Fall 2017 Contributors
Violet Pasztor, Founder and CEO, Canadian Yoga Alliance
Irum is a yoga teacher, registered with Canadian Yoga Alliance, and Director of the Center for Natural Living, a Registered Yoga School – RYS200. Irum is a Canadian Yoga Alliance registered/certified 500 hours trained teacher.
Irum has been practicing yoga for 25 years. Influenced by all aspects of Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Kripalu yoga, Irum focuses her practice on meditation and breath awareness, guiding students into their deeper physical and emotional space. Combining effort with ease, play and contemplation, her yoga sessions bring transformation that leaves one energized, confident and ready to follow the inner calling. On and off the mat, Irum provides a space that encourages everyone to explore his or her inner being, discover the true self and unlock layers of conditionings and Samskaras (deep-seated impressions that guide our actions). Irum's quest to understand life’s purpose led her to yoga and reiki. Her philosophy – the deeper we go, the lighter we become. Irum has organized yoga retreats, compiled a 100-page yoga training manual, published a Foto Book Stillness in Chaos and trains yoga teachers. She has taught in Canada, Costa Rica, the United States, Austria, Belgium, Israel, Pakistan, and Egypt. Follow her through her website: www.irumyoga.com and find her training schedule/ locations on www.centerfornaturalliving.com info@irumyoga.com www.irumyoga.com 647-299-7095 
Heidi Joffe
Heidi Joffe (M.Ed.,A.T.) lives in West Vancouver with her two children and two Norwich terriers. With a background as a drama teacher, a yoga instructor, art therapist and textile artist, she investigates the wonder and boundless potential of our perceptions and manifestations. 
Oda Lindner
Oda has been involved in yoga for quite a while and has been teaching it for about two decades. She studied yoga in India, Europe and North America and loves philosophy, pranayama and movement. She is a yoga teacher and therapist who lives in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. She is currently on a sabbatical leave and is adding to her knowledge of breath and Marmani. She can be reached at odayoga@gmail.com 
Christina Drew
At age 9, Christina was introduced to soccer and fell in love. At age 15, she was on the starting squad for the U-18 Team Ontario. Christina was scouted by a plethora of teams from the U.S.A. and chose to attend Georgia Southern University. While there she received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. During her soccer career, Christina sustained 3 ACL repairs and 3 concussions. Due to this, she had to put her soccer career on hold. Ever since she can remember, Christina has had a dream of becoming a Physiotherapist. The combination of learning the intricacies of the human body, injuries and how to rehabilitate them, as well as optimizing athletes' performance abilities, was her passion. Christina attended McMaster University from 2005-2007 and received her Master of Science in Physiotherapy. She continued expanding her knowledge of treatment options by getting certified in Active Release Technique®, Functional Range Release® (FR), Functional Range Conditioning® (FRC), STOTT Pilates, Yoga—RYT200, Baptiste Power Yoga, ktape and custom bracing. After extensive research and personal experience, Christina has created a neuromuscular warm-up to prevent ACL injuries in female soccer players. She is also the founder of Kinetic Physio-Yoga Therapy (PYT) and Kinetic Physio-Pilates Therapy (PPT). Kinetic PYT and PPT are programs that extend her therapy services beyond manual therapy, offering a holistic approach to heal on a multi-faceted level. Christina is also the founder and creator of Aligned Yoga Inc. and the Aligned Flow. Aligned Yoga Inc. is an educational based yoga program that teaches anatomy, yoga injuries, contraindications and much more during yoga teacher trainings. The Aligned Flow, helps bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine — a yoga class geared towards asanas to prevent injuries, build strength in the stabilizers and core to enhance optimal movement and create balance in the body. Being an athlete at heart, with limiting injuries, Christina turned to pilates, yoga and cycling as a means to rehabilitation and wellness. She believes that any training regimen should include proper functional training that increases the longevity and health of joints, while optimizing performance and efficiency. Christina looks forward to passing this great experience off to all her clients! Christina Drew MPT, B.Sc.KIN, Registered Physiotherapist, A.R.T®, FR®, FRCms®, STOTT Pilates Cert., RYT-200 Owner Kinetic Physiotherapy, Aligned Yoga In and Aligned Flow 401 Pearl Street, Burlington, ON, L7R 2M8 905-637-1414 www.kineticphysiotherapy.ca 
