Laura Phelps
Namaste. Formerly a professional dancer and ice-skater, in 1995 Laura began to practice healing forms such as Qigong, Tai Chi, meditation, pranayama, yoga, and pilates in order to heal her body from a serious illness.
Practicing Qigong was a major breakthrough in the first phases of Laura’s recovery which opened her mind to other healing forms such as Yoga. She started teaching Pilates in 1998 and yoga in 1999. One of Laura's most popular classes is Yogilates, a class that is a combination of strength training, yoga, and pilates. She also teaches Pilates, Therapeutic Yoga and Hatha flow.
Laura also completed a comprehensive Pilates certification through the PhysicalMind Institute. As a part of this training, Laura learned how to teach Pilates on the mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels. This training involved a combination of classroom hours, practice, observation and assistant teaching which spanned over a two-year period. This training increased Laura’s knowledge of anatomy and ways of moving which strengthen postural muscles and promote healthy muscle recruitment patterns.
The combination of her Yoga and Pilates training has left are well-equipped to accommodate people with a wide range of illnesses and injuries in her classes.
Laura is a 500 hour registered yoga therapist (ERYT500 and Senior Yoga Teacher with YogaBC) and is certified through the Pilates Method Alliance (a governing body for Pilates instructors). These designations involve a rigorous study and examination process. She is the studio owner and director of all Feel Good Yoga & Pilates Teacher Training programs. For more information regarding our teacher training programs please see our yoga and pilates teacher training pages.
Are you suffering from an illness or injury that you are afraid you may be unable to overcome? Click here if you would like to read more about Laura’s Healing Journey and the obstacles that Yoga and Pilates has helped her overcome.
Laura Barnes
Born and raised in Victoria, Laura had a very active childhood and adolescence and took part in everything from rowing and field hockey to gymnastics and dance. Her passion for sports lead her to a degree and career in physical education. she now teaches PE and coaches at the middle school level in Sooke where she lives.
About six years ago Laura decided to go to her first yoga class with a friend. She immediately fell in love with yoga and began practicing regularly as she noticed all the physical benefits right away. Yoga was at that point to her the same thing that all her other sports were: exercise and health benefits. After the first year of her practice she began to notice many other changes and benefits arising from the practice at a much deeper level than that of the body.
After benefiting so greatly from yoga she began to wish that she could safely and effectively bring the practice of yoga into the schools where she teaches. Almost by miraculous event she was driving home from work one day and thinking about becoming a yoga teacher when she drove by a sign on the road which said “Coming soon: Yoga Teacher Training”.
That is when Laura met Laura Phelps who very soon became her teacher, mentor, colleague, and most importantly, friend. Studying with Laura Phelps was a true gift to Laura as she was encouraged not only to practice all the yoga that she traditionally loved, but to explore many other styles and create that special personal style that all yoga teachers strive to achieve. Over the course of Feel Good Yoga Teacher Training, Laura became pregnant for the first time which led her to begin teaching prenatal yoga and Baby and Me yoga.
Laura also has a great love of practicing and teaching Hatha, Ashtanga, and Power Yoga while she continues to explore and practice many other styles of yoga. True to her positive and open hearted nature, Laura has never encountered a style of yoga that she did not enjoy. Although Laura started her serious study of yoga during the Feel Good Yoga Teacher Training Program, she now knows that the study of yoga is a lifelong pursuit which allows us to become deeply aware of our true selves. Laura currently lives in Sooke with her ever so supportive husband Josh, her beautiful daughter Abigail, and her beloved horses Ben and Nicki. She loves to meet fellow people from the Westshore and welcomes everybody to her classes with an open and truly gracious heart. Namaste.
Paula Hosking
Paula was raised in Victoria and has been involved in sports and recreation all her life. A love of the outdoors was established early with many camping trips to Sooke. Growing up, her experiences of sports and recreation began to develop her identity: getting her first bike, roller-skating, playing fast pitch by grade 2, and joining almost any sport after that (basketball, soccer, volleyball, track & field). Her passion was always fast pitch, which she continued to play while living in the lower mainland, where she also became a Recreation Therapist.
