Yoga has been a significant part of my life for the past eight years and has helped me through university exams, moving and periods of stress and anxiety. Yoga has taught me to love and accept myself more; accept that every class is different and brings new experiences and challenges, similar to life outside of the yoga room. How we react to the situation or pose varies depending on how our body and mind feels in that moment, and it’s okay for it to vary day to day. My practice is always evolving, and I am grateful for it. I am passionate about fitness and being active, from spin class, weight training to hiking and cross country skiing; I love being able to move my body and am so grateful I have the ability to. In addition, I enjoy cooking and baking, and playing with my cat, Penelope.

At first, yoga was all about the physical aspect for me. I always thought of it as a workout and some time to myself, which it still is. However, the longer and more frequently I practiced I started to teach myself to breathe properly, close my eyes and not worry about anyone or anything around me. Yoga has brought calmness to my life and has taught me to to breathe through moments of anger and anxiety and truly let things go. Dental hygienist by day, yogi by night. 🧘‍♀️ I love to hike, jog, bike and just about anything that gets me outside.

It began as a search for a feeling. I wanted balance in my body and life overall and I thought yoga would deliver. I had no idea the real lesson I was in for. A weekly practice quickly turned to a daily one. In my mind I thought the more I moved the closer I was to locking down a fixed state of balance. It didn't work out that way. As I built strength and created openness, I became completely disenchanted with the pursuit of balance. I started to seek out the movement that would sway me and require recalibration. That's when the real transformation happened. Striking an unflappable pose or trying to freeze the 'perfect' feeling was once so essential, but yoga taught me that balance is not about rigidity, rather buoyancy in moments that make you shake. In class it means responding and adjusting to the poses as they come. In life it means the disruptions are there only to help me gain composure as I work to...

Yoga has helped me find myself. It allows me to let go of everything that is happening around me and just be. When I'm not at Yogatown, I'm working as an Art Director at a small graphic design studio in town. I read books like my life depends on it, and I love to cycle. I'm also a serious Star Wars (original trilogy only please) fan-addict and Potterhead!

Yoga has redefined the word strength. Initially approaching yoga from an athletic background where the motto harder, better, faster, stronger governed my practice, eventually transitioning into a way in which I approach my life. Yoga has allowed me to shift from a constant and endless search of what next, to abiding and finding happiness in the right now. Most of all, I love that yoga is a practice constantly offering the opportunity to step into the highest version of myself and I am so grateful to step into the teaching role and share that practice with others.

Yoga has really changed my life because it has allowed me to get to know myself in a way I never have before. It has taught me to love myself and be grateful for the here and the now. Yoga has taught me about grace, forgiveness and love.  The shifts I've made in my own life all have occurred because of yoga. These changes have all trickled down into all aspects of my life and have touched so many others as a result.  The things I've learned on my mat and left on my mat have been able to help me grow into the best version of myself, and one that I'm continually looking to improve on this journey of life. I've connected with so many like-minded yogis who have allowed me to just be me. Something so simple, yet something I've struggled with all my life. I'm beyond grateful to now be part of the team at the studio and have the honour to impact others with their own...

I began practicing/teaching yoga to focus on my physical shape; the stamina, flexibility, and strength, always intrigued me. I was surprised, however, when I noticed a change in my mental strength as well. Through yoga I have learnt patience, perseverance, calmness, and most importantly how to act and not react in unpleasant situations. I have been faced with many difficult challenges in my life but yoga has allowed me to find happiness and beauty in everything around me on a daily basis. I try to reflect this positivity in my practice by providing a powerful yet calm safe space, where challenges are overcome with breath. I hope that the feeling of calm control remains with my students not only throughout their practice but also in their daily routines. Outside of yoga I am an avid rock climber, hiker, runner and back country skier. I have recently added pole dancing to my list of passions.  I love to connect with nature any chance I get in order to recharge and disconnect....

