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As co-owner and director of Moksha Yoga Winnipeg, Ryann is grateful to have many inspiring teachers in her life. Thank you to Ted Grand and Jess Robertson, the co-founders of Moksha and to all of the teachers, staff and students in this ever growing Winnipeg Sangha. She expresses deep gratitude to her family, wonderful husband, inspiring daughter Emily, and dog Asha. She is also happy that she gets to work with her super-cousin and manager Shauna every day!
Philly D or "Phil Doucette" is a passionate human being. He is an 
Always a fan of a new adventure, Shauna has been encouraged by her cousin Ryann, a huge motivator in her life, to try a lot of different things. Five years ago in Toronto the adventure du jour was her first yoga class at the Moksha Danforth Studio where Shauna was instantly hooked. An amazing workout and a nice escape from her fast paced big city lifestyle working in the music industry, yoga became a staple in her life. Her love of practicing yoga and a desire to return to Winnipeg to be around her family led Shauna to move home and join the Moksha Yoga Winnipeg family as the new manager for both the Donald and Waverley locations where she can't wait immerse herself fully in the community. Shauna also loves the outdoors, spending time with her family at their cottage at West Hawk Lake, travel and enjoying good food amongst good friends.
Yoga makes sense on so many levels to Paula. To that end she has practiced regularly since Moksha opened its doors in Winnipeg last year. Her Love of practicing yoga turned into a desire to want to become a teacher of yoga. She felt inspired to want to share the amazing feeling that yoga gives her with other people. So she went to Toronto this summer and took her intensive Moksha Teacher Training, and is now regularly teaching here at the studio.
Robyn completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Shiva Rea and graduated with her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2007. She also holds an Undergraduate Honors Degree in Dance. She has completed additional studies with Movement Specialist Bill Evans, Yoga Therapists Vaz Rogbeck and Sarasvati Devi, a variety of Yoga Teachers including Dillon and Liane Cherette, Basia, Saul David Raye and John Friend, Sanskrit Philosopher Lorin Roche Ph.D and Anatomy and Ayurveda with James Bailey.
Mesia (left) and Nena love their family and friends, their pets Phil, Eric and The Guy, movies, BBQs, So You Think You Can Dance, partying, party schedules, dance parties, karaoke and Disney! Moksha Yoga Winnipeg's very own twins completed their Moksha Teacher Training in Kerala India and returned in Spring 2008 to bring their unique teaching styles to MYW. Establishing a love for the benefits of hot yoga first when they tried Bikram, they found a real sense of community, support, variety and evolution when they started practicing at the Winnipeg Moksha Yoga studio. Starting out in the amazing Energy Exchange program, the twins (a.k.a. the Duplicates) realized that they wanted to be able to deepen their practice and share it with as many people as they could. They made the life changing decision to go to India, and have returned ready to spread love, peace, and fitness through Moksha!
Though her love of travel has afforded her opportunities to experience many wonderful places, Jessica is proud to call Winnipeg home and to be rooting herself within its diverse communities. She has a great love for the arts, the outdoors, and most importantly, people. She is inspired by the many wonderful people that she has met and come to know throughout her life. Her family and friends are an incredible source of love and strength and she is truly thankful for their presence in her life.
Mika started a career early on as a Pastry Chef which involved stress and hot kitchens! When one of her friends offered to take her to a Hot Yoga class last September she was not as enthused as some would be! After doing a 90 minute Moksha class she thought how could someone feel so good and relaxed after being so hot! From that day on she went everyday of the week and experienced great opening.
Lori began her yogic journey through the persistent encouragement of a fellow co-worker in Halifax, Nova Scotia, just before the turn of the century. Her ongoing quest for well-being and balance led her to Bikram yoga in London, Kundalini in Johannesburg and Iyengar back in Winnipeg. It wasn't until another enabler friend led her to the Yoga Shala in Winnipeg that Lori found a depth of practice beforehand unparalleled. She finds the practice of yoga to be a direct reflection of the yoga in All (things/beings/experience). Lori now teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in community centres, high schools, businesses and studios throughout the city. She expresses her gratitude and acknowledgment to teachers past, present and future, among whom are Jonathan Austman and Robert Webber. In addition to an immense love for this expansive and healing practice, Lori loves to dance and loves the Best Cat Ever, Loki.
Sometimes you lose yourself in your practice, and sometimes, you find yourself. Darlene, having specialized in group fitness for 24 years, is grateful that yoga found her along the way. She is trained in both the Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga styles, receiving Certification at the Yoga Centre Winnipeg. She graciously acknowledges her teachers Hart Lazer, Jan Debenham and Shauna Ellerby. In addition to her time spent in the asana room, she has found ways to share the benefits of yoga with others during her roles as Hockey Strength and Conditioning Trainer and Physical Education Teacher at Balmoral Hall School. She shares life, love and harmony with her husband Jeff and teenage sons, Taylor and McClay.
Physical movement has always been an important part of Sam's life. She spent much of her childhood making up dances in her basement and forcing her poor younger brother to learn dance steps from her. Sam's dance career has provided her with many opportunities to travel and meet interesting people. She has performed across Canada in many musicals including Anne of Green Gables, West Side Story, Chicago, A Chorus Line and Joseph and for films including Shall We Dance, One Last Dance, and Inside the Osmonds. She also enjoys choreographing and has created pieces for the Confederation Centre’s Young Company in Charlottetown, musicals including Bye Bye Birdie, Napoleon and Emily in Ontario and the Chai Folk Ensemble. 
Erica took her fist yoga class just two years ago and a love was instantaneously created. "When I go to practice I leave all my worries at the door; when I emerge from class I have a new perspective and my worries no longer seem that important” In addition to yoga, Erica dances in the Recreational Division at the RWB and has been dancing since she was 13. She studies Jazz and Ballet and most recently took up Modern dancing. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a B.A. (English and History) and now works in Marketing. In the fall of 2010 she will be returning to school, this time pursuing a Nursing degree. Erica has a fulfilling life filled with great family and friends, her loving cat Bagels, books, traveling, and learning to cook vegetarian foods. She finds her encouragement for all things from her husband Craig. Erica sees life as too short to live the same day twice.
Alison was born and raised in Winnipeg. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts while at the same time training as a competitive figure skater for Manitoba. After this she left home to spend a year touring with Disney on Ice. That year became eleven years touring the world as a professional figure skater. Last year Ali and her husband tried the one week trial at Moksha and are now totally addicted. It's no surprise that hot yoga balances out the cold of the ice rink! The strength, balance, flexibility, and focus used in ice skating now make their way to her yoga mat. Alison completed the teacher training this past July in Toronto with the encouragement of Ryann and Amy. Ali is happy to be back in Winnipeg and part of the community. 
Shivaun began practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 2004 while living in Durham, North Carolina. After returning to the wide, open space of the prairies, she completed the Yoga Teacher Training course with Jonathan Austman at the Winnipeg Yoga Shala. Working with adults and children, teaching has become a natural extension of her practice, a lesson in compassion and humility. Shivaun is grateful to be able to share the healing benefits of Ashtanga with the community of teachers and students at MYW. She sincerely appreciates the patience and good humour of her own teachers, in particular, Jonathan Austman and Nancy Kimberly, and continues to seek out opportunities to deepen her understanding and practice of yoga. 
Stefani Clark loves her yoga practice, her husband Bryan, laughing, eating, biking, costume party's, and goofing around with her friends. She's been a Massage therapist for over 6 years now (Her favorite clients are the pregnant mommy's!) She is so happy to be starting a new journey as a yoga teacher and is excited to be part of the team at Moksha. She did her training in Tofino B.C where it opened her eyes even more to the beautiful endless possibilities of yoga. Stefani is a strong believer that yoga is a practice that is good for everyone and feels each person has something different to offer and gain from one another. She can't wait to see all your beautiful smiling faces in her yin classes or sweating in the the hot room, gotta love those short shorts!!
A graduate of the Business Administration program from Red River, Christa was thrilled when she heard the news of Winnipeg’s first Moksha Yoga studio! Months before the studio opened, Christa was eager to help with anything from staining the wood beams and helping create the lockers to the final touches. A fitness enthusiast, Christa began her yoga journey in March 2007 working part time at Moksha Yoga while she finished her degree, spending her summers on a beautiful island in Lake of the Woods, Kenora where she combines her love of nature, yoga and the serenity of practicing by the water.
Carrie discovered her yoga in April 2007 when she signed up for MYW's very first 30 Day Challenge. She was hooked right from the start, so when Day 31 rolled around she couldn't resist heading into the studio, and she continued on to complete a personal 60 Day Challenge without ever looking back. Carrie couldn't imagine life without living her yoga, and she aspires to be present with her practice in each and every day, a challenge in itself. Having graduated as an Early Years teacher in 2008, Carrie also recognizes the benefits of yoga to youth and children and hopes to intergrate yoga into her own classroom one day. Fortunate enough to experience two loves together- yoga and travel- Carrie also completed the month-long intensive Moksha Teacher Training in Kerala, India in March 2009. She is excited about sharing this learning and remarkable experience to everyone she loves at home. Her other passions include writing, photography and darkroom, and spending time with family and friends. 
Hailing from Halifax, NS, this east coast girl is a writer, photographer and yogini, who loves life, people, food, animals and bustin’ a gut. Clancy stumbled upon her yogic path in 2001, but it wasn’t until she moved to Winnipeg in 2007 that yoga moved from hobby to lifestyle. Becoming an energy exchanger at Moksha Yoga Winnipeg enabled her to start practicing regularly and introduced her to her wonderful MYW sangha (community). It wasn’t long until she realized that the next step in the journey was to further her yogic education by taking the Moksha Teacher Training, which she did in March 2009 in Kerala, India.
In March 2009 Leslee traveled to India to attend the Moksha Yoga teacher training where she discovered her true passion within yoga. Leslee uses yoga instruction as an outlet to share her knowledge of the human body, which she gained through her education as a Physiotherapist, to help people come to a deeper understanding of themselves. She believes yoga can be a powerful tool in the promotion of health and in the prevention/treatment of disease. For this reason, Leslee has started her own Physiotherapy practice called "Prana Physiotherapy and Therapeutic Yoga", where she takes a special interest in low back pain and other persistent pain disorders. Leslee is so grateful to be a part of the community at Moksha Yoga Winnipeg and is excited to continue to learn from each member of her Sangha!
