Teachers

Andrea

My earliest memories of yoga are of practicing with my Grandma in her living room as a child. For a long time, yoga came and went in my life. In 2001, during a time when life felt chaotic and out of reach, I started practicing more seriously and could immediately feel the effects yoga had on my life off the mat. My practice has helped cultivate a deeper connection and understanding of self and has given me a sense of clarity and contentment.

After a few years doing a gentle Hatha practice, I was drawn to the flow and vitality of the Ashtanga practice. I love the energy that this practice gives me, and the calm feeling of moving with the breath. My practice reminds me to enjoy the flow of life and of yoga. When something flows it is always moving and changing, thus, my practice reminds me every day to find beauty and contentment in the process and not the final result.

The classes I teach mirror this idea of flow and movement. I encourage fun and experimentation, with a focus on the breath, alignment and working within one’s own capacity.

After the completion of my first teacher training in 2006, my thirst for learning and experience within this vast practice of yoga has never been quenched, and I have had the privilege to learn under the guidance of many great teachers. I am deeply grateful to Ian Buchanan and David Garrigues, both of whom have deeply influenced and inspired me to live my passion and my truth.

Breanna

Breanna has been guiding practice since 2012, offering heart-centered and integrative teachings rooted in alignment, presence, and the wisdom of the natural world. Deeply inspired by the rhythms of the seasons and the interconnectedness of life, her classes create space for practitioners to attune to their inner intelligence and express it with greater freedom on and off the mat.

Breanna’s offerings honor the whole of the yoga practice, weaving together asana, breathwork, meditation, and philosophy to reflect the cyclical nature of life and the power of heart-led living. Grounded in reverence for ancient wisdom traditions, her work invites students into a practice of deep presence and connection, allowing them to align with both the external and internal landscapes.

As a perennial student, Breanna continues to expand her understanding of yoga and its relationship to the everyday, bridging the sacred and the ordinary to support practitioners in discovering their own unique path.

Cindy

I started practicing yoga in 2006. The first few yoga classes I attended were tough; my arms were shaking in downward dog and breathing in and out of my nose seemed an impossible task. Still, something kept me coming back to my mat (likely savasana). When I started to practice Ashtanga yoga I started to find moments of clarity and lightness. There was something magical about the breath body link in the Ashtanga practice; I was hooked. The changes I was seeing in my practice were encouraging and the ones happening off of my mat were shifting the world around me.In 2012 a new chapter started in my life, as I became a new mother. Immediately, I knew I wanted to begin to live a life filled with passion, presence and connection. Naturally, yoga became a constant in my life around this period.

In 2017 I graduated from my 200hr teacher training through Yogadotcalm. About halfway through my teacher training I injured both of my hamstrings.That injury changed the trajectory of my practice and ended up being one of the most interesting gifts I have ever received.I began to seek out further trainings in biomechanics, critical alignment, and other movement systems to ensure I could continue to keep the yoga practice as a part of my life.

Yoga is my passion. I love crafting classes that are fun and engaging, challenging both the mind and body by working into ranges of movements that are less often visited in traditional yoga. In the classes I lead I strive to meet students at their level, instilling body awareness and building the practice from there, creating a safe space for anyone who is willing to learn. With focus on exploration the classes I teach will give students room to find their own personal potential each time they roll out their mats.

Debbie

I am happy to be able to combine my love of teaching with my love of Yoga. My lifetime experiences help me show compassion in my classes, recognizing the differences in age, size, shapes and abilities of my students.

Namaste, Debbie

Ian

Ian is a practicing chemical engineer, former Edmontonian, avid backcountry hiker, vegetarian (lacto/ovo). His favorite food is wild mushroom soup and favorite color is green.

"I was introduced to Ashtanga yoga in 1998 by Jennifer Steed, who is still my teacher and good friend. I was recovering from knee surgery and at the time my body was stiff and bulky, but I fell in love with the calming rhythm of the breath and movements. Yoga has taught me to be aware of my ego (ambition/expectations/dramas/guilt/etc) and the importance of humbleness, which I try to impart in my classes by bringing a sense of caring and humor. I think we take life a bit too seriously sometimes. I thank all my teachers for guiding me along this ever–braiding and often upward path..."

Ian has studied in Mysore, India under Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath. Ian has studied in Boulder, Colorado under Richard Freeman. Ian has also studied under Mary–Jo Fetterly in Vancouver, BC.

"Everything is already ok."

Joanne

It was the physicality of Ashtanga Yoga that first attracted me. I loved the feel of the breath flowing with the movement, the heat building in my body and the sweat dripping off the tip of my nose. Even though my arms were trembling and my legs were burning and at times I felt I just couldn't go on.

Katie

I guess you could say yoga runs in my family, and that Yogadotcalm is our home! My mother, Mary Rasmussen, introduced me to the practice of Ashtanga yoga when I was in high school. I accompanied her to Mysore India in 2007 to practice at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute under the tutelage of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, his daughter Saraswati and grandson Sharath.

