Janice

Janice

Janice has been actively involved in the Ottawa Yoga Community for over 20 years. Throughout her career, Janice has travelled the world teaching movement, fitness and yoga. Her expertise brought her back to Ottawa to conduct Teacher Trainings and workshops over the years. Janice has been accepted into and completed five Teacher Training courses from renowned Richard Freeman. These trainings have had an enormous influence and inspiration on her for which she is grateful. Janice was also able to study with Pattabi Jois when he visited Canada.She holds a special place for meditation and has studied at the Shambala Center in Boulder Colorado. She teaches from the heart to make all feel comfortable and inspired to follow their own path. Janice continues to teach, grow, study, meditate and hold space for all who want to share and learn from this beautiful practice. Hope to see you on the mat soon!...
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Sue

Sue

Sue has practiced and taught yoga and meditation for over 25 years. As a Radiant Child Yoga Training facilitator, she has taught over 1000 new children’s teachers from Halifax to Yellowknife as well as in Ireland, England, Scotland and the US. She works with children and adults of all ages and abilities, sharing meditation, yoga and fun! Sue also has wide experience working with children with Special Needs. As a High School Science/Math Tutor she regularly shares meditation methods to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and/or mitigate challenges associated with ADD/HD. Sue is passionate about giving the Gift of Yoga to children and believes that yoga is an instruction manual for children to live their best life. Yoga keeps children happy, healthy and fully alive. Sue has 3 children of her own and is a keen triathlete and enjoys reading, knitting and open-water swimming. Sue’s Certifications: Completed levels I and II of Socially Engaged Buddhism Certificate Upaya, New Mexico (Zen Buddhism) headed by...
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Johanna

Johanna

Johanna was introduced to yoga as a teenager and quickly fell in love with it. She deepened her commitment to yoga by completing a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with PranaShanti in 2010. Since then, she has explored various yoga and meditation practices for personal growth, finding the mind-body connection to be a powerful tool for self-awareness. While living in the Arctic and teaching yoga in Iqaluit, Johanna developed an interest in Trauma-Informed approaches, particularly Sensory-Enhanced Yoga for self-regulation and healing. Trained in Restorative, Hatha, Meditation, and Mindfulness practices, and she holds a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Ottawa. Johanna appreciates the adaptability of yoga, recognizing its ability to cater to different needs at various stages of life. Her diverse training has taught her the understanding that each person has unique needs in yoga; there is no one-size-fits-all approach. For over a decade, Johanna has integrated yoga and meditation into her career as an occupational therapist and finance coordinator....
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Bren

Bren

Bren’s mission is to help you advance your yoga practice, live in tune with the seasons, and experience the benefits of meditation (even if you don’t like to sit still!). In her classes you will find clear, directive language, and respect for your individual anatomy and experience. She specializes in the connection between Yin Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine and creative sequencing in both strengthening and gentle Flow styles. Bren is passionate about helping practitioners realize they are the observer of their experience and to share in a practice of intentional choices that help bring one to present moment awareness. Bren is a long-time yoga practitioner, and has used traditional yoga practices as well as modern mindfulness and psychology to greatly improve her sleep, become less reactive, and to find some peace in both stillness and movement. She holds RYT500 designation and has taken additional trainings in Yin, Mindfulness, Yoga for Chronic Pain, and is a Trauma Informed Facilitator. When not teaching or practicing...
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Catherine

Catherine

Catherine is a Full Professor of Philosophy at the University of Ottawa. She received her PhD at the University of La Sorbonne in Paris (France). She specializes in Ancient Greek philosophy and Buddhist philosophy, and teaches meditation. She is co-founder of the Contemplative Studies Programme at the University of Ottawa, and a member of the University’s Academy of Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies. She has published numerous books and articles on Homer, the Presocratics, Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus. Her current research focuses on Buddhist philosophy, especially on metaphysics and consciousness, as the foundation for an original conception of philosophy, which she calls ‘contemplative philosophy’, based on contemplative practices including meditation and yoga. Contemplative philosophy develops a dialogue between Buddhist philosophy and contemplative neuroscience. Its chief topics include the nature of the mind, its functioning, and its potential to be transformed. Its purpose is to demonstrate that philosophy is a way of life and a path to liberation—a path that leads to a...
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Max

