Eric Pattison, Yoga Therapist
Eric has always been interested in health and wellness. It was not until a Christmas visit with his family that his Mom took him to his first hatha yoga class. His Mom took him to a little studio she had found near her house. In that first week he went six times and the rest as they say is history. Eric took Moksha Yoga teacher training in Toronto. He began teaching in Calgary before moving to Taipei, Taiwan. While teaching yoga in Taipei he was able to more deeply explore Anusara Yoga. Eric has studied and traveled extensively with Anusara Yoga founder John Friend and is an Anusara Inspired Yoga Teacher. In his classes Eric likes to create an atmosphere of lightness and exploration where we can all laugh, play and practice. He hopes his students can bring the laughter and sense of play off their mats and back into their lives.
Tara Lucash, Yoga Therapist, M.Ed.
University of New Brunswick
Masters in Human Development and Counselling
Tara was introduced to yoga over 10 years ago as a way to mend tired and sore muscles from running. Eventually, her exposure to ashtanga, hatha and Iyengar practices led to a greater awareness of the balancing effect it not only had on her body, but mind and spirit as well. She finished her meditation training while completing her Masters degree in Human Development and Counseling in 2002. In 2006 she received yoga certification from the Yoga Passage, here in Calgary. She encourages her students to challenge themselves yet ultimately respect and honor what their body is telling them daily. Being able to share her journey with others, while learning from their experiences too, keeps her practice fresh and exciting.
Caroline Sereda, Yoga Therapist
Caroline loves yoga, and loves to laugh, and often does both at the same time! Caroline is in her tenth year of yoga study. She went to her first yoga class between social work classes as a student at the U of C. She was in the middle of training for her sixth marathon. The yoga class signalled the beginning of a new chapter and she traded her new balance runners for bare feet on a yoga mat.
Caroline studied Anusara Yoga® for seven years with Nora Maskey, who recently became the first Senior Anusara Certified Instructor in Alberta. Caroline received her 200 hours of Teacher Training with Senior Anusara Certified Instructors Martin and Jordan Kirk. Other Senior Anusara Certified Instructors Caroline has studied with include Madhuri Martin, and Noah Maze. Caroline had the pleasure of studying with John Friend, founder of the Anusara system of yoga when he came to Calgary in July of 2009. Her extensive study and training in Anusara Yoga® enables Caroline to focus on the individual needs her clients present, and to apply elegant Universal Principles of Alignment™ across all situations to help heal and prevent injuries.
Through her yoga practise Caroline feels a better connection to herself and has an expanded awareness of the circles of connections that she belongs to. As a yoga teacher it is deeply rewarding to help others feel better, to witness the unique beauty in every body and the universality that comes from the shared experience of being human. Everybody seeks well-being, and yoga is one way to find that feeling within.
Hilary Smith, Yoga Therapist
As an avid dancer and runner, Hilary was initially drawn to the physical aspects but she soon realized and experienced the mental, emotional, and therapeutic benefits of yoga as well. She is a certified yoga instructor through the Integrative Yoga Therapy School in the United States, a leader and pioneer in the field of Yoga Therapy. She has also completed her Power Vinyasa yoga teacher training with Baron Baptiste an internationally renowned yoga educator and instructor. She is grateful for the personal empowerment he has provided her.
Hilary has taught yoga in Guatemala, Honduras, and more recently for a year in Brazil. She loves to share the benefits of yoga with everyone; no matter how old they are or what language they speak. She is thankful for the many gifted yoga instructors and students she met and practiced with, in Latin America. She has deepened her understanding of yoga and meditation through pre-natal yoga training and completing Vipasanna Meditation courses with S.N. Goenka which is a 2500 year old meditation technique from India.
Hilary encourages her students to approach each class with a calm mind so they can accomplish more than expected – she believes that anything is possible if we put our minds to it, whether we are on or off our mats. Hilary is particularly passionate about one-on-one yoga or yoga in small groups, as she is able to better understand the needs of her students, address them accordingly, and lead them through a tailored therapeutic yoga session.
