Halifax owner/instructor/Registered massage therapist

Sherry’s life has been oriented around movement and fitness for as long as she can remember. In 1993 her curiosity of the human body and passion for wellness led her to study Massage Therapy at the widely respected West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Vancouver. Sherry's intuition, training and years of professional practice have given her the knowledge and experience to expertly care for her Massage clients. After 16 years of practice, Sherry embarked on the Breathing Space Teacher Training Program and hasn’t looked back!

Sherry is passionate about Power Vinyasa Yoga and is in ongoing training with her teacher Baron Baptiste. She has completed the Baptiste Level 1 and Level 2 Teacher Training Bootcamps as well as the GREAT program.

Sherry finds her lead role with the Halifax Breathing Space community to be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. She is grateful on a daily basis for the opportunity to offer people a place to challenge themselves and deepen their personal growth in a positive, caring environment. When not at the studio, Sherry can be found playing with the two greatest loves of her life ~ her sons Connor and Maxwell.

Instructor at Hfx/Teacher Training faculty

Sandra has been involved in the fitness industry for over twenty five years and worked as a radiology technician for six years previously. She was the fitness coordinator at Dalhousie University for nine years; chair of the N.S. Fitness Assoc. and lecturer on Wellness and Stress Reduction. She is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. Most importantly, Sandra loves to work with people, using past experiences and knowledge as a guide to understanding individual bodies. Achieving a wonderful sense of well being is the essence of movement.

Instructor at Halifax

Barbie, a Manager at the IWK, is a nurse by profession with years of experience working with children, pre/postnatal women and their families.

Barbie was instantly captured by yoga after her first class and immediately felt the benefits of this beautiful practice. Wanting to deepen her practice and understanding of yoga, she completed her 200 hr certification through the Sivananda Center in the Bahamas and has attended countless other workshops.

She is working toward her 500 hr certificate and continuing her studies through Breathing Space. Barbie has developed a deep passion for this ancient practice and takes a spirit-centered approach to her physical classes.

Instructor at Halifax

Trained in Classical Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga from the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga in the west coast of Canada , Christina moved to Nova Scotia in 2008 and is excited to be a part of Breathing Space team. Her introduction to yoga was a life altering class on the beach in beautiful Thailand , a class that led to a commitment to developing a deep personal practice and to sharing this ancient practice with people of all ages and abilities. Christina’s teaching style encompasses the yoga traditions of pranayama (breathing), asana (postures), and meditation to cultivate peacefulness on and off the mat. She encourages her students to have fun, honor their bodies, and allow their inner wisdom to be their guide. Christina is also an Early Childhood Educator and Kids Yoga Teacher. She loves the fresh ocean air, longboarding, traveling and drinking chai tea.

Instructor at Halifax

Petra found yoga 12 years ago as a university student and immediately fell in love with Surya Namaskaras (sun salutations). Shortly there after she experienced a deeply restful Savasana and was completely hooked. Having trained at the Sivananda Ashram in New York State in 2005, she incorporated yoga into her psychotherapy studies, using it as a fundamental component of her therapeutic framework as a counseling therapist. Petra enjoys teaching Yin yoga (long held postures) because it requires total concentration and patience while creating space to examine both the wonderful and the challenging aspects of the practice. In both her yin and power yoga classes, she incorporates pranayama (breathing practices) into the experience. As one who is intrigued by many layers of the practice, Petra is excited to share yoga with you at Breathing Space.

 

Instructor at Halifax
Helen Fong is a certified hatha yoga teacher and an active member of Yoga Atlantic. With a ten year practice of yoga and meditation, Helen teaches Hatha Vinyasa Flow with an emphasis on true alignment for all levels and bodies. Taking yoga to a practitioner level has opened Helen’s heart & mind to seek a variety of benefits that yoga brings both on and off the mat. Helen was born and raised in Halifax and has a Bachelor of Science (Advanced Major) in Neuroscience from Dalhousie University . She has worked at Capital Health for the almost 9 years. Beyond her love of yoga, Helen enjoys cinematography and watching live comedy.

