Our Teachers

I was hungry for change and growth, and so I decided to complete my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. A few weeks after my training ended, I quit my job, left university, moved out of my apartment, packed a suitcase and went to live in Costa Rica. I spent almost two years there learning more about yoga and cultivating my own style. I have now been teaching for 8 years and run a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training program. My teaching style is rooted in self discovery and curiosity - and my intention is to help students get out of their own way through creative and fluid movement that works for their bodies.

Angie has always been fascinated with the exploration of human kinetics, movement, energies, health and well being. Starting at the age of 5, she has explored a variety of dance styles including, ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, latin and musical theatre. In her teens, she attended the National Ballet School of Toronto in Canada as well as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. To pursue her growing interest in the human body, she studied kinesiology at the University of Calgary with a minor in dance.

Soon after, she had the opportunity to travel the world by performing in the production shows with Princess Cruises, fulfilling that passion to dance and perform. Her travels brought her through North America, Europe, Caribbean, New England, South East Asia and the Middle East. However, her stage experience didn’t stop there. Wherever she made her home, whether it was in Calgary, Las Vegas, Denver, Baltimore or Los Angeles, she has always remained an active member of the dance community
and a part of numerous professional dance companies as a dancer and choreographer.

It is during her travels that she was introduced to yoga. Her first yoga class was actually a home practice with an audio CD of a class taught by Bryan Kest. During the next 8 months, her home practice developed into a new found love and appreciation for yoga. Initially, it was quite an effort for
her to adjust to the practice of slowing things down in the midst of her busy lifestyle. However, the effects of yoga naturally helped her internalize and search deep within herself. She found that her life
gradually took a turn. Yoga gave her a new sense of body/mind awareness, self acceptance and helped her to clear her mind of unnecessary critical thoughts. Just to be in the present moment and to embrace the gift of life, breath and on going love was her new goal. The desire to share this feeling of
bliss with others has led Angie to complete her teachers training with Tracy Mann and Lerrita Rubinoff in 2004. She was fortunate to have the chance to travel to Los Angeles in 2005 to train with Pattabhi Jois during his world tour. During that time, she was also able to meet and learn from Bryan Kest, the
same voice that had brought her to yoga originally. Shortly after, she received her teacher training in prenatal, mom and baby yoga and more recently yin yoga training. 

Along with her love and passion for yoga, Angie took an interest in the human energy
field and universal healing. She then went on a further quest and received certifications in Reiki Levels I and II. The next decades had spelt out an enormous amount of change and travel for Angie. She was able to
experience the personal teachings of Sean Corne, David Life, David Swenson, Shannon Gannon and Ana Forrest at the Yoga Journal Conference in San Fransisco. In the summer of 2009, she took a mini
sabbatical to further her knowledge and her constant yearning to learn. She took a road trip down to the states and attended various workshops in California and Las Vegas, where she resided for a year.

Her interest in hot yoga surfaced and her journey took her to Denver, Co, where she extended her training and became certified with Core Power Yoga in hot and hot/power fusion. From there, her ventures took her to sunny Los Angeles, Ca and to Baltimore, MD, where she was able to share her teachings from state to state.

Currently residing in Calgary, Angie feels very grateful to have the gift of yoga be a continuous practice in her life. She instructs yoga and dance full time and remains an active member in the fitness and dance community. Angie is genuinely striving for patience, peace and compassion for herself and others. Yoga is an on going journey with endless wonders.

I discovered yoga in 2005 and took up a regular practice as a way to manage the pain of old injuries from years of competitive soccer. 

In 2008 I decided to take the 200-hour Akhanda Yoga Teacher Training with Yogrishi Vishvaketu. In 2009 I studied with a Calgary group under Jeff Mah, and in 2010 I completed the 500-hour Moksha Hot Yoga training in Kerala, India. 

Through Yoga I am continually reminded to stay open to the experiences that come with living a human life; to be willing to feel all the feelings, good and bad, without trying to control everything; and to love without conditions or expectations as purely as I can.

Crystal May has been teaching yoga since 2009 and received her 200 and 500 hour teacher training certifications from World Conscious Yoga Family in Rishikesh, India. She expanded her yoga education further by completing 150 hours in an Adjusters Training at Bodhi Tree in Calgary, AB. Crystal has also developed an extended education in Yin Yoga, studying with Bernie Clark, Stephanie Nosco, Lisa Whitford, Diane Batts and Alan Mileham. Yin Yoga has quickly become Crystal’s passion in Yoga and is what inspired her Hips and Hamstring class. 

