Instructors

MELINDA CLARKE

Melinda has been a dedicated student of yoga and meditation for more than 10 years. She first discovered her love for these practices while living in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she was introduced to the Shambala Buddhist Community. With curiosity and a passion for yoga, she returned to Toronto to begin her training in Hatha and Ashtanga yoga with Cynthia Funk and Jonathan Austman at the Yoga Sanctuary.

Dedicated to deepening her own personal asana practice, she continued her studies with internationally renowned yoga teacher, Erich Schiffmann (author of Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness) in Los Angeles, California and then Seane Corn at Kripalu in Lenox, Massachusetts. Most recently, Melinda completed her certification in Restorative yoga with renowned teacher Judith Lasater in San Diego, California.

As a student of meditation, Melinda integrates the practice of sitting in her asana classes. Having been blessed with the opportunity to study with Buddhist masters such as the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in both Colorado and Vermont, she understands the profoundness of this practice. In 2006, she continued her studies and completed a meditation facilitation program with Tony Murdock of Towards Stillness Meditation.

 

JEN IRVINE

Stumbling upon an Ashtanga yoga class in Vancouver in 1999, Jennifer realized her passion.  Being on the mat in a daily practice changed her physically to start...as a runner and biker; this was the perfect compliment to her daily life.

A few years later after various classes and retreats, the passion deepened, knowledge as well as spirituality was embraced.  For the past 10 years Jen has broadened her knowledge and training with Yoga Alliance courses specializing in Ashtanga yoga at the Yoga Sanctuary, Kids yoga with the Yoga Tree, Power Flow with Eion Finn at Vancouver Yoga, Chuck Miller and Maty Eztraty at Downward Dog.

For fun she trys to take retreats for herself, mainly to Thailand or Central America, saluting the sun and surf!  Jennifer welcomes every level to her classes.  Be prepared to have fun, be challenged and smile!


ROSE MERRITT

Rose is a certified Hatha yoga teacher who enjoys the beauty of all forms of yoga.  The poetry of the heart (John Friend), the power of Baptiste yoga and the beauty of Shiva Rea.  Students are guided through a challenging flow vinyasa yoga applying biomechanics of body alignment, integrating strength and softness in their poses.  Rose strives to empower her student's self-esteem, joyfulness and playfulness on their mats.

 

BRETT O'NEILL

Brett began his yoga practice as a way to heal injuries from years of hockey, football, mixed martial arts and competitive rugby. A simple step that would lead him down a path of discovery as his practice changed from rehabilitation to a tool of stress management and focus, and finally to a personal passion and commitment to self-discovery. He is a certified as a yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance Canada.

Brett believes that the time you spend practicing on your mat is an honest reflection of how you view and approach life. He believes that learning to find peace on your mat, during easeful and challenging practices gives students a greater ability to be at peace in their lives. One of Brett's greatest passions as a teacher is making yoga accessible to everyone, as he has a firm belief that everyone can benefit from the experience. He strives to make each practice challenging, opening, and enlightening.


DENISE PALA

http://www.denisepalayoga.com


Denise loves the energy of being active.  With a love for nature and the outdoors, she is an avid hiker, and loves adventure, from camping, fishing, waterskiing and boating. She is a scuba diver, and has been a dive master for the past 16 years.  Spending as much time in the Cayman Islands, diving, snorkeling for conch with family, and enjoying the ocean with friends. She has a background in forensic anthropology from the University of New Brunswick.  With a focus on pre-history and evolution of man of North America.  Denise is very close to her family and dedicates  time to the family Optical business as a licensed Optician.

Once she discovered yoga she was hooked and the journey of love and learning and sharing began. She has completed a 200 hour teacher training and is a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance.  She studied Hatha yoga and teaches Vinyasa flow. She is also certified in Core Vinyasa Flow with Sadie Nardini out of New York.  The creativity and grace of connecting movement with breath combined with strength and alignment resonates with her. Denise continues to  expand her learning by taking workshops  and classes frequently with Chanel Luck, Sadie Nardini, Eoin Finn,  Martin Kirk.     

