Meet Our Guides
Discover the incredible teachers, healers, and facilitators bringing their wisdom to City of Om 2026.
Alexa Jeffrey Garza
Alexa (Sol) is a 500‑hour yoga teacher based in Ottawa whose practice blends grounding awareness with a touch of magic. After discovering yoga nearly a decade ago, she followed her curiosity into sound healing, Reiki, and other heart‑centered modalities that help people soften, open, and reconnect. Her classes invite students into a space of loving kindness, where movement, breath, and energy work come together to create a truly uplifting festival‑style experience.
Aleysha Derksen
With over 12 years of teaching experience, Aleysha Derksen specializes in handstands, inversions, and transformational movement, leading workshops around the world that help students tap into strength, confidence, and play. As the founder of In Alignment Yoga School in Bali, she teaches yoga as a pathway to self‑discovery and personal evolution, guiding students toward the power and magic already within them.
Amanda Bottiglia
Amanda is a passionate Pilates instructor with seven years of experience, known for her welcoming energy and classes that build strength, flexibility, and overall well‑being. Whether she’s teaching from her home studio, online, or in group settings at Pure Yoga, Yogatown, or Framework, she brings enthusiasm and care to every session to ensure you get a powerful workout and have a great time doing it.
Amber Stratton
Amber has been teaching yoga and movement for over 20 years and is the co-founder of Pure Yoga and Framework in Ottawa, Canada. Her signature class, Ritual first introduced at Pure Yoga in 2019, was born from her passion for movement and the power of intention, and has become a defining experience in the community.
Anne-Marie Audet
Anne‑Marie is the founder of Sound Yogi—a gong player, healing sound facilitator, and yoga teacher who weaves movement, breath, and somatic wisdom into every experience. With 19 years of guiding humans of all levels, she blends science and intuition to create spaces that feel safe, spacious, and deeply attuned. Her sessions at festivals, conferences, and community programs are known for leaving people grounded, regulated, and lit up from the inside out.
Ashley Shewchuk
Ashley is known for her Sunday Ritual class at Pure Yoga, where a strong community of regulars show up for more than just movement. She has a way of commanding the room, pushing you to your edge while tapping into a kind of resilience you didn’t know you had. There’s depth to it, something felt, not forced, where the practice carries a quiet kind of wisdom. She pulls you in as she taps into her own flow state.
Ayat Al-Badri
Ayat is a pharmacist by day and spin instructor by night! Her love for music and movement shapes every ride, creating an experience that’s empowering & energetic. Music genres include hip-hop, throwbacks, pop, and a whole lotta fun!
Brittany Bryden
Brittany Bryden is a music‑infused movement teacher who helps students find presence, play, and deeper connection through yoga. A mompreneur with a big love for community and co‑creation, Britt brings fun, creativity, and rhythm into every class — always guided by the beat that moves her.
Bronwyn Lefebvre
Bronwyn began practicing yoga at a young age and turned to it as a source of balance and vitality after being diagnosed with Lupus at nine, navigating surgeries and intensive therapy with the support of her mother’s introduction to self‑healing practices. Trained in Rishikesh and teaching for over nine years, she brings a joyful, powerful spirit to her classes, offering challenging and inspiring sequences rooted in lived experience and inner strength.
Brynn O'Dwyer
Brynn is a Pilates instructor and former varsity athlete who is passionate about intentional, well-informed movement. She discovered Pilates as a way to complement strength training and deepen body awareness beyond performance alone. Her classes focus on creating a focused, supportive environment where participants can move with confidence and purpose.
Cat Labelle
Kelly and Cat are two friends driven to help people discover strength beyond what they thought possible, blending high-energy, form-focused training with plenty of fun. They’ve created an inclusive, community-rooted space where everyone feels welcome to push limits, connect, and show up as they are. Their goal is simple: leave every person feeling stronger, sweatier, and just cheeky enough to come back for more.
