Yoga Yogi

A certified yoga instructor, is the main instructor and coordinator of all yoga activities, programs, and courses. Michelle started her journey in yoga when she was only about eight years old:
“I took up dancing in my youth and always enjoyed the stretching components. I remember sitting in my living room and being drawn to sit in the lotus position, without even knowing what it was, and then I started wondering what I was doing. I ended up going to the library to find out more, since my family couldn’t help me find my answers. It was there that I found my first yoga book, which opened up a whole new world to me. It was exciting to play with more of the poses and create my own routines after reading about all the postures. Yoga helped me find that special feeling of connecting with myself.

“It was not until after the birth of my daughter that I decided to become certified and start teaching others. I took my training through The Chakra Yoga Center (currently located in Koh Phangan Thailand) in 2000. I have been teaching in Victoria ever since completing my training, and believe this is what I am meant to do”.

Michelle has been fortunate to have had the chance to study with several local and world class yogis, including Orit Sen-Gupta*, Gioia Irwin*, Peter Bennett*, and Elizabeth Peckham**

Contact: (250)812-8355 E-mail: michelle@victoriayoga.com

Julia Shields is a certified and registered YABC and Yoga Alliance (500 hour) Yoga Teacher and Yoga Teacher Trainer as well as a YABC Senior Yoga Teacher Mentor and a Pilates Instructor. She has been teaching both modalities as a full time career since the mid 1990’s. Julia is certified to train Yoga teachers at the 200 hour level and enjoys teaching an eclectic fusion of many styles of Yoga and Pilates. Therapeutic Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Hatha Yoga for all levels, Hot Yoga, Power Yoga, Yoga/Pilates, Pilates Mat classes, Myofascial release with the ball, Yoga and Pilates with the ball, Parent and Kids and Partner Yoga and Chi Ball Yoga. Please click here for more information and qualifications.

Contact:  Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9 Phone: 604-463-0346

Julia@freespirityoga.ca

Angela is energetic, cheerful, and dynamic. Her teaching style is power and enthusiastic. She excels at teaching Power Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Yoga for teens and children. Angela is also a school teacher. She has a background in graphic arts and photography and enjoys many hands-on crafts and hobbies.

Please click here for more information and qualifications.

Contact: Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9

Phone: 604-463-0346

Kirsten radiates kindness, sincerity and patience and is blessed with the wonderful gift of putting people at ease. Kirsten began her Yoga journey in 2001 and soon discovered profound transformations in her physical, emotional and her spiritual body. This transformation and feeling of empowerment led Kirsten along the path to Yoga teacher training at the 200 hour level, where she excelled in all levels. Kirsten is excited to be able to share her knowledge of Yoga with others. Her gentle, easy going personality makes her a natural teacher for Pre-natal Yoga, Mom’s and Babe’s Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Seniors / Osteo Fit Yoga. Please click here for more information and qualifications.

Contact: Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9

Phone: 604-463-0346

Virginia was drawn to Yoga to reduce stress and improve flexibility. She soon realized Yoga has many rewards through dedicated practice. Virginia’s philosophy is to work with your body from the inside out. Her aspirations are to help others find balance of mind, body, and spirit. Virginia currently teaches Yoga and Pilates mat classes and a combination of both modalities.

Contact: Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9

Phone: 604-463-0346

Allan is a devoted Surrey Firefighter and practices yoga to stay in shape and keep his mind and body in balance.
Allan works behind the scene to keep our studio’s running smoothly and in excellent repair.
Allan is qualified to teach Nordic Poling and has his First Aid and CPR.
Allan is travelling to Thailand Decemeber 2006 to learn Thai massage.

Please click here for more information and qualifications.

Contact: Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9

Phone: 604-463-0346

In her practice Cari combines playfulness with a physically challenging and spiritually uplifting practice. Cari wishes to share the joy of Yoga and the wisdom of her teachers, with others. Cari teaches beginners and intermediate Hatha Yoga, Yogalates, Moms and Teens Yoga, Pre-natal Yoga, Power Yoga, Senior’s and Kid’s Yoga.

Please click here for more information and qualifications.

