Buddha Rider

Laura found yoga in 2014. She originally started practicing yoga, to loose her baby weight, becoming healthier, and learning to be still in the busyness of being a new mom. The more she practiced, the more she felt this incredible, unexpected shift. Her body changed, but there was a greater transformation that occurred within. Laura felt more grounded, more resilient, more open to life, and more confident in whom she was becoming.

Laura is a graduate of her 200 hour Ashaya yoga training that she took right here at Buddha Rider and begun teaching in 2016.

Laura is so grateful to share her experiences with those who come to class and blessed to learn something from each new person she encounters. She brings the perfect mix of breathing and movement to each and every class. Her belief is we can all live a little healthier, breathe a little easier, and be a little happier on this beautiful journey we call life.

Favourite Quote – All it takes is starting, from wherever you are.

Amanda Clayton comes from a very athletic background. She started dancing at the age of three and has since acquired 18yrs of experience , She has been involved in competitive sports including rugby, cross country skiing, cross country running and triathlons for most of her life. She received a certificate in homeopathic medicine from the Homeopathic College of Canada and sampled many avenues of wellness before finding a new passion and direction for her life in yoga. After practicing yoga and Pilates for over ten years, she decided to study under Ashtanga based yoga teacher David Robson and earned her Yoga Alliance Certification. She also earned her Pre-natal Yoga Teaching certificate with Cynthia Funk.

Cathy has been a Fitness enthusiast for over 20 years. She brings a wealth of expereince to her classes. Her goa is to help clients achieve a balanced lifestyle that encompasses all dimensions of health & wellness.

Angel Vollick, founder of Angel Wings Yoga, is a certified black belt in Chinese Kempo, fire dancer and has completed TWO 200 hour yoga teacher training programs accredited by The Yoga Network of Canada, and Yoga Alliance. In addition, she has completed many retreats, workshops and weekly classes as her thirst for knowledge and love of sharing with individuals is ongoing. She has been actively teaching yoga since 2011. Her desire for connection not only lies in sharing yoga with people, but also in working with horses; two of which she keeps on her farm with her loving family in Stayner. Angel Wings Yoga offers classes to help with balance, flexibility and strength with the intention of taking yoga beyond the mat into everyday life!

Claire is a Kentucky native and a recent transplant to Collingwood from Phoenix, AZ. She has been practicing yoga for 11 years and teaching for 4 years receiving her 250 hour certification of Karuna, Vinyasa, and Functional Anatomy from the Caribe Yoga Academy in Costa Rica.

 

Additionally, she holds a Schwinn Indoor Cycling certification and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ball State University.

 

Claire grew up as a classically trained ballerina, gymnast, and athlete, which lead her to the path of yoga at a young age.

As a student of life, Claire is a dedicated yogini, and lover of Bhakti yoga, mantra, and yogic philosophy. She strives to take the aesthetic out of yoga and give her students ownership of their bodies and personal practice. Claire hopes to share the power of a yogic lifestyle to all varieties of populations and truly believes yoga is for everyone.

Claire is an outdoor enthusiast, artist, nature goddess, and relentless optimist. She lives with her dog Ocean and partner Jeff in Collingwood.

Melissa is a certified Pilates teacher through Janet Lemon and Movement for Health since 2000 and a certified yoga instructor through White Lotus in California. Melissa's yoga practice is based in the Vinyasa Hatha tradition. Her focus is on providing an athletic and challenging practice in a safe environment.

 

Melissa has been teaching in Toronto until recently. She now lives up here in Collingwood with her husband and children.

 

 

Shirlee began her yoga journey more than 20 years ago and the study and practice of yoga has enriched and supported everything she does and the person that she has become: Shirlee is a spiritual seeker, a wife and mother of twin boys, and a teacher and yogi deeply committed to living and helping others live a full and fabulous life.

Shirlee has been fortunate to study with a number of renowned yoga and meditation teachers. Her teaching and practice have been inuenced most profoundly by Esther Meyers and the Anusara School of Hatha Yoga. In addition to her certications with these two schools, she is a 200-hour and 500-hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance.

In 2007, Shirlee founded Buddha Rider Yoga and Cycle Studio in Collingwood, Ontario and, since then, have been offering classes and developing original programming that have resulted in a close-knit and growing community of yogis and cyclists. In 2012, she launched Shri Fest, a yoga and music festival that brings together yoga and healthy living enthusiasts for a weekend of practice, study and socializing Blue Mountain Village at Blue Mountain, Ontario. Rounding out her skill set,she is currently completing the Handel Practitioner program, which will allow her to combine life coaching with yoga. Shirlee believes that these two complimentary disciplines will enable her students – and herself – to live life to the fullest. She hopes to inspire others to reach their potential by rediscovering the very essence of who they are, and she aspires to doing so with honesty, playfulness and heartfelt warmth – not just in the yoga class but in everything she does!

Entering into the competitive dance world at a young age, Heather learned to appreciate her body. Immersing herself in her parents encyclopedia collections and through the study of literature, she learned to appreciate her mind. Finding yoga 14 years ago taught her how to nourish and connect both at the same time. Having completed her YTT 200hr in 2017, Heather aims to share her current knowledge while continuing to study so she always has more to share. When away from her mat, she enjoys working with crystals, writing and playing outside.

Rochelle is a graduate of the yoga program at Georgian College. She completed her training in 2009 and has been teaching for 8 years. Rochelle is a dedicated teacher who teaching a beautiful Gentle Vinyasa class. She is a mother of two fantastic children and has been happily married for the past 18yrs. Rochelle has volunteered with the Georgian Bay Humane Society for the past 7 1/2 yrs where she was responsible for the strays, surrenders and adoption of the dogs. Rochelle is excited to be joining the Buddha Rider team and looks forward to meet all of you.

Simon is a certified Schwinn cycle instructor. He brings his love of mountain biking and road riding into the studio. His classes are filled with inspiring visualizations and anecdotes. Simon loves to motivate his clients to achieve their goals while having fun. His love for fitness shows through in all his classes. He is a competitive tennis player and an avid yogi!