YOGA SANTOSHA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CO - FOUNDER
- GENERAL MANAGER
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
Alastair built Yoga Santosha with his own two hands! He has poured his heart and soul into the building of Santosha in every way possible, but you won't find him teaching yoga (even though he has done a teacher training). He runs Santosha from behind the scenes.
Angie has always been fascinated with the exploration of human kinetics, movement, energies, health and well being. Starting at the age of 5, she has explored a variety of dance styles including, ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, latin and musical theatre.
In her teens, she attended the National Ballet School of Toronto in Canada as well as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. To pursue her growing interest in the human body, she studied kinesiology at the University of Calgary with a minor in dance. Soon after, she had the opportunity to travel the world by performing in the production shows with Princess Cruises, fulfilling that passion to dance and perform. Her travels brought her through North America, Europe, Caribbean, New England, South East Asia and the Middle East. However, her stage experience didn't stop there. Wherever she made her home, whether it was in Calgary, Las Vegas, Denver, Baltimore or Los Angeles, she has always remained an active member of the dance community and a part of numerous professional dance companies as a dancer and choreographer.
It is during her travels that she was introduced to yoga. Her first yoga class was actually a home practice with an audio CD of a class taught by Bryan Kest. During the next 8 months, her home practice developed into a new found love and appreciation for yoga. Initially, it was quite an effort for her to adjust to the practice of slowing things down in the midst of her busy lifestyle. However, the effects of yoga naturally helped her internalize and search deep within herself. She found that her life gradually took a turn. Yoga gave her a new sense of body/mind awareness, self acceptance and helped her to clear her mind of unnecessary critical thoughts. Just to be in the present moment and to embrace the gift of life, breath and on going love was her new goal. The desire to share this feeling of bliss with others has led Angie to complete her teachers training with Tracy Mann and Lerrita Rubinoff in 2004. She was fortunate to have the chance to travel to Los Angeles in 2005 to train with Pattabhi Jois during his world tour. During that time, she was also able to meet and learn from Bryan Kest, the same voice that had brought her to yoga originally.
Shortly after, she received her teacher training in prenatal, mom and baby yoga and a few years ago received her yin yoga training. Along with her love and passion for yoga, Angie took an interest in the human energy field and universal healing. She then went on a further quest and received certifications in Reiki Levels I and II.
The next decades had spelt out an enormous amount of change and travel for Angie. She was able to experience the personal teachings of Sean Corne, David Life, David Swenson, Shannon Gannon and Ana Forrest at the Yoga Journal Conference in San Fransisco. In the summer of 2009, she took a mini sabbatical to further her knowledge and her constant yearning to learn. She took a road trip to the states and attended various workshops in California and Las Vegas, where she resided for a year. Her interest in hot yoga surfaced and her journey took her to Denver, Co, where she extended her training and became certified with Core Power Yoga in hot and hot/power fusion. From there, her ventures took her to sunny Los Angeles, Ca and to Baltimore, MD, where she was able to share her teachings from state to state.
Currently residing in Calgary, Angie feels very grateful to have the gift of yoga be a continuous practice in her life. She instructs yoga and dance full time and remains an active member in the fitness and dance community. Angie is genuinely striving for patience, peace and compassion for herself and others. Yoga is an on going journey with endless wonders.
Job Titles:
- CO - FOUNDER
- Member of the LEADERSHIP Team
- PROGRAM DIRECTOR
For over 20 years, Christina tried to love yoga. She did every style she could find, but she didn't feel like the classes were doing what she thought yoga would do - plus she kept getting injured - even in prenatal yoga!
She finally breathed a huge (ujjayi-type) sigh of relief when she discovered Body Awake Yoga™, created by Dr. Sue Morter. "This is what yoga is supposed to feel like!" she thought to herself.
Christina fell so deeply in love with Body Awake Yoga™ that she knew she had to get certified to teach it; it was just too good to keep to herself. Not only did she heal all sorts of injuries on the mat, she also found benefits she never imagined like increased confidence, a better ability to speak up for herself and more inner peace.
No matter what style of class Christina teaches, she incorporates Body Awake Yoga™ principles that help to awaken the life force and healer within. You'll find that it improves your life both on and off the mat in expected and unexpected ways.
Kat Rodger completed her 3000 hour diploma in massage therapy from Algonquin College, in Ottawa, in 2011.
"I have always loved movement. How movement can make you feel; invigorated, sweaty, tired - alive. But it wasn't until later in life after university and becoming ‘an adult' that I was first introduced to yoga.
I decided to try a hot yoga class with the intent to sweat and stretch, and I was hooked. What began as an infatuation with the physical postures and movements has evolved into a much deeper appreciation which include the subtler aspects of yoga.
Yoga has since become a constant companion and trusted partner in my life. After years of the ebb and flow of wanting to do a teacher training for various and ever changing reasons, I couldn't quite put my finger on the right training until I was in the midst of a job my heart had whispered no to for a long time, unknowingly on the cusp of screaming incoherently into a void that was slowly growing inside me. I finally took the plunge and nervously signed up for my 200H teacher training in 2018, after finally feeling it was just right (I have a funny feeling that it was my yoga practice, and the community and individuals who lifted my heart and lent me their strength to allow me the space and clarity to walk this path). The calm and trust that I felt the day I signed up has fueled a beautiful fire in me ever since. Completing my teacher training the community at Yoga Santosha has been nothing short of life changing. It was undoubtedly one of the best decisions of my life.
After nearly a decade working in a corporate and legal environment that was not serving my heart, I decided to leave the industry full time (mid-pandemic, no less) and pursue offering what I can to those who might need that extra little bit of light just as I did (and still do). I truly believe we are here in this experience together, part of a whole that perhaps we can't always see, and much of what we ‘don't know' is not an ‘unknown' but just lies beneath a surface waiting to be rediscovered and remembered. My heart has always told me that my purpose is to help or support others in some capacity but I never knew exactly what that was until I was able to connect my own practice with the understanding that my practice is also my offering to others. We are all students, just as we are all teachers. I am honoured to learn with and from each of you.
Lauren is a 275-hour yoga teacher in Calgary, Alberta. She is energetic, caring and yoga has been her passion for a long time.
She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in India in November 2016, and a 75-hour Katonah Yoga Teacher Training in Italy in June of 2019.
Lauren wants to be able to share the lessons she's learned on her mat and the benefits this practice has given her on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Lauren teaches with calm and precise language and her classes are a combination of meditation, breath work, asana, dynamic sequencing and functional movement.
Marnie has always had an appreciation for body movement.
Although never classically athletic, she spent her childhood years dancing, her 20's as a fitness trainer, and her years beyond as a dedicated runner…that never stretched. And so, yoga entered her life in 2001.
Hello, I'm Rhiann, a passionate yoga instructor on a mission to guide individuals in unlocking their full potential through the transformative power of yoga and holistic somatic healing. With over 10 years of dedicated practice and teaching experience, I've had the privilege of witnessing the profound transformations that yoga can bring to people's lives.
My approach to yoga goes beyond physical postures; it's a holistic journey of self-discovery and wellness. I believe that yoga is a profound tool for nurturing not only the body but also the mind and spirit. Through mindful movement, breath awareness, and meditation, I guide my students toward balance, strength, relaxation, and inner peace.
My teaching style is grounded in alignment, safety, and mindfulness. My classes provide inviting spaces where everyone, regardless of their experience level, can explore the profound benefits of yoga. I'm here to help you discover your inner truth, empowering you to embark on a personal journey of self-awareness and growth, both on and off the mat.