Hot Yoga in West Edmonton Mall | Edmonton, AB

Shandel Parsons

I joined my first yoga class as 15year old delinquent teenager, looking to fill the extra time on my hands. A few years later at 19years old(2004), I joined another beginner yoga class looking for the fitness aspect of it. I was keen on being healthy and wanted to stay fit as I grew older. Quickly I began to realize that there is so much more to yoga then the physical fitness part of it. Joining the studio and developing an almost daily practice opened a whole new door that was my life. I could not get enough yoga! I was finding new ways to channel emotions and feelings to create a calmer state of mind, my daily life was easily maintained. Yes, I was still getting all of the physical benefits of yoga, but I was also eating up the mental and spiritual parts of it as well.

Teaching just happened to be another door that opened, I had no idea I would end up in this direction. Transforming from student to teacher has been a blessing all in its own. I have participated in many workshops and Teacher Training programs over the years, Hatha yoga, Okido yoga, Prenatal yoga, Childrens yoga. Most recently in 2012 I trained with the Sattva School of Yoga at The Yoga Loft. These teachings from the ancient lineages that is yoga is what I love most about it. My cup is constantly being filled with wonderful, loving knowledge. In our heart’s we will always be students. I have been blessed to have the guidance of my fabulous teachers, Debbie and Lacie Cosgrove.

Yoga is a never ending learning cycle; weather you are just popping into class here and there or maintaining a daily practice. I invite you to learn more about yourself and also about the ancient practice that is yoga.

Shandel is a Registered Yoga Teacher with The Yoga Alliance.

Amethyst Ward

The first time I attended a yoga class I left feeling completely cleansed -body and mind-and happy! I was immediately in love. It was August when I attended my first class by September I was already registered for my teacher training, and in December I was officially a certified instructor! I took the 500 hour teacher training course at the Sivananda and Vedanta Center in Neyyar Dam, India. In this course I learned to teach many different kinds of yoga classes, including prenatal, mom and tot, kids classes and family classes. It was an amazing experience that completely changed my outlook on life.

My year has been off to a great start with the birth of my son Castle on January 1st! He brings so much love and happiness into my life and I am excited to bring that energy into class with me. NAMASTE.

Caitlin Varrin

I started my yoga journey over 5 years ago in Edmonton, soaking in as many different classes as I could. To this day, I couldn’t pin down my favourite style, and I have a great appreciation for each class or workshop I take. There truly is a class or style of yoga for whatever mood you’re feeling. The diverse and amazing yoga community of Edmonton has shaped who I am as a student and as a teacher. Yoga comes with so many benefits, but what it’s taught me most is to breathe, look at the moment, and love it. I believe that every person in the world can experience some form of yoga, and I love teaching the foundations of the practice. I completed my training in Power Yoga, heavily influenced by Ashtanga and Iyengar principles. I have also completed a training in Rocket Yoga, and I love the adventurous and creative aspect of it! Yoga to me is fun, playful, intimate, and expressive. It’s normal to have a little giggle in my class, and I’m excited to play, learn, and grow with my students. I also have a passion for Holistic Health, and became a practitioner specializing in Herbology and Acupressure through the MacEwan Holistic Health Practitioner Program in 2003. I am always learning and growing!

Jen Terris

Jen is a certified Hatha, Yin, and Pilates teacher. She has studied Hatha with Yandara in Mexico, Yin with Bernie Clark, and Pilates with the Pilates Physicalmind Institute Canada. Over the years her passion for yoga has grown from being recreational to a significant foundation in her life. As she welcomed the blessings, lessons, and balance that yoga has to offer, her life began to flourish and evolve into a blossoming passion for yoga. She believes that yoga is one of the healthiest and most beneficial activities for your mind – and the physical part is just a bonus! Jen feels that every practice is like a new experience, and she is passionate about sharing this life-changing experience and gift with you.

Jen recently completely Sattva training with The Yoga Loft and is really excited to share her experience with you!

April Cantafio

To this day I am intrigued as to how I jumped into my first yoga class many years ago (2000). As a shy and cautious girl I rarely strayed into the unknown, and to be honest I knew nothing about yoga, but there seemed to be some kind of energetic pull that drew me there that day and continued to draw me deeper as the years passed by.

I began to understand and value the unification of the body, breath and stillness of the mind. Balance and union eventually carried from my mat into my life, clarity and awareness developed. Yoga has guided me to create a deeper connection and has allowed me to develop relationships both internally and externally.

Over the years my practice naturally led to teaching, as I taught my first class in 2004. Although I was nervous it was an exhilarating experience. I enjoyed sharing the wonderful gift of yoga, the gift of the breath, and knew then and there that teaching would be a path I would explore more deeply in the future. From that point on I subbed and assisted classes under the guidance of my teachers Deb and Lacie Cosgrove. However, it wasn’t until finishing my Bachelor of Design that I was able to take my training and practice to an even deeper level. First completing my 200YTT Ashtanga training with Rameen Peyrow, then traveling to India to study with Yogi Vishvketu at his ashram for the 200YTT Akhanda (Holistic Yoga) training. Completely falling in love with anything yoga.

I truly believe that yoga has guided me in ways that I may not even realize and thus have chosen to dedicate this life to the discovery of the self. Looking forward to what lies ahead, to learn and share with my teachers and students.

Always looking from the heart!

April is a registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance and has taken trainings and workshops both locally and internationally (200YTT Akhanda Yoga with Yogi Vishvketu, 200YTT Ashtanga and Sattva with Rameen Peyrow).

Francesco Maio

Francesco is passionate about movement, life, yoga, music production, and being outdoors. He did his Moksha training in India and continues to study other schools of thoughts. His passion inspired him to study classical yoga under the Sivananda lineage, therapeutic yoga, and thai massage therapy. He is currently studying acupuncture with Reeve’s college. All of which he credits to helping him grow as a student, teacher and human being. “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman”