Meet our yoga teachers!
Roxanne Joly
Roxanne fell in love with the art of yoga practice in Toronto in 1998. She recognized the profound life changes and benefits inspired by yoga, such as deep relaxation, patience, strength, stamina and overall well-being. She rapidly incorporated yoga into her daily life and embarked on the study of yoga philosophy. Karma yoga, the path of selfless service, is her passion. Following this new path, she completed an in-depth, 7-month Hatha yoga teacher training course in order to share her love of yoga with the community. Working with students and seeing the beneficial effects of yoga in their lives inspires her with every class she teaches. She is excited to be part of Upward Dog yoga family, and along with her peers to offer a wealth of yoga traditions to students in the Ottawa region. Top
Yogi Vishvketu
Yogi Vishvketu has studied and practiced Hatha and Raja yoga and the Vedic healing arts in northern India since childhood. From the age of 8, he studied Vedic wisdom at Kanvashram in the foothills of the Himalayas. With its historic temple and Ayurvedic clinic, Kanvashram attracts many yogic saints and Ayurvedic masters and was an ideal place to absorb these ancient healing and consciousness-raising traditions.
Vishva went on to attain a Bachelor's degree in Sports and Humanities with a specialization in yoga, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Yoga Philosophy. While at the University of Haridwar, he also pursued courses in Naturopathy, Reike, Pranic Healing, and Yoga Therapy. In 1992 and 1995, he won the All India Inter-University Yoga Championships. He moved to Ottawa in 2001, where he continues to dedicate himself to teaching the arts of yoga and Ayurveda. For the past three years, he has taught and demonstrated at the Toronto Yoga Show and Conference. His instructional DVD entitled Moving into Bliss with Yoga presents a balanced sequence of asana and pranayama techniques in a harmonious and meditative flow set to classical Indian music.
At Upward Dog, he teaches Hatha-Raja, Classical Kundalini and Warrior Yoga, as well as co-teaching the teacher training program, bringing his passion for yoga and fun-loving nature to the classes.
Vishva also has his own yoga website.
Vishva will be in India at the new Ashram from September 20th 2007 to April 2008. He will be offering yoga classes at the Toronto Yoga show April 24th to the 27th 2008. Should you wish to contact him you may do so at yogafamily@hotmail.com He will be back to teach the Summer Intensive Teacher Training starting June 2008.
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Chétana Panwar
Chétana was introduced to meditation and yoga in 1993. Upon returning from a two-year stay in Asia, she adopted yoga as an all-encompassing lifestyle, faith and culture: the path of self-realization and service to humanity. Born a mystic to an agnostic intellectual family, she found her true nature in both Jnana and Bhakti yoga: philosophical contemplation, and devotional practices. “Yoga is unity in diversity, and allows us to recognize that the apparent duality between mind and heart is illusory”. Chétana enjoys leading kiirtan at satsang gatherings, and brings chanting and inspirational messages to her classes. Alongside her Master's degree in adult education, she received yoga teacher training at Kanvashram (India), Sivananda ashram, and prenatal teacher training with Monica Voss. Chétana teaches prenatal and Hatha classes, as well as philosophy, methodology and yogic lifestyle for the teacher training programs, at Upward Dog Yoga Center and for World Conscious Yoga Family. Top
Lucy Castell
Lucy completed her first intensive teacher training, in Hatha yoga, here in Ottawa (2001-2002). Recently, she completed a second intensive teacher training program in Colorado (2006), studying Ashtanga yoga, with Richard Freeman.
She discovered Hatha yoga several years ago and was drawn to it's discipline, multitude of health benefits, and the simple enjoyment she felt in and around her practice. As Lucy's level of ability in asana became more advanced, she opened herself up to the idea of yoga asana competition. In 2005, she competed in the Bishnu Cup International Yoga Asana Championship, in Los Angeles, representing Eastern Canada. She values that experience highly. Lucy has published an article discussing the challenges that newcomers face is their practice. She was also selected for two covers, with UK's YOGA Magazine Body Mind Spirit.
