Autumn 2015 Contributors
Violet Pasztor Wilson
Founder and CEO, Canadian Yoga Alliance See The Origin and Roots of the Canadian Yoga Alliance. Breanna Coates, M.S.W., R.S.W., CYA-RYT300
Breanna has always had a passion for helping others and it didn’t take long for her to learn that there are a variety of barriers that hinder people from making positive, sustainable changes for overall well-being. Through her social work practice and yoga training she came to understand that when therapy integrates both the mind and body, true healing can begin. The fusion of yoga and psychotherapy has a profound impact on mental, physical, and emotional well-being. She believes that everyone has the ability to heal himself or herself, however, we don’t always have the tools or skills we need to implement or create this change. Her learning journey began after doing a workshop on restorative yoga where she began to realize the benefits that this type of yoga practice offers. She always found great emotional release through intense workouts and power yoga classes; however, she realized that she gained more benefits (physically and mentally) when doing slow, steady yoga movements and breath work. Coming into her mind-body network is a lot easier when her yoga practice is slow, calm, and mindful. Through her social work practice she recognized the need for her clients to have a more concrete process to follow in order to alleviate physical and mental symptoms and achieve overall well-being. Through the research, workshops and practice she did, it became evident that restorative yoga, mindfulness and meditation were the most beneficial to the user’s healing process. When clients practice more than they process the results are ten- fold. Having said all that, her therapeutic yoga counseling combines restorative yoga postures, psychotherapy, mindfulness, and breathing exercises to explore people’s experiences and help them balance their emotions. Diane Lu-Hovasse
Diane is a certified Classical Hatha and Restorative yoga teacher in the greater Toronto area. She specializes in teaching yoga to boomer and senior beginners - 40s to 90s, on the mat and modified for a chair. After editing a textbook with one of Canada's gerontology pioneers, she qualified as a CPCA, Certified Professional Consultant on Aging. A former health and science journalist, she enriches classes and wellness seminars with integrative health insights and yoga philosophy, which she credits as healing a dislocated spine and a fractured life. Diane is currently developing workshops on stress management and teacher training on yoga for "ripe bodies", as well as writing a book. Instagram and Facebook @yogamoom Penny Pelton
Yoga jump-started my transition from being retired to being re-invented! Prior to my retirement from teaching Early Childhood Care and Education at a community college in 2010, I had begun to practise yoga and, having been a long time runner (and being almost 60), it presented some challenges. However, I found that yoga met all of my physical needs for "exercise" as well as my emotional needs in terms of finding more focus and balance in my life. Yoga made my life transition a smooth one. I completed my Hatha yoga teacher training as well as specialized courses in Yoga for Children. I feel so lucky to be able to combine my love for yoga and my experience as an educator to introduce children to the practice of yoga. Each class is a new learning adventure. www.magicmats.ca |
Julia Rowe
Julia is a 17-year-old yoga instructor from Ontario, Canada. She's always loved theatre and dance, and has a true love for music of various genres. She currently dances in the Equilibrium Dance Company, and loves to play around with vegan recipes whenever she can. She plans on passing on the benefits of yoga and a vegan lifestyle to everyone, but especially the younger generation. Someday, she hopes to live in a tiny house in the woods where she can teach yoga, grow organic fruits and veggies, and plan protests for animal rights. Ashleigh Stewart, D.Msc
Ashleigh has a doctorate degree in metaphysical counselling. Her concentration was yoga therapy & philosophy and during her studies she researched the affects of stimulant drugs, and the use of yoga as a natural healing therapy for treating children with Attention Deficit Disorders. To continue with her work, she has recently been involved in teaching a regular yoga class to the Kindergarten group at the local elementary school her 2 young children attend. Ashleigh has practiced meditation & yoga for over 18 years and has been teaching for over 10. For more about Ashleigh's work visit her websites: www.mummytummyme.com www.enlightfertility.com www.weesweetsugarshop.com Lily Donaldson
Lily works as a travel writer. Prior to this, she worked on board cruise ships as a dancer and entertainer, and she's been lucky enough to travel to many far-flung destinations over the years. She's now a stay at home mom, bringing up her two children and hoping they'll also become passionate travelers. Sandra Sammartino
Sandra has trained hundreds of Yoga teachers, co-founded Unity in Yoga, the first Yoga Conferences in North America, and founded Yoga Outreach, delivering Yoga to those without access for over 20 years. Sandra is certified at the highest levels with Canadian Yoga Alliance. Sandra lives in White Rock BC with her husband Bob Berger, and is the loving mother of three children, two stepchildren and grandmother of five beautiful children. She can be reached at [email protected]. Website www.sammartinoyoga.com. At 73 years young Sandra wishes to be a role model for the benefits of Yoga, and to share everything she has learned.
Michelle Blance
Michelle has been involved with the yogic teachings of Swami Radha since 1992. She has taken two yoga development residential courses both of three months duration. She first did Hidden Language Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification (a two week residential course) in 1998 and has taken this certification several times since then, mostly recently in August of 2014. She is also certified with the Canadian Yoga Alliance. She currently teaches in Edmonton, Alberta. |