your teacher
Stephanie is known for her calm, non-judgemental teaching style and compassion-centered philosophy. With her soothing voice, she will lead you through creatively sequenced classes with a splash of inspiration to help you deepen your practice. She seeks to help others thrive in life by nurturing body, mind and soul with yoga.
"Yoga is for every BODY" is a keystone to my teaching, and I encourages the exploration of different types of yoga practices to bring balance to life both on and off the mat. A greater sense of well-being and the wonderful health benefits that come from movement inspire me to continue exploring ways to help my students feel refreshed, nourished and balanced. You will find me teaching a variety of Hatha Yoga classes as well as delicious Restorative Yoga.
my yoga journey
I have been teaching movement in one way or another since my teens. In 2012, I began practicing yoga at a local studio in Kanata (Blue Bamboo Yoga). I found that attending classes and working with a variety of teachers brought great enjoyment and a sense of positive well-being back into my life. I had started my new career as an elementary school teacher in 2008, and was feeling overwhelmed with the workload and worry-load. Yoga was a fun outlet to learn something new and to get my body moving again after four years of focusing mostly on my students. Feeling movement again, and exploring new ways of moving, brought me joy and some stress-relief!
when yoga pulled me through
2016 brought some big changes to my life. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and began treatments. Post-surgery I found myself in a situation that I had never been in before - most movement, even going for a walk, caused me a great deal of pain and I was unable to use my dominant arm for the most part. Once the treatments were successfully finished, it was time to get busy healing and recovering my ability to run and play. It was really Yoga Therapy and then gentle classes that enabled me to get back to moving fluidly again. And then I also discovered the healing effects of restorative yoga!
I now enjoy many forms of yoga and have embarked on a lifelong journey to learn more and to share my passion with my yoga students. In this sense, yoga pulled me through - it brought me back to moving with less pain, reignited my sense of well-being and provided me with a new direction in life!
My Yoga Teacher Training
I completed my 200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training under the experienced and dedicated tutelage of Carole Houde, Diane Lanthier and Kimberly Mantas at Beyond Yoga Studio & Wellness Centre. I then studied Restorative Yoga with the knowledgeable and passionate Andrea Peloso. In 2023 I began my journey to become a yoga therapist and so far it has been thrilling! This training will take me a few years, but below you can see a full list of other courses and workshops that I have completed... I love to learn!
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ”
~ Buddha
Yoga Certifications
200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training
2019 - Beyond Yoga40hr Restorative YTT
De La Sol Yoga Studio 2019 - Andrea Peloso15hr Chair YTT
Pranashanti 2020 - Michael Hutkins20hr Advanced Restorative YTT
Pranashanti 2020 - Anne Wanda Tessier40hr Menopause YTT
2023 - Petra CoveneyYoga Courses
Freedom of the Hip Joint: Asanas, Anatomy & Therapeutics - Judith Hanson Lasater
3hrs - YogaU Online 2022Twists: Anatomy, Asana, and Energetics - Judith Hanson Lasater
4hrs - Breathing Room 2022Mindful Self-Compassion - Natalie Bell
21hrs - Center for Mindful Self-Compassion 2022Pranayama with Compassion - Judith Hanson Lasater
4hrs - Yogacampus 2021Hot Stone Restorative - Anne Wanda Tessier
6hrs - Pranashanti Yoga Center 2020Sustainable Backbends - Brea Johnson
1hr - Heart & Bones 2020Go Outside, Go Within - Micah Mortali
6hrs - Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health 2020Yoga Therapy and Managing the Stress Response - Gary Kraftsow
1hr - Yoga International 2020Essential Keys to Healthy Hamstrings - Doug Keller
3hrs - YogaU Online 2020Nourish: Restorative & Slow Flow - Janet Stone
20hrs - Stone Yoga School 2020The Science of Slow - Kristine Kaoverii Weber
4hrs - Subtle Health 2019Rituals for Resilience - Kathleen Burr
12hrs - Pranashanti Yoga Centre 2019Mudras for Health & Healing - Kathleen Burr
3hrs - Pranashanti Yoga Centre 201910 Foundational Poses - Louise Cameron
3hrs - Pure Yoga 2019Emotional Anatomy - Louise Cameron
3hrs - Pure Yoga 2019Experience in Teaching & Movement
22yrs Professional Figure Skating Coach
14yrs Elementary School Teacher
11yrs Practicing Yoga
6yrs Group Conditioning Trainer
5yrs Certified Personal Trainer
Education
BA - Kinesiology/Physical Education & Psychology
Wilfrid Laurier University 2001BA - French
Wilfrid Laurier University 2007BEd - Junior/Intermediate FSL
University of Windsor 2008St. John's First Aid & CPR
National Coaching Certification Level II - Figure Skating