Sharon Smith-Carter, E-RYT 500, OYA R

Sharon was introduced to yoga in 1993 through classes with well-known Kripalu yoga teacher Lila Ostermann. The yoga brought forth a respite from anxiety and infused some stillness into her life. She completed a 500-hour YTT Certification in 2001 with Namaste International followed by certification with FOYT (OYA) in 2002. She is a registered teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500) and became a Certified Relax & Renew Restorative Teacher through Judith Hanson Lasater in October 2006. She has continued her training in Restorative Yoga with Andrea Peloso who assists Judith in her trainings. In 2010, Sharon completed 65 hours of Yin Yoga Teacher trainings, studying with well known Yin Teachers Paul & Suzee Grilley and a further training with  Tracey Soghrati. In 2011 she has continued her Yin studies with Biff Mithoefer and Kaline Alayna Kelly completing a 50 hour intensive training.

Sharon finds her yoga influenced by her continued studies with Donna Farhi, Judith Hanson Lasater, Paul Grilley, Biff Mitthoefer, Amy Weintraub and those extraordinary teachers whom have crossed her yoga journey. Each teacher has brought a gem of knowledge to a continuing eclectic path. In 2009, she completed a training course for Yoga Thrive, a therapeutic yoga protocol for cancer survivors, at the University of Calgary. Her on-going outreach through yoga has taken her to work with Teens at Risk, female inmates within the prison system (under the Freeing the Human Spirit program) and as an instructor for mental health programs.

Sharon is also a Certified Nia White Belt Instructor since 2006. She hopes to offer those at the studio the opportunity to experience a sense of peacefulness, awareness and joy that yoga has brought to her life.

Bridget Cuff, RYT500

Bridget took her first yoga lesson at 17 in the Sivananda tradition. As she moved, she continued to find classes in various schools of yoga. Following a car accident in 1988, her physician suggested yoga as therapy and she returned to regular classes in Peterborough. After a number of years she became interested in deepening her practice and enrolled in Namaste International YTT program (500 hours). Although initially using yoga simply for physical stability and flexibility, Bridget is now exploring the spiritual/meditative side as a tool for day to day living.

Completing her certification in 2004, she has continued to learn, qualifying under Judith Lasater in October of 2006 as a Relax and Renew trainer. In spring of 2010, Bridget travelled to Chicago to study with well known Yin Yoga teachers Paul & Suzee Grilley and completed their intensive 25-hour Yin Yoga: Practice  & Theory Teacher Training. Her on-going commitment to explore & develop her skills as both a yoga practitioner and teacher continued in fall 2010 with international teacher Donna Farhi's Spinal Integration Intensive. In 2011 she completed another 50 hour comprehensive Yin program with Biff Mithoefer and Kaline Alayna Kelly. She looks forward to implementing this therapeutic style of yoga into her teaching. Bridget has been teaching since 2003 and hopes to help students to explore & discover their own path of yoga.

Pam Guzzi, RYT200

Pam has practiced yoga for many years. As a result of the benefits she experienced from her practice, she chose to study yoga more intensively in 2006 through a yoga teacher training course.  In spring 2007, Pam completed her 200 hour 'Hatha Yoga' training at the Balance Yoga Studio in Tottenham. With her new awareness of yoga, she continues to share the benefits of yoga to others with her classes. Pam is registered with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200).In 2007, Pam completed her 'White Belt' in Nia and became licensed to teach Nia Classes.

In 2009, Pam completed a certificate Ashtanga YTT training for Primary Series Teaching Techniques with teacher David Swenson in Vancouver. Pam's interest in Yin yoga has prompted her to complete a 40 hour Yin Yoga TT Intensive withTracey Soghrati ( April 2010) followed with a 25 hour Yin and Yang YTT with Yin & Yang Master Paulie Zink. In 2011, Pam continued her Yin studies with Biff Mithoefer and Kaline Alayna Kelly in a 50 hour program. Pam's enthusiasm and energy  is evident in her teaching and she enjoys sharing the joy of yoga in her classes.

Tracey Drake, RYT200

Tracey began practicing Yoga in 2000 and at that time had no idea the impact it would have on her entire life. Although she expected to improve her strength and flexibility, she did not anticipate finding greater peace, contentment and overall awareness through her Yoga practice. Compelled to share the benefits of her experience with others, Tracey completed a 1 year, 200 hour, Yoga Alliance approved teacher training course, with Marina MacLean (RYS) in January 2006. She has continued to take workshops and trainings to further her continuing education. Tracey studied Spinal Integration with Donna Farhi in 2010, completed a 40 hour Restorative Training with Andrea Peloso in 2011 and recently returned from California where she completed a 30 hour Yin Yoga Intensive Training with Paul and Suzee Grilley.

Tracey remains a dedicated and enthusiastic student of Yoga, and is continually enthralled by the many "layers' of Yoga, which inspire her teaching and her own life journey, on and off the mat. Her wish is for her students to find a sense of well-being on all levels in her classes as they work within their own comfort level. Tracey creates a friendly, non-competitive atmosphere for her students while maintaining a sense of fun and enjoyment.

Paola di Paolo, RYT500, OYA-R

Paola began practicing yoga in 1984 while attending the University of Toronto. She has studied Iyengar yoga, Scaravelli influenced yoga with Esther Myers and Kundalini yoga with Hari Darshan Singh Khalsa. She has been teaching since 1990. Paola is certified to teach Hatha Yoga though Esther Myers Yoga Studio and Kundalini Yoga through 3HO and is also certified by FOYT ( Federation of Ontario Yoga Teachers) which is now known as OYA. She is registered with Yoga Alliance for completing a minimum of 500 hours of training. She continues to upgrade her knowledge through attending Hatha classes, Kundalini classes, workshops and retreats and has presented workshops and intensives in both Kundalini and Hatha tradition.

Paola enjoys exploring the dynamic relationship between yoga postures, the breath, and energy. Her particular teaching interest lies in encouraging students to explore their own authentic experience of the postures in order to deepen their practice. Paola is on the faculty of the Teacher Training Programme at Esther Myers Yoga Studio and owns Four Directions Yoga Studio in the Kawartha Lakes area.

Courtney Jeffery, CYT

Jack Connelly