Joanne Van Ee
Joanne has been teaching yoga for nine years in Vernon, Lake Country and Kelowna, B.C. Three years ago she switched to teaching YogAlign, and is loving it. Email: truenature@telus.net 250-469-0672 Class info: okanagancentre.net 
Dr. Binod is a medical doctor with M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. After being trained in Hatha yoga by swami Shree Krishna Shaharsha Buddhe of Bombay, in his early student period, he achieved the highest level of spirituality. While in Europe, he was invited by Dr. Narayan Dutta Shrimali (https://nikhileshwaranand.wordpress.com/tag/swami-nikhileshwaranand-ji-maharaj)
to his Ashram in Pitampura, Delhi. In 1997, he was blessed by Shrimaliji with Shaktipaat and much other secret Tantric knowledge. Yogacharya Dr. Binod has attained success— so called "Siddhi"in 2 pairs of Sadhanas and is the only disciple of Shrimaliji to represent Swami Nikhileshwaranand Ji Maharaj in North America at the present time. In his “Healing Yoga” teaching, Yogacharya Dr. Binod applies the secret knowledge of Kriya Yoga, Pranayamas, Mudras, Meditation and Tantra to strengthen the overall power of the body to resist infection. Some of his major successes are in the control and treatment of migraine, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, anger control and enlightenment. When asked how it is possible for him to help people, he says, " I use complex methods combined from different parts of Esotericism. Simply speaking, a ball with cosmic energy is formed from the space and is directed to the sick organ, mentally, through the various breathing techniques (Pryanayamas) and yogic poses”. 
Corrina Chase
Corrina learned yoga in the Himalayas surrounded by sunshine and palm trees. Transforming her perspective on the world, incorporating peace and surrendering to love and compassion is her mantra. She possesses a natural, intuitive insight for assisting people and brings it to all that she does. Corrina is a yoga instructor and Reiki Master/teacher. Her passions are Aboriginal rights and standing for equality and fairness as a social activist. corrinashouse@gmail.com 
Jody Johnson, CYA-RYT 200
Inspired by great teachers such as Deepak Chopra and Pema Chodron, Jody has been led upon an amazing path which incorporates a holistic approach to health through yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic lifestyle. She loves to share these passions with her students and let them know that yoga is so much more than just a stretch class. Perfect Health Instructor (Ayurvedic Lifestyle) — Chopra Center, Carlsbad California Email: j.johnson@EastLink.ca 
Dr. Mahshad M. Noori
Mahshad has dedicated herself to the practice, study, and teaching of yoga since discovering its joys and benefits in 1997 when one of her closest friends introduced her to the wonderful healing powers of yoga. As any good friend would, she could not stop talking about all of the positive benefits yoga had in her life. Mahshad found herself wanting that same spiritual awareness in her life and thus her great journey began. She trained in the disciplines of Sivananda, Iyengar, Satyanada, and Sri Sri Yoga (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, India) and combined elements of these styles into a dynamic and inspiring yoga experience. Mahshad was privileged to personally spend three months with the famous Guruji H.H.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar while traveling throughout India taking various yoga, meditation and breathing courses through the well-known Art of Living Foundation. The Guruji graciously recommended that Mahshad personally share her yoga knowledge with the world given that she is a trained Psychologist. And, this is exactly what she has done. With over 20 years of yoga instructional experience throughout Iran and India, Mahshad is very excited about continuing her journey here in Canada. Yoga has been an integral part of Mahshad’s life for many years and has helped her grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off the mat. Yoga inspires her to live each moment more mindfully. She has completed her 200-hour Sivananda training from the Yoga Alliance International/Iran Yoga Association, and now is a CYA-E-RYT200 member of Canadian Yoga Alliance. Mahshad will always be a student of the practice and she is eternally grateful for the loving wisdom her teachers have bestowed upon her. Mahshad.mn@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/mahshad-mohammad-noori-a39b0255 
