"To learn from things and everyone is the smoothest road to wisdom and humility"

Our Teachers

Karla Fernandez-Tarape (Director/Teacher)  "A smile into your lips brightens up your heart and others".

Karla had started her yoga journey in 2000. Through the years of practice, she had developed an appreciation on the benefits of yoga and her transformation.  As an artist, Karla had been fascinated with body movement and the graceful flow of beautiful yoga asanas that can be portrayed into a canvas. As she deepened her practice and journey, yoga became her passion. This led her to get a certification as a yoga teacher. Karla had enhanced her practice and teaching skills through a variety of workshops, certifications and regular practice. She teaches with gentleness, creativity and sensitivity either in heated vinyasa flow yoga or non heated relaxing restorative class. She also enjoys the deep hip opening Yin yoga classes and the playful kids’  yoga class. Karla believes that anyone can create a journey through the inner soul and through the body. 

Ruth Cruz (Director) "Sharing our knowledge and talent, our passion and gift is our legacy"

Ruth is an accountant by profession and practices hot yoga regularly. She discovered the benefits of yoga four years ago while trying to find an alternative approach to alleviate the chronic pain from a sciatic condition experienced by her sister. The sciatic pain has become minimal and more manageable. Since then, Ruth has fully embraced the practice and has been a strong advocate encouraging family members, friends and colleagues to experience for themselves the physical and mental benefits that yoga has offered and brought her.

She shared this passion with her good friend Karla and together has embarked on this wonderful journey of bringing the discipline of yoga to as many people as possible.

Karolina Gill (Teacher)

Karolina's journey began at very early age when she was drawn to the cultivation of body movement and cross cultural dance styles.  Over years of personal exploration she has been fortunate to start practicing yoga over 10 years ago. The beauty of asana movements and its meditative and organic origins really appealed to Karolina's natural desire to develop herself both physically and spiritually.  Her passion and love for practicing and teaching yoga has become a driving force in her everyday life. She consistently evolves in her studies by attending multiple yoga workshops, conferences, and different studio's around the world.  Her versatility gives her the ability to teach Hot ,Hatha and Prenatal yoga  classes while adapting her classes to the energy levels of her students.

Karolina has found a special connection with the Anusara Yoga which unifies a life-affirming Shiva-Shakti Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness with Universal Principles of Alignment, an uplifting philosophy, epitomized by a “celebration of the heart” that looks for the good in all people and all things.

Karolina credits her ability to attain a greater understanding and self awareness of her own abilities to wonderful husband, her honorable teachers and her committed students.  She attributes much of her growth in her yoga practice both as a teacher and a student to such inspiring yoga teachers as Naime Jezzeny, Sue Elkind  and Colin Matthews .We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.  Happiness and Unhappiness depends on our actions. ( Dhammapada)

Kerrie Charlton (Teacher)

Kerrie celebrates yoga in all aspects of her life; continuing to grow on the mat and off the mat.  Her classes are passionate as she guides each yogi to explore their journey with an open heart.  Allowing each student to feel supported and accepted while offering encouragement as each yogi begins to explore deeper into their personal journeys. 

Kerrie has been practicing yoga for over 4 years and she continues to study on a regular basis. She is grateful for the inspired teachings of Michelle Cormack, Colin Matthews, Kinndli McCollum, and Karla Fernandez-Tarape.

On the mat her favourite pose is Tree Pose because she love's feeling rooted to the earth.  Off the mat she is spending time with her husband Casey and their two dogs Billie and T.C.

Yuka Shimizu (Teacher)

Yuka is a certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher and has been a dedicated student of Yoga for over ten years.  Currently she is practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga intermediate series under the tutelage of Ron Reid and David Gellineau of the Downward Dog Yoga Centre.  Yuka has taken workshops with Nikki Doane, Eddie Modestini, Danny Paradise and Richard Freeman. She studied Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater and has received Relax and Renew trainer certification.  Yuka also studies Pilates and Integrated Movement Therapy with Danielle Belec-van Zeyl of Second Wind Pilates Plus.  She teaches Mat Pilates syllabus using exercise balls and Pilate’s rings.  Through the knowledge of the anatomy and movement therapy, she focuses alignment and shares unique varieties of approaches to poses in her classes. Yuka is also a practicing Nutritional consultant; RHN credential.

Claudia Alvarez (Teacher)

Claudia has been practicing yoga for over ten years. Even though she holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences, politics has never been her cup of tea so she decided to embark herself in the adventure of teaching yoga.

Claudia completed her teacher training in the spring of 2005 and along the way she has taken workshops from different styles of yoga to spice her practice and teaching skills. She had also taken Kid’s Yoga certification with Mala & Luvia Beirus. Her role models are Vanda Scaravelli and Paramahansa Yogananda; in her opinion "two of the most amazing yoga teachers not only for their physical practice but also for their spiritual path". She brings into her practice the infusion of her Latin American background and her Pre-Hispanic roots with the Hindu culture. Her classes include a vigorous series of breathing exercises to warm up the body and expand the lung capacity, music from around the world at the beginning and the end of the class , a gentle swing leg massage during the final relaxation, scented oils, stones  & nutritional and herbal tips to invigorate the mind and the body. Her favourite style of yoga is Ashtanga but strongly recommends her students to balance their practice with restorative classes.

