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Teachers
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Mara Sohal, Director and Founder of OM Yoga Shala
Mara has been practicing yoga since 1999. Her immediate passion for yoga led her to study at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in New Delhi, India, where she has been returning to every year since. In January 2004, Mara spent one month in Goa, India to study Ashtanga yoga with Manju Jois (son of Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, founder of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute). Her passion and dedication for Ashtanga yoga, led Mara to complete a teacher's certification with Manju Jois in Dallas, TX. Mara is dedicated to maintaining the traditional teachings and practice of Ashtanga yoga and hopes to inspire as many students as possible to do the same.
Mara has also received a yoga certification with East to West Yoga in Toronto and has been an active fitness professional and certified fitness specialist through Can-fit Pro for over 15 years.
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Rita "Sundari" Linzi, Co-director of Om Yoga Shala, Certified Yoga Teacher and Reiki Master
Rita has been practicing yoga since early 2001 and has been teaching yoga since 2005. She received her training and certifications from renowned teachers and Institutions around such as Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and Dharma Mittra, New York, and has been studying regularly with Gurudev Yogi Vishvketu ji of The World Conscious Yoga Family in Ottawa and also at his Ashram in Rishikesh, India where she completed her Advance Yoga Teacher Training Certification. Rita has been traveling to India regularly and is devoted to the authentic teachings of Yoga, and teaches yoga internationally.
Rita brings a light hearted, compassionate and spriritual approach to her teachings.
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Monica Cummins, Kundalini Yoga Teacher
Monica was introduced to yoga in the late 90's, and was amazed by its endless healing power. Not only did she find it an incredible way to deal with stress, but the only way to cope with the many injuries she had obtained from various board-sports over the years. As her personal practice grew, she felt an innate desire to share the amazing benefits of yoga with as many people as she could. This led her in 2004 to take her teacher training at the Institute of Yoga Therapy and Teacher Training (formerly ICYAS), here in Toronto. She is also an R.Y.T., registered with Yoga Alliance. Monica truly believes that yoga should be accessible for all people, and will continue to learn from and share her knowledge with her students throughout time.
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Andreea Deaconescu, NIA Teacher
Andreea has been practicing and teaching Nia for 8 years, and is currently holding a Brown Belt certification in the technique. Nia - Neuromuscular Integrative Action - is the most advanced form of fusion fitness, blending martial arts, dance arts, and healing arts to create a high-powered, synergistic workout that no isolated technique has been able to match. Andreea also examines the interconnection between mind and body, as she is currently studying to obtain her PhD in cognitive neuroscience - the study of the brain and human behaviour. Her passion for science and research has always been complemented by her love for practicing the arts - dance and theatre. For two years, she has also performed on stage with the Romanian Theatre company Ars Nova. In her Nia classes, Andreea combines her expertise of psychology and movement techniques to offer students a body-centered, in-depth understanding of the healing quality of movement, and its role in the development of the brain and the rejuvenation of the body.
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Anita Kalamanchelyi, STOTT Pilates Teacher & Nutritionist
After watching the amazing health transformation of a loved one, Anita decided to embark on an exciting road herself to discover the wonders of holistic nutrition combined with exercise. Anita went back to school to receive her diploma in nutrition. After successfully running her practice for the past 7 years she decided to go back to school again and educate herself at STOTT Pilates. After certifying herself in Mat and Reformer she now helps others develope healthy lifestyle choices along with proper exercise techniques. Anita loves helping others regain their energy and vibrant selves through better nutrition and Pilates.
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Andrea Lucarelli, Belly Dancing Instructor & STOTT Pilates Teacher
Andrea has been actively involved in dance for 15 years. She began studying ballet and jazz as a child, and moved on to belly dancing 4 years ago. Andrea's belly dance classes are high energy, challenging and lots of fun! Great for weight loss, toning and definition, and a great cardio workout as well! For the past 6 years Andrea has been extensively training in yoga and pilates, and has recently attained her Stott Pilates mat certification. Emphasis on core strengthening and stability, body awareness and breathing in Andrea's pilates classes will help to tone, strengthen and lengthen muscles, correct posture and prevent injury.
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Nancy Krac, Yoga Teacher
Experiencing yoga for the first time while vacationing in the Bahamas over nine years was a huge life changing moment for Nancy. Even at first, yoga felt so natural and familiar to her. From there, her love for her yoga practice began and progressed for an additional seven years before deciding to complete her 200-hr teacher training in 2006 at Blue Door Yoga Room.Nancy enjoys immensely teaching to anyone who is willing to practice. Her first style in yoga was Ashtanga and Power Yoga. She also experienced Kundalini, Synergy, Kripalu and finally, Hatha Yoga.
She also earned her first Dan, black belt in Taekwon Do and trained for five years with grand masters originating from Korea. Yoga philosophy, chanting and anatomy were favourite subjects while completing her teacher training. She learns so much from her students and feels so blessed and privileged to be able to teach yoga to them. Her next life ambition is to be able to meditate on a daily basis - it is a work in progress. Nancy gives thanks to her teachers past, present and future.
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"As an avid and experienced tennis player, I wanted to thank OM Yoga Shala
for the amazing Ashtanga Yoga classes. I have found my practice of
Ashtanga at the Shala to perfectly complement my tennis. Yoga has improved my core
strength, balance, mental calmness, and flexibility, all areas crucial to
tennis. I highly recommend the Ashtanga program at the Shala, simply amazing."
-Renzo Francotto,
Student
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