Gopala Amir Yaffa
Gopala has been connecting people through yoga for over 22 years now. His unique style of interactive social yoga has won the hearts of thousands of people all around the world. Gopala have trained over 12,000 yoga teachers through his Rainbow Kids Yoga, Rainbow Partner & Community Yoga and 200/300 hour Yoga Specialty Teacher Trainings. Gopala is passionate about creating beautiful shapes while doing group yoga together in a circle, and is always endeavoring to create new ways to bring people closer together in body, mind and spirit through yoga. www.rainbowyogatraining.com Info@rainbowyogatraining.com 
Maria Pagano
During Maria’s studies in translation she discovered a passion for yoga, which helped her to stay focused and centered when she had a full-time job. She wishes to share what she has learned and help the most individuals possible to find their own rhythm to reduce the stress that today’s world may cause and to help them find their true passion and to live a fulfilling life. Maria has been practicing yoga since 2000, teaching since 2005 and became certified as a yoga therapist in 2009, guided by Dr. Madan Bali, a true yoga legend born in India, who is a Vedanta scholar and has a Ph.D. in Complimentary Medicine. Join her in a journey towards self-discovery through teachings of yoga and its philosophy. “Giving and sharing make me feel alive. Have faith that you are exactly where you should be and have trust in the universe that anything can happen.” — Maria Facebook: @yogapassioncanada www.yogapassioncanada.com 
Mahan Khalsa
Mahan is a committed yogini, dynamic teacher and a devoted mother. For over a decade, Mahan travelled the world studying mystic and alternative healing. She experienced first hand the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, living as a yogini. As a young woman, she explored yoga, Reiki, meditation, healing arts, aromatherapy and much more! Mahan has a unique way of blending her vast knowledge and life experience into her offerings. As a trained Hatha & Kundalini yoga teacher, she has facilitated classes and workshops for children, elders and yogis, at festivals and retreats and within corporations such as Microsoft. She specializes in yoga and meditation, women’s empowerment, as well as nutrition & detoxification. Mahan found yoga 16 years ago when she was suffering from depression as a young woman. She truly believes that it is her daily yoga practice that supports her in living her life with trust, joy and a sense of purpose, allowing her to share her gifts with the world. Mahan moved back to her home country of Canada 6 years ago and developed an organic food company and fed 1000s of people plant-based snacks and meals. From there she went on to CBC’s Dragon’s Den and pitched her packaged raw food line. An investor helped her open The Golden Aura, an organic, vegan restaurant, in Vancouver in 2014. Mahan currently manages Yoga West, the one and only Kundalini yoga studio in Vancouver, BC! She teaches yoga full-time and is dedicated to providing her students and clients with practical and inspirational tools for a healthier, happier and holier life. www.facebook.com/MahanDharma Instagram: @mahandharmaqueen 
Megan Johnson, B.A., M.Ed., CYT-RYT 200, CCRT
Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Education and is a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor for both children and adults. Megan is also the founder of Learning Lotuses, a blog and website aimed at bringing social-emotional learning to the education system through yoga and mindfulness practices. Email: megan@learninglotuses.com Website: www.learninglotuses.com Instagram: @megan.learninglotuses 
Juliana Lavell Juliana is a soul searching, mantra singing artist, yogini and mother bear to her daughter, Jada. She travels the world sharing her love for yoga, aerial yoga and plant medicine through retreats and teacher trainings. www.julianalavell.com Instagram: @yogini_unicorn777 Email: Intothemysticyoga11@gmail.com |
Joanne Preece, Editor
Kim Pechet
Kim has been a yoga instructor and belly dance teacher since 1995. She is the teacher, choreographer, narrator and writer of the popular TV show, SHIMMY, which airs throughout the world. She teaches regular classes and workshops in her community and beyond. Kim has been a psychic reader for 25 years and is the owner of Primordial Vibe, a new yoga apparel company that designs and develops bamboo t-shirts and tanks called OMPIRE WEAR. She resides and teaches in Maple Ridge, BC. www.facebook.com/kim.pechet www.facebook.com/OmpireWear 