During her 14 years in the lower mainland; Paula frequented the gym, rollerbladed, skied, biked, ran, and golfed. In May of 2005, Paula gave birth to a beautiful, inspiring little boy, Tyson. During her pregnancy, she was introduced to yoga and loved the way it made her feel. After Tyson was born; Paula took occasional yoga classes through recreation centers. Boot camps infused with Yoga and Pilates helped to balance and tone Paula’s body after pregnancy.
Upon moving back to Vancouver Island in 2009; Paula was inspired to take both the Yoga and Pilates Teacher Training programs at Feel Good Yoga & Pilates studio. Initially, she planned to focus on strengthening her own practice; however, the training was such an amazing experience, she felt comfortable and excited to share this beautiful, grounding and calming practice with others. Paula now teaches a variety of amazing classes at the Feel Good Yoga studio.
Lindsay Hounslow
Lindsay spent two years working within an integrative wellness centre offering therapeutic Yoga sessions and learning about organic gardening and wildcrafting. In addition, she has worked as a wilderness guide since 2000 and is currently in her 3rd year of full time study in Western Herbal Medicine. Lindsay integrates her knowledge of natural ecology, nutrition, herbology, and Yoga to help people heal body, mind and heart. Her passion is helping people connect with their natural potential to heal through compassionate self awareness and a deep understanding of our intrinsic connection with nature. She invites her students to explore themselves through Yoga practice with humility, peace and a joyful heart.
Carmalita Heron
Growing up Carmalita spent a lot of her time in the beautiful outdoors of Vancouver Island, keeping busy playing all kinds of sports and dancing any chance she could. Although never dancing on a professional level, it has always been her passion and creative outlet.
Carmalita was always intrigued by yoga, seeing it as a form of dance. She first started practising yoga in 2006 and instantly fell in love with the asanas. The more she practised, the more she became aware of how much yoga brought to her. She realized that Yoga was so much more than just exercise and asanas. Her practice opened a whole new world to her where a sense of balance and peace enveloped her mind, body and spirit, bringing her more in tune with herself and in greater harmony with the universe.
Carmalita's mother's holistic views on life had a tremendous influence on her from a young age. She inspired Carmalita to always look for natural remedies in times of ailment or suffering. Yoga contributed greatly to Carmalita's exploration for a healthier more fulfilled life.
It wasn't until she travelled to India for the second time that she really started to explore what this new found love "Yoga" was all about. Practising with a wide variety of international people, she gained valuable insight, knowledge and new tools for a lifelong yogic journey. In April of 2009 Carmalita completed a Yoga Teacher Training Course at The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in South India. In May 2011 Carmalita completed the Yoga Teacher Training Course at Feel Good Yoga and Pilates.
A short while after Carmalita started practising pilates she noticed how much it complimented yoga by building strength, balance and endurance. Feeling totally inspired to share this with others, she decided to undergo the Pilates Teacher Training Course at Feel Good Yoga and Pilates in 2011.
After years of being uprooted and travelling, Carmalita has found peace and tranquility settling back home on Vancouver Island. She is currently teaching yoga and pilates while studying Holistic Nutrition.
Tara Meyer
Tara started training in dance at the age of nine and became a professional dancer at sixteen. For many years she has performed in various disciplines in a variety of stage shows, TV and film work. Her training includes: Princess Grace Ballet School, Monte Carlo, Monaco; Ecole Superieure de Danse, Montreal, Quebec and The Edge, Hollywood, California.
Tara began teaching in 1999 when she became an instructor and choreographer in ballet, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and belly dancing. She also taught Strength, Stretch, Flexibility and Muscle Conditioning to dancers, skaters, hockey players and women of all ages. In 2003, she was chosen by Kelly Kono (Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s Dancer) as Canadian Female Dancer of the Year and offered a position with Princess Cruises where she worked as a Lead Dancer in production shows until 2008.
