Instructors

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Ryan Leier is a teacher, a student, and a creative force who leads with his heart and guides with his wisdom—inherent wisdom and wisdom acquired through extensive study.

A student of the Krishnamacharya yoga lineage, Ryan has received teachings directly from the Master Sri BKS Iyengar and the Ashtanga Guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. He now studies primarily with Srivatsa Ramaswami, a student of 33 years of Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Ryan also continues to gather wisdom through the extraordinary teachings of Father Joe Pereira (Iyengar Yoga), Baron Baptiste, Dina T, Danny Paradise, Eddie Modestini and Nicki Doane (Maya Yoga). At home, he has roots in the local sacred teachings, and regularly studies with and serves the Elders in his home province of Saskatchewan. These various teachings have given him an invaluable root system of ancestry and technique—yet Ryan’s yoga classes have an intangible, some might even say magical, quality that can only be attributed to him.

Ryan’s teachings also extend beyond his asana classes, through the non-profit he co-created, Vinyasa Yoga For Youth, the international One Yoga studios and his role as a Global Yoga Ambassador for lululemon.

Ryan believes that through steady practice and devotion, all people – regardless of their age, gender, race or religion, can experience the Oneness of Yoga.

 Website www.ryanleier.com 

Instagram @ryanleier

 I began practicing yoga sporadically in November 2008, originally because a bunch of soccer teammates thought it might be a great way to bond and get in shape for the coming season. I never took it seriously, but I still felt myself drawn back to it from time to time, so I did stay in touch with a kind of practice. When I quit drinking for good, I found yoga, Savasana and meditation to be an integral part of the recovery.

My practice became more consistent in November 2012 after I was dragged to a hot Vinyasa flow class in Edmonton and today I have attended more than 1000 yoga classes and taught over 3000 classes. Initially, yoga was an alternate way to try and get into better shape, but it soon revealed many more benefits for me. It became my refuge and a place to recharge and clear my mind. I often joke about my OCD but in reality OCD and ADHD are difficult challenges to try to live normally with and the yoga mat has become a salvation for me and a way to become more productive in all other aspects of my life.

The most obvious way yoga changed me is when I learned to take my practice away from the mat. I know I am much calmer, focused and patient now when confronted with life's hurdles. In December 2013 I took up the challenge to commit to a daily practice and I cannot stress enough how exponential all the benefits became.

A couple things you may not know about me. 

I am a survivor of malignant cancer, a massive car accident and a battle with Rhabdomyolysis. You may have seen the tattoo on my neck, it signifies two of the bullets I have dodged. 

Also, on my birthday in 2011, I decided to change my life in all aspects. I went through a tough time personally and reached the point where I needed to change, or I would not survive any longer. I gave up drinking and dedicated myself to a full mental and physical transformation. I look back and cannot believe how I looked at the time I made my decision, 260 pounds and the embodiment of unhealthy and unhappy living. I owe a huge debt to the many way’s yoga has played a part in getting me to where I eventually plan to be!

www.bulletac.com

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Shawn received his 200-hour yoga teacher certification with Lisa Babiuk at Soul Mind Body Fitness in Edmonton in June 2016. 

Lisa’s strong focus on anatomy and a therapeutic style of yoga resonates deeply with Shawn and it both structures his class style and the way he informs his students.

Shawn received his 200-hour yoga teacher certification with Ryan Leier at One Yoga Saskatoon in July 2019. Ryan’s ability to share his joy and passion for yoga restored Shawn’s own love for the art, and Ryan’s devotion to yoga’s history, lineage and senior teachers has inspired Shawn to explore this path as well. 

Passionate builder of things; financial plans, strong community, healthy futures. 

As an engaged community advocate and a business owner here in Vernon BC, I value the importance of building a breath and movement practice daily to counteract the stress cultivated in our day-to-day lives.

Over the course of my career, traveling extensively and building multiple businesses - I understand the deep need to prioritize work / life. My aim in teaching is to actively seek harmony, my focus is on giving back to the individuals and families that, like me, perhaps are looking for a medium to soothe while strengthening themselves. 

With over ten years of deep meditation experience, I obtained my RYT 200 certification in 2018 from yoga alliance here in Canada with a focus on body mechanics and alignment to expand my offering. In my meditation background I have trained in multiple spiritual disciplines, specializing in centring prayers, Four Direction practice, litanies for intention, Ignatian meditation, Franciscan spiritual practices - earth & mantra focused, with Nidra & Guided being my primary focus. 

Currently at One Yoga Vernon I will be offering a mixture of hatha and flow. Come prepared for a curated upbeat playlist, some smiles and a little heat. My classes are for all bodies and all abilities. 

I have been practicing a traditional form of yoga at an ashram in Quebec for several years.

As a teacher, I had the opportunity to spend a large part of my summers deepening my yoga practice.

Since I was a former gymnast and runner, I had to unlearn so many “wrong ways” of breathing, stretching and ignoring my body’s messages. Practicing yoga made me become more mindful and present. I felt this slow transformation was welcomed by my students and athletes as I introduced them to yoga and shared its amazing benefits. I started dreaming of one day becoming a yoga teacher and eventually this became my main goal. 

I did my TTC at the ashram and this intensively challenging training was, to say the least, a transformational and

unforgettable experience.

Yoga is derived from very ancient texts that are both a precious and powerful heritage.

They can be life-changing as they involve much more than exercises and relaxation. I hope to be able to share some of these yoga teachings with you as I embark on this journey with One Yoga’s beautiful team of passionate teachers.

