Smiths Falls Yoga & Wellness

Angi: Teaches Kettle Bell, BootCamp, Zumba, Spinning, Total Body Conditioning & Yoga

Angi began training in October of 2009 with the Yoga and Wellness Studio as a way to get back into regular exercise and to meet new (and old) friends upon her return to Ontario. Prior to 2009, Angi lived in beautiful British Columbia, where she attended yoga, running clinics, and played several team sports, as well as coaching youth sports.

Over the initial course of training with Yoga and Wellness Studio Angi fell back in love with regular training and with the encouragement of Darlene, took her YMCA Group Fitness Certification in August 2010, specializing in Strength Training.

Angi is Y certified in Kettle Bell, Zumba, Cardio-Kickboxing and is a Madd Dogg Athletics certified Spinning® instructor. Angie leads many of the area’s outdoor boot camps, which emphasis individual performance.

She is currently completing her Yoga Teacher Training at the 200 Hour level at the Yoga and Wellness Studio and will be eligible for her Registered Yoga Teacher accreditation.

The best part of being a fitness instructor is seeing the changes in the people in our classes - not only the physical changes, but the change in attitude that comes with being healthy inside and out as well as the confidence that comes with improved ability. Angi’s classes are full of life, laughter and serious effort-everyone leaves feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Angi's focus is to bring a positive energy and interest to those who want to gain strength and balance out their training program with strength focused exercise.

Cheryl: Teaches Ashtanga Yoga

Cheryl started practicing yoga eight years ago, when she discovered yoga as a way to release and stretch tight and overworked muscles. Initially yoga improved and supplemented her regular exercise regime, but she soon realized that it functioned as a means of physical, mental, and spiritual transformation.

Her enjoyment of yoga led her to enroll in a teachers training program. Cheryl successfully completed the highest-level, 500-hour training course at Still Point Yoga Retreat Centre in Picton, Ont. This spiritual lifestyle intensive course includes the study and practice of Hatha Yoga, asanas, pranayama, meditation, theology, the Kundalini chakra system, and more. Cheryl also received an additional 40 hours of certified instruction from David Swensen, who, having studied with K. Pattabhi Jois (the founder of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in India), is recognized as one of the world’s foremost instructors in Ashtanga Yoga.

Cheryl draws from her forte in Ashtanga Yoga to increase strength, improve flexibility, and calm the mind, leading her students into the joyful state of integrating the body, mind, and breath. Her classes embrace yoga’s intense physical conditioning while making yoga’s spiritual side accessible to those who wish to understand it.

Her classes focus on strengthening deep postural muscles for greater fitness and stamina, encouraging students to work towards greater flexibility, walk taller, enjoy a stronger core and keep joint or spinal problems under control. Her students love her vibrancy and fresh approach to teaching.

Giving back to the local community is very important to Cheryl, and she volunteers in numerous Perth activities and organizations.

“Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind”

Darlene: Teaches Pre-Natal Yoga, Yin Yoga, Power, Restorative Yoga, Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga® , Kettle Bell and Spinning®

From the boardrooms of her professional career to the wooden floors of the many yoga studios she has seen in her 25 years of practicing yoga, Darlene daily exchanges her business attire for a more grounded approach to life…in bare feet on her mat. Darlene started practicing yoga as a method to cross train while running as a teenager. She soon began to use yoga as a means to “check-out” from her hectic professional life and enjoy the stillness and serenity she found on her mat.

Darlene’s journey into yoga naturally progressed to the completion of yoga teacher training at Upward Dog Yoga Centre, Ottawa, as a means to assist others transform their lives. During her journey she has been blessed to have trained nationally and internationally with yoga and ayurveda teachers who have provided various insights and perspectives, which has shaped her approach to yoga and to life in general. This is reflected in her classes which are integrated approach that beautifully combines asanas (poses) and pranayama (breath) with ahimsa (non-harm), music and meditation with warmth and compassion.

Darlene holds certification as teacher of Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga;® Pre and Post-Natal Yoga; Power Yoga, Yin Yoga and Level I Yoga Therapy (Phoenix Rising). She is in a certified Agatsu Kettle Bell Instructor; Zumba/Zumbatomics, YMCA Group Fitness Leader, Fitness Kicking of Canada Level II Instructor, CanFit Pro Certified Personal Trainer and Madd Dogg Athletics certified Spinning® Instructor.

In describing what are the greatest joys she has experienced since the inception of The Yoga & Wellness Studio, Darlene lists: the heightened awareness in the consciousness of the community; the changes, both physically and spiritually she sees in those at the studio; and giving back to her community through seva restorative classes and the community classes in the summer along the banks of the Unesco designated Rideau Canal.

“Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indifference toward the wicked”

Carolyn: Teaches Hatha Yoga

Carolyn started practising yoga sixteen years ago and fell in love with with the spiritual and physical changes it provided through asana, meditation and pranayama.

She has been a teacher and performer for many years, and realized a long-held dream this year of combining love of yoga and teaching, completing her 200-hour teacher training at Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja California in a transformative course experience.

She is devoted to embodying and sharing the abundance of life and the transformational power of yoga by helping students connect body, mind and spirit. Her aim is to instill truthful, accurate and radiant living both on and off the mat.

Charlene: Teaches Power, Hot Yoga; All Levels Yoga

Compassionate, intuitive, engaging, fun and innovative are terms often used by students to describe Charlene’s classes. Charlene teaches with sensitivity, honesty, openness, presence and generosity to protect, nurture and re-awaken the body. Her teaching is thorough and clear and reflects the needs of each of her students.

Charlene began her yoga journey with Bikram yoga and expanded to explore and incorporate various styles of yoga into her practice. She was drawn to yoga as it provided a practical tool for personal peace and wellbeing, but soon came to see that there was far more to this ancient tradition than she first thought. Charlene completed her yoga teacher training at Rama Lotus, Ottawa. A professional by day, you will find Charlene at the studio teaching all levels of yoga in the evening classes.

“in the posture we balance of strength with flexibility, contentment with effort."

Liz: Teaches Spinning®

Originally from Scotland Liz has lived in Canada on and off since 1999 and in the Smiths Falls area since 2008.
Liz has enjoyed cycling since she received her first bike from her Grandfather and wobbled her way around her Grandparents lawn.

An avid cyclist, Liz started spinning in 1999 as a way of staying fit when the Canadian winter kept her off her bike. After participating in classes for many years Liz decided to take the training course to become a Madd Dogg Spinning® Instructor.

Dar: Teaches Group Strength

Considered to be one of the recognized names in fitness in the Smiths Falls and surrounding area, Dar brings her extensive knowledge and background combined with humour and compassion to classes that are designed to produce results.

Dar’s motivation comes from the satisfaction that people get after achieving their goals. With certification in Group Fitness and an extensive background in health and fitness, Dar’s class are about working smarter to achieve results.

Ramgeet Kaur, (Susan Foley): Teaches Kundalini Yoga

Sue is a level one certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher, having completed her training at Prana Shanti Yoga Centre in Ottawa.

When Susan started practicing Kundalini Yoga in 2007 she intuitively knew that it had to play a larger role in her life. Four years later, she is ready to share the teachings of this transformational yoga.

With several years experience as a Professional and Entrepreneur she understands well the need for better health, lasting self-sustaining practices and healthy core beliefs. Susan has a deep respect for both the physical and spiritual aspects of the practice and this reflects in her nurturing, inspirational teaching style.

“Feel good, be good, and do good”

Charlotte: Teaches HathaYoga (Power, Beginner and All-Levels)

Yoga is about enjoyment of the act itself and the resultant benefits are just bonus.
Charlotte has a degree in psychology and has always been interested in what keeps the mind open for creativity and fullfillment.
Charlotte first discovered the true benefits of Yoga when she was competing in equestrian sport 15 years ago. It truly completed her connection with her horse. In 2005 Charlotte suffered multiple orthopedic injuries from an automobile accident but continued her regular yoga practise still wearing a cast on one leg and multiple hardware in the femur of the other leg.
Her orthopedic specialists were amazed at how her anticipated recovery period was cut in half. Certification to teach Yoga was completed in 2006 and 2007 with a yoga/pilates teaching certificate via East to West Yoga in Renfrew, Ont. and 200 hour teacher training program in accordance with Yoga Alliance criteria under certified Himalayan Institute teacher Jackie Adams of Yoga to Go Studio from Kingston, Ontario.
Charlotte continues to believe in continuously learning from the masters of Yoga. She has sought out yoga communities in the U.S.A, India, China, and France. She recently completed an Ashatanga based workshop with Darby and Joanne of Montreal. Her most profound training came from spending time in Mysore , India in 2010 with Sri V Sheshardri and BNS iyegar.

Charlotte strongly believes the journey of Yoga is a life long pursuit and her personality as a teacher reflects connection with breath, body, mind, and soul and no matter where you are in life you can do Yoga.

Make yourself so happy, that by looking at you, other people become happy