Yoga to me, is a combination of many things that come together in a beautiful practice and lifestyle. One that lifts you up, gives you strength but most importantly allows you to be seen, really seen, for exactly who you are as you are. I started practicing yoga after the birth of my daughter but it wasn't until I took the plunge and decided to take my teacher training that I fall in love. I fell deep and hard and truly in love. I never had the intention of teaching, but thought that I was only taking this training as a way to learn and grow as a woman and mom. I forced myself to look at the deepest darkest places of me and really assess my life and make some big changes....and I knew, I needed to share this with others, it has become one of the most rewarding parts of my life, other than being a momma to two amazing dragons of course. Every time I get on...

In my 20’s chronic back pain lead me to yoga. Within a month of developing a regular yoga practice, I felt relief from the pain that I had experienced for years. The more I practiced the better I felt, but not just physically. I felt calmer, grounded and more balanced.  As months progressed into years, I began to realize that yoga was my anchor, a place to come home to. Not only a tool to strengthen and heal my body, but a way to calm my busy mind and decrease anxiety and tension. The energetic shift that I experience from yoga never ceases to amaze me. I am so grateful that I have found yoga and believe I will always practice it. Since completing my yoga teacher training in 2007 I have had the privilege of sharing yoga with the Ottawa community. Teaching yoga allows me to help others add to the quality of their day. I believe that yoga should be inclusive and teach according to the energy and...

Yoga taught me how to live in the moment, being on my mat was the first place as an adult that I experienced what it felt like to be present in my body and in my breath. Yoga constantly reminds me that we are all students of life working towards a common goal to achieve optimal living and happiness. My underlying drive as a teacher and student is to elevate all aspects of life: Mind, Body and Health. Sports will always have a place in my heart. I love competition, teamwork and pushing myself to grow. Basketball and soccer are still two of my favourite ways to spend extra time (does that even exist after kids? LOL). Right now, I am very passionate about my journey into motherhood and supporting others along the way.

I was drawn to yoga at the age of 14 because of a few poses I stumbled upon in a magazine. I initially liked it for the workout, but quickly fell in love with the abundance of benefits that yoga had to offer not just my body, but my mind, heart + soul. Growing up, I struggled a lot with my perceptions of my body {as so many do}. Yoga has been the bridge that has allowed me to connect in a more loving + healthy way with this vessel I’ve been gifted with. As a teacher, I have a deep love for all things vinyasa flow, yin + acro. I am dedicated to offering a lighthearted, creative, body loving + empowering practice for you to fall in love with - a practice that is intentionally designed to encourage you to heal and awaken to exactly how amazing you are meant to feel every day {inside and out}. Expect lots of smiles, hands-on adjustments, sweet music + endless amounts of love. ciarajean.ca

I move my body to still my thoughts and to allow me to tap into the deeper wisdom that exists within me. I believe that our yoga mats are like little laboratories for self-observation: microcosms of our lives “out there in the world”. I have had some of my best “Aha! Moments” on my yoga mat! Off the mat I am a busy mom of seven, and an environmental management consultant who is passionate about reducing our impact on the planet. samatvayoga.ca

For me, yoga provides the tools to live a life of presence, awareness and compassion. Every time we step on our mat is a chance to move energy, learn something new about our bodies and connect our mind, body and breath more harmoniously together. My practice draws inspiration from both biomechanics and evoking a state of flow. I believe in the importance of building strong and resilient bodies through active stretching and functional movement - at the same time, I believe in the power of body, mind and breath connection and the possibility of self-expansion through creative sequencing. In my classes I hope to empower students to increase their mind/body awareness, better understand their body, move with intuition and nourish their individual approach to movement in a safe, inclusive and curious way. Outside of yoga, I love spending time in nature and moving my body in different ways (running, strength training, biking etc.). I also love to read, play the piano and work with my hands...right now I'm into making...

My objective as a teacher is to cultivate an environment where students can feel supported and start to build a curiosity about their own movement. We can become quite disconnected from our bodies as we spend our days existing in our thoughts that really connecting to the physical container where we exist, can be a new adventure. Once that connection has been created it is fun to try new things and explore different movements without putting weight on any specific outcome. I think of it as the way babies learn to walk, they fall over and over again but never see it as a failure. It's all part of the process. When I'm not at the studio I can often be found outside.  I like to spend my days at the park with my son, walking the dog, or running/biking.  I have recently gotten into triathlons so I've been enjoying the training and the challenge of trying something new!

Yoga has brought back my childhood breathe that once escaped me, allowing a positive mindset to grow and practice mindfulness on a daily basis.  Thank you Yogatown! My passions outside of yoga are painting, surrounding myself with humour, friends, and family.

Yoga has changed every aspect of my life. My home life, my work life, and everything I do has been impacted by yoga. Yoga makes me feel great! I like to do yoga because it’s fun, it’s peaceful, it’s energizing and it’s healthy. I always feel great after going to a yoga class. It’s impossible to be grumpy after yoga. Practicing yoga with children is very gratifying. About 15 years ago, I completed the Radiant Child Yoga Teacher certification. Since then have also done Yoga teacher training and Children’s yoga teacher training at Yogatown. I have been able to bring yoga into the classroom at our local schools and in my work at the public library. Through storytelling, activities, games and poses children are free to enjoy an uncomplicated yoga experience. I am passionate about my friends and family… especially my husband, my grandchildren, my children, and my big ol’ dog.

From my very first yoga practice, it felt like an opportunity to hang out and be best friends with my mind and soul. Yoga is truly the unending gift: it becomes whatever I need it to be at that moment, and has permeated into all aspects of my life off the mat. In times of challenge, it reminds me to breathe. To trust the process. I teach to share this feeling, to create a space where people can find their release, and become the most honest version of themselves through movement and breath. I'm lucky to have turned my passion for yoga into my job. But on my down time, I love the simple things: mandatory snuggles with my pets, disappearing behind a book...another lesson yoga continually teaches me is to slow down, and enjoy that less can be more.

My mission as a yoga teacher is to help my students connect with their breath through movement to create what’s know as a "flow state." A state of flow is known as a state of complete immersion in an activity. An experience of being completely involved in an activity for its own sake, where one looses all track of space and time. I LOVE giving this experience to my students through asana (physical yoga postures) — it’s pure magic. In addition to being a full time yoga teacher, I am a mom to a 15 year old daughter. I enjoy all sorts of physical activity but mostly that which keeps me curious about the body and it’s functional movement. I am passionate about natural health and a life long student of energy. soulyoga.me

Yoga has changed the way I connect with myself and the world around me. It allows me to move through life a little slower and appreciate all of life's nuances. This practice has also taught me a lot about compassion. I've learned and am still learning how to love myself everyday when I get on my mat. As I dive deeper into this practice it continues to evolve me outlook on life and how I live everyday. I'm a couch potato at heart who loves everything outdoor & adventure! If I'm not napping I'm hiking, running or frolicking outside.

Yoga has taught me to be more comfortable and kind to myself. It has also taught me to be more open and patient, both on and off my mat.  I’m often in awe of how dedicating time to my practice allows me to recalibrate and bring a more simplistic approach to my life.  Vulnerability, playfulness, intention, beauty, community, self love; these are all lessons that have presented themselves to me in my practice.  I try not to anticipate them when I walk into the studio but, rather, let them unfold organically when the time comes.  Not every practice is pretty.  And that’s okay! In my spare time I enjoy spelunking,  ice climbing, snowboarding and geology — JUST KIDDING. My husband and I are the proud parents of 3 kids who are growing up faster than we’d like to admit.  We are on the precipice of being able explore other interests beyond family oriented adventures, but for now we’re loving this time.

