ABOUT ME
My love affair with yoga began in the fall of 2004 when I attended a Hatha yoga class given at my local community centre. Following this newfound passion, I went on to explore Bikram, Hot, Power, Ashtanga and Yin Yoga.
I'm a certified Hatha Yoga Teacher, an E-RYT 500 and YACEP Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, and I've been teaching in Ottawa since 2008. I blend yoga asanas with a pinch of philosophy, a touch of humour, and a steady breath.
I have over 4,000 hours of teaching experience and to date, have taken workshops and master classes with Richard Freeman, Seane Corn, Ray Long, Bryan Kest, Ana Forrest and Sadie Nardini.
I'm a member of the teaching faculty for PranaShanti Yoga Centre’s 300-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, leading 20-hour Core Modules on Teaching Methodology and the Energetic Anatomy of Yoga. I am also the Coordinator for this same program.
I was a Teaching Assistant for PranaShanti’s Winter 2017 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, 2018 Restorative Yoga Training and am now a co-lead instructor at the 200-hour level.
WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS
Advanced Anatomy, Physiology and Biomechanics
Familiarity with how our bodies are put together, how their different systems function, and the mechanics of how they move can deepen our understanding of how to practice yoga safely, effectively, and efficiently. Learning anatomy, biomechanics and physiology can help us prevent injury, maintain a healthy, mobile body over our lifetime, and become more effective yoga teachers.
In this course, we’ll examine Western anatomy through the lens of yoga by studying and applying to practice the following:
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The ten systems of the body and how yoga can positively affect them.
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The anatomy and biomechanics of the breath and their central importance in how we practice asana and breathwork.
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The anatomy of the spine and how to practice asana safely and effectively by utilizing the biomechanics of the spine.
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The anatomy of the major joints of the body, the five primary causes of joint pain, and how yoga can help maintain healthy joints.
This course will be a combination of lecture and applied practice of what we study so that students complete this course with a sense that knowledge of Western anatomy isn’t only information on a page but living, breathing concepts that can be practically applied to our yoga practice and teaching.
Fall 2024
PranaShanti Education Centre, 45 Eccles St., Ottawa, ON, and /or online
The Energetic Anatomy of Yoga
Everything is energy, including us. As solid and dense as our physical bodies may seem, when we observe the very particles that make up matter, atoms, we find mostly empty space. What is this space comprised of? What is the animating force that underlies physical reality, and can we become aware of and consciously direct this energy for greater health, emotional balance, mental well-being and spiritual development?
As yoga practitioners, we can explore, become familiar with and have an immediate impact on our energetic or subtle body through various techniques such as asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), mudras (hand gestures), mantras (repetition of sacred sounds or words) and meditation.
The state of our energy or subtle body affects everything from our physical health to our emotional and mental well-being, our sense of connection with others and the clarity (or lack thereof) of our purpose in life. In this course, we will examine the main yogic concepts of the subtle body: the koshas, prana vayus, nadis, chakras and five elements. We will explore these topics with a combination of practical exercises, discussion and theory.
This training is designed for yoga teachers, yoga practitioners, and all those wanting to learn more about the subtle body and its important role in physical, mental and emotional health, and as a powerful tool for spiritual evolution.
Coming in 2025
PranaShanti Education Centre, 45 Eccles St., Ottawa, ON, and /or online
Teaching starts from within
Coming in 2025
This is a theoretical and practical course that will include group discussions, personal reflection,
practical exercises and practice teaching. We'll review the basic blueprint of a Hatha Yoga practice and examine the following:
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different modalities by which students learn;
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how to manage time and set priorities when preparing classes of varying lengths and styles;
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how to create a safe and accessible physical space;
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how to hold space on a psychological and emotional level in order to create an environment for learning;
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and how to weave elements such as pranayama, mantras, meditation and mudras into yoga classes.
We'll also examine the nature of the Teacher/Student relationship, the importance of boundaries and our personal motives as a teacher
and finally, we'll examine how to cultivate a vibrant inner life, and why this is essential to being an effective yoga teacher.
PranaShanti Education Centre, 45 Eccles St., Ottawa, ON, and /or online
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Try to be like the turtle - at ease in your own shell."
Bill Copeland
CONTACT ME