Since then I have enjoyed practicing and learning under many of Calgary's wonderful teachers. In 2011, I completed my 250 hour teacher training with Amber Kyliuk and Jan Goranson through YDC. I have also had the privilege of practicing under the skillful guidance of Janet Hawkins and enjoyed various workshops with Nancy Gilgoff, David Swenson, Tim Miller, Michael Stone, Julie Gudmedstead, David Robson and Eddie Stern. In 2013 I completed an initial prenatal teacher training with Amy Bidrman. In 2014 I became a mother myself, which has enriched my yoga practice immeasurably both on and off my mat!I am so thankful to Andrea and Mike for the opportunity to be a part of the Yogadotcalm family!

Mary

After a deep dive into meditation, Mary was drawn to the practice of yoga. One class and she knew she had found home- both in community and her own body. Mary began teaching in 2015 and is continually inspired by the opportunities for growth, connection, and awareness through the practice of yoga and meditation. Her classes are joyful, mindful, and offer options for all. Mary, also a professional musician, will lull you into rest with a flute accompanied savasana.

Michael

I first came to a yoga class the same way I think a lot of guys do, being dragged there by their girlfriends. I don’t remember much about my first class, other than the teacher was not talking entirely in English, and that a t-shirt and sweatpants were bad clothing options. I was sweaty. It was a lot of work. I had always been pretty flexible, but strength was never my strong suit (no pun intended).

I signed up for an Intro to Yoga workshop where I learned that there was not only a balance between flexibility and strength, but there was a mountain of philosophy behind this yoga thing. I was hooked, and embarrassed. I learned much about myself, there were many things I didn’t like about myself and my actions, and how I had been treating those around me. Most importantly, I learned that there was something I could do about it. To me, that’s yoga, not just being flexible and strong physically, but mentally as well.

I would love to be able to bring even just a little bit of that awareness to my students. I would hope to challenge them to question the things that they thought they “knew,” and be amazed when they do the things that they thought they “knew” they couldn’t do.

Over the years, I have practiced with, and taken numerous workshops with many great and inspiring teachers, in many beautiful and exotic locations. In 2013, my partner Andrea and I were given the opportunity to take over the reins at yogadotcalm, and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be able to share this yoga journey with my very best friend.

Nicole

The birth of my first child in 2000 brought me to yoga. I saw yoga as an opportunity to reconnect with my changing physical self in a way that was compassionate and restorative. I found that yoga not only allowed me to reconnect with my body but also taught me to look within myself for the confidence and emotional strength I needed as a new mother. While raising my three daughters for the past 20+ years and continuing my practice throughout that time, yoga has been a constant refuge and a means to find a place of stillness.

Shawna

Over the past 20 years, my love for yoga has grown deeply and steadily. What began as the occasional monthly class evolved into a weekly commitment—and now, an essential part of my daily life. Through the discipline and grace of an Ashtanga practice, I’ve discovered an inner joy and profound sense of contentment. Yoga has taught me to connect breath to movement, effort to ease, and strength to softness. It’s helped me build confidence, move mindfully, and show up—wholeheartedly, even when imperfect.

I’ve come to realize that yoga’s gifts extend far beyond the physical. The mental resilience, emotional grounding, and determination I cultivate on the mat bring me back to it, day after day.

A little about me: I’m a devoted and loving mother of three, with a strong background in early childhood development. I have a deep passion for both learning and teaching. In my free time, I seek quiet moments in nature and turn inward to reconnect with my truest self.

Having overcome many personal adversities, I strive to connect with others through love, kindness, and compassion. I wear my heart on my sleeve.

Over the past 12 years, I’ve completed:

200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate
100-hour Meditation Instructor Certification
CANFIT Pro Personal Training Certification
Numerous Yogadotcalm (YDC) workshops

Each of these experiences has deepened my understanding and love for this path. As a teacher, I feel honored to share my passion and dedication to yoga. I aim to do so with lightness, care, and unwavering support for my students.

Trish

Yoga surprised and delighted me from my first class onward. Having passionately pursued and taught group exercise classes of all sorts for 20 years plus, I was amazed at how challenging the Ashtanga Yoga was. Of course, I immediately set out with great gusto to master as many postures as humanly possible in my late 40's, only to discover that I was missing the point.

Yoga is so much more than just doing the physical asanas. It's about learning to surrender to and trust the process, the wisdom of yoga masters, past and present. It's about letting go of your ego, breathing, moving and centering yourself. It's about allowing the practice to challenge you and at the same time learning to respect your own physical limitations and in teaching, those of your students.

I have had the privilege of studying with many wonderful teachers, Amber Kyliuk (Yogadotcalm), Harmony and Jeff Lichty (Ashtanga Yoga Victoria), Gert van Leeuwen (Critical Alignment Yoga and Therapy, Amsterdam) just to mention a few!

Yoga is for everyone and it is an ongoing journey.

I'd love the honor of helping you along the way!

Namaste

Trish

Work your body. Calm your mind.