We invite you to experience classes with as many of our instructors as you can, they each have their own wonderful and unique way of leading you through your practice.  You will find this is the best way to discover the classes that you connect best with.  Photo coming soon! Amanda Porter (Atma Jyothi) Amanda has been practicing yoga and meditation since 1998.  She became a certified Sivananda Yoga Instructor in 2000.  Since then she has given more than 1000 classes and workshops.  She is also a mother, a Doula (pregnancy and birth specialist), and is enrolled in massage therapy training.  Her interest in new families and pregnancy transformed her teachings to include Prenatal and Baby & Mom yoga, as well as Holistic Infant massage (Ayurvedic approach), and specialization in pre/postnatal massage. She also hosts regular Kirtan (sacred chanting) events at the Rama Lotus.  Her yoga teachers include Swami Atma, Michael Fahey, Ana-Karyn Garcia, Guru Vasudeva, and Satya Sai Baba.      Photo coming soon! Anil Sooklal Anil's years of yoga practice include ashtanga, power, Bikram, hatha, yin and seated meditation. His approach to teaching stems from a belief that perfection is neither a prerequisite for practice nor the object of growth. His classes provide a space for students to cultivate contentment, develop their capacity for hard work, and, ultimately, surrender themselves to the moment. Anil has been inspired to teach by a string of excellent teachers in Ottawa and completed his teacher training with Rama Lotus in 2007. He also regularly attends workshops with internationally renown instructors to continue his own self-exploration as a student and to enrich his service to others as a teacher.   Photo coming soon! Annie Boudreau Bio coming soon!   Photo coming soon! Cecelia Taylor Bio coming soon!   Dave Schubert After a few years of working as an engineer and trying to stay healthy, David suddenly realized that the chronic back pain, stress and constant grumpiness couldn't possibly be an acceptable state for a 26 year old. Lucky for him, his wife had been practicing yoga for some time and he decided to give it a try. The rest is history! He was hooked from the very first OM. His 6 years of consistent yoga practice has helped him uncover a new understanding of Balance: strength/flexibility, effort/relaxation, mind/spirit, science/art, intellect/intuition, work/play, inhale/exhale... the list is endless. What's more, this consciousness extends off the mat. It can transform your life. David has explored various forms of Hatha Yoga included Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, Jiva Mukti, Kripalu, Sivananda as well as Kundalini yoga. He brings this varied background to his teaching. David tailors the class to the group at hand but you will always find a thread of vigour and flow in the class. Diane Desrochers (Meherbani Kaur) Diane graduated from the University of Ottawa with a BA in Social Communications and from the University of Waterloo with a BA in Psychology. In 2000, she was awarded a Master’s in the Applied Science of Nutrition from Edison Institute of Nutrition, where she completed her Bachelor’s in nutrition. Since then, she has embarked on the journey of completing her Naturopathic doctorate.  Nutrition and health has been her lifelong passion.  She is first and foremost a Kundalini Yoga teacher certified by the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association and a member of Yoga Alliance. Meherbani has been practicing Kundalini yoga for over 12 years. She says of Kundalini yoga: "Experience, experience, experience. By the Grace of the Guru, I have come to this technology with pain, anger, and sadness and have found joy, forgiveness and strength...all the treasures within.” She believes that kundalini yoga is an essential part of all nutritional programs. Diane has been offering orthomolecular health and nutrition consulting bilingual services and presenting seminars in her community for the past fifteen years. She has been specializing in Women’s health, stress management and addiction recovery. She is a long standing certified member of the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants. “To serve students well and to share this science is my honour, my privilege, my responsibility and my joy. Sat Nam." Ed Hum Ed Hum has taught Bikram Yoga to almost 12,000 students at the Rama Lotus Yoga Centre over the last seven years.  He completed his teacher training with Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury in Beverly Hills, California, graduating in December 2001, and was recertified in September 2004 and in February 2008. In addition to teaching Bikram Yoga, Ed has taught weight training workshops for Russian Kettlebells, and is currently studying the Masgutova Method of Neuro-sensory-motor Reflex Integration for treating children and adults. In December of 2006, Ed became a certified specialist in Greg Roskopf's Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT), which has been called "a vehicle for pain-free living". Ed is one of a handful of Canadians trained in MAT, a non-invasive technique designed to "jumpstart" the muscles in order for the muscle system to function with maximum efficiency.           