Sarah Jane Smith
Why do I practice yoga?
I practice as a way to connect with myself on all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This connection eases anxiety and creates an inner self knowing that translates into being more confident and at home within me. I am curious by nature and like to challenge myself. A well rounded yoga practice offers opportunities for continual learning, challenge (physically and mentally), time to process emotions, and tools to integrate the discoveries on the mat into my life off the mat.
Why do I teach yoga?
I teach with the hopes of inspiring people to discover the subtle power available from of a consistent yoga practice.
Who have I studied with?
During 2009, I lived at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga and studied the Classical Ashtanga teachings of Baba Hari Dass. This included karma yoga, asana, yoga philosophy, meditation, pranayama and kirtan. Since then I have completed over 1000 hours of training with the inspirational faculty of Moksha/Modo yoga - Ted Grand, Jessica Robertson, Frank Jude Boccio and Ray Long to name a few - and am certified to teach Moksha levels 1 & 2 plus Moksha Flow. I have also studied Yin yoga with Joe Barnett, Children’s yoga at SSCY and am a Paddle Canada Certified Stand up Paddleboard instructor. Most recently, I have also studied with Natalie Rousseau and continue to gain knowledge and experience on how to be a forever student so that I can evolve and grow as a teacher. Most recently, I have completed Yoga Philosophy and Advanced Vinyasa Intensives with Natalie.
What can you expect from my classes?
You can expect variety with purpose, alignment based instruction, opportunities to explore, individualized verbal instruction and modifications, invitations into self awareness and discovery, challenge, breath awareness, seasonally themed intentions and looooong savasanas.
Andrea Palframan
Why do I practice Yoga?
I practice yoga to still my swinging mind, get in touch with my body, open to mystery and make space apart from crowded thoughts. Also to stay sane and stay fit.
Why do I teach Yoga?
I am a bit of an accidental yoga teacher but have found great nourishment and challenge from teaching group asana classes. Teaching yoga is incredibly inspiring as I watch students blossom, deepen their commitments to the practice and do amazingly beautiful, brave things with their bodies! I love the process of crafting a class with intention according to a particular theme, as well as being in the moment and allowing inspiration to lead the class in unexpected directions. I am also fond of putting together sweet playlists and seeing how breath, movement and music commingle to create magic!
Who have I studied with?
I studied with Moksha Yoga, completing a 500 hour teacher training in Nicaragua and from Salt Spring in 2015. I have also taken a Flow Training with Nathalie Rousseau, working with 50 other yoga teachers to carefully sequence poses in the more fluid, dance like Vinyasa style.
What can you expect from my classes?
My classes are foundational hot yoga classes, with temperature at 36 degrees celsius. I aim to make ALL my classes accessible to all levels from beginner to advanced. Based on a structured set of asanas which repeat from class to class, students can gain an understanding and core competency in classic Hatha asana while deepening their connection to breathwork and cultivating mindfulness. Classes open with vigorous standing series, leading to peak poses incorporating balancing, twisting and back bending, then move to more yin-style stretching and strength building poses on the floor. No prior experience is necessary: just bring your mat, a water bottle and the desire to learn.
I practice yoga to still my swinging mind, get in touch with my body, open to mystery and make space apart from crowded thoughts. Also to stay sane and stay fit.
Why do I teach Yoga?
I am a bit of an accidental yoga teacher but have found great nourishment and challenge from teaching group asana classes. Teaching yoga is incredibly inspiring as I watch students blossom, deepen their commitments to the practice and do amazingly beautiful, brave things with their bodies! I love the process of crafting a class with intention according to a particular theme, as well as being in the moment and allowing inspiration to lead the class in unexpected directions. I am also fond of putting together sweet playlists and seeing how breath, movement and music commingle to create magic!
Who have I studied with?
I studied with Moksha Yoga, completing a 500 hour teacher training in Nicaragua and from Salt Spring in 2015. I have also taken a Flow Training with Nathalie Rousseau, working with 50 other yoga teachers to carefully sequence poses in the more fluid, dance like Vinyasa style.
What can you expect from my classes?
My classes are foundational hot yoga classes, with temperature at 36 degrees celsius. I aim to make ALL my classes accessible to all levels from beginner to advanced. Based on a structured set of asanas which repeat from class to class, students can gain an understanding and core competency in classic Hatha asana while deepening their connection to breathwork and cultivating mindfulness. Classes open with vigorous standing series, leading to peak poses incorporating balancing, twisting and back bending, then move to more yin-style stretching and strength building poses on the floor. No prior experience is necessary: just bring your mat, a water bottle and the desire to learn.
Howie Baral
Why do I practice yoga?
Well, I’ve been standing on my hands since I was a young teenager and movement has been part of my being since I can remember. From practicing gymnastics to martial arts to yoga, they are all related. The beauty about practicing yoga is it combines a little gymnastics, a little martial arts, and adds the intense focus on the breath which helps create balance of mind, body, and spirit, all in one practice!
Why do I teach yoga?
I love the quote from George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing. I love being playful in my practice and when I teach I playfully guide my students to have fun. When we play, we are ageless. Recently I took a “wall” class with Celeste at the Salt Spring Wellness Center and the lovely woman next to me after we both came down from the wall from “hanging” upside down said to me, “I feel like a kid again!" I think that’s part of why I teach because I can be a kid again with my friends and new friends all the time!
Who have I studied with?
I’ve studied with Bryan Kest, creator of Power Yoga, completed my 200 hr RYT training with Rudy Mettia, and completed a 300 hr RYT training for restorative yoga with Jules Mitchell, author of “Yoga Biomechanics - Stretching Redefined”. I am, drum roll please, also a Laugher Yoga instructor, so be prepared to laugh with some Laughter Yoga mixed in, whether the laughter is real or not, you'll make it, even if you fake it!
What can you expect from my classes?
The most important part of yoga I tell my students, is the outfit! Wait, did I just say that? Expect to be challenged in a fun and playful and always mindful way. Let’s together light the fire that is inside all of us!
Well, I’ve been standing on my hands since I was a young teenager and movement has been part of my being since I can remember. From practicing gymnastics to martial arts to yoga, they are all related. The beauty about practicing yoga is it combines a little gymnastics, a little martial arts, and adds the intense focus on the breath which helps create balance of mind, body, and spirit, all in one practice!
Why do I teach yoga?
I love the quote from George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; We grow old because we stop playing. I love being playful in my practice and when I teach I playfully guide my students to have fun. When we play, we are ageless. Recently I took a “wall” class with Celeste at the Salt Spring Wellness Center and the lovely woman next to me after we both came down from the wall from “hanging” upside down said to me, “I feel like a kid again!" I think that’s part of why I teach because I can be a kid again with my friends and new friends all the time!
Who have I studied with?
I’ve studied with Bryan Kest, creator of Power Yoga, completed my 200 hr RYT training with Rudy Mettia, and completed a 300 hr RYT training for restorative yoga with Jules Mitchell, author of “Yoga Biomechanics - Stretching Redefined”. I am, drum roll please, also a Laugher Yoga instructor, so be prepared to laugh with some Laughter Yoga mixed in, whether the laughter is real or not, you'll make it, even if you fake it!
What can you expect from my classes?
The most important part of yoga I tell my students, is the outfit! Wait, did I just say that? Expect to be challenged in a fun and playful and always mindful way. Let’s together light the fire that is inside all of us!