Graham has in recent years found a deepening nourishment drawn from how our yoga roots us to the earth, to our current surroundings, to the present moment. After over a decade teaching & practicing at several studios in Edmonton, he and his partner Keia built a tiny home, packed up their pujas, mats and cat, and made for the west coast. Having now nomadically spent time between Saturna Island, Coquitlam, Maźatlan Mexico, and most recently landing in the North Okanagan, getting on the mat each day and activating the chemistry of steadiness, contentment and peace has been a through line and a blessing.  Wherever you dwell, let your breath, your movement, your subtle attention blur your edges, so that you may be reminded of this quiet but potent kinship with the wide world around you. 

Om & Prem~

Mandy did her YTT Intensive 200 hour in Nelson BC in 2016, and her goal as a teacher has always been to bring yoga to everyBODY. She has offered yoga for beginners at the studio for four years, and her ability to put others at ease has made her classes popular among new and seasoned yogi’s alike. Mandy brings a dedication to alignment, breath work, and grounding exercises to each of her classes, as well as her sense of humour and big belly laughs!   

 Yoga has been a part of my life since I was a teenager. I was struggling with an anxiety disorder and clinical depression, so began practicing mindfulness and movement as a way to help navigate some of the challenges I was facing in coping with PTSD and complex trauma. 

I would let my practice go and come back to it over and over for many years as it followed me through hospitalization, homelessness, addiction, recovery and ultimately navigating the process of healing from a deep ingrained sense of longing to make meaning of my life and experiences. 

I went on to train in Acupressure and Reflexology as well as other bodywork modalities and after 13 years with my own practice, a huge shift took place in in my life. I had always had in the back of my mind that I would like to teach yoga and share it’s medicine with others and I decided it was time to take my Yoga Teacher Training. 

I did my first training in Golden B.C. with Sacred Seed Yoga and I knew I had found the meaning I was searching for. I went on to complete my certification in Yoga Nidra and then a 500hr Trauma-informed Yoga Training with the Canmore Trauma-informed Yoga Psychology School. 

I am now currently enrolled in college completing a Diploma in Professional Counselling. I hope to bring the wisdom and direction of Yoga to the realm of mental health as well as share in the practice and lifelong studentship of this profound path together. I am honoured to co-create and grow in this practice with you.

 I am from Japan and I moved in Vernon in October 2021. I was raised in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan and I went to Aichi-Shukutoku University to study Intercultural Communication.

I studied yoga in Bali and I have taught yoga classes in Japan for the past 3 years. I studied English in New Zealand but I am still working on my speaking skills.

Although I am not a perfect English speaker, I love yoga as much as you do and I believe we can connect well through Yoga.

Yoga is for anyone. It doesn’t matter even though we have different genders, generations, races, religions or languages as yoga is universal.

Since I started practicing yoga, I have become more emotionally stable, confident, grateful and comfortable with myself. I am more able to let go of things, focus on the present moment, accept myself and love myself as much as I do to others. 

I have a dream: practicing and teaching yoga in many different countries while traveling all over the world.

I also love making yoga videos for my YouTube Channel and do Online Yoga classes for my students who live in Japan in my free time.

I always do my best to provide fun, creative, feel good yoga classes for my students. I hope to see you soon in my class!

I began practicing yoga in 2006 as I was interested in finding peace from all the pain and confusion inside my head. Struggling with addiction for most of my youth and early adulthood, I really suffered with  feelings of hopelessness and discomfort in my mind, body and spirit. My addictions created severed belonging and I didn’t know how to be inside myself and feel my feelings. Yoga was a bridge to awareness, dropping into the body, healing trauma, discovering breath; yoga was like a road map to reclaiming my innocence. 

Yoga has taught me how to work with pain and negative thinking and seek liberation, and to have a new relationship with my energy, more space for compassion for myself and others. Yoga has inspired me for life and growth. I recently finished my 200 hour YTT training at Bright Angel Studio and I want to share this practice of movement and breath with my community, my friends, and my family! 

Sat Nam

I began practicing yoga in 2014 when I was a client at Women’s Recovery Center in Kelowna. I struggled with a variety of addictions and mental health issues for over 20 years. When I found yoga, I was fighting the battle of my life, to stay sober and to find a Spiritual way of living. At this time, I felt unworthy, unlovable and not good enough. A studio was offering classes for free to the clients at the center. I was embarrassed of my body and I was very shy. I went a few times and then I stopped. 

I found yoga again in 2017. I began a daily practice starting with the 30 Days of Yoga with Adrien on YouTube. I fell in love! I was transformed body, mind and spirit. I had more energy than ever before, I began to experience a peace that surpassed my understanding.  I felt excited to be alive. Yoga has helped me through some very difficult days. I started to notice that not only was my physical practice evolving but my whole attitude and outlook on life was evolving. The way I showed up for myself and others was changing. I was changing from the inside out. I was experiencing more love, joy, gratitude, patience and appreciation. Yoga offers me a daily reprieve from the difficulties of my human experience and allows me to connect deeply with my Spirituality. I am a Spiritual Being having a human experience and Yoga helps me to fully embrace both my Spirituality and my humanity with love & acceptance. I recently completed my 200 hour YTT at Bright Angel Yoga. 

Today I work at a Recovery Center and I offer love & compassion to those struggling in the same ways I once did. I bring yoga to them too! For me yoga is a wonderful way to honor myself, bringing loving compassion to my body, to tune into the wisdom of my heart through breath and movement and to take this wisdom, share it with others and to shine even brighter in the world! 

Namaste