Chanel Sosnoski
Chanel is an instructor at SPINCO Orleans with a passion for cycling, high-energy playlists, and creating a welcoming space where riders can let loose and have fun. Her classes are fueled by a mix of EDM, dubstep, remixed throwbacks, and of course a sing-along anthem guaranteed to keep the energy high. Whether you’re brand new to spin or a seasoned rider, there’s a place for you in Chanel’s class. See you on the bike!
Charlene Dygos
Charlene is a personal trainer, fitness coach, and lagree certified instructor. Her sessions are built to push limits—combining power, endurance, and grit in a way that challenges both body and mind. Expect structured, athletic programming with a strong focus on effort and execution. Whether you’re chasing performance or stepping into something new, Charlene creates an environment that demands your best and proves you’re capable of more. Driven by intensity and curiosity, she brings a “show up and work” mindset to every class—no shortcuts, just results.
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Churchman
A laid-back yet engaging journey through house, disco and other genres crafted specifically for the early hours of the day. Expect uplifting rhythms, and plenty of toe tapping energy - music that encourages movement and connection while maintaining a fun, relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
Devinder Kaur
Devinder is a knowledgeable and uplifting 500‑Hour Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher in the Hatha and Kundalini traditions, known for over 20 years of teaching with humour, sensitivity, and a deeply personal approach. As the founder of PranaShanti Yoga Centre and PranaShanti Education Centre, she has grown a thriving local and international community and is a sought‑after presenter and trainer at conferences and Yoga Teacher Trainings worldwide.
DJ Greeze
DJ Greeze is an Ottawa-based DJ and the owner of Crossfade DJs, known for creating high-energy dance floors that feel effortless, fun, and unforgettable. With nearly two decades in the music and nightlife scene across Ottawa, his style blends house, disco, throwbacks, hip-hop, and crowd favourites into sets built to match the energy of the room — whether that means getting people moving and grooving or simply complementing the vibe.
DJ Rise Ashen
Ottawa-based Rise Ashen has devoted his life to the study of sound and movement. From his early years as a B-Boy in Montreal in the 80s to his studies at Fanshawe College (North America's Oldest Recording School) and the Banff Centre for the Arts, to his evolution as a Global Grooves and House Music DJ, his focus has been on applying hi-fi knowhow to underground music. His record collection spans the 4 corners of the world with house and club music of all tempos as his primary focus. As a DJ and live looper/finger drummer, he blends it all in a worldy mash and is always the sweaty and dynamic life of the party. He has performed in clubs and festivals in the US, Scandinavia, Europe and Asia and his music regularly gets support from A-list DJs worldwide. His study of Yoga has led him to combine his musical journey with his Yoga journey and he has been DJing extensively for yoga classes, festivals and events since 2012. A long-time househead who has trained with many pioneering NYC dancers, since 2008 he has also been co-leading Capital Sessions Community House Dance Practices with his partner Tangent and teaching house dance at Ottawa’s Flava Factory Urban Dance school. He has collaborated and sharing the stage with countless artists including Montreal (Juno award winner) Miguel Graca, Jojo Flores, Fred Everything, Toronto based (Multi- Juno nominated) Ammoye, (Juno Award winner) Dubmatix, Version XCursion, LAL, (Juno Award Winner) Eccodek, (Juno Award Winner) Kobotown, King Sunshine, UK’s Sean Escofferey, Berlin’s Steph Lefrancois, New York’s Angel Moraes and Nickodemus, Kasm and Seed Organisation,Ottawa’s Bhavantu Collective, Ottawa’s Juno-award winner Kellylee Evans, Algonquin Singer Flying Down Thunder with whom he received a Juno nomination in 2012 for their debut album: One Nation, as well as a Native American Music Awards nomination in 2014 for their sophomore album: North Wind. He made 3 records with Silla, an Inuit throat-singing duet, they performed and toured for 6 years as Silla and Rise with Rise playing electronic percussion. They were nominated for a Juno Award for Best Indigenous Recording, a Juno for World Music Album of the Year, and they won the Mundial Stingray Award in 2018 as well as the SSIMA for best Inuit ensemble and Best Artistic music video in 2021. He is currently working on music with Trevor “lifeboogie” Walker and Toronto multi-media artist Shaemara. He believes music and dance are essential to human culture and he aspires to embody the wise words of Fela Kuti: "when the higher forces give you the gift of musicianship …it must be well used for the good of humanity".
Emma Pollon-MacLeod
Dr. Emma Pollon‑MacLeod, ND, is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and women’s hormone health advocate who specializes in guiding women through perimenopause and menopause with evidence‑based, whole‑person care. As CEO of NutriChem, she empowers women with education, choice, and personalized support to understand their hormonal changes and move through midlife with clarity, confidence, and long‑term vitality.
Giselle Fernandez
Giselle is a dancer, kids yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, and the heart behind YogiBeatz. With over five years of experience teaching kids' yoga, she blends movement, music, and mindfulness to create fun, engaging classes that spark joy and connection.
Imad Khaddaj
Imad Khaddaj is a holistic healer and teacher whose work weaves Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reiki, Tui Na massage, and meditation with the wisdom of Daoist philosophy, Tantric Buddhist practices, and energetic mysticism. With a grounded and compassionate approach, he creates spaces where body, mind, and spirit return to balance, guiding others to reconnect with their inner wisdom, release what no longer serves, and awaken the life they are meant to live.
Jacqui Du Toit
Jacqui Du Toit blends mindful movement, breathwork, and storytelling, drawing on her background in circus and performance to celebrate the body as a place of expression and awareness. She teaches all levels with a welcoming, intuitive approach that invites students to explore strength, softness, and self‑connection.
Jessy Leger
With many years of experience in the fitness community and now at Spinco, Jessy brings high energy, positivity, and motivation to every ride. His classes are designed to challenge riders, build confidence, and leave everyone feeling stronger.
John King
Monkey Rock Music is a fun, participatory music program for young children and their adult caregivers. We have been running in Ottawa since 2008, offering classes, daycare programs, elementary school shows, and even full blown rock concerts for toddlers and young kids.
Jonathan Rose
Jonathan Rose is a 104th Grey Cup Champion, East Division CFL All‑Star, and Ottawa Redblacks All‑Decade cornerback with a deep passion for football and mental health advocacy. He now channels that experience into storytelling and connection as a dedicated CFL enthusiast and podcaster.
Julie Lefebvre
Julie discovered yoga as a path to recovery while navigating a severe wrist injury, an eating disorder, and the stress of caring for a critically ill child, finding profound healing through Ashtanga. Over the past two decades, she has trained with world‑renowned teachers and now blends technical expertise with a compassionate approach to support others on their own journeys to wellness.
Julie Parker
Julie has been coaching at The Rig Boxing for three years, where her challenging, attentive, and engaging style reflects her deep curiosity and growing love for the sport. A certified barre instructor and studio manager at The Rig’s Southpaw location, she believes in the power of group fitness to bring people together—and her classes do exactly that.
Katherine Markhauser
Katherine Markhauser is a trainer, mat pilates instructor and the co-founder of Chelsea Athletica Gym. Shes passionate about creating spaces where women can move their bodies - whether through strength training or on their mats. Her work at Chelsea Athletica centers around building a community and creating spaces where people can come together to move & meet like-minded people.
Kelly Schincariol
Kelly and Cat are two friends driven to help people discover strength beyond what they thought possible, blending high-energy, form-focused training with plenty of fun. They’ve created an inclusive, community-rooted space where everyone feels welcome to push limits, connect, and show up as they are. Their goal is simple: leave every person feeling stronger, sweatier, and just cheeky enough to come back for more.
Kenny Caceros
Kenny Caceros is a lululemon Bayshore ambassador, hybrid‑training coach, and multi‑sport powerhouse who brings unstoppable energy to every room he enters. A HYROX 2025 World Championship qualifier and DEKA Fit AG World Champion, he leads The Strength Collective and The Hybrid Training Popup with the same fire that fueled his professional soccer career.
Kethy Sosso-Kolle
Kethy (she/her) is a Cameroonian‑Canadian 200-hr certified yoga teacher who enjoys leading yin and slow-paced flow classes to gentle tunes. She is the co‑founder of the BIPOC Yogis of Ottawa project, a photo‑journalism and fundraising initiative amplifying racial diversity within the Ottawa-Gatineau wellness community. She is also a devoted supporter of the 24‑Hr Yogapalooza project, helping raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research through movement and community care. She enjoys eating sweet treats, playing with her cats and watching Japanese anime.
Krista Reid
Krista Reid is a breathwork facilitator and educator with over 20 years of experience in health and wellness, offering somatic, nervous‑system‑informed practices throughout the Ottawa–Wakefield region. She creates healing spaces, mentors facilitators, and supports individuals in reconnecting with their bodies, breath, and inner clarity through deep listening, thoughtful pacing, and embodied guidance.
Kyanna McPherson
Kyanna is a Jamaican Canadian yoga teacher who blends Hatha and Vinyasa with a grounding, intuitive flow that encourages movement with confidence, authenticity, and joy. Her playful, soulful classes weave breath, movement, music, and rest to support reconnection with the body, inner power, and sense of self.
Kyle Kirkup
Kyle Kirkup has been teaching group fitness for over twenty years, bringing a whimsical, challenging, and supportive approach to his strength and mat‑based classes at Collective Movement and beyond. He’s also a mentor to emerging instructors, blending strength, cardio, and mindfulness into pop‑infused, dance‑driven workouts that leave people feeling energized and empowered.
Laocapone
Laocapone is an Ottawa-bred DJ who moves as easily through crate-dug hip-hop as he does through pulsing electronic beats. With roots in R&B and rap DJ culture, his sets feel both timeless and fresh—whether he’s flipping soul samples or keeping the dancefloor locked with bass-heavy grooves. A true selector at heart, Laocapone built his reputation rocking parties and clubs across the city, known for his flawless blends, sharp ear for new sounds, and ability to move any crowd. Always paying homage to the past while pushing sound forward, he bridges eras with every set.
Lori Rosove
With 25 years as a social worker, 10 as a university writing instructor, and the author of two books, I have been passionate about guiding others in clarifying their thoughts through writing. I designed the trees&breathe journaling method to help you slow down, listen inward, and discover what's ready to be seen.
Lyndsay McIntyre
Lyndsay has 15 years of experience as a coach and trainer with a recent certification from HYROX Academy; Level 1 Course. She is a coach at The Strength Collective and thrives on building community, pushing athletes to limits they didn't know they had and ensuring everyone who walks through out doors feels at home no matter their fitness background or experience: the gym is for everyone. Lyndsay comes from a Crossfit background which made transitioning to HYROX competitions seamless and easy.
Madi Harris
Growth begins with a shift in mindset, and Madi leads with that belief at the center of her work. The power of one small word—“yet”—has shaped her approach to possibility, helping transform doubt into direction. Purpose, Vision + Goals has met her at every stage of adulthood, through seasons of uncertainty, ambition, reinvention, and expansion. Each chapter offered clarity, alignment, and the courage to take the next step. As a leader, she has witnessed the transformation that happens when people move from “I can’t” to “I can’t yet.” Confidence builds. Decisions sharpen. Momentum follows. PVG becomes more than a framework—it becomes a living practice that turns intention into action. Madi is dedicated to helping others define a bold vision, set meaningful goals, and step into what’s possible, even when the path is still unfolding.
Mathieu Flosse
Mat Flosse is a business owner, men's circle facilitator, and sound practitioner based in Ottawa. With a background in competitive sports leadership and entrepreneurship, his work bridges grounded leadership with intentional inner growth. Trained in sound bath facilitation and shamanic practices, Mat creates spaces that combine nervous system awareness, reflection, and practical tools for modern life. His approach is steady, accessible, and rooted in lived experience, guiding individuals toward greater clarity, connection, and purpose.
Megan Beahen
Megan has been teaching yoga in Ottawa for over 10 years. Whether it's slow movement, dance or fitness, Megan aims to support people in tuning into their bodies. She specializes in feel good movement and bangin' playlists.
Meghan Mainville
Meghan Mainville is a choreographer, dancer, teacher, and fitness instructor trained through The School of Dance’s contemporary program, the Limón Institute Launch program, and certified in both Group Fitness (ACE) and 200‑hour Yoga. She brings a fun, high‑energy, low‑pressure approach to every class, creating an engaging, community‑driven space where all levels feel supported and excited to move.
Mike Dynie
Mike has spent the last 18 years weaving his background in health communications with a lifelong devotion to Eastern philosophy, offering yoga as a practical, soulful tool for everyday well‑being. His teaching is breath‑centered, functional, and shaped around each student’s unique path. From intimate one‑on‑one work to festival‑style group flows, he helps people cultivate intuitive practices that support them through every season of life.
Nady Marro
Born into a family of yoga teachers, Nady has practiced since age 14, blending Tibetan‑inspired Energy Yoga with her background as a singer and musician. A 200‑hour Vinyasa‑trained teacher and founder of the FLOW Yoga & Sound Festival in the Laurentians, she now shares her passions for yoga, sound, and mindful education through her festival work, community leadership, accompanied by the much inspired musician, DJ and composer Legyl, her partner in life and on stage.
Natalie Fraser
Natalie Fraser is a yoga teacher with families and community at heart. Her classes are inclusive, fun and accessible. Whether you are a first timer, a caregiver yoga'ing with kids, or someone looking for ease - you'll find what you need here.
Nikki Richard
Nikki is a social justice activist, yoga teacher, and certified somatic movement and breathwork coach who brings trauma‑informed practices into activist spaces as tools for regulation, solidarity, and collective care. Her work weaves nervous system awareness with political consciousness, offering an embodied, relational approach that supports resilience without bypassing structural harm.
Pamela Twagirayezu
Pam is an energy healer, intuitive reader, and Ceremonialist certified in Sound Healing, Reiki, and Ancestral Lineage Healing, with nearly a decade of community‑based work. Through Burning Moon Collective, she offers one‑on‑one sessions and curated experiences that blend ancestral wisdom with grounded practices, inviting curiosity, self‑expression, and gentle transformation.
Peter Lavictoire
Peter Lavictoire brings big, joyful energy to the mat, blending his Baptiste‑inspired vinyasa roots with a lifelong love of movement. As Pure Fit’s lead trainer, he’s all about evolving the practice to build physical power and mental resilience, fueled by handstands, massive cashew‑milk coffees, and the passion he sees when people share what they love. A beach‑born yogi since age twelve, Peter channels that same curiosity and play into every class.
Randy Roffey
Randy is a registered yoga teacher trained in Yin, Restorative, Meditation, and Yoga Nidra, grounding his work in daily practices of breathwork, meditation, vulnerability, and gratitude. As co‑founder of the 24 Hr Yogapalooza fundraiser for CHEO, he’s deeply connected to the Ottawa–Gatineau yoga community and brings a passionate, down‑to‑earth presence to everything he does.
Run Ottawa
Run Ottawa is the National Capital Region’s premiere running organization and the organizers of Canada’s most popular multi-day running event, Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Run Ottawa is committed to building an accessible, inclusive running community that promotes health, belonging, and personal excellence while empowering people to give back. Guided by values of environmental responsibility, community engagement, and operational excellence, they create programs and events that welcome all participants and remove barriers to movement.
