Our Teachers & Facilitators
Catherine Bennett
Catherine’s strength lies first in her passion for teaching. Her classes are supportive, encouraging and inspiring. Offering well-grounded, sound exercise, at an energy level that suits the individual. Catherine is continually mindful of good practice. Motivated to be the best she can be and a true believer in all forms of exercise as the route to sound health. She truly loves what she does! Catherine was encouraged to apply her teaching skills to the Health Industry through fitness and has developed a variety of unique class styles which she has taught over the past 35 years.
“The joy which I strive to instill in myself motivates me to share with, and inspire all class participants to reach new levels of fitness and good health.”
email: cdbennett53@gmail.com
Howie Baral
Ever since I was young, movement and challenging my body have been a way of life for me. From gymnastics to martial arts, I found a challenge to test my focus, strength, and athletic ability. It was while I was training for my black belt 2nd degree in Tae Kwon Do when a friend invited me to a yoga class. It was with Bryan Kest, in Santa Monica, the creator of Power Yoga. I was amazed and challenged like never before in my life!
I began to discover a renewed joy and passion! Wow, a moving meditation, letting go of my ego, reducing the noise in my head, and listening to my body more, all in one simple yet profound movement with the breath. I stopped my martial arts training and dove all-in to my yoga practice. After 15 years of practice, I took my first 200 hour RYT (registered yoga training) in Hatha Yoga, and then another 300 hour RYT in restorative yoga and began teaching 8 years ago.
I love sharing my passion of yoga and know whatever inspiration students find in my class or any other yoga class they take, comes from within their own desires and their own passions and their own abilities. Any teacher is simply a guide to each yogi’s path! I am so grateful for all my teachers who guided me. I look forward to also guiding every student who finds their way to my classes and I’m grateful for the passion and inspiration they show me as well! Namaste, Howie
email: blisshouseyoga@gmail.com
Adam Huber
It has been a long and circuitous road which has led me to become a sound energy facilitator. It all began many years ago with a severe autoimmune disorder which consumed my life for 11 years. This brought me into the realm of alternative physical and Spiritual practitioners of all sorts. But it wasn’t until I completely surrendered into the grace of one deep prayer that things changed. Within a year of that prayer, all symptoms disappeared when I finally met the one healer that was directly in my path.
This sparked within me an understanding of which direction I was to take and has led me to the place and position where I am in facilitating deep transformation through crystal and voice sound energy.
email: adamhuber777@gmail.com
Ari & Piet
Ari and Piet have a combined 80 years of performance experience. They perform on and off stage regularly and keep looking for opportunities to improv their tool kits. As a teaching duo they have complementary skill sets which say nice things about them; Like, ‘you look good in that cape’, or ‘I’m happy you’ve found your calling, now please get down from there’. As devoted performers they serve the all knowing master of Improv Yesandres, the twenty foot tall dragon king who invented improv. It’s really not that bad.
email: improvfuntime@gmail.com
Jerome Acosta
Jerome Acosta has been in the fitness industry for over two decades and uses proven modalities to safely and effectively work with a broad range of individuals, from therapeutic and special populations to performance and sports specific athletes. Along with being a level 2 fully certified STOTT Pilates™ Instructor, he is also a STOTT Pilates ™ Instructor Trainer, teaching students functional anatomy, posture analysis, and programming in order to develop empowered and knowledgeable trainers. Jerome expanded his education by obtaining multiple MeltMethod™ certifications, focusing on the latest neurofascial science, which has been a large part of his success in helping people get out of chronic pain, increase performance, and live an active life. Jerome also completed his 200 hour YTT from the Mount Madonna Institute School of Yoga and incorporates mindfulness and meditation in his sessions, facilitating even deeper transformation.
In Jerome’s private practice he utilizes the Melt Method, a Pilates Reformer and Tower, a Pilates Chair, free weights, resistance bands and small equipment to address any specific conditions your body needs support with. Experience with : osteoporosis, spinal fusions, disc bulges and herniations, scoliosis, hip replacements, pre / post surgery and cancer treatments and so much more!
Call (250) 221-5618 or email MoveWithMindfulness@gmail.com for a free consultation.
Lesley Grott
Lesley discovered yoga over 20 years ago when she found, after years of office work, that each day began with stiffness and pain. That yoga helped her body was not a surprise, but the sense of calmness that emerged was a revelation. Having left the office behind, she now enjoys cycling, hiking, swimming, Dragon Boating and the many outdoor adventures that the island offers.