Jason likes hot yoga studios and cold ice rinks. He first connected to hot yoga because it reminded him of what it was like to skate around in big furry costumes when he worked with Disney on Ice. Noticing that there was a bit more to yoga than just sweating he kept at the practice. He completed his Moksha training in March '09. Jason still skates in various ice shows around the world and even practices the moksha series in his hotel rooms. He is always happy to be around his favorite studio in Winnipeg on extended visits.
It was a yoga video someone popped in at a friend’s house in Australia in 2000 that sparked Nancy’s interest in this ancient practice. She has since been on a journey that has taken her to fascinating places and she continues to learn more about herself and others every day. Nancy completed her Siva Raja yoga training in India in fall 2008 and her Hatha yoga teacher training in Mexico in 2007. Nancy’s intuitive sensibility allows for a strong connection between her and her class. 
I recently moved back to Winnipeg after 10 years in Toronto. I arrived on Christmas Day and my parents gave me a yoga mat as a present. The next day my brother Casey took me to Moksha and I fell in love. I was inspired to sign up and complete a 30 day challenge that changed my life. I am now a hopeless yoga enthusiast and spread the good Moksha word to anyone that will listen. I have been involved with theatre for many years, performing in the Fringe Fest when I was 17, went to Italy to work on a play at 18 and more recently have been involved with the Shoestring Players here in Winnipeg. I hope to be a yoga teacher in the future.
Emily first discovered yoga four years ago in the Australian desert. Since that initial moment, yoga has stayed an important part of her life. She started coming to Moksha last April, and quickly became part of the community. After completing her first 30 Day Challenge, she became an Energy Exchanger. Now she works at the front desk, and tries to practice her yoga every day. Emily hopes to one day become a Moksha instructor. Her favourite part of coming to MYW is meeting people in the community, and sharing her practice with them.
The warm summer temperatures in sunny California, where Jocelyn Gordon spends her summers, created a void in her life when it came to spending her winters in Winnipeg. She quickly discovered a very hot room in Osbourne Village filled with a wonderful community, which did its best to fill that void. From thawing out in Moksha Yoga Winnipeg, she quickly developed a love for making her body appear like a used twist tie. She is planning on spending a portion of this winter furthering her practice in India, which also satisfies the other love in her life, traveling. 
Amelia is a fourth-year student at the University of Manitoba, finishing up her advanced major in Anthropology. She took up yoga about three years ago as a way to chill out from her busy schedule of school, work and running track. She started coming to Moksha for Karma classes, and eventually decided to take a 30 day challenge. After the challenge she was totally addicted to Moksha, and decided to become an Energy Exchanger so she could continue her yoga practice. Besides yoga, she loves to draw and paint, cook, hang out with friends and train for triathlons. Her goals are the get her PhD, travel the world, and complete an IronMan event.
Joy joined the Moksha team because of her love of children. She is delighted to share her love of crafts and fun games with the children who attended the studio. She loves learning about how a child’s mind grows and how we as adults inspire them. She believes children make life fun, and that the younger generation can teach us simple things that are needed in our own lives to Sleep, Love, Food, and Smile. She enjoys the outdoors, and is passionate about developing her practice. Joy is in her third year at the University of Manitoba and is in the Faculty of Science. Her past involvement in the community has taught her about life, and made her the energized person she is today. 
Hailing from Regina , Saskatchewan, Marc never guessed he would venture in the world of yoga. Before yoga, it was weight training, basketball and handball. In March of 2008 a friend convinced him to go (pretty much on a dare) try hot yoga. The trip to Moksha was meant to be for laughs and simply a one time thing but the next morning while running on the treadmill he noticed that he was able to maintain breath with ease and realize he had to return to the studio in order to get that great feeling back. Shortly after he did his first 30 day challenge, completing 66 classes during this time. After the challenge he made a deal with himself that if he could average a class a day for one year and still carry the same love and passion for yoga, then he would do the teacher training. He did it. 6 month later with the support of his friends in the Moksha community, completed his Moksha teacher training in September 2009.
Adrienne’s first yoga class was in her living room from a VHS tape borrowed from the library when she was 11. When she went to bed that night she fell asleep immediately, and thereafter realized there was something special about yoga. For many years after, she casually courted yoga until a few years ago when she made a commitment to practise daily. She completed her Moksha Teaching Training in July 2009. Adrienne recently moved to Winnipeg from Toronto to complete a Masters in Food Science at the University of Manitoba. She enjoys breathing, cooking, eating, and getting blissful nights of sleep. She is honoured to be a part of the Moksha Winnipeg community, and would like to express gratitude to her teachers, particularly Jonathan Austman, Darcy Hagerman, and David Robson.
Having played on both sides of the Moksha operation, first as an energy exchange and now as an instructor has allowed her to know her way around high-level strategy down to the details of execution. Not sure what the above sentence really means, oh well.