Saman Tayari
Saman is a yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator and a percussionist. He integrates his drumming into his yoga and breathwork sessions, believing that drum beats connect us with our inner rhythm and with others, and help us be more present. He also incorporates electronic music to create more immersive experiences. His passion lies in quieting the mind through breathwork and invigorating movement and breath, a practice he is eager to share with others.
Samie Kadima
Samie is a certified Pilates and fitness instructor with a background in strength training and community‑based wellness, known for leading inclusive, mindful, and empowering movement experiences. Blending classical Pilates principles with modern training techniques, she creates supportive spaces where people of all levels can build functional strength, feel connected, and move with confidence.
Serena Finlayson
Serena is a Certified Athletic Therapist, Registered Massage Therapist, professional dancer, and barre instructor who believes every(body) is an athlete. She’s passionate about movement as medicine and uses her wide-ranging expertise to bridge mind and body in ways that honour each person’s unique experience. Serena loves working outside the box, inviting students into movement as exploration, curiosity, and connection.
Spinco Orleans
SPINCO Orléans is rolling into City of Om with a full day of rhythm‑driven, sweat‑soaked, community‑charged rides — all inside our dedicated SPINCO space. As Orléans’ newest spin studio, they’re bringing their signature immersive, beat‑based experience to the festival, offering multiple 50‑minute classes that blend music, movement, and collective energy.
Stephen Bierbrier
Stephen Bierbrier (@bytownboy) has spent the past decade leading community workouts across Ottawa — from TD Place Stadium to Parliament Hill to the Dominion Arboretum. When he’s not coaching, he’s usually planning his next session, often spotted turning any nearby bench into an opportunity for a perfectly executed Bulgarian squat.
Sunshine Glitterchild
Sunshine Glitterchild is here to spread love, kindness, joy, cheeks & glitter through the art of drag…and sometimes on roller skates! Sunshine is a music lover with a passion for music of many genres and decades, especially disco. Sunshine seeks to connect with her audience not just through sparkley looks and performances, but through authenticity and heart with a side of silly.
Tatianna Graham
Tatianna Graham is a women’s health coach, physical therapist, and yoga teacher dedicated to helping women 40+ feel at home in their bodies again. Through movement, nervous system support, and embodied practice, she guides women toward strength, self‑trust, and inner resilience. Her work creates space for emotional, mental, and spiritual reconnection, empowering women to listen inward and rise in community. Tatianna is a proud Preventative Health Awareness Movement (PHAM) ambassador.
Todd Lavictoire
A lifelong mover, Todd brings equal parts strength, heart, and grounded grit to everything he does. Guided by his mantra — “If you are willing to do only what’s easy, life will be hard…” — he trains, teaches, and lives with purpose, recently stepping into the Fight for the Cure ring to raise money for cancer research and patient care. One of the original Pure Yoga crew, Todd shows up with the kind of resilience and integrity that inspires everyone around him.
Tracy Billows
Tracy Billows is the founder and co-owner of Yogatown, Ottawa's longest-running yoga studio, open since 2008 and now spanning three locations across the city. With 25 years of practice, she considers herself a student first and a teacher second. Yogatown reflects everything Tracy believes in - connection, belonging, and community. Off the mat, her greatest joy is her family - husband Jason, two children, and her dog Pepper. She is also a passionate health enthusiast who loves exploring new ways to thrive, and nothing brings her more joy than inspiring others to do the same.
Zeina El haff
Zeina is a 200‑hour RYT‑certified yoga teacher with additional Jivamukti Spiritual Warrior training, offering a simple, accessible approach rooted in traditional teachings. She emphasizes alignment, breath‑led movement, and steady presence to help students cultivate internal awareness and balance over time.
