Teacher, Studio Director
Connie set out to try "hot" yoga as recommended by a fellow runner to better stretch her muscles after distance
running. After only a few classes, Connie realized she had stepped into a whole new world of self-discovery,
self-acceptance, and non-judgment. A registered nurse for more than two decades specializing in Maternal/Fetal
medicine, Connie naturally took her first yoga training in prenatal yoga with Janice Clarfield in 2005. Wanting
to broaden her horizons, she took two workshops with Frank Jude Boccio on Mindfulness Yoga, followed by a weekend
workshop with Marshall Rosenberg, the developer of Non-Violent Communication, in Ottawa.
Connie longed to take the Moksha Yoga Teacher Training, yet felt self-imposed limitations. She put it off until the "light" came on, in February 2006, a belief in possibility. Connie completed the 2006 Moksha Summer Training in Toronto. Since then, Connie has completed the Downward Dog Teacher Certification with Diane Bruni and Ron Reid, studied with Naime Jezzeny from the Anusara tradition, and continues to broaden her yoga horizons. Connie feels learning from all yoga traditions brings added dimension to her teaching.
Teaching from the heart and a place of compassion, Connie remains a student of life. When not teaching, or developing her own
practice, she is absorbing many life lessons from her two "gurus" (sons). Special thanks go out to Natalia Brajak, mentor, supporter,
and friend, for being a very bright light on her path. Connie looks forward to sharing her love of yoga and self discovery with
others. Upon meeting her friend and business partner Tara, they have melded their collective energies to provide a studio environment
where each person that enters can shed their roles in life and just be themselves.
A few quotes that Connie lives by: "Climb out on a limb, that's where the future is". "The future belongs to those
that believe in the beauty of their dreams" ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Teacher, Studio Director
Tara attended her first yoga class on recommendation of a long term friend. Not knowing what to expect, she took her zest for life into the hot room to see what would result. An instant love affair began. For the first time since early childhood, Tara experienced pure presence of mind and awareness of body. The lack of mind chatter was the life medicine that Tara had been searching for, for many years. At the age of 3 Tara attended her first Scottish International Tattoo. This lit a spark that grew into a dancing career of 18 years.
In January 2006, after a 10 year break from dance, Tara took up NIA with Martha Randal, and once again re-kindled the flame of her first love. Discovering Moksha Yoga at the same time, Tara began to incorporate the energy and presence of Yoga into her dancing.
It became evident that Yoga was the right path to take. It was the depth of yoga, the strategies used beyond the mat, and the desire for big changes in life that hooked her. In July 2006, just six months after her first yoga class, Tara was accepted into and began the Moksha Yoga Teacher Training. This is where she met her friend and now business partner, Connie Bartley.
Since then, Tara's studies have deepened with the completion of the Downward Dog Ashtanga inspired Yoga Teacher Training, with Diane Bruni and Ron Reid. She has also studied with Frank Jude Boccio, John Friend, and Sean Corn.
Tara has witnessed what she would consider to be many miracles in life since nurturing a yogic lifestyle. Yoga has helped her develop an ever growing awareness and appreciation for all of life's gifts. It has brought to her new dimensions of understanding herself and others around her. Tara's 11 year career in special education has taught her that the path of learning and self discovery is different for each of us and yoga has taught her to admire this diversity.
Tara believes that the study of Yoga can enhance the lives and magnify the passion in all who are open to its possibilities. She feels very blessed to open Moksha Yoga Mississauga and embark upon a path that will foster the sharing of life's gifts, through yoga, with many others.
Much gratitude to my Mom, Michelle, Sue, Connie, Donna, and Jackie for all of your love, support and learning with me.
Teacher
After attending her first hot yoga class in 2003, Gabriela immediately fell in love! An avid fitness buff, she was initially attracted to the practice for the intense workout, but quickly came to realize that it was the mental release that kept her coming back. Gabriela credits Moksha yoga to helping her win the battle against an eating disorder and forever changing her life. Over the years, yoga has and continues to have a profound effect on every aspect of Gabriela’s life that she decided to take the plunge and become a certified Moksha instructor. Having completed her teacher training in India, March 2009, Gabriela feels honoured to be able to share yoga with others and positively affect change in their lives.
Stumbling upon an Ashtanga Yoga class in Vancouver in 1999, Jennifer realized her passion. Being on the mat in a daily practice changed her physically to start.... as a runner and biker, this was the perfect complement to her daily life. A few years later after experiencing various classes and retreats, the passion deepened and knowledge and spirituality was embraced.
For the past 10 years Jen has broadened her knowledge and training with Yoga Alliance courses, specifying in Ashtanga at The Yoga Sanctuary, Kids Yoga with The Yoga Tree, Power Flow with Eion Finn Vancouver Yoga, and Chuck Miller and Maty Eztraty at Downward Dog .
For fun she enjoys to take retreats, already visiting Thailand and Central America, saluting the sun and surf! Jennifer welcomes every level in her classes. Be prepared to have fun, be challenged, and smile!
“You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?” - Rumi
Teacher
Marsha began attending yoga classes as a weekly activity with a good friend. The calming energy and stretching of muscles of the shoulders and hips during yoga is a perfect balance to the running and spinning Marsha loves. Throughout her regular practice, she noticed the positive changes in her life. Yoga allowed the stress of everyday life to melt away from the forefront of her mind. In 2009 Marsha decided to leave her job to pursue a life of yoga and attended the Moksha Yoga Teacher Training in India. Marsha is very passionate about sharing the positive energy of yoga and its many benefits with others. Her certification as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor as well as her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, helps Marsha be a knowledgeable resource for her students. For Marsha, yoga has been about building a loving relationship with herself and all sentient beings while working towards clarity of mind, integrity of speech and an open heart.Teacher
Bob took his first yoga class on a bet in 2002 and has never looked back. Five years later in July 2007 he took the teacher training to help move his practice to a new level. One of the teachers (Michael Stone) at the training made a comment that stuck: "Remember you are always first and foremost a student just at a different level along this yoga path" (or something along those lines).