For me, yoga is about that time I make for myself to hit the reset button. To disconnect from the world, and reconnect with myself. I found Yogatown at a particularly challenging time in my life and the studio became my anchor. I'm forever grateful for my second hOMe. Outside of the studio you can catching me cuddling with my cat Cricket, watching a Formula 1 race, or strolling the neighbourhood with my beau. stacey@myyogatown.com

There is something so divine about yoga, I can't quite explain it. It brings out good vibrations in all facets of my life. The empathy it allows me, has transformed my views and has connected me fully and completely with the world around me. Practicing allows me to be more in tune with others and with myself. My mind has never been more clear and relaxed for which I'm forever grateful. Managing life's stress comes with a natural grace that wasn't there before. Flowing through my days and riding a constant wave of positivity makes me feel like I'm truly living the dream. Honestly there is nothing that gets me where I need to be better than yoga.

I had practiced yoga on and off for about 6 or 7 years, but didn't quite feel “hooked” until I found Yogatown a couple years ago. The warmth of the hot room, the relaxed ambiance of the studio, and the sense of community gave me an instant feeling that I was in the right place. Recently I've realized that when life feels overwhelming and confusing, keeping a regular yoga practice is something I never have to question. If I neglect my practice, I feel the negative effects physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sometimes, it really is that simple. Now that I've joined the admin team, I love seeing new yogis going into their first class often feeling hesitant and nervous, and leaving with a huge smile and knowing look that they've found something special and life-changing. It's a beautiful thing to witness.

I have a passion for health, healing and natural living which has guided my on-going studies of yoga and informs the way I teach. I am a light-hearted, energetic, nature-loving yoga teacher who is known for my capacity to create a warm and welcoming space for all students. My yoga teaching style is inquisitive, playful and joyfully blends asana with breath, sound and meditation. My intention is to bring balance to the body/mind so that the natural joy of living and being can shine through.

Yoga has given me the framework to understand and connect to who I truly am. It is a complete honour to offer this framework to others and see how it influences their lives. In my classes, I invite my students to show up for who they are in the moment with curiosity and love. I love to teach tools that can be used in your every day life. I love live music, long boarding and my dog. I try and live life to the fullest every single day.

I was raised in a religious environment, but the first time I felt truly connected to spirit was in a yoga practice.  I remember thinking, as I lay in Corpse Pose, “This is the closest to spirit I will ever be.”  While I love the physical benefits of a yoga practice, what keeps me coming back is the capacity of the practice to make all aspects of my life and the relationship to my life better.  Instead of focusing on what I lack, yoga accepts me as I am, and gives me the space to feel into what is real moment to moment. My mission as a teacher is to create a safe and inclusive space where we can connect to our authentic selves and shine our lights brightly.   Yoga is for everybody. Outside of teaching I am an animal and nature lover.  I spend my time outside with my chocolate lab Misu.  I work as a Massage Therapist and am a student of Psychotherapy.  I am interested in reading, podcasts, connecting with friends through laughter, coffee,...

My yoga practice began over 15 years ago when I was told it would help heal my lower back issues. Since then, not only did I feel stronger physically, but mentally as well. Yoga has opened my mind along with heart and has had a calming effect in my daily life. It has taught me so much about myself, about life and about the people around me and has made me more aware of the choices I make. These days, the true gift of yoga has given me the ability to listen and not always react. Being a full-time mom, yoga has helped me maintain a balanced attitude in my day-to-day life.

Yin Yoga is my passion. Although I love teaching and practicing different styles of Yoga, my love is for Yin and the wonder of all that it offers and brings to the body, mind and soul. My intention in teaching Yin is that it enlightens my students in the same way as it has for me. Outside of teaching Yin and having a passion for it, I am a Reflexology Therapist with a  passion for empowering people to heal holistically with Reflexology as they do with Yin Yoga. I am a serious foodie who loves to cook. I love being outside in nature where I feel as grounded as I do when I’m on my yoga mat. solefulyin.com

Yoga is my prayer in motion. Every time I step on the mat is a new chance to learn something about myself and to quietly observe my inner strength. Through practice I have acquired tools which have helped me live a more balanced, healthy and fulfilled life. I have overcome shame/self doubt after recovering from addiction and believe yoga has changed my brain chemistry from "scattered and shattered" to "whole and at peace". I am here to help guide you on your own journey of self discovery through the power of movement and breath. See you in the hot room!