Ichih Wang I began studying Bikram, Power Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga in Sydney Australia for fitness and overall wellness in 2001. My love and interest in movement, health and overall wellness led to my desire to teach yoga and share it's amazing benefits with others. I constantly challenge the students to reach their edge and open up their hearts. I really enjoy watching people's bodies and life transformation change with regular practice. My teachings are rooted in Hatha, in styles of Ashtanga, Power Vinyasa and Children's yoga. My teacher training programs were with David Swenson, Baron Baptiste and Shakta Kaur Khalsa. I keep up with workshop studies with Rodney Yee, Dharma Mitra, Beryl Bender Birch, Stephen Cope and Richard Freeman. My classes are powerful, energetic and full of authentic healing.   Jamine Ackert Jamine has been a certified yoga instructor (Kripalu) since 1993. She lived at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, working in the Programs department and studying yoga from 1991 until 1994. After leaving Kripalu, she went down the road to Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in New York state where she worked as the Marketing Manager until 1998. Jamine has studied with such well-known teachers as Bikram Choudury, Beryl Bender Birch, Rajarshi Muni, Sam Dworkis, and many of the faculty while on the staff of Kripalu and Omega for over 7 years. She is a recognized professional level teacher (500 level) and is a lead instructor in our Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program.    Photo coming soon! Karoline Eder Bio coming soon!   Photo coming soon! Krista Budgell Bio coming soon!   Kat Mills Kat’s journey of practicing and teaching yoga began in 1998. She draws on her two decades of professional background in leadership, teaching and communication, and as a fitness educator, to bridge yogic philosophy with modern life. At the core of her passion is the belief that the connection of mind, body, self is essential towards wellbeing and this thread remains an integral theme in her classes and workshops. She is grateful for the ongoing teaching and guidance from esteemed teachers within the Kundalini, Ashtanga, Hatha, and Jivamukti Yoga practices. Certifications include Ashtanga teacher training with David Swenson, Hatha Raja, Kundalini and Akhanda Yoga in India with Yogi Vishvektu and Chetana Panwar. She has been fortunate to teach and co-lead yoga teacher certification programs in India and Canada. Kat’s unique energy and passion is infectious; the challenges of the yoga practice are balanced through her joyful and playful approach to the process.   Laurie Howe Yoga has brought me the greatest sense of joy. I am continually amazed and inspired by the changes and challenges yoga brings to my mind, my body and my spirit. As a parent, and through years of working in the healthcare industry, along with life's daily challenges, yoga has helped me to overcome many personal and physical obstacles. Although I enjoy many mainstream physical activities, such as biking, inline skating, canoeing and kayaking, yoga is still the best way I find to balance and improve body and mind. Yoga should be approached with sense of adventure, patience and humour. I am dedicated to creating a fun learning environment of compassion and acceptance, encouraging my students to be fully present in their practice.   Photo coming soon! Louise Sattler Bio coming soon!   Lucy Castell Lucy completed her first intensive teacher training, in Hatha yoga, in Ottawa (2001-2002). Recently, she completed a second intensive teacher training program in Colorado (Spring 2006), studying Ashtanga yoga, with Richard Freeman. She discovered yoga several years ago and was drawn to it's discipline, multitude of health benefits, and the simple enjoyment she felt in and around her practice. Her love of yoga is shared in her daily teaching and flows into her way of living.         Mark Laham Mark Laham, innovative yoga instructor and seminar leader, teaches the ancient wisdom's of the East combined with modern principles of the West to individuals from all arenas of life. Through yoga classes, development workshops and corporate seminars on stress management, he motivates his students to succeed in all aspects of their lives. Through the study of quantum physics, biochemistry, psychology, and of course, by gaining every day life experience, Mark spent many years expanding his knowledge of consciousness. Sharing his own skills and experiences, he encourages his students to work hard to achieve their financial, relational, physical, mental or spiritual objectives. Mark has the ability to deliver complex subjects in a manner that everyone can comprehend and incorporate into their day to day lives. His ability to share wisdom, practices, experiences and life lessons while at the same time, inspiring and entertaining his audience make him a truly unique speaker and teacher.   