Instructor at Halifax
Sandy walked into her first yoga class 6 yrs ago and then walked out with such a lightness of spirit that she set a strong intention to bring yoga into her life on a regular basis. Sandy has since completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Breathing Space, attended courses at Kripalu Yoga Institute in Boston and can now say that yoga is a part of her daily routine. As a former public school educator, Sandy has a gift for sharing the depths of this discipline and is committed to helping all who step on their yoga mat to become present and empowered. She believes this is a practice that will bring breath, strength and wisdom back into our bodies and spirit where they naturally belong. Sandy 's other passions include dance, theatre and the advocacy for the voice of young people.

Instructor at Halifax
After practicing at home to alleviate back pain, Tracy explored various studios, sampling different styles of yoga. She found Ashtanga to compliment what she was looking for at the time. Although she is still drawn to the incredible workout, she now realizes that there are many layers to the practice that inspire her commitment. She feels fortunate to have taken the Breathing Space Teacher Training Program because of the combination of yoga matched with self reflection that has helped her gain personal insight that enhances her teaching.

With Tracy 's background in psychology, she applies her stress management, goal setting and performance enhancement skills to training athletes. Her interest in the philosophy of yoga, coupled with her passion to share the benefits of yoga (along with her dynamic personal practice) are what make Tracy 's teaching authentic and inspiring.

Pilates Instructor at Halifax
Jacinte Armstrong's first introduction to Pilates was through dance training at New World School of the Arts, in Miami, FL. Since then she has trained in Stott Pilates at the Interlude Spas in Dartmouth and Halifax, where she has been an instructor since 2001, and with Dianne Miller, of Vancouver, BC. She is certified in the full Mat and Reformer repertoires, as well as in Cadillac, Chair and Barrels. Jacinte's teaching style is influenced by her dance training and she has a keen interest in kinesiology, visualization and imagery, dynamic posture and alignment, and in optimizing strength and mobility throughout the body.

Instructor at Halifax
Mary Ann began practising yoga 10 years ago to maintain mobility and fitness but found so much more. At 62, this retired elementary school teacher would like to share a practice that has made and continues to make such a difference in her daily life.

In addition to her yoga teaching, Lori manages the Bedford studio and runs her own personal training business, Moxie Health. She welcomes all comments and feedback so we can ensure your experience at Breathing Space is all that and more!

Instructor at Bedford and Halifax

Holly's love and appreciation for yoga took root after her very first class with Jenny in 2005 when she experienced a sense of peace and uplifting renewal. As it seems to happen with yoga, she was hooked from that moment onward. Yoga has contributed very positively to Holly’s overall health and wellbeing, so much so that she decided to take the Teacher Training Program in the midst of completing her Bachelor of Education degree at Mount Saint Vincent University . Holly views learning as a lifelong process; she is both excited and committed to continuing her journey of yoga by deepening her personal practice and growing as a teacher. Holly considers yoga to be a wonderful gift and feels passionate about sharing it with others.

Instructor at Halifax and Bedford
Margot was first drawn to yoga as a university student suffering from low back pain. After finding relief, she became an avid practitioner and has been doing yoga for many years now. Margot has relied on yoga to keep her centered through the many challenges she has encountered throughout her life. With a long list of health professionals keeping her body running smoothly while training for triathlons, kayaking, and running, Margot decided it was time to truly take responsibility for her health to prevent further injuries. She chose to dive deeper into the practice by taking the Breathing Space teacher training program with the intention of improving her core strength and agility. She finds since having yoga in her life, that there is a new quality of happiness, bubbling up from within. There is a joy that can no longer stay hidden and must be shared with others!

Instructor at Bedford
Sheila is a Hatha trained Yoga Instructor with a   style that is influenced by studies in Vinyasa (Flow) Yoga and Don Stapleton's self-awakening Yoga. She draws on her background in health to incorporate an exploration of the influence of Yoga practice in our everyday wellbeing. Sheila teaches like she practices : an approach that combines creativity and curiosity, playfulness and precision.