'Be where your feet are' - Yoga gives us the ability to arrive, to land in our bodies and attune to the present moment. Over many years as both a facilitator and student of yoga, I have witnessed the unfolding of profound transformation that comes when individuals surrender into the practice. Moving through the many layers of being, starting from the physical, working into the mental, and energetic layers, and towards a heightened state of consciousness.   

Yoga is an embodied experience. In my teachings I invite students to show up as they are, to release what keeps them tethered. I know that yoga is not just a source of health, balance, and serenity, but of freedom. Freedom to breathe. Freedom to be in the moment, to live the life you dream of.    

I have travelled all over the world and had the opportunity to absorb the teachings of many senior yogis, studying at the Sivanada Ashram in India, and the Bridge Program for Ishta Yoga. As well as many other amazing people from around the world in other modalities. Their incredible wisdom has greatly influenced my life and how I help guide others on their path to wellness.

In the summer of 2011, I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, severe osteoarthritis in my lower lumbar, and a bulging disc. I was no longer able to have a desk job. Doctors prescribed me with narcotic pain killers that made me ill. I tried various therapies such as massage, chiropractic, physiotherapy, prolotherapy, acupuncture, and others. My pain persisted after these treatments and I decided to try Yoga as a supplemental therapy. After 9 months of practice, Yoga is my only therapy and my pain is gone. My whole body felt stronger and more flexible. I then realized that I was interested in pursing Yoga as a career. I am a believer in the body and mind therapeutic value that Yoga provides. Yoga is my medication. I am looking forward to spending time with you in the yoga room. 

Kayla has been a student of yoga since she was 10 years old, and has always loved all forms of movement. She has been teaching yoga to children and adults for approximately 6 years. 

Kayla received her 200hr certification from Vinyasa Yoga School in Rishikesh, India; her 500hr certification from Yoga School Institute in Peru; has done yoga therapy training from Functional Synergy; and children's yoga training from Kidding Around Yoga. 

Kayla believes that yoga is for everyone and can be a life long practice which can radically enhance your well-being! When she's not teaching yoga, you can find Kayla playing with her 9 month old daughter, mixing essential oils, drawing, and walking her dog.

 Kirsten first started practicing yoga over ten years ago to help rehab injuries from competitive sports. Little did she know, her yoga journey took her to far greater depths beyond the physical benefits of Yoga. She soon discovered yoga was a way for her to truly become the best version of herself mentally, and spiritually. 

After graduating from university with a degree in Health and Physical education, Kirsten's journey took her to Nexus Yoga Institute in Nosara Costa Rica where she completed her 200hr YTT. She later gained another 30 teaching hours in the Adjuster's Method at Breathe, led by Angelique Panther, and continues to have a keen desire to keep learning. With her athletic and educational background, 

Kirsten has a passion for bridging the gap between yoga and sport, and furthermore intends to share her love of movement and mindfulness for optimal wellbeing and performance with all walks of Yogi's. 

I started doing yoga in the fall of 2010 after a life changing event. I actually lied to everyone around me, telling them that I had been doing yoga for years…I thought this would make me appear like I knew what I was doing! After a few classes I realized I knew only a little and I had to humble myself and work to be better. I am not sure if it was the excessive sweat or the mental push that hooked me instantly but I was unable to stop hot yoga! 

Yoga was a time filler at first, then an exercise method, and right now it is the fastest way to meditation…but the coolest thing about yoga is that my practice is always evolving…and I love that! I love that in the studio I don’t have to be anyone, I don’t have to worry about anything except for the puddles of sweat pooling under my hands, and I can dump my entire day onto my mat and leave it there. 

Teaching is a new kind of love and adoration, for both the practice and my students. Teacher training pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to flourish as a person and become a teacher that will always be teachable. Yoga has taught me that shift happens, love is ALWAYS the answer, and that I am WAY stronger than I ever knew. Lay aside fear and prejudice and join me in the studio.

“The happiness which comes from long practice, which leads to the end of suffering, which at first is like poison, but at last like nectar - this kind of happiness arises from the serenity of one's own mind.” – Gita.