Photo coming soon! Martina Elliott Bio coming soon!   Megan Campbell I have always had a keen interest in Yoga, Buddhism, philosophy, and spirituality, and decided to pursue these interests more deeply by taking a Hatha Yoga Teacher training course, which I completed in April 2006. After teaching my first Sun Salutations to my class, I knew that teaching was the path I was meant to be on. The training also allowed me to deepen my understanding of yoga and spirituality, and my passion is sharing this interest and understanding with others. While I started my practice with Power yoga, I have also become a practitioner of many different styles including Jivamukti, Yin, Hatha, and Kundalini; thus making my teaching style very eclectic and fun. I truly believe that your practice should be a journey and, as on any journey, there can be laughter, tears, joy, pain, but ultimately self discovery. I continue to learn from a variety of well known teachers, including Paul Grilley, Seane Corne, Rodney Yee, and Yogi Vishvektu. I also maintain a very dedicated personal practice, which has evolved to include meditation and pranayama. In February of 2008 I traveled to India, where I completed another 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher training course with Yogi Vishvektu. My time in India was truly transformational, and while there I found what it was to be an actually yogini, as the women there exude the true meaning of strength, courage, and beauty. So upon my return I created workshops dedicated to women called 'Journey of the Yogini', which are meant to build a community of like -minded, strong, confident women all walking along this same path.   Photo coming soon! Monika Murray Bio coming soon!   Natalie Holst Natalie Holst, a former couch-potato, first went to yoga class as a means for some light exercise in 2003.  She immediately fell in love with the practice, and was impressed by the subtle effects it had on reducing tension in the body, stress from the mind and greater love in the heart.  Natalie's destiny name, Hari Kartar Kaur means Princess who is the doer of God, and who lives within God's will.  I am very grateful and privileged to teach yoga, and to help them along their path, by finding the strength that lies within. In July 2005, she obtained her certificate from the Rama Lotus Yoga Centre, certified KRI Level 1 Kundalini (as taught by Yogi Bhajan); The Radiant Child Yoga Program Level 1 with Shakta Kaur; and has since finished her training in Hatha-Ashtanga Yoga from Santosha Yoga Centre (April 2008). As well, she has also attended many workshops learning about the many different aspects of yoga, styles and philosophy with Paul Grilley, Sarah Powers, Richard Freeman, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Guru Fatha Singh, Gurucharan Singh, Mark Darby and Michael Stone. Yoga has given Natalie a new life, a great community of friends, inspiring teachers, and endless opportunities in which to learn about life on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. In January 2008, after four years with the federal government of Canada , Natalie left her job to pursue teaching yoga on a full-time basis, and has had no regrets. With her husband, Mike Block, she is also the co-founder of www.omtownyoga.ca a not-for-profit, non-commercial website designed to bring the yoga community together.   Photo coming soon! Richard Hudspith Bio coming soon!   Robert Hay Bio coming soon!                 Samantha Shortt Bio coming soon!           Tania Frechette Tania has been captivated by yoga since her first class in January 2000. She is a certified Kundalini and Hatha Yoga Instructor as well as a Radiant Child Yoga Program Facilitator. Her destiny name is Meher Kaur meaning blessed princess. Tania feels blessed to have the opportunity to put her passion into action by sharing yoga with people of all ages. She believes that yoga should be fun and inspiring and that it's by "keeping up" that one finds his/her full potential.   Tara Cartland (Tera Kaur) Tara feels that yoga chose her, and she has followed the path it has lead her, ever since. She took her first yoga class in 1997, upon the nudging of a friend. They began a practice at the Rama Lotus Yoga Centre and she began to feel the first inclinations that this passion for yoga would be something she would be experiencing for the rest of her life. Tara is a Reiki Master, a KRI certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor, Radiant Child Yoga Instructor, and the owner and director of The Rama Lotus Yoga Centre.  Yoga was a natural transition for Tara, who had devoted her life to discovering her true self at an early age. It has led her towards great happiness, health, abundance and peace, and closer to realizations of truth. It is her intention that by offering these classes to as many people as possible, yoga will open up doorways to unimaginable wonders for others, as it has for her.