Shanèl (She/Her) is a 200 hour certified teacher with further trainings in accessibility, anti-oppression and the Detour Method. She currently teaches in the GTA and frequents Ottawa and Montreal. She is passionate about making wellness accessible to all communities. She teaches from a body positive, trauma informed and anti-colonial lens. Her favorite part about teaching is connecting through breath and sharing a laugh.

Workshop – Creating Brave Spaces in Yoga with Focus on Inclusion and Anti Oppression 

Explore how to create brave spaces for students to show up their most authentic selves and foster an environment of belonging.  Learn to recognize intersections of privilege and oppression within your yoga practice as well as the yoga industry and understand how you  can use your privilege(s) to create more space for inclusivity and accessibility. We will also talk about inclusive cueing and modifications for bigger bodies as well as disabled bodies.

Allison became a lifetime student and teacher of Yoga in 2001. She has a disciplined self practice and has been teaching alignment based Yoga and Yoga Teacher Trainings for 18 years. Allison has worked extensively in the field of health sciences and research and has had the opportunity to study with world renowned Yogi’s, all of which inspire and inform her ever evolving teachings. Drawing on her studies with Darren Rhodes, David Robson, Cameron Shayne, Fiona Stang and Mark Stephens, Allison brings alignment to the forefront of creatively sequenced Yoga classes that are physiologically nourishing and mentally challenging. In her trainings you’ll find Allison professing passionately about the potential of the Nervous System and how we have the real ability to use Yoga as a way to rewire the way we think, feel and act in the world. In her unique approach to teaching, Allison navigates the traditional and sometimes mystical parts of Yoga with clarity and perspective.

Workshop – The Science of Yoga

As Yoga teachers we have a responsibility to be knowledgeable in our field. In a day where Yoga teachers primarily guide a form of physical movement practice we must have a solid foundation in understanding Kinesiology and Physiology. Our students deserve that.

This unique workshop looks at the nature of our nature from the inside out. Through understanding our Nervous System and all of it’s functions we can truly begin to know ourselves. In fact, we can not talk about ‘the self’ without discussing the Nervous System as it is at the very core of our being. Through the uncovering of what “I” truly is we can tap into the vast potential of our Nervous System and use Yoga as a way to rewire our behaviour patterns on and off the Yoga mat.

Workshop – Budokon and Animal Locomotion

This workshop is one of a kind. Allison and Maegan team up to bring you a hybrid practice that is poetry in motion. Budokon is a flowing movement practice that blends Yoga, Martial Arts and Dance into a mind bending experience of the self.

Jordan Istead has a unique background, having worked as a brewer before transitioning into teaching yoga and meditation. In brewing, Jordan learned the importance of sensory awareness—an essential skill in crafting the perfect product. His interest in traditional brewing methods led him to discover the deep connection between brewing and meditation practices in monastic settings, where both served to support the monastery’s spiritual and physical needs.

Now, as a yoga and meditation teacher, Jordan brings this knowledge to his practice, teaching not only yoga flows and meditation, but also other techniques that help individuals gain more control over their body, mind, and overall experience of consciousness. His approach is grounded in compassion and a desire to help others connect more deeply with themselves.

Workshop – Mastering the Senses

Our senses play a key role in how we experience the world. During his time as a brewer, Jordan engaged in daily sensory analysis to improve his craft and create the best possible product. Now, as a yoga and meditation teacher, he combines this practical experience with traditional techniques designed to hone our sensory abilities.

In this workshop, you’ll learn ways to sharpen your senses (referred to as Indriyas) and explore practices related to sensory withdrawal (Pratyahara). These techniques will help you gain better control over your senses, leading to a more focused and mindful experience of the world.

Workshop – Understanding Consciousness for Yoga and Meditation Practitioners

Have you ever woken up late and immediately felt off-balance because you missed your usual routine of breakfast and coffee? During your commute, your mind keeps thinking about how much better you’d feel if things had gone according to plan. This shift in mindset is a simple example of how consciousness changes from moment to moment.

In this workshop, Jordan will guide you through some common questions about consciousness that arise in yoga and meditation. Drawing from his experience as both a meditation guide and a former brewer, he’ll explore topics like why our minds fluctuate and how our daily experiences shape our sense of self. From a disrupted morning to deeper concepts of enlightenment, this workshop will help you better understand the nature of human experience and consciousness. Jordan will present these ideas in a clear and approachable way for anyone to grasp, regardless of experience level.

The OMBuds are a close-knit group of friends dedicated to spreading love and consciousness through Bhakti yoga. Drawing inspiration from the Dharma Yoga Kirtan Band in New York City, they serve a similar mission across the USA/Canada border and beyond. As yogis, musicians, artists, visionaries, and seekers, they aim to share the profound benefits of Bhakti Yoga through the practice of kirtan. Primarily, they perform their own original bhajans and musical arrangements of mantras. However, they also enjoy presenting personal renditions of traditional chants and bhajans from contemporary kirtan wallahs. By exploring a broad range of music, they hope to resonate with every attendee, ensuring a safe and inviting space for participation at any comfort level. This musical and creative expression fosters deeply positive emotions, leading participants towards what can be described as divine bliss. They eagerly anticipate chanting with others and believe in the benefits derived from the high vibrations created during their gatherings and chants.

Workshop – Bhakti Yoga: The Path of Devotion

“Clap your hands and sing together with great enthusiasm… soon you will start to feel the bliss!” —Sri Dharma Mittra

This workshop is an exploration of Bhakti yoga through the practice of kirtan. Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion, of which we often hear is the easiest way to experience exceeding bliss.

Kirtan is a truly simple yet beautiful way to access the Divine Essence that resides within us. By chanting mantras and bhajans (spiritual songs) in a communal setting, powerful vibrations are produced and positive emotions are evoked that propel us to an elevated state. As a result, the mind becomes peaceful, magnanimous and content, and the heart is rendered pure. At the highest level of practice, kirtan can bring about spiritual purification and healing, and a deeper sense of connection with Divinity. It is a practice that paves a direct path to the heart.

Olivia Gilmer-Chekosky is a Clinical Social Worker (MSW. RSW) & 200 hour RYT, with further certifications in Trauma-Informed Yoga and Yoga Nidra. Through her work for the past 10 years in the field of mental health, and her many years of personal yoga practice, she has seen first hand how mind, body and spirit are inherently linked. She believes in a holistic approach to health and wellness and knows that individuals have an innate capacity to heal if given the tools, safety and time to do so. Yoga can be an incredibly powerful tool for growth and healing for individuals who have lived through traumatic experiences.

Workshop – Beyond Trauma:
Yoga for Post-Traumatic Growth

This workshop will help you develop a better understanding of trauma, its effects, and how its symptomology can manifest physically, emotionally and psychologically in students. Furthermore, it will explore how yoga practices can be powerful tools for nervous system regulation and can contribute to post-traumatic growth in survivors. It will discuss the core elements of trauma-informed teaching and how to create a secure space for all students, regardless of their background and life experiences. Finally, it will explore some practical somatic and pranayama tools and techniques for trauma healing, as well as ethical considerations when developing asana sequences.