I am excited to bring Yasodhara Hatha Yoga to Open Door Yoga. In this tradition, we explore the relationship between effort and ease through awareness of the quality of movement. In class, expect stretching and strengthening of the body, preparation of the mind for meditation, opportunities to cultivate heart connection and joy through devotional practices, and self-inquiry to discover greater clarity around what gives your life meaning and purpose.
I am a certified Hatha Yoga teacher in the the Saraswati Lineage of Yasodhara Ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Radha. What began as a two-month Karma Yoga experience in 2024, gradually became an ongoing commitment to the teachings, leading me to participating in the three-month, in-person Yoga Development Course. The course provided the foundation for my Hatha Yoga teacher certification and continues to guide my further studies in Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Dream Yoga. During my time at the ashram, I also learned to support my daily mantra practice in Sanskrit and Hindi by playing the harmonium and ukulele.
My path into yoga began much earlier, through Kundalini Yoga at Semperviva Yoga Studios in Vancouver. I experienced the benefits of this practice during several significant transitions in my life, including immigrating to Canada from Germany in 2006, building a career in educational leadership at UBC, and starting a family. My deep gratitude for the support yoga offered me during these years eventually sparked a desire to share these teachings with others.
In 2014, I completed my Kundalini Yoga teacher training through Semperviva Yoga, accredited by Yoga Alliance, including the practice of mantra in the Gurmukhi language. I began practicing daily and teaching regularly. In Kundalini Yoga, we speak of human life moving through seven-year Cycles of Consciousness, in which our fundamental sense of identity evolves and deepens.
Today, I find myself at the beginning of a new seven-year cycle. Alongside teaching at Open Door Yoga, I teach at UBC Yoga Club and enjoy offering free community gatherings, including Kundalini Meditation at Just Dance, as well as Dyad Meditation and Satsang in my home in Kitsilano.