Denise teaches her class with joy, and to bring out the joy within everyone, dynamic energy, challenge and heart opening are the basis of the practice she loves to  share.  She is active in the yoga community as a Lululemon Ambassador to the Oakville lakeshore store, Being part of Flying Monkey Yoga has allowed her to grow and evolve in teaching, her personal practice and in life..
Yoga is a  “Journey to Joyful”!

ADRIENNE RAWLINSON

Adrienne is a certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance, is also a Montessori teacher with 20 years experience teaching young children, and a mother of two active little yogis of her own.  After completing various workshops with Marsha Wenig, Founder of YogaKids International, Adrienne has developed her own yoga program for kids, tweens and teens called Karma Kids Yoga, offered at our studio.

CANDACE SOBEY

With a compassionate heart, a love of yoga and holistic way of life, Candace steps onto the mat as a teacher, student, and friend who invites you to a calming and welcoming space. Her classes help to inspire change for a more balanced life, and to create a peaceful atmosphere so you can rediscover your inner beauty. She has a Bachelor of Arts with a  joint major in Psychology and Sociology from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She has been practicing yoga for eight years. In 2008 she graduated from Prana Yoga Teachers College in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received her 500 hour diploma of Hatha yoga teacher training studying under the guidance of Shakti Mhi and Bernie Clark. She then traveled to Tamil Nadu, India where she lived on an Ashram while practicing and studying to receive an additional 200 hours of teacher training from The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre. Upon the completion, Candace stayed in India to complete her 1st and 2nd degree in Reki with Nirvana Kendra Usui System of Natural Healing. 

Candace's approach to teaching involves personal guidance to help students find stillness and comfort in each posture, allowing them to gain a greater body awareness and alignment.  She strives to make her classes accessible to everyone, so individuals at all levels can experience the benefits of their personal yoga practice.

Om Shanti Peace-


INGRID RAUDSEPP

Yoga became part of my life 20 years ago.  I have studied and practiced the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli, Esther Meyers and B.K.S. Iyengar.  I have also experienced various types of Yoga (Kundalini, Bikram, Moksha, Anusara and Vijnana) and have participated in several intensive workshops with teachers such as Gioia Irwin, Danny Paradise, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty, Sue Elkind, Seane Corn, Susi Hately Aldous, Natasha Rizopoulos, Rod Stryker and David Swenson.

                In 2006, I received a certificate in Teaching Hatha Yoga through the Sheridan College Program.  In July 2008, I completed Modules I and II of the Ashtanga Teacher Training offered by the Downward Dog Yoga Centre and Module III in May 2009.  In addition, I completed a 20-hour Restorative Teacher Training Program through Breathe Yoga in April 2009 and participated in a Yin Yoga workshop in September  2009.  Finally, I have also had some training in IMT and Pilates through Second Wind Pilates Plus.

                The Yoga Journey offers countless invaluable gifts related to increased physical, mental and spiritual well-being:   balance, tone, flexibility, relaxation, wisdom, acceptance, peace, contentment and love (to name a few).  On my personal Journey, I have received some of these gifts with gratitude and, as a result, I find fulfilment in sharing them.  It is my wish that others may also experience the positive effects of Yoga.  Namaste.


JACKI WARNER


Jackie started her yoga journey with her first Ashtanga class in 1998. What started out as a compliment to running has turned into a life long journey of self discovery. The disciplined Ashtanga series began to slowly open up her body which eventually led to the opening of her mind/heart and spirit. 10 years later Jackie has trained extensively in Ashtanga, Anusara, Moksha and Vinyasa Flow and continues her studies in the Krishnamacharya lineage of yoga, tantra and ayurveda.She studied her yoga teacher training with Michelle Cormack at ‘5 ELEMENTS" and received her designation of Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200, Yoga Alliance). Jackie's initiation into teaching was in 2000 when she became Can-Fit Pro certified and began coaching/training to ‘power-walk' marathons with CANADA FIT. Yoga became a perfect partner. Today she enjoys leading her daughters and their hockey teams through a rigorous weekly yoga session and also teaching in the Halton District School Board, elementary level. She continues her studies at the Downward Dog Studio in Toronto and The Kripalu Centre in Massachusetts.