Conference Presenters

As the central resource, the Yoga Atlantic Conference objective is to offer teachers and students the high quality of education in alignment to three important components of spiritual practice of Yoga Tradition: Seva (service) Sadhana (practice) and Satsanga (gatherings in the company of truth).

We aspire to bring in a broad range of presentation topics, practical classes and discussions that will inspire and support our teachers and students alike. In choosing our faculty we are seeking teachers that share in our vision, have demonstrated their passion and authenticity for their studies and teachings.   We welcome regional and internationally renowned teachers that support the Yoga Atlantic Conference’s objectives.

YOGA ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FACULTY

Andrea Olivera
Andrea’s life knowledge is based on a desire to revolutionize the beauty industry by providing integrated multidisciplinary approaches to human revitalization and beautification. Her vision embodies the most current scientific information in the fields of Vedic medicine, cellular psychology and molecular nutrition. She has developed unique methods for relaxation and insight. They are founded on a rich tapestry of therapeutic techniques, spanning numerous cultures, and incorporating many models. She sees the world through an Ayurvedic lens.

Carrie Gaynor
Carrie teaches Anatomy Trains and Tensegrity courses for Yogis and bodyworkers throughout North America. Co-directing ABSOLUTE Yoga & Wellness, she has been practicing and teaching Yoga for nearly two decades.  Carrie studies with Victor van Kooten & Angela Farmer, Leslie Kaminoff and Kali Ray.  Certified as a KMI Structural Integration practitioner and teacher of Anatomy Trains by Tom Myers, Carrie teaches anatomy the way we experience it- integrating the body and the senses. www.absoluteyoga.info

Coeli Marsh
Coeli Marsh feels blessed to be a yoga teacher. As the director of the Teacher Study Project, a training school for yoga teachers, she leads workshops and intensives across the country. For nine years she taught as a Master Teacher at the Baptiste Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 2001 Coeli has also directed the School Yoga Program offering yoga for teachers and children in the Cambridge Public Schools. Coeli received her M. Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and has also been trained by Outward Bound and N.O.L.S. in outdoor leadership. She is certified by Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour and E-RYT 500 level. Please see coelimarsh.com for more info.

Jean Short
In 2001 Jean, a large body yoga instructor, graduated from AYTT.  She then completed a 14-week residential work-study program at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA.  Her classes include Kripalu Yoga Level 1 and 2, 50+ Yoga and 50+ Chair Yoga, and Seated Yoga.  She welcomes students of all ages, sizes, body types, and abilities. As well as working on 500-hour certification with AYTT, and attending workshops on a regular basis, she facilitates a week-end teacher workshop:  Yoga for seniors.  She skilfully blends humour, sensitivity, posture assists and modifications into her classes so that everyone can fully participate, and joyfully benefit from the experience.  Her newest passion is Yoga for Larger Bodies.  She cannot imagine her life without all her wonderful students, Kripalu teachers (especially Jody Myers and Paula Heitzner) and Wade, her supportive partner.

Jenny Kierstead
Jenny is the founder of the National Award Winning Breathing Space Yoga Studio. A renowned visionary in the yoga movement throughout Eastern Canada , Jenny began sharing yoga years ago after experiencing profound transformations in her own life.
A former Physical Education teacher, the call to yoga inspired Jenny to study extensively in India with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. She has also studied intensively with David Swenson, Shiva Rea and other leading authorities throughout North America including Michael Lee with Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. Jenny’s broad spectrum of study is what makes her classes both an energizing and sacred experience.
Beyond inspiring others to embrace yoga, Jenny cherishes her time spent with husband Blair Abbass, a leading meditation teacher and therapist, and their two beautiful daughters, Sophia and Isabella. www.BreathingSpaceYogaStudio.ca

Joanna Manning
Joanna delights in using words as much as she delights in teaching yoga. A professional, award-winning freelance writer for 20 years, she specialises in reviews and articles about the performing and visual arts and the artists involved.  Evoking colour, sound and movement in language.  More and more she uses metaphor and imagery to communicate in her teaching. She contributes to local and regional publications including the Globe and Mail’s Lifestyle magazine and is the editor of Yoga Atlantic’s newsletter.

