Sheree Gurnell
Sheree’s lifelong interest in Eastern philosophy led her to begin studying yoga on immigrating to Canada. She has been a formal student of yoga for 27 years and has been teaching for 20 years. Initially she received a 500 hr teacher training certification through the Yoga Studio College in Calgary, AB. In June 2013 she completed a further 500 hr teacher training in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar with Rosemary Jeanes Antze of Toronto. In September 2016, she was awarded certification as a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Through the care and guidance of a knowledgeable teacher and mentor; studying yoga philosophy and practicing daily, she has been able to overcome challenges in different areas of her life. Yoga has helped her to tap into her authenticity and creativity. Yoga is a lifelong journey and she is incredibly grateful to have students who are committed to deepening their understanding of themselves and journey alongside her.
Yoga has developed in her a deep sense of what it means to be human, to embrace life fully, with openness and awe. Sharing this experiential and intellectual knowledge is a gift that has no end. She endeavours to help students increase their quality of life through the daily practice of yoga and hopes they all find the autonomy, joy and freedom that yoga has to offer.
Specializing in teaching small group classes, retreats and individual sessions, she honours the heart to heart connection of this tradition. Sheree mentors yoga students and teachers looking to expand their knowledge of the philosophy and application of yoga in a therapeutic context. A 500 hour Yoga Teacher Development Program in the tradition of T Krishmanacharya, was last offered from August 2020-December 2022.
Sheree completed the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram two year International Healing Chants Teacher Training Diploma Course in April 2023. She is currently studying the connection between horses and humans through an in depth course on Horse Medicine Leadership.
Jennifer Pilkington
Jennifer has been a student of Sheree’s practicing yoga in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya & T.K.V. Desikachar since 2009. She feels very fortunate to have found her teacher and this tradition of yoga early in life. The focus on the student-teacher relationship, breath and movement and the individualized approach of this lineage sparked her interest from the beginning. Her passion for yoga grew over the years through her individual sessions with her teacher and her introduction to the study of the Yoga Sutras.
In September 2014, she embarked on a journey with Sheree and four other long-term students to obtain her yoga teacher certification. These two years were a time of enrichment and exploration and it is when she discovered her love for chanting and using sound as a means of self-expression and relaxation.
In November 2016, she graduated from the 500 hour Yoga Teacher Development Program. She is currently a member of The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
She began teaching in 2018, after having welcomed her daughter in 2017. The yoga tools she learned over the years helped her profoundly during and post pregnancy. It was during this time in her life that the essentiality of this tradition of yoga became even more evident. Krishnamacharya passed along a gift that is accessible to everyone and that can be adapted for everybody.
“If anybody can breathe, they can do Yoga.” – T. Krishnamacharya.
Karen Biggar
Karen’s first yoga class with Sheree was in 2006 following a recommendation from a co-worker. Karen continued to practice with Sheree for a number of years prior to moving off Island. It was in 2020 following the sudden loss of her father that Karen reached out to Sheree and registered for the 500 hour Yoga Teacher Development Program in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya & T.K.V. Desikachar. Commitment to the lineage of Krishnamacharya, with ongoing mentorship from Sheree, has helped Karen heal and find a way to use her gained wisdom to help others heal. Karen’s passion for incorporating a combination of asanas, pranayama, meditation, and chanting continues to grow and she believes healing from trauma is a journey from the inside out while going through personal reflection, growth, and reconnection. This tradition of yoga allows time for a person to look within themselves to aid in deeper understanding and acceptance.