Contact: Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9

Phone: 604-463-0346

Nash started practicing Yoga after the birth of her son as she suffering from terrible back pain. From this practice she found her true love of Yoga. Yoga has helped her strengthen and renew her mind and body. Daily Yoga practice helps Nash face all the wonderful challenges of being a Mother.

Please click here for more information and qualifications.

Contact: Free Spirit Yoga & Pilates

13354 237A Street
Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 2V9

Phone: 604-463-0346

Elizabeth has been practicing and teaching yoga for 13 years. Elizabeth’s teachers include Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, David Swenson, Beryl Bender Birch, Swami Satchidananda, Orit Sen-Gupta, and Shirley Daventry French. Elizabeth combines her knowledge of yoga systems with her training as a nurse, her athletic background, and her warm, encouraging and enthusiastic attitude.

Orit Sen-Gupta is a graduate of the Hebrew University with degrees in Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy, and translated the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali from Sanskrit to Hebrew (published 1992). She has been practicing yoga for over 30 years. At the age of 20 she traveled to India to study at Sri Aurobindo Ashram. She spent a number of years in India studying with Dr. Pratap of Lonvala Institute, Swami Krishnananda of Sivinanda Ashram, Sri B.K.S. Iyengar and Mr. Pattabhi Jois. Her path led to a decade-long collaboration with Donna Hollemman. Together they authored the yoga text, Dancing the Body of Light. Since 1995 Orit has taught the advanced yoga teacher training course at Wingate College. She lives in Jerusalem on Neve Sha’anan Street with her two daughters. http://www.vijnanayoga.com/staff%20english.htm

 Peter Bennett, N.D. is a Naturopathic Doctor, and author (with Stephen Barrie, N.D., and Sara Faye) of “7-Day Detox Miracle: Restore Your Mind and Body’s Natural Vitality with This Safe and Effective Life-Enhancing Program.

Gioia Irwin has been practicing yoga for over 25 years and has been teaching for 20 years. She has had extensive training and was certified in the Iyengar tradition. In more recent years she has been deeply inspired by the teachings of Orit Sen-Gupta and Dona Holleman. http://www.saltspringcentre.com/vignana.htm

Lindsey’s first experience with Yoga was at age 7. Her personal practice continued into her twenties when she had a profound spiritual awakening that led her to teaching.    Lindsey has been an accomplished yoga teacher for over 7 years and her classes are an integrative approach of Hatha and Kundalini yoga systems that leave you feeling energized, light and happy.

Phone: 250.418.0356 Lindsey Elliott

E-Mail:awakeningyogacentre@yahoo.ca

www.awakeningyogacentre.com/contact.html

Emily began her studies of Pilates in the fall of 2000. Having been involved in athletics for most of her life, she was eager to find a form of exercise that would satisfy her, both physically and mentally. She found that Pilates was gentle, yet challenging and that it had the right balance of philosophy and movement that she was searching for. By the spring of 2003 she had received certification in the Classical Pilates Method from Symmetria studio in London, Ontario. Since then, she has continued to deepen her understanding of the method through continuing education workshops and personal practice.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

While Paulette completed her yoga teacher training at a local Victoria studio in 2005, she began practicing yoga in Vancouver seven years ago. Paulette’s personal yogic style evolved out of her Soto Zen Buddhist meditation practice and flowed into following the Ashtanga Yoga lineage. Paulette encourages a strong internal focus in her class that invites students to go at their own pace in the unfolding movement towards wholeness as taught by the yogic and Buddhist philosophies. Paulette understands yoga’s power as a transformational tool for growth and healing.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Mia has been involved in the Fitness Industry for 18 years; working as a Certified BCRPA Personal Trainer and Fitness Leader as well as Manager for several facilities in Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria.
Soon after competing in the 1997 Body Max Body Building Classic, she sustained injuries from a car accident which led her to her career in Pilates for recovery.
She has since been a certified Stott Pilates instructor and Instructor Trainer as well as a certified Fitness Fusion Instructor.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Scott Vannan has been a professional dancer for most of his adult life; most notably with the Irish National Ballet.

