As yoga teachers, we feel honoured and blessed to have an opportunity to express our love and gratitude for yoga through our teaching. This wonderful ancient practice has brought so much joy and compassion into our lives and we thank you for allowing us to share the gift of yoga with you.
Ladan Paolini – Studio Director/Owner, ERYT 200
My yoga journey started in 1998 and as I continued with my practice I couldn’t help notice the changes I was experiencing. I couldn’t stop talking about yoga and as my practice evolved throughout the years so did my life. Becoming a wife and a mother brought a new purpose into my life and the gift of teaching yoga was presented to me after the birth of my first son Liam. Motherhood and yoga teacher training in the same year brought upon a major shift in my life, one which has guided me to my true path and continues to amaze me everyday. After the birth of my second son Noah, the gift of owning Body To Bliss Yoga studio was bestowed upon me and so the story continues. Life has not been the same since discovering yoga and I can only hope that through teaching this incredible physical, mental and spiritual practice I continue to evolve, transform and renew personally and help others do the same. I’m grateful to all of my teachers, fellow teachers and the students that grace my soul with their energy during every practice.
Namaste
Carol Atkinson – RYT 200
In 1997 after many years of running and triathlons I discovered my first yoga experience. In 2004 I started an earnest practice which led me to obtaining my RYT-200 Hatha teacher certification and teaching yoga full time. I continue to study taking various intensive workshops at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and The Himalayan Institute as well as extended travels to various ashrams in India. My greatest joy is to be able to pass on what I have learned to others and my yoga classes are a combination of various styles of yoga that I myself am exploring.
Favourite Quote: “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Oscar Wilde
Angela Catenaro McNeill – RYT 200
I teach a traditional Hatha Yoga focusing on breath and self-awareness. My Yoga classes will encompass asana and meditation with Chakra energy healing. I am joyful to share my Yoga with adults, children, and families. I feel that Yoga is truly a gift and through this gift, it is my soul desire to help others awaken to their inner beauty and shine their true essence.
Rita Blandi – RYT 200
I have been teaching a variety of yoga and pilates classes consistently since graduating from the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program at Blue Door Yoga in early 2008. I began teaching because I wanted to share this beautiful, physical and spiritual practice of yoga with as many people as possible, and live my mantra of keeping the body, mind and spirit healthy and happy.
My classes include meditation, guided breathwork and relaxation, and asanas that will stretch, strengthen and challenge you, with a focus on core and back strength. I look forward to seeing you in my classes and being a part of your amazing yoga journey.
Martha Eleftheriou RYT 200
Yoga found me almost 12 years ago when I was ironically given a gift certificate for a yoga class. Since my first experience with yoga, I knew I had found something very rare and very special. Since then, yoga has been a constant in my life. Yoga has helped me find myself again and again. During a chance encounter with another yoga teacher at a meditation retreat four years ago, the idea of becoming a yoga teacher was first suggested to me. This became a dream for me over the years and, in May of this year, this dream came true when I graduated from Blue Door Yoga Room’s Teacher Training Program. I am eternally grateful for yoga in my life personally, and I am humbled and inspired to be able teach and guide others to finding their yoga. I believe each and every one of us can find our light, and let that light shine brightly through peace, harmony, laughter and love. Namaste.
Michelle Gravina – RYT 200
I started practicing Yoga while living in Curitiba, Brazil at Uni-Yoga Universidade. Instantly feeling the benefits of my practice, I continued practicing while living in Milan, Italy. Returning to Toronto in 2005, I moved forward and completed the 200hr RYT program, in 2007 at Blue Door Yoga Room. I feel blessed and rewarded with teaching Yoga to so many diverse groups, children, seniors, and beginners, as well as advanced students and I hope to make my students feel welcomed and comfortable in my classes.
My classes focus on breathing, stretching and toning the muscles with your own body weight. Calming of the mind is important to experience the full benefits of Yoga, as such, sometimes we practice mediation and at the end of the class there is always a five minute rest period called Savasana, to give the body a chance to absorb all the benefits of the class.
Feeling grounded on your Yoga mat can be a feeling that you can take with you when you step off your Yoga mat, bringing that grounding into your life. Focusing on the breath is very important during your Yoga practice and that as well, you can come back to during life’s challenging times, giving yourself a chance to act instead of reacting.
Words to Aspire:
“Live the best life you possibly can. Staying focused in the present moment, the past is gone and the future hasn’t arrived, so live happily now.”