Candace Propp, E-RYT 500
Candace loves to create, be it in the art studio or the asana room. As an artist, Candace's passion for all that yoga offers her is creatively depicted in her art. Conversely, as a yoga instructor, her ability to see the many possibilities held within our bodies gets translated into her imaginative yoga lessons and sequences, enabling her students to also enjoys yoga's gifts. To view Candace's artwork visit: www.natureofcontentment.ca 
Audrey O’Marra
Audrey is married and the mother of 4 beautiful children and 6+ counting grandchildren. She owns a small yoga and art studio with BIG ideas to bring health and well being to her local community. With the support of her family, friends, co-workers and students, Audrey has been able to live her dreams and will continue to do so for as long as she is blessed with breath. She has been an artist for over 30 years and a yogi for 10. Yoga has changed her life and has given her the inner strength to live her dreams and let go of the fears that held her back. Audrey believes all we need to do is hold the space for others to feel comfortable, to create and explore themselves. Her passion for spreading the benefits of yoga is what fuels her path. Art Rocks & Healing Yoga Dunnville, Ontario 289-244-0851 audrey.omarra@gmail.com www.audreyomarra.com 
Helen Maupin, E-RYT 500
Helen is passionate about transforming fear into love — from her, for her, for all. She expresses her commitment to transformation through writing poetry, self-awareness and yoga books, co-designing organizations into adaptive enterprises and deepening her daily meditation and yoga practices. Helen maintains her yoga practice and Yoga Actions Teacher Training programs deeply enrich her transformational journey and provide a much-loved spiritual community. For a listing of her weekly "Right to Joy" blogs, Free Press yoga articles, awareness and writing programs or other books, visit www.righttojoy.com. 
Stacy Schroder, CYA-E-RYT 500
A longtime student of yoga and meditation, Stacy has studied with a variety of teachers. Stacy's training began, in 2000, with the mindfulness based stress reduction program, which she completed in Toronto in August of 2000. The yogic way of life has expanded her awareness in so many ways and has provided a sangha (community) that she is deeply grateful for. Stacy has had the opportunity to travel extensively which has deepened her practice greatly. In 2008, Stacy founded Serene Yoga Studio. Her classes focus on Yoga Actions, meditation and philosophy. For four years she was the yoga and mindfulness meditation instructor for Team Canada Women’s volleyball team at the University of Manitoba. In addition, Stacy, Helen Maupin and Candace Propp have designed the Yoga Actions 200/500 hour teacher training programs. Since 2015, they have co-authored a regular yoga column in the Winnipeg Free Press. To read these articles and more please see Serene Yoga Studio's Facebook page. Stacy hopes to share with her students the joy and serenity she has found through this practice. For more information about the Yoga Actions Teacher Training, go to www.sereneyogastudio.com 
Orsi Foldesi
"Authenticity is the Yoga of the soul." Born in Hungary as a Gemini-Leo, her parents named her Földesi Orsolya Borbala (imagine pronouncing that). Her life has always been led by the winds of change, and she affects people the same way. Her intention is to fill these winds with warmth, care, attention and some laughter as we continuously transform together. Orsi has been a holistic practitioner since 21(nearly 20 years now). Yoga entered her life at the age of 27. Living a highly driven life in the city of Budapest, she started having environmental allergies, asthma, pains and aches, even panic attacks. Her fantastic family doctor recommended yoga to her, instead of taking pills. She took her first class with great resistance (oh, how she wishes now that she had started even sooner). It was at Downward Dog, an Ashtanga style Hatha yoga studio in Toronto, that Orsi started loving the flow of motion in harmony with her breath, the sweat dripping off her body. That is where she learned to calm her mind and realized that every minute she spent on the mat would multiply her efficiency, focus and health for the rest of her day. The effects of a 90- minute class lasted longer and longer, based on how often she practiced, so she became a regular practitioner. Orsi became a Bikram yoga teacher in 2009 and has taught over 2,000 yoga classes since. She has taken multiple teacher trainings and many additional courses. Even though, at the studio, the primary focus is yoga asana, meditation, chanting, healthy diet, cleansing and other aspects of yoga are also part of who she is. She bases her life on the foundational principals of yoga, the yamas and niyamas. Since Flow Yoga Studio opened on April 11th, 2014, Orsi has been invited to teach classes for Lululemon Athletica, the Lole white tour, Shoppers Drug Mart, BC Hydro and other companies. She teaches at the Health Centre of the Campbell River Band and for other private people and groups. She developed and taught a program for local high school teachers on how to integrate yoga philosophy and asana into their daily lives, in the classroom and beyond. She has worked with the wild, openhearted, amazing youth at the John Howard Society. Orsi has regular staff teacher status at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York — a safe haven for the wandering soul, a spiritual watering hole in the desert of our 21st century reality. https://www.eomega.org Her home base is in Campbell River on beautiful Vancouver Island or as Orsi calls it, Paradise. Email: orsi.yoga@gmail.com www.flowyogastudio.ca 
Samantha Howick
Samantha was born in Montreal and now lives in Lebanon. She holds yoga workshops and classes internationally. She began practicing yoga and meditation in her late teens and has been teaching since 2000. She is an avid practitioner who respects the core technique of the Krisnamarcharya lineage. Her study is one rooted deeply in traditional yogic teachings while being true to many streams of influence, which have deepened her experience of yoga. Tantra, Kundalini, Bhakti, Tao Shiatsu and Shamanic healing arts—many gurus of the past and present shine light along her path. A student of both Eastern and Western philosophy, she incorporates various traditions into her classes while always being true to traditional wisdom. From the scriptures to the yoga mat, Samantha’s creativity and sense of joy can be seen reflected in her training and teaching. A mother of four young children, the candles of awareness, balance, harmony, intuition, acceptance and freedom light her journey… In her teaching she strongly relies on her own practice, intuition, philosophy and spirituality as influences. She intuitively fuses her knowledge of the past to innovatively and spontaneously illuminate her present. Alongside yoga, she holds a B.F.A. in Fine Arts, from France, and works as a painter and sculptor. This artistic ability is part of what makes her workshops and classes unique. She is an innovator. Her works such as Chakra Cleanse, Yoga Nidra, Tibetan Tantra, Gong Bath are some of her many ideas which are being widely used and adapted for their healing and transformative abilities. She is a co-founder of One Yoga Academy (formerly Shiva Shakti Yoga Academy), a comprehensive yoga teacher training program, providing internationally recognized certification—the first of its kind in Lebanon. Training is available in Montreal, U.K. & Lebanon. 
Jasmine Gercke, Ph.D.
Jasmine (Dr. Jazz) is a traditionally trained Hatha Yoga Master with a passion for complementary medicine. Dr. Jazz brings together Western medicine and Eastern wisdom to help individuals and audiences learn to heal from stress-based illnesses such as insomnia, anxiety and career-burnout. Her Jazz Yoga Therapy Method is based in neuroscience, positive psychology and mindfulness, combined with sound healing music at 432hertz. It is the first ever method to combine yoga with music in this cellular healing combination researched by Dr. Jazz herself. Dr. Jazz completed her studies in International Business in the UK, ran a yoga school for six years and has won many achievement awards. After surviving a career burnout, she decided to focus her practice on yoga therapy and spreads her method throughout the world teaching various yoga and mindfulness techniques through her coaching program and her TV show Jazz Yoga Ayurveda. Dr. Jazz is a highly sought after professional speaker, teaching the medicine behind mindfulness to groups and corporations. She is an expert contributor to media outlets such as MaTV, The Gazette, Radio-Canada and CTV. Dr. Jazz shares her story and wisdom through her speaking events “ Your Breath is your Lifeline”. Jazz Yoga™ Ayurveda www.jazzyoga.ca jrgercke@gmail.com 
Andrea Peloso
Andrea discovered yoga as a teenager and has been teaching yoga full time for 15 years and has taught trainings in Restorative Yoga across North America and Japan. She has assisted Judith Hanson Lasater, her teacher, for 13 years. For a full bio visit www.andreapeloso.com. 