Max

Max Strom, renowned speaker, author, and breathwork teacher, has spent over 30 years teaching emotional healing and transformation through his Breathe to Heal method. This approach alleviates anxiety and sleep issues, fostering profound personal and relational changes. His four TEDx Talks, including the viral Breathe to Heal talk, have captivated global audiences, while his books, including "There is No App for Happiness" and "A Life Worth Breathing" continue to inspire worldwide. With a third book coming soon, Max’s work extends beyond the page through in-person courses, livestream workshops, and online content. Explore Max’s teachings at www.maxstrom.com to embark on a transformative journey towards a life of meaning and purpose. “I spent a lot of time exploring various meditative and movement practices. However, it wasn’t until I found Max’s Inner Axis approach that I was able to finally recover from decades of battling depression and anxiety. I can’t express how grateful I am for what Max has created – it is simple and yet also deeply...
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Saba

Saba

Professor Saba Alvi is an award-winning professor and anti-racism educator. Her courses explore issues around anti-racism and anti-oppression pedagogy, marginalized youth and BIPOC youth subcultures. She also serves as an Anti-Racism Consultant for schools with large BIPOC student populations. She completed her PhD in Education at the University of Ottawa. Her doctoral research explored how Muslim youth subcultures perform identity through clothing, such as the hijab. 5+ years of experience in teaching and research at the post-secondary level. Areas of interest include: Anti-racism, Cultural Studies, Youth Subcultures, Society and Schooling, Women/Gender studies, Public Pedagogy and Identity/Subjectivity...
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Shannon

Shannon

Shannon is our 200-Hour Program and 800-Hour Program Training Co-ordinator. With a profound commitment to the practice of yoga, Shannon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that enriches the training journey for every student who embarks on this transformative path. Shannon's journey as a lifelong learner of yoga has been nothing short of inspiring. Having not only completed two 200-Hour Yoga Trainings, but also having immersed herself in a multitude of specialized courses and advanced trainings, Shannon has cultivated a deep understanding of the holistic principles that underpin the yogic tradition. Her intention is to help each student grow their yogic understanding of their body, mind and spirit, enabling them to learn to be their own teacher. Shannon can be contacted at shannon@pranashanti.com for any program questions.  ...
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Dev Suroop

Dev Suroop

Dev Suroop Kaur delights in sharing the pure practicality of nurturing a successful and deeply authentic life. An accomplished musician, recording artist, Naad Yogini and sound healer, Dev Suroop Kaur strives to break it down, keep it real, and guide students to their own empowered authenticity. From the deeply contemplative compositions in her recordings Sahej and Narayan, to the hip, edgy beats of her chant-rap album Kundalini Beat, Dev Suroop Kaur offers an extraordinary range of styles to invoke the experience of the Divine Spirit. Blessed to study and practice yoga and meditation for most of her life, she gratefully shares what she has learned – and continues to learn – about how to love, work, and live better in the world. She deeply enjoys training others in the science of Naad Yoga, conscious communication, and how to access the beauty and power of their personal voice. She currently lives with her husband in Espanola, New Mexico and, in addition to her teaching...
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Kat

Kat

Katherine completed her initial teacher training, here in Ottawa, in 2012. She has been teaching yoga and meditation in the Ottawa-Gatineau region ever since - in studios as well as within the local health and social service sector - alongside her work as a psychotherapist and clinical manager. Since 2016, Katherine is trained and certified as a yoga therapist within the Krishnamacharya tradition of yoga, also known as Viniyoga. She continues to study, practice, and receive mentorship in this tradition, while continuing to explore the vast wisdom of yoga across all lineages and schools of thought. She has weaved yoga therapy into the fabric of her life and career because she knows its effectiveness in restoring wellness first hand, and sees the results in the people she works with. She is a mother, a dog-owner, a nature-lover, and writer, who is always looking for ways to deepen her own practice. You can count on Katherine's classes to be breath-centered, regardless of the...
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