Our Instructors

Lisa began teaching group fitness classes, not only in typical fitness centre, but also to such groups as federally sentenced women, parenting teens, inner city youth, professional athletes and everyone in between. Lisa was the Fitness and Sport Performance Coordinator at the Royal Glenora Club and created a program for athletes that combined physical training along with mental skills training and nutrition counselling, realizing the importance of a well rounded program. Lisa worked in corrections for 14 years running the fitness and recreation program at the Edmonton Institution for Women and taught fitness classes and presented workshops in the city of Edmonton, St Albert and surrounding areas.

Lisa continued to teach classes which included everything including hip hop, step, bootcamp and athletic conditioning but began to lose the passion for instructing group fitness classes until she attended a fusion type yoga and pilates class called Body Flow. Lisa became certified by Les Mills International to teach Body Flow and then realized the importance of a strong yoga certification and went on to complete her 200 hour Kshatriya teacher training.

This has reignited the passion and Lisa finds an even stronger connection because fitness of any kind doesn't just involve movement of the body. Lisa has always believed that people attend classes, run, cycle, golf, bowl or participate in any other form of exercise for more than a physical response from the body: "We need it for our soul, too. If it isn't fun, you won't go back".

Her vision is to create an environment that when you walk into the doors you feel calm and relaxed and you enjoy your experience. Lisa creates passion and fun in every class, and to really connect your mind, body and soul on a whole new level.

Roxane's Journey

Ten years ago, a friend took me to my first yoga class, and I am still humbled by the practice every time I step on the mat. One of the first things I noticed as a student was that my busy mind was given a break. It was my first taste of truly living in the present moment and connecting with my breath. Four years later, I was approached to take a teacher training course and it was a gift I gave to myself that I can pay forward to all who wish to practice yoga with me.

I invite you to join me in class to learn how to reduce your stress, be gentle to yourself and find your yoga, no matter where you are in life. Flexibility in your mind is where it truly begins; your body will follow. As a life-long student of Yoga, I teach from my heart and aim to help others rediscover a new love for themselves. Begin with yourself, and expand from your center in order to give and reach out to everyone else in our life. Welcome and Namaste.

Yoga found me when I was searching for a form of physical activity that I actually enjoyed. I had tried out the gym a few times when a friend introduced me to yoga in 2005. I left the sweaty Bikram class in awe of the yogis. What power and grace! After my first class I knew I had found what I was looking for. I became hooked and started exploring many styles. The physical benefits were definitely the first to arise, but as my practice continued I began to notice an entire “shift” in my general attitude and outlook on life. I began to take my practice off the mat and into all aspects of my life. I had found a sense of self acceptance. I had found my calling.
As my yoga journey continued I knew that I needed to share my love of yoga with others. I enrolled with the Nosara Yoga Institute and received a 200 hour Interdisciplinary Certificate. A year later, I returned to the Nosara Yoga Institute and completed the Pranassage® Practitioner Training. As an instructor/practitioner I strive to provide an ego-less environment for exploration. No expectations, just self discovery. We are all unique multidimensional beings and, quoting Joseph Campbell, “the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."
I am forever a student and will always be exploring and discovering. I am continuing on the path of health and wellness by becoming a Holistic Nutritionist through the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition.
I look forward to meeting you!
 

Darren's Journey

It's all about the "Now".

The present moment is the only moment that has ever, and will ever exist.

The past has happened, it is as it is, and cannot be changed. The future will happen, but when it comes...guess what? It will come as the "Now". Yet, for some reason, we spend about 90% of our waking day focused on the events of our past and the possible events of our future... even though the only moment we have any control over is the current one.

The "Now" is your access point to reality. It is only through the present moment, and the present moment alone, that you will ever be able to influence your reality and see the true nature of your limitless self.

I am a "Now" junkie. Whether it be riding up a wall on my skateboard, creating stillness through meditation, closing a business deal, or finding that balance of "effortless-effort" while engaged in asana, the only thing that concerns me anymore is allowing myself to exist in the "Now" as much as I possibly can.

Learning how to access the present moment has changed my life completely. It has allowed me to bring out my best in any situation...on cue...every time. I now see, live and act in a world without limits.

I want to bring you into the "Now" to see what I see.

I want you to access your limitless potential.

Sandy stumbled on her first hot yoga class in 2008 and was amazed at how calm and peaceful she felt at the end of the class even though she was overdressed, drenched in sweat and probably beet red. She had this weird idea right then and there that this was something she wanted to share with others.
Since starting to practice hot yoga, Sandy has seen so many physical, mental and emotional benefits. Her chronic neck and upper-back pain, from years of working at a desk, have disappeared, and her body has opened in ways she never imagined possible. A recovering Type A personality, Sandy wasn’t surprised that determination and hard work could create results, but her favourite part of practicing yoga has been seeing that yielding and patience and faith also bring results, some of them that sneak up on you!
She was certified as a 500-hour Moksha yoga instructor in 2009, and after falling in love with the Power Flow practice, took the100-hour Level 1 Baron Baptiste Power Flow training in 2010. This training gave her a figurative smack upside the head, and has been one of the best things she has done in her life. She looks forward to seeing where the yoga journey will take her next, and is enjoying the ride of living more from her heart and less from her head, and of taking the limits right off what might be possible --- in her yoga practice and in life. She hopes to plant the seed of that attitude with the students she teaches, and hopes they leave with a little of the calm, peace and perspective that she feels after practicing yoga herself.
 

Barb's teaching is strongly influenced by the Desikachar Tradition, a rich tradition which is sometimes referred to as Viniyoga. Viniyoga is not a brand name but rather a Sanskrit term which means "right application". Relationship between teacher and student is a key ingredient to Viniyoga with a strong respect for the individual. The flexibility of means to respond to the individuals needs is what is suggested by the term "viniyoga". Linking the breath to the asana practice is another key element in this tradition. Bringing awareness to the breath and letting the breath determine our comfortable capacity is emphasized throughout the practice. The breathwork is sequenced to effect the spine. Barb hopes to guide participants to develop practices and attitudes to life which will address their needs and that they will be able to incorporate into their own day to day living.

Every day I welcome yoga into my life - whether it is through a sleepy morning practice, a quiet breath at my desk in the middle of a crazy day or a rhythmic mantra to calm my mind before bed. The asana practice always felt natural with my background in gymnastics and dance - a way of mixing all the sensations of lightness, strength and mobility but with mindfulness and compassion. At every turn, yoga is my touchstone - trying to raise my son with love and without expectations, cultivating relationships built on trust and acceptance, celebrating each moment with reverence and gratitude. I teach with the hope that students will 'dig a little deeper' and perhaps glimpse a moment of contentment.