Jody Myers
In 1980, Jody was brought into the inner experience of yoga by way of contact with the great kundalini master, Swami Kripalu.  In 2000, after 20 years of practicing, studying and teaching to a wide range of groups, as well as, publishing and continued training with senior Kripalu teachers, Jody founded Atlantic Yoga Teacher Training.  She has co-directed it ever since.  Jody also continues her studies and training in a variety of other hatha , bhakti, raja and karma yoga traditions

Mandee Labelle
Mandee graduated with a BA in Psychology at McGill University, Mandee was certified by the Chakra Yoga Center in 2000 and has been offering yoga on a full-time basis ever since.  Her adventures have included the in-depth study and practice of hatha, jnana, pranayama, karma, raja, yantra, mantra, laya, and bhakti yogas, as well as Zen Buddhism, Breema, and Mendhi art as well as the study of the contemporary teachings of Byron Katie and Adyashanti. www.yogaheart.ca

Maryse Thuot
Maryse is an artist/musician, and a certified Sivananda yoga teacher. She is a Trance Dance Ritual facilitator, a certified herbalist and a Thai massage therapist. She likes to see herself as a motivator. Her approach allows people to journey on an inner pilgrimage that explores nature from inside-out and from outside-in. She encourages nurturance, intuition, creativity, playfulness, empowerment and a deep connection with the Earth wisdom.

Maxine Munro
Maxine is co-owner of Therapeutic Approach Yoga Studio has been teaching yoga for over 11 years. She is a Certified Interdisciplinary Yoga Instructor at the Professional level and has over 1000 hours of teacher training courses She has studied with many internationally known teachers including Tim Miller, David Swenson, Mark Darby, Allison Ulan, Hart Lazer and Rodney Yee. Maxine has degrees in Kinesiology and Occupational Therapy (honors).

Megha – Nancy Buttenheim, MA
Megha is a senior faculty member at Kripalu Center since 1985, is a director of Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training and the director of Kripalu Yoga Dance Teacher Training. Megha travels throughout the world offering her own trainings in Let Your Yoga Dance: Grace in Motion. She has authored three CDs, Moontides, Power and Grace, and Animal Songs. www.letyouryogadance.com

Philip Beck
Philip is a Certified Professional Kripalu Yoga Teacher (500 hours) and has been teaching yoga since 1996. He is the author of “A Beginner’s Course in Yoga: The “A” Series Flow.” Philip has studied yoga nidra with Richard Miller, PhD, Yogi Amrit Desai, and Nischala Joy Devi. Currently, Philip is pursuing certification in iRest with Richard Miller.

Philip focuses on integrating the awareness of True Nature as an essential element of hatha yoga practice. He encourages anatomically friendly alignment as a necessary foundation for enjoying a deeper energetic experience and inner transformation. You may visit his web site at www.InnerPeaceWellness.ca

Robert Webber, Ph.D.
Robert is the Director of the Yoga Loft in Halifax. He is the author of the popular series of yoga home practice CDs, Yoga with Robert (without Robert) and co-teaches on the Yoga Loft's Yoga Teacher Training program. His classes explore how to relate the larger philosophical ideas of yoga to the direct experience we have in the practice of yoga postures.  

Satpal Kaur Sodhi
Satpal is a retired educator, motivational speaker (brain empowerment, meditation, a psycho-spiritual-yogic approach to stress and anger management), writer (latest publication: ‘Live Beyond 139 Years, Joyous and Wrinkle Free), and a spiritual counselor. She is an abdominal breather, a very early riser and trained in Kundalini Yoga. Spreading Indian style hugs and Laughter Yoga is the purpose of her life.
 

Silver Frith
Silver Frith is a Kripalu Certified Professional Yoga Instructor with over 30 years of practice experience.  Also a Kripalu Certified Holistic Educator and Graduate of the Ayurvedic Institute, she has been offering classes, workshops and retreats to groups in the Maritime region for over 20 years.   In 1988 she founded Body.Mind.Energy: Holistic Services, a private practice serving individuals through a variety of healing modalities.  As well, she is currently Co Director of Atlantic Yoga Teacher Training.

Stephanie Calhoun
Stephanie graduated from the 200 hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training program through Atlantic Yoga Teacher Training in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the summer of 2006, and has been teaching twelve to fifteen classes per week since that time.   In the summer of 2007 and 2008, Stephanie trained with Paul Grilley, and recently completed his first ever Yin Yoga Teacher Training program in Santa Cruz, California, and is one of only seven yoga teachers in Canada certified by Paul. She values education highly, and is currently enrolled in the 500 hour advanced teacher training program offered through East Coast 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training.