Yoga has taught me to get out of my head and back into my heart. It challenges me every day, encourages me to step outside of my comfort zone, and feels like a coming home each time I step back onto my yoga mat. The first time I walked into Yogatown, I instantly knew this would become my favourite place to practice. The community is so warm and welcoming, each teacher has something completely different to offer and the space feels like a sanctuary. I never knew how much I valued a silent hot room until I stepped into this one. Each student shows up to practice for different reasons...My aim as a teacher is to provide a space where each student can find what they need out of their own practice. See you on the mat! ashleynotley.com

My journey with yoga began after the birth of my second daughter. At first, it was merely a workout and a chance to escape the demands of parenting and a high-stress career. But I quickly realized the mental and spiritual benefits of my practice - for the first time in years, I felt connected to my true Self. Yoga has helped me shift from overdrive to neutral, from the future to the now. Yogatown holds a special place in my heart - from the strong sense of community to the positive energy that radiates through the space, stepping into the studio feels just like coming home. I'm blessed to have gained a second "family" at Yogatown! Anything is possible when you live a mindful and authentic life, and I'm grateful to step into the teaching role to help others discover this magic! When not in the studio, I help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses on Shopify. I also spin, run and snowboard and try to spend as much time as...

Genevieve’s teaching is heavily influenced by her upbringing of being raised on a sailboat on the ocean. Her creative sequencing encourages you to let go of expectation and assumptions- as you are taken on a journey through the waves of the breath. Infused with soulful purpose and intention, expect to laugh, learn, play and explore the depths of your whole self. Genevieve is a Yoga Ambassador for Lole Ottawa as well as Ottawa based Free Soul Malas. She is the founder of Upeksha Yoga Teacher Training, where she holds yearly Trainings in South Goa, India. genevievemunro.com

One of my favourite direct translations of the Sanskrit word yoga is “expedient device” - another way of saying “the yoga works”. Its diversity of application means there’s so many routes to engagement, and I like to walk these intersecting paths with all the good company I find. My teaching focuses on a holistic approach to yoga that widens the circle - including diverse mobilities and people. Sometimes I feel like I’m so immersed in yoga that there is no other hobby, but if you count parenting, I’m immersed in that, too! We have a home in the woods, and my family, friends and our home are the focus of my time beyond yoga and meditation. (Family is a yoga practice, too, of course!) intelligentedge.yoga Check out Kathryn's podcast

I came to yoga about 10 years ago as a way to stay physically active after retiring from competitive gymnastics. I found creativity in movement again, and a way to challenge myself and test boundaries in my body. While the physical practice of asana initially brought me to yoga, it was the mental and the spiritual aspects of the practice that led me to stay... and to ultimately make a career in the teachings of yoga. Yoga is an ongoing practice that evolves as we do... we never step onto our mat the same person, and that's what keeps it interesting! I came to yoga about 10 years ago as a way to stay physically active after retiring from competitive gymnastics. I found creativity in movement again, and a way to challenge myself and test boundaries in my body. While the physical practice of asana initially brought me to yoga, it was the mental and the spiritual aspects of the practice that led me to stay... and to ultimately make...

Yoga has brought so many positives to my life. It challenges me to check in on a regular basis, and encourages me to listen to my heart and embrace my true self. What draws me to Yogatown is the great sense of community. I feel welcome every time I walk through the doors, and energized and alive when I leave. I am proud to be both a teacher and student at this amazing studio. I feel so fortunate to have found yoga and be able to share it with my family. It's pretty cool watching my young children practice at home. I look forward to witnessing the impact that yoga will undoubtedly have on all of our lives.

My goal as a teacher is to encourage my students to build a confident relationship with being challenged. Yoga has brought so much confidence, self awareness and clarity to my life and I love to see students experience that as well. Coming from a background in dance, music is a big part of my practice and teaching. I teach spin as well and draw energy for movement from the beat and bass. I am also an avid snowboarder and weight lifter and believe in integrating multiple modalities and ways to move to create balance in the body and in your life.