Stefani Wilton
Stefani is a mother, movement therapist, writer and educator living in Calgary, AB. A registered massage therapist and certified yoga therapist with the IAYT, Stefani has offered her women centered therapy practice and yoga teacher trainings through her company the Mandorla Yoga Institute, since 2007. She believes strongly in supporting her clients and teacher trainees in freeing the breath, moving without pain and alleviating stress, anxiety and depression. Stefani offers a 200-hour yoga teacher training in Embodiment Yoga and a 200- hour Thai Yoga Therapist training that are both recognized by the NHPC and the Canadian Yoga Alliance. You can learn more about Stefani and her offerings by going to her website, www.mandorlayoga.com. 
Jaromir Kynl
Jaromir has been at home with spirituality ever since his self-study and self-inquiry began at a young age. He has a natural inquisitiveness into the deeper mysteries of life, death and philosophy. Since deepening his sadhana with an immersive journey to India several years ago, life has never been the same. His personal practices have been a constant, steady expression of his dedication. Injuring his back, in 2016, has helped him learn how to heal himself and integrate yoga at a new level. Jaro’s intention is to nurture a healthy body, speech and mind in his own practice and, in turn, offer this to all who wish to learn. www.amonkstus.com Facebook: @ Jaromir Kynl & Amonkstus Yoga Steadiness & Relaxation Instagram: @ amonkst_us Email: Jaro@amonkstus.com 
Peter Brother
Peter moved to the Comox Valley in October of 2016, having just returned from cycling across BC into Alberta during the summer and around the world over the previous year. The countries he visited included France, Italy, Greece, Taiwan and New Zealand. He finds, while traveling, that it is all about connecting with others, nature and himself. In 2011, he left to travel through the Americas by bicycle for over 20 months. The journey started in Kluane National Park and ended in Tierra del Fuego National Park near Ushuaia, Argentina. He turned 70 years old while on this adventure. Peter has been teaching yoga and meditation since 2001. His focus has been on mindful movement as the physical practice of yoga is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness. He is currently teaching yoga (flow and Yin) at Holy Cow and at Casa Loma. 200 Back Road, Courtenay BC V9N 3W6 250-650-1690 Email: peter@yogipeter.com www.yogipeter.com 
Perri van Rossem
Throughout her life Perri has been a dedicated student of both the body and mind. As an athletic child, she followed her passion for physical activity into dance and worked as a personal trainer and an aerobics instructor. Her educational pursuits were, and continue to be, in the area of philosophy. In 1990, YOGA found Perri. It became immediately obvious that yoga naturally blended Perri’s passion for a healthy, vital body with her pursuit of understanding the nature of reality, life and the mind. Perri instantly began a committed personal yoga practice and an in depth study of the yogic teachings. She has studied with many of North America’s greatest teachers. Her expansive study, practice and teaching eventually lead her to the home of the teacher of many of the world’s greatest masters, Krishnamacharya’s Mandarim, in Chennai India. Her initial teacher training was with the Yoga Institute of Houston, where attention to anatomical knowledge and structural alignment were heavily emphasized. Perri believes that a clear understanding of and instruction in alignment are integral to a good yoga asana class. However, Perri also enjoys the Vinyasa style of practice and integrates this in a unique and creative fashion. In her teaching, she emphasizes the fundamentals of good body alignment, breath awareness and mental focus. Perri’s passion for sharing the deep wisdom of the ancient philosophy of yoga takes her classes beyond the physical practice alone. She considers yoga to be a practical philosophy that offers tools to assist us on our everyday lives. To think of yoga as only exercise for the body is underestimating and limiting yoga’s overall potential. Perri imbues her classes with a blend of physical, mental and spiritual teachings. Perri van Rossem, E-RYT500+ Owner, Living Yoga Studios Kingston, Ontario www.livingstudios.ca 613.453.8811 |
