Jacqueline’s practice and study come from the awareness and compassion teachings from the Buddhist and Yoga traditions. Her yoga training comes from a mix of schools and perspectives that are influenced by Vanda Scaravelli, BKS Iyengar, and the Ashtanga tradition. She has a gentle teaching style that challenges without force or strain. She has been teaching since 2002 and has over 30 years of Vipassana (Buddhist Insight Meditation) practice. Jacqueline’s classes reflect her own intention to find freedom in the body, heart, and mind with wisdom and kindness.

Kirsten’s view of yoga is not a workout, but a “work-in” – rooted in self-inquiry, contemplation, and self-compassion, with the individual’s inner wisdom serving as the guide. Kirsten’s personal yoga practice and teaching represent an eclectic blend of yoga traditions she has studied in depth over the years (Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Iyengar, and Restorative yoga disciplines), coupled with features from the functional movement discipline. This multidisciplinary approach provides a rich vocabulary in movement and mindfulness, nourishing the body, mind, and spirit. Sharing the gifts of yoga with her students and supporting them on their journey is a privilege that Kirsten treasures. Since 2008, Kirsten has been practicing yoga almost daily. In 2017, she began the process of becoming a yoga teacher, completing her training at Octopus Garden Holistic Yoga Centre in Toronto. Kirsten’s teacher trainings and certifications include a comprehensive 500-hour program, a 50-hour Restorative yoga program, as well as ongoing workshops, courses, and self-study. Kirsten is grateful to each and every one of her yoga teachers for their inspiration and guidance, particularly Pat Harada Linfoot, John Veiga, YuMee Chung, Nicky Poole, Tracey Currie, Scott Petrie, Ernie Patai, J-P Tamblyn-Sabo, and many other superb teachers. For more information about Kirsten’s background and teaching, please visit her website: https://kirstenbloklandyoga.wixsite.com/website.