Yoga has had such a profound impact on my life. Initially it helped my over active, out of control mind find steadiness + equanimity. Over time it has helped me flow through different stages of life with grace + clarity. I can proudly say I am a more hopeful, compassionate, patient version of myself (most days) thanks to my daily practice. I really don't know how people parent without it. If I have to choose one thing that I love most about Yogatown it's the tribe. I love the students, the staff, and the teachers! I practice where I teach. I think that says it all. Yoga has had such a profound impact on my life. Initially it helped my over active, out of control mind find steadiness + equanimity. Over time it has helped me flow through different stages of life with grace + clarity. I can proudly say I am a more hopeful, compassionate, patient version of myself (most days) thanks to my daily practice. I really don't...

I found yoga in my twenties, initially as a form of exercise,  but over time progressed into so much more. I’m full of fire, a fast moving pitta, walk fast, talk fast, do a million thing in one day kind of gal.  Yoga slows me down!   I’m more grounded, mindful, less reactive, patient, and balanced because of yoga.  Living in the moment is my specialty, and yoga is exactly that.  Slowing down to connect with life, thoughts, feelings, and emotions.  I love teaching yoga because I love helping others to slow down, connect and enjoy what is. Carpe Diem - Seize the Day are words to live by!! As a top producing real estate agent and a hockey mom of 3 boys, balance is a necessity, and carving out time for myself is a non negotiable.  I love to workout, go to yoga or spin classes, and being outdoors-mountain biking, snowboarding and wake boarding. jackiebeaudoin.com

Yoga connects me to my body, clears out the clutter in my mind and reminds me what’s important. As a teacher, that’s what I want to share with students. Outside of yoga I love to dance. And I’ve been known to sneak a few dance moves into a yoga class. 😉 meganbeahen.com

When I was a kid, if you would have told me that I would grow up to become the manager of 3 yoga studios, I would have thought you were out of your mind. Never in my life before yoga was I into "fitness". Team sports and working out were not a part of my life. Over a decade ago, I had a roommate drag me along to a hot yoga class with her and I was nervous beyond belief. What would people think of me? Am I going to have to chant? What if I don't know how to do the moves? As the old saying goes, you never forget your first time. I left that class feeling humbled, but also on top of the world. Yoga had me hold up a mirror to myself and really dive deeper into what was holding me back with my limiting beliefs. Yoga showed me how to take care of my physical health and as the years went on, that sneaky mental...

20 years ago my best friend brought me to my very first yoga class and it was an experience I'll never forget.  I struggled A LOT (I was so out of shape) but something lit up inside me.  I remember walking home after class, down that same street I had walked thousands of times before, only this time the trees looked different. Everything looked brighter. More alive. More vivid.  I felt relaxed, and not in a sleepy sense, but in an “I know that everything is going to be ok” kind of way. I am often asked, "how often do you practice yoga?"  And for me now, yoga is a way of life.  It helped more than anything else with my depression.  It has improved my relationship with myself and others.  It helps me stay grounded and centred in this hectic past-paced world.  It's a one-stop shop for me - chiropractic, personal training, self-care and most of all, my therapy, all wrapped up in one 60min class. While I have been teaching yoga for many years, I...

I was first introduced to meditation at 12 years old and then yoga in my late teens. They’ve both been a part of my life ever since and have influenced me in more ways than I can explain. When I first began to practice it was with curiosity, then over time I practiced with dedication, and now after 30+ years I practice with a sense an increasing sense of ease. I no longer measure my practice by poses I can hold or how few thoughts I have during my meditation, but instead I practice based on my intuition, listening to my body and breath for guidance to create space and balance in my life. Blah! Cheesy I know, but it’s true. 🙂 One of the the greatest inspirations for my practice came while watching my children as babies. They would naturally move into positions that we’d call pigeon, or bow, or… you guessed it… child’s pose. Or they'd simply sit and "be", with no agenda or goal. It was then...