South Okanagan Yoga Academy Yoga Teacher Training Programs

Marion (Mugs) McConnell (Bhanumati) is a founder and Co-Director of the SOYA 200 and 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Programs. She is the Canadian Representative for the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA) since 1980, and a certified Acharya from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre (1978) where she studied under Swami Vishnudevananda. “Mugs” was the last disciple of Sri Yogiraj Dr.Hari Dickman when she studied under his tutelage. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT500) and has been teaching yoga for over 30 years, presenting workshops in Australia, Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and USA. She teaches Sivananda Yoga, Vinyasa with Mudras and Mantra, and Mantra Therapy.

Dariel Adrianne Vogel (Kalyani) is a co-founder of the SOYA 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. She is a certified Teacher with the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA) since 1998. Dariel is originally certified by the Alberta Yoga Association (YAA) to teach teachers, as well as from the Freidel Khattab School of Yoga (FKSY). She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT500) and has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 30 years. Dariel currently teaches Yoga in Westbank, BC as well as the Teacher Training Programs.

Carla Wainwright began practicing yoga in 1996 and teaching in 1999. As co-owner of Chinook Yoga Studio in Prince George, BC, she teaches a wide range of classes - from Yin Yoga to Pre-Natal. She leads yearly yoga retreats in Mexico as well as the 200 and 500 hour SOYA Yoga Teacher Training Intensives. Carla is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT) and the International Yoga Teacher's Association. She is a Doctor of Medical Heilkunst from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst and Homeopathy. Carla also has a College Diploma in Health Sciences, a Bachelors Degree in Applied Zoology and a Masters Degree in Conservation Biology

Cindy Szekely started practicing Yoga in 2002, and it was “love at first sight” practice. She completed the SOYA 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training program and teaches in Mackenzie BC and Prince George. Cindy is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and the International Yoga Teacher's Association (IYTA). Her classes include beginner, intermediate, flow, Yin, and individual instruction. Over the last two years Cindy has been co-teaching SOYA's 200 and 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training programs at the Prince George Satellite in Chinook Yoga Studio.

Chris Clancy began the practice of Hatha Yoga in 1990 and has been teaching since 1992. She is a certified teacher through the SOYA Yoga Teacher Training Program, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT) and the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA). Dedicated to yoga as a life practice, Chris focuses on the fundamentals of body alignment, rooting and approaching yoga with humility. She helps her students uncover the ‘living’ yoga by moving beyond the physical reward toward an inward journey that extends long after class is over.

Dorothy Fizzell (Nandini) has been practicing yoga for nearly 40 years and teaching since 1998. She is a certified Yoga Teacher through the SOYA Yoga Teacher Training Program and Shioki Yoga Therapy Training. Dorothy is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT) and the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA). She has a black belt in karate, so her passion for yoga as well as martial arts brings an interesting yin/yang balance to her teachings.

Helen Mikuska is the owner of Harmony Yoga Studio in Calgary, Alberta. She is a certified teacher through the SOYA Yoga Teacher Training Program. Helen is also a certified teacher with the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (ERYT). Helen’s other qualifications include many certifications in fitness having taught 29 years in the fitness industry. She has also completed Stott Pilates Intensive-Plus and Advanced Matwork courses, as well as a two-year diploma program in Food and Nutrition Management. Currently Helen is expanding her knowledge in Yoga Therapy.

Katherine Labonte (Omkari) owned a yoga studio in Fort McMurray for 15 years. She currently lives in Cochrane, Alberta where she runs a Holistic Healing practice known as Dharma Spirit. Katherine is a certified SOYA Yoga Teacher, Sivananda Yoga Acharya, and very adept Ashtanga Yoga Teacher. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT) and the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA). She is currently studying Mantra Therapy with Namadeva, while she works with other healing modalities such as Nutrition, Colon Hydrotherapy, Iridology, and Live Blood Analysis.

Kamala (Carla) Wilkie came to yoga in 2000 and used it as a form of rehab after a car accident. She is a certified SOYA Yoga Teacher with a specialty in Okido Yoga and has been teaching since 2003. Kamala is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (ERYT500) and completed her certification with the International Yoga Teacher's Association (IYTA). While in India, she practiced under Sri K Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, spent time at a Sivananda Ashram and experienced a 10 day silent Vippasana meditation retreat. Kamala is certified in Thai Massage from the Old Medicine Hospital in Chiang Mai, and runs the Purple Lotus Yoga Studio in Penticton. Currently she is training in Anusara Yoga. She feels she is the luckiest person alive everyday.

Kapila Chugh is the owner of the Healing Heart Yoga in Fort McMurray, AB; a home-based business that provides Yoga Services to individuals and community groups. She is a Certified SOYA RYT500 Yoga Teacher and a Member of the Yoga Association of Alberta. She is also a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (RYT500 & E-RYT200) and a member of the International Yoga Teacher's Association (IYTA). Kapila teaches Hatha Yoga and Yoga Thrive for Cancer Survivors, and is currently enrolled in Yoga Therapy at Mount Royal University and totally loving it.

Heather Thomas is the owner of the Ananda Center for Balance in Fort McMurray, AB; a home-based business that provides professional Yoga Instruction, Massage Therapy and Reiki Services as well as Wellness Workshops and Presentations. Heather is a Certified SOYA RYT500 Yoga Teacher, a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (RYT500 & E-RYT200), and a member of the International Yoga Teacher's Association (IYTA). Heather offers regular classes in Hatha & Freedom Style Yoga and works with individuals with specific needs in Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga.