KUSHALA YOGA - Key Persons
Ali's love affair with yoga began after a lifetime of high intensity, high impact sports left her in chronic pain and struggling to function day to day. Not long after embarking on the yogic path did she begin to notice the changes it was having, not only physically, but mentally as well. She is constantly humbled and impressed at the potential power this practice holds as a way to heal the body, create more balance, calm the mind, and to strengthen the relationship we have with ourselves.
Ali has been proud to serve the Port Moody community for the last 10 years as a Massage Therapist and is now excited to use her expertise in a new way, to help others on their own journeys of health and wellness.
When she's not on her mat she can usually be found with her nose in a book, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, painting, or spending time with her snuggly pit bull mix, Ellie.
April is a mother, musician and lover of nature. April began dabbling in yoga in her twenties while attending university but it wasn't until her thirties that her yoga practice took hold into a regular and continuing life practice. Yoga brings so many benefits to April's life in the physical form through opening, strengthening and balancing as well as the mental practice of coming back to the present moment through breath and awareness. Yoga has been a cornerstone of developing confidence and an openness to experience by pushing through physical and mental (mostly mental) barriers, and a place to come back to center. April completed her yoga teacher training in 2012. When April isn't practicing yoga, you can find her running her kids to various activities, playing guitar and hiking around the beautiful trails of Port Moody.
Bistra's first encounter with yoga was more than 15 years ago at the college gym. She immediately discovered the calming benefits for the mind and fell in love with the slow and precise movements and the emphasis on the proper alignment. Her regular visits to the studio and the numerous workshops opened her curiosity to dive deeper into the ancient teachings of yoga. This motivated her to complete her teacher training program in 2013. Bistra continues to learn from on-going training and workshops, from her students and from her daughter, Brooke.
Bistra teaches yoga because it brings happiness and balance to her life and she wants to share this with others. She encourages her students to be present not only on the mat but also in their life journey. This includes having fun, and finding satisfaction and joy in the little things that life offers us daily and not to miss out on the moments in expectation of something bigger and better. If we miss out on the little moments of happiness, we miss out on life itself.
Chris Dunphy is co-owner of Kushala Yoga, and co-director of their Teacher Training Program
Chris is a yogi, father, husband, student, hockey player, gardener and outdoor enthusiast. Chris spent his younger years either on the ice, the field or on the track. The high point of his athletic career was a gold medal at the Canadian junior championships in the decathlon, a gruelling 10 event discipline that spans over 2 days. After Chris retired from competitive athletics he started work in the finance industry. After 8 years at a desk Chris began to experience both physical and mental discomfort. His body was suffering from injuries sustained throughout his athletic career, and his mind was not at ease in a job he didn't truly feel inspired to do. This is when Chris was introduced to yoga by a colleague.
The opportunity to open Kushala Yoga (formerly Newport Yoga) came in 2006. In that same year Chris quit his job in finance to devote his energy towards Kushala. In 2009 Karen became a partner in the studio and shortly thereafter in life. They have 3 amazing children, Isla, Leigh and Trace, whom you'll often see at the studio.
Chris enjoys learning and discovering new things, and yoga offers rich grounds for that. His teaching is influenced by his studies with master teachers, but more so through his self study and unending conversations on the subject with his better half, Karen.
In Kushala's Teacher Training program, he teaches anatomy and physiology, asana, pranayama, the business of yoga, and teaching methodology.