Her love of yoga is shared in her daily teaching and flows into her way of living. Top
Jo-Ann Oosterman
Jo-Ann first discovered yoga on a camping trip in the mid 90's. Yoga has become an important part of her life and she is now a certified Hatha yoga instructor. Alongside her growing passion for yoga, in 1996 she obtained her BA in Psychology, and spent several years working with people who are marginalized due to poverty, mental illness and addictions. In January of 2001, she started her company, Yogo, making creative and impeccably stitched clothes and products “for yoga or not”. Upward Dog is happy to be able to make her products available at the center. Jo-Ann’s sincerity and compassion shine through in the restorative Hatha yoga classes she teaches. Top
Vanessa Tomlinson
Vanessa was introduced to the basic principals of Hatha Yoga several years ago. She later deepened her knowledge of yoga through consistent practice and graduating from an in-depth, 200-hour Hatha Yoga teacher training, under the inspirational teachings of Yogi Vishvketu. As a certified yoga instructor, Vanessa strives to teach classes that are warm and challenging, nurturing and invigorating, all at the same time. She loves to see the joys of yoga reveal them self as her students discover the endless benefits of this ancient practice. Vanessa continues to explore all forms of yoga on and off the mat, and is grateful to all her teachers, past and future for continually shedding light along every step of her journey. She is ever appreciative of the beauty of the Upward Dog Yoga community. Top
Hélène
Hélène has been involved in sports her whole life, she practiced swimming, water polo and ski competitively. Hélène started her yoga practice five years ago with Mark Darby at his Ashtanga Studio in Montreal, then moved on to Hatha and was trained as a teacher by Karen Claffey of "Heaven on Earth" studio in the teaching of Hatha yoga influenced by Anusara (a technique perfected by John Friend; "Anusara's remarkable popularity is due in large part to its uplifting philosophy, epitomized by a "celebration of the heart," that looks for the good in all people and all things. Consequently, students of all levels of ability and yoga experience are honored for their unique differences, limitations, and talents." Another influence in Hélène's teaching comes from Dr. Ray Long, an orthopedic surgeon who studied with Iyengar and has perfected his own style of yoga called "Bandha Yoga". His technique achieves great results in deepening students' postures. Hélène's style of teaching is flowing and intense and she loves to promote a sense of play in her students. Her classes are always full of laughter. Top
Andrea Robertson
Andrea discovered yoga, like many people, as a way to release and stretch her tight and overworked muscles, which developed over many years of training. Initially, yoga improved and supplemented Andrea's methods as a personal trainer and spinning instructor; but soon, she realized that yoga is a means of physical, mental, and spiritual transformation. Andrea deepened her own yoga practice -attending classes daily to learn from different teachers and experience a variety of styles - which lead her to enroll in and complete a 200 hr. intensive Hatha teacher training program under the guidance of Yogi Vishva. Currently, Andrea teaches a variety of yoga classes that draw from her background in personal training and her knowledge of different forms of yoga practice to increase strength, improve flexibility, and calm the mind. Andrea's classes include: Vinyasa flow, power yoga, and yoga abs at Upward Dog Yoga Studio. She is delighted and fulfilled, as a teacher, to see student's progress and find peace in their own practice. Top
Elizabeth Marie
Elizabeth who has a B.A. in Business Administration and a B. Comm., became a Certified General Accountant in 1980. She worked in management for over 20 years and in 1998 joined the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Quebec. In 1986, she began to study classical singing, and until 1998, performed in concerts in the National Capital Region and sang on many occasions with Ottawa 's Opera Lyra company. While searching for a truly balanced lifestyle, she discovered yoga in 1991 and has never looked back. In 2003, she entered an eight-month certification program with Yogi Vishvketu and Chétana Panwar. She then completed prenatal teacher training with Monica Voss. Elizabeth Marie has been teaching regularly ever since, placing an emphasis on the idea that yoga is a healthy and simple philosophy that is accessible to everyone. Her style draws upon Kripalu yoga, which uses the traditional poses of Hatha yoga to develop the witness consciousness necessary for the integration of body, mind and spirit. Top
Eva (Prema)
Eva began practicing yoga in 1985 as part of her personal journey in Eastern philosophy. She first studied Hatha Yoga in Ottawa with a teacher trained in Kullu, India. Eva also practiced Sivananda Yoga at the Stillpoint Yoga centre near Kingston for a number of years. To advance her practice, Eva undertook the 6-month intensive teacher training course at Upward Dog with Yogi Vishvketu and Chetana Panwar. She traveled with Vishva and Chetana to India to expand her practice even further. Eva has been teaching since 2000 in several workplaces in Ottawa, Stillpoint Yoga centre, Refugio Altiplano (Peru), and Upward Dog. She teaches Hatha and Kundalini yoga and is grateful to share her calmness and loving energy with her students.
Nicole
Nicole has always enjoyed exploring the bodies physical movement in different ways. She has practiced ballet, various forms of dance professionally, and was an equestrian. She has taught dance and areobics. Her focus now is on Yoga which combines the physical fitness with mindfullness. Yoga is inclusive with specific movements to stimulate the glands, internal organs and muscles while in turn bringing joyfullness and peace to the mind.
Nicole hope for students to feel good on the inside and out from practicing Yoga.She has found it to personally benefit all aspects of her life and hopes to share similar experiences with her students. While working at the Yoga center Nicole familiarized herself with Yogic philosophy and has tried to bring this to her daily life.
She is Yoga Alliance Certified with Yogi Vishvaketu and has attended various Yoga workshops on postures, pranayama (breath) and meditation to inhance her practice and to share her knowledge with others. Top
Loren Crawford
Loren Crawford has been practicing Yoga for over 10 years. Loren completed the Teacher Training Course to deepen his own practice and to better understand the breadth of Yoga. Since then his love of Yoga has blossomed more and he continues a path of self directed and teacher-lead study.
Loren's love for Ayurveda germinated with TTC and he has since become a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner. Loren is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experiences of Yoga and Ayurveda with students - helping himself and them become forces of good.
