The Team
Who We Are
Gillian
Certified RYT200 Yoga Instructor
Gillian began practicing yoga in 2012 in Fredericton,
NB and fell completely in love with how good it made her body feel, as a student nurse at the time. She wanted to share this newfound sense of feeling strong and at home in her body, and so she took her 200hr teacher training in the fall of 2018. This sparked an ongoing enthusiasm for learning about functional mobility, creating community, and helping people find space in their own bodies for more self-compassion, love, and healing.
Making yoga fun and accessible, so that each person leaves class feeling better than when they arrived is her reason for teaching. Gillian loves teaching classes that have fun transitions, challenge the body and the mind with movement, and offer many options for every size, shape, and skill of every participant in the room.
Tanya
Certified White Belt Nia Instructor
Children & Teen Movement Instructor
Somatic Counsellor / Life Coach
Tanya has taught dance for over thirty years in the areas of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and more. She has an extensive dance background including both her professional dance training, as well as experience performing across Canada.
Tanya moved to B.C. two years ago to the Creston Valley from Manitoba where she was one of the lead instructors at Danceworks for 15 years. It was in BC that Tanya received her white belt in the Nia Technique.
She is also a registered counsellor and life coach with a focus on somatic therapy.
Tanya has enormous passion for movement and dance and believes movement is for everyone and offers tremendous opportunity for healing. Movement and dance has no boundaries and is unique to each individual, offering everyone a way to integrate their body, mind, emotions and spirit and learn to love themselves a little deeper.
Alanna
Certified Black Belt Nia Instructor
Certified JourneyDance Facilitator
I am a creative, a manifester, mover, entrepreneur, mother, wife, student, teacher & friend. I started dancing at the age of 7 and decided to pursue modern dance as my career through a 3 year technical dance college. Partway through I discovered dance for the purpose of healing and expression. I discovered Nia, 5 Rhythms, Ecstatic Dance, Authentic Movement, Continuum and more and after graduating I began my holistic movement journey. I have been joyfully teaching Nia since 2014. I am a Black Belt level Nia instructor, a certified FreeDance & FloorPlay & Moving to Heal instructor as well as a JourneyDance guide. My commitment to continued movement education includes Authentic Movement, 5Rhythms, Gaga, Yoga, Feldenkais, and metaphysical studies.
I LOVE sharing my passion for Nia. This lifestyle practice touches my every day and has helped me learn how to choose more joy and mindfulness as well as feel fantastic in my body every day, no matter if I am a size 14 or a size 10. I am inspired to share the joy of movement with everyBODY-all shapes, and sizes, ages and abilities and a particular passion of mine is inspiring people in larger bodies to feel beautiful, powerful, capable and healthy through movement.
Teaching this practice is my life’s work. Through it, I have found a way to integrate body, mind, emotions and spirit as well I have found connection, friendship and belonging. Hope to see you on the dance floor.
Stephanie
Certified RYT200 Yoga Instructor
Herbalist
I was introduced to yoga 14 years ago when I attended a 2-week-trial of Bikram Hot Yoga. Although I enjoyed the framework of Bikram, I wasn’t sure what to make of the intensity and rigidity of the style, and I felt I had to see what else was out there. So began my interest in yoga, and my passion for absorbing and incorporating all of the various styles and theories into my practice. In 2019 I completed the 200h Yoga Teacher Training Program at Moksana Yoga School in Victoria BC. Through this program I gained deeper insight into the origins of yoga, the physical alignment of poses, the theories and methodologies of the early teachers, and developed a deeper connection to my own practice.
As a teacher, I hope to share this knowledge and to guide you to your own love of yoga. At Embody Movement Studio my class offerings include Yin/Yang, Intro to Hatha, and Restorative.
Gwen
Certified RYT500 Yoga Instructor
Somatic Play Instructor
The first time Gwen walked into a yoga class it felt as if she had come home. It provided a vehicle through which she could let go, breathe, and quickly stabilize her nervous system. This is the passion and gift she seeks to bring through her teachings of Somatic Play.
As a 500hr Certified Yoga teacher through the Healing Movements Yoga Centre, and student of Somatic Groundwork Practice, Gwen has been educated to teach a mindful, connecting, restorative practice that encourages better movement, strength and health.
Gwen’s guidance and practice encourages a mindful, playful body awareness that brings nourishment and peace to the mind, body and spirit
Katie
Belly Dance Instructor
Katie has over 20 years of experience in Belly Dance and still enjoys learning more. Her goal is to create a Belly Dance community here in Creston and empower her students to express their inner goddess / god. Katie's favorite thing about teaching is seeing the joy and wonder when we dance. Belly Dance for Katie has value not only to the body but to our inner creativity and power. She hopes to give her class the experience of connecting to their body, exploring their sensuality and to lighting their inner spark of joy.
Regularly practicing Belly Dance can improve posture, grace and balance. Katie says it has empowered her to be her and explore who she is, and meet her inner goddess. It has also connected her to a community of dancers and she has made many lifelong friends.
Katie's favorite way to stay healthy and get fit is dancing, although walking is a close second. She enjoys taking Nia dance, yoga and Qi Gong classes. They influence the way she teaches BD by learning to connect, stretch and bring joy to our bodies. You’ll find that she sprinkles in a little of them all when she does the warm up and cool down. The rest of the class is learning the moves and doing some easy choreo. She tries to tailor her classes to the students. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned dancer, Katie hopes to bring joy to your movement. If you have any injuries then please let her know and she can modify the movements or bring your awareness to any movements that may be a challenge.
Plum
Certified RYT300 Yoga Instructor
Yoga / Meditation Instructor
Hi. I’m Plum!
What I offer in a yoga class is a relaxed presence, compassionate and clear cuing, and an open invitation to move the body through yoga postures in union with the flow of breath.
Safely guided practice, suitable for beginners to advanced practitioners, is supported by 300hr Yoga Alliance Training (completed in 2013) at Prana Yoga College Vancouver, and by a commitment to ongoing studies.
During group meditation practice we’ll share in simple embodied presence with an orientation towards opening to and caring for what naturally arises.
Whether yoga or meditation, the real teaching, blossoms from the inner light within you. Through your intention for wellness, and your attention to subtleties of body and mind, you are sure to experience the enlightening and transformative process that is Yoga and embodied presence.
Becky
RYT200 Yoga Instructor
Yoga and Strength Instructor
Becky Catherall, RYT200, started doing yoga 5 years ago as a means of stretching stiff muscles after workouts and fell in love with it as a philosophy and wellness practice. She did her certification in 2020 and started teaching classes in 2021. Vinyasa and Yin Yoga are her favourite types of yoga to practice and teach . Becky has lived in Creston for 18 years and is committed to providing a warm and inclusive space for her students. Anyone, at any level of experience is welcome to join in her classes!
She looks forward to moving with you.
