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The Canadian Yoga Institute prides itself on providing several different instructors who are formally trained in the style of class that they teach. As an example, only someone trained in pre-natal yoga, will be teaching you pre-natal yoga. Only someone trained as a yoga therapist will teach you yoga therapy. You don’t go to a lawyer for an oil change, do you? It is with profound thanks to our teachers that we are able to be the studio that we are and give the gift of yoga to as many as we do.
Lyndsey B.
Lyndsey's journey into yoga is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, it’s not us who find yoga, but yoga that finds us. What started as a simple desire to bond with her mom & best friend in 2004 quickly blossomed into a life-changing path. Yoga became a source of happiness, inner peace, and a renewed commitment to living with intention and purpose. It ignited in Lyndsey a spark that continues to fuel her mission to make a positive difference in her life and the lives of others.
In 2005, Lyndsey joined the Canadian Yoga Institute (CYI) as the registrar and soon became an integral part of the CYI family. Over the years, she deepened her yoga practice through mentorship from Susie Dias of East to West Yoga and the wisdom of many renowned teachers, including Aleyna Sheradha, the founding mother of CYI. Lyndsey has attended the Yasodhara Ashram and continuously seeks to expand her knowledge by studying under the guidance of various teachers.
Lyndsey's credentials are a testament to her dedication. She became certified in prenatal yoga in 2011, upgraded her certification to a 350HR RYT, and completed Levels 1 and 2 of Critical Alignment Therapy. In 2024 she became certified in rebounding. While her roots are in Hatha yoga, she recognizes the universal nature of yoga, seeing its many disciplines as connected by the shared goal of cultivating peace, health, and mindfulness. She emphasizes two core foundations of yoga—breathing and spirituality—focusing on these elements to guide her students in their own personal growth.
In addition to her teaching, Lyndsey remains a key figure at the Canadian Yoga Institute, serving as the CEO and volunteering as a member of the Board of Directors. She’s known for bringing fun and adventure to her work and classes, encouraging others to find joy on and off the mat.
Since 2009, Lyndsey has been inspiring students with her authentic, heartfelt instruction, helping them cultivate balance, strength, and inner peace through the practice of yoga.
Debra P.
Debra is a passionate and dedicated certified yoga therapist with an extensive background in Viniyoga. In 2024, after 4 additional years of training, Debra graduated from the American Viniyoga Institute's Yoga Therapist Program, under the guidance of Gary Kraftsow, and is now certified as a C-IYAT. Debra is also a RYT500 certified instructor through the Advanced Integrative Yoga Therapy program with Joseph LePage.
Blending her love for yoga and world travel has taken her to some of the world’s most renowned centers, including the Kripalu Centre for Yoga and Health, where she has honed her skills in a variety of therapeutic approaches. Debra is also a certified teacher in Yoga of the Heart with Nischala Joy Devi and has deepened her knowledge through studying with influential yoga therapy instructors such as Neil Pearson, Timothy McCall, Father Joe Pereira, and Susi Hatley. These teachings have shaped her expertise in areas such as pain management, and overall well-being.
Debra has a particular passion for supporting those affected by cancer, utilizing the transformative power of yoga therapy to aid in their healing process. Her ongoing pursuit of knowledge has led her to additional certifications in Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra with Jennifer Reis, iRest Yoga Nidra (Level 1 & 2), Prenatal and Sacred Birthing with Janice Clarfield, Silver Age Yoga, Restorative Yoga with Jillian Pransky, Yin Yoga with Bernie Clark, and yoga and meditation for traumatic brain injury awareness through the Love Your Brain Foundation.
Instructing at CYI since 2011,with a heart dedicated to healing, Debra continues to inspire and guide her students toward greater peace, resilience, and vitality through the transformative practice of yoga.
Robyn C.
For Robyn, yoga has opened the essence of her truest self. Teaching since 2008, Robyn completed her Level III teacher training with Gaiatri Yoga in June 2011. She also completed a pre and post natal specialty with Gaiatri Yoga in April 2011.
Enthusiastic and dedicated to living life in its truest form, Robyn strives to move through each day as open hearted and passionately as possible. Robyn’s classes are playful but disciplined with a focus on alignment and awareness of the true self. Robyn has a background in psychology and nursing, and spends most of her days employed as a Registered Nurse, focusing on patient education in wellness. Robyn has been instructing classes at CYI since 2011.
Melinda G.
Yoga has been a guiding force in Melinda's life for many years. She started practicing yoga in 2003 and quickly began to notice the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits, which fueled her desire to learn more and deepen her personal practice.
In Melinda's work as counsellor she has also witnessed the incredible impact that yoga has in promoting healing, wellness and personal growth. Melinda completed her teacher training at Essential Yoga Studio, in Fernie BC and is a 200Hour RTY with Yoga Alliance in 2013, and started teaching at CYI in 2014.
Gerard P.
Gerard has been deeply immersed in the practices of Tai Chi and yoga since 2000, finding balance and healing through these ancient arts. His passion for Tai Chi led him to become a qualified Tai Chi Easy Leader under Dr. Roger Jahnke O.M.D. at the renowned Kripalu Center in Massachusetts. Additionally, Gerard has had the privilege of studying under two other Tai Chi trainers in Canada, further expanding his knowledge and expertise.
A true believer in the traditional mind-body-spirit connection, Gerard has also studied Yoga of The Heart with Nischala Joy Devi in Austria in 2012, reinforcing his commitment to holistic wellness in both lifestyle and practice. His daily routine is a beautiful reflection of his dedication—practicing Tai Chi Qigong and mindfulness everyday. These practices form the cornerstone of his well-being and serve as a guiding force in his life.
Beyond his dedication to personal practice, Gerard is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Since 1966, he has been operating his family electronics business in Lethbridge, a testament to his hard work and commitment to his community. Gerard has been sharing his passion for Tai Chi with others since 2014 at the Canadian Yoga Institute (CYI), where he inspires students to cultivate balance, mindfulness, and peace in their own lives.
Sydney S.
Sydney has been practicing yoga for over 9 years and it has become one of her passions. She has seen both the physical and mental benefits of the practice firsthand, which have influenced her to keep coming back to the mat. Sydney recently completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training through Agni Yoga School with Shonna Lamb and Kendall Bowes. She is trained in both vinyasa and yin styles of yoga.
Sydney has a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in psychology, and is currently completing her Masters of Counselling. She wanted to become a yoga teacher so that she would be able to incorporate yoga and mindfulness into her future professional career as a counsellor or psychologist. Sydney has been instructing at CYI since 2024.
Ruth M.
The dynamic explorations of the physical challenges of a strong Vinyasa class to the introverted explorations of a Yin or Restorative class keep Ruth coming back to the mat. This variety of opportunities makes visits to the mat new every time and makes every practice inspiring and invigorating. Ruth is grateful for the opportunity to share her discoveries and fascination with the journey of yoga. Ruth has been instructing at CYI since 2023.
Rachel H.
Bio coming soon!