Connie Li (Teacher)

Connie had been a yoga practitioner since 2003. Three years later after moving to Toronto, she had taken her practice to the next level by taking her "Hot Yoga" teachers certification.  She had also completed an advanced Ashtanga Yoga Teaching program with the Downward Dog in 2007 and in 2008, completed an Assistant Yoga Teachers Training program, organized by the Patanjali Yogi Peeth (UK) Trust.  Since 2009, she has been practicing and attending many of the workshops of an accredited Iyengar yoga studio where she is working on to become an Iyengar certified teacher.

Sandy Mcauley  (Teacher)

Sandy continues to learn and study in her journey to harness the transformative power that Yoga has had in her life. She is thankful for her many teachers including Vanda Scaravelli inspired Helen Doucette,   Elizabeth Spence and Sharon Bateman. Sandy continues to weave reflections from her life experiences to inspire her students in their asana work. When you are, you are what you are. You don’t become. You are present.

Off the mat she is busy as a certified diabetes educator, a loving wife and mother of 2 teenage girls.

Carol Atkinson (Teacher)

Carol discovered her first yoga experience in Vancouver in 1997 after many years of running and triathlons.  In 2004 she started an earnest practice which leads her to complete the RYT-200 Hatha teacher certification course.   She continues to expand her knowledge by taking continuing education courses with many wonderful and enlightened teachers.   As she proudly passes into each new decade, she is living her mantra "keep the body moving".   She feels privileged to be able to share her love and knowledge of yoga with others by guiding them in their practices. 

Joy Roca  (Teacher)

Joy started yoga at her local gym in 2004.  After a short introduction to Capoeria, she decided to dive deeper into a intense yoga practice. After her first hot yoga class in Oakville, she took a full 10 minute

final savasana and became hooked ever since.  She completed her Moksha Teacher Training in Kerala, India in March 2008.  The experience became so embedded in her soul that she holds every moment and person she encountered in her heart.

Joy graduated from York University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree attaining a double major in Sociology and Communication Studies. While teaching in Trinidad for the winter months of 08/09 she

also completed her Level 1 & 2 training of Thai Yoga Massage in Tobago, with founder of Lotus Palm, Kam Thye Chow.   In January 2010 she successfully completed Mindfulness Yoga Teacher Training with

Frank Jude Boccio.

The greatest teachers are always conscious they are first, foremost, and always students, learning to appreciate all the lessons each moment has to offer.  Joy understands when one strays from the

fundamentals, the ability to focus is the next to go. With that in light, she is always using mindful breath awareness, keeps an open mind and, more importantly, an open heart.  She looks forward to

teaching and learning; listening and loving.  She hopes to one day grow into her full name; Josephine.

Lesley Beharry (Teacher)

Lesley began practicing yoga several years ago, fascinated with the benefits that yoga has to offer helping us find the balance between ease and effort.   She has completed a certificate of Teaching Hatha Yoga at Sheridan College, and has participated in many workshops.  She has most recently pursued a teaching certificate at Downward Dog Yoga Centre studying the ashtanga influenced vinyasa yoga, where movement is harmonized with breathing and intentions.  Lesley aims to help support and understand the needs of each student in a healthy and safe way.  Practicing yoga we strengthen our bodies, our endurance, and ease our minds. This balance can help us progress through our daily lives with more energy and a healthier approach.

Mona Zabanah (Teacher)

Yoga first came into Mona’s life as an outlet for physical and mental relaxation during an intense first year of nursing studies. However, a change in career path landed me behind a desk. Like many students she has met, her body began feeling tense and began feeling tied down by life’s obstacles. She then made a commitment to look past these limitations and embarked on a journey of self-discovery where Yoga was her guide.

She began the teacher training program at YogaSpace directed by Kathryn Beet, Michael Siddall and Ante Pavlovic in 2004, thus establishing foundational studies in "Vinyasa" yoga in the lineage of Krisnamacharya with influences from Iyengar, Anusara and Ashtanga systems.

She continues to study Hatha Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Yogic Scriptures, Chanting and Philosophy with Hali Schwartz, who is a continual source of inspiration.

She hopes to inspire self discovery by encouraging students to be aware of their breath, bringing attention to alignment and highlighting that perceived limitation is actually perfection.

Magie Cuaresma (Teacher)

Magie first came to yoga looking for just another form of exercise to incorporate in her gym routine, but she soon saw the practise transforming her life in ways she never expected: she felt healthier, more relaxed and more in touch with herself than ever before. Magie has been practising yoga for over 8 years and is a certified Astanga Yoga teacher. She has explored many different styles of yoga including, Hatha, Vinyasa Flow and Kundalini with her passion firmly rooted in the Ashtanga practice. She teaches Yoga because she loves to. Her teaching is motivated by her desire to share the life enhancing gift that yoga has been to her. It is her intention to continue to teach, study and practice in joy, and for life.

Esero  (Studio Manager)