Ken Gleeson . . .

has been practicing yoga for eleven years and teaching for seven years. In 2001 he became a member of the South Okanagan Yoga Association (SOYA). Following completion of the 500 hour certification program with SOYA in 2003, he enrolled with the International Yoga Teacher’s Association (IYTA) and obtained his teacher certification. This certification is recognized around the world. Ken is also a co-owner of Chinook Yoga Studio.

Ken initially started practicing yoga as a form of exercise and stretching. He later became aware that yoga not only stretched and toned his body, making it stronger and more flexible, but also relieved stress from both body and mind.

During his studies with SOYA Ken quickly realized that yoga was a spiritual journey for him. The philosophy laid out in the ancient yoga texts answered many questions on life for him, as well as verifying some of his thoughts and ideas on life. Ken integrates this feeling of spirituality into his yoga classes.

In his yoga class Ken practices a flow style of yoga, moving from one pose to another, pausing briefly to experience each pose. He encourages students to work to their own level while respecting their body and any personal limitations they may have, but also provide the opportunity for personal challenge. Practicing yoga with these ideas in mind he guides, cautions and encourages students through the class.

Carla Wainwright . . .

is one of the co-owners of Chinook Yoga Studio and began practicing yoga in 1996. She found early    classes challenging but continued to persevere and began to feel a deeper connection between mind, spirit and body. Carla’s passion for yoga grew, and she began teaching in 1999. She teaches a wide range of classes - from Yin Yoga to Pre-Natal, and leads yearly yoga retreats in Mexico. She also runs the Prince George Satellite of the SOYA Yoga Teacher Training Program. As a young mother, yoga has become even more important in her life. Yoga has helped her stay flexible and grounded with a deep sense of well-being despite a much more busy life! Carla has completed a 500 hour yoga instructor certification program with a specialization in prenatal yoga. She is also a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT500) and the International Yoga Teacher's Association. She leads regular teacher trainings and retreats in both Prince George and Mexico. Her personal website can be found at www.carlawainwright.com.

Adene Rhoddy . . .

believes that yoga can be an important pursuit for anyone, and is committed to sharing the positive benefits of yoga with others. In a society where physical demands are outweighed by mental demands yoga offers well-being for both the body and mind. Students don’t have to be flexible to benefit from yoga – just a willingness to try. Adene is a certified SOYA instructor at the 500 hour level.

Robin Wright . . .

began practicing Iyengar Yoga in 1979. In 1998 she began studying with the Victoria Yoga Centre. She has studied with many Senior Iyengar Yoga teachers including Geeta Iyengar when she visited Vancouver in 2001. Robin recently completed her teacher training certification with SOYA. Robin has been teaching yoga for almost a decade and welcomes new and continuing students to her classes. She is also a member of Yoga Alliance and an RYT500.

Ken Bilski . . .

received massage certification several years ago as part of a late-life shift in careers that included graduating from the SOYA Teacher Training Program. Ken teaches several classes a week at the Prince George Correctional Facility, a class at the Y, a “warm room” yoga class (25C) at Chinook, and enjoys Bikram hot yoga whenever travels permit.

Jaylene Paivarinta . . .

started taking yoga more regularly in 2005 when she took her twin girls to Mom and Baby classes at Chinook Yoga Studio. Since then yoga has helped her with balance in her life. Jaylene recently completed her SOYA Teacher Training (RYT500) with Chinook and continually ugrades her Yoga Therapy Training. With her 10 year background as a Registered Kinesiologist she feels Yoga Therapy is a perfect fit. She looks forward to sharing this combined knowledge, of Yoga and Kinesiology, with her future students. Her personal website can be found at www.one-yoga.ca.

Jamie Mathiasen. . .

during one of a thousand conversations about ‘the meaning of life’ a good friend of Jamie’s told her to go to a yoga class. Sceptical that answers to life could be found while balancing on her head, she went to her first class, and like many students, realized yoga was much more then exercise. She couldn’t quite figure out what it was she loved but something definitely resonated and yoga has been her path ever since. Jamie has graduated from the 500 hour Teacher Training program through SOYA (RYT500) and has completed a Yin Yoga Teacher Certification with Bernie Clark in 2009. Being a yoga teacher is one of the many joys in her life and she hopes to help students apply the foundations of yoga to their lives, on and off the mat, as all of her teachers have taught her.

Robin Abra. . .

fell in love with yoga about 8 years ago and has been practicing ever since. What started out as a way to help with lower back and hip pain, evolved into a practice that contained much more than mere physical benefits. As Robin’s personal practice matured, she began to feel a deeper sense of peace and balance both on and off the mat. As a mother to two young children, and a former high school teacher, yoga became an even more important facet of her life. This growing sense of balance and peace helped Robin to decide to pursue her dream of being a yoga instructor; she has graduated from the 500 hour SOYA Teacher Training Program (RYT500). Robin strongly believes that anybody can practice yoga, and that everybody can benefit from this practice on many levels. All that is needed is an open mind and the ability to listen to your own body.

Corey Goebel. . .

since his first yoga class he felt an extremeley strong inward attraction to the philosophies and ancient texts of yoga. After after skimming through a few books he considered himself an expert and retreated to a cave he found on Cranbrook Hill as a young boy. Here he further explored the inner depths of existence through yoga, meditation techniques, and Kriyas. After a couple hours, he awoke and noticed he was very hungery, cold and the bugs were driving him nuts. Very satisfied and impressed with himself, he decided to descend from the hills to share with the world his newly attained wisdom. He emerged from his cave as "COREYMAHANSA GOEBELNANDA" and rushed down the hill toward civilization to share with the world the secrets of creation!! Before it got too dark outside!!!

Goebelnandaji went on to initiate himself into the Great "Gayatri Mantra" as well as Kriya, Laya and Tantra yoga techniqes. He was again,VERY impressed with himself!! Sri Coreymahansaji also considers himself an expert in Pranayama, Mantra, Meditation, and Asana. He is also responsible for the "YAMAS are for YAHOOS" campaign he is putting forth this summer stating that they are "intrusive and COMPLETELY UNFAIR!!". He is still looking for ANY support on this issue.

Please join this self-proclaimed Master as he attempts to enlightened the masses every Wednesday night @ Chinook Yoga Studio 5:00 P.M.-6:30P.M.

All of our teachers have extensive experience and have either completed or are working towards teaching certification recognized by the International Yoga Teacher Association and Yoga Alliance.