With over 20 years experience teaching Pilates and an owner of the Pilates Centre of Toronto, Scott’s classes are filled with knowledge and innovation.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

After winning the Natural Western Canadians in bodybuilding in 2002, Monica became discouraged with the current fitness facilities in the city and began to experiment with some of the smaller studios.  Curious about Pilates she began taking classes and instantly became excited about the changes in core strength and balance she was developing in her body.  Always looking for a new challenge, she opened Balance Studio with her husband in January 2005.  Monica’s goal is to create a studio that promotes positive body image and provides a positive, encouraging environment for all ages and fitness levels.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Portia has been a fitness professional for over 6 years. She has extensive experience as an aerobic, yoga and Pilates instructor as well as a personal trainer. Having acquired her status as a Trainer of Fitness Leaders, she also speaks at conferences throughout BC, educating other fitness professionals in the areas of health and wellness. Her dynamic approach to teaching makes her classes challenging but always fun.
Portia’s fitness philosophy is simple. If you let your own abilities and accomplishments be a source of inspiration, you will have found a constant source of motivation.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Rena is a certified yoga instructor through the Moksana Yoga Teacher Training program and has been practicing yoga for the past 5 years.
Rena  grew up taking ballet and jazz classes and completed a Minor in Dance from the University of Calgary.
She attended her first yoga class at the recommendation of a dance teacher and quickly developed a genuine interest in the benefits of yoga as well as Pilates.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Over the last 20 years, Valerie Lykkemark has pursued education and life experience in the area of preventative health. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and 13 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. The integration of Pilates into her life began 10 years ago in Vancouver at Diane Millers Studio. Over the subsequent years she continued to explore a variety of instructors, studios and forms of Pilates. Valerie practiced prenatal and postnatal Pilates to assist in maintaining her strength and health during her pregnancy and to aid in recovery after the birth of her son.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Meredith has completed fundamental and advanced teacher trainings with the Chakra Yoga Center in Thailand.  She has taught over the past five years in Toronto, Thailand and Victoria, and guest teaches regularly for the Chakra Yoga Center’s Teacher Training. 
Meredith continues to deepen her knowledge and experience through continuing study with senior teachers of various Yoga traditions, and brings this diversity to her classes.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Trevor was an athlete at National Triathlon Training Centre from 1999-2002 and has represented Canada at the World University Games and World Age-Group Championships.He has a BSc in Kinesiology from UVic and is a Registered Kinesiologist (with the BC Association of Kinesiologists).Trevor is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and is a Strength and Conditioning Coach for athletes and teams in various sports.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Amy has been involved in the fitness industry, providing one-on-one personal training, group fitness classes, fitness consultations, and sport specific training for several fitness facilities, athletes and corporate environments for the past 10 years. She completed a degree in Human Kinetics, specializing in Exercise Science, and is a certified BCRPA Supervisor of Fitness Leaders. She currently works at the University of Victoria as the Fitness Programmer, developing programs and initiatives for students, faculty, staff and community members. Amy has been recognized for her contribution to the fitness and health industry by being nominated for 2 BCRPA fitness awards this year: Group Fitness Leader of the Year and Program Director of the Year.

Contact: balancevictoria@shaw.ca
250.480.7050

Dr. Divi Chandna is co-owner of Bikram Yoga Victoria. Divi finished her teacher training with Bikram Choudhury in Los Angeles in the spring of 2001. She fell in love with Bikram Yoga in Vancouver. Divi’s practice began as a healing journey for hip, knee and ankle pain that she had developed through racing triathlons. In the process of opening these joints, she discovered true healing at its heart!

Dr. Divi is a Western trained Medical Practitioner, and has been practicing Medicine since 1993. She became disillusioned by Western Medicine when she saw that many ‘pharmaceutical cures’ were only ‘cover ups’ to underlying problems and only provided temporary relief if any.

Since teaching Bikram Yoga, Divi has seen people with migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, chronic fatigue & many other ailments improve through regular practice. These years of teaching have been the most rewarding for her – as she feels she offers much more than she can as a regular Western Medical Practitioner.

Contact:

Bikram Yoga Victoria

1088-B Fort Street (Fort & Cook)

Victoria, B.C.

V8V 3K4

Tel: 250-480-7742

bikramyogavictoria@yahoo.com