Having the opportunity to travel and perform abroad, Tara used her free time to expand her experience by becoming a Registered Pilates Instructor and also enrolling in an extensive Personal Fitness Trainer diploma program through NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology).
Her goal is to create a very comfortable environment so her clients get a great workout, relieve stress, gain fulfillment, feel stimulated and have fun while doing it. Her hope is to inspire people to better themselves, to enhance their self-image, and self-confidence.
Piia Jernberg-Swift
Piia fell in love with Yoga while rehabilitating after an unfortunate car accident in 2001. She had just graduated as a Practical Nurse and was studying Nursing Sciences, but was unable to complete these studies due to the intensity of her pain. Piia suffered from disc problems, muscle pain, strain, and nerve impingement. Since adolescents, Piia had also struggled with scoliosis and this had been further exacerbated by the car accident. Piia tried different a wide variety of healing modalities during that time; she was unable to find any that alleviated the pain more than temporarily.
In 2006, Piia’s son, Johannes was born. Shortly after, she discovered Pilates. Johannes and Pilates became two great new loves in her life. Through her new exploration of movement through Pilates she became pain free within a year. Piia worked from a neutral spine and kept all her Pilates movements small, simple and cautious. She gained a better understanding of her body and healthy ways of moving which she was able to take into her daily life. Piia has been practicing Pilates almost every day and has now been pain free for 4 years.
When Piia was teaching Pilates in Europe, she started naturally implementing yoga into her classes. Piia loves of the detoxifying benefits of yoga and focused a great deal on poses that helped to free toxins from the lymph nodes. Over time, she discovered endless other benefits of Yoga and wanted to be able to offer these to her students.
Piia met Laura Phelps through Laura's teacher training programs at Feel Good Yoga and Pilates. Piia found Laura and the Yoga Teacher Training program very inspiring and considers it to be one of the best experiences of her life. Laura shares Piia’s philosophy that bringing the body into a parasympathetic state by moving within a pain free range in a joyful, relaxing, judgment free environment is one of the most powerful tools for healing. Just as she was welcomed with open arms into the Feel Good Yoga Teacher Training program, she is now a much loved and appreciated teacher of yoga and pilates at Feel Good.
Piia received her Practical Nurse diploma, and Massage Therapy training in Europe. She also became a (Stott Certified) Pilates Mat & Reformer Instructor and a Certified Yoga Teacher in Canada. Piia loves helping people and finds great joy in teaching Pilates and Yoga! She wants to spread the message of Love, and the importance of accepting people just the way they are.
Gillian Edmondson
Growing up on the prairies, from a young age Gillian was encouraged to follow her heart and pursue her dreams. Eventually, this led to Gillian packing her backpack and pursuing her dream to travel and begin her teaching career overseas. During her time in the UK Gillian discovered both Yoga and Pilates. She was instantly attracted to how both practices made her feel. With time, she noticed that her strength, flexibility and fitness level had all increased. She also became increasingly grounded and calm.
Yoga didn’t re-appear in Gillian’s life until she moved to Victoria in 2009. She quickly fell back in love with the practice and was able to explore many different types of yoga, taught by a variety of inspiring teachers. It was during this time that Gillian decided to pursue her dream to become a Yoga and Pilates instructor, which led her to Laura Phelps. One of the most important lessons Gillian has learned from Laura and her peers: anyone can benefit from Yoga and Pilates. Gillian has become an inspiring and compassionate instructor. Gillian encourages mindfulness and infuses humour, knowledge and creativity into every class. Learn more about Gillian.
Sandra Smith
Sandra was born and raised on Vancouver Island. She is inspired by the beauty and
magic that surrounds us all each and everyday here on the West Coast.
