Prana Warriors – an online community to help you discover your inner warrior

Ginty finally listened to her doctors and started practicing yoga when a studio opened up just 100 steps from her home. Her aim was simple—to keep her body moving in spite of the natural effects of aging—but she fell in love with the discipline and opportunities for self discovery inherent in the practice. When an opportunity came to co-found Yoga Seven in 2014, she leaped at the chance of learning about the business of yoga as well. Coming late to the party (at the age of 63), she took her RYT-200 at the Jesse Barlow School of Yoga in Sri Lanka and continues to learn in both the practice and the business. Off the mat, she is involved in many ways with community theatre, and takes a strong interest in weird shoes, diet, and alternative medicine/therapies. In her “spare time” she enjoys gardening and cooking.

Jen’s yoga journey began in 2007 when she was looking for a space to slow down, breathe, and move. One hot yoga class later and she was hooked! Teaching since 2010, yoga has unlocked her power not only in her physical life but in her personal life as well, giving her the self-confidence to walk through life’s ups and downs. As a high school teacher, it has always been her passion to motivate and encourage others, and when she found yoga, she found exactly what she was looking for. Not only does she love the natural endorphins gained from the practice, she also loves the revived sense of happiness, peace, and strength she feels after every class. Through a combination or movement, intention, and music, Jen will create an experience that will leave you feeling strong, motivated and ready to take on the world!

Dave Grohl of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters once said “One of the great things about music is that you can sing a song to 85,000 people and they’ll sing it back for 85,000 different reasons.” It’s no less true for yoga…

All of us find our mats for a reason — or reasons — uniquely our own and those reasons are just as likely to change and grow as our practice does the same. That’s the beauty of yoga for me in a nutshell. I found my mat through injury, but as my practice evolved, so did the reason that I wanted to practice and then, eventually, teach. If I can find a daily practice after fourteen knee surgeries and an ankle reconstruction, then anyone can too.

I honestly believe that there is a yoga practice for everyone no matter your physical challenges or abilities. Let’s work on finding a practice that meets your needs and allows you to grow into greater challenge at your own pace, with a practice that is led, but still uniquely your own.

When Bob was planning his retirement from high school teaching, he decided being a yoga instructor was a perfect fit with his passion for sharing knowledge, interest in spirituality, enjoyment of physical activity, social nature, and openness to learning.

Bob has completed 200 hours of Anusara Inspired training in 2012 with Diana Lockett and Kim Radovich, followed by 15 hours of Restorative Yoga Training with Andrea Peloso of Breathe Yoga. He particularly enjoys teaching Hatha/Vinyasa-based flows that encourage practitioners to align, flow with breath, and open themselves to enriching possibilities.

One of Bob’s biggest inspirations is Yoga Seven colleague Soni Craik, in whom he finds authenticity, integrity, and depth of knowledge that allow her to listen to the needs of her class and respond with compassion. He is also inspired by his students, who work hard to deepen their own health, and has come to recognize that if he is patient, compassionate, and loving, then he is practicing yoga.

Off the mat, Bob works as a volunteer with the group Freeing the Human Spirit (www.freeingspirit.com).

Favourite yoga pose: Crow (Bakasana), because of its wonderful blend of strength, mental focus, balance and breath.

Favourite post-yoga snack or beverage: Water!

Favourite quote: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

Stephanie DeBou is a Toronto/Mississauga based Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has studied under a number of revered Toronto and International teachers, completing 500 hrs of yoga teacher training at Octopus Garden Yoga Studio. In addition, she has taken many specialized teacher trainings including Restorative Yoga and Functional Movement. Her studies have taken her from Vancouver to Thailand to India to deepen her yoga and meditation practice and knowledge. As a movement and a meditation teacher, she likes to explore the shifting spaces between stillness. Stephanie is passionate about teaching movement that can be a meditation unto itself, and meditations that identify the subtle shifts of the mind and body. She guides her sits and classes with lighthearted compassion and clarity, inviting all to explore the deeper aspects of their mind and body experience.

Melissa grew up as a competitive dancer and developed a love for movement at an early age. Her commitment to yoga began in 2014 when she embarked on a soul journey to Costa Rica, studying and becoming certified in Hatha, Vinyasa and Restorative yoga. Melissa guides a soulful class where you will be challenged and put at ease, along with clear cueing and modifications so all levels feel welcome. Melissa radiates an open heart, infusing breath and mindfulness in her classes. By staying true to who she is, Melissa seeks the desire to hold a safe space for others to connect with their deeper selves and their Truth.

Angie completed an RYT200 program at Kula studio in Oakville. Angie guides mindful movement with emphasis on breath and alignment, and encourages development of body-mind awareness, by drawing inwards during the practice and observing the activities of the mind and sensations in the body. Angie guides meditations inspired by eastern traditions, in particular Buddhism and Classical Tantra. May we practice yoga out of love of ourselves, in order to find the truth for the benefit of all beings!

Katelynn is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge of body movement, alignment and anatomy. After dancing professionally on resorts and cruise ships for over 5 years, she travelled to Brazil in 2012 to train and become a Certified Yoga Instructor with David Lee Lurey.

Since then she has completed:

• 500+ hours of Yoga Teacher Training with world renowned teachers such as Pat Harada Linfoot, Scott Davis, and Hali Schwartz at Octopus Garden.
• Pilates Mat Instructor Certification with Susie Dias from East to West Yoga & Pilates.
• 85 hours of Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Sasha Padron at Yoga Space.
• 75 hours of Yoga Tune Up Level 1 Teacher Training with Amanda Tripp in St.Catharines.
• Certification as an advanced Thai Massage Practitioner, studying at Thai Massage Toronto and abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Katelynn has also travelled to the homeland to study Yoga in Goa, India in 2017 with Lisa Messina. Since 2011, she has taught all over the City of Toronto, including Mount Sinai, Toronto General, and Toronto Western Hospitals, the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, and Yoga studios such as Mosaic and Octopus Garden. Her experience is immediately recognized through her clear and concise cueing, seamless transitions, relevant modifications, and thoughtfully challenging exercises. She welcomes all levels and body types, while maintaining a safe space for everyone to participate at their own pace.

Her playful spirit and joy for life are so evident that you immediately feel welcomed, at ease, and ready for a great workout!

With a passion for becoming a lifelong student, Amelia loves practicing to soak up as much as possible to give back to her students.

Amelia completed a 200-hour Anusara Inspired training with Diana Lockett and Kim Radovich in 2012, followed by a 150 hour Art of Teaching intensive in Indonesia with Tara Judelle. She has also completed continuing education workshops with Noah Maze, Todd Norian, and Darren Rhodes.

Amelia draws inspiration from all forms of nature, art, students and teachers near and far. She currently loves to learn from Marla Meenakshi Joy’s teachings and is constantly humbled and inspired by Marla’s dedication to the practice.

Amelia’s classes are whole hearted, breath focused, mindfulness based, passionate, and ever evolving. She combines strength and ease, creativity, play, and relaxation. Students will find their breath and move in a way that will help them get to know their body and love the journey yoga takes them on.

Amelia likes to practice to the sounds of The XXs, Norah Jones, Nina Simone, and Helios. Her favourite place where she has practiced or taught is the magical Ubud, Indonesia. Outside of the studio, Amelia volunteers with the Canadian Hearing Society, Dufferin Peel District School Board and the Toronto School Board.

Favourite yoga pose: Side plank (Vashisthasana), because of the number of variations and transitions.

Favourite post-yoga snack or beverage: Sushi (ideally shared with students or other instructors) and smoothies

Favourite quote: “Let it be.”

Fun fact: Amelia is fluent in sign language.

Sara empowers people to improve their physical & spiritual health. Her fluid classes focus on connecting breath and movement. Sara has a strong focus on alignment and functional core integration. She developed a keen interest in food & health as a teenager and has been eager to learn ever since. In 2006 Sara began teaching high school level nutrition. Next she took her 70 hour Pilates teacher training in 2008. After developing some severe allergies, Sara turned to yoga to help manage stress and her condition. To deepen her practice, she completed her 200 hour Hatha Yoga teacher certification in 2017 and began teaching yoga that summer. Sara is a life-long learner and continues to build her repertoire of exercises, modifications and therapeutics. She is a creative & enthusiastic teacher who loves wellness and nature!

The secret for Joanne, in getting through some really tough times, dealing with stress, and staying healthy, has been yoga. The studio became a saving grace for her – it gave her a place to go every day and that sense of community and belonging that she was missing – it became her home away from home. In addition to challenging her body and the fitness benefits, it was the sense of community and friendships, and the sense of mindfulness that allowed her to focus and brought her back to life. Inspired by what she had experienced and with the encouragement of her teachers, Joanne completed her RYT-200 certification in 2013. Joanne is grateful to her teachers who have influenced her attention to proper alignment, playfulness and honouring your own body. She has a devoted practice and passion for yoga that continues to grow and expand. Yoga had the power to transform Joanne’s life and beliefs and sharing yoga has become one of her greatest joys.

Joanne realized her life-long dream of becoming an entrepreneur when she co-founded Yoga Seven in March 2014. Prior to embarking on her first entrepreneurial venture, Joanne enjoyed a successful career in working in the finance, media, and entertainment industries. A long-time health and wellness enthusiast, she graduated with a Kinesiology degree from the University of Western. Joanne achieved another life-long dream when she completed her MBA in 2015 at the Kellogg-Schulich School of Business where she had the opportunity to study in Toronto, Chicago, Brazil, Germany and China. Off the mat, she can be found spending time with her family, swimming, and baking … pies are her specialty!

Irene is a 500hr RYT Yoga Teacher, a Sound Healer, Meditation Facilitator and Reiki Master, and holds a certificate for teaching Kids’ Yoga. In her yoga classes she aims to generate a deep healing by connecting the breath, body and mind within the poses, allowing each student to open to their authentic truth in the present moment. She complements the asana practice with meditative techniques using voice, sound and vibration to amplify energetic rebalancing and release. Yoga practices have helped Irene to grow and to flow in harmony with the waves of life while maintaining equanimity, and she strives to share its many benefits with her students. “Before you know the practice of yoga, the theory is useless. After you practice yoga, the theory is obvious” – David Williams