Lesley recently received her RYT® 200 certification at the Ganges Yoga Studio and believes that yoga can benefit everybody. She strives to create an environment that is nonintimidating, fun and accessible to all.
email: lkgrott@gmail.com
Amy Lavigne
Amy is a 200-hr certified Yoga teacher joyfully helping others to connect the mind, body and breath through her classes. With a warm and inquisitive teaching style, her focus is to create space for exploration and self awareness for her students.
Having a background in studying, practicing and teaching Hatha Yoga, Amy is determined to make Yoga as straightforward and accessible to as many students as possible through modifications, clear cuing and alignment. Beginners to all levels of Yoga are welcome.
When she’s not on her mat, you can often find her exploring sustainable living practices, or taking walks in the forest in search of wildlife.
email: amy.lavigne@hotmail.com
Jayne Lloyd-Jones
Jayne is a certified Iyengar teacher. She has practised yoga since she was a teen, experiencing yoga disciplines all over the world. When she discovered Iyengar yoga, she felt an immediate connection with the precision and depth of the approach that B.K.S. Iyengar had masterminded. She loves the balance that the practice infuses into her life. The breathwork is especially helpful in calming a busy mind. She has been teaching Iyengar yoga for over 15 years.
Jayne’s classes distil the essence of her Iyengar yoga practice and the wisdom she has gathered from senior teachers over the years. She has studied three times in India, with the Iyengar family at the Ramamani Institute in Pune, and in Rishikesh. She aims to pass on to her students the ability to find joy and acceptance in life’s ups and downs, while helping them to build up their strength, balance, and suppleness.
Jayne’s classes are suited to all levels. Regular practitioners will be guided to explore the poses more deeply, and props can help all students to extend themselves while practising safely. Each Iyengar class is unique, and includes a sequence that may include standing, seated, prone, supine, and twisting poses as well as inversions, often with use of the ropes.
phone: (604) 657-4329
email: jaynelloydjones@gmail.com
John Howe
email: jkhowe54@gmail.com
Marie Saint-Pierre
I started practicing Pilates when I first moved to the island 25 years ago. I was inspired… and hooked. After getting certified, in Victoria, I taught for 8 years at North End Fitness, our local gym.
Pilates is for everyone. Moving the body so it stays healthy, strong and vibrant.
Get ready to Strengthen, Stretch and Smile.
Grab your mat and let’s flow together.
email: mhsaintpierre@gmail.com
Marie-Jeanne Brouillette
Marie-Jeanne Brouillette is an artist, intuitive tarot reader and sound bath practitioner from Québec. Her multi-passionate nature led her to study visual arts for 7 years, and her personal wellness journey led her to explore sound healing in depth while in the midst of a healing crisis in her early 20s. Sound healing took more and more space in Marie-Jeanne’s life as it proved itself to be a transformational, healing and soothing ritual for her own health and nervous system.
In 2019, she completed a private sound bath practitioner training with her teacher Sarah Surrenders, with emphasis on using metal singing bowls as the main instrument for healing in session. One of Marie-Jeanne’s joy is to help others align to their deeper truth and soul resonance in her work.
She holds space in a ritual way, with sacred objects + tools to bring people on an inner journey of self-discovery. She deeply believes that holistic wellness is needed to care for our soul in a world of heightened productivity, and sometimes unconventional approaches are needed when the traditional western approach fails us.
website: speakingsymbols.com
Gillian Motyer
Gillian’s exploration of yoga and practice within community began in the 70s. She Certified as a Yoga Teacher RYT200 in 2005, as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist in 2007, then Phoenix Rising Yoga Teacher and Mentor in 2008.
Her personal practice and professional training in the mind body modalities of Yoga, Meditation and Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy continue to supported her on her personal journey toward healing, wellness, personal growth and conscious living.
Gillian’s desire is to share with you what she has discovered, her intention to meet you where you are, just as you are.
“This living, breathing body, always waiting to greet you at the door, always prepared to give you the rest you need, always, no matter the long years away, still wanting you to come home.”
~ David Whyte
email: gmotyer@gmail.com
website: www.gillianmotyer.com
Kim Benson, Sound Artist
Kim is the founder of the Inner Healing Academy. She holds a PhD and Doctorate in Natural Medicine and is trained in a plethora of holistic healing modalities but has a particular passion for sound therapy. Kim comes from a musical family and is a classically-trained pianist and flautist. Her love of music also extends to instruments that are unconventional but recognized for their therapeutic properties such as Himalayan singing bowls and gongs.
Kim’s sound therapy practice is based on the well established understanding that we are electromagnetic beings in a constant state of vibration. Through the application of the knowledge gained from quantum physics and cymatics (sound made visible), she harnesses the power of sound to help restore harmony and balance to mind, body and emotions.
Sound baths are available for groups and also for individuals. Learn more: www.innerhealingacademy.com/sound-spa