Liz Defreitas – RYT 200
Theresa Fantin-McClure – RYT 200
I found yoga in 2000 and not knowing exactly what brought me towards the practice at this time, I knew there was something more to yoga that needed to be explored. I began practicing and trying many different styles at which time I began to feel the physical benefits of the practice. I continued on with my practice and in May 2007 she graduated from Blue Door Yoga Room’s Teacher Training Program. As time went on, my practice which once was all about the physical aspect has now developed into a spiritual one, a quest of self discovery. While still benefiting from the physical practice I now have a true sense of self and the many layers that are a part of me. Now 12 years later, my main focus for both teaching and practicing is Hatha Yoga. Through the practice of yoga I have found more peace and calmness within myself, as well, a feeling of groundedness and a clearer state of mind.
I teach traditional Hatha Yoga beginning each class with pranaymama (breath work) to help you unwind from the day and to help you easily connect to your mind and body.
I find great joy in teaching yoga and I wish for you to find the same joy that resides within you. My hope and intention is that you will leave my class with a calm, balanced body and mind.
Tony Commisso – RYT 200
In January 2011 I was certified as a Yoga Alliance RYT200 level teacher. In the same year I also completed YIN YOGA Intensive teacher training and Yoga for seniors’ teacher training levels one and level two.
The hard core training I experienced in karate, soccer, marathon running, training boot camps, and all activities that required a little bit of spirit and a lot of heart, together with the subtle training of mind, body and spirit through Yoga, has taught mr to appreciate the philosophy that every person is unique, and with the proper guidance everyone has the potential to soar to the best of their abilities.
My motto: “Show me the will and I will show you the way”!
I believe that yoga is a practice that offers many variations and can be modified to meet the needs of anyone looking to improve their life at any stage and at any level. Consistent with this philosophy, everyone is not only different but may also be at different places in their life. I believe that yoga should be taught and practiced based on these differences and I encourage students to honor a non-judgmental approach before, during and after the practice.
My practice is based on a vinyasa yoga style which incorporates a series of movements blending one posture into the next. I encourage the movements with music and rhythemic breathing whenever possible. My focus is on my student both in and out of the studio constantly learning about this ancient old practice and how best to translate the endless benefits that yoga has to offer. I look forward to seeing you on the mat!
Sandra Zimmerman - RYT 200
While playing with my 6 year old daughter in late 2008 I became out of breath so quickly that I realized just how out of shape I had become! Being pretty shy, I had to muster up the courage to attend a Yoga/Pilates fusion class. One class quickly snowballed to 3 and 4 classes per week. As I witnessed the incredible changes in my body my enthusiasm and confidence grew. I was surprised by what my body was able to do at this point in my life and I was encouraged to do more.
By chance I crossed paths with the Yogi who became my mentor and convinced me that I had the power to inspire others to reach their own maximum potential. So what began as a personal physical practice has evolved into a deeper practice for both myself and others as I strive to help people bring more health and happiness into their lives.
My own philosophy and the spirit that I bring to my classes is that fitness should always be fun and should never feel like work. When people leave my class I want them to feel good about themselves and what they have accomplished — and inspired to come back!
Fran Brunke
Fran Brunke has been teaching Yoga Nidra since 2007. She firmly believes that humans deserve to feel relaxed about living their life and that yoga nidra’s time has come.
Fran is a certified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher, having trained with Richard Miller Ph.D., originator of iRest.
Fran is a lifelong educator and recognized as an innovative teacher. A former yoga teacher and Teacher Trainer at Blue Door Yoga Room, Fran looks forward to sharing this yoga nidra experience with all who wish to rest a while.
Basantdeep Kaur (Anna Madejak) is a Certified KRI Kundalini, Classical and Hormone Yoga Therapy
teacher. Since1995 her passion for yoga has grown continuously as she explored a variety of yoga styles and realized the tremendous healing, and transformational power of yoga. After completing Rei-Ki II and graduating from Classical Yoga training at Humber College she completed Kundalini Yoga Teacher training, Beyond Addiction Yoga training and became certified as Healthy Breast Educator with Sat Dharam Kaur ND. Since then Basantdeep has been helping students to conquer addictive behaviours by teaching the Beyond Addiction program in her yoga studio and at the Vitanova Foundation Treatment Center in Woodbridge, Ontario. As a Healthy Breast Educator she assists women in recovering from breast cancer through teaching the Healthy Breast Program. Basantdeep also provides training and classes for women interested in hormone balance, improved fertility and menopausal symptoms management.