Yoga began as a personal journey for Sandra in 2008. Through the practice of
yoga, she discovered her own light within and began to connect with her true self
on deeper level. It was a short time later she found herself immersed in the Yoga
Teacher training program at Feel Good Yoga. She has been teaching yoga since
2010.
During this time of exploration, Sandra was introduced to the teachings of Joseph
Pilates. Immediately she was attracted to his dedication, passion and alternative
vision of health and wellness. Sandra completed the Pilates mat Teacher training
program in 2010. She continues to be amazed and inspired by all of the benefits of
the Pilates method.
Her intention is to share her passion and love of yoga and Pilates with many, in
hopes to inspire others to discover their own light within. Sandra believes that
when one discovers the light within their potential becomes limitless and dreams
soon become reality.
Trisha Bartlett
Growing up on Vancouver Island, Trisha had a very active, outdoor-oriented childhood. She as involved in a variety of activities as a child including soccer, hiking, running, softball and travel, and this carried through into adulthood. Like many people, she initially turned to yoga as a means of ‘stress management’ and to help her with sleep problems. Later, Trisha turned to prenatal yoga throughout her pregnancies, finding it incredibly beneficial. After her pregnancies she found that yoga helped her regain her physical strength and cultivate balance and groundedness in both her and her children’s lives.
Trisha believes yoga’s benefits are boundless and considers it an invaluable tool in teaching one about oneself. While focusing on the breath, safety and alignment, Trisha brings humour and compassion to her classes and wants people to learn from their greatest teacher: themselves. She initially took her Yoga Teacher Training at FGY with the intention of deepening her own practice. She never imagined she would go on teach yoga to other people or that she would enjoy it so immensely!
Eden Karlsson
Eden has been practicing yoga for 10 years and has recently become certified to teach Hatha Yoga through Feel Good Yoga and Pilates under the expert teaching of Laura Phelps.
She enjoys the unique workout yoga offers as well as the feeling of rejuvenation she is left with after a class, recharged and ready to face whatever life presents to her. Eden has always enjoyed being active and as a child was very interested in gymnastics and team sports. She has worked with the public for 14 years and truly values making connections with people.
Eden is a nurturing mother, friend and instructor. Her style of teaching is evolving and she currently enjoys practicing balance and introducing a lovely flow to the postures. Eden is happy to share her love of yoga as well as help others to access their individual sense of self and peace within their bodies. Meet Eden at the Feel Good studio, and find your yoga bliss. Namaste.
Amy Allen
www.downdawgyoga.ca Amy is a registered Kinesiologist, a Victoria lululemon ambassador and BCRPA SFL who has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 13 years now. Amy has completed various Yoga and Fusion trainings over the years but her favorite is Ashtanga. Amy is the Founder and CEO for DOWNdawg Yoga. A yoga fusion format that is breaking down traditional fitness and yoga barriers, inspiring fitness leaders and participants all across the West Coast of Canada. Amy is also involved with fitness presenting, educating fitness leaders all across Canada. She delivers unique, educational and upbeat workshops that are action packed and cutting edge. She brings a combination of humour, knowledge and warmth to each class creating an inclusive environment for all her students. In her spare time she regularly gives back to the fitness community by mentoring new fitness leaders, providing them with the necessary tools to become highly successful instructors.
Amy is also a proud mother of her baby boy Travis who arrived February 28th, 2010. Amy taught her DOWNdawg Yoga class till she was 38 weeks pregnant so it's only fitting that Travis loves to dance to music. He is a beautiful boy who has brought her and her husband Geoff so much joy and laughter.
Christi Houser
With Christi’s history of extreme sports and busy lifestyle, yoga brings balance and peacefulness. She went to her first yoga class 6 years ago and soon fell in love with hot yoga. Finding out she was pregnant, Christi explored other types of yoga and experienced benefits from many different types of practices. She completed teacher training at Feel Good Yoga in the spring of 2010 and has taught a variety of classes since then. “It is a blessing to teach at a studio filled with such love and light. I feel at home here.”
Bobby Kapoor
Bio coming soon...
