Ajna Yoga Teachers
Jules Payne, Director & Primary Teacher
ERYT-200, RYT 500, Certified Professional Yoga Therapist
| "I began practicing yoga with the idea that it would make me stronger. Yoga did help my strength, and it also helped me slow down to live a happier life. As I learned more about yoga, I discovered other therapeutic benefits that have helped me with a life-long struggle with insomnia and back pain from scoliosis. I was inspired by these discoveries to pursue an education in Yoga Therapy." |
Jules has been training teachers of yoga since 2004 and co-founded Ajna Yoga with Michelle in 2008. Her own training is in Vijnana, Anusara, Ashtanga and Integrative Yoga Therapy. Jules received her certification as a Yoga Therapist with Integrative Yoga Therapy.
In her teaching, Jules is most interested in connecting people with the therapeutic aspects of yoga - guiding people to their own internal source of calm through movement, breath and meditation. Her classes combine awareness of alignment, breath and a sense of play. Jules teaches vinyasa flow classes, hatha classes, meditation retreats, chair- yoga and sees clients for private yoga therapy sessions.
In training new teachers to find their voice as a yoga instructor, Jules believes in providing a strong foundation in philosophy, anatomy and alignment. With this full 'toolbox' of knowledge, new teachers have the freedom to find their own voice and own style of teaching.
Michelle Schroeder, Primary Teacher
ERYT-200
| "Yoga has been a part of my life since I can remember. Since my early childhood I have felt a real calling to the postures and just sitting. Yoga has helped guide me in my life and allowed me to stay focused on my path when I have needed it the most. I feel very grateful for the gift of yoga and the path of self discovery that has come about so far." |
Michelle completed her certification through the Chakra yoga center in July 2000 and has been teaching ever since. She has taught many styles of yoga from Hatha, Flow, Power, Pre-natal, post-natal and kids yoga. In the last 5 years, Michelle has been drawn to a style of yoga called Vijnana yoga, working from a place of within. She currently study with Orit Sen-Gupta, Gioia Irwin and her weekly teacher Elizabeth Peckman.
"Having envisioned a yoga teacher training course for a few years now, I feel very pleased to be sharing this experience with Jules and the students that come to explore with us. The path of yoga leads us to the sacred connection of our true self and the divine energy of the unvierse. May you stay true to your path and follow your heart. Namaste"
500 Hour Advanced Therapeutic Yoga Teacher Training Faculty
Bio's on our 300 hour Guest Instructors
Elizabeth Peckham started yoga at the age of 30. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for 15 years. She has studied with many senior teachers in the world including Pattabhi Jois & Swami Satchinanda. In the past 8 years she has studied Vijnana Yoga with Orit Sen-Gupta and Iyengar Yoga with Shirley Daventry- French. She presently teaches yoga to beginners, advanced students, athletes and works privately with students who have illnesses.
Melissa McLeod is a friendly, down-to-earth yoga and fitness instructor. She encourages her students to slow down and listen to their bodies during their practice. She loves helping people discover what they are capable of, and how their body likes to move! Melissa specializes in teaching students how to engage their core correctly, using their deep abdominals and pelvic floor muscles. Melissa first began practicing yoga as a new way for her to exercise and discovered that yoga was so much more than working out. She was inspired to deepen her practice and was certified as a yoga teacher in 2005 through MokSana Yoga Center. Melissa is honored to share the practice of yoga.
www.bloomyogavictoria.ca
Jennifer Piercy, E-RYT500, invites students to explore patterns in the mindbody system from a place of curiosity and wonder. Creating a supportive atmosphere, her teaching encourages the student to connect with and express their concurrent uniqueness/oneness - through awareness, breath, movement, and stillness. Each class is infused with poetry, inspired readings, and the opportunity to welcome all aspects of one's being.
Jennifer began practicing Yoga in 2001 and found herself immediately fascinated by the interplay between 'sthira' (steadiness, effort) and 'sukha' (ease, softness) as they unfolded on her mat, and simultaneously her life 'beyond the mat'. She was drawn to her first teacher training in 2004. Since then she has been blessed to have undertaken advanced training with wonderful teachers such as Donna Farhi, Erich Schiffman, Richard Miller, Angela Farmer, and Sama Fabian.
Jennifer is also a volunteer counsellor and finds the principles of Yoga naturally coalesce into her interest in transpersonal and eco-psychology
Paulette Carlson trusts that freedom in body and mind is attained through the practice of yoga and sitting meditation. She received her yoga certification from a local Victoria studio and has since trained in Self-Awakening Yoga with Don and Amber Stapleton in Costa Rica, certifying with them as a practitioner of Pranassage, one on one yoga massage. Currently a student of Integral Theory through Integral Coaching Canada, Paulette also recently launched her own business as a professional Integral Life Coach (www.shinelife.ca). In her spare time, Paulette continues on with her life long love of ballet.