Bob loves the north and water and spends much of his time in the woods in and around Bancroft where he has a cabin at the water's edge. He is an artist and loves poetry and music and feels that all of these experiences are an extension of his yoga practice. When I am present I do my best writing, my best painting,, my best yoga. And so begins a new phase of the journey!
Teacher
After 10 years in the private and public sectors working in Human Resources/Labour Relations, the 24-7 mentality was not making sense to me anymore. I wanted more from life than going to work for 10 hours a day and then coming home and feeling too tired to participate in anything meaningful. I decided to leave my job to pursue my jazz studies but also in part to get a grip on what my life was about.
During this time of self-exploration, a Moksha Yoga studio opened up in my neighbourhood and a friend suggested I try it. I had been studying Tai Chi for years and I believed yoga shared many similarities. On January 12, 2008, I took my first Moksha class.
That first class was so hard. I had never experienced such a full body "assault". I was so tired when it was over. When I walked outside into the January cold, I got a splitting headache because I still suffered from a repetitive strain injury developed at my 24-7 job. Despite the headache, I felt fantastic! I felt so much peace and relaxation. I felt happy.
I came back two more times that first week and by the third class my headaches had already lessened in severity. I started coming four times a week. Each day I was continually struck by how much peace I felt at the end of a sweaty session.
After my first 30-day challenge that spring, I won a six-month unlimited pass; in my view, a nod from the universe that I should continue along my yogic path. I was accepted into The Energy Exchange Program in early 2009 and was encouraged to consider the Moksha Yoga Teacher Training. I completed my teacher training in July 2009. I am so grateful to be a part of the Moksha Yoga Community. I am so thrilled to continue my exploration and sharing of yoga!
Teacher
Yoga became part of my life 20 years ago. I have studied and practiced the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli, Esther Meyers and B.K.S. Iyengar. I have also experienced various types of yoga (Kundalini, Bikram, Moksha, Anusara and Vijnana) and have participated in several intensive workshops with teachers such as Gioia Irwin, Danny Paradise, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty, Sue Elkind, Seane Corn, Susi Hately Aldous, Natasha Rizopoulos, Rod Stryker and David Swenson.
In 2006, I received a certificate in Teaching Hatha Yoga through the Sheridan College Program. In July 2008, I completed Modules I and II of the Ashtanga Teacher Training offered by the Downward Dog Yoga Centre and Module III in May 2009. In addition, I completed a 20-hour Restorative Teacher Training Program through Breathe Yoga in April 2009 and participated in a Yin Yoga workshop in September 2009. Finally, I have also had some training in IMT and Pilates through Second Wind Pilates Plus.
The Yoga Journey offers countless invaluable gifts related to increased physical, mental and spiritual well-being: balance, tone, flexibility, relaxation, wisdom, acceptance, peace, contentment and love (to name a few). On my personal Journey, I have received some of these gifts with gratitude and, as a result, I find fulfilment in sharing them. It is my wish that others may also experience the positive effects of yoga. Namaste.
Teacher
Joy started yoga at her local gym in 2004. After a short introduction to Capoeria, she decided to dive deeper into a intense yoga practice. After her first hot yoga class in Oakville, she took a full 10 minute final savasana and became hooked ever since. She completed her Moksha Teacher Training in Kerala, India in March 2008. The experience became so embedded in her soul that she holds every moment and person she encountered in her heart.
Joy graduated from York University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, attaining a double major in Sociology and Communication Studies. While teaching in Trinidad for the winter months of 08/09 she also completed her Level 1 & 2 training of Thai Yoga Massage in Tobago, with founder of Lotus Palm, Kam Thye Chow. The greatest teachers are always conscious they are first, foremost, and always students, learning to appreciate all the lessons each moment has to offer. Joy understands when one strays from the fundamentals, the ability to focus is the next to go. With that in light, she is always using mindful breath awareness, keeps an open mind and, more importantly, an open heart. She looks forward to teaching and learning, listening and loving. She hopes to one day grow into her full name, Josephine.
Teacher Yuka Shimizu is a certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher and has been a dedicated student of yoga for 10 years. Currently she is practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga intermediate series under the tutelage of Ron Reid and David Gellineau of the Downward Dog Yoga Centre in Toronto. Yuka has taken workshops with Nikki Doane, Eddie Modestini, Danny Paradise and Richard Freeman. She studied Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater and has received Relax and Renew trainer certification. Yuka also studies Pilates and Integrated Movement Therapy with Danielle Bélec-van Zeyl of Second Wind Pilates Plus in Mississauga. She teaches Mat Pilates syllabus using exercise balls and Pilates rings. Through the knowledge of anatomy and movement therapy, she focuses on alignment and shares unique varieties of approaches to poses. Yuka is also a practicing nutritional consultant, with RHN credentials.
Teacher
My yogic journey began seven years ago after sampling classes at a number of studios and then setting my heart on the Ashtanga practice. In 2007/08 I took my teacher training at Downward Dog. Since the winter of 2009 I began practicing under the guidance of Certified Ashtanga Teacher David Robson, with whom II follow a rigourous Mysore practice. The practice inspires stability, balance and peace of mind for a full and balanced life. I work to instill these elements in my students so that all the benefits of the practice may be enjoyed on and off the mat.
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