He continues to grow and develop as a Yoga practitioner and student, seeing this as a life-long journey of growth and transformation.
Prabhat
Prabhat has been practicing raja yoga for 25 years. He has learned and developed the classical style of yoga following the teachings of Baba Hari Dass and Patanjali.
Through his own experience and study he has synthesized yoga, so that the approach is one of clarity and simplicity with a touch of lightness and devotion.
Prabhat will be teaching the new Meditation and Yoga course. Top
Yohanna Berg
Yohanna was led to yoga by recurring back pain that was associated with a knee injury. Desperate to relieve the pain, she decided to give yoga a try. She quickly discovered that yoga not only helped alleviate her pain, but it also brought a new stillness to her otherwise busy life.
Though pain and injury are what brought her to yoga, pain management is not what kept her there. After just a few months of regular practice, the physical and mental benefits of yoga were very noticeable. Today, feelings of lightness, fluidity, calm and strength are what keep her on her yoga mat. Yohanna believes that if one truly experiences yoga and its many benefits, there is no going back.
Yohanna's journey began in 1999, and in 2005, she became a certified teacher through the Yoga Alliance, having studied at Upward Dog Yoga Studio under the guidance of Yogi Vishvketu, and Chetana Panwar. Her journey has continued through studying with Yogi Visvha in India and through her self study and practice.
Yohanna brings joy and curiosity to her yoga classes, encouraging others to embark on their own journey of discovery. Top
Todd Lavictoire
Todd originally began his yoga journey as a means to lengthen tight and overtrained muscles. Although for years, yoga was a cross-training activity for his weight training and competitive team sports activities, he inevitably found yoga appealing on other levels. He noticed early on that his practice helped to centre and calm him. He observed first hand how one's practice moves the mind, body and spirit to evolve in unison. For him, he observed first how changes in the body were reflected in changes in the mind and spirit; as his body opened the mind and spirit followed.
His yoga practice also integrated well with his interests in philosophy and literature. And more recently, his children Ethan, Maya and Dharma have become the benefactors of his yogic pursuits -- Happily being raised in a yogic household.
Todd completed his yoga teacher training under the tutelage of Yogi Vishveketu in May 2004. Top
Charmaigne Wegenast
Charmaigne has been practicing yoga for over ten years. In the 1990s she sought out its benefits as a way to relieve stress and to carve out some personal time in an otherwise overfull life.
She is a Yoga Alliance certified teacher, having studied at Upward Dog Yoga Studio under the guidance of Yogi Vishvketu, Chetana Panwar & Roxanne Joly. She holds certificates in Hatha, Hatha Raja and YogaEd (children's yoga).
A workshop on Yoga for Women in 1994, facilitated by Shakta Kaur Khalsa, inspired her to focus on the more compassionate styles of yoga. In 2006 she studied meditation techniques with Lynne Cardinal, and continues to explore the many aspects of yoga, such as pranayam, meditation and ayurveda through workshops, seminars and classes.
Charmaigne is also trained in other healing modalities such as Shiatsu Massage, Lymphatic Massage and Reiki. She brings a nurturing, compassionate and calm approach to her yoga classes, with the hope that attendees will be inspired to find peace, beauty and mastery of their lives. Her classes are non-competitive and introspective, with a focus on stilling the mind and connecting with the breath. Top
Nikki Manzie
From the time she was young, Nikki has absorbed herself in inquiries into spirit, energy, and body. Her work in yoga and related fields reflects her commitment to the journey of healing, growth and evolution - the place where spirit, energy and body meet. For Nikki, the essence of her work and teaching is to assist in the joyful embrace of one's life and the growth it rewards.
Nikki began a meditation practice at 17 years old and studying yoga and other healing arts in her early twenties. She has been teaching classes, workshops and retreats and facilitating individual healing sessions since 1994.
In 1998, she founded Yanumoja Yoga, a practice of self-exploration through movement, breath, meditation, and reflection on seasonal themes. Nikki invites students to attune themselves to the rhythms and energies of nature in its seasonal flow and not only resonate with these energies, but also amplify them through intent toward self-healing, self-discovery, and personal growth.
She has been providing professional training for yoga teachers since 1998, and in more recent years, her teaching has expanded to include traditional Thai massage and Ayurvedic Marmatherapy (acu-points in the Indian tradition) through her school Three Winds Academy (check out her website!). She can be found teaching yoga at the Movement Arts Ottawa studio right across from the Rideau Centre, and providing training and guest teaching in various centres in Ottawa and surrounding areas.
Nikki's other pursuits include rock-climbing, hiking, camping, and a recent excursion in surfing! Top
Tania Fréchette (Meher Kaur)
Yoga is Tania's passion. She has been captivated since her first class in January 2000. She is an IKYTA certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor as well as a Children and Teen Yoga instructor. Tania teaches Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. She enjoys coming up with monthly themes for her classes. Tania believes that yoga should be fun and inspiring and that it's by "keeping up" that one finds his/her full potential. Top
Would you like to become a Yoga Instructor? We have Yoga Teacher Training scheduled throughout the year. Stop by the front desk for more information.
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