Namaste

With over 10 years experience of guiding others in studio and one on one setting, Lana thoroughly enjoys serving the yoga and fitness community. She has various trainings under her belt including, Baptiste, Rocket Yoga, barre, TRX, personal fitness training, as well as yin and prenatal yoga. 

Lana is passionate and motivated to help her students reach their highest potential in yoga and fitness. She is dedicated to creating fun and challenging classes which cater to all fitness levels. 

When she’s not teaching classes, you’ll find her hiking, hitting the stairs, or spending time with her dear family and friends. Her passion for health and wellness began at a very young age and she couldn’t be more grateful to share these immense benefits with you all.

Liana always had a passion to teach. After graduating from the University of Alberta with her education degree she became a teacher at both the junior and senior high levels.

Her love and passion for yoga only grew stronger as she discovered various styles and the effects it was having not only on her body but also her mind. After practicing yoga for five years it was time to blend her two passions together and become a yoga teacher. Her first training was with Bikram Yoga in 2010 followed by Baptiste training in 2011. She wanted to share her passion with her home town of Lethbridge so in April 2013 she opened Hot Yoga Lethbridge. Her trainings then progressed with prenatal, synergy acro, rocket and yin yoga.

After years of teaching there seemed to be a missing element which was meditation. Upon researching the various meditation methods and schools she decided to take her 200 hour meditation training with the McLean Meditation Institute where the founder was mentored by Deepak Chopra.

Although Yoga has truly always been her passion, finding meditation has allowed Liana to see a side to life that was missing before. Liana’s classes are strong, energetic, and all levels while allowing the students time to take in the present moment and become more mindful in their practice.

I have been an active member in the fitness industry for a number of years, after losing forty five pounds I discovered that if you do not work on the mind you will never be satisfied with the results. It took many years to realize that being skinny is not the end game, and it wasn't until I became a mother that this truly came into fruition - we need to be conscious of who is watching us and the example we are demonstrating.

I started this journey with a divine pull towards bettering my mental health, going after what fueled my soul in order to make me a better wife, friend and mother. Becoming a yoga and fitness instructor has been an emotionally charged journey. Slowly transforming into a new person, learning to trust yourself and believing in yourself which can be tough, but having met so many amazing people on the way it has been an unforgettable experience, one I hope many people get to have. I adore my teachers Lacey Smith and Chris Rurka and have discovered that I have much to learn as a life long student. Coming out of my training I see the world with different colours, it is my hope to help others fall in love with life, experience a deeper practice and connect the body with the mind.

I started practicing yoga about 15 years ago when I was doing a lot of running and triathlon training. I loved the flexibility I gained through my yoga practice. When a new, hot yoga studio opened, I couldn’t wait to try it out! I was hooked from my very first class!

It was hard. It was hot. But the way I felt after just a few classes was amazing! I practiced as often as possible.
Before long, I was working at the front desk of the studio. After every class students would come out and tell me the benefits they felt from class. They’d share how they were getting stronger, more flexible and how their quality of life improved through their yoga practice. When an opportunity to take a teacher training came up, I had to take it!

I’ve been teaching since 2016, and have taken 2 more teaching trainings since my original 200 hour training.

It really is an honour to guide students through their practice and I’m so inspired by my students in every class I teach.

My journey to my mat definitely wasn’t typical and took some time. I have always been passionate about fitness; I had attended a few registered yoga programs over the years but never fell in love with it. As a fitness coach I was always on the go, I felt yoga was too slow and I always felt the constant need to do more. One day, however the universe decided I needed to slow down. After two car accidents within a year of each other left me unable to continue with my normal fitness routine I decided to try yoga one more time.

I can still remember my first hot yoga class at Breathe; it was almost as though I had been carried away to another place for an hour. For the first time ever I completely let go of my guard, my normal internal chatter quieted and I finally was able to slow down for those 60 min. It was surreal to feel so completely ok with not being able to do anything or be anywhere else. I truly allowed myself to be fully present without distraction and it was amazing. I left feeling a deeper connection with my inner self and could not wait to explore more into yoga asana and philosophy.

From that day forward I started a regular daily practice and reading anything I could find about the yogic philosophy. Knowing how amazing I felt when I was on my mat, I wanted to incorporate these practices into my life off my mat. After a few years of my daily practice and a suggestion from a friend I started looking into becoming certified and completed my 200 HR teacher training in 2015 in Calgary with the Amazing Danielle Pechie.

