly by Yogi Bhajan, Master of Kundalini Yoga. She completed her Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training (200 hrs) in 2007 under the supervision of Sunder Singh Khalsa, Director of the Teachers Training programs in Asia. During the same year, she also completed the Conscious Pregnancy Kundalini Yoga Training with Tarn Taran Kaur in New Mexico, USA.

Since completing her teacher training, Noer has been asked to teach various workshops and courses in Singapore, The Netherlands and Canada. Kundalini Yoga, also called the Yoga of Awareness, has brought many positive transformations and healing in her life. Noer’s classes are gentle, inspirational and encouraging to students who are seeking higher levels of awareness, finding a way to release stress and improve their health, developing a peaceful mind or connecting with their deeper essence.

Classes taught by Noer

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Peter began practicing yoga in 2000 initially because of a back problem, but his interest grew quickly when he experienced yoga's ability to strengthen the body and calm the mind. Since then yoga has taken on a central part in his life. He was drawn to Iyengar yoga because of its emphasis on precise alignment and its adaptability. As a teacher and a student Peter tries to draw a balance between a challenging practice and contentment with where you are. Beyond the asanas,he believes that yoga can help you to become the type of person that you want to be. Peter is currently working under Margot Kitchen towards an internationally recognized teaching certification through the Iyengar Association of Canada, and has attended numerous workshops by Senior Iyengar Yoga teachers.

Sasha has been actively involved in the health and fitness industry for the past 10 years as a certified Personal Trainer, Yoga and Reiki Practitioner. She offers a highly integrated and hands-on approach in her teaching style with focus on asana alignment. She often tells her participants “Bliss and Pain are often only a few inches away from one another”. When your body falls into perfect alignment within an Asana there is a distinct difference in how you feel. But anyone who has been to one of Sasha’s classes knows that her favorite part of a practice is Savasana as she lovingly works with your body to bring about that final surrender for the mind, body and spirit to unite and restore.

Classes taught by Sasha

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With over 10 years of instructing Iyengar Yoga, Reiki, Doula and Ayurvedic experience, Skjei has an applied knowledge of human physiology coupled with a developed understanding of the mind-body connection. Skjei has an individualized and intuitive approach towards healing. She works with people of all ages and genders, with a focus on women and children’s health.

In June 2006 she achieved international certification with the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada at the Introductory II level. Skjei continues to be inspired by Iyengar Yoga. Her studies continue in India with the Iyengar family, throughout Canada with Margot Kitchen, Shirley Daventry-French and with Senior Iyengar Instructors.

Skjei has completed extensive studies in the holistic field including Pre/Postnatal Yoga, YogaKids with Marsh Wenig, Doula training, Shantala Baby Massage, Usui Reiki, and is certified as an Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Classes taught by Skjei

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Sonja is a Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, at the Jr. Intermediate 1 level. With this internationally recognized certification, she is now one of the most highly qualified yoga teachers in Alberta. After graduating in 1999 from the two-year teacher training program at the Yoga Centre of Calgary, she continues to study intensively with many senior local, national and international Iyengar yoga teachers. Sonja is a member of the Iyengar Yoga Assoc. of Canada, and the Yoga Assoc. of Alberta.

Sonja's students are inspired by the knowledge, clarity and precision of her teaching, which she presents with much grace, compassion and enthusiasm. She has trained and inspired many of Calgary's teachers, who continue to come to her classes. She particularly enjoys teaching beginners, introducing them to the joy of yoga in a way that honours each person's uniqueness.

Classes taught by Sonja

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Suzette has been studying and teaching people about the body and movement since 1989. In 1997 she discovered yoga as an alternative treatment from extensive dental work for a clenching jaw. She quickly discovered the ease and peace that yoga can offer the body, mind and breath and knew she wanted to learn how to integrate this into her life and teachings.

Suzette received her yoga training and certification through the Yoga Centre of Calgary and has extended her yoga therapy training with many great instructors such as Gert vanLeeuwen, Makunda Stiles, and Richard Miller. Suzette is the author of the well received book Yoga for the Core: Finding Stability in an Unstable Environment, Savasana – a guided relaxation CD and is a sought after international presenter.

Suzette’s credentials include B.Sc. Kinesiology, AFLCA Trainer of Fitness Leaders, Yoga Association of Alberta Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor, Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (500 level), Keiser Master Trainer, STOTT PILATES certified mat & reformer instructor

Classes taught by Suzette

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Toni’s passion for health and fitness has taken her in many directions in the last 25 years. An avid student of Holistic Health and Science, Toni’s journey has taken her from a BSc in Biochemistry to studies in Nutrition, Aromatherapy and Fitness. Focusing on breath, mind-body connection, alignment and core stability, Toni draws on her background in Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi and Resistance Training to create safe, fun classes that will open the body and mind and allow each student to experience their own journey to wellness.

Toni is a Certified Yoga Instructor with Trinity Yoga, with a Level I Pilates Mat Certificate from PhysicalMind, AFLCA Certification in Resistance Training and is working on her AFLCA Older Adult Fitness Certification and Critical Alignment Certificate. Her classes are guaranteed to inform, challenge, revive and refresh.

Classes taught by Toni

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