OUR INSTRUCTORS

OUR YOGA FAMILY

Anne Pruner

ANNE PRUNER, Yoga Instructor, Yoga Therapist

Anne brings a blend of humour, compassion, respect and connection to her classes; using movement, breath, mantra, stillness and meditation to improve the health and well- being of her students, and she’s continually learning and growing so that she can support others on their paths. Anne believes that Yoga can bring us back to ourselves, back to our true nature so that we can enjoy life in all its abundance.   As an original founder of In The Spirit, Anne has taught with us since our inception and has completed her 1000 hour yoga therapy certification with Functional Synergy in Calgary (one of the few programs in Canada accredited by the International Association of Yoga Therapists).  

Anne also works privately with students to help them advance their practice, get out of pain, have fun and live the life they seek.

AMANDA DASS, Yoga Instructor

A certified yoga instructor with a passion for supporting children and adults’ emotional wellness. I believe that yoga can benefit everyone – regardless of skill level, age or demographics.  My teaching approach is holistic. I focus on strengthening the mind, body and soul connection by introducing gentle movements, breathwork and positive self-talk. My classes are meant to help you rediscover an opportunity for self-care and self-discovery in a safe and inviting space.

I provide strategies that can help you manage stress and develop a growth mindset through gratitude and intention setting, positive affirmations, calming breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation.

RAMONA GELLEL

RAMONA GELLEL, Yoga Instructor

Ramona is a very dedicated marathon runner, but several years ago she discovered and fell in love with yoga as a way to stay injury-free and to strengthen her running muscles. Because she comes from a teaching background (specializing in Physical Education), it was a natural progression for her to attain her yoga teaching certification in 2010 and she’s been teaching yoga ever since.

Ramona’s classes incorporate balance, flexibility, strength, and mental focus with dynamic movement in order to enhance communication between mind and muscle. Being sensitive to the needs of her students, Ramona will help you appreciate where you are in your practice and help to foster your growth.

LISA WESTMAN

LISA WESTMAN, Yoga Instructor

Lisa discovered yoga about 20 years ago, initially for the physical benefits that it provides. With increased practice, she began to develop a deeper self awareness and knew that this was the path she needed to explore.  Lisa took her RYT 200 teacher training through East to West Yoga in Pickering, as well as certifications in Yoga for Kids, Yoga for Athletes and Zero Gravity Aerial Yoga. 

Through this journey of growth and discovery, yoga continues to bring a real sense of balance and positivity to her life. Lisa's hope is that through her teaching she will be able to help others discover and appreciate the many benefits of yoga both on and off the mat.

TARA WILLOUGHBY

TARA WILLOUGHBY, Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master

A former amateur boxing champion and coach, Tara first turned to yoga as a compliment to her boxing training. Even after she retired from the sport, yoga continued, becoming a constant in her life and guiding her to her true purpose—to gift back all that yoga has given to her. Tara has her E-RYT 200 and RYT 500 certifications from the Yoga Alliance and a specialized certification in Restorative Yoga. Tara’s classes provide a safe space for students to take an inward journey of discovery through movement, mantra and meditation, ultimately reconnecting with their True Nature.
AUDREY THOMPSON-SINGER,

AUDREY THOMPSON-SINGER, Yoga Instructor, Reiki Master

As a young adult, Audrey taught popular forms of group exercise classes such as aerobics, step, and stretch.  However, when she discovered how yoga combines the joy of expressive movement with mindful focus and spiritual grounding, it was natural for her to practice and eventually learn how to teach it.

Her yoga journey over the past decade has taken her from weekly classes to daily classes in order to help keep her limber, and release the tensions and stresses of her demanding management position in the corporate world and “life in general”.  As her practice deepened and increased, she studied yoga philosophy and meditation and after 3 years of dedicated pursuit, she attained her Teaching certificate (RYT200). She is also certified in further Yin YTT studies with Danielle March and is a Reiki Master.

Knowing yoga to be universally beneficial, Audrey is particularly interested in the interface of feminine energy in today’s masculine world, and how breath unites the unique movement of the body with our divine spirit, multifaceted strengths and soulful intuition.  Her classes are truly unique and very enjoyable for all.

REIZA JOHNSTON, FIS, Group Fitness Instructor, Zumba

Rieza fell in love with dance fitness when she took her first Zumba class. Her musical background (from teaching piano & theory for 20 years) greatly helped in transitioning to a new career. In 2012, Rieza obtained her Fitness Instructor Specialist certification from CanFitPro and her first Zumba license. She has been teaching Zumba Fitness with ITSY since 2013. Over the years, she has earned over 12 additional Zumba licenses, as well as Masala Bhangra, WaterART Aquatic Fitness and SGT Ken's Boot Camp certifications.

Rieza's fitness philosophy is to provide fun and enjoyable classes that are easy to follow and accessible to all ages and abilities. When she's not in the studio, she actively shares her passion with the community through team teaching events for local schools and hosting weekend trainings for current and future instructors.

STEPHANIE HUTCHINSON, Yoga Instructor

Stephanie began yoga in the 90s and more in-depth in the early 2000s. After studying under Bikram Yoga in LA 500 hour, Moksha Yoga Toronto 500 hour 2004 Stephanie was introduced to Yin yoga in 2005. After recognizing how much it benefitted joint mobility and releasing pain, being more relaxed, Stephanie studied more in depth with Paul Grilley, Kathy Keenan, Paulie Zink and Bernie Clark.

CHANTAL EMOND, Yoga Instructor

Committed to health and wellness, Chantal has been practicing yoga for over 25 years. Teaching yoga privately and in corporate settings for over 10 years, she strives to help her clients improve their overall wellbeing, while encouraging to move and breath with ease. Chantal's style of teaching is slow paced, gentle, and accessible to all. She is a skillful communicator and gifted at providing modifications while respecting important yogic alignment principles. She completed her Teacher Training through East to West Yoga in Pickering, Ontario, including Restorative Yoga.

FLORENCE LAU, Yoga Instructor, Registered Massage Therapist, Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner

Yoga has brought healing, strength, spirituality and joy into Florence's life and in turn, she strives to offer the benefits of yoga to you through her teachings. Florence’s classes embody the diversity of her own experience drawn from the disciplines of yoga, fitness, martial arts, Thai yoga massage and massage therapy. Her teachings honour the ancient yogic traditions while refining the practice with modern knowledge and sensibilities.

Florence wants to make yoga accessible to everyone by helping them to see that yoga is not about being bendy but more about self-awareness, growth and balance. She creates a safe, fun, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment for your practice. Through her guidance, you will create greater comfort and ease in your body, mind and spirit.

Her experience includes designing and leading classes and workshops for a broad range of people from children to seniors, in the private, studio and corporate settings. She teaches many forms of yoga including Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Flow, Chair and Family yoga.