Yoga has forever transformed my life. Not only has it allowed me to heal my physical body, I have become more mindful in my everyday life and much more connected to true self. Finding the balance of effort and ease is what I love about yoga. Every day we arrive on our mat is different, and if we allow it we can grow and change from every practice. It is such an honour to now guide others through their practices; I truly hope that it will positively impact your life the way it has for me.

Namaste

Sara is a 200 hour Canadian Yoga Alliance recognized RYT, with over 150 additional hours of studies and trainings. She received her certification from Yoga Therapy and Bodyworks and continues to train and practice weekly with her teachers. She is trained primarily in Ashtanga, Critical Alignment Therapy (holding her Level 4 certification from Gert van Leeuwen), as well as Yoga Nidra, Meditation and Trauma Sensitive Yoga. 

She has always been drawn to the therapeutic aspects of yoga, both physical and mental, and continues to explore both through her own practice, teachings and studies. Sara excels in holding space for her students to be completely present within their body, while advancing their asana practice to new heights. Sara is a mother of two (ages 5 and 3) and when not on her mat, she enjoys camping, hiking, biking and the simple joys of everyday adventures with her family.

“I love yoga…I love what it does for my body, what it does for mind. I find balance and peace there.”

Why did I start yoga?! I began practicing a few years ago for the great workout and the sweat aspect. I then started noticing how it was supplementing my other sport training in reducing risk of injury and increasing flexibility. Now I practice to find balance and to ground myself…the workout is a bonus. Life gets busy, it’s easy to get caught up in the constant go go go - I find yoga brings you back to awareness and connectivity. Noticing how present we can become when we focus on taking the time to breathe, we gain a heightened sense of body awareness. It allows me to put everything aside and realize “in this moment nothing else matters”. That feeling of serenity in the final savasana brings the simplicity of life back into perspective. 

I took my teacher training with Ally Bogard through Gaiatri in Calgary, and it was the first step to realizing I wanted to help other people share in this experience as well. I also understand that everyone has a different motivation, goal or level, and I encourage you to bring whatever that is to the mat. I believe healthy living should be fun, rewarding and habitual. I believe that yoga should be challenging, progressive and gratifying. I am convinced that life is to be lived to the fullest and we need to have strong, healthy and happy bodies to do so! 

I am excited helping you achieve yours and encouraging you every step of the way. So come on down, have some fun, de-stress, count sheep in "frog", join in singing happy birthday to your fellow yogis in "extended side angle", give your "camel" a name and laugh (or don't) at the occasional “I think I'm funny” jokes!! 

“Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human."~Anthony Robbins

I fell in love with yoga years ago as a teenager. After one particularly physically challenging class, i felt so "high" off the mind body connection i was experiencing after savasana. That feeling of total peace and connection with body led me to explore yoga deeper, develop a regular practice, and eventually take my 200 hr yoga teacher training. I love that yoga is an internal practice just as much as external.
I have a background in barre fitness - i love encouraging people to challenge their perceived limits, while also listening to their own body and how it feels each day. Honouring that balance is key to me! Oh, and i also love curating the perfect playlist for classes!

I have lived in 7 different countries and figuring out my accent can be quite the challenge. Growing up I always felt pretty rootless, and I didn’t really know what to call home until I found yoga in 2012. Through yoga I have found my roots within and on mat I feel at home. I enjoy the physical and mental benefits it provides me and it helps me find the joy and playfulness in life. After moving to Canada 7 years ago I embarked on my teaching journey with the 250 HR Ashtanga inspired YTT at Yoga Passage in Calgary. I have done several other advanced trainings since and teach a wide variety of class styles. I invite you to come and join me on the mat to explore the magical world of yoga and mindfulness!

My journey to yoga stared as a dare. My wife dared me to take on a 30 day hot yoga practice. After completing the challenge I felt better than I had ever felt before in my life and I needed more. Unfortunately schooling and sport got in the way and yoga began to take a back seat to everything else. After I received a double degree in Kinesiology and Education from the University of Calgary I was presented with yet another challenge, “can you run a yoga program at our high school?” Needless to say I said yes and have not looked back since. After completing my 200hr teacher training with Breathe I instantly needed more, signing up for an additional 35 hour teaching course. I now currently teach for the Calgary Board of Education and love going to work every day.

My yoga journey has led me to meet some of the most amazing generous people ever as well as allowed me to work with some great students. I hope I get the privilege to meet and see you soon on your mat.

Namaste.