ABOUT

What Brought Me to Yoga?

My first yoga experience was memorable, yet fleeting. Our teacher moved on within a year and I searched in vain to find something similar and never really felt again what I experienced in her classes.

Fast forward years later, we made the decision to leave Toronto and corporate jobs for a simpler (less stress) lifestyle. Top of my list was yoga and volunteer in the community. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?

Finding yoga was easy, but getting myself to class felt hard. After years of working, commuting, major car accident, laparoscopic surgeries for endometriosis, fibroids and a diagnosis of IBD, I struggled. Navigating a new healthcare system added stress, while a scan revealed two bulging discs in my lower back. The final straw was a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. Accepting I had to take a pill every day for the rest of my life was difficult. I thought, I’m 50 years old, why is this happening to me?

During this time, yoga was still a part of my life and what I experienced in 1996 with that first teacher stirred within. As time passed, I recognized: I have to take control. So I searched for a yoga teacher training program. That took time and it wasn't until I met with Erin Byron that those stirrings came forward. With Erin, I completed a 200 hr YTT certification in 2012 and in 2014 graduated with 300hr certification in Comprehensive Yoga Therapy.

Life is full of ups, downs, twists and turns. During these times I've felt strong and uncertain, powerful and powerless. Fearless and also full of fear. Through Yoga I have a strong foundation with my spiritual practice, supporting vulnerabililty and strength. I love sharing Yoga, seeing students explore the possibility of themselves, unleashing their own inner compass.

With peace + love,
Sheila

Teachers, Mentors and Influences:

Erin Byron - author, teacher, psychotherapist http://erinbyron.com/

Robert Butera - teacher, author, founder and Kristin Butera - author,

head teacher, owner of The YogaLife Institute https://www.yogalifeinstitute.com/

Mark Nepo - spiritual writer, poet, philosopher http://www.marknepo.com/

Marianne Williamson - spiritual teacher, author, lecturer https://marianne.com/

Mark Whitwell - author, teacher https://www.heartofyoga.org/

Brene Brown - author, public speaker, courage researcher http://brenebrown.com/

Judith Lasater - teacher, author http://www.judithhansonlasater.com/

Louise Hay - author, founder of Hay House http://www.louisehay.com/

Rama Jyoti Vernon - teacher, peace activisit, co-founder of Yoga Journal http://www.rama.yoga/

Ruth Hartung - teacher, director of 7 Centers Yoga Arts http://www.7centers-yoga.com/

Julia Mikk - teacher, healer, spiritual guide https://www.breathoflove.org/

And all of the students I've been honoured to spend time with.