Instructor at Bedford
Moira's on-going enthusiasm of   a healthy mind body stemmed from and active childhood that included activities from horseback riding to running. After her third child began school, she was afforded the time to develop a deeper commitment toward her personal Yoga practice. Her teaching style features a Vinyasa (flow) influence which combines physical rigour with spiritual connection. She is currently studying Massage Therapy which is is excited to integrade into her teaching style. Another of Moira's passions, one that allows for greater solitude, keeps her grounded and is a creative outlet all at once, is her garden.

Instructor at Dartmouth

Instructor at Dartmouth
Alana discovered yoga while attending University of British Columbia in 1998. She later realized she had been practicing yoga her whole life by following her mother, as she devoted herself in service to her community. Not only has yoga helped Alana to stay flexible and strong, it has inspired her to be present, let go, and love. Alana is a school teacher and guidance counselor, and she shares her love of yoga with her students.

Alana has practiced yoga across Canada , Hong Kong and India . Having spent the last decade wandering the globe as a student, teacher, volunteer, backpacker, and yogini, Alana is now settling back into her hometown, Dartmouth , NS . She recently graduated from the Breathing Space teacher training Program and is excited to help all who attend her classes to cultivate a strong, loving relationship within and with others. Alana has an array of interests from spinning poi, nature and travel--not to mention her exquisite photographic eye.

Instructor at Dartmouth/Bedford
Bev had her first experience with yoga nearly a decade ago in Alberta and from her first breath on the mat she was hooked!. She soon discovered that yoga was much more than just touching your toes! Bev received certification in Sivananda Yoga in 2004 and has gained much inspiration in teaching and helping others discover the beauty of yoga.

After her own experience in prenatal yoga while being pregnant with her two boys, Bev is passionate about helping moms-to-be find peace and strength as they prepare for the journey of motherhood. In addition to teaching yoga at Breathing Space and at the High School level, she and her husband, Neil, make beautiful music together!

Instructor at Dartmouth
Gail was certified in 1991 through the YM/YWCA as a Fitness Instructor and immediately began teaching. Not long after, she discovered the gift of Yoga and the years since have only strengthened her conviction on how life-enhancing the practice can be. She is an accomplished singer/songwriter and craftsperson as well bringing aspects of the teachings of Yoga into each & every project.

Gail strongly believes that a person is never too young or too old to introduce Yoga into one's life. She believes that the postures are but a portion of the Yoga experience--stepping stones to the bliss of self-realization and compassion. Her goal as a facilitator is mainly to help her students discover their own peace.

Instructor at Dartmouth
Jillian is a happy and positive person who strives to live a healthy, active lifestyle--and it shows in her smile! Having recently had her first baby (during her Breathing Space Training Program), Jillian is returning from maternity leave with the Halifax Regional School Board to pick up Blair's teaching position at Millwood High--teaching the new Yoga 11 course! She has also received a certificate in Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga, yoga for kids and is currently working towards a Diploma of Education in Information Technology.

As a new mom, Jillian has personally experienced the amazing benefits of pre and post-natal yoga. During her pregnancy, yoga helped her to connect with her unborn baby and develop the strength she needed to have a natural labor and delivery experience. She is excited to be sharing yoga with her community, especially pregnant and new moms. Everyday Jillian takes time to be active, enjoy nature, play with dogs, and live in the moment.

Tantallon Owner/Instructor/Physiotherapist
Amy was introduced to yoga during her studies in Kinesiology and Physiotherapy. She instantly fell in love with the positive effects that yoga had on her body and after a few years, began to experience the powerful effects on her mind and spirit. As an avid runner and running coach, Amy suffered recurrent and longstanding injuries. Her loving husband Gordie purchased a yoga package for Amy and the rest is history! Addicted to the feelings of enhanced self-awareness, freedom and physical transformation, Amy went on to attain the 200-hr teaching certification with Breathing Space.

Amy's teaching style includes elements from her physiotherapy expertise and sports background. She believes that through yoga, people can heal in many ways: emotionally, physically and mentally. Her classes are lighthearted, energetic and most importantly to Amy - inclusive.